Executive Highlight
John Quinn
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CEO, EXOS AEROSPACE SYSTEMS & TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
- Industry: Aviation / Aerospace
Business Founded: 2015
Phone: 19727408355
Email: [email protected]
Address:
7107 Deerwood Trail
McKinney, TX 75071
How long have you been in your industry?9 years
Why did you choose your industry?"Choosing the space industry was a product of both passion and circumstance for me. The concept of space has always been riveting, offering infinite possibilities for exploration and discovery. The idea of unraveling the mysteries of the cosmos and potentially pushing the boundaries of our current knowledge about the universe is an exciting prospect.The turning point came when I found myself in a position to contribute to this fascinating field. I was lucky enough to have a team of incredibly talented rocket scientists working for me. Their passion, dedication, and expertise only deepened my interest in space exploration, making the choice to delve into this industry quite an easy one. The blend of scientific challenge, technological innovation, and the profound opportunity to accessing humanity's greatest unlocked biomedical and manufacturing capabilities made the space industry an irresistible pursuit."
Who are your typical clients?Governments and their agencies: Government agencies like NASA (USA), ESA (Europe), ISRO (India) are major players in the space industry that we can work with. They often contract out launches to private space access providers.Commercial satellite companies: Many private companies build and operate satellites for a variety of purposes, such as telecommunications, weather monitoring, geolocation services, Earth observation, and research. They need launch services to place these satellites into orbit.Research Institutions and Universities: Universities and research institutions often build small research satellites, known as CubeSats, for scientific research and technological demonstrations. They need access to space to carry out their research missions.International Partners: Other nations without a strong space program of their own may contract with space access providers to launch their payloads.Private Space Station Operators: With the advent of private space stations like Axiom Space, these companies will also need space access providers to transport modules, supplies, and crew to and from their space stations.Defense and Security Entities: Defense organizations often need to launch reconnaissance and communication satellites, making them potential clients.It's also worth noting that the client base is expanding as the commercial space industry grows and new applications for space-based technologies are found. This includes sectors like in-space manufacturing, asteroid mining, and even potentially space-based solar power.
What do you like best about being in this industry?Contributing to humanity's future: Many people in the space industry feel a sense of purpose, knowing that their work contributes to the long-term survival and prosperity of humanity. Whether it's by developing technologies to monitor and protect our planet, or by working towards the goal of making humans a multiplanetary species, the work done in the space industry has a profound impact on our future.
What are common problems you see?Extreme Environments: Spacecraft are exposed to harsh conditions such as extreme temperatures, radiation, and microgravity. Designing and building hardware that can withstand these conditions while maintaining reliable operation is a major challenge.Miniaturization: Space missions often require instruments and components to be as small and light as possible to save on launch costs. Designing effective, reliable hardware within these constraints can be difficult.High Costs: The development, testing, and launch of space hardware are expensive. High costs can slow progress and limit the number of launches and missions that can be conducted.Long Development Times: Space hardware must be thoroughly tested before launch to ensure that it can withstand the conditions it will face. These tests can be time-consuming, which can slow down the development process.Limited Testing Environment: It's challenging to recreate the exact conditions of space here on Earth for testing purposes. Therefore, some potential issues might not be discovered until after launch.Reliability and Redundancy: Since repairing or replacing hardware once it's in space is usually impossible, it's crucial that the hardware works perfectly the first time. This necessitates very high standards for reliability and often redundancy of critical systems, which can complicate design and add to costs.Obsolescence of Technology: Given the long timescales for the development of space missions (often a decade or more), there is a risk that by the time a spacecraft is ready to launch, its technology may be out of date.Regulatory Challenges: Space hardware often requires approval from regulatory agencies, which can add complexity and time to the development process. This is the biggest challenge! Each of these challenges requires innovative solutions, and overcoming them is part of what makes working in the space industry both difficult and rewarding.
What advice/tips do you have for clients?Hire us! Clearly Define Your Mission Requirements: Understand your mission's goals, the necessary technology to achieve those goals, and your constraints (such as budget and timeline). Be sure to communicate these to your space access provider.Early Engagement with Providers: Engage with your space access provider as early as possible. This can help ensure that your mission's requirements are understood and incorporated into the design and planning process from the start.Risk Management: Space missions involve significant risk. Be prepared for setbacks and have contingency plans in place. Collaborate closely with your provider to understand the potential risks and to plan for risk mitigation.Regulatory Compliance: Ensure that you are familiar with, and in compliance with, all applicable space regulations in your jurisdiction. This might include regulations related to launch licensing, frequency use, and space debris mitigation.Data Rights and Intellectual Property: Understand who owns the rights to any data collected during your mission and any intellectual property developed. Be sure to negotiate these details in your contract with the provider.Insurances: It's crucial to have appropriate insurance coverage for all stages of your mission, from pre-launch activities through in-orbit operations and end-of-life disposal.Partnerships and Collaboration: Look for opportunities to collaborate with other organizations. This could include joint missions, shared launches, and research partnerships.Stay Informed: The space industry is rapidly evolving. Stay informed about new technologies, providers, and mission opportunities. Attend industry conferences, subscribe to industry newsletters, and engage with the space community.Long-term Sustainability: Consider the long-term sustainability of your activities. This might include planning for the end-of-life disposal of your satellite to avoid contributing to the problem of space debris.Working with a space access provider can be complex, but by following this advice you can help ensure a successful mission.
When is your busy season?With a small crew- all the time
What keeps you up at night?Keeping everyone paid!
How do you market yourself to grow/expand your business?I don't market us well enough... We are focus on building hardware and let that speak for us... Probably a problem..
How involved are you in the community?My involvement in the community is centered around my church and immediate neighborhood. The church, for me, is not just a place of worship but also a community of support, fellowship, and service. I participate in various church activities and outreach programs, which could include everything from charity drives and community meals, to teaching finance to our church members and friends. My commitment to service extends to my immediate community as well. I believe that it's essential to contribute to the neighborhood that I'm part of, making it a better place for everyone. This might involve participating in local events, volunteering to help with community projects, or just being a good neighbor in day-to-day interactions.In both these contexts - the church and the local community - the aim is to support, uplift, and positively impact the people around me. It's about being part of something bigger than myself, and about making a tangible difference in people's lives. I find this involvement deeply rewarding and fulfilling."
What is your favorite not for profit or charity?Our local church and the missionaries we help support as they travel the earth.
What advice would you give to someone thinking of getting into this business?It's not for the timid and get ready for the long haul.
What do you enjoy doing in your free time?Getting back to the basics without the dependence on outside systems or electronics.
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