site.btaEnduroSat Chief Technical Officer: Balancing Growth with Quality Is Space Industry's Biggest Challenge

Viktor Danchev, Chief Technology Officer of EnduroSat, a leading company in Bulgaria’s space sector, said Tuesday that the biggest challenge for the space industry is maintaining quality during growth, ensuring that something works equally well whether producing a single unit or hundreds. Danchev was speaking at a three-day National Forum on Contemporary Space Research, taking place at Sofia Tech Park from October 22 to October 24, 2024.

Danchev emphasized the difficulty of scaling production while ensuring consistent performance.

“The challenge is to maintain the same high standards whether you're producing a single unit or scaling up to hundreds,” Danchev said during the event.

EnduroSat’s Rapid Growth and Industry Challenges

EnduroSat, one of the fastest-growing nanosatellite manufacturers globally, is a leader in Bulgaria’s space sector, designing, building, and operating satellites with the goal of making space accessible for all. Danchev reflected on the company's internal challenges, stating: “Growing and maintaining quality has been a major challenge for us. We've had to restructure the company three times in the past four years. This process is time-consuming and mentally demanding.”

He further discussed the shifting mindset in the space sector, where the traditional model of owning dedicated infrastructure is slowly evolving.

“There’s still a tendency for companies to think about space in a traditional way. Even though technology has advanced beyond our attitudes, there will always be someone who wants a completely isolated satellite—solely owned, with no access for others,” Danchev noted.

Innovative Solutions: Shared Satellites and Market Hesitation

Danchev introduced EnduroSat’s innovative "shared satellite" concept, which allows multiple payloads to operate on the same spacecraft without interference. While the idea presents a more efficient model, the market has been slow to fully embrace it.

“In several missions, we have already utilized what we call a shared satellite, deploying multiple payloads on the same spacecraft. The technology works reliably, but we’re still waiting for the market to fully adopt this concept,” Danchev explained.

Despite this hesitation, EnduroSat remains committed to expanding its infrastructure to meet future demand. Danchev believes the space industry is approaching a saturation point, particularly with satellites in low Earth orbit.

“We’re seeing major players start to merge, realizing they don’t need five separate mega constellations. They need one that operates effectively,” he added, suggesting that consolidation is already underway but at a slow pace.

Opportunities in Emerging Markets

Looking ahead, Danchev identified Earth observation, including optical, infrared, and synthetic aperture radar (SAR), as the most promising commercial sectors for EnduroSat. He also predicted significant growth in broadband communication services.

“I believe we will see substantial growth in these areas,” Danchev said, encouraging the Bulgarian space industry to assess its resources, focus on niche areas, and excel.

Success in an Unconventional Environment

Danchev took pride in EnduroSat’s achievements, stressing that their success was possible despite the lack of a traditionally supportive environment for space companies in Bulgaria.

“Our achievements show that success is possible even without a fully supportive environment,” Danchev remarked, reflecting on the company’s resilience.

Forum on Contemporary Space Research

The forum, organized by the Cosmos branch of the Union of Physicists in Bulgaria, the Institute of Astronomy, part of the National Astronomical Observatory at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, and the popular science platform Ratio, is in its fifth edition. Held under the auspices of the Ministry of Innovation and Growth, the event brings together leading experts and innovators in the field of space research.