Thousands of satellites orbit our planet every day, capturing extraordinary data about agriculture, infrastructure, climate, disasters, defence, and commercial activity. Yet for most businesses, buying a single satellite image remains shockingly difficult — buried under high minimum order sizes, fragmented suppliers, unclear pricing, and complex procurement processes.

In this episode of the Space Curious Podcast, host Arn Terry sits down with Zdravko Dimitrov, founder and CEO of Sfera Technologies, a Bulgaria-based space company on a mission to make commercial satellite imagery accessible to businesses of any size. Zdravko breaks down why the satellite data industry is still so hard to navigate, how his company is pioneering small area tasking to let customers buy exactly the pixels they need, and why the future of earth observation belongs to commercial innovation — not just government defence programs.

From the difference between Google Earth and professional earth observation data, to how AI is transforming geospatial analysis at scale, to what it's really like building a space tech company from Eastern Europe — this conversation is packed with insights for founders, geospatial professionals, space enthusiasts, and anyone curious about the future of satellite technology.

In this episode:

What commercial satellite imagery actually is (and why it's way more than just a photo)

The real difference between Google Earth and purchasing professional EO data

Archive imagery vs. new tasking — what's cheaper and when to use each

Why minimum order sizes are choking small businesses out of the market

How Sfera Technologies small area tasking lets you task fresh satellite data for $100 instead of $3,000

Which industries benefit most from satellite imagery (finance is the sleeper pick)

How AI and large language models are unlocking geospatial analysis for everyone

What it's really like building a space company from Bulgaria — without ESA membership, venture capital, or anchor customers

The three pillars Europe needs to fix its space sector

Myth-busting: why satellites can't watch you in real time (yet)

Chapters:

0:00 — Introduction

1:44 — Guest Background

10:24 — Understanding Satellite Imagery

19:07 — Why It's Hard to Access

29:18 — Small Area Tasking

34:34 — Industries & Real-World Value

38:45 — AI & the Future of Earth Observation

40:50 — The Commercial EO Market

46:55 — Access, Responsibility & Trust

48:41 — Building from Bulgaria

51:48 — Europe's Space Sector

57:22 — Myth Busting & Quick Fire Round

1:01:20 — Closing Thoughts

About the guest:

Zdravko Dimitrov is the founder of Sfera Technologies, a Bulgaria-based space company making commercial satellite observation accessible to businesses of any size. A graduate of the Bulgarian Air Force Academy with a background in automation engineering, Zdravko previously worked on a university earth observation satellite mission before founding Sphera to solve the accessibility problem in commercial satellite data.

Connect with Zdravko on LinkedIn / zdravko-dimitrov and learn more about Sfera Technologies at their company website - https://sfera.earth/

Subscribe to the Space Curious Podcast for more deep-dive conversations with the founders, engineers, and innovators shaping the future of space technology, earth observation, and geospatial intelligence.

The Space Curious Podcast is hosted by Arn Terry, founder of Daniel Ernest and its space and aerospace recruitment practice, DE Orbit — specialists in placing mission-critical talent across the space, satellite and defence sector. Learn more at www.danielernest.com/de-orbit

connect with Arn Terry / arnterry

Join the space curious group - / 18018020

#SatelliteImagery #EarthObservation #SpaceTech #Geospatial #SpaceIndustry #SatelliteData #RemoteSensing #SpaceCurious #SferaTechnologies #ZdravkoDimitrov #SpacePodcast #CommercialSatellite #GeospatialAI #SpaceEconomy #EarthObservationData

🛰️ What if I told you the software running your phone's GPS, your weather forecasts, and even your emergency rescue signals was written by a handful of brilliant minds — launching code into the harshest environment imaginable and hoping it just... works?In this episode of the Space Curious Podcast, Arn Terry sits down with Ioannis Trichakis, Principal Software Engineer at Alén Space, to decode the invisible world of satellite software. From writing code for machines you can never physically reach, to building fail-safe systems that protect multi-million-dollar missions orbiting at 26,000 km/h — this conversation will blow your mind.We dive deep into:🧠 How satellite software mimics the human body — eyes, heart, brain and all🚀 Why satellites only get THREE 10-minute contact windows per day🛡️ The genius behind FDIR — how satellites detect, isolate, and recover from faults... autonomously📡 The SDR revolution: satellites that can be reprogrammed from Earth like apps on your phone🔐 Why cybersecurity is now a spacecraft fundamental — not an afterthought🤖 AI in orbit: where it's already happening, and where humans must NEVER let go of the wheel💡 How someone went from knowing NOTHING about space to leading an entire space agency's software programmeWhether you're a curious mind, a budding engineer, or someone wondering if there's a career in space for you — this one's going to light a fire. 🔥⭐ Connect with Yiannis on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ioannis-trichakis-150924b0/ ⭐ Connect with the Space Curious Network on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/groups/18018020/Connect with Arn Terry - https://www.linkedin.com/in/arnterry/?isSelfProfile=true Chapters:0:00 Introduction0:51 Welcome & Introductions3:53 Journey into Space Software6:15 What Surprised Me About Space Software8:00 What Onboard Software Does10:53 How Satellites Communicate11:55 Software-Defined Satellites14:13 Building Software for Space17:27 Fail-Safe Satellite Software20:44 Testing for the Unknown23:51 Reconfigurable Satellites: The SDR Revolution30:03 Cybersecurity in Orbit32:13 Are We Taking Satellites for Granted?34:58 AI Autonomy in Orbit41:05 Careers in Space Software48:53 Myth Busting: Space Tech50:00 Closing Thoughts & Quick FireThe Space Curious Podcast is hosted by Arn Terry, founder of Daniel Ernest and its space and aerospace recruitment practice, DE Orbit — specialists in placing mission-critical talent across the space, satellite and defence sector. Learn more at danielernest.com/de-orbit.#SpaceCurious #SatelliteSoftware #SpaceTech #EmbeddedSystems #AlénSpace #AerospaceEngineering #SpaceIndustry #SoftwareEngineering #SatelliteTechnology #SpaceCareers #STEM #SpacePodcast #TechPodcast #SpaceExploration #Cybersecurity #AIinSpace #SDR #SpaceMissions #Engineering #Curiosity

Ever wonder how the food on your shelves actually got there? Behind every shipping container, every cargo vessel, and every seaport expansion is a web of satellite technology, AI, and geospatial intelligence most of us never see.In this episode of the Space Curious Podcast, host Arn Terry sits down with Mohamed Helmy — a remote sensing and GIS consultant specialising in SAR imagery, AI-driven satellite analytics, and national infrastructure programmes — to unpack how space technology is quietly revolutionising the world's seaports.What you'll learn:🛰️ What remote sensing & GIS actually are (explained simply)📡 How SAR (Synthetic Aperture Radar) sees through clouds, darkness & extreme weather🏗️ How satellites help governments decide where to build & expand seaports🌊 Why climate change is the #1 threat to global port infrastructure🤖 How AI, cloud computing & data analytics are powering smart ports💰 Why developing nations can leverage satellite data without owning satellites🚀 Career roadmap: skills, courses & platforms to break into the space tech industry🔍 Myth-busting: what satellite imagery can and CAN'T do (sorry, Hollywood)⚡ Plus a rapid-fire quick round with Mohamed!Whether you're a space enthusiast, a maritime professional, a student exploring career paths, or just someone who takes their supermarket for granted — this conversation will change how you see the invisible infrastructure powering global trade.👉 WATCH THE FULL EPISODE NOW and discover the space tech hiding in plain sight.🔗 Connect with Mohamed Helmy on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mohamed-omar-m-helmy/ Connect with Arn Terry - https://www.linkedin.com/in/arnterry/Are you hiring? Click here ---https://danielernest.com/de-orbit Want to be part of The Space Curious Community - https://www.linkedin.com/groups/18018020/🔔 Subscribe to Space Curious Podcast for more deep-dive conversations at the intersection of space, technology, and everyday life.📅 New episodes dropping regularly — hit that bell so you never miss one!#SpaceCurious #SatelliteTechnology #RemoteSensing #GIS #SAR #Seaports #MaritimeIndustry #SpaceTech #AI #ClimateChange #Geospatial #SmartPorts #SatelliteImagery #SpaceCareers #Podcast #TechPodcast #SpaceIndustry #DataAnalytics #CloudComputing #Infrastructure #GlobalTrade #Egypt #NationalSecurity #FutureOfPorts #SpaceData

What does the future of space infrastructure actually look like — and who's building it?

In this episode of the Space Curious Podcast, host Jim Terry sits down with Aurélie Bressollette, a space industry veteran with nearly 25 years of experience across almost every layer of the space economy. From satellite robotics and infrastructure to global supply chains, large constellations, and launch, Aurélie has held senior positions at Airbus, OHB, Red Wire, and Revard Space Networks, served as CEO of European Launch Company Latitude, and now advises the next generation of space businesses.

We dive deep into:

🛰️ Career & Background — How a trip to the US sparked a passion for space, from dreaming of becoming an astronaut to building a career across established aerospace giants and scrappy garage startups

🏭 Startup vs Established Aerospace — What startups can learn from the big players (talent, deep expertise) and what the big players can learn from startups (letting go of inherited constraints, moving faster)

📊 The Data Problem in Space — Why satellites are collecting more data than ever, the push to process data in orbit with AI, and how relay networks are becoming the backbone of space communication

🌐 Building an Internet in Space — How inter-satellite optical links are changing the game, the rise of relay constellations, and why this matters for everyone from military users to everyday consumers

🛡️ Defence Momentum & The New Reality — Why geopolitical tensions are driving unprecedented investment in European space defence, and what needs to change in procurement to keep innovation ahead of obsolescence

🚀 Launch Access & Capacity — Does the world have enough launch capacity? (Spoiler: no.) Why European launch companies must win through specialisation, not scale, and why we'll see consolidation in the coming years

💰 Economics of Space Infrastructure — Who actually pays for all of this? From taxpayer-funded missions to venture capital and private investors

👩‍💻 Careers & Future Workforce — The skills that will be in greatest demand (mission specialists, software/AI, user-oriented thinkers), the surprising skill gap (finance!), and why there's a place for everyone in the space sector

🔍 Myth Busting — The space industry isn't just rocket scientists in white coats. It needs marketers, lawyers, HR professionals, finance experts, and people from every background

🔮 Future Predictions for 2035 & 2040 — Crowded LEO, in-space manufacturing and servicing, debris management, and the risks of nations attacking each other's space assets

⚡ Quick Fire Round — New space or established? In-orbit or on-ground processing? One technology to invest in today?

Whether you're already in the space sector, looking to break in, or just curious about the infrastructure being built above our heads, this episode is packed with insights you won't hear anywhere else.

🔔 If you enjoyed this episode, please LIKE and SUBSCRIBE for more deep-dive conversations with the people shaping the future of space.

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💬 Have a question or want to suggest a guest? Drop a comment below!

🔗 Connect with Aurélie Bressollette: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aur%C3%A9lie-bressollette-06b7598/ Connect with Arn Terry https://www.linkedin.com/in/arnterry/Are you hiring? - Click here - https://danielernest.com/de-orbitJoin our Space Curious group - https://www.linkedin.com/groups/18018020/

#SpaceCuriousPodcast #SpaceIndustry #NewSpace #SpaceEconomy #SpaceInfrastructure #SatelliteTechnology #SpaceDefence #LaunchIndustry #SpaceData #AurelieBressollette #SpaceCareers #SpaceTechnology #EuropeanSpace #SpaceInvestment #OrbitalInfrastructure #SpaceAI #DataRelay #InterSatelliteLinks #SpaceWorkforce #SpaceSector #AerospaceEngineering

What happens to the human body when gravity disappears? How do muscles, bones, the brain, and even the mind respond to the extreme environment of space — and are we medically ready for a three-year mission to Mars?In this episode of the Space Curious Podcast, we're joined by Jérémie Sergé, an aerospace physician, weightless flight surgeon, and zero-G instructor with over two decades of experience across aerospace medicine, human performance, emergency medicine, and astronautics. Jérémie is Chief Medical Officer at Titan Space Industries and Chief Astronaut Officer and Dean of Titan Space Academy, where he's helping prepare the next generation of commercial astronauts. He is also one of only seven weightless flight surgeons in the world.What We Discussed:🔹 Childhood Dreams to Space Medicine — How Jérémie never let go of the childhood dream of space, and the philosophy of holding onto both your inner child and your wiser self🔹 The Role of an Aerospace Physician — What the day-to-day looks like, from astronaut medical support to parabolic flight campaigns, and how space medicine is shifting from a medicine of selection to a medicine of inclusion🔹 Parabolic Flights & Career Philosophy — How life's unlikely turns led Jérémie to become one of seven weightless flight surgeons globally, and why rigid career plans don't work🔹 What Happens to the Body in Weightlessness — Muscle loss, bone density reduction (1%+ per month), cardiovascular changes, fluid shifts, and why the body's adaptation is not pathology — it's intelligence🔹 Simulating Space on Earth — Bed rest studies, dry immersion, and why the only true weightlessness exists in parabolic flights and the space station🔹 Medical Risks in Space — The "space exposome": radiation, isolation, confinement, disrupted circadian rhythms, dust, noise, and limited medical capability — all happening simultaneously, not one at a time🔹 Moon vs. Mars — Partial gravity, abrasive lunar dust, 3-day distance from Earth vs. 22-minute communication delays, 900+ day missions, and the impossibility of evacuation from Mars🔹 Are We Ready for Mars? — We know enough to contemplate it seriously, but not enough to call it routine. The biggest challenge isn't physical — it's psychological🔹 The Mind in Space — Sleep disruption, sensory deprivation, monotony, isolation, crew psychology, and why we're not looking for the best individuals — we're looking for the best crews🔹 Building Space Healthcare Systems — Distributed medical capability, AI-assisted autonomous medicine, the need for generalists, and why even an artist belongs on a deep-space crew🔹 Pathways into Aerospace Medicine — Become a good doctor first, stay curious, remain transdisciplinary, and don't design a career just to collect space-related titles🔹 Commercial Astronauts & the Future — How space access is opening to a diverse range of participants, why disability can become ability in space, and the overview effect🔹 Myth-Busting — Weightlessness is not the absence of gravity (the ISS still experiences 90% of Earth's gravity), and astronauts are not super-athletes — they're the worst case of sedentarity🔹 A Child Born on Mars — The profound ethical question: at what point does adapting humanity to another world begin creating another humanity?🔹 Quick-Fire Round — Moon or Mars? Artificial gravity or biological adaptation? The most underrated threat in space? One item every Mars crew must carry? (Spoiler: curiosity)🔗 Connect with Jérémie Sergé on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/astrosapiens/🔔 Subscribe for more episodes exploring the mysteries of space, the human body, and the future of humanity beyond Earth!Are you hiring click here - https://danielernest.com/de-orbit #SpaceCurious #SpaceMedicine #AerospaceMedicine #HumanSpaceflight #ZeroG #Weightlessness #MarsMission #MoonToMars #SpaceHealth #AstronautTraining #SpaceCuriousPodcast

In this episode of The Space Curious Podcast, host Terry sits down with Matteo Lorenzoni, Business Unit Director of Orbital Access at D-Orbit, to unpack one of the most overlooked challenges in the space industry: space logistics.Getting to space is only the beginning. Once satellites are launched, they need to be positioned, serviced, managed, and eventually de-orbited — and that's where companies like D-Orbit come in with their Orbital Transfer Vehicles (OTVs).In this episode, we cover:• How Matteo went from vowing never to work in space to leading orbital access at D-Orbit (a serendipitous meeting on a rooftop in Shenzhen changed everything)• What an Orbital Transfer Vehicle actually does and why it's the "last mile delivery" of space• The two main customer types: constellation operators and tech startups• What happens after a satellite reaches orbit (the operational team, the first signal, maneuvering, data collection)• Are we building the DHL of space? What a mature space logistics ecosystem looks like• In-orbit servicing: refuelling satellites, extending mission life, and debris removal• The economics of orbital transportation — when does an OTV make financial sense?• Space debris and sustainability: regulations tightening from 25-year de-orbit limits to 5 years• The vision for 2040–2050: recycling satellites in space, manufacturing in orbit, and multitasking infrastructure• Careers in the space industry beyond engineering — finance, marketing, communications, and AI• How the space sector could absorb displaced talent from traditional industries• Myth-busting: flat Earthers, moon landing deniers, and why raw data speaks for itself• D-Orbit's mission SCV-003: launching during COVID with no customers and turning it into their proudest mission• Quick-fire round: Moon or Mars? LEO or lunar orbit? Human or autonomous? And more!About the guest:Matteo Lorenzoni is the Business Unit Director of Orbital Access at D-Orbit, a space logistics and transportation company based in Italy. He has been with D-Orbit for nearly nine years, starting in sales and growing into a leadership role overseeing transportation services, logistics, and in-orbit operations. Reach Matteo - https://www.linkedin.com/in/matteo-andreas-lorenzoni-9109bb110/Reach D Orbit - https://dorbit.space/About the host:Arn Terry is the host of The Space Curious Podcast and a recruiter specialising in the space and aerospace sector. The podcast explores the space industry for everyday people — breaking down complex topics, busting myths, and showcasing career opportunities beyond astronauts and astrophysicists.Reach Arn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/arnterry/Hiring? - https://danielernest.com/de-orbit#SpaceCurious #SpaceLogistics #DOrbit #OrbitalTransferVehicle #SpaceIndustry #SpaceTech #Satellite #SpaceEconomy #InOrbitServicing #SpaceDebris #SpaceSustainability #NewSpace #SpaceCareers #Aerospace #SpaceMission #SpaceInfrastructure #OrbitalAccess #SpaceTransportation #SatelliteOperations #SpacePodcast #Space2025 #LEO #Geostationary #SpaceManufacturing #FutureOfSpace #SpaceInnovation #STEMCareers