Tom Markusic
“I don’t have any insight into it, but I believe ... the plane changes [for SpaceX’s satellites] would be accomplished using electric propulsion as another option to having dedicated smallsat launches,” said Tom Markusic, founder of Firefly Space Systems.

Firefly Space Systems is part of a new wave of launch services startups looking to capitalize on a small-satellite boom fueled, at least in part, by a combination of advances in microelectronics technology and Silicon Valley investment capital.

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Dan Leone is the NASA reporter for SpaceNews, where he also covers other civilian-run U.S. government space programs and a growing number of entrepreneurial space companies. He joined SpaceNews in 2011.Dan earned a bachelor's degree in public communications...