Shaun Kenyon has a world-class track record of applying cutting-edge Earthbound technologies to satellite missions. His 18 year career has been spent leading teams in some of the best Traditional and New Space companies around the world.
As the dynamic CEO and CTO of Starbound Space Solutions, Shaun is revolutionising the landscape of space engineering compliance, spearheading the rapid development of “RegTech” solutions, and enabling New Space companies to “punch above their weight” and deliver flight hardware with a quality more likened to institutional missions. His expertise and experience with new technologies, rapid build schedules and hands-on development has positioned him at the forefront of space innovation, making him an influential figure in the space industry.
Shaun’s career is distinguished by his unique leadership style, honed over five consecutive space tech startups, where he has held executive roles and contributed significantly to their growth and success. He has an impressive track record of leading teams to build new technology capabilities from scratch, with over 20 satellites in orbit bearing his name. His expertise spans Traditional and New Space paradigms, enabling him to bridge the gap between established methodologies and cutting-edge innovations.
Turning his attention to the latest terrestrial technology – transformer-based large language models – and its application to space technology, Shaun has led efforts to integrate large language models (LLMs) and knowledge graphs to enable more entrepreneurs without space experience to enter the domain. His work includes developing dynamic ontological structures that enhance knowledge sharing, and machine processing and understanding of space technology and related regulatory environments. This innovative approach has proven invaluable in tasks such as automatic review of compliance documentation and requirements engineering.
Notably, Shaun was the Program Manager and Chief Architect for Multi-Mission Satellite 1 (Gilmour Space), Australian Space Command’s first commercial satellite mission contract. He also served as the Mission Concept Designer for Carbonite-1 (Surrey Satellites) and led the development of the world’s first phone-powered satellite, STRaND-1 (Surrey Satellites), beating NASA’s Phonesat to orbit by three months.
Shaun’s professional journey includes pivotal roles at Hiber Global, Spire Global, and Sen, where he led interdisciplinary teams, reduced project timelines, and delivered innovative satellite solutions. His contributions to the space domain are also reflected in his numerous publications and presentations at international conferences.
With a robust international network in the space industry and a commitment to advancing space technology, Shaun Kenyon continues to be a prominent figure in the space engineering community. His work in integrating AI into space engineering processes not only pushes the boundaries of technological innovation but also exemplifies the future he hopes for – where AI enables anyone to build spacecraft, and developing reliable space hardware becomes as easy as building a website.
