BREAKING NEWS: Sirotin Intelligence Publishes First-of-Its-Kind Paper on Strategic Communications For Space 101

“Houston, we have a problem.”

“That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.”

“The Eagle has landed.”

These phrases transformed complex space missions into human stories anyone could understand. They turned technical achievements into cultural touchstones. They made space personal.

Today’s space and defense professionals possess capabilities that dwarf those historic achievements. Yet when asked to explain why their work matters, many default to technical specifications that don’t translate well to the people who fund, regulate, or ultimately rely on these systems.

Over the past year, I conducted 50+ interviews across the space and defense ecosystem – NASA veterans, Space Force officials, defense program managers, NewSpace founders. A consistent pattern surfaced: technically sound work navigating environments shaped by funding cycles, procurement dynamics, and varying stakeholder comprehension.

It became clear that strategic communications remains underdeveloped in much of the space industry. The technical rigor is there. The engineering is often exceptional. But the translation layer between capability and decision-maker is frequently thin, inconsistent, or absent.

Programs with functional technology can still be cancelled when decision-makers struggle to explain their value. This happens more often than many expect.

So I wrote a framework to address it.

"Strategic Communications for Space Programs, Companies & Professionals 101: (PDF attached) is 100+ pages covering:

 → A translation framework for connecting technical capability to stakeholder decision-making

 → Full pitch-deck teardowns (16 slides, before and after)

 → One-pager architecture for defense and commercial audiences

 → LinkedIn positioning that helps build constituencies over time

 → Public communication approaches that support long-term political durability

The paper includes sample case studies on directed energy systems and in-space servicing, with full visual examples spanning pitch materials, public communications, and social media positioning in practice.

Strategic comms for space remains an evolving discipline, and this paper reflects one perspective shaped by a specific set of experiences. Consider it a launching pad for bringing a largely private (and often implicit) practice into the open.

If your program, company, or team is working to translate technical capability into funding, adoption, or public support, get in touch at angelica@sirotinventures.com. 

With thanks to Joel Mozer, Daniel Scuka, Robi Sen, Jess Sponable, Mike T Swearingen, Tommy Waller, David Goldsmith, Vladyslav Klochkov, Christophe Bosquillon, Mike Simmons and Giuseppe Finocchiaro for contributing to foreword perspectives!

📄 Download the high-resolution PDF on Dropbox: https://lnkd.in/g2pfG9DX

🎧 Listen to a neat preview thanks to Speechify! https://lnkd.in/gRvS_g77