News Satellite

Satellite 2020 conference cut short amid coronavirus concerns

The announcement came just hours after US health department called for the postponement and cancellation of “mass gatherings” of more than 1,000 people.

Satellite 2020 space industry conference ended a day early on March 11 as there was little foot traffic at the exhibit hall over coronavirus concerns.

In an email to conference registrants, Access Intelligence, which runs the conference, said it was cancelling conference events scheduled March 12, the last day of the event, including a half-day of conference sessions and the exhibit hall.

A number of speakers also cancelled, just days in advance and without updates from the conference. However, the event’s keynote speaker Elon Musk delivered his speech on Monday and revealed details about his Starlink mega-constellation project.

Many other space-related conferences and meetings have been postponed or cancelled because of the epidemic.

The ConnectTechAsia technology conference in Singapore, which includes sessions on satellite communications, has been rescheduled from June 9–11 to September 29–October 1.

Cabsat 2020, a satellite communications conference devoted to the Middle East and Africa, has rescheduled its Dubai event from March 31–April 2 to October 26–28.