Denver: EnduroSat, a leading global satellite infrastructure company, today announced the appointment of Paul “Rusty” Thomas as Chief Executive Officer of EnduroSat USA. This strategic leadership move positions the company to deepen its footprint in the U.S. space market by delivering fixed-cost, highly configurable, end-to-end space services tailored for commercial and government clients.
In his new role, Thomas will spearhead the establishment of key customer partnerships and oversee the expansion of EnduroSat’s U.S. operations, including satellite integration, testing, and mission operations. Raycho Raychev, Founder and CEO of EnduroSat, praised the appointment, “Rusty is a perfect fit to lead our US business efforts because of his experience delivering innovative space solutions to both commercial and government customers. As we continue to grow our US presence, Rusty’s leadership will help our customers deliver the next wave of innovations in orbit.”
Paul “Rusty” Thomas brings over 35 years of experience in developing and scaling space infrastructure. His career highlights include leading Motorola’s Iridium satellite network—the first major commercial constellation—and heading production for SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft and the reusable Falcon 9 landing legs. More recently, Thomas managed the Department of Defense’s premier proliferated Low Earth Orbit (LEO) demonstration, Project Blackjack, founded Amazon’s Kuiper Government Solutions team, and served as Chief Technology Officer at Sierra Space, overseeing the Dream Chaser spaceplane technology.
Thomas joins EnduroSat at a critical juncture as the company prepares to ramp up production of its new generation of ESPA-class modular satellite buses. These satellite platforms are designed to simplify manufacturing and drastically reduce time-to-orbit, enabling a broad range of mission types including Earth observation, communications, and defense.
“EnduroSat is uniquely positioned to transform the space industry with its new generation of modular satellite buses designed for high-throughput manufacturing,” said Thomas. “With the technology we are bringing to market, we are enabling a massive expansion of possible applications and creating the opportunity for our customers to accelerate their speed of innovation in space programs. Our approach ensures that a wide range of payload and mission developers can turn their visions into reality faster and at a lower price point, making space more accessible than ever before.”
By the end of 2025, EnduroSat aims to produce up to 60 ESPA-class satellites per month at its manufacturing facility in Bulgaria, leveraging a fully standardized and modular design. This scale of production is set to meet the growing demand for versatile, cost-effective satellite solutions across multiple sectors.
Expanding U.S. Presence with Dedicated Facilities and Teams
EnduroSat’s U.S. operations, headquartered in Denver, provide comprehensive space services including mission design, satellite assembly, integration, and testing. The Denver facility features an on-site clean room and mission operations center, enabling seamless payload integration and mission support. Additionally, EnduroSat is building a dedicated team in Washington, D.C., focused on strengthening relationships with government and commercial clients to secure new contracts and expand market reach.
Founded in 2015, EnduroSat has launched over 60 satellites and serves more than 360 customers worldwide. The company employs over 260 space professionals and continues to innovate in satellite manufacturing and mission management across Low Earth Orbit and beyond.
EnduroSat is a space infrastructure provider specializing in engineering, building, and operating modular satellites. The company offers streamlined mission services from design through launch and operations, enabling rapid, cost-effective access to space for a wide range of applications.
