Exolaunch appoints Robert Sproles as CEO. Photo: Exolaunch

Exolaunch has appointed Robert Sproles, as its new CEO. Sproles has previously been CTO of the company. He replaces Dmitriy Sternharz, the company’s founder, who has led Exolaunch since its inception nearly a decade ago as a spin-off from his work as an associate professor at the Technical University of Berlin. Exolaunch announced the appointment, Aug. 14.

Sternharz will now serve as president of the company, focusing on long-term vision, development of new products and services, and Exolaunch’s involvement in German national space programs.

Sproles has an interesting background. He spent nearly a decade at Spire Global, where he helped establish a global ground station network, managing early satellite builds, and leading the satellite operations team. As Vice President of Constellation Planning and Operations, he oversaw the successful launch of over 150 satellites, the daily operation of more than 30 ground stations, and the management of one of the world’s largest multipurpose Earth Observation satellite constellations.

Exolaunch works with smallsats on launch mission management, integration, and satellite deployment services. The company has offices in Germany and the United States.

“Exolaunch has consistently demonstrated excellence in launching and managing satellite missions, and I am energized to continue this legacy and lead us into the future as I step into the role of CEO during this pivotal time. My focus as CEO will be to leverage our strong technical and customer-first foundation and industry expertise to drive scalable growth and expand our market presence,” Sproles said in a statement.