Dr Sam Richards is Director of the UK’s Meridian Space Command and a mission architect and space operations leader with more than 20 years of experience across a wide range of space domains.

He specialises in complex lunar and deep-space missions, with expertise in mission design, communications architecture, operational planning, and end-to-end mission delivery. His work involves shaping mission concepts into credible, executable programmes, defining communications and ground segment strategies, reducing operational risk, and leading delivery across technically demanding, multi-stakeholder missions.

Sam has led and supported high-profile missions from Earth orbit to the Moon and beyond across government, commercial, and international space sectors, working with organisations including NASA, ESA, JAXA, UKSA, and commercial lunar ventures. He is motivated by the challenge of making ambitious missions practical, reliable, and operationally robust. At Real Wireless, he brings that mission-level perspective to advanced communications challenges in space and beyond.