Once upon a time, a satellite’s mission was manufactured into hardware before launch. Today, experts agree that software-defined satellites are the future. The success of NGSO services already rely on software definition aboard satellites moving across the sky. Though SD satellites have been painfully slow to reach GEO, their ability to adapt to changing market demand and track moving objects clearly makes them the better design choice. SD satellites in multiple orbits are already testing the ability of teleport operators to adapt their technology platforms and service delivery models to a new generation of assets in the sky. The drive to digitize, however, also brings opportunity: reducing the cost and challenge of future innovation and deepening integration with the vast market of terrestrial networks.