Hello "powers that be". :-)
I've taken the time to learn about the steps it takes to get a satellite from conception to launch-and-long-term-management.
Once I did and stepped back to "take it all in", I felt compelled to sincerely tip my hat to those that have made it possible to put "a bird in the air", in the past as well as to those who are attempting to do so now.
To that end, I have a stronger-than-ever belief that there is a vastly untapped resource in the guise of "bystanders" and "lurkers"; those who are not now (nor are likely to ever be) "insiders" or "on a project team" themselves ... but if allowed to, would gladly seek out a "friend-of-a-friend-of-a-friend" to fill-in some critical need that is keeping a modern "bird" from taking flight.
Please "powers that be", reconsider and "open" the books on what you can use along with a contact person for that item. You may find what you need through the "resources-of-the-crowd".
I'm "tapping out" on this concept for now (I'm as tired talking about it as many are tired of my talking about it, lol) but know that I'm one of those who would be a willing and eager "resource-in-the-crowd", if someone were to simply be honest and straightforward about a concrete need (other than money) and have it align with where I think my 6-degrees-of-separation could take them.
Very 73,Ev, W2EV
PS: my interest is in a highly-elliptical linear bird, or maybe a geostationary one serving the Americas, fwiw. I don't think I'd burn my relationships on another FM LEO.