When tiny little Sputnik was orbiting around the Earth in 1957, beeping away, no one could have predicted that 55 years later the satellite industry would be as enormous and profitable as it is today.

But this week, March 12-15, the satellite industry is coming together in Washington, DC, to show the world just how many options for satellite transmissions, communication and technology are available throughout the world.

Over 350 exhibitors have gathered at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, DC for Satellite 2012. The exhibit floor opened to convention-goers this afternoon, March 12, and was packed with displays of all shapes and sizes.

From full-size and scale models of the satellites themselves to models of the rockets that launch them to switches and dishes to sturdy cases to robotic swivels, technology vendors from all facets of the satellite sector have come to show their wares.

The event, which is co-located with MSUA-9, features vendors from all over the world, from Russia to Korea to the gold old USA. Networking sessions began early on the morning of the 12th, and the Keynote Luncheon featured a presentation entitled “Satellite Export Controls: A New Approach for Global Competitiveness.”

There are several different tracks at the event, including the Hosted Payload Forum, the Maritime Satcom Forum, the Engineering Forum and the Satellite Finance Forum. The exhibition hall will be open until the evening of Wednesday, March 14, and the event itself will wrap up on the following day.

All week, TMC (News - Alert) will be present at Satellite 2012 and will bring you in depth interviews, company profiles and, of course, breaking news. So check back here for all the latest on Satellite 2012.

It’ll be out of this world.