Satellite Systems, Satcom & Space Systems

SATELLITE SYSTEMS, SATCOM AND SPACE SYSTEMS UPDATE

January 24, 2025 by

Sponsored by MatrixSpace

http://matrixspace.com

———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————-

23 Jan 25. BlackSky Technology Inc. (NYSE: BKSY) ships its first Gen-3 satellite to launch provider Rocket Lab (NASDAQ: RKLB) today. The satellite is planned for launch in February from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1 in Mahia, New Zealand. The Gen-3 constellation will offer customers new mission critical insights with the addition of very high-resolution, rapid-revisit 35-centimeter imagery and AI-enabled analytics delivered at industry-leading speed and scale.

“When combined with BlackSky Spectra®, the Gen-3 constellation is designed to deliver data at sub-hourly, mission-relevant speeds. We look forward to the inaugural launch and introducing the advanced features of our Gen-3 satellites to our customers.”

Post this

“Gen-3 represents a transformative leap forward for space-based intelligence, combining very high- resolution imagery with high frequency monitoring,” said Brian O’Toole, BlackSky CEO. “When combined with BlackSky Spectra®, the Gen-3 constellation is designed to deliver data at sub-hourly, mission-relevant speeds. We look forward to the inaugural launch and introducing the advanced features of our Gen-3 satellites to our customers.”

“BlackSky has developed Gen-3 to address significant demand from key defense and intelligence customers around the world as evidenced by the significant contracted backlog we have secured for Gen-3 services,” said O’Toole. “Once we commission this first satellite, we expect to move forward with a regular cadence of additional launches throughout the year as more Gen-3 satellites come off the production line.”

The evolution of BlackSky’s constellation will continue to optimize for increased capacity and flexibility with the regular addition of Gen-3 satellites. Gen-3 customers will be able to conduct the automated detection, identification and classification of a wide library of vehicles, aircraft, vessels and other objects of tactical interest. Low-latency intersatellite communications will give customers the flexibility to conduct high-priority, last-minute tasking, while agile onboard attitude control systems allow for maximum on-orbit operational efficiency. These new capabilities will further enable BlackSky’s space-based intelligence applications for tactical ISR missions and strategic intelligence operations.

About BlackSky

BlackSky is a real-time, space-based intelligence company that delivers on-demand, high frequency imagery, analytics, and high-frequency monitoring of the most critical and strategic locations, economic assets, and events in the world. BlackSky owns and operates one of the industry’s most advanced, purpose-built commercial, real-time intelligence systems that combines the power of the BlackSky Spectra® tasking and analytics software platform and our proprietary low earth orbit satellite constellation.

With BlackSky, customers can see, understand and anticipate changes for a decisive strategic advantage at the tactical edge, and act not just fast, but first. BlackSky is trusted by some of the most demanding U.S. and international government agencies, commercial businesses, and organizations around the world. BlackSky is headquartered in Herndon, VA, and is publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange as BKSY. To learn more, visit www.blacksky.com and follow us on X.

22 Jan 25. Skykraft unveils partners for GPS alternative. Skykraft has unveiled the list of partners it will collaborate with on its government-backed plan to create an alternative to GPS. The Canberra-based firm, which hopes to launch a space-based air traffic control system, will collaborate with institutions such as RMIT, Curtin and UNSW on the positioning, navigation and timing (PNT) system. It comes after the federal government announced last year the project would be one of three to share an $18m grant intended to foster collaboration between the Australian and Indian space sectors.

“The global reliance on GPS makes entire regions vulnerable to losing positioning, navigation and timing data if the system fails,” RMIT’s Professor Suelynn Choy said.

“Australia and India have some very specific challenges and opportunities – particularly our large land mass, vast borders and primary industries relying on positioning, navigation and timing data – GPS may not be the right technology for all of these needs.

“These satellites are easier and less expensive to launch, and they allow for more flexibility by being deployed where coverage is needed most, providing a back-up to other global navigation satellite systems.”

RMIT said its researchers are leading the world in the development of microcomb technology, which would make the system possible.

Microcombs are based on photonic microchips, which can be rapidly adapted to any application that uses light, including PNT capabilities.

“This portability opens up opportunities for more accessible and deployable satellite networks,” said Arnan Mitchell, a distinguished professor at RMIT.

“This project presents an exciting opportunity for forming closer ties between Australia and India, where we collaborate to develop our microcombs technology and find innovative solutions for global positioning, navigation and timing challenges.”

The grant is through the Australian Space Agency’s International Space Investment India Projects, which supports strategic space projects that build valuable commercial links with the Indian Space Research Organisation and the broader Indian space sector.

It’s the latest in a series of collaborations with India, which has become one of Australia’s biggest partners in space.

In November, for example, Australia formalised its agreement with India to help recover the crew and capsule from the country’s first crewed space mission. The deal to support Gaganyaan will also mean the crew module could potentially land in the Southern Ocean when it finally blasts off in 2026, while Australian satellites will also be on board. (Source: Space Connect)

21 Jan 25. Thales Alenia Space and Hispasat Start the Development of the World’s 1st Quantum Key Distribution System Capacity from Geostationary Orbit.

The QKD-GEO mission is the most advanced civil project in the world in this area. It will produce unhackable ground-orbit keys that not even the most advanced quantum computers will be able to break.
Quantum key distribution (QKD) is a disruptive technology that goes beyond current optical communication models to offer a completely new paradigm in the field of information and communication security, based on the quantum properties of photons, a first step towards a future quantum internet.
With funding from EU recovery funds through PERTE Aeroespacial, the project is an initiative of Spanish Secretary of State for Telecommunications and Digital Infrastructures, whose contracting is managed by the Spain’s Center for Technological Development and Innovation (CDTI), that will allow Spain to position itself in the European Commission’s European Quantum Communication Infrastructure (EuroQCI) initiative.
Thales Alenia Space in Spain is leading a large industrial consortium of Spanish and other European companies, with Hispasat in charge of the design of the geostationary mission and the definition of the business plan.

Thales Alenia Space, the joint venture between Thales (67%) and Leonardo (33%), and Hispasat, Redeia’s satellite services operator, have announced the start of the development, manufacturing, verification, and validation phase of the QKD-GEO prototype, Spain’s quantum key distribution system from geostationary orbit. With a budget of 103.5 m euros, the QKD-GEO mission is a project initiated by the Spanish Secretary of State for Telecommunications and Digital Infrastructures and funded by European funds from the Recovery, Transformation, and Resilience Plan (PERTE Aeroespacial), for which contracting is managed by CDTI.

A paradigm shift in secure communications

The advent of quantum computers is providing much greater computational power than traditional computers for specific problems, including prime factor decomposition, which is the basis for current non-symmetric cryptography. This will lead to a paradigm shift in secure communications, as it will be possible for hackers with quantum computers to decrypt current encryptions in a matter of seconds. As such, it is essential to develop a system that allows information to be sent with the necessary safeguards in governmental communications (both civil and military), critical infrastructure management and economically, environmentally and technologically relevant services, as well as in large corporations. This technology also represents a first step towards a future quantum internet, which will represent a radical leap in global communications.

Quantum key distribution through an optical communications system makes it possible to confirm with certainty if the keys have been intercepted, as the integrity of communications is verified continuously thanks to the quantum properties of photons. Today, technology does not allow the use of fiber-optic-based connections for quantum communications for distances over hundreds of kilometers. However, the use of satellites for quantum key distribution is capable of covering large distances, as signal attenuation is lower in free space. Specifically, geostationary coverage at an altitude of 36,786 km, unlike other orbits, makes it possible to establish communications between entire continents with a single satellite, continuously and without the need for complex signal-tracking systems. (Source: ASD Network)

22 Jan 25. New Cluster Set to Propel Denmark’s Space Industry to New Heights. The satellite and space industry is experiencing rapid growth—not just in Northern Denmark but worldwide. To accelerate this growth and drive job creation, Space Connect North has been established. The cluster’s members include Aalborg University, Gatehouse Satcom, Sternula, Necas, Rohde & Schwarz Technology Center, Satlab, Spacecom, GOMspace, Danphone, Invest in Aalborg, Keysight Technologies, Trusted, Hytek, PRI-DANA Elektronik, Cobham Satcom, and Quadsat. Together, they aim to collaborate and expand their reach to attract more international customers and technology partnerships. Most of these companies already have advanced technologies orbiting Earth, demonstrating their capabilities as “space-proven” industry leaders. For Gatehouse Satcom, a founding member based in Nørresundby, Denmark, the cluster is vital to amplifying the commercial momentum that the region’s space companies are already experiencing.

“To my knowledge, there’s no other place in Europe where so many established space and satellite companies are located in such a concentrated area. This makes Northern Denmark a natural destination for global companies seeking products, technology, or research collaborations,” says Kenney Schmidt Christiansen, CEO of Gatehouse Satcom.

Academic Collaboration for Innovation

Aalborg University, another founding partner, sees the cluster as an opportunity to link academia and industry. Professor Petar Popovski, a global authority in communication technology, emphasizes the benefits:

“Aalborg University educates a significant number of students with competencies relevant to the space and satellite industry. Through this cluster, we can align research and education with industry demands and involve businesses in shaping our research agenda. Additionally, the cluster will attract more space-focused students to the region,” says Popovski. Earlier this year, he received DKK 60 m from the Danish National Research Foundation to establish a Center of Excellence in quantum communication technology.

Strengthening Denmark’s Space Ecosystem

For global players like Rohde & Schwarz, the world’s second-largest satellite testing company, the cluster presents an excellent opportunity to deepen collaboration and enhance the industry’s strengths.

“Northern Denmark’s space companies are already significant players in the global market. However, the industry is evolving rapidly, and the cluster will facilitate knowledge-sharing, cross-industry collaboration, and further strengthen the region’s leadership in space technology,” says Kristian Sørensen, Technical Director at Rohde & Schwarz Technology Center in Aalborg.

Talent Attraction and Job Creation

A key benefit of Space Connect North is the establishment of a centralized job portal for member companies.

“While Aalborg University produces excellent talent, we also need to attract highly skilled professionals from across Denmark and the world. Our shared job portal will give potential employees confidence that they are joining not just one company but an entire ecosystem of exciting opportunities,” explains Claus Svendsen, HR Director at Gatehouse Satcom.

About Space Connect North

Space Connect North is a neutral facilitator fostering collaboration between businesses, universities, and research institutions to drive innovation and economic growth in digital space technologies. The cluster focuses on developing critical technologies for space applications, including Arctic and maritime operations. It also aims to enhance the region’s visibility, attract talent, and influence the creation of new educational programs tailored to the space industry. Learn more at www.spaceconnectnorth.com.

21 Jan 25. General Atomics Successfully Tests Nuclear Thermal Propulsion Reactor Fuel at NASA Marshall Space Flight Center. General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems (GA-EMS) announced today that it has successfully executed several significant high-impact tests at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) to advance the development of Nuclear Thermal Propulsion (NTP) reactor technology for rapid, agile cislunar transportation and deep space missions, including human missions to Mars. Tests were conducted in collaboration with NASA to verify the ability of the GA-EMS design-specific nuclear fuel to meet the high-performance specifications required to withstand the extreme operational conditions expected in space.

“The recent testing results represent a critical milestone in the successful demonstration of fuel design for NTP reactors,” said Scott Forney, president of GA-EMS. “Fuel must survive extremely high temperatures and the hot hydrogen gas environment that an NTP reactor operating in space would typically encounter. We’re very encouraged by the positive test results proving the fuel can survive these operational conditions, moving us closer to realizing the potential of safe, reliable nuclear thermal propulsion for cislunar and deep space missions.”

GA-EMS executed several high-impact tests at NASA’s MSFC in Huntsville, AL. The nuclear fuel was tested with hot hydrogen flow through the samples and subjected to six thermal cycles that rapidly ramped-up to a peak temperature of 2600 K (Kelvin) or 4220° Fahrenheit. Each cycle included a 20-minute hold at peak performance to demonstrate the effectiveness of shielding the fuel material from erosion and degradation by the hot hydrogen. Additional tests were performed with varying protective features to provide further data on how different material enhancements improve performance under reactor-like conditions.

“To the best of our knowledge, we are the first company to use the compact fuel element environmental test (CFEET) facility at NASA MSFC to successfully test and demonstrate the survivability of fuel after thermal cycling in hydrogen representative temperatures and ramp rates,” said Dr. Christina Back, vice president of GA-EMS Nuclear Technologies and Materials. “We’ve also conducted tests in a non-hydrogen environment at our GA-EMS laboratory, which confirmed the fuel performed exceptionally well at temperatures up to 3000 K, which would enable the NTP system to be two-to-three times more efficient than conventional chemical rocket engines. We are excited to continue our collaboration with NASA as we mature and test the fuel to meet the performance requirements for future cislunar and Mars mission architectures.”

GA-EMS conducted testing for NASA under a contract managed by Battelle Energy Alliance (BEA) – Idaho National Lab (INL). (Source: ASD Network)

21 Jan 25. Trump likely to axe space council after SpaceX lobbying, sources say.. President Donald Trump’s new administration is likely to do away with the White House’s National Space Council, a cabinet policy panel that lobbyists at Elon Musk’s SpaceX have been pushing to axe, according to three people familiar with the plans. Trump’s aides and SpaceX’s top lobbyist Mat Dunn in recent months have told associates they see the space council as a “waste of time”, according to the sources, stirring doubts about its fate and whether Vice President JD Vance would have an interest in chairing it as required by law. Following Trump’s election victory, his team did not contact the space council, chaired by Kamala Harris, as it did with NASA and other agencies over transition plans, one of the sources said. The council’s staff offices near the White House have mostly been emptied, the source said. Dunn, SpaceX and the heads of former President Joe Biden’s space council did not respond to requests for comment. (Source: Reuters)

17 Jan 25. SpaceX faces US regulatory probe after Starship rocket explodes. SpaceX has been ordered to pause launches of its Starship rocket while the company and the Federal Aviation Administration probe the cause of an explosion shortly after lift-off in Texas on Thursday. “The FAA is requiring SpaceX to perform a mishap investigation into the loss of the Starship vehicle,” the regulator said on Friday. “There are no reports of public injury, and the FAA is working with SpaceX and appropriate authorities to confirm reports of public property damage on Turks and Caicos.” Dozens of flights were slowed, diverted or delayed by the FAA as the debris fell from the explosion in space above the northern Caribbean region. Videos posted on social media showed it spectacularly disintegrating in a shower of flames. SpaceX described the incident as “a rapid unscheduled disassembly”, with initial data indicating a fire developed in the aft, or back, section. The debris had fallen “into the Atlantic Ocean within the predefined hazard areas”. The failure “served as a reminder that development testing by definition is unpredictable”, SpaceX added. Elon Musk said “success is uncertain, but entertainment is guaranteed” in reply to videos of the incident. The incident was a setback for Musk’s $350bn space technology company just hours after a successful launch by rival Jeff Bezos’s Blue Origin. However, SpaceX did manage to execute another successful “catch” of the flight’s reusable rocket booster stage in its giant “Mechazilla” robotic arms on its return to Earth. In a post on his social media platform X, Musk said the main rocket’s failure might have been due to an oxygen or fuel leak in the firewall of the ship’s engine, adding: “Nothing so far suggests pushing next launch past next month.” Debris from the SpaceX rocket is spotted over the Turks and Caicos Islands © Marcus Haworth via Reuters The FAA said that it “will be involved in every step of the SpaceX-led mishap investigation process and must approve [the] final report, including any corrective actions”. (Source: FT.com)

14 Jan 25. WISeKey’s WISeSat satellite powered by SEALSQ post-quantum security successfully launched. WISeKey International Holding (NASDAQ: WKEY; SIX: WIHN), alongside its subsidiaries WISeSat.Space (“WISeSat”) and SEALSQ Corp (NASDAQ: LAES) (“SEALSQ”), have successfully launched their next-generation WISeSat satellite, equipped with post-quantum-ready security and SEALSQ semiconductors. The satellite was launched by SpaceX aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. The Two-Line Element set (TLE), a data format used to describe the orbit of Earth-orbiting objects such as satellites, for this satellite is:

1 99918U 24001F 25014.82552859 .00000000 00000-0 -12617-3 0 9990

2 99918 97.4388 92.5046 0003489 26.8233 333.4162 15.17165894 1001

This historic event marks a significant milestone in the advancement of quantum-resilient technologies. The satellite is part of WISeSat’s initiative to provide real-time, secure IoT connectivity via a constellation of post-quantum-ready satellites, further demonstrating the viability of post-quantum cybersecurity in space environments.

WISeSat has announced it plans to launch an additional five, next-generation satellites in 2025. Each satellite will feature incremental advancements by SEALSQ in post-quantum cryptography and secure communication technologies, further solidifying the Company’s leadership in satellite-based IoT solutions.

Additionally, the satellites feature WISeKey’s WISeID identity management system, a platform for authenticating connected devices, and Hedera distributed ledger technology to provide a decentralized framework for maintaining data integrity and transparency across the network.

The WISeSat satellite leverages WISeKey’s Root of Trust and SEALSQ’s Post-Quantum Cryptographic Chips, ensuring state-of-the-art protection against the rising threats posed by quantum computing. This integration solidifies WISeSat as a leader in the secure satellite communication domain, delivering unmatched cybersecurity for IoT networks worldwide.

Carlos Moreira, Founder and CEO of WISeKey, said, “This launch signifies a groundbreaking leap in our efforts to secure the future of digital communications against quantum threats. By embedding SEALSQ’s post-quantum chips into our WISeSat satellite, we are reinforcing the trustworthiness of digital communications from Earth to space.”

WISeSat is WISeKey’s satellite subsidiary, addressing the growing demand for secure, real-time connectivity across industries such as government, finance, logistics, agriculture, energy, and critical infrastructure management. By leveraging nanosatellite technology, WISeSat provides low-cost, scalable solutions that ensure global coverage and end-to-end security.

Innovative Features of WISeSat

Post-Quantum Readiness: Equipped with SEALSQ’s cryptographic chips to protect against quantum computing advances.
Global IoT Connectivity: Enables seamless IoT communication, even in remote regions.
End-to-End Security: Uses WISeKey’s Root of Trust for robust data encryption and authentication.
Cost-Effective and Scalable: Nanosatellite design reduces costs while providing scalability for industries.

WISeSat Outlook

WISeKey aims to expand the WISeSat satellite constellation and enhance its capabilities by:

Increasing satellite coverage for higher bandwidth and redundancy.
Integrating AI-driven analytics for real-time data processing.
Developing hybrid terrestrial-satellite solutions for seamless, secure connectivity.

Satellite location: wisesat.wisekey.com/?tags=WISeSat (Source: Satnews)

16 Jan 25. Exolaunch delivers 34 satellites to orbit during the Transporter-12 Rideshare Mission with SpaceX. Exolaunch has successfully delivered 34 satellites into orbit during the Transporter-12 rideshare mission with SpaceX which launched from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California on January 14, 2025 at 11:09 am PT. This event marks Exolaunch’s first launch of 2025 and the company’s 32nd mission overall, continuing the company’s track record of providing reliable and precise satellite integration and deployment services. Exolaunch’s satellites on the mission included 20 cubesats and 14 microsats for its customers across 17 countries. These satellites represent a wide range of missions, including Earth observation, climate monitoring, connectivity, and scientific research. Using its flight-proven CarboNIX separation rings and EXOpod Nova deployers, Exolaunch successfully deployed over 1,500 kg of satellite mass into orbit, each on a mission to improve life on Earth. Additionally, multiple other deployments are planned in the weeks following launch.

“Our first mission of 2025 sets the stage for another active year at Exolaunch,” said Jeanne Allarie, chief commercial officer at Exolaunch.

“Transporter-12 is a testament to the trust our customers place in us and the strength of our partnership with SpaceX. We are proud to support the success of such a diverse group of missions.”

Exolaunch provided its end-to-end services in launch procurement, mission management, global shipping and logistics, integration, and hardware to the following customers:

AlainSat-1 (United Arab Emirates University)
Balkan-1 (EnduroSat)
BRO-16 (Unseenlabs)
BUZZZER-1 (Unseenlabs)
constellr SkyBee 1 (Constellr)
EDISON-1 (Space Inventor)
Firefly-1, Firefly-2, Firefly-3 (Pixxel)
Fledgling Veery “Barb” (Care Weather)
GARAI-A (Satlantis)
GESat GEN1 (Kongsberg NanoAvionics, Absolut Sensing)
HCT-SAT1 (Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre)
ICEYE 2 (ICEYE)
ICEYE 3 (ICEYE)
ICEYE 4 (ICEYE)
InnoCube (TU Berlin)
IRIS-F2, IRIS-F3 (Satoro)
LEMUR 2 WILSON, LEMUR 2 ALISIA, LEMUR 2 ROUNDTRIPPER, LEMUR 2 MYNAMEISJEFF (Spire)
OroraTech FOREST-3 (Ororatech)
SCOT (OrbAstro)
TROLL (TRL Space)

In addition, Exolaunch provided hardware and integration services for the following satellites:

FGN-100-d1 (Fergani)
HEO-01 (Argotec)
NewSat-45 (Satellogic)
Pelican-1.5 (Planet)
SIGI (Reflex Aerospace)
TATO, BlueBon (via Impulse Space’s Orbital Transfer Vehicle)

(Source: Satnews)

————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————–

Founded in 2017, MatrixSpace is creating the next generation of artificial intelligence enabled sensing solutions to digitize the outdoors beyond the limits of human perception.

The company combines novel artificial intelligence and radar technologies to identify movement and provide context in real-time. MatrixSpace sensors are the smallest, lightest and most portable high-performance systems on the market powered by AI. They deliver actionable insights that empower a broad range of public and private enterprises to protect assets and maintain safety with superior situational awareness.

For the modern, mobile battlespace, MatrixSpace provides both high performance 4D radar and jam-resistant mesh networked communications engineered to perform in the harshest conditions—day or night, in any weather, and in remote, rugged locations. Designed for flexibility, our radar systems can be integrated with tactical vehicles or mounted on structures like buildings, TOCs, or stanchions. Offering 360° coverage, they provide unmatched field-of-view advantages, while low energy consumption allows for solar/battery-powered operation in off-grid environments at twice the duration and a fraction the cost of alternatives. The MatrixSpace AI platform removes clutter and classifies objects, so operators can act confidently without specialized radar expertise.

The MatrixSpace expeditionary radar kit fits in a standard daypack and contains everything needed to deliver actionable detections to an ATAK mobile device in less than 5 mins.

MatrixSpace solutions are designed and developed in the United States, without ITAR export restrictions, manufactured under the highest ISO and IATF standards and rigorously tested for quality, reliability and compliance.

Visit maxtrixspace.com

SATELLITE SYSTEMS, SATCOM AND SPACE SYSTEMS UPDATE

January 17, 2025 by

Sponsored by MatrixSpace

http://matrixspace.com

——————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————-

16 Jan 25. Govini, the software company that accelerates the defense acquisition process, today announced the U.S. Space Force (USSF) awarded Ark—Govini’s flagship platform—Impact Level 5 (IL5) Authority to Operate (ATO). In addition to enabling more comprehensive data integration, individual USSF agencies and programs can now more rapidly evaluate and deploy Ark as a result of this authorization.

“Guardians need the best possible capabilities delivered as quickly as possible in order to secure the largest and most complex theater,” said Govini CEO Tara Murphy Dougherty. “This ATO makes the seamless integration of Govini’s best-in-class data with DoD programs possible—unlocking powerful new capabilities in Ark to help the Space Force develop better tech, accelerate production, strengthen sustainment, and ultimately field capabilities faster. This ATO is a massive win for Guardians and the entire Defense Acquisition ecosystem.”

Ark is a suite of AI-enabled Applications that plays a pivotal role in mission-critical missions throughout the Department of Defense and other federal agencies.

The Space Systems Command’s (SSC) Aerospace Research Development Test & Evaluation (RDT&E) decision to award the ATO underscores Ark’s leading security standards and robust risk mitigation.

Already widely deployed across the Defense Acquisition community, Ark is now fully approved to integrate Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) to further support critical missions and expand the unrivaled range of workflows that users can execute in Govini’s platform.

The DoD’s Impact Levels categorize and define the sensitivity of data and associated security requirements, with an IL5 being the highest level for CUI. Achieving an IL5 PA involves a stringent pre-screening, assessment, validation, and authorization process.

About Govini

Govini builds software to accelerate the Defense Acquisition Process. Ark, Govini’s flagship product, is a suite of AI-enabled applications, powered by integrated government and commercial data, that solves problems across the entire spectrum of Defense Acquisition, including Supply Chain, Science & Technology, Production, Sustainment, and Modernization. With Ark, the Acquisition community eliminates slow, manual processes and gains the ability to rapidly imagine, produce, and field critical warfighting capabilities. Ark transforms Defense Acquisition into a strategic advantage for the United States. (Source: PR Newswire)

16 Jan 25. Sierra Space, a leading commercial space company and defense-tech prime that is Building a Platform in Space to Benefit Life on Earth® and protect economic freedom in the Orbital Age®, announced today a key development milestone for the company’s Resilient GPS (R-GPS) program, marked by the successful completion of Systems Requirements Review (SRR). The SRR completion comes after the program’s kickoff in September and is a notable moment for Sierra Space’s national security program, with the ultimate goal of benefiting civilians and military operations through the protection of U.S. satellites.

GPS technology relies on satellite infrastructure and supports everything from ride-share and food delivery apps for civilians to critical navigation for military and defense operations. The increasing sophistication of adversarial threats, however, such as jamming and spoofing, necessitates advancements in GPS resilience. The U.S. Space Force’s (USSF) R-GPS program plans to address these challenges by integrating proliferated small satellites into the existing GPS architecture. Sierra Space’s expertise in small satellite technology and rapid deployment provides a competitive edge in achieving this goal.

“The successful Systems Requirements Review of our R-GPS program is a proof point for Sierra Space technology and a notable commercial milestone with our DoD customers,” said Erik Daehler, Vice President of Defense, Satellites & Spacecraft Systems at Sierra Space. “We are focused on efficiency and speed of development to outpace adversaries. The quick turnaround of two months from R-GPS program launch to this next step of development is exactly the speed at which commercial space companies should be moving. We look forward to the next phase of our R-GPS program and getting our satellite technology into orbit.”

Sierra Space announced in September a “Quick Start” R-GPS contract awarded by the U.S. Space Force Space Systems Command to produce design concepts for smaller, more cost-effective GPS satellites. Sierra Space was selected for this initial award due to the company’s innovative and integrated commercial concepts. The R-GPS program has been expedited under “Quick Start” authority granted by Congress under Section 229 of the National Defense Authorization Act. This authority allows for rapid response to emerging threats or technologies, enabling the U.S. Space Force to initiate new programs more swiftly.

“GPS is vital for everything from financial markets to civilian navigation,” said Lt. Col. Justin Deifel, head of the U.S. Space Force’s R-GPS program. “It’s a utility – like water or electricity – and we need to make sure it’s resilient for civilians and warfighters alike, so they have access to GPS when they need it most.”

Sierra Space’s strategic engagement in the R-GPS program underscores its commitment to delivering high-impact, innovative satellite solutions for defense applications. By leveraging its expertise in small satellite technology, rapid deployment capabilities, and advanced signal processing, Sierra Space aims to play a pivotal role in strengthening U.S. national security.

(Source: BUSINESS WIRE)

17 Jan 25. SpaceX’s Starship explodes in flight test, forcing airlines to divert.

SpaceX debris hurtles over Haiti after rocket failure

Summary
Companies
Starship prototype fails after launch from Texas, forces airlines to alter course
Upper stage anomaly leads to loss of Starship
Super Heavy booster successfully returns to launchpad
Starship had multiple upgrades, poised to deploy mock satellites

A SpaceX Starship rocket broke up in space minutes after launching from Texas on Thursday, forcing airline flights over the Gulf of Mexico to alter course to avoid falling debris and setting back Elon Musk’s flagship rocket program.

SpaceX mission control lost contact with the newly upgraded Starship, carrying its first test payload of mock satellites but no crew, eight minutes after liftoff from its South Texas rocket facilities at 5:38 p.m. EST (2238 GMT).

Video shot by Reuters showed orange balls of light streaking across the sky over the Haitian capital of Port-au-Prince, leaving trails of smoke behind.

“We did lose all communications with the ship – that is essentially telling us we had an anomaly with the upper stage,” SpaceX Communications Manager Dan Huot said, confirming minutes later that the ship was lost.

The last time a Starship upper stage failed was in March last year, as it was reentering Earth’s atmosphere over the Indian Ocean, but rarely has a SpaceX mishap caused widespread disruptions to air traffic. (Source: Reuters)

15 Jan 25. Novaspace, the leading space consulting and market intelligence firm, has released the 24th edition of its annual Government Space Programs (GSP) report. The report reveals that global government space investments reached approximately $135bn in 2024, a 10% increase compared to 2023. Defense spending, now the majority of budgets at $73bn (54%), underscores space’s growing importance as a contested and strategic domain.

The report highlights the increasing number of countries ramping up investments in the space sector. While the U.S. continues to lead global government spending, its share has declined from over 75% in 2000 to 59% in 2024, reflecting rising investments from China and other nations.

Defense Programs Dominate Investments

The widening gap underscores the growing emphasis on defense-focused space programs, as space emerges as a pivotal domain for achieving strategic autonomy alongside maritime, aerial, and cyber arenas. With the rising importance of space assets, more nations are establishing dedicated space forces and commands while simultaneously enhancing their operational capabilities to address evolving challenges. In this context, governments are bolstering defense capabilities, with investments in Security, Early Warning, Telecommunications, Navigation, and Earth Observation (EO).

Civil Investments: Human Spaceflight Leads the Way

On the civil side, Human Spaceflight remains the largest category of global government space investment in 2024. Traditionally, leading spacefaring nations and organizations have dominated the budgets for crewed and uncrewed scientific missions and exploration programs. However, this trend is evolving as more countries recognize the strategic and economic advantages of participating in space exploration activities. “The surge in government space budgets reflects the strategic importance of space,” said Charlotte Croison, Manager at Novaspace. “Governments worldwide are not only expanding their capabilities to secure their assets in orbit but are leveraging space to enhance their geopolitical standing and foster economic growth.”

Outlook for Government Space Budgets

The Government Space Programs report anticipates a deceleration in the growth of public space expenditures in the coming years. Faced with fiscal pressures such as economic constraints and competing policy priorities, Novaspace projects that government space budgets will stabilize, growing at a modest rate of approximately 1% annually through the end of the decade. Stabilizing budgets could, however, benefit from enhanced collaboration with the commercial sector. Governments are increasingly adopting a “Buy Before Build” approach, focusing on procuring commercial services from qualified vendors rather than developing custom hardware. This strategy optimizes costs while harnessing advanced capabilities.

Global Government Space Program Expenditures in 2024 (in $ Ms): $135 Bn Total Investment*

*Only countries with a budget of at least $10 m are included on the map. European country budgets reflect contributions to ESA, ESO, and Eumetsat.

About the Report

The 24th edition of the Government Space Programs report, authored by Charlotte Croison, Manager at Novaspace, provides a comprehensive assessment of government space expenditures and programs across more than 90 countries and international organizations. It includes detailed analysis of both defense and civil domains, forecasts through 2033 and tools to benchmark programs using metrics like Purchasing Power Parity (PPP), per capita spending, and budget comparisons as a percentage of GDP. Access a free extract here: Download Free Extract.

About Novaspace

Novaspace is a global leader in space consulting and market intelligence, formed through the merger of Euroconsult and SpaceTec Partners. This strategic move combines the distinctive strengths of both entities to significantly amplify our international presence and service capabilities. With over 40-year legacy of expertise in guiding public and private entities in strategic decision-making, Novaspace offers end-to-end consulting services, from project strategy definition to implementation, providing data-led perspectives on critical issues. Novaspace presents an expanded portfolio of services, featuring combined expertise in management and technology consulting, top-tier executive summits, and market intelligence. Trusted by

1,200 clients in over 60 countries, with offices strategically located in Brussels, London, Montreal, Munich,

Paris, Singapore, Sydney, Tokyo, Toulouse, and Washington D.C.

16 Jan 25. Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket reaches orbit in first test. Successful flight puts Jeff Bezos’s space venture on a path to compete with Elon Musk’s SpaceX. Jeff Bezos’s Blue Origin launched its New Glenn rocket into orbit early Thursday, in a critical milestone that comes some 25 years after the bnaire founded the company with the goal of reducing the cost of access to space. The 320-foot-tall, two-stage rocket, named for John Glenn, the first American to reach orbit, lifted off in its first test flight at 2:03 a.m. from Launch Complex 36 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. The vehicle was not carrying people or satellites, but rather a suite of technologies to be used in a spacecraft the company calls Blue Ring, which would service satellites and spacecraft in space. New Glenn is designed to be partially reusable, and while Blue Origin tried to land its booster stage on a ship at sea, the attempt was not successful. Three of the booster’s engines relit to slow the vehicle down as it approached a ship at sea several hundred miles out in the Atlantic Ocean, but the booster was lost. It was not immediately clear what happened, Ariane Cornell, Blue Origin’s vice president of in-space systems, said during the company’s live broadcast of the mission.

“We didn’t have booster landing, but man, we got close,” Cornell said.

As for the landing attempt, success “would be icing on the cake,” Bezos said in a brief interview before the mission. “It’s probably a little crazy to attempt to land booster on the first flight. But, you know what, if we have failure today, at any point in the mission, we’ll pick ourselves up and do it again.” He called the flight “a giant moment for sure.” (Bezos owns The Washington Post.)

“Getting to orbit is hard,” Cornell said. “There are not many countries, companies … that have ever been to orbit and, y’all, we did it on our first go. Congratulations. That is huge.”

The flight is also a key step toward getting certified by the Pentagon to launch national security missions. In June, the Defense Department selected Blue Origin, along with SpaceX and the United Launch Alliance, the joint venture of Lockheed Martin and Boeing, to launch the next batch of missions that combined are worth $5.6 bn. Before it can fly any of those, however, New Glenn must first demonstrate it can safely and reliably.

New Glenn’s flight had been delayed repeatedly. Initially, high seas made the rocket landing on the boat difficult, if not impossible. An attempt early Monday was called off after repeated delays as the company struggled with technical issues. It finally called off the flight after it was unable to resolve what it called “a vehicle subsystem issue.” It later said in a post Monday evening on X that the delay was caused by “ice forming in a purge line on an auxiliary power unit that powers some of our hydraulic systems.”

Bezos has been trying to inject a sense of urgency into his space venture, which has lagged well behind Elon Musk’s SpaceX. SpaceX first successfully launched a rocket to orbit in 2008. Since then, it has dominated the launch market, winning bns of dollars in contracts from NASA, the Pentagon and commercial satellite providers.

Share this articleShare

Musk, in a social media post shortly after the launch, congratulated Bezos for “reaching orbit on the first attempt.” (Source: Washington Post)

15 Jan 25. ICEYE, the global leader in synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellite operations for high-fidelity Earth Observation, persistent monitoring, and natural catastrophe solutions, has successfully launched and deployed four new SAR satellites into orbit. The satellites were integrated via Exolaunch and successfully lifted off on January 14 aboard the Transporter-12 Rideshare mission with SpaceX from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, USA. Each spacecraft has established communication, and early routine operations are underway. Including today’s launch, ICEYE has launched 44 satellites into orbit for the company and its customers since 2018. ICEYE now exclusively launches satellites that deliver 25 cm resolution, the highest fidelity in the industry. ICEYE plans to launch more than 20 new satellites annually in 2025 and beyond. The new satellites serve both ICEYE’s commercial and dedicated customer missions and were manufactured by ICEYE in Finland and by ICEYE US in the United States. The satellites include the second ICEYE satellite for Space42, a UAE-based AI-powered SpaceTech company with a global reach, for the company’s previously announced Earth Observation Space Program.

“Through the continuous and reliable deployment of new satellites into the ICEYE constellation, we are reinforcing our leadership position in Earth Observation. ICEYE’s revolutionary satellites have a ground-breaking combination of capabilities – smaller size and high performance – which ICEYE as the only company in the market can deliver to customers. Our team is focused on our commitment to working as a trusted partner for governments and industries worldwide. With today’s announcement, we also celebrate the launch of the second ICEYE satellite for Space42, and we look forward to further successful collaboration on their missions and developing the UAE’s space capabilities,” said Rafal Modrzewski, CEO and Co-Founder of ICEYE.

Hasan Al Hosani, CEO of Bayanat Smart Solutions, Space42, said: “Foresight-2 has furthered the UAE’s position as a global leader in satellite-based Earth observation, while enabling us to strengthen our credentials as a multi-orbit satellite operator. Through the SAR constellation, we continue to drive the development of our local satellite manufacturing capabilities, while boosting nation-wide preparedness for emergency response; ensuring we deliver maximum value to our customers in the region and beyond”.

The new satellites further expand the world’s largest SAR constellation, owned and operated by ICEYE. SAR satellites can image any location on the Earth’s surface in any environmental condition, day or night. SAR data provides precise, near real-time insights for ICEYE’s government and commercial customers.

ICEYE’s previous launch in December 2024 successfully deployed two new satellites into the constellation. During 2024 ICEYE successfully launched nine new satellites.

16 Jan 25. Rocket Factory Augsburg (RFA), a European leader in developing flexible and low-cost launch services, proudly announces that it has officially received its spaceflight operator licence from the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). In combination with the spaceport licence and the range control licence from SaxaVord Spaceport, all three critical regulatory licences required for a test flight in 2025 from Scotland are therefore granted. With this regulatory green light in place, RFA is now shifting its focus to the final technical preparations for the first test flight. The company has already completed major development milestones, including the successful flight qualification of the RFA ONE’s second stage, its advanced Redshift orbital transfer vehicle (OTV), and its payload fairing system. The remaining efforts are centred on building the rocket´s first stage with nine Helix staged-combustion engines, and conducting a full hot fire test on the launch pad at SaxaVord Spaceport, Scotland.

“This is a groundbreaking moment for RFA and for Europe’s space industry,” said Jörn Spurmann, Co-founder and Chief Commercial Officer of RFA. “Securing the first-ever launch licence outside ESA’s established site in Kourou is not just a regulatory milestone – it’s a powerful endorsement of our technical excellence and a turning point for European space innovation. This licence marks Europe’s bold step toward independent, competitive, and sustainable space access. By enabling cost-effective and flexible launches from European main land, we are laying the foundation for a new era of space exploration and commercialization, ensuring Europe remains at the forefront of the global space race. Together with the CAA and our partners, we are driving the future of accessible and reliable spaceflight, unlocking opportunities that will shape industries and inspire generations.”

Rob Bishton, CEO of the UK Civil Aviation Authority, said: “This is a new era for aerospace and granting the first vertical launch licence from UK soil builds towards a historic milestone for the nation. This licence is the culmination of extensive hard work behind the scenes to put appropriate safety and environmental measures in place before launch. Through effective licensing and regulation we are enabling the expanding the space sector to reach new heights.”

Matt Archer, UK Space Agency Director of Launch, ISAM, and Space Sustainability said: “This licence approval is a landmark moment, as it signals the start of vertical rocket launches from European soil. The achievement, driven by effective collaboration between RFA, SaxaVord Spaceport, the regulator and government partners, highlights the growing strength of the UK’s launch capabilities and our international relationships. What’s more, ambitious companies like RFA are creating high-skilled jobs, catalysing investment, and inspiring the next generation to see their future in space.”

As Europe strives for greater autonomy and flexibility in space access, the RFA spaceflight operator license highlights the importance of developing privately driven, innovative solutions to meet the rapidly growing demand for satellite launches. The upcoming test flight of RFA ONE will position RFA as a key player in Europe’s spaceflight ambitions, providing a reliable and affordable launch service for small satellites, right from European mainland.

13 Jan 25. Pixxel to launch India’s first private satellite network, eyes $19bn market.

Summary
Companies
First batch of launch consists of three spacecraft Plans 24 satellites for the constellationLaunch on Jan. 14 aboard SpaceX rocket, subject to approvals

India’s Pixxel is set to launch three of its six hyperspectral imaging satellites aboard a SpaceX rocket from California on Tuesday, the first such network in the country’s nascent private space sector, Pixxel’s chief told Reuters. The satellites will be placed in a sun-synchronous orbit at roughly 550 km, with the remaining three slated for deployment in the second quarter of the year. The launch is scheduled to take place at the Vandenberg Space Force Base at around 10:45 a.m. Pacific Time (1845 GMT) on Tuesday – just after midnight the next day in India – subject to final approvals. Pixxel’s founder and chief executive Awais Ahmed told Reuters that it plans to add 18 more spacecraft to the six it has already developed, eyeing a share of the satellite imaging market projected to reach $19 bn by 2029. The launch is a milestone for India’s nascent private space sector and for Google-backed Pixxel, a five-year-old startup. It aims to use hyperspectral imaging — a technology that captures highly detailed data across hundreds of light bands — to serve industries such as agriculture, mining, environmental monitoring, and defence. (Source: Reuters)

13 Jan 25. Bezos sees no threat from Musk-Trump ties in space race.

Summary

Bezos optimistic about Trump space agenda
Bezos says he trusts Musk’s public interest motive
New Glenn launch delayed, aims to compete with SpaceX
Trump may shift NASA focus from moon to Mars

Jeff Bezos does not think SpaceX CEO Elon Musk will use his close ties with U.S. President-elect Donald Trump to undercut Bezos’ rival space company Blue Origin, and was “very optimistic” about the incoming administration’s space agenda. The inaugural launch of Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket, tasked with eventually launching the company’s moon lander for NASA, was due early on Monday after several delays, but was postponed for at least another day due to a last-minute issue with the vehicle. New Glenn is a 30-story-tall rocket that is expected to chip away at SpaceX’s market dominance and kickstart Blue Origin’s long-delayed entrance in the satellite launch business.

“Elon has been very clear that he’s doing this for the public interest and not for his personal gain. And I take him at face value,” Bezos, founder of Blue Origin, told Reuters on Sunday. (Source: Reuters)

10 Jan 25. Rocket Lab completes PDR for US SDA’s T2TL-Beta programme. This move is a step forward in Rocket Lab’s role as the prime contractor responsible for delivering 18 data transport satellites. Rocket Lab National Security has successfully completed the Preliminary Design Review (PDR) for the Space Development Agency’s (SDA) Tranche 2 Transport Layer (T2TL)-Beta programme. This achievement is a step forward in the company’s role as the prime contractor responsible for delivering 18 data transport satellites. This is a part of the US Department of Defense’s proliferated warfighter space architecture. The completion of the PDR allows Rocket Lab to progress into the detailed design phase of the $515m contract secured in January 2024. The contract tasks Rocket Lab with the design, integration, testing, and commissioning of the T2TL-Beta satellites. Leading a team of payload providers, Rocket Lab is set to enhance the capacity of the PWSA, a low-Earth orbit satellite constellation aimed at providing secure, low-latency communications and missile tracking capabilities. The PDR, a multi-day evaluation, confirmed that the satellite design aligns with mission requirements and laid the groundwork for subsequent production, testing, and operational stages. The review encompassed various aspects of the mission, including architecture, space vehicle design, launch and operation strategies, and integration and testing plans. The 18 satellites will incorporate Rocket Lab’s in-house subsystems and components, such as solar panels, composite structures, and avionics, ensuring a high level of vertical integration. This approach grants Rocket Lab considerable control over its supply chain, leading to efficiencies and certainty regarding cost, schedule, and quality. Previously, in August 2023, the SDA selected two defence contractors to develop a prototype for the Tranche 2 Transport Layer as part of this initiative. (Source: airforce-technology.com)

10 Jan 25. Bezos’ Blue Origin’s New Glenn debut to pose long-awaited challenge to SpaceX.

Summary
Companies
New Glenn launch to mark Blue Origin’s first trek to orbit
New Glenn would rival SpaceX’s Falcon 9, Starship rockets
U.S. Space Force eyeing the mission for future national security

Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin is set for an inaugural launch of its giant New Glenn rocket on Sunday, a long-awaited first leap to Earth orbit that sets up one of the biggest challenges yet to industry dominance enjoyed by Elon Musk’s SpaceX. Standing 30 stories tall, New Glenn has been a core focus for Blue Origin since the beginning of its decade-long development, representing a multibn-dollar effort to sate demand for satellite constellation launches and snatch market share from SpaceX’s workhorse Falcon 9. If successful in its debut, New Glenn can later start launching Amazon’s (AMZN.O) broadband internet satellite constellation, Kuiper, that will rival SpaceX’s Starlink network, accelerating competition on another front. Blue Origin for years has launched and landed its much smaller, reusable New Shepard rocket to and from the brim of Earth’s atmosphere. It has yet to send anything into orbit in the 25 years since Bezos founded (Source: Reuters)

10 Jan 25. Italy eyes Musk’s Starlink for secret government communications. Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni has said Italy may employ Elon Musk’s Starlink service to provide encrypted satellite communications to link its military contingents around the world because there is “no public alternative.” Meloni said Starlink offered advanced technology and, unlike European collaborative satellite program IRIS2, was ready.

“This is a European problem,” she said, adding the European Union “did not get there in time to have public technology able to secure this communication.”

Italy is in talks with Starlink, part of Musk’s SpaceX aerospace business, to use its 6,700 satellite constellation in a reported five-year, €1.5 bn ($1.55 bn) deal.

“Space X has illustrated to the government its technology that allows secure communication nationally and globally which means for us guaranteed communications with our diplomats and military missions abroad,” Meloni told reporters in Rome on Thursday.

She said no decision had been made, and that talks were also being held with other private operators, but said Space X had “the most advanced technology.”

She added, “There are no public alternatives.”

Meloni said, “Tomorrow there will probably be public entities able to guarantee the protection of communication. Today there are not.”

On Monday, Elon Musk said he was “ready to provide Italy the most secure and advanced connectivity.”

The European Union has signed to develop an array of 280 satellites known as ISIS2 which will offer encrypted satellite communications to governments, but it will not be ready until at least 2030.

Meloni said that she considered relying on a private operator to protect sensitive military data less than ideal, but could not wait for IRIS2.

“There are two scenarios and neither is optimal,” she said.

Fabiana di Porto, an expert on Innovation and Regulatory policy at Rome’s Luiss University, said, “Musk’s satellites are cheaper than IRIS2 and there are more of them, but the security aspect is important since we are talking about government communications in the hands of a private operator.”

She also pointed out that Italian state-controlled defense champion Leonardo had a stake in IRIS2.

Meloni said that Microsoft had previously worked on data centers in Italy, adding, “no-one complained.”

She said, “Is the problem with Space X that it is private, or is it the political ideas of Elon Musk?”

Handing control of Italy’s military satellite communications to the U.S. tech tycoon has prompted sharp criticism in Italy from opposition politicians given Musk’s recent use of his social media platform X to lambast governments in the U.K. and Germany.

Meloni has forged a friendship with Musk, recently calling him a “genius.”

“I value investments overseas through one lens – national interest – and not through friendships or political ideas,” she said, adding, “I have never talked to Elon Musk of this project.” (Source: Defense News)

09 Jan 25. SpaceX sends off NROL-153 mission from California. SpaceX conducted its first West Coast Falcon 9 launch of the year, which will feature the latest batch of Starshield satellites for the National Reconnaissance Office. The NROL-153 mission is the first launch of the year for the NRO’s proliferated architecture satellite constellation.

Dr. T.J. Lincoln, the director of the NRO’s Mission Operations Directorate at a December meeting at Space Force Association Spacepower Conference, said that the NRO is increasingly moving towards automation in order to better mange the increasingly complex systems.

“The good thing about automation, at least with the proliferated, is it’s being baked in early on. So as the ops lead for the NRO, I’m demanding those things are built into the system because there’s no way to operate multiple hundreds of satellites the same way we do today,” Lincoln said. “The mission management has to happen, the duty cycle tasking has to happen, the re-tasking has to happen automated, with humans on the loop to be able to tweak that to make sure we’re meeting those operational successful needs that we have to.”

The history of launches total six launches using Falcon 9 rockets in 2024 and listed at least five missions planned for 2025:

NROL-153
NROL-57
NROL-192
NROL-48
NROL145

(Source: Satnews)

08 Jan 25. Forrester’s Digest: Viasat gets tough on SpaceX. U.S. satellite operator Viasat has filed a further objection to SpaceX’s plans to start using some of its satellites for Direct-to-Cellular (D2C) services. The filing, ‘Petition for Reconsideration regarding SpaceX SCS Order’, was made on December 27th to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). SCS refers to the FCC’s ‘Supplementary Coverage from Space’ guidelines.

Among other statements, Viasat said, “More generally, the Commission has recognised that it is inappropriate to authorize additional MSS operations without first resolving threshold questions about whether there is sufficient spectrum availability to support such operations, and whether such operations would be compatible with other relevant spectrum uses. As the Bureau recognized in dismissing SpaceX’s earlier requests for 2 GHz MSS and Big LEO Band authority, SpaceX should have attempted to demonstrate that such MSS operations would be feasible through one or more rulemaking proceedings instead of simply asking for operating authority – a course of action that SpaceX itself has conceded is appropriate. There is no basis for the Bureau to reach a different conclusion here – with respect to the 2 GHz MSS Bands or any other portion of the 1429-2690 MHz band.”

Viasat alleges that the FCC has granted Starlink approvals (under its SCS guidelines) to operate without frequency clearances. The company said, “The FCC has long recognized that co-frequency operations by multiple MSS operators are not feasible because such operations generally rely on omnidirectional antennas that cannot discriminate between satellites.” (Source: Satnews)

————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————-

Founded in 2017, MatrixSpace is creating the next generation of artificial intelligence enabled sensing solutions to digitize the outdoors beyond the limits of human perception.

The MatrixSpace expeditionary radar kit fits in a standard daypack and contains everything needed to deliver actionable detections to an ATAK mobile device in less than 5 mins.

Visit maxtrixspace.com

—————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————

SATELLITE SYSTEMS, SATCOM AND SPACE SYSTEMS UPDATE

January 10, 2025 by

Sponsored by MatrixSpace

http://matrixspace.com

—————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————–

09 Jan 25. Europe space chief says cooperation intact despite Italy moves. The head of the European Space Agency dismissed concerns on Thursday that cooperation in Europe is dwindling as Italy charts its own course on rocket operations and weighs a potential agreement with Elon Musk’s Starlink on satellites. Italy’s Avio is due to take over operations of the Vega C rocket on behalf of ESA, pulling the Italian-built rocket away from Europe’s main launch operator, Arianespace. Meanwhile Rome is evaluating potential supply accords with Starlink, and Musk said on Monday that he was “ready to provide Italy the most secure and advanced connectivity!”.

“We are observing very carefully how much nationalisation takes place and how much European activity take place,” ESA Director General Josef Aschbacher told Reuters.

“Space is becoming more and more strategic and important. It is also clear that investments in space are increasing… My job is to underline the benefit to European countries of participating in European programmes rather than national ones.” (Source: Reuters)

09 Jan 25. Intelsat, GCI Expand Alaska Partnership with Multi-Orbit Satellite Services. Intelsat, operator of one of the world’s largest integrated satellite and terrestrial networks, signed an expanded satellite services agreement with GCI, Alaska’s largest telecommunications company, that will soon deliver multi-orbit broadband services throughout the largest state in the U.S.

“Four years ago, Intelsat and GCI entered into an agreement that dramatically increased the size and speed of GCI’s geostationary satellite network in rural Alaska and cemented GCI as the state’s leader in satellite connectivity,” said Mike DeMarco, Chief Commercial Officer. “This new chapter of our partnership expands our agreement to include next-generation low-earth orbit satellite services and leverages the best of what Intelsat has to offer.”

GCI has delivered satellite-based connectivity for 35 years and has the largest footprint of satellite-delivered data, video and voice services in Alaska. The new deal with Intelsat ensures GCI will be able to meet the growing demands of customers including regional tribal health care providers, school districts, government agencies, and businesses. The agreement not only provides GCI continued access to reliable C-, Ku-, and Ka-band GEO service, which is already part of GCI’s satellite service portfolio, it also provides access to high-throughput LEO service managed by Intelsat.

“For over a decade, GCI and Intelsat have been working together to meet the evolving needs of GCI’s satellite customers and to bring the best technology to the table,” said GCI Senior VP of Corporate Development Billy Wailand. “Our expanded agreement will give GCI access to Intelsat’s broad portfolio of proven, high availability GEO services, next-generation LEO service, and deep expertise in managed satellite services.”

Delivering service in Alaska requires a comprehensive approach and a willingness to use “every tool in the toolkit.” For GCI, that toolkit includes fiber, microwave, as well as GEO and LEO satellite services. GCI will rely on wholesale satellite capacity as well as Intelsat’s fully managed solutions. Those managed services allow GCI to quickly bring their own solutions to market without the need to invest in additional satellite ground infrastructure to provide quality connectivity for end customers. (Source: ASD Network)

07 Jan 25. Rocket Lab Selected by Kratos to Deliver Hypersonic Test Launches for DoD with HASTE Rocket. Rocket Lab USA, Inc. (Nasdaq: RKLB) (“Rocket Lab” or “the Company”), a global leader in launch services and space systems, today announced it has been selected to be a member of the team, led by Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. (Nasdaq: KTOS) (“Kratos”), awarded a five-year OTA contract for the Multi-Service Advanced Capability Hypersonic Test Bed (MACH-TB) 2.0 under Task Area 1. The total potential value of the MACH-TB 2.0 Contract Award over a five-year period is $1.45 bn. The Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering (OUSD (R&E)) Test Resource Management Center (TRMC) established MACH-TB to support OUSD’s National Hypersonic Initiative 2.0 by creating an affordable flight test bed to rapidly increase hypersonic flight test capacity. MACH-TB 2.0 will provide an affordable bridge between hypersonic ground tests and system level flight tests.

Kratos was awarded the prime role in Task Area 1 Systems Engineering, Integration, and Testing (SEIT), to include integrated subscale, full-scale, and air launch services to address the need to affordably increase hypersonic flight test cadence. Rocket Lab will join the Kratos-led team of subcontractors that will provide systems engineering, assembly, integration, and test (AI&T), mission planning and execution, and launch services.

Rocket Lab has already served the MACH-TB program, delivering multiple successful hypersonic test launches with the Company’s HASTE (Hypersonic Accelerator Suborbital Test Electron) rocket from Rocket Lab’s Launch Complex 2 in Wallops, Virginia. HASTE is a suborbital variant of Rocket Lab’s Electron launch vehicle, which is the United States’ second most frequently launched orbital rocket annually.

HASTE includes much of the same innovative technology as Electron, including carbon fiber composite structures and 3D printed rocket engines, but has a modified upper Kick Stage tailored for hypersonic technology tests and a larger payload capacity of up to 700 kg / 1,540 lbs. Combined, Rocket Lab’s HASTE and Electron launch vehicles have deployed 200+ payloads from its United States and New Zealand launch sites to date.

Rocket Lab’s Vice President Global Launch Services, Brian Rogers, says: “We’re thrilled to be part of the Kratos-led team for the next iteration of the MACH-TB program and ready to serve the U.S. Department of Defense with even more high-cadence hypersonic technology with our HASTE launch vehicle. Our demonstrated ability to date to deliver successful HASTE launches that test these new technologies is testament to our dedication in advancing hypersonic innovation for the nation alongside our government and industry partners.” (Source: BUSINESS WIRE)

06 Jan 25. Ovzon Participates in Major Initiative on Future Mobile Communication Solutions. Ovzon, together with a range of other leading companies, authorities, and organizations, will participate in a major initiative focusing on mobile communication solutions expected to be in use during the 2030s. The Swedish Foundation for Strategic Research (SSF) is investing 60 MSEK in the project SMART 6GSAT (Sustainable Mobile Autonomous and Resilient 6G SatCom), with KTH as the coordinator and project leader. The aim is to integrate traditional land-based mobile communication with satellite communication in 6G. The vision is for mobile communication services to be seamlessly accessible to anyone with a 6G device, anywhere and anytime. In addition to Ovzon, the industry consortium includes companies like Ericsson, Saab, Swedish Space Corporation (SSC), Eutelsat-OneWeb, Airbus, and Viasat, as well as authorities such as the Swedish Post and Telecom Authority (PTS) and the European Incoherent Scatter Scientific Association (EISCAT). (Source: ASD Network)

03 Jan 25. SpaceX’s Falcon 9 sends up Thuraya 4 for the first launch of the new year. Success for SpaceX as Falcon 9 launched the Space42 Thuraya 4 mission to a geosynchronous transfer orbit from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida at 8:27 p.m. ET. This was the first launch for Falcon 9 in the new year, and was the 20th flight and recovery for this Falcon 9 first stage booster, and SpaceX’s 341st recovery of an orbital-class rocket. All photos by Satnews.

Successful separation and send off of Thruaya 4-NGS

Based on the all-electric Airbus Eurostar-Neo Platform, Thuraya 4-NGS will incorporate a large 12-meter L-band antenna and a payload with on-board processing providing advanced routing flexibility of up to 3200 channels with dynamic power allocation over a large number of spot beams.

Space 42’s Thuraya 4 mission is operated in conjunction with Yahsat, a global satellite company based in the United Arab Emirates. The Thuraya 4 is a communications satellite that will operate in geosynchronous orbit, about 23,000 miles above the Earth’s surface.

SpaceX Thuraya 4 mission now on for Friday

SpaceX is targeting Friday, January 3 for Falcon 9’s launch of the Space42 Thuraya 4 mission to a geosynchronous transfer orbit from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. The four-hour window opens at 8:27 p.m. ET. If needed, a backup opportunity is available on Saturday, January 4 at the same time.

SpaceX has delayed the launch of its Thuraya 4 mission from the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida until Friday, the company announced on its website Thursday.

A live webcast of this mission will begin about 15 minutes prior to liftoff, which you can watch on X @SpaceX. You can also watch the webcast on the new X TV app.

This will be the 20th flight for the Falcon 9 first stage booster supporting this mission, which previously launched SES-22, ispace’s HAKUTO-R MISSION 1, Amazonas-6, CRS-27, Bandwagon-1, GSAT-20, and 13 Starlink missions. After stage separation, the first stage will land on the A Shortfall of Gravitas droneship, which will be stationed in the Atlantic Ocean. (Source: Satnews)

01 Jan 25. Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket completes integrated launch vehicle hotfire. Blue Origin’s New Glenn has successfully completed an integrated launch vehicle hotfire test, the final major milestone on the firm’s road to first flight—NG-1 will carry a Blue Ring Pathfinder as its first manifested payload and will launch from Launch Complex 36 in Cape Canaveral, Florida.

The Blue Ring Pathfinder for New Glenn’s first mission, NG-1. Photo: Blue Origin.

The seven-engine hotfire lasted 24 seconds and marked the first time we operated the entire flight vehicle as an integrated system. The multi-day test campaign leading up to the hotfire included numerous inert functional and tanking tests. The integrated launch vehicle included the first and second stages of the NG-1 flight vehicle, and a payload test article comprised of manufacturing test demonstrator fairings, a high-capacity fixed adapter flight unit, and a 45,000 lb payload mass simulator.

One of the primary goals of the test campaign was to demonstrate day-of-launch operations in our NG-1 test configuration. Additionally, the team conducted several tests to validate vehicle and ground systems in the fully integrated, on-pad configuration. This data will be used to finalize day-of-launch timelines, confirm expected performance, and correlate our models to real-world test data.

“This is a monumental milestone and a glimpse of what’s just around the corner for New Glenn’s first launch,” said Jarrett Jones, SVP, New Glenn. “Today’s success proves that our rigorous approach to testing–combined with our incredible tooling and design engineering–is working as intended.”

The tanking test included a full run-through of the terminal count sequence, testing the hand-off authority to and from the flight computer, and collecting fluid validation data.

The first stage (GS1) tanks were filled and pressed with liquefied natural gas (LNG) and liquid oxygen (LOX), and the second stage (GS2) with liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen–both to representative NG-1 set points.

The test also demonstrated New Glenn’s autogenous pressurization system, which self-generates gases to pressurize GS1’s propellant tanks.

This test campaign captured a number of firsts for the New Glenn launch system, including the first seven-engine operations, the first integrated GS1-GS2 tanking demonstration, the first LNG/LOX fill for GS1, as well as first chilled helium operations for GS2.

The campaign met all objectives and marks the final major test prior to launch.

Blue Origin has several New Glenn vehicles in production and a full customer manifest.

Customers include NASA, Amazon’s Project Kuiper, AST SpaceMobile, several telecommunications providers, and a mix of U.S. government customers.

Blue Origin is certifying New Glenn with the U.S. Space Force for the National Security Space Launch (NSSL) program to meet emerging national security objectives. (Source: Satnews)

01 Jan 25. SpaceX launches Astranis: From One to Many Mission after a last second abort days earlier. On Sunday, December 29 at 12:00 a.m. ET, Falcon 9 launched four “MicroGEO” satellites for the company Astranis’ mission, Astranis: From One to Many to a geosynchronous transfer orbit from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. All photos provided by Satnews. This was SpaceX’s second attempt to launch the MicroGEO satellites for Astranis which ended in a last-second abort on December 21 as the Falcon 9 rocket’s first stage engines ignited. In a post on the social media site X, Astranis vice president Christian Keil said SpaceX swapped out Falcon 9 rocket boosters for the flight. This was the seventh flight for the Falcon 9 first stage booster supporting this mission, which previously launched Crew-8, Polaris Dawn, CRS-31, and three Starlink missions. (Source: Satnews)

02 Jan 25. 2025: Space industry trends + events expected in the New Year as predicted by SpaceFund. SpaceFund expects to make many exciting announcements during 2025 as we build on the continuing success of our existing portfolio of 21 space startup investments. We are grateful for the opportunity to continue our vital role in supporting, financing, and directing the most exciting new companies in this rapidly growing industry.

How We See the Universe

The space industry is gaining more momentum now than at any time in human history. Due to technological improvements, increased government space budgets, and a changing regulatory environment, we expect this trend to accelerate in 2025. Based on our industry-leading market intelligence and our deep network of space company executives, members of the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD), and civil space agency contacts, we’ve collated some of our predictions for this coming solar orbit. While no one can predict the future, we do expect great things this year!

What to Watch in 2025 (TL;DR)

Orbital flights of Starship, with a potential on-orbit fuel transfer demonstration between two Starship vehicles.
Launch of Blue Origin’s New Glenn (no earlier than January 6).
More than 20 entities are targeting a maiden launch of a new vehicle in 2025.
American political changes could have wide-ranging positive impacts on government, civil, and commercial space programs.
Commercial space activity is now truly global, and we expect more countries to join the industry in 2025 with everything from new national and state-level space programs to new startup space companies.
Favorable economic winds suggest more space company exits in 2025, which will fuel additional investment in the space startup sector.
The space industry continues to mature as more middle-market companies see record growth and prepare for exits.

SpaceX

It’s going to be a fun year for SpaceX. We expect Starship to fly frequently and potentially even carry some customer payloads to orbit before the end of the year. We may see 20 or more launches of Starship before 2025 is over. Falcon launches will continue to increase in cadence due to demand for Starlink as well as government and commercial customers. SpaceX also expects to perform an in-space propellant transfer demonstration using two docked Starships in 2025 – a critical milestone that will allow SpaceX to refuel their Starship HLS vehicle for an uncrewed lunar landing demonstration in the following year.

Launch

Beyond SpaceX, 2025 will see more launches and more new launch vehicles attempt to reach orbit than any year in human history.

Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket’s first test launch is expected imminently. In 2025, we expect at least a few more test launches of the heavy-lift vehicle.
Arianespace’s Ariane 6 may have as many as 5 launches in 2025.
Avio’s Vega-C rocket may fly as many as 4 times in 2025.

There are more than 20 entities that are targeting 2025 for the maiden flights of new launch vehicles and there is no way to know if any of them will be successful. For the record, no maiden flight of a new rocket has ever made it to orbit, so don’t hold your breath. ??

Summary by country: China (7), USA (4), UK (3), Germany (2), with Europe, Ukraine, Russia, Australia, and India each at 1.

Blue Origin – New Glenn – USA
Cyclone-4M – Yuzhnoye – Ukraine
Gravity-2 – Orienspace – China
Hera-II – Astraius – UK
Hyperbola-3 – i-Space – China
Irtysh – TsSKB Progress – Russia
Kinetica 2 – CAS Space – China
Maia – MaiaSpace – Europe
Neutron – Rocket Lab – USA
Nova – Stoke Space – USA
Prime – Orbex – UK
RFA One – Rocket Factory Augsburg – Germany
Skyrora XL – Skyrora – UK
SL1 – HyImpulse – Germany
Zhuque-3 – LandSpace – China
Daytona I – Phantom Space Corporation – USA
Tianlong-3 – Space Pioneer – China
Pallas-1 – Galactic Energy – China
Long March 8A – China
Eris Block 1 – Gilmour Space Technologies – Australia
Skyroot – Vikram-1 – India

It’s important to note that while the launch industry is ‘sexy’ and garners a lot of eyeballs in the media, it represents less than 10% of the global space market. Back in 2019, SpaceFund predicted that the launch market would be over supplied with too many competing vehicles. Five years ago, we projected that about 20 companies would survive, and that many of those would be focused on national defense priorities of countries around the world. SpaceFund is currently tracking 183 launch companies in various stages of development. SpaceFund’s investment thesis continues to focus on what’s being launched, with a focus on space infrastructure, including everything from satellite components to space stations. (Source: Satnews)

——————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————

Founded in 2017, MatrixSpace is creating the next generation of artificial intelligence enabled sensing solutions to digitize the outdoors beyond the limits of human perception.

The MatrixSpace expeditionary radar kit fits in a standard daypack and contains everything needed to deliver actionable detections to an ATAK mobile device in less than 5 mins.

Visit maxtrixspace.com

————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————

SATELLITE SYSTEMS, SATCOM AND SPACE SYSTEMS UPDATE

January 3, 2025 by

Sponsored by MatrixSpace

http://matrixspace.com

—————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————-

24 Dec 24. Viasat Supports US DoD Replicator Initiative with C2 Connectivity. Viasat’s NetAgility software-defined networking capability will enable seamless and resilient connectivity for attritable autonomous systems. Viasat has been selected by the United States Department of Defense’s DIU (Defense Innovation Unit) to deliver highly resilient command and control (C2) connectivity in support of the Replicator initiative.

Replicator aims to deliver large masses of uncrewed, all-domain attritable autonomous (ADA2) systems for warfighter operations support, and aligns with the overall U.S. Department of Defense effort to accelerate delivery of innovative capabilities to the warfighter at speed and scale.

Under the DIU Opportunistic, Resilient & Innovative Expeditionary Network Topology (ORIENT) project award, Viasat will provide a Multi-Domain Uncrewed Secure Integrated Communications (MUSIC) architecture with software-defined networking as the network component to enable the seamless and resilient connectivity of autonomous systems using multi-transport pathways.

Specifically, MUSIC is an optimized configuration of Viasat’s NetAgility software-defined networking (SDN) capability that is designed to respond to uncrewed swarm communications operational needs by enabling secure, seamless transport and network orchestration to optimize connectivity for the mission. The MUSIC mesh network overlay also enables secure information sharing and C2 among disparate autonomous systems.

Viasat has worked to mature the MUSIC solution in alignment with the Office of Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering (OUSD R&E) for the past 18 months as part of its Technology Readiness and Experimentation (T-REX) efforts to access promising capabilities. This past October, Viasat’s team worked with OUSD R&E to demonstrate MUSIC’s application in connecting autonomous maritime systems during the Autonomous Warrior 24 exercise, which took place in Australia supporting the AUKUS (United States, Australia, and the United Kingdom) partnership.

David Schmolke, Vice President of Viasat Mission Connections and Cybersecurity, commented: “Viasat is excited to support the Defense Innovation Unit and the Replicator initiative through project ORIENT by helping advance resilience and enable collaboration across multiple autonomous systems for warfighter operations.

“The coordinated use of autonomous systems offers critical operational advantages as the demands to quickly collect and share mission data grow, including executing those missions safely without putting warfighters in harm’s way. MUSIC and NetAgility network orchestration is an optimal fit for addressing the network and advanced C2 requirements to enable resilient, multi-path communications through contested and denied environments.” (Source: https://www.defenseadvancement.com/)

02 Jan 25. UEC’s Engines were Used to Lift off a Launch Vehicle Carrying the Resurs-P Satellite. The satellite is designed for remote sensing of Earth, and regional and local monitoring of the Earth’s surface. The RD-107A/RD-108A rocket engines produced by the Samara-based facility of United Engine Corporation ensured a successful launch of the Soyuz-2.1b launch vehicle from the Baikonur Cosmodrome. Resurs-P Earth remote sensing spacecraft No.5 has been carried into orbit. The Soyuz-2.1b with the Fregat booster and Resurs-P Earth remote sensing spacecraft No.5 was launched on 25 December at 10:45am Moscow time from the Baikonur Cosmodrome. The RD-107A/RD-108A engines installed on stages I and II of the launch vehicle worked properly.

“UEC-Kuznetsov service center personnel, who are responsible for power unit operation control during all launches, installed and tested the engine support systems.

“The Resurs-P is a Russian satellite series designed for remote sensing of Earth, and regional and local monitoring of the Earth’s surface. Data acquired by the Resurs-P satellite is used for natural resource exploration, pollution and environmental degradation monitoring, and monitoring of water conservation areas and nature reserves. (Source: ASD Network)

02 Jan 25. Commercial satellites are changing the battlespace and the balance of power. Ukraine has been scoring battlefield victories against Russia despite Russia having 10 times the GDP of the country it invaded. One of the reasons is simple, according to the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research’s (CSIR’s) chief Engineer for Radar and Technology and Innovation manager, Willie Nel: Ukraine has access to more satellites.

Speaking on day one of the inaugural Africa Aerospace and Defence (AAD) Conference, organised by defenceWeb, Nel said these aren’t military satellites but civilian ones and they are using Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR), first developed in 1951 to create two dimensional images, to see through day and night, clouds, smoke and even trees, in ways that other technology can’t.

It’s all thanks to a new space race, said Nel, who delivered a presentation during the Future Warfare component of the AAD Conference. This began in2017 with the miniaturisation of SAR, which began life in the Lockheed U-2 spy plane and then segued to satellites in 1964. But it was only in 2006 that the weight of SAR devices came below 780 kg and then two years later below 300 kg. SAR payloads are small enough to be launched as microsatellites, including constellations, which is precisely what ICEYE, the Finnish American micro-satellite start up, began to do in 2015.

In 2017, there were a total of 24 microsatellites orbiting earth, by the following year, ICEYE itself had launched 38.

When Russia invaded Ukraine, Ukraine crowdfunded $14.45 m to buy access to access to all ICEYE’s 38 satellites, each with the potential to scan down to 25 cm of earth from their orbit 700 km above. The Russians, by contrast, had two satellites, each capable of only 1 metre resolutions, Nel told the conference.

The Ukrainian satellite feed provided swaths of 300 km x 300 km with the capacity to zoom in on the next orbit. With so many in orbit, information was reaching Ukrainian soldiers every 15 minutes, allowing them to track troop movements, as well as artillery and armour placements, as opposed to the Russian feed which only updated twice a day.

The net result was that the Ukrainian military was able to destroy these in situ without ever running the risk of being ambushed by Russian troops lying in wait.

The Ukrainians took out 60 Russian tanks in days – effectively paying for the original investment in satellite access several times over.

“That’s why they were so effective with their drone attacks,” said Nel, “because they knew where they were. They had access to data in theatre within minutes. It was a complete change of how warfare will be waged.”

Access to the satellites rendered 4 173 images of Russian targets: 370 airbases, 238 positions of air defence systems, 153 oil fuel depots, 147 missile and ammunition caches and 17 naval bases over two years, helping the Ukrainians inflict bns of dollars of damage to the Russian war machine.

The SAR imagery was extremely useful to the Ukraine war effort in other ways too: allowing the Ukrainian government to assess damage to infrastructure and buildings wrought by the Russians and direct humanitarian aid efforts to the areas in greatest need, as well as letting them evacuate civilians from areas at greatest risk of Russian attacks and neutralise impending threats before they developed. It has also given the Ukrainian military better intelligence with which to direct their own offensives, limiting potential collateral damage through effective targeting.

But there are also significant takeaways from all of this, said Nel, firstly that the balance of power has shifted in warfare towards large commercial entities rather than states, with whoever they decide to support in a conflict quickly getting the upper hand.

The lessons for Africa, he said were stark.

Africa needed to create and own its own constellations of microsatellites or risk being at the mercy once again of being dependent on the first world. Africa also needed to prevent asymmetric forces with enough money of using existing SAR satellite capabilities against them. It would probably be too expensive for individual African countries to do on their own, but by pooling their resources and working together, they could get the necessary micro-satellites to protect them against mutual threats such as Al Qa’ida and ISIS.

This was something that the CSIR was working towards, in collaboration with Dragonfly and SCS Space to create its own microsatellite constellation; 16 of them to be able to secure maritime security and aid with food security by monitoring crop health and yield. (Source: https://www.defenceweb.co.za/)

30 Dec 24. Blue Origin’s New Glenn Rocket Completes Integrated Launch Vehicle Hotfire. New Glenn successfully completed an integrated launch vehicle hotfire test today, the final major milestone on our road to first flight. NG-1 will carry a Blue Ring Pathfinder as its first manifested payload and will launch from Launch Complex 36 in Cape Canaveral, FL.

One of the primary goals of the test campaign was to demonstrate day-of-launch operations in our NG-1 test configuration. Additionally, the team conducted several tests to validate vehicle and ground systems in the fully integrated, on-pad configuration. This data will be utilized to finalize day-of-launch timelines, confirm expected performance, and correlate our models to real-world test data.

The tanking test included a full run-through of the terminal count sequence, testing the hand-off authority to and from the flight computer, and collecting fluid validation data. The first stage (GS1) tanks were filled and pressed with liquefied natural gas (LNG) and liquid oxygen (LOX), and the second stage (GS2) with liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen–both to representative NG-1 set points.

The formal NG-1 Wet Dress Rehearsal demonstrated the final launch procedures leading into the hotfire engine run. All seven engines performed nominally, firing for 24 seconds, including at 100% thrust for 13 seconds. The test also demonstrated New Glenn’s autogenous pressurization system, which self-generates gases to pressurize GS1’s propellant tanks.

The campaign met all objectives and marks the final major test prior to launch.

Blue Origin has several New Glenn vehicles in production and a full customer manifest. Customers include NASA, Amazon’s Project Kuiper, AST SpaceMobile, several telecommunications providers, and a mix of U.S. government customers. Blue Origin is certifying New Glenn with the U.S. Space Force for the National Security Space Launch (NSSL) program to meet emerging national security objectives.

About New Glenn

New Glenn stands more than 320 feet (98 meters) high and features a seven-meter payload fairing, enabling twice the volume of standard five-meter class commercial launch systems. Its reusable first stage aims for a minimum of 25 missions and will land on Jacklyn, a sea-based platform located several hundred miles downrange. Reusability is integral to radically reducing cost-per-launch.

The vehicle is powered by seven of Blue Origin’s BE-4 engines, the most powerful liquefied natural gas (LNG)-fueled, oxygen-rich staged combustion engine ever flown. LNG is cleaner-burning and higher-performing than kerosene-based fuels, and the seven BE-4s generate over 3.8 m lbf of thrust. The vehicle’s second stage is powered by two BE-3Us, liquid oxygen (LOX)/liquid hydrogen (LH2) engines designed to together yield over 320,000 lbf of vacuum thrust.

In addition to the BE-4 and BE-3U, Blue Origin manufactures BE-7 engines for our Blue Moon lunar landers and New Shepard’s BE-3PM engine. (Source: ASD Network)

Founded in 2017, MatrixSpace is creating the next generation of artificial intelligence enabled sensing solutions to digitize the outdoors beyond the limits of human perception.

The MatrixSpace expeditionary radar kit fits in a standard daypack and contains everything needed to deliver actionable detections to an ATAK mobile device in less than 5 mins.

Visit maxtrixspace.com

————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————-

SATELLITE SYSTEMS, SATCOM AND SPACE SYSTEMS UPDATE

December 30, 2024 by

23 Dec 24. US Space Operations Command preps for new shared domain awareness tool. The leader of U.S. Space Operations Command is hopeful the Space Force can meet its goal of delivering a command-and-control platform that allows operators to see a common picture of the domain by the end of next year.
The software for that baseline capability, known as the Advanced Tracking and Launch Analysis System, or ATLAS, is being developed by L3Harris and is in the final stages of testing.
Lt. Gen. David Miller, who leads Space Operations Command, told reporters that while he knows delivering that system is a “big lift,” having a single platform that units can use to train, plan and fight from is at the top of his must-have list.
“That’s where I’d like to be in 2025,” he told reporters earlier this month at the Spacepower Conference in Orlando, Florida. “I want to be done with it, I’ll be honest with you. I’m impatient.”
ATLAS will provide the foundational software for a broader modernization program known as Space Command and Control. Its analysis and data processing capabilities are what will allow the Space Force to decommission its 1970s-era Space Defense Operations Center, known as SPADOC. The system manages the Space Force’s fleet of radars and sensors that track objects in space.
Its replacement will be able to merge data from a range of systems, giving operators a more wholistic understanding of what’s happening in orbit.
The operational transition between the two systems was supposed to happen in 2022 but has been delayed largely do to software integration challenges between L3Harris and Space Systems Command, which is serving as the prime integrator for the program.
Charles Clarkson, vice president and general manager of the space superiority and imaging division at L3Harris, told Defense News the government-industry team has “found a cadence” over the last 18 months. As of November, L3Harris has delivered 95% of the software needed for ATLAS and expects to finish the rest in the first quarter of next year.
“Right now, we’re focused on finalizing the software, and then increasingly, as we get closer to this being real, we’re getting more and more involvement from the ops community,” he said in an interview. “Then we get that increased scrutiny, which we certainly welcome, so that we can kind of find bugs early and address them. And that’s all going well.”
Once testing is done and the ATLAS minimum viable product is delivered, the program will go through a trial operations phase, which should wrap up next year.
Clarkson said that with testing mostly complete and operators starting to get their hands on the system, the remaining transition risks are less technical and more about helping users shift to a new platform.
“It’s getting people familiar with it, trained on it,” he said. “They’re going to do their job differently than they did before. And so, one of the big focuses that we have over the next two quarters is the training piece.”
Meanwhile, Miller said his team at Space Operations Command has been working to ensure that when ATLAS is ready, they have a set of space domain awareness applications ready to integrate into the platform. Partnering with the intelligence community, commercial firms and other offices within the Space Force, the command is experimenting with potential tools derived from existing software.
He wouldn’t share details about the applications, but said he expects to be able to field a few of them in the coming year.
“What I’ll say is, I’m interested in maintaining awareness of anything that is on orbit that’s a risk to operations, safety, operations proximity or allows you to track potential threats,” Miller said.
(Source: Defense News)

21 Dec 24. ICEYE, the global leader in SAR satellite operations for Earth Observation and persistent monitoring, announced today that it has launched two new satellites to its constellation of SAR satellites. Both satellites expand the availability of ICEYE’s latest imaging technology to deliver additional 25 cm imaging capacity. The satellites were integrated via Exolaunch and launched as part of the Bandwagon-2 rideshare mission with SpaceX from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, USA. Both satellites have established communication, and early routine operations are underway. With today’s launch, ICEYE has successfully launched 40 satellites into orbit since 2018, with nine satellites launched in 2024 alone.
The new SAR satellites were launched into mid-inclination orbits; compared to a polar orbit, these mid-inclination orbits provide more than twice the collection opportunities at middle latitudes of the globe. ICEYE customers have many areas of interest in these middle latitudes (+/- 45 degrees), and these customers will benefit from increased persistence over these regions. Customers with imaging interests outside these middle latitudes will continue to benefit from the frequent revisit enabled by ICEYE’s dozens of satellites in polar orbits. ICEYE’s unique mix of mid-inclination and polar orbits provides its customers with deep revisit capabilities for targets all around the globe. The new satellites will serve ICEYE’s commercial missions as part of the world’s largest SAR satellite constellation owned and operated by ICEYE.
Rafal Modrzewski, CEO and Co-founder of ICEYE said: “This launch marks another significant milestone in ICEYE’s ability to provide our customers with a rich diversity of collection opportunities. We bolster our industry-leading SAR constellation and expand our customers’ collection opportunities in the areas most important for them.”
Today’s launch is another step forward in ICEYE’s steady drumbeat of innovative breakthroughs in Earth Observation. This year alone, ICEYE has, for example, introduced Dwell Precise, a new 25 cm imaging mode that offers its customers the highest-fidelity 25cm imaging capability, and adds advanced capability to ICEYE’s line of Dwell products; launched an API that allows customers to directly task its SAR satellite constellation; and launched ICEYE Ocean Vision to provide actionable intelligence for maritime domain awareness.

19 Dec 24. New US Space Force jammers aim to disrupt China’s SATCOM signals. The U.S. Space Force is on track to field its first batch of a new ground-based satellite communications jammer in the coming months — designed to disrupt signals from enemy spacecraft.
Space Operations Command just approved the Remote Modular Terminals for initial fielding, a spokesperson told Defense News Wednesday, adding that the jammers will be in the hands of military users imminently.
The Space Force plans to field 11 systems as part of the first release, giving units a chance to use the system before it’s accepted for operations. The program has funding to build around 160, and the service expects to need as many as 200 in the coming years.
The Space Rapid Capabilities Office, a fast-moving acquisition team based at Kirtland Air Force Base in New Mexico, is the lead for the RMT program. Space RCO Director Kelly Hammett told reporters last week the small, modular terminals are designed to block adversary communications from satellites that are surveilling U.S. and allies, particularly in the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command.
“We want to be able to disrupt their comms and their kill chains and their targeting links,” Hammett said during a Dec. 11 media briefing at the Spacepower Conference in Orlando, Fla. “That’s what these systems are intended to do: to block reception going either from, say, sensors that are that are looking at our joint forces and reporting up to a satellite and back to a battle management node, or vice versa.”
The U.S. is particularly concerned about surveillance satellites China has launched in recent years. The remote systems, called Yaogan, provide continuous, uninterrupted coverage of the Indo-Pacific theater to identify gaps in U.S. and allied forces. The latest version, Yaogan-41, launched to geostationary orbit late last year and can track car-sized objects, according to a January 2024 report from the Center for Strategic and International Studies.
The RMT jammers will essentially “yell in their ear” so the radars can’t command other systems to attack U.S. assets, according to Hammett.
Hammett declined to say where the first systems will be fielded, but said the initial locations have been identified. Speaking this fall at a separate Space Industry Days conference in Los Angeles, Hammett said operators will be able to control the systems from locations in the U.S. even as they’re deployed around the world.
The Space RCO awarded contracts for the program just 18 months ago, working with a small, Virginia-based company called Northstrat. The firm partnered with a larger company, CACI, to leverage mostly off-the-shelf technology to build the terminals.
The terminals themselves are small, Hammett said, and cost roughly $1.5 m each.
“As far as space electronic warfare goes, you can’t get much better than that,” he said. (Source: Defense News)

19 Dec 24. New Low SWaP GNSS Anti-Jam Technology Launched. NovAtel’s new GAJT-310 is a low SWaP GNSS Anti-Jam Technology, the latest in a line of battle-proven solutions for assured PNT that protects against hostile RF interference.
Hexagon | NovAtel has released the GAJT-310, the lowest size, weight, and power (SWaP) GNSS Anti-Jam Technology (GAJT) in the company’s line yet.
The GAJT line is a battle-proven solution for assured positioning, navigation and timing (A-PNT) that protects against hostile radio frequency interference on land, at sea and in the air.
GNSS signal jamming is a considerable threat in today’s unstable geopolitical environment. Almost everything users count on today depends on GNSS PNT, including communications, transportation, agriculture, the Internet and banking.
To stay ahead of the jamming threat, affordable, practical and easily implementable solutions are required. The new GAJT-310 provides users with the latest powerful anti-jam technology with low latency in a smaller device.
Low latency means the GAJT-310 can be put to work protecting signals immediately — no additional setup — just plug in and protect.
What sets the GAJT-310 apart from other low SWaP options is how flexible and cost-effective it is as a product. It is available as an integrated enclosure or federated option, with separate electronics card and Controlled Reception Pattern Antenna (CRPA).
The GAJT-310 also provides protection for more GNSS signals than many other products on the market, such as on the L1 and L2 bands. Not only this, it is a commercially exportable technology, making the GAJT-310 accessible worldwide.
Stig Pedersen, executive vice president of aerospace & defence at Hexagon’s Autonomy & Positioning division, stated, “The GAJT portfolio of tried and tested anti-jam technology can now protect all platforms. GAJT-310 is ideal for space-constrained and cost-sensitive platforms, including uncrewed or autonomous vehicles and UAVs.”
Neil Gerein, vice president of product at aerospace & defence at Hexagon’s Autonomy & Positioning division, also commented, “We’ve taken everything we learned from the successful in-theatre deployment of the GAJT-710 and GAJT-410 for NATO forces worldwide and built it into the GAJT-310.
“Regarding assured positioning, navigation and timing, we believe every platform in any industry should be protected.” (Source: https://www.defenseadvancement.com/)

19 Dec 24. Norway, Germany sign space cooperation intent letter. Norway’s latest Defence Long-Term Plan places emphasis on advancing military space operations.
Norway Defence Minister Bjørn Arild Gram and his German counterpart, Boris Pistorius, have formalised their commitment to bolster space cooperation through a letter of intent.
This move comes at a time when the security landscape is seen to be increasingly challenging, particularly for space-based assets, highlighting the necessity for enhanced defence partnerships.
Norway’s latest Defence Long-Term Plan places emphasis on advancing military space operations and the establishment of new satellite systems.
Norway reached a consensus on the implementation of the new long-term defence plan that will span over a 12-year period, starting from the current year and extending to 2036.
This initiative will see an increase in defence expenditure by Nkr600bn (approximately $60bn). The proposed financial allocation for Norway’s defence sector is projected to be Nkr1624bn throughout this 12-year timeframe.
The plan is set to enhance the overall strength of the Norwegian Armed Forces by incorporating additional manpower and introducing advanced capabilities across all military branches.
Bjørn Arild Gram said: “Space-based services and capabilities are essential for effective military operations going forward. Leveraging space-based capabilities will be crucial for Norway’s ability to sustain situational awareness in the High North.
“Norway is a significant space nation, but collaboration with allies is vital for further development, creating synergies, and sharing costs. This will bolster Norway’s position as a key player in space, while enhancing security and stability.”
The collaboration between Norway and Germany in the realm of space was previously solidified with a joint declaration, allowing German satellites to be launched from Andøya Spaceport on 19 June 2025.
Andøya Spaceport has since secured a long-term contract with Isar Aerospace, a German firm, to use the Spectrum rocket for satellite launches.
“The signing of the letter of intent between Norway and Germany lays the foundation for collaboration across several areas, including space operations, defence industrial initiatives, and satellite launches from Andøya Spaceport,” added Bjørn Arild Gram.
Besides, Norway has recently declared its intention to augment its support for Ukraine by contributing to the air defence of Rzeszów airport in Poland, a critical logistics centre for Ukrainian aid.
Beginning in December 2024, Norwegian forces will deploy approximately 100 soldiers to safeguard the airspace using NASAMS air defence systems and F-35 fighter jets.
(Source: airforce-technology.com)

SATELLITE SYSTEMS, SATCOM AND SPACE SYSTEMS UPDATE

December 19, 2024 by

17 Dec 24. SES’s Seventh and Eighth O3b mPOWER Satellites Successfully Launched, Bolstering MEO Constellation. SES announced today that its latest pair of O3b mPOWER satellites was successfully launched into space by a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Kennedy Space Center in Florida, United States, at 5:26 pm local time. Both satellites will join the first six O3b mPOWER spacecraft already in operation at medium Earth orbit (MEO), adding incremental capacity to the initial O3b mPOWER constellation.

The seventh and eighth O3b mPOWER satellites feature redesigned payload power modules and will bolster SES’s second-generation MEO system to continue delivering high throughput and predictable low latency services at scale.

SES has been deploying O3b mPOWER services worldwide since April 2024 delivering high-performance network services to customer sites across Asia-Pacific, Africa, the Middle East and the Americas in multiple market segments. The system’s exceptional flexibility means it can provide services ranging from tens of Mbps to multiple gigabits per second of capacity to any site.

Key O3b mPOWER customers include Microsoft, Princess Cruises, Marlink, Jio Platforms,

Orange, Claro Brasil, Vodafone Cook Islands, CNT Ecuador, NATO Support and Procurement Agency, and the Governments of Luxembourg and the United States.

“O3b mPOWER is our most powerful, technically advanced, flexible satellite constellation in space. As we increase the number of satellites in our constellation, we also exponentially increase the capacity and efficiency of our network. Ever since the start of service of O3b mPOWER earlier this year, we have seen how it has become an integral part of the connectivity experience of our customers. We have also learned a lot and have put all of those insights to work as we progress in our innovation journey to scale up our services and meet even the most sophisticated requirements of our customers,” said Adel Al-Saleh, CEO of SES.

The O3b mPOWER system comprises an initial constellation of 13 high-throughput and low latency satellites as well as extensive ground infrastructure. The remaining five O3b mPOWER satellites are currently being manufactured and are scheduled for launch over the next 18 months.

17 Dec 24. In Fifth Year, Space Force Commander Details Service’s Stellar Accomplishments. America’s newest military service, the U.S. Space Force, stood up five years ago this Friday. In advance of an out-of-this world birthday celebration, the service’s commander, Gen B. Chance Saltzman, reflected on half a decade of accomplishments.

“From … humble beginnings, we have laid the foundations of a space service that is dedicated and laser focused on achieving space superiority, a service that is unparalleled in its talent and capabilities in the domain, a service that every day is increasing our readiness to secure our nation’s interests in, from and to space,” Saltzman said today during an event at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington.

In the past five years, Saltzman said, the Space Force has increased its budget, largely through the absorbing of other space-related agencies, and has grown considerably since it stood up.

“Although still not where we need it, our budget has increased substantially with a number of mission aggregations and some new investments since activation,” he said. “On average, we have tripled in size every year for the last five years in personnel, an astounding growth rate for any government organization. We have reimagined operations, redefined policies [and] reworked processes from the ground up to forge a service purpose-built for great power competition. All of this in just five years.”

More than anything, Saltzman said, the Space Force can now apply a service-level focus to the space domain in the same way the Army focuses on land, the Air Force focuses on the air and the Navy focuses on the sea.

Space Force, like other services, has also fielded service components to combatant commands in the same way as other services. Already, there are Space Force components to U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, Central Command, European Command and Africa Command, with “more coming right behind it,” Saltzman said.

The Space Force has also redesigned its professional military education and officer training programs and is working to replicate that for its enlisted personnel as well, Saltzman said.

With the help of Congress, Saltzman said, the Space Force has also found new ways to attract and manage talent.

“We won the authority to create a part-time workforce inside our single active component,” he said. “This unprecedented approach will be crucial for retaining talent improving quality of life in a way never before seen in the Department of Defense.”

Right now, Saltzman said, the Space Force’s personnel staff is working to develop the administrative mechanisms needed to take advantage of those authorities.

“[It’s] tremendously exciting, though, because it gives us so much latitude, so much career flexibility,” he said. (Source: U.S. DoD)

17 Dec 24. SpaceX launches rapid response GPS mission. The Space Force and SpaceX launched a rapid response mission on a Falcon 9 rocket Dec. 16 from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida. (Lockheed Martin) SpaceX on Monday night launched a secretive rapid response mission for the Space Force, flying a GPS III satellite aboard a Falcon 9 rocket. The effort, dubbed Rapid Response Trailblazer, was meant to demonstrate the ability to quickly plan and launch a mission in around six months — a process that normally takes around two years.

“The mission successfully demonstrated a complex integration effort across multiple Space Force organizations to pull an existing GPS III satellite from storage, accelerate integration and launch vehicle readiness, and rapidly process for launch,” the Space Force said in a statement.

The launch lifted off from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida around 7:52 p.m., and the first-stage booster landed on a drone ship after releasing the GPS payload.

The Space Force has proved through its Tactically Responsive Space program that it can quickly launch small payloads on commercial rockets, but this mission was the first to involve a large National Security Space Launch-class payload.

For Rapid Response Trailblazer, Space Force acquirers at Space Systems Command worked closely with operators at Space Operations Command to prepare and integrate the payload for launch. Walt Lauderdale, mission director for Monday’s launch, said that alignment was key to the successful mission.

“This partnership is an example of new and faster ways we can deliver launch in support of future warfighter needs,” Lauderdale said in a statement. “The Space Force quickly energized multiple organizations, and the joint team delivered a specific, important mission to orbit in record time.”

The GPS III satellite that was launched was built by Lockheed Martin and had been in storage awaiting a ride from United Launch Alliance’s Vulcan rocket, which has faced delays and is not yet certified to fly national security missions. Space News reported that the decision to redirect the satellite to a SpaceX Falcon came earlier this year. (Source: C4ISR & Networks)

17 Dec 24. Crossroads for UK Skynet programme. Airbus, Lockheed Martin and Thales Alenia Space compete for key WSS satellite capability. The UK faces a critical decision in potentially adding a new element and industry partner to the existing military satellite communications (MILSATCOM) Skynet capability through its multi-bn-pound Wideband Satellite System (WSS) requirement. Skynet 6 is the next generation MILSATCOM constellation, and by far the UK’s largest space project. In 2022, £1.4bn ($1.78bn) was promised for a range of British space capabilities over the following ten years, while £5bn was allocated to the UK’s Skynet capability. Within Skynet, the WSS contract provides at least three tranches of wideband geosynchronous (GEO) satellite systems, ground equipment, and launch operations. The requirement includes high availability, military hardened satellite systems, incorporating X-Band and Mil-Ka payloads. This capability will operate for at least 15 years into the 2040s. WSS procurement alone will cost somewhere between £1.5bn and £2bn.

The UK first launched WSS on 31 May 2023 while an invitation to tender was issued on 14 November that same year. In 2024, the UK Ministry of Defence downselected three competitors: Airbus Defence and Space UK, Lockheed Martin UK, and Thales Alenia Space UK. However, the former two tenders are the only two companies left in the running.

It is anticipated the UK will move to select a single tender by Q4 2025.

Airbus is already contracted to build initial Skynet 6 satellites, which are based on the company’s Eurostar Neo platform. The 6A satellite is booked to launch on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket in 2025.

Crucially, Skynet 6 will adhere to the concept ‘allied by design’, which hinges on the continued engagement with Nato, Five Eyes and other mission partners. This will ensure that Skynet maintains and extends interoperability with allies, according to UK government information.

In the past, Skynet 5 has been used by other partners and allies too, including Estonia and the US.

Furthermore, UK defence procurement will tend to prioritise bids that can offer a significant domestic contribution. In this case, Airbus already builds spacecraft in Stevenage and Portsmouth while Thales Alenia Space own two industrial plants in Bristol and Harwell.

Past UK defence contracts similarly indicate the requirement of domestic manufacturing too, including the ongoing New Medium Helicopter (NMH) acquisition for which the government asserted:

“The NMH contract will secure the vital operational independence the UK requires, as well as investing in UK skills for the long-term.”

Lockheed Martin, the parent group of Sikorsky, a competitor that pulled out of the NMH competition, told Airforce Technology at the time that they “elected not to submit a response to the NMH [invitation to negotiate] as we could not meet its minimum requirements in today’s market conditions.”

What lessons for the UK from Australia?

As the UK looks to develop its WSS requirement, fellow Five Eyes member Australia cancelled its Joint Project (JP) 9102 end-to-end MILSATCOM network programme in November 2024 after just 18 months, a strategic and technical capability similar to that being sought by the UK.

Officially, Australia cited a shift in programme requirements as reasoning for the cancellation, which was thought to be valued in the bns of Australian dollars and part of the wider A$9-12bn space-based Integrated Investment Programme. Lockheed Martin was the contractor charged with delivering the programme.

An end-to-end MILSATCOM solution is a highly complex undertaking, including spacecraft, ground systems, and services.

Lockheed Martin has an expansive portfolio in space, having built more than 300 mission payloads for customers. This includes the LM 400 satellite bus, which provides a range of services both military and civil, including communications.

Although unconfirmed, the similarity between the Australian and UK programmes could see Lockheed Martin leverage much of its earlier Canberra offering, which was ultimately unsuccessful as Australia’s government changed its requirement from a single orbit (GEO) system to prioritise a multi-orbital capability.

Lockheed Martin won the Australia programme against competition from Airbus, Boeing, Northrup Grumman, and Optus in April 2023.

Australia typically leans towards a cautious approach to defence procurement, tending to avoid buying first-of-type and preferring to wait for proven capability. From the very start of the process, risk would indeed have been a factor under consideration.

When asked for comment on the Australian JP9102 contract and its offering to the UK through WSS, the company stated: “Lockheed Martin will continue to support the Australian government to meet its strategic needs and is proud to be partnering with the Australian Defence Force on many ongoing programmes.

“We are committed to our global customer community and will continue partnering with international customers and suppliers to support their missions and boost their national space economy.” (Source: airforce-technology.com)

17 Dec 24. Momentus to Deploy Defense Department and Commercial Payloads on Rideshare Mission with SpaceX in 2026. Momentus Inc. (NASDAQ: MNTS) (“Momentus” or the “Company”), a U.S. commercial space company offering satellite buses, technologies, transportation, and other in-space infrastructure services, today announced it has signed a contract with SpaceX to join an upcoming Transporter rideshare mission launching as soon as early 2026.

Momentus plans to use this port for the launch of its flight-proven Vigoride Orbital Service Vehicle (OSV) to transport a mix of payloads from the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) and commercial customers to Low-Earth Orbit (LEO).

For this mission, Momentus has additional capacity to support customers planning LEO deployment and hosted payload missions in early 2026. Government and commercial customers interested in utilizing the ability of the Vigoride vehicle to cost-effectively launch and deliver microsatellites up to 200 kg and cubesats, provide average power up to 1kW, and deploy or operate hosted payloads in orbits above 500 km and below the International Space Station are encouraged to contact Momentus while booking opportunities remain open.

“We’re thrilled to be under contract supporting DoD programs, including for our upcoming launch and look forward to also deploying commercial payloads in orbit on this upcoming launch of our Vigoride Orbital Service Vehicle,” said Momentus Chief Executive Officer John Rood. “These exciting collaborations position Momentus at the forefront of the future in-space economy.”

This mission marks Momentus’ fourth Vigoride mission. Customers interested in participating in this mission can contact the Momentus Commercial team at . (Source: BUSINESS WIRE)

17 Dec 24. Two more Boeing [NYSE:BA]-built O3b mPOWER satellites are sending and receiving signals in space after launching from the Kennedy Space Center, Florida at 5:26 p.m. The satellites separated from the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket about two hours after launch and will join the first six O3b mPOWER to further enhance SES’s ability to deliver high-speed, reliable connectivity to global users.

“These satellites are the most advanced commercial communications satellites we’ve built to-date,” said Michelle Parker, Boeing Space Mission Systems vice president. “It’s exciting to work with SES to get these satellites into service.”

The O3b mPOWER system, SES’s second-generation medium Earth orbit (MEO) constellation, is designed to transform industries with terabit-level capacity, roundtrip latency of less than 150 milliseconds, and unmatched service availability.

“O3b mPOWER is our most powerful, technically advanced, flexible satellite constellation in space,” said Adel Al-Saleh, CEO of SES. “As we increase the number of satellites in our constellation, we also exponentially increase the capacity and efficiency of our network. Ever since the start of service of O3b mPOWER earlier this year, we have seen how it has become an integral part of the connectivity experience of our customers. We have also learned a lot and have put all of those insights to work as we progress in our innovation journey to scale up our services and meet even the most sophisticated requirements of our customers.”

Boeing will oversee the satellites through in-orbit testing before a handover to SES in approximately four months.

“From concept to reality, designing and delivering this first-of-its-kind technology to SES has been remarkable,” said Parker.

Equipped with more than 5,000 digitally formed beams, each of the O3b mPOWER satellites are able to fulfill dynamic, high-density demand in the air, sea, or land, opening new use cases for SES users. Coupled with an extensive ground infrastructure, the software-driven system enables SES to address current and future connectivity needs for governments and enterprises across the globe.

16 Dec 24. IRIS2 lifts off as European Commission and SpaceRISE sign contract in Brussels.

Backed by €6.5bn of public funds and over €4 bn of private funds, the multi-orbit satellite network project will enable Europe’s strategic communications autonomy
Designed, delivered and operated by the SpaceRISE consortium, the EU’s 3rd flagship project to be launched into service by early 2030

SpaceRISE, the consortium comprising Eutelsat, Hispasat and SES, has signed the agreement with the European Commission (EC) and the European Space Agency (ESA) that will see the consortium design, deliver and operate the Infrastructure for Resilience, Interconnectivity and Security by Satellite (IRIS²) for a period of 12 years. The contract was signed today in a ceremony at the European Commission headquarters in Brussels.

With the network of 290 new Low Earth Orbit and Medium Earth Orbit satellites expected to provide services by the beginning of 2030, the IRIS² constellation of satellites for a resilient, interconnected and secure Europe is an EU flagship initiative. IRIS² will be the preferred and trusted network for Europe in delivering secure and reliable high-performance communication solutions to the EU and its Member States as well as high-speed broadband connectivity for European citizens, governmental authorities and businesses, playing a transformative role in reinforcing Europe’s digital sovereignty, and low-latency connectivity.

Under the agreement with SpaceRISE, the project will be backed by €6.5 bn of public funds representing nearly 60% of the total project costs – comprising funding from the European Commission, EU Member States, the European Space Agency and private financing from the consortium members. The SpaceRISE consortium will lead the wider European space industry to accelerate innovation throughout the supply chain, enhancing Europe’s leadership and competitiveness in the space sector.

Additionally, the Public-private Partnership (PPP) model in the form of Concession will unite public and commercial interests in an unprecedented way, paving the way for continuous implementation of innovative solutions and platforms for the future.

Andrius Kubilius, Commissioner for Defence and Space: “Today we are not just launching a satellite project. We are launching a vision – a vision of a stronger, more connected, and more resilient Europe. IRIS² demonstrates the Union’s resolve and commitment to strengthening Europe’s space global posture both in terms of security and competitiveness to the benefit of our governments, businesses and citizens.”

“In an increasingly complex geopolitical world, ensuring resilient, secure and fast governmental communications is essential. ESA will play a crucial role in the technical implementation of the IRIS2 programme. ESA’s excellence will foster innovation in the European space industry, boost European competitiveness, create high-skill jobs and attract talents to Europe. The Commission’s trust in ESA to oversee the development of the constellation and its ground infrastructure speaks volumes of ESA’s successful track record in the delivery of European flagship programmes. ESA is ready to deliver again, for Europe and its citizens,” said Josef Aschbacher, ESA’s Director General.

Adel Al-Saleh, Chief Executive Officer of SES, said, “We are honoured to lead the SpaceRISE consortium to work with the European Commission and the European Space Agency on the IRIS² project. IRIS² is integral to Europe’s space strategy and is already fostering enhanced collaboration and innovation between the industry and public sectors. By strategically coming together, we will be able to ensure architecture resiliency and security from Day 1 of the system launch. With EC as an anchor customer of the constellation, our investment into IRIS² will see us augment our MEO capabilities while executing our required rate of return, maintaining investment grade balance sheet metrics, and returning cash to our shareholders.”

Eva Berneke, Chief Executive Officer of Eutelsat commented, “IRIS² programme is a landmark initiative that embodies Europe’s commitment to digital sovereignty, resilience, and strategic autonomy. At Eutelsat, we are uniquely positioned to bring unparalleled expertise to this mission, leveraging our pioneering capabilities, including our cutting-edge LEO constellation. By combining this advanced infrastructure with the collective strengths of the SpaceRISE consortium, we will deliver a transformative communications backbone that addresses Europe’s most critical connectivity needs of our governments, reinforces its leadership in space innovation, and bridges the digital divide for ms of citizens and businesses across the continent. This project is a testament to Eutelsat’s vision of driving secure and sustainable connectivity for a resilient Europe.”

Miguel Ángel Panduro, Chief Executive Officer of Hispasat added, “The signing of IRIS2 is a historical milestone for European space. Hispasat was born out of public-private collaboration to provide government and commercial communications in geographical areas of interest to our country. We are therefore convinced that, through SpaceRISE, we will not only guarantee the secure communications of the Member States, but also contribute to generating a more innovative and competitive ecosystem at a time of special relevance for the European space industry.”

About SpaceRISE

SpaceRISE which stands for Space Consortium for a Resilient, Interconnected and Secure Europe is dedicated to fostering a resilient, interconnected, and secure Europe through space innovation. Comprising Europe’s key space and telecom companies including Airbus Defence and Space, Deutsche Telekom, Eutelsat, Hisdesat, Hispasat, OHB, Orange, SES, Telespazio, Thales Alenia Space, and Thales, SpaceRISE aims to bring SMEs and New Space players together in a multi-national footprint throughout the EU27 Member States to expand its collaboration. By harnessing the strengths of established industry leaders and emerging innovators, SpaceRISE is set to drive Europe’s secure and sustainable future in space. (Source: BUSINESS WIRE)

16 Dec 24. At 7:52 p.m. ET, on Dec 16 the seventh Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT]-designed and -built Global Positioning System (GPS) III space vehicle, GPS III SV07, launched from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida, into orbit 12,550 miles above earth.

GPS III SV07 was launched on an accelerated timeline and joins the Space Force’s ongoing modernization of the GPS constellation, following GPS III SV06 that launched in 2023.

The team has now completed signal acquisition of GPS III SV07, and the spacecraft is now under operational control at Lockheed Martin’s Denver Launch & Checkout Operations Center until its official acceptance into the current operational GPS 31-satellite constellation.

The Road to a Rapid Launch

The spacecraft, assembled at Lockheed Martin’s Littleton, Colorado, facility, traveled across the country via ground transport to its launch site in Florida. This is different than the typical air transport for these missions, since its standard military aircraft ride was engaged in hurricane tracking and relief efforts.

The team seamlessly changed gears to a road shipment on short notice, which helped the mission maintain its rapid launch schedule in the face of shifting aircraft availability. The Space Force time from call-up to launch for SV07 was reduced to about three months to demonstrate operational agility for launch of critical national security missions.

Lockheed Martin’s spacecraft team carefully mapped out the approximately 2,337-mile route, and carefully monitored weather models, as Hurricane Milton was on track to pass through Florida around the time of the spacecraft’s arrival.

After an epic, six-day road trip, SV07 arrived at its final destination, avoiding severe weather and undergoing final checks and preparation for launch.

“We supported our customer’s vision for an accelerated launch of this GPS satellite, ultimately helping them achieve quick-turn operational readiness,” said Malik Musawwir, vice president of Navigation Systems at Lockheed Martin. “Time is of the essence for national security missions, and we quickly delivered this critical capability for the Space Force to support rapid demand for secure, advanced positioning, navigation, and timing signals.”

An Additional Satellite with Secure Military Code

All GPS III space vehicles, including SV07, are equipped with M-code. M-Code is an advanced, new signal designed to improve anti-jamming and anti-spoofing, as well as increase secure access to military GPS signals for U.S. and allied armed forces. GPS III space vehicles provide up to eight times more anti-jamming power than GPS II space vehicles, and M-code has been in operational acceptance since 2020.

GPS satellites provide essential navigation for U.S. military assets, operational troops, and field supply deliveries while powering global financial markets, transportation, utilities, agriculture, construction and ride-share services.

16 Dec 24. DNV and NASA are inviting experts to solve a mathematical challenge that seeks to optimize decision-making under uncertainty. The practice of Uncertainty Quantification (UQ) is often used when operating in harsh and uncertain environments. For example, UQ is used when assessing how offshore structures will cope with variable weather and ocean conditions or calculating the stresses on a spacecraft during launch.

UQ is the science of quantifying, characterizing, and mitigating uncertainties in computational models, including both data-driven and physics-based simulations. This is an important aspect of risk management in projects that are pushing the limits of engineering. DNV and NASA have teamed up to advance methodologies in UQ that are broadly applicable, enhancing safety and reliability in critical systems across various industries.

“Both NASA and DNV deal with high consequence and safety-critical systems for which quantitative data is either very sparse or prohibitively expensive to collect. Limited heritage data may exist, but is also usually sparse and may not be directly applicable to the system of interest, making UQ extremely challenging,” said Luis G. Crespo, Senior Research Engineer at NASA Langley Research Center.

Participants entering the challenge will gain access to a simulation model of a physical system to optimize. The specific physical system will remain unknown to ensure the challenge is truly discipline independent. Teams can generate synthetic data using an online solution running on DNV’s simulation platform, the Simulation Trust Center (STC), to represent real-world data.

The challenge will run from January 6th to March 31st, 2025, and accepted responses will be part of a special session ESREL 2025 conference in Stavanger, Norway, from June 15th to 19th.

“With this initiative we aim to unite a global community of researchers towards a shared goal. And given the close relationship between Uncertainty Quantification and Machine Learning, it will be interesting to see whether the recent breakthroughs in AI can be leveraged in this space where we target high-risk and safety-critical applications.” said Christian Agrell, Lead AI Scientist and Head of Risk and Modelling Technologies at DNV

13 Dec 24. ULA eyes annual mods to turn rocket stage into space interceptor. The United Launch Alliance, a longtime government spacelift provider, has an incremental plan to upgrade its Centaur V upper stage to fly long-duration space missions.

The Centaur V powers the company’s new Vulcan rocket, which is on the verge of being certified to fly national security missions. The upper stage of a rocket is used to propel a payload further into space after the initial booster has separated. The Centaur V was designed to be more than twice as powerful as its predecessor and to remain in orbit for as long as 12 hours.

ULA CEO Tory Bruno told reporters Thursday the company’s longer-term vision is for the Centaur V to eventually be able to remain in space for days or longer. The fast-moving vehicle would be highly maneuverable and could be used to relocate satellites or for counterspace missions.

In a Dec. 4 Medium post, Bruno fleshed out his concept for the Centaur V to function as an in-space mobility platform, or a “Greyhound.” In one scenario, he described the system loitering in orbit, ready to thwart an adversary’s attempts to target a Space Force asset.

“That becomes a very powerful deterrent,” he said Thursday on the sidelines of the Space Force Association’s Spacepower Conference in Orlando, Fla.

The company has an incremental plan to get to this “lightning fast, long range, lethal if necessary” Centaur V through regular upgrades to the existing system. The modifications would happen annually, or perhaps on a more frequent cadence, and then validated on flights of its Vulcan rocket.

“There are several things that, as you put them all there, they incrementally extend that life and capability,” Bruno said. “And at the end of all of that you have the ultimate objective for duration that we intend to have.”

ULA’s plan for its Centaur V is shaped by several variables. The company’s largest competitor, Elon Musk’s SpaceX, has the highest annual launch rate and has embraced new concepts for reusability and rocket cargo transport via its behemoth Starship rocket. Concepts like upper stage mobility could expand ULA’s portfolio.

It’s also informed by a changing threat environment in space — one that Space Force officials have said requires mobile satellites and spacecraft that bring more thrust and can potentially be refueled in orbit. These maneuvering vehicles could be used to observe potential adversary activity and respond if needed.

The head of U.S. Space Command, Gen. Stephen Whiting, reiterated that message Wednesday, telling reporters the service needs a system that can maneuver through space without fuel constraints.

“We need some kind of capability to be maneuverable in the space domain and not be confined to only operating with the fuel, the propellant we were launched with,” he said on the sidelines of the Space Force Association’s Spacepower Conference in Orlando, Fla. “We want to operate until the mission is finished, not until the fuel we were launched with runs out.”

Bruno said on Medium that he views a capability like what ULA is mapping out for Centaur V as key to the Space Force’s strategy for defending against aggression from China and Russia. While much of the service’s focus has been on making sure its architecture — the satellites and ground systems it relies on to provide space capabilities to other military users — is resilient against adversary attacks, he suggested that only addresses one piece of the problem.

“The ability to take a few punches and keep on communicating and watching is necessary, but insufficient,” Bruno said. “Resiliency alone will not stop or limit an attack.”

Mobility, he said, needs to be part of the equation.

“I don’t mean the ability to move the assets we are trying to protect,” he wrote. “That is useful and a part of resiliency. I mean a squadron of lightning fast, long range, lethal interceptors.” (Source: Defense New

13 Dec 24. Viasat to deliver C5ISR capabilities for US warfighters

The contract facilitates the transition of C5ISR capabilities from Special Operations Forces to General Purpose Forces. ViaSat has been awarded a five-year, sole-source indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contract by the US General Services Administration (GSA), with a maximum value of $568m.

It is aimed at facilitating the transition of command, control, communications, computers, combat systems, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (C5ISR) capabilities from Special Operations Forces (SOF) to General Purpose Forces (GPF).

Under this agreement, Viasat will also continue to provide an array of technologies and services to enhance communications, security, intelligence, and operational capabilities for both SOF and GPF personnel.

This contract is a continuation of a previous IDIQ award from 2019.

The company’s offerings include tactical gateways, advanced networking solutions, airborne Satcom terminals and hubs, beyond-line-of-sight satellite services, ground terminals and modems, and cybersecurity and encryption tools.

Following its acquisition of Inmarsat in 2023, Viasat has expanded its technology and service capabilities, providing a broad range of flexible and resilient communication solutions to meet the Department of Defense’s (DoD) evolving operational needs.

This contract structure allows the DoD to focus on priorities such as enhanced mobility, resilient networking, cybersecurity, and broadband Satcom services.

It also facilitates the rapid acquisition and integration of new products and systems required by the DoD.

Viasat will continue to assist in identifying and integrating new technologies to meet the DoD’s enterprise C5ISR mission requirements.

Viasat Government president Susan Miller said: “Viasat is proud to be a trusted partner for the entire Joint Force, providing the DoD with a wide range of capabilities and services including advanced tactical networking, ground system and mobile satellite communications (satcom) solutions, information assurance and cybersecurity products, and satellite services.

“We look forward to continuing our close partnership with the DoD to solve complex problems and support military forces across domains with flexible, resilient and secure capabilities that enable enhanced operations and improved situational awareness across the battlespace.”

In 2023, Viasat received $80m in awards in August to develop Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) systems for defence applications across land, maritime, and space domains. (Source: army-technology.com)

10 Dec 24. Astranis to launch next four satellites on Tuesday, December 17th, via SpaceX Falcon. The next four Astranis satellites are complete and ready for launch. They are currently at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station and on track for their scheduled launch date of December 17th — Astranis is ready to go from one to many satellites on-orbit. The launch will be on a dedicated SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. Only the four Astranis satellites will be on board and they will launch into a supersync Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO) orbit. These four satellites are comprised of the Astranis MicroGEO communications satellites and are headed to three customers across three countries.

Two are bound for CONUS, to support in-flight connectivity for our customer Anuvu. These satellites will be named NuView Alpha and NuView Bravo.
One satellite, AGILA, is the first communications satellite ever dedicated to the Philippines and was named by Philippines President BongBong Marcos Jr. last year.
The final satellite, UtilitySat, is the world’s first multi-mission GEO satellite and will serve a number of customers, beginning with an Astranis Block 3 customer, APCO, for a communications mission over Mexico.

This launch will mark many firsts…

This is the first time a single satellite manufacturer has flown four of its own satellites on a single launch to GEO.
By our estimation, Astranis will also become the fourth company ever to launch 4 or more satellites to GEO in a single calendar year — joining SES, Intelsat, and Eutelsat.
Astranis will have launched more satellites to GEO over the last two years than any other operator.

Astranis CEO, John Gedmark, said, “This is a huge milestone for Astranis. We’re going from one to many satellites. And this is the first time anyone has ever launched 4 satellites together like this. These are our most advanced satellites yet. With a number of improvements that will generate increased capacity and affordability. We couldn’t be more excited to deliver for our customers, providing dedicated broadband networks in a way they can’t get anywhere else. With this launch we will prove that Astranis can ship and operate multiple satellites at once. We are well on our way to the increased manufacturing cadence we need to hit to meet all of customer demand, including both commercial and government.” (Source: Satnews)

09 Dec 24. Latest suborbital hypersonic launch. This mission provided hypersonic test launch capabilities under the Multi-Service Advanced Capability Hypersonics Test Bed (MACH-TB) project, which aims to increase hypersonic flight testing for the United States in support of technology maturation. The project was awarded by Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC) Crane through the Strategic and Spectrum Missions Advanced Resilient Trusted Systems (S2MARTS) Other Transaction Authority (OTA) vehicle on behalf of the U.S. Department of Defense Test Resource Management Center (TRMC).

Rocket Lab’s test platform showcased a new suite of cutting-edge technologies optimized for hypersonic technology tests with vastly increased payloads. Rocket Lab also designed, manufactured, assembled, and integrated the experimental hypersonic instrumentation which was launched on this mission, but on a highly accelerated timeline.

Rocket Lab has been launching missions to space for commercial and government customers since 2017, with more than 200 payloads deployed from its United States and New Zealand launch sites.

George Rumford, Director of the TRMC, said, “Leveraging commercial launch services allows our Nation to affordably test components early and frequently, accelerating hypersonic development.”

Rocket Lab’s Vice President Global Launch Services, Brian Rogers, said, “Hypersonic technology testing is a critical need for the nation and one that we’re proud to be serving with our test launches. Again, we broke new ground with this launch, and our ability to deliver successful tests demonstrates our commitment to working with our government and industry partners in pushing the boundaries of hypersonic innovation.” (Source: Satnews)

11 Dec 24. EchoStar Mobile expanding services by adding LoRaWAN satellite relay + associated capabilities. EchoStar Mobile, an EchoStar company (Nasdaq: SATS), has now made available the first and only S-band LoRaWAN® Satellite Relay (EM-SR) device with associated network functions to help businesses fill terrestrial coverage gaps.

The EM-SR Relay is specifically designed to solve key challenges with traditional LoRaWAN® sensors in distribution and monitoring networks such as smart metering, distributed sensors, and remote connectivity. This solution provides cost effective LoRaWAN connectivity to sparsely deployed or hard to penetrate building locations without the need for extensive and expensive operational infrastructure.

IoT sensors may be located deep indoors in hard-to-reach places, such as underground, in basements, in metal cabinets, or other remote areas making conventional LoRaWAN implementation challenging. The EM-SR LoRaWAN® Satellite Relay device eliminates the need to deploy terrestrial LoRaWAN gateways to fill connectivity gaps.

The EchoStar Mobile S-band satellite network implements the LoRa Alliance’s LoRaWAN Relay Specification enabling multiple terrestrial LoRaWAN sensors to send and receive LoRaWAN packets via a single satellite enabled “Relay.” It is possible to connect multiple sensors using standard terrestrial LoRaWAN radios—better serving locations where there is no direct view of the sky.

The EM-SR is a self-contained unit that can connect 16 terrestrial LoRaWAN sensors and transfer data through the satellite network. It features a battery-powered satellite backhaul using energy-harvesting solutions and supports Firmware Updates Over the Air (FUOTA), which enables long-term, scalable, and economical deployment.

Offered as key component of a managed solution, the EM-SR device includes a management platform and associated APIs for integration with third party management platforms.

“We are committed to fueling innovation that enhances the accessibility and reliability of connectivity in remote regions and those without connectivity infrastructure. This network provides new economics for connecting sensors located at the edge of terrestrial radio frequency coverage—providing essential connectivity for hard-to-reach locations, where adding conventional LoRaWAN gateways may not be economically attractive,” said Telemaco Melia, Vice President and General Manager, EchoStar Mobile. “European businesses now have access to a low cost, scalable, and reliable solution that solves difficult remote connectivity problems and enables all points of their network to be connected economically.”

“Seamless connectivity, both terrestrial and satellite-based, is essential for unlocking the full potential of IoT,” said Olivier Beaujard, Chair of the Board of the LoRa Alliance, and LoRa ecosystem Senior Director for Semtech. “With a simple firmware update, the LoRaWAN ecosystem’s broad portfolio of terrestrial sensors can now easily benefit from satellite IoT services. This is a game changing innovation that will extend low-cost satellite coverage to difficult to reach areas, such as underground and indoors.”

“Advancements in connectivity technology continue to create greater opportunity—filling gaps that previously made service unavailable or unreliable. As the first of its kind, this network underscores our ongoing commitment to delivering superior connectivity to European Businesses,” said Chris Britton, Managing Director, Hughes Europe. “We are proud to make available this innovative and unique solution to European organizations, helping them optimize operations and boost the bottom line.” (Source: Satnews)

09 Dec 24. Blue Ring Pathfinder payload ready for launch — Blue Origin’s New Glenn on track for this year. Blue Origin’s payload for New Glenn’s first mission, NG-1, is ready for launch this year — NG-1 will carry the company’s Blue Ring Pathfinder and mark the rocket’s first National Security Space Launch certification flight.

The Blue Ring Pathfinder for New Glenn’s first mission, NG-1.

The encapsulated payload will be integrated onto the launch vehicle following the hotfire. New Glenn will lift off from Blue Origin’s Launch Complex 36 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.

Blue Origin received a contract to demonstrate a heavy utility-OLV system

using their ‘Blue Ring’ platform.

The pathfinder was developed by Blue Origin’s In-Space Systems business unit and will test Blue Ring’s core flight, ground systems, and operational capabilities. NG-1 will carry the Blue Ring Pathfinder payload as part of the Defense Innovation Unit’s (DIU) Orbital Logistics prototype effort. DIU funding is helping to enable future Department of Defense missions.

The demonstrator includes a communications array, power systems, and a flight computer affixed to a secondary payload adapter ring. The pathfinder will validate Blue Ring’s communications capabilities from orbit to ground. The mission will also test its in-space telemetry, tracking and command hardware, and ground-based radiometric tracking that will be used on the future Blue Ring production space vehicle. The pathfinder will remain onboard New Glenn’s second stage for the duration of an expected six-hour mission.

Blue Ring addresses two of the most difficult challenges in spaceflight today: Growing space infrastructure and the need for increased mobility in space. The spacecraft’s ability to maneuver to multiple orbits and locations, deploy and host payloads, and perform onboard computing and communications will enable groundbreaking missions for a variety of customers.

The multi-mission space mobility platform can deliver and host 3,000 kilograms of payloads across 13 ports to destinations in GEO, cislunar, and interplanetary space. Blue Ring’s ports can accommodate ESPA and ESPA Grande class satellites and up to a 2.5 metric ton payload on its top deck.

New Glenn stands more than 320 feet (98 meters) tall and features a seven-meter payload fairing, enabling twice the volume of standard five-meter class commercial launch systems. Its reusable first stage is designed for 25 missions and powered by seven of Blue Origin’s BE-4 engines, the most powerful liquid oxygen (LOX) / liquefied natural gas (LNG)-fueled oxygen-rich staged combustion engines ever flown. Each BE-4 engine generates 550,000 lbf (2,450 kN) thrust at sea level with deep-throttle capability. The vehicle’s second stage is powered by two BE-3Us, liquid oxygen (LOX)/liquid hydrogen (LH2) engines designed to yield over 320,000 lbf of vacuum thrust together.

“We’re excited to demonstrate Blue Ring’s advanced in-space operations on New Glenn’s inaugural mission,” said Paul Ebertz, Senior Vice President of Blue Origin’s In-Space Systems. “Blue Ring plays a critical role in building a road to space, and this mission is an important first step for Blue Ring and enabling dynamic and responsive operations that will greatly benefit our nation.” (Source: Satnews)

11 Dec 24. C-COM Flyaway antennas are demonstrated to the President of Peru and deployed by the Peruvian Airforce. C-COM 1.2m Flyaway and Vehicle Mount antennas were sold to the Peruvian Airforce by SES and exhibited on a military base in Peru to the President of Peru and to the Peruvian media. The event was organized by the Peruvian Airforce, and broadcast by TVPerú Noticias which is available for viewing on: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PSgh4ky2Y3sFLY-1202 – Flyaway

(Credit to TVPerú Noticias and SES for sharing this video event).

The iNetVu ® 1.2m Flyaway Antenna System is a portable, self-pointing, auto-acquire unit that is configurable with the iNetVu® 7715 Controller and can be assembled in less than 15 minutes by one person. The antenna features a 2-piece segmented glass Carbon iNetVu with compact pedestal and is cost-effective while providing exceptional performance in a light weight package. Field Upgradable to Ka-band.

The assets of the C-COM 1.2m Flayaway and Vehicle Mount antennas include:

One button auto-pointing controller
3 Axis motion (Ku-band), 2 axis (X-band)
Airline transportable
Supports manual control when required
Designed to work with the iNetVu® 7715 Controller
Captive hardware / fasteners
1.2m off set, prime focus, 2-piece Carbon reflector
No tools required for assembly / disassembly
Less than 15 minutes assembly time, one person job
Elevation-over-azimuth pedestal provides excellent stiffness characteristics and convenience for the user
Eutelsat / Intelsat compliant
Compact packaging, ruggedized shipping cases
Minimal maintenance required
Standard 2 year warranty

(Source: Satnews)

SATELLITE SYSTEMS, SATCOM AND SPACE SYSTEMS UPDATE

December 6, 2024 by

06 Dec 24. Artemis delayed yet again despite heat shield breakthrough. NASA’s Artemis II mission to fly astronauts close to the moon has been delayed yet again from September 2025 to April 2026. However, in a significant breakthrough, the space agency has identified the cause of the heat shield problems on the Orion capsule and believes it can simply change the reentry trajectory to avoid the problem reoccurring. The news means the subsequent Artemis III mission to return humans to the Moon will also be pushed back until the middle of 2027. Australia is now a key player in the Artemis program, with NASA tasking the Australian Space Agency with creating a rover that will collect lunar regolith, or moon soil, that will eventually be turned into oxygen to support a permanent human base.

“Our early Artemis flights are a test campaign, and the Artemis I test flight gave us an opportunity to check out our systems in the deep space environment before adding crew on future missions,” said Amit Kshatriya, a NASA deputy associate administrator.

“The heat shield investigation helped ensure we fully understand the cause and nature of the issue, as well as the risk we are asking our crews to take when they venture to the Moon.”

NASA said its teams took a methodical approach to identifying the root cause of the char loss issue, including sampling of the Artemis I heat shield, review of imagery from sensors on the spacecraft, and comprehensive ground testing and analysis.

“During Artemis I, engineers used the skip guidance entry technique to return Orion to Earth. This technique provides more flexibility by extending the range Orion can fly after the point of reentry to a landing spot in the Pacific Ocean.

“Using this manoeuvre, Orion dipped into the upper part of Earth’s atmosphere and used atmospheric drag to slow down. Orion then used the aerodynamic lift of the capsule to skip back out of the atmosphere, then reenter for final descent under parachutes to splash down.

“Using Avcoat material response data from Artemis I, the investigation team was able to replicate the Artemis I entry trajectory environment — a key part of understanding the cause of the issue — inside the arc jet facilities at NASA’s Ames Research Center in California.

“They observed that during the period between dips into the atmosphere, heating rates decreased, and thermal energy accumulated inside the heat shield’s Avcoat material.

“This led to the accumulation of gases that are part of the expected ablation process. Because the Avcoat did not have “permeability,” internal pressure built up, and led to cracking and uneven shedding of the outer layer.

“Teams performed extensive ground testing to replicate the skip phenomenon before Artemis I. However, they tested at much higher heating rates than the spacecraft experienced in flight.

“The high heating rates tested on the ground allowed the permeable char to form and ablate as expected, releasing the gas pressure.

“The less severe heating seen during the actual Artemis I reentry slowed down the process of char formation while still creating gases in the char layer. Gas pressure built up to the point of cracking the Avcoat and releasing parts of the charred layer.

“Recent enhancements to the arc jet facility have enabled a more accurate reproduction of the Artemis I measured flight environments so that this cracking behaviour could be demonstrated in ground testing.

“While Artemis I was uncrewed, flight data showed that had crew been aboard, they would have been safe. The temperature data from the crew module systems inside the cabin were also well within limits and holding steady in the mid-70s Fahrenheit.

“Thermal performance of the heat shield exceeded expectations. Engineers understand both the material phenomenon and the environment the materials interact with during entry. By changing the material or the environment, they can predict how the spacecraft will respond.

“NASA teams unanimously agreed the agency can develop acceptable flight rationale that will keep crew safe using the current Artemis II heat shield with operational changes to entry.”

The Artemis launch vehicle consists of the Orion capsule, created by Lockheed and Airbus, and the main Space Launch System rocket manufactured by a consortium including Boeing and Northrop Grumman.

However, there is increasing speculation that incoming president Donald Trump could alter the Artemis mission to use SpaceX’s Starship launch vehicle for blast off instead.

Currently, Starship is scheduled to be reconfigured as a moon lander before returning the astronauts to Earth – effectively meaning two launch vehicles are used rather than one.

Starship has now completed six successful test missions, with Trump watching the last blast-off in person. (Source: Space Connect)

06 Dec 24. Sentinel-1C: New radar satellite launched into space. A new radar satellite supported by the UK was launched into space from French Guiana at 9:20pm GMT on Thursday 5 December.

The Sentinel-1C satellite launched on a VEGA-C rocket and will orbit 700km above the Earth’s surface. Part of Europe’s Copernicus programme, it will use advanced radar technology to provide continuous imaging over land and sea, day and night, and even through cloud cover.

Science Minister Lord Vallance said: “The successful launch of this new satellite will further strengthen the Copernicus programme, which continues to collect vital long-term data allowing us to better understand our planet, respond to natural disasters and tackle global challenges like climate change.”

The UK’s Earth Observation industry is integral to the Sentinel 1 satellites, with the support of the UK Space Agency.

Airbus Defence and Space (Portsmouth) developed the electronics subsystem of the key Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) instrument aboard the satellite. Honeywell UK was responsible for the receiver of the Automated Identification System (AIS) payload, which will be key for maritime surveillance capabilities. Additionally, the battery for Sentinel-1C was supplied by Enersys ABSL (Abingdon).

Justin Byrne, Head of Earth Observation and Science at Airbus Defence and Space UK, said: “Airbus in the UK has designed and manufactured the entire family of radar electronic subsystems for the Sentinel 1 satellites; this continues the UK provision of key instrument elements for all European Space Agency and European Union SAR satellites in orbit.

Once it reaches its intended orbit, Sentinel-1C will synchronise with Sentinel-1A which is already in space. These satellites will work in partnership with each other to deliver the Sentinel-1 mission, imaging the Earth and generating large amounts of data that is fed into the various services provided by Copernicus. ”

Dr Chandra Taposeea-Fisher, Chair of EO Committee, UKspace trade association, said: “The SAR instruments on the Sentinel-1 satellites have contributed greatly to the monitoring of Arctic sea-ice extent, routine sea-ice mapping, marine environment surveillance, land-surface motion risks, forest, water & soil management, as well as contributing to humanitarian aid and crisis situations. ”

Data from the Sentinel-1 satellites has been used throughout the UK EO Community, by government, industry and academia. We welcome the successful launch of Sentinel-1C, opening a new chapter in the EO world.

Unlike research satellites, Sentinel-1C imagery is designed to sustain a reliable operational service, with consistent and long-term data collection for key applications. This is crucial for land and maritime monitoring, tracking of sea ice, emergency response to flooding and earthquake events, tracking climate variables and assessing the impacts of climate change.

Professor Gideon Henderson, Chief Scientific Adviser for Defra, said: “Copernicus was a catalyst to the widespread uptake and use of Earth Observation to aid evidence-based policy delivery, monitoring and enforcement activities. ”

The launch of Sentinel-1C will continue to support the National Forestry Inventory; flood response mapping and detecting illegal fishing.

We are also researching how Interferometric SAR techniques can show ground deformation in peat bogs caused by fluctuations in water storage, sometimes known as bog breathing. This will help us better understand peat-bog health and carbon storage potential.

The Copernicus Sentinel satellites deliver key data for monitoring and delineating the extent of areas affected by floods, supporting local decision-making during emergencies. Credit: European Union, Copernicus Sentinel-1 imagery

Prof John Remedios, Director of the National Centre for Earth Observation said:

The advent of operational radar satellites has been a huge boost to our ability to observe hazardous and extreme environments, for example where people are vulnerable to earthquakes and volcanoes.

Sentinel-1C will renew the extensive coverage and clever products which result from combining data from two radar satellites operating at the same time, allowing scientists and businesses to measure ground motion from glaciers to cities.

As well as its radar instrument, Sentinel-1C will also carry a new Automatic Identification System (AIS), developed by the International Maritime Organisation to help ships avoid collisions at sea. The combination of radar images and AIS signals improves the monitoring of global shipping traffic and can also help detect piracy and other illegal activities.

This latest milestone for Copernicus follows the successful launch of another satellite – Sentinel-2C – in September this year. This satellite is already providing high-resolution imagery and data – it is a powerful tool that enhances the UK and Europe’s capabilities in monitoring land and vegetation. (Source: https://www.gov.uk/)

04 Dec 24. Vega-C Complete for Return to Flight. ESA’s Vega-C rocket is complete on the launch pad at Europe’s Spaceport and ready for liftoff. The final element of the rocket, which includes the Sentinel-1C satellite that will be launched into space, was installed on top of the 35-m launcher on 29 November – like the cherry on a cake. Vega-C is ESA’s smaller rocket specialised in launching to polar orbits for Earth observation satellites such as Sentinel-1C. Together with Ariane 6 – which had its inaugural launch this summer – the two rockets ensure Europe has autonomous access to space for the benefit of our citizens.

The launch this week is significant as it will be the ‘return to flight’ of Vega-C after it has been grounded since its previous flight in 2022. This launch will be the 25th flight for the Vega family of rockets, since the last Vega flight in September marked the retirement of Vega – Vega-C’s predecessor.

Vega-C has four ‘stages’ that are assembled separately and stacked in order on the launch pad.

The first stage, the P120C, was installed on 14 October and is one of the most powerful one-piece solid-fuelled rocket motors ever built. This component is also used by Ariane 6 for its boosters. By sharing the same components, both rockets can be built more cost-effectively.

The second stage, called Zefiro-40, has had its nozzle redesigned and the complete stage was test-fired twice since the last Vega-C launch. This is standard procedure when preparing solid-fuel rocket motors for operations. The third stage Zefiro-9, is the only component shared by Vega-C and its predecessor.

The fourth stage, called Attitude and Vernier Upper Module, or AVUM+, connects to the Sentinel-1C satellite and accompanies it for the first complete orbit of our planet, firing its liquid-fuelled engines in three separate bursts of up to five minutes to place Sentinel-1C as close to a perfect orbit as possible. After satellite separation, a final burn of the fourth stage will de-orbit the hardware to leave no space debris.

On launch day, the first three Vega-C stages will fire, burn through their fuel and be expended in rapid succession, enabling the rocket to reach space in just eight minutes. The fourth stage with Sentinel-1C will orbit Earth and prepare for release an hour and fifty minutes after liftoff.

Although the components are stacked and ready on the launch pad, technicians connect, check and test right up until launch day. A final ‘launch readiness review’ was held, authorising Vega-C to be ignited and return to the skies. Watch the launch live on ESA Web TV. (Source: ASD Network)

04 Dec 24. Space Force racing to meet training, testing demands. The Space Force’s push to prepare for a future war in the Indo-Pacific in the next few years is not just about quickly fielding more resilient satellites and ground systems — it also means ensuring guardians and the broader joint force are trained and ready to use those capabilities during a conflict.

Chief of Space Operations Gen. Chance Saltzman has made readiness a top priority for the service and has called on the organizations that write requirements, train guardians and develop test and training infrastructure to move quickly to prepare the force to operate in a more contested space environment.

That’s a big task for a service that was established just five years ago and is transitioning from viewing space as a benign domain to a potential theater of war. And the leaders of the service’s testing and training enterprise say they are feeling that time crunch.

Col. Corey Klopstein, who leads efforts to acquire operational test and training infrastructure at Space Systems Command, said Saltzman’s mandate means his organization has “a long way to go in a very short period of time.”

“We’ve got to make sure that we’ve got our forces ready to present as quickly as possible,” he said during a recent Interservice/Industry Training, Simulation and Education Conference webinar. “We’re not in the same position as other services that have been training in these contested environments.”

Maj. Gen. Tim Sejba, head of Space Training and Readiness Command, said Tuesday that while it will take decades for the Space Force to build high-fidelity training and testing ranges, there are interim steps the service can take to improve its live and simulated training infrastructure.

Speaking at the annual I/ITSEC conference in Orlando, Florida, this week, Sejba said the Space Force is taking a hybrid approach to improving its current systems, stitching together legacy capabilities with new technology available in the commercial market.

“The only way we’re going to be able to support the joint force and our allies is to partner with industry differently than we have in the past,” he said.

The service is using its $12 bn Space Enterprise Consortium contract to buy some of these capabilities. The contracting mechanism allows the Space Force to issue task orders to more than 750 preapproved companies and get solutions faster than it might under a more traditional acquisition program.

In September, the service issued an RFI through the consortium seeking commercial companies with satellites on orbit that have excess capacity and could be used to support Space Force live training and testing. This and other acquisition tools are not only efficient ways to buy new capabilities, but they’re often more affordable, too, Klopstein said.

“I want to see what’s out there and push the boundary to see if there’s anything that we can bring in and leverage as quickly as possible,” he said. “And if you can partner with commercial industry and you can have dual use of technologies, that helps us collectively bring the cost down.”

In the near term, Klopstein said, the service plans rely on whatever capability it can get from industry to address its biggest training gaps: integration and outdated simulators.

The integration challenge involves understanding how the service’s satellites interact and affect one another on orbit and simulating that in a virtual training environment. Today, much of the Space Force’s training happens system by system, but Klopstein said the service needs to better connect its capabilities to make its training more comprehensive and realistic.

The Space Force also needs to invest in upgrading its simulators, which don’t currently provide the capability the service needs to validate its tactics, Klopstein said.

For now, Space Systems Command is doing what it can to piece together new capabilities and existing systems, but the Space Force’s future training needs will require a more robust virtual training infrastructure.

Klopstein’s team has met with industry several times over the last year to assess what modeling and simulation capabilities it might be able to take advantage of today to build that future infrastructure. That work is informing a broader acquisition strategy that the service expects to unveil early next year.

04 Dec 24. Altair (Nasdaq: ALTR), a global leader in computational intelligence, will work together with Auburn University’s Samuel Ginn College of Engineering on a $1.25m AFWERX Phase II STTR contract. The two organizations will develop analytical models for cyclonic flows, construct computational models, and study the stability of different vortex engines to address the challenges facing public and private sector aerospace organizations.

Altair will work with Auburn University’s Samuel Ginn College of Engineering on a $1.25m AFWERX Phase II STTR contract to address the challenges facing public and private sector aerospace organizations and advance vortex rocket engines.

Within the contract, Altair is assuming the previous role of Research in Flight, which was founded in 2013 and won a series of development contracts and grants over a 10-year span. Altair acquired Research in Flight in April 2024 and its technology is now known as Altair® FlightStream™, part of the Altair® HyperWorks® platform.

“This opportunity continues Altair’s legacy of innovation in the aerospace industry and demonstrates the power of our technology as we work closely with a prestigious institution such as Auburn University,” said Pietro Cervellera, senior vice president of aerospace and defense, Altair. “FlightStream empowers users in unique ways, bridging the gap between high-fidelity CFD simulations and engineering demands to set industry standards for efficiency, accuracy, and speed.”

Within the project, the Auburn University team – led by Dr. Joe Majdalani, the university’s Hugh and Loeda Francis Chair of Excellence in the department of aerospace engineering – will use FlightStream to identify optimal conditions within vortex engines. FlightStream will help the team predict cyclonic flow performance and acoustic signature characteristics at a fraction of the time compared to previous methods. These models will enable users to rapidly predict the stability performance of thrust engines earlier in the design cycle over a range of operating conditions.

“This contract allows us to develop next-generation solutions for vortex engines and collaborate with Altair, whose decades of experience and technology now includes the tool from Research in Flight,” Majdalani said. “Previously, each test seeking to study vortex engine capabilities and stability limitations took about two weeks. With FlightStream, these same predictions take just a few minutes. We are thrilled to see how these tools will transform this space.”

The contract is awarded by AFWERX. AFWERX is the innovation arm of the United States Department of the Air Force (DAF) that harnesses cutting-edge American ingenuity from small businesses and startups to address the most pressing challenges of the DAF. Since 2019, AFWERX has executed over 6,200 new contracts worth more than $4.7 bn to strengthen the U.S. defense industrial base and drive faster technology transition to operational capability. (Source: PR Newswire)

04 Dec 24. Gilmour’s first launch ‘no earlier than mid-January.’ Gilmour will open the launch window for its Eris rocket “no earlier than mid-January” after securing the licence to blast off last month. The business could have opted for a lift-off date this month but has shifted the plan back to 2025 to complete “final testing and verification activities” and hand its team a break over Christmas. In a new LinkedIn post, Gilmour also advised the public against attempting to watch the inaugural launch in person, given the “high likelihood of delays or scrubs”.

“We will not be providing a live stream as our priority is ensuring mission safety and success,” it said. “A video of the launch will be shared soon after.”

Gilmour Space Technologies has been developing its three-stage launch vehicle for eight years and hopes to address a gap in the global market for small satellite launch providers.

It was granted the launch licence, an Australian first, by Science Minister Ed Husic in November under the Space (Launches & Returns) Act 2018. A number of conditions need to be met, though, before a potential blast-off, including a mandatory 30-day notification period.

“With this green light, we will soon attempt the first orbital test flight of an Australian-made rocket from Australian soil,” said the firm’s founder, Adam Gilmour.

Gilmour’s Bowen Orbital Spaceport in North Queensland was separately granted its own licence to operate in March, and the company completed a wet dress rehearsal in September, all the way to T-10 seconds.

“Since starting its rocket program in 2015, Gilmour Space has expanded to over 200 employees, built a local supply chain of more than 300 Australian companies, attracted significant private investment, gained support from local, state and federal governments, and actively engaged communities across the region,” Gilmour said in a statement.

The business had hoped to blast off for the first time in April 2024, and prior to the licence’s eventual granting, Adam Gilmour repeatedly blamed the Australian Space Agency for the delay.

At one point, he argued that the pushback was “more them than us” and even suggested that officials were concerned that its Eris launch vehicle could hit a passing ship.

“Like, what if a cruise ship comes out of Hawaii and goes in the path of the rocket as it’s going up [from the North Queensland coast]? And how are we not going to hit the International Space Station?” he said of their apparent questions. (Source: Space Connect)

04 Dec 24. Rivada Tapped for Virtual Network Operator Contract with US Navy.

Next-Generation LEO Satellite Network is Key for Enabling Navy Innovation
Unique global data constellation using satellite-to-satellite laser links
Ultra-secure and extremely low latency network
Combining the speed of fiber with the reach of satellite
Gateway-less architecture ensures security by design

The Rivada Outernet is a next-generation low-Earth orbit satellite constellation. When fully deployed it will provide gigabit speeds to any point on the globe, without needing to touch the public internet or any third-party infrastructure. Rivada has designed its Outernet to serve the most demanding enterprise and government customers—those who need highly secure, high-bandwidth connectivity in even the most far-flung locations.

Consistent and highly secure, global connectivity for Navy vessels remains a challenge for both ship-to-shore and ship-to-ship communications. Under the first phase of its contract with the U.S. Navy, Rivada will engage in joint engineering cooperation with the Navy to delineate a Virtual Network architecture specifically designed to meet the Navy’s needs on the Rivada Outernet.

A global low-latency point-to-point connectivity network of 600 low earth orbit (LEO) satellites, Rivada’s Outernet is a unique next-generation architecture combining inter-satellite laser links with advanced onboard processing that provide unique routing and switching capabilities to create an optical mesh network in space. This approach to “orbital networking,” in which data stays in space from origin to destination, creates an ultra-secure satellite network with pole-to-pole coverage, offering end-to-end latencies much lower than terrestrial fiber over similar long distances. By routing traffic on a physically separated network, it provides a layer of defense for any organization that needs to securely share data between widely distributed sites.

Rivada’s Outernet is particularly well suited for the secure connectivity required by national governments and defense sectors. Leveraging the Outernet’s robust, resilient and secure space-based architecture, naval users can connect their assets on a global scale with low latency and without any third-party networks in the communication chain. Assets anywhere in the world can be connected back to home soil and between each other, platform-to-platform.

“The Rivada Outernet’s proliferated LEO architecture is resilient by design and built for exactly this type of use-case,” said Declan Ganley, CEO of Rivada Networks. “We are delighted that the U.S. Navy sees the value of what we are building and look forward to delivering an operational concept that meets its needs. Our Outernet is rapidly becoming the infrastructure of choice for secure data communications.”

Commander Nick Goddard, head of operations, U.S. Navy Cyber Defense Command, said: “Rivada is building a uniquely capable LEO constellation focused on zero trust networking.” He added: “The combination of security, symmetrical uplink and downlink speeds and global coverage are unique, and we are excited to collaborate with Rivada on how the Navy can best take advantage of Rivada’s gateway-less architecture for innovation today and in the future. As the adversary evolves, we must continue to out-innovate, maneuver, and drive outcomes to support our global Navy Operational Ecosystem.” (Source: ASD Network)

04 Dec 24. Parsons and Globalstar Announce Partnership, Demonstrate First Software Defined Satellite Communication Solutions in Low Earth Orbit. Parsons Corporation (NYSE: PSN) and Globalstar (NYSE American: GSAT) announce their exclusive partnership to support the public, government, and defense sectors. The partnership also includes the successful demonstration of Parsons’ software-defined satellite communications solution using Globalstar’s Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite constellation.

As the demand for reliable global communication services continues to grow in complex and congested areas, the collaboration between Parsons and Globalstar provides an innovative solution designed to enhance resilience against disrupted communication pathways. Utilizing Globalstar’s LEO satellite constellation, the partnership aims to ensure resilient and diverse communication protocols to support a myriad of communication needs.

“This successful demonstration is a significant step forward in how we can use satellite infrastructure to support mission-critical needs across various industries,” said Mike Kushin, president of Defense and Intelligence for Parsons. “By leveraging Globalstar’s advanced satellite technology, we are optimizing the Parsons capability solution to provide communications connectivity, especially in areas where radio frequency congestion poses challenges.”

The Proof of Concept, which commenced earlier this year, is progressing through the necessary steps to enter commercial service. This successful demonstration of Parsons Corporation’s software-defined satellite communications solution using Globalstar’s Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite constellation marks an important milestone as the first of its kind in North America. It unlocks previously impossible mission-critical solutions tailored for radio frequency (RF)-congested environments, setting a new standard for global communication services in complex and often challenging operating conditions.

“Partnering with Parsons Corporation allows us to demonstrate the versatility and effectiveness of our satellite solutions in addressing crucial connectivity challenges,” said Dr. Paul E. Jacobs, CEO of Globalstar. “This achievement exemplifies how global satellite systems can work collaboratively with advanced technologies to deliver essential services in dynamic and challenging environments. We see this as a milestone moment for not only the progress of our partnership but also another way that Globalstar is able to bring value from our satellite infrastructure in the commercialization of these new services.”

The demonstration not only highlights the advanced functionality of Parsons’ solution but also the benefits of collaborating closely on a technology solution at both the RF and system layer. (Source: BUSINESS WIRE)

03 Dec 24. Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC) has successfully handed over mission operations of Space Norway’s Arctic Satellite Broadband Mission (ASBM) satellites and completed activation of U.S. Space Force (USSF) Space Systems Command’s (SSC) two Enhanced Polar System – Recapitalization (EPS-R) payloads, hosted aboard ASBM. The mission launched in August from Vandenberg Space Force Base.

The two ASBM satellites host payloads for the Norwegian Ministry of Defense and Viasat, which will expand X-band and Ka-band connectivity across the Arctic region, and the Norwegian Radiation Monitor, provided by Norwegian company IDEAS for the European Commission, that will provide data on operations in triple-apogee Highly Elliptical Orbit.
The EPS-R payloads on ASBM provide protected military satellite communications for U.S. and allied forces operating in the Northern Polar region.
EPS-R significantly increases the capacity of the existing Enhanced Polar System (EPS) payloads and extends the mission until next-generation protected MILSATCOM systems come online in the mid-2030s.

Blake Bullock, vice president, military space systems, Northrop Grumman: “Thanks to a bold vision from our customers — and enabled by Northrop Grumman’s end-to-end capabilities, deep mission understanding and unmatched MILSATCOM legacy — our service members and allies can now count on reliable, secure communications in this strategically important region while next-generation systems are developed.”

ASBM is a historic partnership between Space Norway and the U.S. Space Force, marking the first time an operational U.S. military payload is hosted on an international commercial space mission. This first-of-its-kind accomplishment is the latest chapter in Northrop Grumman’s long history of supporting protected MILSATCOM missions. The company has developed, built and delivered protected MILSATCOM payloads for every protected MILSATCOM program since the Milstar program, which launched starting in the 1990s.

The EPS-R payloads are operated by the Northrop Grumman-led Control and Planning Segment ground system, which has been upgraded with a common baseline software to operate both EPS and EPS-R, eliminating the need for training on two separate control systems.

Northrop Grumman provided two GEOStar-3 satellites for this mission in addition to payload development, integration, testing, launch support, and early mission operations for Space Norway. Northrop Grumman also provided two Satellite Control Ground Systems, located in Tromsø and Bardufoss, Norway.

Northrop Grumman is a leading global aerospace and defense technology company. Our pioneering solutions equip our customers with the capabilities they need to connect and protect the world, and push the boundaries of human exploration across the universe. Driven by a shared purpose to solve our customers’ toughest problems, our employees define possible every day.

02 Dec 24. Ovzon in Successful Demo With the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV). Last week, Ovzon demonstrated an integrated satellite communications solution, including mobile satellite terminals and Ovzon 3-based SATCOM service, in a pilot test with remote control of an unmanned ground vehicle (UGV). The demonstration was made together with the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV). The demonstration took place at two locations: the UGV was in Kiruna, approximately 1000 km away from the command-and-control center in Stockholm. This demonstration is proof of the versatility of Ovzon’s SATCOM solutions using the company’s own satellite, Ovzon 3, and the unique capabilities of the Ovzon On-Board-Processor (OBP) to create a true mesh network with sovereign control within the borders of Sweden.

Erik Lundström, Project Manager at FMV, says; “Remotely controlled systems will play a fundamental role in the future, and this demonstration was therefore very important. This was a first, and it was a challenging task to guarantee satellite communication so we could remotely steer a UGV 1000 km away from Stockholm in a completely Swedish context. Ovzon, with its Ovzon 3 satellite and its groundbreaking technology, made this possible.”

“Satellite communications play a crucial role in enabling the operation of unmanned vehicles (UAVs) across various environments. At Ovzon, we have always worked with our customers’ specific needs in mind. Working on different proof of concepts helps us remain a world leading satellite communications company”, concludes Per Norén, CEO of Ovzon. (Source: ASD Network)

24 Nov 24. Rocket Lab’s HASTE suborbital launch vehicle soars testing hypersonic test launch capabilities

Rocket Lab’s second dedicated mission for Leidos successfully lifted off on November 24, 2024, at 06:00 UTC. The launch was performed by HASTE, a vehicle derived from the two-stage orbital-class expendable Electron, from Pad 0C (Rocket Lab LC-2) within NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility.

This mission marks the second launch of HASTE (Hypersonic Accelerator Suborbital Test Electron) and the first of four launches planned for Leidos between 2024 and 2025.

Rocket Lab was selected by Leidos to provide hypersonic test launch capabilities with HASTE under the MACH-TB project. The project was awarded by Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC) Crane through the Strategic and Spectrum Missions Advanced Resilient Trusted Systems (S2MARTS) Other Transaction Authority (OTA) vehicle on behalf of the U.S. Department of Defense Test Resource Management Center (TRMC).

Jeffrey McCormick, senior intelligence analyst said, “China now has the world’s leading hypersonic arsenal, and Russia currently has three deployed hypersonic weapon systems, including two that have been used in a conflict against Ukraine.”

Rocket Lab launched the first HASTE mission on 17 June 2023 for Leidos under the Multi-Service Advanced Capability Hypersonic Test Bed (MACH-TB) program.

Rocket Lab’s HASTE suborbital launch vehicle is derived from the Company’s Electron rocket but has been modified to support hypersonic payload deployment. By leveraging the heritage of Rocket Lab’s low-cost Electron – the world’s most frequently launched commercial small launch vehicle – HASTE offers true commercial testing capability at a fraction of the cost of current full-scale tests.

As of current information, the Rocket Lab “Leidos 2” mission, also known as a HASTE (Hypersonic Accelerator Suborbital Test Electron) mission for Leidos, is currently on hold, at Rocket Lab Launch Complex 2 at Virginia’s Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport within NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility, with the countdown paused; meaning the launch is delayed and not happening as planned. The exact reason for the hold is not explicitly stated, but it is likely related to technical issues or necessary adjustments before launch.

Rocket Lab will launch four HASTE (Hypersonic Accelerator Suborbital Test Electron) missions for Leidos in 2024 and 2025. All four missions will launch from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 2 at Virginia’s Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport within NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility.

for Leidos under the Multi-Service Advanced Capability Hypersonic Test Bed (MACH-TB) program.

24 Nov 24. LKD Aerospace announces partnership with Scanway. LKD Aerospace and Scanway have announced their firms have entered into a new strategic partnership — this collaboration aims to enhance Earth Observation (EO) capabilities through advanced imaging systems and innovative satellite solutions. Scanway specializes in providing optical payloads for EO)and other remote sensing applications designed for a range of small satellites, including nano and micro configurations. Their innovative camera systems feature multifunctional modules that enable self-diagnostics and self-inspection, allowing for real-time monitoring of space infrastructure. This capability is crucial for detecting degradation levels, faults, and anomalies in space equipment, thereby optimizing mission success and longevity. In addition, they can be used in such applications as space situational awareness, docking missions, space exploration, etc. The partnership leverages Scanway’s extensive expertise in customizable and athermal telescope systems, designed to meet diverse mission requirements. These advanced systems support critical applications in object classification and military operations and also play a vital role in monitoring natural disasters, climate change, and supporting agricultural and urban development initiatives. Scanway’s innovative approach to optical payload design allows for scalability and integration across various platforms, ensuring that clients can tailor their solutions to fit specific mission goals. This flexibility is a significant advantage in an ever-evolving aerospace landscape. As both companies continue to innovate and collaborate, they are committed to providing innovative solutions that not only enhance satellite performance but also contribute to global sustainability efforts. Thanks to Star Linker who supports Scanway in business development activities in the U.S., an agreement has been signed between LKD and Scanway, paving the way for a strengthened partnership focused on these shared goals.

“We are thrilled to partner with Scanway, whose commitment to modularity and adaptability aligns perfectly with LKD Aerospace’s vision for the future of satellite technology,” said Len McNally, VP Sales / PGM at LKD Aerospace. “Together, we aim to push the boundaries of Earth observation capabilities, providing our clients with unparalleled insights into our planet’s dynamics.”

“We’re confident that this partnership will transform how we observe and engage with our planet,” said Mikołaj Podgórski, Chief Operating Officer at Scanway. “By merging our cutting-edge imaging technologies with LKD Aerospace’s extensive partnerships and network, we aim to create solutions for some of the most urgent challenges our world faces today.”

About LKD Aerospace

LKD Aerospace ‘s mission is to help OEM’s and customers successfully connect, and expand these possibilities through technical product sales experience, aggressive promotion, and over 40 years of experience of forging connections both throughout the US and across the world.

About Scanway

Scanway is a leader in optical payload technology, providing high-resolution imaging systems for Earth Observation satellites. With a focus on modularity and adaptability, Scanway develops customizable solutions that meet the diverse needs of the aerospace industry. (Source: Satnews)

26 Nov 24. Kyodo News: Japan rocket engine explodes during test for the 2nd time in 16 months. Kyodo News is reporting that an engine being developed for use in JAXA’s Epsilon S small rocket exploded Tuesday during a combustion test at a facility in southwestern Japan, this according to the agency, the second such incident in 16 months.

The explosion occurred 49 seconds after ignition at 8:30 a.m. at the Tanegashima Space Center in Kagoshima Prefecture. There were no injuries or damage to buildings outside the center.

The combustion pressure was higher than expected, JAXA said, adding it will continue to investigate the cause. The ground test for the second-stage engine was scheduled to last about 2 minutes. The engine was 3.2 meters long with a diameter of 2.5 meters. It carried about 18 tons of solid fuel, about 3 tons more than the second-stage engine of the conventional Epsilon rocket, according to JAXA

“We are extremely sorry that we were unable to meet expectations,” JAXA project manager Takayuki Imoto said. “We can learn from failure. We will take advantage of this opportunity to develop a more reliable rocket.” (Source: Satnews)

26 Nov 24. Revolutionizing space-based thermal systems: AFRL’s SPIRRAL launch on SPX-31. The Air Force Research Laboratory, or AFRL, launched the Space Power InfraRed Regulation and Analysis of Lifetime, or SPIRRAL, experiment, November 4, 2024. SPIRRAL, flown by AFRL through the DOD Space Test Program, will characterize the performance of Variable Emissivity Materials, or VEMs, an approach toward solving thermal challenges for space vehicles while on-orbit. VEMs are surface finishes that act like color-changing paints, however, the changes in coloration are only in the infrared light spectrum and are not visible to the human eye. VEMs can either reject or retain heat depending on the temperature being experienced. When the VEMs are hot, the material’s optical properties change to reject heat; when they are cold, they retain heat, effectively reducing temperature extremes.

“Similar to the many electronics we use in our daily lives such as cell phones and computers, maintaining optimal temperature ranges are crucial for a device’s efficiency and life expectancy,” said Bryce Hart, SPIRRAL Program Manager. “Due to the irreversible damage extreme temperatures can cause, managing temperature is vital for electronics to thrive in the space environment.”

SPIRRAL will host a variety of VEMs onboard an Aegis Aerospace Materials International Space Station Experiment or MISSE carrier. The carrier will be secured to an external face of the International Space Station (ISS), exposing the VEM samples to the space environment. While the VEMs undergo the temperature extremes of space, performance data is then captured. The data collected will be compared to their expected performance based on models formulated by terrestrial characterization.

The SPIRRAL Principal Investigator, Isaac Foster, highlighted the importance of this technology.

“Thermal management in space is incredibly challenging. VEMs enable more efficient and reliable spacecraft in ways that current thermal management solutions do not. Demonstrating these VEMs on-orbit is imperative to understanding how to implement this technology going forward to ultimately bolster spacecraft resiliency,” Foster said.

This type of perpetual modernization is key to ensuring that U.S. forces are equipped with the necessary tools to enhance space asset resiliency, autonomy, and flexibility.

SPIRRAL is a critical component of AFRL’s Space Solar Power Incremental Demonstrations and Research or SSPIDR Project, which is focused on developing and demonstrating technologies for a space-based solar power collection and transmission system capable of providing uninterrupted, assured, and logistically agile power to expeditionary forces.

A system of this magnitude would consist of large arrays with minimal thermal mass; making the system’s electronics highly susceptible to damage due to extreme temperature changes on-orbit – a challenge that can be overcome by VEMs as they offer a passive, low-mass solution, dethroning the current active thermal control systems used today.

James Winter, SSPIDR Program Manager, said, “VEMs not only provide solutions toward making a space-based solar power system a reality, but they will also usher in a new paradigm for spacecraft thermal designers, revolutionizing the way space-based thermal systems are designed and implemented.”

Dr. Andrew Williams, Deputy Technology Executive Officer for Space at AFRL, underscored this point by projecting that the impact of SPIRRAL will extend far beyond benefits to SSPIDR, completely changing spacecraft thermal control for all satellites. He said, “This technology is the holy grail for spacecraft thermal control and will revolutionize the cost and time for thermal design.”

“We are committed to win the future in Space. The advancements we are making in space-based solar power systems are game changers for space vehicle resiliency,” said Brig. Gen. Jason Bartolomei, AFRL Commander and Department of the Air Force Technology Executive Officer.

About AFRL

The Air Force Research Laboratory, or AFRL, is the primary scientific research and development center for the Department of the Air Force. AFRL plays an integral role in leading the discovery, development and integration of affordable warfighting technologies for our air, space and cyberspace force. With a workforce of more than 12,500 across nine technology areas and 40 other operations across the globe, AFRL provides a diverse portfolio of science and technology ranging from fundamental to advanced research and technology development. (Source: Satnews)

26 Nov 24. SpacePNT successfully completes demo of their PNT technology in LEO. SpacePNT SA has completed the on-orbit validation tests of the company’s NaviLEOTM spaceborne GNSS receiver product platform that is designed to deliver breakthrough dm-level positioning and ns timing accuracy in LEO as well as the highest signal reception sensitivity for GTO/GEO/Moon missions, all in real-time through the use of the firm’s unique and proprietary hardware and software technology.

Photo Credit: SpacePNT

After its successful deployment in LEO onboard the hosting Orbital Transfer Vehicle (D-Orbit ION OTV SCV-011 satellite) on June 13th 2023, a series of experiments have been conducted to successfully validate the key functionalities of the radiation tolerant technology, demonstrating multiple modes of operation (including dual-antenna) and full in-flight reprogramming (FPGA image and application software).

“Having successfully completed these in-orbit tests is a significant milestone for the company in achieving flight heritage and validating our products towards future missions, as well as to derisk the technology to serve additional markets”, said SpacePNT co-founder and CEO, Cyril Botteron. “This in-orbit technology demonstration, carried out within an ESA ARTES project, served two purposes: on one hand it validated the technology towards future LEO and Moon missions for which flight models have already been delivered to commercial and institutional partners; on the other hand, it derisked SpacePNT’s product development roadmap. In fact, the upcoming second-generation hardware platform reuses the same key radiation tolerant electronics components, repacked to enable a more cost-effective larger-scale manufacturing (targeting large telecom constellations) and it implements new functions to serve additional markets, for instance as Software Defined Radio platform for telecom and radar applications..

About NaviLEO

NaviLEO was conceived as a flexible and scalable platform that can support several configuration options to cover a wide range of missions, from LEO to GEO (with dual antenna inputs), and even up to the Moon (thanks to its super-high-sensitivity), providing autonomously and in real-time positioning and timing accuracies ranging from <10 cm 3D rms in LEO (with embedded Precise Orbit Determination algorithm) to <100 m 3D rms in cislunar orbits. Leveraging radiation tolerant components and advanced hardware/software radiation effects mitigation techniques, the product addresses the specific requirements of the New Space market, bridging the gap between today’s low-end and high-end GNSS space receiver solutions. It currently supports two constellations (GPS, Galileo) and multiple signals (L1, E1, L5, E5, E6), and is fully reprogrammable in-flight. Its advanced acquisition and tracking channels running on a state-of-the-art FPGA provide very high sensitivity and short time to first fix, while its on-board orbital propagator provides robust performance and improved availability.

About SpacePNT

SpacePNT SA, established in 2020 in Neuchâtel, Switzerland, is an innovative PNT solution provider. Its current range of products include both software solutions (SimORBIT, an advanced orbit propagation tool enabling the computation of high accuracy LEO trajectories) and hardware receiver solutions (NaviLEO, NaviMoon, NaviGEO). The company works as an agile company, with a permanent core of talented people with many years of experience in their respective domains that have entirely developed its hardware and software technological platform. It is supported for its technology and product developments by ESA, Swiss Space Office, and Swiss business angel investors. (Source: Satnews)

SATELLITE SYSTEMS, SATCOM AND SPACE SYSTEMS UPDATE

November 29, 2024 by

29 Nov 24. ‘Money still resides’ in JP9102, says Defence Industry Minister. The Minister for Defence Industry has said the “money still resides” in the JP9102 project, despite the deal with Lockheed Martin being cancelled. Speaking to Defence Connect’s Stephen Kuper, Pat Conroy said he was “frustrated and annoyed” by the commentary in the media and argued that the “very strong advice” from Defence was that the solution chosen was no longer right for Australia.

“We were putting all our eggs in one basket, and that basket was exposed,” he said.

It comes after the federal government earlier this month sensationally ripped up the $3 billion contract with Lockheed Martin to create a new military SATCOM capability for Australia.

The Australian, which broke the story, claimed the decision was due to a lack of budget. However, the federal government later insisted it was because multiple low-Earth orbit satellites are more secure from attacks than a single geostationary spacecraft, as planned by Lockheed.

Confirming the position, Conroy told Space Connect’s sister brand, Defence Connect, that the “IIP provision for this project hasn’t been touched” and the “money still resides” in that IIP.

“We’ve ceased the procurement activity, and we have focused on looking at other technology solutions, and that is, to be quite frank, because of the growing counter space threats,” he said.

“I’ve been frustrated and annoyed by some of the commentary out there, by people who just don’t have access to the classified briefings, who profess to be greater experts on this area than the ADF, who might be trying to sell their particular commercial technology or have a view.

“And some journalists have accepted that hook, line and sinker, and I find that frustrating.

“This is a project that’s been going on for a long time, and at the same time, there’s been a massive increase in counter-space threats. Some of that’s been very public.

“A lot of it hasn’t been public, but obviously, governments undertake analysis of what other countries are doing, and the very strong advice from the Defence Department was that the capability solution chosen was not the right one for the here and now. We were putting all our eggs in one basket, and that basket was exposed,

“So we made the hard decision in the national interest and go for a diversified solution that provides more resilience, and you can still have sovereignty that way.

“Sovereignty can be owning platforms, but if those platforms are lost on the first hour of a conflict, they’re not particularly sovereign.”

Conroy added the federal government was “focused on a multi-orbital capability” because it gives Australia “resilience”.

“I’m not going to get ahead of where Defence is going, but that that’ll be a mix of capabilities, a mix of ownership, where we will have legal and physical stepping rights that provide that sovereignty,” he said.

You can listen to the episode in full above, or on your device here.

It comes after Defence’s Director General of Space Capability told an audience in Canberra earlier this month that JP 9102 would be replaced. Speaking at MilCIS, Air Commodore Peter Thompson insisted the project was “not dead” and argued that the threat from adversaries had evolved.

“The only thing that changed was our potential procurement activity with Lockheed Martin,” he said on stage. “The capabilities have changed immensely since first pass. The threat is changing as well.

“Defence isn’t going to waste money on something that is no longer the best use of our money that we’ve got.”

JP 9102 was only signed off just 18 months ago, with prime contractor Lockheed Martin beating big hitters including Boeing, Northrop Grumman Australia, and Optus to become the “preferred tenderer”.

If approved, JP 9102 would have created more than 200 direct jobs, while Lockheed itself pressed ahead with making key appointments for its staff to oversee it.

Speaking to the ABC after Defence released a 187-word statement confirming the changes to JP 9102, Marles said that since the tender was announced eight years ago, industry has created technology that can “literally shoot satellites out of the sky”.

“But we’ve also seen technologies develop where you have thousands of microsatellites in a much more distributed way providing the same effect,” he said.

“We believe we can do that in this way faster and more cost-effective. So, this is frankly moving with the times and making sure that we have the capability that we need which meets the threats and the opportunities that we have in the future.”

(Source: Space Connect)

27 Nov 24. Lockheed ‘hopeful’ JP9102 could return in new form. Lockheed Martin’s most senior space leader in Australia has said his company is “hopeful” JP9102 contracts could return after its surprise axing earlier this month.

Speaking at the Space & Earth conference in WA on Tuesday, David Ball told the audience the prime was going to “employ a lot of people in Melbourne” to fulfil the deal and urged the federal government to continue to invest in local companies.

The intervention from Lockheed Martin Space’s regional director is believed to be the first public comment from the prime since the $3 bn project to deliver a new military satcom capability for Australia was effectively cancelled.

The Australian, which broke the story, claimed the decision was due to a lack of budget, but multiple officials subsequently insisted the money is still there, and only the tender with Lockheed was ripped up.

Defence Minister Richard Marles then argued the decision was actually taken because multiple low-Earth orbit satellites are more secure from attacks than a single geostationary spacecraft, as planned by Lockheed.

“We had a great lineup of Australian companies [for JP9102] to come and help us build the network, sustain the network, and operate the network, and we’re hopeful that will come around again as government reforms its thinking within those areas,” Ball said on stage.

“It’s really important that we participate here… we were going to employ a lot of people in Melbourne, around the engineering centre for JP9102.

“From a Lockheed Martin perspective, we employ about 1,600 people across Australia today, everywhere except Tasmania, and that’s going to probably double in the next three or four years, given the amount of work we have on with other capabilities that the government has acquired.

“So it’s really important to act locally, even though we’re a big global company. We’re here for a reason, and really, that reason is to embrace Australian industry and see how we can go forward.”

“Defence isn’t going to waste money on something that is no longer the best use of our money that we’ve got.”

If approved, JP 9102 would have created more than 200 direct jobs, while Lockheed itself pressed ahead with making key appointments for its staff to oversee it.

“But we’ve also seen technologies develop where you have thousands of microsatellites in a much more distributed way providing the same effect,” he said.

27 Nov 24. Lockheed Martin to launch key satellite prototypes. US defence conglomerate Lockheed Martin is poised to launch a pair of satellite technology demonstrators into orbit, which company officials say will prove out a series of advanced technologies in the areas of 5G and multimission satellite bus capability.

Company officials are preparing for the inaugural launch of its tactical intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) satellite (TacSat) variant, equipped for the first time with a 5G-based hybrid mesh network payload, dubbed ‘5G.MIL’, said Jeff Schrader, Lockheed Martin’s vice-president of global situation awareness.

“What TacSat does with that 5G payload is speed up the connectivity within a multidomain use case [scenario],” Schrader said during a 20 November briefing.

The 5G TacSat variant will also be outfitted with an infrared (IR) sensor package, dual hatting the ISR satellite as a high-speed satellite communications (satcom) platform, as well as a collection system via the IR sensor. Programme officials anticipate leveraging the 5G payload as a network and communications hub for both space- and terrestrial-based assets, Schrader explained.

“What I think we are going to do with this [payload] is connect a lot of other assets to it – space-to-ground and space-to-space [assets] and those kinds of things,” he said.

In November 2023 company officials demonstrated the 5G.MIL capability for the first time in a multimission environment, according to a company statement at the time. The 5G.MIL Unified Network Solutions (UNS) were successfully tested across numerous mission simulations to establish stability and suitability for use in Joint All-Domain Operations (JADO) and Combined Joint All-Domain Command and Control (CJADC2), company officials said in the statement. (Source: Janes)

26 Nov 24. Spectrum Advanced Manufacturing Technologies, Inc. (“Spectrum”), a subsidiary of Ocutrx Technologies, Inc. (“Ocutrx”) and a leader in precision electronics and assemblies manufacturing for over 25 years, today announced it has been named manufacturing partner for D-Orbit USA, the recently formed U.S. member company of Italian space logistics company D-Orbit Group. As part of the partnership, Spectrum is renovating a 7,500 sq ft facility, including the construction of a 2,000 sq ft ISO 8-100,000 Clean Room for assembling multiple satellite buses at once. Spectrum will provide material management, PCBA manufacturing, harness manufacturing, and final assembly of the D-Orbit USA satellite buses.

“We are honored to partner with the highly respected D-Orbit Group as they enter the U.S. market,” said Jeff Gilbert, CEO of Spectrum. “Spectrum and D-Orbit share the same values of dedication to our customers, commitment to a high quality of excellence, and relentless pursuit in pushing innovation forward with never-fail electronics and assemblies. Our partnership is a natural fit and we are happy to dedicate a large portion of manufacturing space for them. We look forward to growing together and making a lasting impact on the burgeoning satellite industry.”

Since its founding in 2011, D-Orbit Group has cemented itself as a market leader in space logistics and transportation, with a lengthy track record of space-proven technologies and successful missions. D-Orbit USA, founded in 2023, will be focused on satellite bus design, manufacturing, and business development in the United States satellite market. Its founding team is comprised of distinguished aerospace executives, including Mike Cassidy, CEO, formerly of Google; Mark Krebs, VP of Guidance and Control, formerly of SpaceX and Amazon’s Kuiper; Miles Gazic, VP of Avionics and Software, formerly of SpaceX; Danny Field, VP of Mechanical Engineering, formerly of OneWeb; and David Harrower, VP of Business Development, formerly of Terran Orbital.

Mike Cassidy, CEO of D-Orbit USA, added, “We are excited to kick off this partnership as high-reliability manufacturing is instrumental to our success, and we are thrilled to have Spectrum as our manufacturing partner. The Spectrum team has been a longtime leader in the production of never-fail satellite electronics and assemblies, which makes us proud to partner together to meet the needs of our customers.”

About Spectrum

Spectrum Advanced Manufacturing Technologies, Inc. (Spectrum AMT) is a prominent leader in High Reliability Circuit Card Assembly and Contract Manufacturing, with over 25 years of industry experience. Serving sectors such as Aerospace, Spaceflight, and Defense, Spectrum consistently meets high standards and client expectations. Spectrum is already a manufacturing partner to many of the Fortune 100 Satellite, Aerospace, and Defense contractors in the United States. Adhering to AS-9100, ISO, FDA, and NASA J-Standards, as well as the Space Addendum regulations and the principles of “never fail” reliability, Spectrum AMT exemplifies commitment and excellence. Spectrum is located in Colorado Springs at the Ocutrx-Spectrum Advanced Manufacturing Campus. Learn more at spectrumamt.com.

About D-Orbit USA

D-Orbit USA is based in Boulder, Colorado and is a member company of D-Orbit Group. D-Orbit Group is based in Italy and is a market leader in the space logistics and transportation services industry with a track record of space-proven services, technologies, and successful missions.

Founded in 2011, D-Orbit is the first company to address the logistics needs of the space market. ION Satellite Carrier, for example, is a space vehicle that can transport satellites in orbit and release them individually into distinct orbital slots, reducing the time from launch to operations by up to 85% and the launch costs of an entire satellite constellation by up to 40%. (Source: PR Newswire)

26 Nov 24. Airbus has signed a contract with the UK’s Ministry of Defence to provide the next-generation modems for the nation’s Skynet satellite communications constellation. The new modems are delivered for the Future Protected Modem Type-A project. They will replace the current Paradigm Modem System, support the Skynet 5 satellites and the yet-to-be-launched Skynet 6A satellite, and will provide several significant capability enhancements. The new-generation, sovereign modem has been designed, developed and manufactured in the UK.

Barry Austin, Head of the MOD’s Defence Digital Skynet programme, said: “We are very pleased that following a competition for the future, resilient satellite communications modem for UK Ministry of Defence, that an 18-year contract for design, manufacture and through-life support for this critical capability has been awarded. Building on their long heritage, this new Airbus-produced modem will ensure that the Skynet system continues to deliver world-class Military Satellite Communications to Front Line Commands and our deployed operational personnel worldwide.”

The FPMA Modem advanced Software-Defined Radio (SDR) system combines multiple techniques to provide a highly resilient solution, and is capable of hosting multiple waveforms. It will deliver safe and secure internet protocol (IP) communications on all commonly-used frequency bands, including X-band.

Richard Budd, Vice-President Space Digital Secure Connectivity UK, US and Asia, said: “This capability allows Airbus to continue to play a critical role in the provision of safe, secure, resilient and sovereign satellite communications capability for the UK, especially relevant in the current and dynamic operating environment.

“In particular, the FPMA modem enables capability evolution in response to more sophisticated threats and will do so at sea and on the ground. It’s a fundamental step towards secure Multi Domain Operations.”

The Future Protected Modem-A is due to enter service in 2026, supported and enabled by integrated logistics support and training solutions. The modem includes an intuitive and secure Network Management System, to ensure effective use of the spectrum and to monitor and control all the equipment.

26 Nov 24. magniX, the company powering the electric aviation revolution, today announced a historic milestone in completing testing of its magni650 electric propulsion unit (EPU) at NASA’s Electric Aircraft Testbed (NEAT) in Sandusky, Ohio.

The magni650 successfully performed at an altitude of 30,000 feet at a maximum continuous power of 700 kilowatts (kw) – an unprecedented achievement for an electric engine. The breakthrough performance of magniX’s EPU under simulated flight conditions at altitude demonstrates its readiness for the flight test phase of NASA’s Electrified Powertrain Flight Demonstration (EPFD) project and moves it closer to the world’s first electric engine certification.

In the next stage of EPFD, one of the four turbine engines on magniX’s De Havilland Dash 7 test aircraft will be replaced with a magni650 electric powertrain, with test flights planned for 2026. The final stage of the program will see a second turbine engine substituted with another magniX powertrain. This configuration is expected to reduce fuel consumption by up to 40% on a typical flight. Through the data collected, this will bring the electrification of large-scale commercial aircraft closer to entry-into-service by the end of the decade.

Accelerating The Takeoff of Electric Flight

With an unmatched record of powering first flights on five different aircraft, magniX is leading the advancement of electric aviation. Having launched its Samson batteries earlier in 2024, with unmatched energy density and cycle-life, magniX provides a full electric powertrain solution with a clear pathway to entry-into-service.

“The NEAT test campaign has moved us closer to the world’s first certification of an electric powertrain for aviation,” said Ben Loxton, magniX VP of Technical Programs. “The work we are doing with NASA in the EPFD project will enable the electrification of regional commercial aviation in pure electric on short routes, and hybridization on longer routes – significant steps toward the decarbonization of aerospace.”

22 Nov 24. Space Force plans to award 20 contracts for commercial reserve by 2026. The Space Force expects to award as many as 20 contracts over the next two years for private companies to join its Commercial Augmentation Space Reserve, which will create a mechanism for the military to better leverage commercial capabilities both in peacetime and during a conflict. Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall, who provides civilian oversight for the Space Force, approved the Commercial Space Office’s plan for the program, known as CASR, last year. Since then, the office has developed an implementation strategy, which includes writing contractual language for companies that will participate in the reserve. Vice Chief of Space Operations Gen. Michael Guetlein said this week the service plans to award five contracts in 2025 and another 15 in 2026. Those arrangements will detail the level of commercial capability the service needs in peacetime and provide a mechanism and pricing structure that will allow the service to access more capacity during a conflict.

“We’ve got a few things to work through about governance and contracting strategies, but we hope to have our first five contracts in ‘25 and then another 15 contracts or so in ‘26,” he said Wednesday at the National Security Innovation Forum in Washington.

The Space Force’s acquisition arm, Space Systems Command, announced last year it was planning to create a commercial space reserve. The team met with industry in February 2023 and formed a task force soon after to work through legal, policy, contracting and programmatic concerns.

The resulting strategy factors in those concerns as well as feedback from dozens of companies to ensure both the government and industry understand the requirements and risks associated with leaning more heavily on commercial systems during a crisis.

The U.S. will need programs like CASR that provide options for excess capacity as it prepares for the possibility of a future conflict with China or Russia, Guetlein said. He argued that the military’s posture in the past has been to strive for efficiency and perfect solutions when buying new systems, but that approach may not work against a peer adversary.

“What we know about this next fight is it’s not going to be efficient,” he said. “And we’re going to have to get comfortable with being inefficient. That means I need redundant capabilities, excess capacity, proliferation.”

Developing an acquisition and contracting strategy for CASR has also required the Space Force to work through some of the trickier questions about how much it should rely on commercial capabilities during wartime. Those concerns were illuminated in September 2023 when SpaceX founder Elon Musk revealed he had opted not to activate his company’s Starlink communication satellites in certain regions of Ukraine due to fears that Ukraine’s use of the service to launch an attack on Russia would escalate the war. The company provided Starlink terminals to Ukraine in the early days of the conflict and, at the time, was not performing those services through a contract with the U.S. military.

The service is still working through language to include in CASR contracts that addresses these types of “denial of service” scenarios, a Space Force official told reporters this week. The service is also working with the Office of the Secretary of Defense to study options for potentially compensating CASR companies whose space systems are targeted by an adversary.

“As part of CASR and then also part of this study, we are looking into potential wartime insurance,” the official said. “I do feel like that is going to be a policy decision.”

Companies selected for the reserve will participate in Defense Department war games, with the first CASR event slated for February 2025. Those exercises will help the Space Force get a sense of how much capacity is needed in different regions where the military operates.

The service has initial funding from Congress for CASR but is still determining how much funding it will need for the program moving forward, according to Lt. Gen. Philip Garrant, head of Space Systems Command.

Speaking Wednesday at a Defense Writers Group event in Washington, Garrant said he is working with SSC program offices to ensure that CASR needs are factored into a program’s acquisition strategy.

“We don’t want these teams to have to be doing everything as an afterthought,” he said. “We want it to be part of the original conversation.” (Source: Defense News Early Bird/Defense News)

22 Nov 24. LM’s Latest Space-Bound LM 400 Tech Demo Set to Launch in 2025. Multi-mission Satellite Completes Testing and is Ready to Showcase On-orbit Capabilities. Lockheed Martin (NYSE:LMT) today announced continued investment in its technology demonstrations with the upcoming launch of the LM 400, a new mid-sized, common, multi-mission space vehicle. It has completed testing and is currently preparing to embark on its journey on a Firefly Aerospace Alpha rocket in the first half of 2025.

“The LM 400 is Lockheed Martin’s most capable space vehicle, and is able to serve any mission in any orbit,” said Jeff Schrader, vice president, strategy and business development at Lockheed Martin Space. “This mid-sized, common bus is a game changer, because it can support any type of customer, including military, civil and commercial users – and can be customized to each individual mission.”

The LM 400 was digitally designed and developed for:

Any Mission: LM 400 is a common satellite bus design that provides significant customer cost savings. Missions could include remote sensing, communications, imaging and radar.

Any Orbit: LM 400 was designed with greater propulsion and better low Earth orbit (LEO), medium Earth orbit (MEO), and geosynchronous equatorial orbit (GEO) operability compared to others in its class.
Any Launch Configuration: LM 400 is compatible with a wide range of launch vehicles as a single, ride-share or multi-launch system.
Mission Flexibility: LM 400 includes SmartSat™, the company’s software-defined architecture that gives customers even greater mission flexibility and the ability to perform on-board data processing.
Support to CJADC2: LM 400 can conform to a Modular Open Systems Architecture (MOSA), and interoperate with other platforms across the military services to support the Department of Defense’s vision for Combined Joint All-Domain Command and Control (CJADC2) operations.

This mission will join Lockheed Martin’s growing self-funded technology demonstration portfolio, including the Electronically Steerable Antenna and Pony Express 2. These launches are centered on innovation and designed to deliver proven capabilities with greater speed and agility, which means customers gain access to advanced manufacturing and digital engineering that has already been tested on-orbit to address emerging threats. (Source: ASD Network)

17 Nov 24. Australia’s Optus X payload or TD7 satellite on secret mission is launched by SpaceX from Florida.

Satnews captured image at sunset in Florida from SpaceX’s live video.

On Sunday, November 17 at 5:28 p.m. ET, SpaceX’s Falcon 9 launched the TD7 mission to orbit at 5:28 p.m. EST (2228 UTC) from Launch Complex 39A (LC-39A) at Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The mission and payload are a mystery and are referred to in two different names. The Federal Aviation Administration, calls the payload ‘Optus-X,’ while SpaceX calls the mission ‘TD7.’

Non of the specifics of the mission are known and the agencies are not using its original name. During the launch the SpaceX announcer referred to the payload as a “communications satellite”.

Ray Rutngamlug, Intelsat’s Associate General Counsel, reported Northrop Grumman’s role in the mission. “Intelsat clarifies that during the Optus X mission, Northrop Grumman will serve as the mission manager,” he wrote. “Northrop Grumman will build and send the commands to the Intelsat antenna, which will process and execute the commands. Telemetry received by Intelsat will be forwarded to Northrop Grumman.”

Satnews captures successful 369th landing from SpaceX’s live video.

This was the 16th flight of the first stage booster supporting this mission that previously launched Crew-5, GPS III Space Vehicle 06, Inmarsat I6-F2, CRS-28, NG-20, and nine Starlink missions. This was SpaceX’s 369th successful landing.

Northrop Grumman-built Optus X for Australia’s Optus ready for SpaceX launch on Sunday

MRV approaching commercial satellite for MEP installation

SpaceX will launch Northrop Grumman-built geostationary communications satellite, Optus X for Australian satellite operator Optus on Sunday, November 17 at 1:29 PM – 3:27 PM PST from Launch Complex 39A, Kennedy Space Center.

According to weather officials, there’s a 95% chance of favorable weather conditions at the time of the launch. The forecast calls for a temperature of 73°F, overcast clouds, 88% cloud cover and a wind speed of 7mph.

This is a project that has been planned over several years and a press release from Northrop Grumman in 2023 shared that under the launch agreement, SpaceX will provide launch services for a planned 2024 launch of the MRV and several MEPs. Optus, Australia’s largest satellite owner and operator, recently completed a purchase agreement with SpaceLogistics for installation of one of the MEPs on its D3 satellite in 2025. (Source: Satnews)

24 Nov 24. Rocket Lab’s HASTE suborbital launch vehicle soars testing hypersonic test launch capabilities. Rocket Lab’s second dedicated mission for Leidos successfully lifted off on November 24, 2024, at 06:00 UTC. The launch was performed by HASTE, a vehicle derived from the two-stage orbital-class expendable Electron, from Pad 0C (Rocket Lab LC-2) within NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility.

This mission marks the second launch of HASTE (Hypersonic Accelerator Suborbital Test Electron) and the first of four launches planned for Leidos between 2024 and 2025.

Rocket Lab launched the first HASTE mission on 17 June 2023 for Leidos under the Multi-Service Advanced Capability Hypersonic Test Bed (MACH-TB) program.

14 Nov 24. AST SpaceMobile selects Blue Origin’s New Glenn Rocket to deliver BlueBird satellites to space. Blue Origin now has a multi-launch agreement (MLA) to deliver multiple, next-generation, AST SpaceMobile Block 2 BlueBird satellites to LEO on New Glenn— all launches will occur over a multi-year period from Blue Origin’s Launch Complex 36 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.

Artistic rendition of AST SpaceMobiie’s BlueBird satellites on-orbit.

AST SpaceMobile is building the first and only space-based cellular broadband network designed for both commercial and government applications. It will operate directly with everyday smartphones and allow seamless switching between terrestrial cell towers and satellite signals depending on location and coverage needs.

New Glenn stands more than 320 feet (98 meters) tall and is named after John Glenn, the first person to orbit Earth. Its seven-meter fairing enables twice the payload volume of any five-meter class commercial launch system.

The vehicle’s reusable first stage is designed for a minimum of 25 missions and is powered by seven Blue Origin BE-4 engines, the most powerful liquefied natural gas (LNG)-fueled, oxygen-rich staged combustion engine ever flown. Its second stage is powered by two BE-3U engines. Each BE-3U generates 160,000 lbf of thrust in vacuum. Blue Origin also manufactures BE-7 engines for its Blue Moon lunar landers and New Shepard’s BE-3PM engine.

New Glenn’s first launch is on track for this year.

“New Glenn’s performance and unprecedented capacity within its seven-meter fairing enables us to deploy more of our Block 2 BlueBird satellites in orbit, helping provide continuous cellular broadband service coverage across some of the most in-demand cellular markets globally,” said Abel Avellan, Founder, Chairman, and CEO, AST SpaceMobile.

“It’s an honor to support AST SpaceMobile’s deployment of their next generation BlueBird satellites, which will expand connectivity across the globe and positively impact many lives,” said Dave Limp, CEO, Blue Origin. “New Glenn is purpose-built for these kinds of innovative and ambitious missions.” (Source: Satnews)

18 Nov 24. South Korea to launch 3rd spy satellite from Vandenberg base by year-end. South Korea officials hold a Korean national flag as they pose for a photograph as the second military reconnaissance satellite prepares to launch at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, US, in April. (Ministry of National Defense)

The South Korean military is close to launching a third spy satellite, to be a key asset in monitoring North Korea.

The third military reconnaissance satellite will be carried into orbit atop Space X’s Falcon 9 rocket, like the first two, around the third week of December from the Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, according to the Ministry of National Defense on Monday.

The upcoming launch is part of the South Korean military’s project to place five reconnaissance satellites in orbit by the end of 2025 to observe the Korean Peninsula and its surroundings. Some 1.3 trillion won ($932 m) was invested in the 10-year project, which kicked off in 2015.

The first satellite uses an electro-optical infrared technology that is capable of providing high resolution images all day round. The second satellite features a synthetic aperture radar that can penetrate clouds and darkness, as will the following three due to be launched under the project.

Vandenberg Space Force Base is where the South Korean military’s first reconnaissance satellite was sent to space in December last year. The second one was launched from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida this April.

A senior Defense Ministry official said the reconnaissance satellites will play a crucial role in the military’s so-called Kill Chain strategy for preemptively striking North Korean nuclear and missile facilities in the event of a contingency by identifying the location of enemy commands and bases.

“The addition of another satellite will enhance our military’s independent intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities,” the official said. “We will be operating a total of five satellites by next year.”

In November last year, North Korea launched its first military reconnaissance satellite — the Malligyong-1 — into orbit, leading to South Korea partially suspending the 2018 inter-Korean military pact in order to resume surveillance activities around the border.

While the North Korean satellite succeeded in entering orbit, the South Korean military does not think it is capable of carrying out meaningful military reconnaissance missions.

In May, a second attempt by North Korea to send another satellite ended in failure after the rocket carrying it exploded in midair and fell into the sea. The South Korean military retrieved the debris from the explosion at the time to analyze it.

Although North Korean leader Kim Jong-un said at the end of last year that his military would launch three reconnaissance satellites over 2024, no additional attempt was made after the second one failed. (Source: Satnews)

SATELLITE SYSTEMS, SATCOM AND SPACE SYSTEMS UPDATE

November 15, 2024 by

13 Nov 24. Money ‘still there’ for JP 9102, says air commodore. One of the most senior figures involved in Defence space capability has said the money is “still there” for a JP 9102 replacement.

Speaking at the MilCIS industry event in Canberra, Air Commodore Peter Thompson insisted the project was “not dead” and argued that the threat from adversaries had simply evolved.

“The only thing that changed was our potential procurement activity with Lockheed Martin,” he said on stage.

Space Connect reported earlier this month how the government would axe the $3bn “JP 9102” project to deliver a new military satellite communications capability for Australia, led by prime Lockheed Martin Australia (LMA).

The Australian, which broke the story, claimed the decision was due to a lack of budget for the project.

However, Defence Minister Richard Marles argued days later it was instead because multiple low-Earth orbit satellites are more secure from attacks than a single, geostationary spacecraft, as planned by LMA.

AIRCDRE Thompson, Director General of Space Capability at the Joint Capabilities Division, said, “JP 9102 is not dead … that money is still there, we’re just working out the best way to use it in the current environment”.

He added he understood the “shock” of the announcement but said it was the “right decision for us”.

“The capabilities have changed immensely since first pass,” he said. “The threat is changing as well.

“Defence isn’t going to waste money on something that is no longer the best use of our money that we’ve got.”

JP 9102 was only signed off just 18 months ago, with prime contractor Lockheed Martin beating big hitters, including Boeing, Northrop Grumman Australia, and Optus to become the “preferred tenderer”.

However, it’s unknown whether Lockheed formally had the final contract signed after it entered the last stages of negotiation.

If approved, JP 9102 would have created more than 200 direct jobs, while Lockheed Martin itself pressed ahead with making key appointments for its staff to oversee it.

“But we’ve also seen technologies develop where you have thousands of microsatellites in a much more distributed way providing the same effect,” he said.

Marles added that Australia needs to deliver communications capability that is more “distributed” and “resilient”.

(Source: Space Connect)

12 Nov 24. UK modernise strategic SATCOM with land and sea terminals.

Strategic Command explore possibilities in industry to update the Armed Forces’ SKYNET communications terminals on land and at sea.

Signal Regiment Reacher Large creates a Large High-Capacity data stream, which can provide the main data feed site to site globally. Credit: Crown copyright/UK Ministry of Defence.

UK Strategic Command is beginning to update its terrestrial satellite communication (SATCOM) terminals on land and at sea.

A request for information (RFI) was released calling for industry offerings in the sphere of Maritime Military SATCOM Terminals at the end of October 2024.

Less than a week later, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) revealed it is also looking to replace the current High Resilience Military Satellite Communication Land Terminals through what it calls the Next Generation Land Terminal (Strategic) project.

Crucially, these terminals act as a channel for the British military’s global communications via its most significant space asset to date: the SKYNET constellation. SKYNET 5 are the most recent generation of military satellites; although the first of the next generation SKYNET 6A satellites is scheduled for launch in 2026.

Two Airbus technicians work on a commercial GEO satellite in Portsmouth clean room. Credit: Airbus Defence and Space

Pursuing flexibility in the electromagnetic spectrum

The government believe that as SKYNET 6 advances so should the capability of the military’s terminals.

While these stations already operate in a congested electromagnetic environment (EM) amid high vibration and shock conditions, the RFI touches on certain areas for improving Royal Navy and Royal Fleet Auxiliary communications:

Increased performance in resilient X-band frequencies;
adoption of dual band systems (X and Ka) simultaneously;
and duplex operation (sending and receiving data between different systems simultaneously) in left and right hand circular polarisation.

These criteria explore ways for the services to operate flexibly across the EM spectrum. Services need to use more data in the battlespace than ever before, and this means they need to be able to manage the throughput with greater ease more quickly.

Electronic warfare (EW) in the EM spectrum is a decisive mode of operations as the Russians can attest. The use of EW capabilities by invading Russian forces against Ukraine have generated significant consternation among Western military officials, according to GlobalData intelligence. The comparative lack of investment and innovation has enabled the Russian state to gain a strategic advantage over its geopolitical rivals.

Whereas, the government has not expressly stated any specific guidelines for the new land terminals under the Next Generation Land Terminal (Strategic) project. However, the MoD have announced a market day on 3 December in Wiltshire, where it will relay its requirements.

Existing terminals

The Royal Signals is responsible for the provision of all of the British Army’s tactical satellite ground terminals, providing strategic and operational SATCOM for all land-based headquarters.

Reacher is the cornerstone of British Army SATCOM with mobile terminals delivering a range of services through robust, secure communciation links. There are three variants: Large, Medium and Royal Marine terminals. Large and Medium terminals are mounted on the Mowag Duro 3 vehicle. Likewise, there is also Talon, a lightweight deployable terminal.

Meanwhile the Navy uses the X-band SCOTPatrol 0.8m maritime satellite terminals. These are said to be deployed from the service’s minesweeper vessels. (Source: army-technology.com)

12 Nov 24. Sony Space Communications Corporation (SSCC) and Astro Digital US, Inc. (Astro Digital) today announced that they have signed a contract for the design, manufacture and launch of two micro-satellites. These satellites will each carry an SSCC optical terminal and will showcase SSCC’s optical communications technology by establishing high data-rate Lasercom links with each other, as well as with terminals on the Earth. These satellites are expected to be launched in 2026.

Sony started developing its space optical communication technology under the Small Optical Link for the International Space Station (SOLISS) mission. SOLISS was a Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA)/Sony joint project that was first successfully operated on orbit in March 2020, prior to the establishment of SSCC.

“We are thrilled to be partnering with Astro Digital on this important project,” said Kyohei Iwamoto, President, SSCC. “As space exploration and travel continue to expand, the need for efficient and reliable communication becomes paramount. We firmly believe that lasers, with their compact size, increased speed, ability to transmit large amounts of data, and inherent high security (relative to radio frequency systems), will become the industry standard for communication in space. This collaboration with Astro Digital further solidifies SSCC’s commitment to pushing the boundaries of space communication.”

“Sony’s technology is poised to make a significant impact on the commercial space industry,” Chris Biddy, CEO of Astro Digital, noted in a statement. “Astro Digital is looking forward to leveraging the flight-proven Corvus satellite bus platform to host and demonstrate operation of Sony’s highly-capable Lasercom terminal on-orbit.”

SSCC’s Lasercom terminals are at the forefront of innovation. Leveraging Sony’s Blu-ray technology for laser alignment, these terminals offer state of the art performance and reliability. Furthermore, they have been optimized for small satellites, ensuring a low-cost solution without compromising efficiency.

About Astro Digital

From concept to constellation, Astro Digital US, Inc. – established in 2015 with offices in Colorado, California, and Australia – provides satellite systems and mission support services for applications such as earth observation, communications, science, and technology demonstrations. The company designs and manufactures spacecraft from 6U CubeSats to 400kg LEO/GEO MicroSats, and provides uninterrupted satellite operations from around the globe

About Sony Space Communications Corporation:

Sony Space Communications Corporation (SSCC), established in 2022 and headquartered in San Mateo, CA, operates under Sony Corporation of America. By providing easy-to-use inter-satellite communication solutions, SSCC aims to increase communications in space and realize a communications network covering the earth and space to support applications such as real-time services. (Source: PR Newswire)

14 Nov 24. NORR and Fire Arrow Partner to Lead the Charge in Sustainable Spaceport Development. In a landscape where collaboration, sustainability, cost and security are paramount, two global infrastructure firms are combining forces to address complex challenges and enhance global launch capabilities at a time where demand for access to space has never been higher.

The growing international demand for obtaining actionable insights from space to support multiple business sectors, the environment, security and wider society has created an increased interest from nations seeking to develop their own launch capabilities.

Fire Arrow, a firm focused on leveraging expertise gained across the UK spaceport projects to support the design and build on new licensed international launch sites around the world, has announced its latest in a series of high-profile associate relationships.

Based in Scotland but working globally, Fire Arrow is focused on addressing the growing demand for access to lucrative orbits from emerging space nations by providing extensive services to support clients to verify the technical and business case for spaceport developments before guiding them through feasibility, design and build towards licensed orbital launches. The company has initiated partnerships with ‘best in class’ associate organisations to develop a consortium-based proposition focused on enabling governments and commercial organisations to achieve safe, responsive and affordable access to space. The approach has already started to reap benefits, with the company signing an Expression of Interest with Malaysia’s Gading Group at Space-Comm Expo on 12 September in relation to the development of a horizontal spaceport in Asia, and taking part in multiple international engagements during last month’s International Astronautical Congress.

Today’s announcement sees Fire Arrow team up with NORR, an architectural and engineering firm delivering design services across 12 market sectors including Space, Transportation, Defence, Science and Research, and Education. Having previously worked with the Fire Arrow team on vertical and horizontal launch spaceport developments in the UK, the decision to collaborate with Fire Arrow comes as part of NORR’s vision to deliver future-proof, carbon-conscious infrastructure spaceport projects. NORR has a global reach with offices located in Canada, the United States, UK and the UAE.

As part of the partnership, NORR will focus on providing architectural and design services for Fire Arrow clients by leveraging Fire Arrow’s network and expertise. Kevin Stephen, Director at NORR stated, “NORR aims to further establish ourselves as an industry leader in spaceport projects. As architect and lead designer for two spaceports in Scotland, we have significant experience and knowledge of both vertical and horizontal launch facilities, including the integration of horizontal launch spaceports into operational airports.”

He added “NORR has more than 60 years’ experience working in the airport sector, so we have a detailed knowledge of airport design and the physical and security constraints associated with the design of buildings for the live airport environment. We have significant experience delivering complex projects, involving multiple stakeholders and complying with all regulatory requirements. We are also committed to low carbon design and incorporate sustainable building practices into all projects”.

He added, “The Fire Arrow team is aligned with our aim to become a pioneer in sustainable spaceport developments and we look forward to working with them in the future.”

NORR’s experience was demonstrated in two spaceport projects in Scotland, where they were able to successfully navigate challenges such as the proximity to population and the presence of propellant on site. Those projects empowered the company with significant experience in managing both vertical and horizontal spaceport operations.

Dr Mick O’Connor, Fire Arrow Managing Director, commented, “We are delighted to further our relationship with NORR. We have worked together on previous projects and formed a relationship based on mutual trust and respect. We are currently pursuing several global spaceport opportunities; the addition of NORR to the consortium brings expert design capability.”

The partnership between NORR and Fire Arrow illustrates the growing interest in space launch and the increasing collaboration between diverse industries to drive innovation and growth in the sector. With sustainability at the core of their vision, both organisations are committed to delivering exceptional results and contributing to the advancement of the space industry.

About Fire Arrow

Fire Arrow is a spaceport development company leveraging expertise from a broad consortium of specialist spaceflight associates to develop government and commercial launch site programmes from aspiration to reality, idea to orbit. With proven expertise to seamlessly transition projects from feasibility to first launch, Fire Arrow oversees the complexities of affordable spaceport scoping, feasibility, design, construction, and delivery using a breadth of practical experience. With the foresight required to achieve success, Fire Arrow plans ahead identifying the knowns and unknowns early on in the project to facilitate its development. The company adopts a concierge approach aligned with a ‘commercial space’ ethos that is both flexible and affordable, tailored to the client’s vertical or horizontal launch needs across all programme requirements, including management, human factors, regulatory assurance, safety, risk and infrastructure build, and sustainability.

12 Nov 24. Sierra Space, a leading commercial space company and defense-tech prime that is Building a Platform in Space to Benefit Life on Earth® and protect economic freedom in the Orbital Age®, announced today the successful completion of Preliminary Design Review (PDR) for the missile warning and tracking satellites the company is developing for the Space Development Agency (SDA) under a prime contract valued at $740 m.

The satellites are part of the SDA’s Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture, specifically the Tranche 2 Tracking Layer, which is a segment of the Defense Department’s Low Earth Orbit constellation. The agency awarded the contract to Sierra Space through an Other Transaction Authority (OTA) in January 2024 for the design, production, delivery, operations and sustainment of 16 missile warning and tracking satellites, as well as two (2) satellites for missile defense with fire control fidelity. Additionally, the agreement includes two operational ground segments.

“In response to the evolving threat environment, we are retooling our commercial capacity to focus on revitalizing the U.S. defense industrial base through innovative satellite and spacecraft systems technology,” said Tom Vice, CEO of Sierra Space. “Our company is focused on innovation at speed to support an entirely new era in National Security Space – at Sierra Space we care deeply for this planet and have the responsibility to protect it.”

Sierra Space’s solution aims to enhance the capability to provide global, persistent indications, detection, warning, and tracking of conventional and advanced missile threats, including hypersonic missile systems. The company’s solution also offers preliminary missile defense capability by incorporating fire control quality sensors into the constellation. These sensors will generate fire control quality tracks that enable missile defense kill chains, a critical defense capability, to the warfighter.

Since 2023, Sierra Space has secured $1.5 bn in national security and defense contracts for the production of 30 satellites, including the SDA’s Tranche 2 Tracking Layer deliverables. In addition, Sierra Space continues to make strides in its spacecraft systems business, boasting more than 20 active contracts for solar arrays and other components. (Source: BUSINESS WIRE)

12 Nov 24. Axing JP 9102 was right call, says Gilmour founder. The founder of rocket manufacturer Gilmour Space Technologies has argued the federal government was right to axe the JP 9102 project.

Adam Gilmour, one of the sector’s most high-profile figures, said that using the planned geostationary satellite was “dangerous” and agreed adversaries could potentially destroy them.

“Low-Earth orbit and medium Earth orbit with a lot of sats are harder to knock out all at once, and tactically responsive space launch can replenish quickly,” he wrote on LinkedIn.

“I hope my company will be part of the solution for my country. Richard Marles made the right decision.”

Space Connect reported last week how the government would sensationally axe the “JP 9102” project to deliver a new military satellite communications capability for Australia.

In a statement released shortly after the news broke, the federal government said the planned single-orbit GEO-based system would not “meet strategic priorities”.

It added Defence would instead prioritise “a multi-orbit capability” and that its current SATCOM capabilities already supported Australia’s immediate needs.

Explaining the decision, Defence Secretary Richard Marles said Australia needs to deliver communications capability that is more “distributed” and “resilient”.

Responding to Adam Gilmour’s comments, former LeoLab managing director Terry van Haren appeared to criticise the late timing of the decision.

“It would have been a great call about 3–4 years ago when the US formed the Space Development Agency and started the proliferated LEO program,” he wrote.

“We should have joined straight away and sought Australian industry involvement. Now that the program is well formed and US companies are fully engaged, it is going to be very difficult for the Australian industry to get involved. Reality bites hard.”

However, it’s unknown whether Lockheed formally had the final contract signed after it entered the last stages of negotiation.

If approved, JP 9102 would have created more than 200 direct jobs, while Lockheed Martin itself pressed ahead with making key appointments for its staff to oversee it.

Space Industry Association chairman Jeremy Hallett said days after the decision was made that companies would likely think twice about working with Defence.

He said he believes companies will now think twice about working with Defence after the cancellation of the $3bn JP9102 project was confirmed.

Hallett predicted there would be job losses as a result and lamented the time lost by companies who worked on the proposals since 2017.

“While other OECD nations see sovereign space capability as critical to creating high-tech, high-value jobs and a military advantage, in our own backyard we seem to be doing the exact opposite,” he said. (Source: Space Connect)

10 Nov 24. North Korea Jams GPS Signals, Disrupting South Korean Ships and Aircraft. A Republic of Korea Marine, right, assigned to 1st Reconnaissance Battalion, 1st ROK Marine Division, kneels during a tactical pause while training with ROK Navy SEALs, U.S. Marines assigned to Reconnaissance Company, 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, and U.K. Royal Marine Commandos assigned to 40 Commando. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Joseph Helms)

North Korea recently launched Global Positioning System (GPS) jamming attacks that disrupted navigation for several South Korean civilian ships and planes in areas near Haeju and Kaesong, according to South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff.

These jamming attacks reportedly began on Friday and continued on Saturday. In response, South Korea fired a Hyunmoo surface-to-surface missile into the sea on Friday to signal its readiness to counter further provocations. It has also called on North Korea to immediately stop the jamming, warning that Pyongyang will be held responsible for any incidents caused by these actions.

GPS jamming disrupts the navigation systems that ships and planes rely on for safe travel. While no accidents have been reported, South Korean officials warned that such interference could lead to serious incidents. Experts say North Korea may use jamming to protect its own military operations or to intimidate South Korea.

The incident follows North Korea’s recent test of a powerful solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile on November 2. It echoes a similar incident in May, when hundreds of South Korean planes and ships experienced GPS problems due to North Korean jamming.

Tensions between North and South Korea have escalated in recent weeks due to North Korea’s military support for Russia in Ukraine, including alleged shipments of weapons and the deployment of around 10,000 troops to assist Russian forces. In response to Pyongyang’s growing ties with Moscow, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol recently suggested that Seoul may consider sending weapons to Ukraine, marking a shift in South Korea’s stance on providing arms to nations in active conflict. (Source: https://www.sofx.com/)

05 Nov 24. The Australian Government’s JP9102 decision — response by Michael Cratt on behalf of Av-Comm. On the 4th of November, reports that the defense-industry project ‘JP9102’ had been cancelled were confirmed by numerous sources — JP9102 was a $7 bn joint project, designed to usher in a new age of sovereign controlled, high capacity, geostationary satellite communications network.

Critically, the satellite network would provide the Australian Defence Force with the ability to operate the combined force throughout the Indo-Pacific region to assured and resilient access to satellite communication, deemed critical to operating in a likely future conflict.

Av-Comm was selected as the sole ground station terminal supplier after a lengthy and rigorous tender process put forth by Lockheed Martin in delivering this project for the Commonwealth. Monday’s news comes as both a shock and a disappointment to us all.

Av-Comm was first approached by multiple Prime Defence contractors in 2021, to provide integral support for the ground segment piece of this program. Since Av-Comm was first approached, the team have spent the proceeding months and years tirelessly preparing the business to participate in the program.

This transformation included the purchasing of a new office space to accommodate the planned addition of an estimated 50 new staff, which had to be fitted out in accordance with stringent specifications set forth by Defence. Av-Comm spent months overhauling internal processes, refining workflows, and funneling internal resources to focus on facilitating this upcoming project. Av-Comm spent over $3m preparing the organization to an acceptable level for Defence. This included investing in a DISP membership, ISO accreditations, implementing new security protocols, and more.

As a result, Av-Comm is now a more mature and defense-capable organization, ready and waiting to participate in these large-scale defence projects. The space industry should be a unique and prized asset for the Australian Government. A high value industry, poised for huge growth globally, requiring skilled and unskilled workers alike, with the potential to improve the lives and well being of ms worldwide.

The Australian Government has a chequered history with funding scientific research and development, particularly within the space industry. There needs to be open and transparent engagement with industry by the Government before making consequential decisions that impact the livelihood of Australian companies.

Av-Comm is, by no means, the only company or organization to feel the shockwaves that have reverberated through our industry thanks to this news. Estimates of around a 30% decline in jobs at SMEs involved in Defence contracts during the past few years. It’s clear that the Government see Defence spending as a cost and not an opportunity to invest in Australian Capability, Australian Businesses, and the Australian People.

Despite the Government’s lack of support for Australian SME involvement in Defence programs, some large Primes, such as Lockheed Martin Australia, continue to see value in local industry. Av-Comm has maintained strong relationships with several Primes during the lead up to this project, completing work on more than 25 projects across the globe.

We would like to recognize the time, effort, and energy put into JP9102 by other SMEs and industry partners, and the individual cost on Australian businesses and people. Despite Lockheed Martin making headlines as a result of this, this decision from the Government has impacted countless people behind the scenes.

Our SME colleagues, including, but not limited to, EM Solutions, Blacktree Technologies, Clearbox, Shoal Group, and Conscia, have all invested countless time and effort in preparing to deliver this project for Lockheed Martin, and will all be feeling the impact of this decision. The tireless work and dedication of our colleagues at Lockheed Martin should also be recognised, and those who have had to uproot their lives in the U.S. to come to Australia in support of this project will also be feeling disappointment in the Government’s decision.

Av-Comm aligns with the Space Industry Association of Australia’s advocacy for a more proactive role in the global space sector. Australia should not merely be a passive consumer of foreign space products and services; we have the potential to contribute significantly to space-based technology and capabilities. It is imperative that Australia is recognised as an active participant, rather than a convenient market for international primes to deploy their personnel, bypassing local industry collaboration.

The current governmental approach lacks the strategic foresight necessary to foster and leverage strengthened domestic industry partnerships. Despite this latest setback faced by our industry, we are determined to not give up. Av-Comm will continue to strive for fair and responsible inclusion of our domestic industry in the global space landscape.

Av-Comm’s multi-orbit Cassowary SATCOM terminals showcase our exceptional capabilities, and we are dedicated to ensuring our warfighters have access to our outstanding Australian satcom technology. It is clear through the fighting spirit exuded by these industry players that we will not let this setback put us down.

The Australian space and defence landscape will go from strength to strength by supporting each other and continuing to champion our sovereign capabilities as we embrace Defence’s move towards a multi-orbit SATCOM architecture. Our Cassowary ground station, ideally positioned for this new phase of Defence architecture, will continue to demonstrate our ability to develop and deploy complex world-leading technology, right here in Australia. (Source: Satnews)

SATELLITE SYSTEMS, SATCOM AND SPACE SYSTEMS UPDATE

November 8, 2024 by

05 Nov 24. Gilmour finally cleared for launch in historic announcement. The Australian Space Agency has finally granted Gilmour the licence it needs to launch its Eris rocket in a historic moment for the local industry.
The business, which had hoped to blast off for the first time in April, said it would announce a fresh liftoff date “in the coming weeks”.
Gilmour Space Technologies has been developing its three-stage launch vehicle for eight years and hopes to address a gap in the global market for small satellite launch providers.
Gilmour was granted the licence, an Australian first, by Science Minister Ed Husic under the Space (Launches & Returns) Act 2018. A number of conditions need to be met, though, before a potential blast-off, including a mandatory 30-day notification period.
“With this green light, we will soon attempt the first orbital test flight of an Australian-made rocket from Australian soil,” said the firm’s founder, Adam Gilmour.
It comes after Gilmour’s Bowen Orbital Spaceport in North Queensland was granted its own separate licence to operate in March, and the company completed a wet dress rehearsal in September.
“Since starting its rocket program in 2015, Gilmour Space has expanded to over 200 employees, built a local supply chain of more than 300 Australian companies, attracted significant private investment, gained support from local, state and federal governments, and actively engaged communities across the region,” said Gilmour in a statement.
The news of the permit’s granting brings to an end the drawn-out saga, which at one point saw founder Adam Gilmour argue the Australian Space Agency was to blame for the delay.
Earlier this year, he argued the pushback was “more them than us” and even suggested that officials were concerned that its Eris launch vehicle could hit a passing ship.
“Like, what if a cruise ship comes out of Hawaii and goes in the path of the rocket as it’s going up [from the North Queensland coast]? And how are we not going to hit the International Space Station?” he said of their apparent questions.
Talking at the AFR’s Entrepreneur Summit, Gilmour added that his engineers were spending too much time answering questions from regulators rather than designing the next rocket.
“Regulation definitely kills innovation. The government is extremely risk-averse, even in the power market. People are talking about clean energy, but it takes two years to get a wind turbine approved or 18 months to get a solar farm approved.
“It’s taken us almost two years to get our first rocket launch approved. That is crazy.”
The announcement comes a day after rival spaceport Southern Launch announced its Whalers Way spaceport had been granted the crucial approval it need to become a permanent launch facility.
The site on the tip of the Eyre Peninsula in South Australia intends to specialise in orbital blast-offs but has previously used a temporary launchpad after gaining what was effectively interim authorisation for test launches.
However, in the last week, the firm received the go-ahead from both the SA’s Minister for Planning and the Commonwealth’s Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water.
Australia is currently home to four spaceports in total, with Equatorial Launch Australia using its Arnhem Space Centre in the Northern Territory.
A fifth, Space Centre Australia, is planned for Far North Queensland and recently appointed former prime minister Scott Morrison as its new chairman.
(Source: Space Connect)

04 Nov 24. Europe picks consortium for sovereign satellite constellation IRIS². The European Commission picked a consortium led by SES, Eutelsat and Hispasat to deploy the IRIS² satellite constellation, as the European Union seeks its own satellite broadband system to ensure the bloc isn’t reliant on foreign entities such as Elon Musk’s Starlink. The parties will sign a 12-year concession contract by December, the Commission said in a statement on Thursday. Core subcontractors for the contract, which envisages more than 290 satellites in multiple orbits, include Thales Alenia Space, Airbus Space and Defence, Italy’s Telespazio and Thales SIX.
Militaries have jumped on the possibilities offered by SpaceX’s Starlink, the first large satellite constellation to use low Earth orbit to deliver broadband Internet, raising concerns of dependency on a private company that could potentially deactivate a critical service. The U.S. Air Force relies on Starlink for command and control, while Ukraine uses the service to guide drones and for battlefield communications.
“IRIS² is an essential pillar of our resilience,” European Parliament member Christophe Grudler, who sits on the legislature’s industry committee, said in a post on X on Thursday. “We need it fast.”
The EU is counting on IRIS² as a sovereign alternative to the likes of Starlink, Amazon’s Kuiper or U.K.-based OneWeb. Global satellite connectivity is fast becoming a strategic asset for security, safety and resilience, and the EU needs to urgently ensure guaranteed and unrestricted access that doesn’t rely on a third party, according to Commission.
Under the contract, the SpaceRISE consortium will provide governmental services by 2030, while also enabling commercial services. IRIS² will be used for government functions including border and maritime surveillance, secure communications for embassies and for military missions, according to the Commission.
“This milestone represents a crucial step towards establishing a secure, resilient, and autonomous communications infrastructure for Europe,” the consortium said in a joint statement, adding that full operational status is targeted for the early 2030s.
The new timetable pushes IRIS² back by several years compared to the timeline presented by the EU in March last year, which envisaged first deployment as early as the end of 2024 and full service in 2027.
IRIS² will include satellites in low Earth orbit, or LEO, which allow for low latency connections, as wall as in medium Earth orbit, which can cover a larger part of the globe. The EU is counting on the system to provide broadband coverage in areas in Europe that currently lack service, as well as in the Arctic region.
The cost of the constellation is estimated at €10.6 bn, or $11.6bn, French financial newspaper Les Echos reported, without saying where it got the information. The concession contract will be funded by public money as well as private investment by the consortium.
The EU announced €2.4bn in funding for IRIS² last year, including €1.65bn through to the end of 2027. Additional European funding may be awarded after 2027, subject among other things to the European Parliament and member states adopting a successor program, the Commission said.
German Economy Minister Robert Habeck in March called for a delay of IRIS² to rethink the program, writing to the Commission to complain about the proposed €12bn budget, and the division of the work between France and Germany, Handelsblatt reported in April.
The EU already operates the Galileo navigation satellite system, as well as the Copernicus Earth-observation program. (Source: Defense News)

04 Nov 24. Australian Firms may not deal with Defence after JP9102 axe, says SIAA. The chairman of the Space Industry Association has said he believes companies will now think twice about working with Defence after the cancellation of the $3 bn JP9102 project was confirmed. In a statement released on Monday afternoon, Jeremy Hallett predicted there would be job losses as a result and lamented the time lost by companies who worked on the proposals since 2017.
“While other OECD nations see sovereign space capability as critical to creating high-tech, high-value jobs and a military advantage, in our own backyard we seem to be doing the exact opposite,” he said.
Space Connect reported on Monday how the government would sensationally axe the ‘JP 9102’ project to deliver a new military satellite communication capability for Australia.
The news significantly followed last year’s controversial cuts to the space sector, including abolishing the $1bn National Space Mission for Earth Observation (NSMEO).
Following the initial report in The Australian, the federal government confirmed the news but suggested the decision was because the planned single orbit GEO-based satellite communications system would not “meet strategic priorities”.
It added Defence would instead prioritise “a multi-orbit capability” and that its current satcom capabilities already supported Australia’s immediate needs.
The statement, which was just 187 words, thanked winning prime Lockheed Martin and said the company “continues to be a highly valued industry partner”.
The SIAA, though, argued Australia “needs to become a contributor of space capabilities” and not just “an idle consumer from our international partners”.
“This is needed to achieve a level of strategic autonomy and resilience that is fundamental to securing future economic and national security,” it said.
“Owning and operating significant military space infrastructure in the Indo-Pacific as part of a multi-orbit architecture would have achieved this, and provided meaningful contribution into AUKUS Pillar 2, the advanced capabilities of which cannot function without space capability.”
Hallett added that he could “only assume” there would be job losses as a result of this decision and lamented the time lost by companies who were involved for up to eight years.
“I am sure some companies will seriously consider the business case for dealing with Defence as a customer in the future, which I worry will mean our warfighters will miss out on homegrown innovations that can make a difference on the battlefield.”
JP 9102 was only signed off just 18 months ago, with prime contractor Lockheed Martin beating big-hitters including Boeing, Northrop Grumman Australia, and Optus to become the “preferred tenderer”.
However, it’s unknown whether Lockheed formally had the final contract signed after it entered the last formal stages of negotiation.
If approved, JP 9102 would have created more than 200 direct jobs, while Lockheed Martin itself pressed ahead with making key appointments for its staff to oversee it.
The plan would have seen the launch of a new geostationary satellite alongside multiple ground stations and an advanced satellite management system, creating secure communications that the ADF would have used.
The separate axing of the $1bn NSMEO led to Swinburne University professor Alan Duffy telling journalists the cuts had a “chilling” effect on the industry, while Equatorial Launch Australia CEO Michael Jones argued the sector was a low priority for the government.
(Source: Space Connect)

05 Nov 24. Australia scrapped satellite because new tech could ‘shoot it out of sky’, says defence minister. Australia’s defence minister said on Tuesday a defence satellite program was scrapped because of the threat of new technology that can “shoot satellites out of the sky”, and Canberra instead wants to use a mesh of micro satellites for defence communications. Australia’s Department of Defence said on Monday it cancelled a multi-bn dollar Geostationary Earth Orbit satellite project with Lockheed Martin <LMT.N> that was to deliver Australia’s first sovereign-controlled satellite communication system over the Indo-Pacific ocean regions. Defence Minister Richard Marles said on Tuesday the government had abandoned the plan to have two or three geosynchronous satellites above Australia to deliver defence communications because the system designed eight years ago was out of date. (Source: Reuters)

05 Nov 24. Russia launches Soyuz rocket with dozens of satellites, including two from Iran. Russia launched a Soyuz rocket early on Tuesday carrying two satellites designed to monitor the space weather around Earth and 53 small satellites, including two Iranian ones, Russia’s Roscosmos space agency said. The Soyuz-2.1 launch spacecraft, which lifted off from Russia’s Vostochny Cosmodrome, carried two Ionosfera-M satellites, which will become part of the space system for monitoring the Earth’s ionosphere, the agency said.
The ionosphere, where Earth’s atmosphere meets space, stretches roughly 50 to 400 miles (80 to 644 km) above Earth’s surface, according to information provided on NASA’s website. Each Ionosfera-M satellite weighs 430 kg (948 lb) and its working orbit is at an altitude of 820 km (510 miles), according to Interfax news agency. The system will include in total four of the Ionosfera-M satellites. The next two devices are planned to be launched in 2025, Roscosmos reported. (Source: Reuters)

04 Nov 24. World-leading flat-panel satellite antenna company, Kymeta (www.kymetacorp.com), today announced the launch of the Goshawk u8, a hybrid geostationary/low Earth orbit (GEO/LEO/Cellular) terminal. Designed for seamless mobility, the Goshawk u8 offers a fully customizable solution that integrates easily across a wide range of vehicles and vessels, delivering reliable, network-redundant connectivity on the move, to address mission-critical requirements for global forces.
As the second multi-orbit, multi-network, modem-agnostic terminal in Kymeta’s product suite, the Goshawk u8 builds on the company’s growing portfolio in the Multi-X market. The Goshawk u8 reflects Kymeta’s ongoing commitment to providing highly configurable, resilient, and innovative communications solutions.
“The Goshawk u8 addresses the increasing demand for high-performance, mobile connectivity in unpredictable environments,” said Rick Bergman, President and CEO of Kymeta. “With its software-defined capabilities, the Goshawk u8 ensures consistent, secure communications even in the most remote and rugged conditions.”
The terminal’s multi-orbit capabilities provide enhanced availability and flexibility, offering a low-power, low-profile solution that is easy to deploy and operate. Designed to meet the operational needs of global defense forces and other demanding industries, it ensures robust performance in challenging environments.
With the Goshawk u8, Kymeta continues to push the boundaries of satellite communication technology, delivering solutions that empower customers with always-on connectivity, anywhere in the world.
Attendees of the Global MilSatCom in London, UK on November 4th – 7th are encouraged to visit us to see the Goshawk u8 in person and to speak with a member of the Kymeta team.

04 Nov 24. Satellite deal signed for advanced military tech.
New Juno satellite to support military operations will be designed and built in the UK.
Armed forces personnel are to have access to the latest space technology for military operations, following a deal signed for a new satellite.
The £40 m project with Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd will support around 200 skilled jobs, boosting the UK’s space sector and helping to grow the economy.
Named Juno, the satellite will be able to capture daytime images of the Earth’s surface, strengthening the UK’s Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities. Expected to launch in 2027, Juno will have advanced imagery sensors, building on the capabilities of Tyche, UK Space Command’s first satellite which successfully launched in August this year.
Both satellites form part of the Ministry of Defence’s space-based Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance programme, which will deliver a constellation of satellites and supporting ground systems by 2031.
These satellites will support military operations, for instance by monitoring adversary activities, and also contribute to other government tasks, including natural disaster monitoring, the development of mapping information, environmental monitoring and tracking the impact of climate change around the world.
Minister for Defence Procurement and Industry Maria Eagle said: “The contract for Juno shows the UK’s commitment to grow one of the most innovative and attractive space economies in the world and keep our competitive edge in space science and technology.
“Juno will not only support Armed Forces personnel deployed globally, but also support highly skilled jobs, delivering on the government’s growth mission.”
Air Chief Marshal Sir Rich Knighton said: “With Tyche in space, and Juno now on contract, UK Space Command’s ISTARI programme is making great strides, showcasing innovation and collaboration across government and industry.
“With these Earth Observation satellites on orbit, UK Space Command and defence will be better equipped to conduct all-domain military operations and deliver assured space-based intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance to the joint force and our allies.”
The contract for Juno was awarded via competitive procurement to Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd (SSTL), the same company that manufactured Tyche.
SSTL employs around 400 engineers, technicians and support staff across its two sites in Guildford, Surrey, and Bordon, Hampshire. With around half of these employees expected to work on the project, Juno will play a key part in securing critical UK skills in the growing global space sector. The project will also help inform the procurement strategy for future space capability requirements.
Andrew Cawthorne, Managing Director, SSTL, said: “We’re incredibly proud that the Ministry of Defence has again placed its trust in SSTL to deliver the UK’s next sovereign intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance spacecraft.
“Juno will offer a step change in imaging capability over Tyche, SSTL’s demonstrator spacecraft which launched in August and is now being operated for UK Space Command. We look forward to continuing our successful relationship with UK Space Command, DE&S, and Dstl, and playing a leading role in delivering the UK Defence Space Strategy.”
Paul Russell, Space team leader at DE&S said: “Placing contracts and managing delivery of a new generation of UK military capabilities for use in a complex and critical environment takes incredible focus and collaborative working with our defence and industry partners. These efforts are key in ensuring the UK Armed Forces have access to the surveillance and intelligence information they need to maintain a competitive edge.” (Source: https://www.gov.uk/)

04 Nov 24. $3bn Australian JP9102 satcom project to be axed, claims report. The federal government is set to sensationally axe the ‘JP 9102’ project to deliver a new military satellite communication capability for Australia, according to a new report.
The Australian claims the $3 bn deal, arguably the biggest and most significant in the sector, has been shelved as Defence doesn’t have enough money to complete the project.
It significantly comes after Labor made a series of wide-ranging cuts to space last year, including a $32.3 m pledge to help Australia’s spaceports and abolishing the $1bn National Space Mission for Earth Observation (NSMEO).
JP 9102 was only signed off just 18 months ago, with prime contractor Lockheed Martin beating big-hitters including Boeing, Northrop Grumman Australia, and Optus to become the “preferred tenderer”.
However, it’s unknown whether Lockheed formally had the final contract signed after it entered the last formal stages of negotiation.
If approved, JP 9102 was set to create more than 200 direct jobs, while Lockheed Martin itself pressed ahead with making key appointments for its staff to oversee it.
The plan would have seen the launch of a new geostationary satellite alongside multiple ground stations and an advanced satellite management system, creating secure communications that the ADF would have used.
“There is no money. There needs to be money to actually start the program,” a defence source told the newspaper.
If true, the news would be a huge blow to the space sector, already reeling from last year’s cuts.
The separate axing of the $1bn NSMEO led to Swinburne University professor Alan Duffy telling journalists the cuts had a “chilling” effect on the industry, while Equatorial Launch Australia CEO Michael Jones argued the sector was a low priority for the government.
“Call it what it is: the lack of federal government support with the change in government makes me nervous, and it makes the job really hard,” said Jones last year.
He hinted he believes space is now an afterthought for the Department of Industry, Science and Resources and quipped you had to “look hard” on its website to even spot the Australian Space Agency.
“Poor Enrico [Palermo, head of the ASA] is three or four levels down in that organization, and that really worries me. As an industry, we had claims last year that we’re looking for 20,000 jobs and $20 bn of economic stimulus in the future. We’re not going to get there if we don’t support the industry.
“Because as we travel around the world trying to get rocket companies to come to Australia, there are a number of impediments for them that we have to design strategies to overcome.
“We’re also competing against sovereign entities almost everywhere, who are supporting the industry in very, very financial and demonstrable ways, which make it hard for us to compete.” (Source: Space Connect)

31 Oct 24. Viasat to Deliver Dual-Band Global Aero Terminals for Embraer C-390 Multi-Mission Airlifter.
Viasat’s multi-band, multi-orbit, multi-network terminals will be integrated into Embraer C-390 Millennium aircraft
Viasat Inc. (NASDAQ: VSAT), a global leader in satellite communications (SATCOM), and Embraer (NYSE: ERJ; B3: EMBR3), a global leader in the aerospace industry, today announced their collaboration to enable advanced hybrid satellite communications capabilities on the Embraer C-390 Millennium military aircraft. Viasat will deliver its Hybrid SATCOM Approach (HSA), based on the dual-band, global aero terminal, GAT-5530 (known as KuKarray), for integration on the new C-390 multi-mission aircraft. The application of advanced hybrid SATCOM capabilities across the common fleets will provide increased operational awareness and enhance interoperability, data rate throughput, and resilient connectivity with Automated Primary, Alternate, Contingency, and Emergency (APACE) communication plans across multiple domains.
Viasat will work with Embraer to deliver its flexible HSA solution and support terminal integration on the C-390 aircraft. The integration of Viasat’s hybrid capability addresses the requirement for differentiated and resilient SATCOM solutions to support the rapidly evolving missions of current and future global defense customers.
The HSA will provide secure and reliable satellite connectivity to the C-390 aircraft with automated failover, enhancing operations with resilient broadband SATCOM supporting the operational flexibility and responsiveness required by the C-390 tactical mission.
The Viasat HSA is designed with an open architecture to support agile and resilient communications, allowing flexible terminal integration to enable, according to each customer operational needs, multi-band, multi-orbit connectivity on Viasat’s networks, third-party networks, and access to private government networks including the Wideband Global SATCOM (WGS) network.
The dual-band (Ku/Ka) broadband terminal integration on C-390 will offer to the global defense market an expandable, highly flexible, multi-network, multi-band, and multi-orbit SATCOM capability that can seamlessly traverse Viasat’s high-capacity Ka-band and global Ku-band satellite networks, as well as third-party government and military networks (to include Mil-Ka).
“Viasat is excited to expand its relationship with Embraer and deliver a hybrid SATCOM solution on the C-390 Millennium platform. Our Hybrid SATCOM Approach design supports advanced airborne connectivity for defense customers seeking reliable, resilient satellite communications in contested environments,” said Victor Farah, Senior Vice President of Viasat Government Solutions and Services. “We are committed to working with Embraer to enable dynamic and scalable beyond-line-of-sight connectivity that supports mission requirements today and in the future.”
“The C-390 offers interoperability and multi-mission capability off-the-shelf, and Embraer is consistently working to expand the envelope,” said Frederico Lemos, Chief Commercial Officer for Embraer Defense & Security. “The selection of Viasat’s hybrid satcom terminal is totally aligned with our vision to deliver reliable global connectivity and PACE communication to the end-users as these are important capabilities the customers reference in the mission requirements and a key differentiator for our aircraft.”
The Embraer C-390 multi-mission airlifter provides customers with increased operational flexibility and responsiveness, logistical support in various missions and operations, and enables a wide range of humanitarian and medical tasks. Viasat’s HSA solution will help strengthen this operational capability by supporting communications using Ku-band and WGS and providing flexibility for installation of future mission communications systems in LEO and L-Band.
(Source: ASD Network)

27 Oct 24. Intelsat + U.S. Army complete 1st satellite managed service pilot. Intelsat earlier this month provided the U.S Army with new, flexible, and fully managed multi-orbit SATCOM support, following the completion of the Army’s first-ever, multi-vendor, SATCOM as a Managed Service (SATaaMS) Pilot contract.
Intelsat’s turn-key solution provided a comprehensive offering including a terrestrial network, terminals and capacity. Unlike legacy government-operated solutions, the model required Intelsat to take full accountability for the end-to-end solution’s performance.
Intelsat’s solution includes Intelsat Flex services for GEO connections and provides commercial LEO satellite service for a LEO option. Intelsat delivered worldwide coverage via leased satellite terminals and services with 24×7 support. The scope of the Army’s SATaaMS Pilot included end-to-end managed subscription services to support connections with commercial teleports and internet services.
As part of the 12-month trial, Intelsat and the Army:
• Conducted pilots at 10 global locations
• Ensured that the Intelsat managed service and equipment was in use for nine months.
• Conducted the program in a wide range of conditions and terrain, including severe cold weather, high-humidity climates, as well as dry and wet conditions.
“The government understands the need for new, more efficient approaches – and we understand that industry must step up to provide them,” said David Broadbent, President, Intelsat’s Government Solutions. “This 12-month pilot program demonstrated how a commercially managed SATCOM model can deliver the latest equipment and highest level of customer service with efficiency and effectiveness for mission-critical rapid deployment. The Intelsat system enables the Army to re-deploy turnkey SATCOM solutions, where and when they’re needed. This program demonstrates that we can create the flexibility to quickly respond to different types of missions and operations around the globe. We’re able to help the customer maintain a technological edge without constantly investing in network infrastructure.” (Source: Satnews)

31 Oct 24. RocketLab’s new launch date for ‘Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes’ for unknown client.
Finally it appears that Rocket Lab will be launching ‘Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes’ on Monday, November 4th, at 2:30 AM PST from Lab Launch Complex 1 in New Zealand. The launch cost is $6 m.
Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1B has witnessed the launch of 22 rockets, including 22 orbital launch attempts, while Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1, Mahia Peninsula, New Zealand, has been the site for 49 rocket launches.
Electron’s 54th mission is ‘Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes’, a dedicated mission to low Earth orbit for a confidential commercial customer. The mission will launch from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1 and will be Rocket Lab’s 12th launch of 2024, increasing the record number of Electron launches achieved annually since orbital launch services began in 2018. The expedited mission will also be Rocket Lab’s fastest turnaround to date: from signed contract to launch date in less than two months.
Rocket Lab’s rapid call-up launch capability, its standardized and rapid production of Electron launch vehicles that ensures a rocket can be assigned a payload for on-demand launch within days, responsive launch sites, and its experienced team behind the second most frequently launched U.S. orbital rocket, are key enablers for this mission. (Source: Satnews)

29 Oct 24. AST SpaceMobile completes the unfolding of their 1st Five commercial satellites in LEO. AST SpaceMobile BlueBirds 1-5 unfolded, U.S. coverage with 5600+ cells.
AST SpaceMobile, Inc. (“AST SpaceMobile”) (NASDAQ: ASTS) has reported the successful unfolding of its first five commercial satellites, BlueBirds 1-5.
With this significant post-launch technical activity now complete, ahead of schedule at 6 weeks after the launch of the satellites, the BlueBirds are now preparing for commercial and US government operations.
AST SpaceMobile will target 100% nationwide coverage across the United States, providing service through more than 5,600 cells on premium low-band spectrum via strategic partnerships with leading operators like AT&T, Verizon, and Vodafone, among others.
AST SpaceMobile’s technology features large, phased array antennas supported by over 3,450 patent and patent-pending claims. This innovative design aims to extend cellular coverage globally, eliminating dead zones and delivering space-based cellular broadband connectivity to underserved regions. These advanced phased arrays, the largest ever deployed commercially in LEO, connect directly to standard smartphones at broadband speeds. This eliminates the need for specialized equipment, enabling seamless use with existing mobile phones while enhancing and complementing mobile operator networks.
AST SpaceMobile’s technology also offers significant advantages for government applications, with its dual-use capability supporting both communications and non-communications use cases. The company’s innovative approach positions it to deliver advanced space-based solutions for a range of strategic needs, providing scalable, secure, and reliable connectivity to support various government missions.
“The unfolding of the first five commercial satellites is a significant milestone for the company. These five satellites are the largest commercial communications arrays ever launched in low Earth orbit,” said Abel Avellan, Founder, Chairman and CEO of AST SpaceMobile. “It is a significant achievement to commission these satellites, and we are now accelerating our path to commercial activity. The deployment of our first five BlueBird commercial satellites marks just the beginning of our journey. As we prepare for commercial services, we remain committed to pushing the boundaries of innovation. Our team is already hard at work building the next generation of satellites, which will offer ten times the capacity of our current BlueBirds, further transforming mobile connectivity and delivering even greater benefits to our customers and partners worldwide.”
About AST SpaceMobile
AST SpaceMobile is building the first and only global cellular broadband network in space to operate directly with standard, unmodified mobile devices based on our extensive IP and patent portfolio, and designed for both commercial and government applications. Our engineers and space scientists are on a mission to eliminate the connectivity gaps faced by today’s five bn mobile subscribers and finally bring broadband to the bns who remain unconnected. (Source: Satnews)

31 Oct 24. Logos Space, a new satellite company built for EW Era, launches to provide enterprise connectivity.
Logos Space Services, a SATCOM operator for enterprise customers, has now been launched — the company will use spectrum differently than previous satellite operators to maximize security and avoid jamming.
The firm filed an application yesterday at the Federal Communications Commission to construct, launch, and operate a non-geostationary orbit (NGSO) system.
Logos provides MPLS and ethernet connectivity enabling enterprises and other telecom providers to extend their cloud, data center, and communication networks with fiber-like performance globally without touching the Internet. Internet connectivity is an option for customers such as airlines and maritime transportation that also want Internet access. Logos also will provide backup communications services for companies already connected by fiber or other terrestrial connectivity.
Logos’ system will provide the enhanced security and resilience that businesses need. The LEO satellite service network will use the K-, V- and E-bands rather than the typical commercial satellite bands. Using higher frequencies and very narrow beams means that the system will avoid interference from other users and bad actors and enable the system to provide multi-gigabit service to users worldwide using closed user groups for enhanced security.
As Logos’ system is resilient to interference, the company will solve a critical national security need. Logos’ system is designed to be highly resilient to electronic warfare (EW) — not just because of the very narrow beams it uses, but also due to specially designed control waveforms that are difficult to direct and jam.
Logos is led by Milo Medin and Rama Akella, two veterans in space technology and broadband networks, and backed by Thomas Tull’s U.S. Innovative Technology fund.
“Increasingly, our space systems are being targeted by jamming, and in the future, all spectrum access will likely be contested,” said Milo Medin, the founder and CEO of Logos Space. “We engineered Logos Space’s LEO system with this in mind to withstand electronic warfare and provide the enhanced security that businesses and the US Government need for their mission-critical communications.”
About Logos Space
Logos Space is a Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite system purpose-built to serve the connectivity needs of the enterprise user, wherever they may be. We will help fill an important gap in the market, providing resilient, high-performance satellite-based connectivity services to enterprise customers worldwide. (Source: Satnews)

SATELLITE SYSTEMS, SATCOM AND SPACE SYSTEMS UPDATE

October 25, 2024 by

23 Oct 24. Designing Defence’s next generation multi-satellite system.

Dstl scientific expertise and advice is at the heart of the Ministry of Defence’s ambitions in space.

Scientists from the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) are at the forefront of designing and developing Defence’s next generation satellite constellation – a system that will bring giant leaps in operational advantage to the armed forces.

We have developed new collaborative ways of working with both Space Command and Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S) to deliver the next generation multi-satellite system to support greater global surveillance and intelligence for military operations – known as the ISTARI programme.

ISTARI will cost £968m and involves the development of a constellation (group) of satellites to deliver global intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance and to send data and information rapidly to decision makers across the globe. A series of operational capability demonstrator missions will first be carried out to test the concept.

Dstl is leading the initial constellation design and development. Using our evidence-based decision-making and systems engineering we are working with DE&S to jointly deliver the missions and bring them into service for Space Command.

Taking a multi-disciplinary approach enables more rapid decision-making and sharing of best practice across technical, programmatic and operational disciplines. It enables defence to ask the right questions and make the right decisions to develop and deliver capability effectively and efficiently.

Tyche: MOD’s first sovereign Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) satellite

Space Command’s first satellite, Tyche, launched in August aboard SpaceX Falcon 9. Dstl provided technical assurance to Tyche, which was built by UK industry.

Tyche is an electro-optical imaging satellite capable of collecting images of the ground, and short image sequences of ground locations, to detect moving objects. It also possesses an additional on-board processor for immediate processing of data collected, including the ability to upload Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning algorithms for data reduction.

Tyche will be able to communicate with commercial data relays in geostationary orbit to reduce data latency and increase opportunities for tasking.

A key aspect to the experimentation Tyche will deliver will be the opportunity to demonstrate how the satellite interfaces with the wider emerging MOD space architecture.

Goonhilly Earth Station: new communications ground stations in Cornwall

Dstl is also building on the existing ground facilities to enhance space operations. In conjunction with the National Security Strategic Investment Fund (NSSIF), 2 new remote ground stations have been installed at Goonhilly Earth Station (GES) in Cornwall to expand Dstl’s space-to-ground capability and enable increase experimentation.

The powerful 3.9m Safran Legion antennas, to be operated by Dstl, complement Dstl’s Hermes ground station and will track satellites and download Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) data – vital to demonstrating the ISTARI concept.

Dstl is also working with Goonhilly to tailor and assess the suitability of an open standard for booking and scheduling of remote ground terminals within a network; this will broker access between multiple end users.

Dstl’s in-house expertise is vital to these missions as we help build Defence’s next generation space capability, which will be vital to ensure operational advantage on the frontline. Find out more about our space defence science and technology capability.

(Source: https://www.gov.uk/)

22 Oct 24. X-Bow Systems Inc. (X-Bow), the nation’s leading non-traditional supplier of advanced manufactured solid rocket motors (SRMs) and defense technologies, proudly announces the successful third flight of its Bolt Rocket. The XB-32 motor, part of X-Bow’s Bolt rocket family, is the largest Advanced Manufactured Solid Propellant (AMSP) motor ever flown, utilizing the company’s patented advanced manufacturing technology. This milestone confirms the scalability and effectiveness of X-Bow’s approach, demonstrating that affordable, large-scale production of SRMs is achievable.

X-Bow Systems’ Successful Bolt Rocket Launch Unleashes its 34” Advanced Manufactured Solid Rocket Motor, Proving both Scalability and Manufacturability. Photo Credit: United States Army.

The Commercial Mission-1 (CM-1) flight successfully gathered critical data for pre- and post-flight analysis, validating the motor’s performance and confirming X-Bow’s ability to accurately predict SRM characteristics. The fully in-house designed, developed, and operated Bolt rocket family will have multiple upcoming missions, in partnership with Los Alamos National Labs.

Sponsored by the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) and US Army Space and Missile Defense Command and with further support from Redwire, New Mexico Tech, DARPA, and Air Force Research Labs, this mission represents a new era of options for both commercial and defense contractors in SRM manufacturing. X-Bow’s innovative ‘digital-twin’ technology and modular SRM production allow customers to tailor SRM performance to specific mission needs, providing unmatched flexibility compared to traditional single-point designs. This capability positions X-Bow as a leader in an industry where capacity and development constraints often limit new entrants.

Jason Hundley, X-Bow CEO said: “This successful launch validates our commitment to advanced manufacturing of energetics. Unlike traditional methods, X-Bow’s patented technology allows us to design, produce, and test SRMs with unprecedented speed, precision and scalability. Today’s flight test used 10–20 tactical SRMs worth of propellant, all manufactured here in New Mexico through our partnership with New Mexico Tech’s Energetics Material Research Test Center. We have seen how the Cold War-era model of development, production, and stockpiling—coupled with over-consolidation in the industrial base—has left the U.S. and its allies unprepared for the demands of rapid scaling, production, and innovation. At X-Bow, we’re addressing this by building the nation’s second-largest SRM factory, completing it in a fraction of the time and cost compared to traditional capabilities. We are the only company today, with a flight-validated manufacturing process, adding significant new capacity for SRM production for the U.S. and its allies.”

X-Bow’s groundbreaking work is reshaping the future of SRM manufacturing, offering unprecedented flexibility and scalability to meet the evolving needs of the commercial and defense sectors.

ABOUT X-BOW SYSTEMS

X-Bow Systems is disrupting the aerospace industry with innovative and cost-effective additively manufactured energetics for the solid rocket motor and launch vehicle market. X-Bow is also designing and building a suite of modular solid rocket motors and small launch vehicles for both orbital and suborbital launch services. X-Bow is led by CEO Jason Hundley, Chairman Mark Kaufman, CTO Max Vozoff, CRO Maureen Gannon, General Counsel John Leary and a growing team of seasoned industry veterans and new space entrepreneurs. Headquartered in Albuquerque, New Mexico, X-Bow has additional presence in California, Alabama, Colorado, Utah, Texas, Maryland and Washington, DC. X-Bow is actively recruiting talented and determined individuals to join its team. For more information, visit www.xbowsystems.com (Source: PR Newswire)

23 Oct 24. Hanwha Phasor, a global developer of satellite communications technology, has demonstrated its user terminal to partners and customers for the first time. The demonstration, which took place at the business’ central London HQ, was the first time that potential customers and partners were able to witness the operation of the user terminal, showing the future of land-based communications for military and commercial use.

Hanwha Phasor demonstrated its Phasor L3300 user terminal, uniquely developed with a dual receive function allowing users a “make-before-break” capability. During the session, Hanwha Phasor demonstrated the connectivity power of the user terminal with two different GEO Ku-Band satellite service providers – showing that customers could utilise the antenna with their chosen service provider. Those who attended the demo included commercial businesses, national armed forces, and high-level defence officials, as well as Special Operations stakeholders who used the demonstration of the Phasor L3300 to take an HD video call with their international headquarters, using two different satellite service providers.

The successful demonstration is an important product milestone for Hanwha Phasor which looks to bring its Phasor L3300 user terminal, an Active Electronically Steered Array (AESA) user terminal designed for land use to provide uninterrupted communications for first responders and military personnel, to market in the first half of 2025. The land variant weighs less than 40kg making it ideal for the range of vehicles in use with both conventional and specialist military units. Given the system’s weight, it can also be used on media and first responder vehicles – providing significant cost efficiencies and performance boosts on the move when compared to traditional parabolic antennas.

Alongside the business’ Phasor L3300, Hanwha Phasor is currently undergoing certification trials on its Phasor A7700 – a user terminal designed for commercial aviation, which will provide high-quality communications for aircraft passengers. The antenna will be available to customers towards the end of 2025.

Hanwha Phasor has had a successful year with a stream of announcements around the development of the Phasor A7700 and Phasor L3300 user terminals, as well as partnerships with key businesses including Kontron, Lufthansa Technik and OneWeb. With more announcements to come in 2024, the business is well positioned to begin deliveries of the Phasor L3300 in the first half of 2025.

Michael Young, Vice President Business Development at Hanwha Phasor stated: “We are proud to have delivered the first demonstration of our cutting-edge user terminal. There is clear interest in the performance advantages that our product has, and also its application with conventional and specialist military units across NATO. We are incredibly proud of the hard work the team at Hanwha Phasor has put in to make these demonstrations happen and we look forward to continuing discussions with partners and potential customers about the future of our product line.”

23 Oct 24. Quadsat has worked with ALL.SPACE to conduct a comprehensive evaluation of its electronically steerable antenna (ESA) for use on LEO constellations. Conducted in the UK using Quadsat’s UAV-based solution, the test is the first such comprehensive evaluation of an ESA and has proven the ability of the Quadsat system to conduct complex measurements of this type.

Quadsat is developing its own view of a comprehensive test procedure for ESAs. This includes both the assessment of the antenna radiation performance, combined with the evaluation of the dynamic testing of the desired operational cases, including satellite passes, handover switching, and multibeam tracking. The drone and the RF payload are positioned very accurately in time and space to ensure qualitative and representative measurements. This provides a unique approach to evaluating ESAs as it will give a full understanding of the antenna capability in the same test campaign and with the same measurement equipment.

With a dramatic rise in the number of ESAs in the industry, there is still a lack of good performance data. Accelerating this technology further will require more, and accessible, testing to enable manufacturers to accelerate development. This is particularly important in the defence market where ALL.SPACE is most active. Understanding antenna performance in that environment is critical for the safety of armed forces. At the same time, people in the field are having to get to grips with a brand-new technology. Having visibility of its performance to mitigate against errors will therefore be crucial.

John-Paul Szczepanik, Chief Technology Officer, All.Space added: “At ALL.SPACE, we’re committed to pushing the boundaries of satellite communications, and this evaluation with Quadsat is a critical milestone. By leveraging its cutting-edge UAV testing solutions, we’ve gained unprecedented insights into the performance of our multi-beam ESA technology in real-world environments. We’re not just testing—we’re shaping the future of satellite communications and how best to demonstrate world-leading performance and certify this for use in critical environments.”

Andrian Buchi, co-founder, Quadsat, added: “Future networks have very different requirements compared to conventional satcoms. Getting it right is particularly important in the defence market. This makes it challenging for manufacturers to develop and test for this environment. With these measurements, ALL.SPACE now has a comprehensive view of antenna performance and can continue to enhance its solutions to be future proof for a new era of satcoms.”

Following the evaluation, ALL.SPACE has access to detailed data on the performance of its antenna which can be used for further development.

22 Oct 24. UK satellites to boost maritime security on track for 2025 launch. A satellite developed by the UK business Horizon Technologies is on schedule for launch in mid-2025.

A satellite developed by the UK business Horizon Technologies has successfully completed its Critical Design Review (CDR), and is on schedule for launch in mid-2025, the UK Space Agency announced today.

The Amber-2 Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA) Satellite will play a key role in detecting ‘dark vessels’ at sea, such as those involved in illegal immigration, illegal fishing activities, drug smuggling, ship-to-ship transfers of goods and evading sanctions.

The development of the satellite is supported by a £1.2 m investment from the UK Space Agency. The wider Amber™ Programme has been designed to meet the MDA requirements of the Royal Navy via the Joint Maritime Security Centre (JMSC) in Portsmouth.

The follow-on satellite Amber-3 is also progressing, with Horizon Technologies currently accepting industry-wide proposals from potential spacecraft/bus suppliers for the build, and a targeted launch date of late 2025.

The Amber™ satellites work by detecting radio frequency (RF) signals enabling the identification of satphones and navigation radars, so when vessels engaged in illegal activities turn off their Automatic Identification System (AIS) they can still be tracked. Over the past year, several governments have been testing the Horizon Technologies Amber’s Signal Acquisition System with impressive results.

A single tower-mounted variant called AmberPersistent can collect RF signals (L/S/X band emitters) up to 3 m sq/km with real-time 4/7 coverage, essential for tracking vessels carrying out illicit activities. In the past quarter, Horizon technologies has received substantial AmberPersistent orders from NATO and non-NATO governments.

Matt Archer, UK Space Agency Director of Launch said:

The successful progress of the Amber-2 satellite by Horizon Technologies demonstrates the UK’s leadership in advancing space-based solutions for global maritime security. By detecting hard-to-track vessels, Amber-2 will play a pivotal role in safeguarding international waters from illegal activities.

We’re looking forward to seeing the satellite launch next year, and to continuing our collaboration with industry on cutting-edge technologies that deliver real-world benefits. Supporting projects like the Amber Programme not only enhances security but also creates high-skilled jobs and fosters innovation across the UK.

Space-based RF collection will be particularly effective for open-ocean detection, while shore-based systems can cover some signals/bands up to 1,000 km, and provide real time persistent coverage within a nation’s Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs).

Horizon Technologies CEO John Beckner stated:

The RF Earth Observation market is developing in a path analogous to AIS tracking. The RF signals collection market will likely be a combination of terrestrial systems and space-based data.

All you need is a secure coastal site, power, and an internet connection.

Horizon Technologies is a small business headquartered in Reading, Berkshire, and is a global leader in innovative signals intelligence and space-based Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA) intelligence solutions.

(Source: https://www.gov.uk/)

22 Oct 24. Edinburgh Space Testing Facility Relaunches After Major Investment. The Higgs Centre for Innovation is relaunching their Space Testing Facility after upgrading its capabilities with new and state-of-the art clean rooms and advanced testing equipment.

Following nine months of renovations and over £400,000 investment via the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC), the Higgs’ space testing facility is reopening for business. The upgrade is set to further enable the site to support early-stage tech start-ups and space SMEs as they begin their journey. Providing access to cutting edge equipment and technical expertise to qualify space hardware.

Part of STFC the Higgs Centre is co-located with the UK Astronomy Technology Centre (UK ATC) and the University of Edinburgh’s Institute for Astronomy (IfA) at the Royal Observatory Edinburgh. The site also hosts Scotland’s European Space Agency (ESA) Business Incubation Centre UK.

Increased testing capabilities

The main driver for the renovations was to the make the facilities more accessible to a wider base of technology SMEs and space companies. To help meet the needs of the rapidly growing UK space sector, with more than 180 space companies located in Scotland.

This includes offering more equipment capable of performing a greater range of environmental testing. For example, for small satellites or other spacecraft, checking the reliability of technology destined for orbit well in advance of launch. The offering now includes vibration, thermal, vacuum, optical, SpaceWire, electromagnetic compatibility and radio frequency testing.

The new facilities were designed to specifications set by STFC and UK ATC. Ensuring companies can test their products and technologies to the exacting standards set by NASA, ESA, various rocket launch providers and other partners.

Technical expertise

Higgs not only offers state-of-the-art equipment and clean rooms but also specialist advice and guidance. From helping to design test regimes through to post-test data analysis. The facility has become an integral part of Scotland’s end-to-end space sector offering. Supported by UK ATC’s world leading expertise in remote sensing instrumentation, system calibration, verification and testing.

Ultimately, users gain affordable and timely access to world class amenities, expert knowledge, and workspaces to take their technologies, and businesses, to the next level.

This support, which would otherwise be out of reach to the kind of small business that makes up the majority of the space industry in the UK, reduces risks and costs, helping them to reach market faster.

Scottish space industry

Start-ups and SMEs specialising in artificial intelligence, robotics, satellite hardware and rockets from across Scotland’s space eco-system have made use of the Higg’s facilities.

Edinburgh-based Alpha Data provide computer hardware to the space industry. Andrew McCormick, Technical Director/CTO at Alpha Data, said: “Alpha Data were looking to undertake vibration testing for our demonstrator, development board and deployable platform. We contacted the Higgs Centre for Innovation to enquire about the use of their vibration capabilities. Once we made contact, we were easily able to communicate our needs and get support on the specific tests and specifications needed. This testing and support allowed Alpha Data to demonstrate the physical ruggedness and launch potential of our 3U-VPX MPSoC platform.”

Throwing open the doors

STFC’s Dr Julian Dines, Head of Innovation at the Higgs Centre, said: “After nine months of hard work we are thrilled to throw open our doors once again and invite companies to access our bigger and better range of dedicated space testing facilities at the Higgs Centre.

“This upgrade means an even broader range of space testing can now take place on site here in Edinburgh, increasing the reliability of satellites in orbit. We look forward to supporting the further expansion of the burgeoning space sector in Scotland – particularly as we approach the next phase in the sector’s development with space launch from Scotland.”

STFC’s Euan Harvey, Business Development and Innovation Manager at the Higgs Centre, said: “I am delighted we are now back open and ready for business, more fitted to support the industry’s needs than ever. The facility is an important facet in Scotland’s offering of a full end-to-end space capabilities and an important part in driving innovation within the Scottish space ecosystem.”

Annelies Look, Deputy Chief Executive & Chief Delivery Officer at the UK Space Agency, said: “The relaunch of the Higgs Centre for Innovation’s Space Testing Facility will benefit Scotland and the UK as a whole, catalysing investment and strengthening our end-to-end space sector capabilities.

“By providing affordable world class testing equipment and specialist guidance, the Higgs Centre is empowering early-stage tech start-ups and space SMEs to innovate, reduce risks, and bring their products to market faster.

“This will ensure that Scotland and the UK remain at the forefront of space exploration and technology, creating jobs and driving economic growth.”

20 Oct 24. Eutelsat uses SpaceX rocket to launch first satellites after merger. Eutelsat the world’s third-biggest satellite operator by revenue, launched 20 satellites for its communications network on Sunday, using Elon Musk’s SpaceX in its first move since the merger of two European companies last year.

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket with Eutelsat satellites from California’s Vandenberg Space Force Base at 0513 GMT.

“This is the first OneWeb launch of the satellites since the merger,” CEO Eva Berneke told Reuters in an interview. “We will be launching more satellites over the coming years.”

The Paris-based group formed by the merger in September last year of France’s Eutelsat and Britain’s OneWeb has a constellation of over 600 low earth orbit satellites that cater to broadcasters, telecom companies and radio stations.

“We really want to integrate into the telco ecosystem,” Berneke said. “Satellites are an interesting niche in the overall connectivity ecosystems where telcos are the big boys in the class and satellite will always be a smaller part.” (Source: Reuters)

18 Oct 24. Taiwan taps satellite hookups to help down invading drones. The Taiwanese military is testing a satellite-connected setup of drone countermeasures as part of a massive effort to bolster the island’s defenses of critical infrastructure and core communications network amid an uptick in Chinese probing.

The tests come as Taiwan is seeing Chinese military activity in the waters around the island, including drones flying within the country’s air defense identification zone. China views Taiwan as a rogue province and has threatened to take it back by force.

Tron Future, a Taiwan-based company, has been supporting the government in integrating counter-drone systems with Taiwan’s low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites through its T.SpaceRouter user terminals, expected to boost the island’s wartime communication resilience.

The T.SpaceRouter is a lightweight satellite communication terminal that uses active electronically scanned array (AESA) technology, envisioned to double as a kind of communication antenna relying on regional private 5G coverage.

“As our anti-drone systems will be able to connect with LEO satellites by the end of 2025, each C-UAS installation site can serve as a regional military communication hub with LEO satellite backbone – this will help prevent systemic collapse of the core communication network in potential future conflicts,” Dr. Yu-Jiu Wang, chief executive of Tron Future said.

The Taiwan Space Agency has launched an experimental satellite project dubbed Beyond 5G, which aims to develop two high-performance LEO spacecraft that will be deployed at an altitude of 600 kilometers.

Last year, Wang told Defense News that at the height of tensions, the company’s radars deteced as many as 100 Chinese surveillance drones above the island in the span of a week.

According to the vendor, the Taiwanese military also recently began testing a variety of counter-drone active and passive radars, including Tron Future systems, as well as jammers.

These include achieving at least a 6 kilometers effective detection range for drones over the sea, with one of the target references being a Mavic 3 Pro, for active and passive radars, and at least a 4 kilometer effective jamming capability for drones, Wang said.

The government is expected to sign a contract with the winning contractor within two months as part of an order that could total tens of ms of dollars.

“A total of 26 sets of anti-drone systems need to be installed, with 13 sets to be completed within five months after signing the contract, and the entire procurement to be completed within 10 – the systems will be installed on the frontline islands closest to China,” the CEO said.

He noted that the closest distance from Taiwan’s outer islands to China is roughly 2 kilometers.

Taiwan is a major producer of computer chips, which means the country’s semiconductor factories are assumed targets in a potential Chinese attack besides military sites. (Source: Defense News)

18 Oct 24. Visiona, the joint venture between Embraer and Telebras, has presented the first images collected by VCUB1, the first high-performance satellite designed by Brazil’s national industry, and has thus concluded the operational evaluation of the satellite.

“Satellites play a key role all over the world and in Brazil. VCUB1 can be used for issues that are central to the country, such as environmental protection, responding to natural disasters, fighting wildfires or even developing agriculture,” says João Paulo Rodrigues Campos, Visiona’s CEO. “In addition to generating new business opportunities, expanding Brazil’s space infrastructure and creating jobs.”

Weighing just 12 kg, VCUB1 is equipped with a high-resolution camera and an advanced communications system. VCUB1 is also the first satellite with onboard software 100% developed in Brazil, which translates into complete autonomy in the project. The success of the mission proves Visiona’s ability to develop solutions capable of addressing major challenges facing the Brazilian Space Program.

After the launch in 2023, the satellite’s first year of life was dedicated to developing and maturing systems. This was followed by calibration of the sophisticated camera so that the first images could be collected and released.

VCUB1 was originally designed to validate the navigation and control systems developed by Visiona, marking the first time these technologies had been mastered by the country. “Mastering the embedded software is what gives us the freedom to integrate or replace any component, giving us total freedom in the project. We have joined a select group of companies in the world capable of fully designing satellites,” says Himilcon Carvalho, Visiona’s CTO. “The images, in turn, confirm the performance of the systems developed, which should now equip the company’s next projects.”

The project, led by Visiona, included the participation of several Brazilian companies and science and technology institutes such as OPTO Space & Defense, responsible for designing and building the camera, AMS Kepler, Metalcard, Orbital Engenharia, Embrapii, through its ISI Embarcados SENAI-SC unit, the Air Force’s Aeronautics and Space Institute and INPE. In addition, the Brazilian Space Agency, Embrapa, CPRM, CEMADEN, UFSC, ITA, Government of Santa Catarina, CENSIPAM, IICA, São José dos Campos City Hall, Naturantins, Transpetro and IBAMA contributed to the satellite’s development

14 Oct 24. infiniDome launches their new GPSdome-SunStone anti-jamming solution. infiniDome has launched GPSdome-SunStone — this state-of-the-art anti-jamming module marks a significant milestone in the company’s journey of delivering next-generation navigation resiliency solutions to the defense and commercial sectors.

The company’s solutions have been deployed across multiple industries, including defense, autonomous applications, and maritime, where the reliability of navigation systems is paramount. infiniDome’s technology, including the GPSdome series, has been rigorously tested in real-world environments, earning the trust of military forces and commercial sectors alike. Now, with the upcoming launch of GPSdome-SunStone, the company is once again setting the standard for secure, resilient GNSS protection.

GPSdome-SunStone sets a new standard for GNSS resilience by offering advanced features tailored to meet the increasingly complex demands of modern navigation systems, designed for ultimate performance and compatibility.

infiniDome’s commitment to providing industry-leading, battle-tested GNSS protection solutions is at the heart of SunStone’s development. As threats to GNSS reliability continue to evolve in the form of highly contested and a rapidly changing RF spectrum, GPSdome-SunStone offers the most advanced solution available to date. The SunStone delivers comprehensive protection based on infiniDome’s “future-proof” SW-defined anti-jamming core optimized to face the most current threats in the battlefield today and field upgradeable to meet future threats tomorrow.

The company will be ready for customer evaluations as soon as November 2024 with select customers in the defense space and will officially announce the general availability before the end of the year. This strategic timeline allows infiniDome to meet the high demand for optimized anti-jamming solutions to be able to face the rapidly growing threats in and around conflict zones for multiple GNSS-dependent industries. (Source: Satnews)

14 Oct 24. NSA issues updated guidance on Russian SVR cyber ops. The National Security Agency (NSA) joins the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the United States Cyber Command’s Cyber National Mission Force (CNMF), and the United Kingdom National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) to warn network defenders about ongoing Russian Federation Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) cyber threats and to recommend rapid countermeasures for security patching and mitigating systems.

According to the CSA, SVR cyber actors are using a range of tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs) including, but not limited to, spearphishing, password spraying, abuse of supply chain and trusted relationships, custom and bespoke malware, cloud exploitation, and living off the land techniques. They gain initial access, escalate privileges, move laterally, maintain persistence in victim networks and cloud environments, and exfiltrate information. They often conceal their activity using Tor, leased and compromised infrastructure, and proxies.

To disrupt this activity, the report’s authors recommend baselining authorized devices and scrutinizing systems accessing their networks that do not adhere to the baseline, among other mitigations.

Since 2021, the SVR actors – also tracked as APT29, Midnight Blizzard (formerly Nobelium), the Dukes, and Cozy Bear – have consistently targeted U.S., European, and global entities in the defense, technology, and finance sectors. Their intent is to collect foreign intelligence and enable future cyber operations, including in support of Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine.

A CSA published in April 2021, “Russian SVR Targets U.S. and Allied Networks,” highlighted the SVR’s exploitation of CVEs for initial access. Since then, SVR cyber actors have exploited vulnerabilities at a mass scale to target victims worldwide across many sectors. A CSA released in February 2024, “SVR Cyber Actors Adapt Tactics for Initial Cloud Access,” highlighted additional information on the exploitation of cloud environments and the use of proxies.

The joint Cybersecurity Advisory (CSA), “Update on SVR Cyber Operations and Vulnerability Exploitation,” highlights how Russian SVR cyber actors are currently exploiting a set of software vulnerabilities and have intentions to exploit additional vulnerabilities. It provides a detailed list of publicly disclosed common vulnerabilities and exposures (CVEs) and a list of mitigations to improve cybersecurity posture based on the SVR cyber actors’ operations.

“This activity is a global threat to the government and private sectors and requires thorough review of security controls, including prioritizing patches and keeping software up to date,” said Dave Luber, NSA’s Cybersecurity Director. “Our updated guidance will help network defenders detect these intrusions and ensure they are taking steps to secure their systems.” (Source: Satnews)

SATELLITE SYSTEMS, SATCOM AND SPACE SYSTEMS UPDATE

October 18, 2024 by

10 Oct 24. ViaSat-3 F1 Begins Delivering Service for Government Customers.

Viasat is now delivering service to the U.S. Marine Corps through the ViaSat-3 network

Viasat, Inc. (NASDAQ: VSAT), a global leader in satellite communications, today announced that it is now delivering ViaSat-3 F1 (VS3 F1) service to the U.S. Marine Corps, marking the first use of the ViaSat-3 network by a government customer. This follows the VS3 F1 satellite recently beginning to deliver services for commercial airline customers operating over North America.

The Marine Wing Communications Squadron 38 (MWCS-38) and the 3rd Marine Littoral Regiment are the first military operational units to leverage service from the ViaSat-3 F1 satellite. The MWCS-38, which provides expeditionary communications support to the Aviation Combat Element (ACE) inside the Marine Air Ground Task Force (MAGTF), is using existing Multi-Mission Terminals (MMT) to access VS3 F1 service. The 3rd Marine Littoral Regiment, based out of the Marine Corps Base Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii, is also using VS3 F1 services to support mission and reconnaissance operation communications.

The ViaSat-3 constellation, which will include two additional satellites, is designed to deliver high-throughput, flexible broadband connectivity that can meet (or exceed) performance, security and resilience requirements for U.S. and global coalition mission operations.

“This is an important milestone for our government services and solutions team and U.S. Department of Defense and global government customers,” said Susan Miller, President of Viasat Government. “The ViaSat-3 satellite network was designed with government missions in mind, offering greater capacity and the flexibility to dynamically shift bandwidth where it’s needed most. The use of small beams, beam shaping, encryption and ViaSat-3’s unique anti-jam capabilities are designed to provide secure and reliable connectivity to support the most critical government missions.”

“It’s exciting to see both government and commercial customers beginning to leverage this next-generation network. The two additional ViaSat-3 satellites are currently in the late stages of production and testing, including the successful completion of thermal vacuum testing on ViaSat-3 F3 recently and the successful completion of mechanical environmental testing on ViaSat-3 F2,” said Craig Miller, President of Global Space Networks, Viasat.

ViaSat-3 F1 experienced an antenna deployment anomaly following its launch in April 2023. However, extensive in-orbit testing demonstrated that all other systems on the satellite were operating at or beyond expectations. This deployment anomaly resulted in a significant reduction in overall capacity, but the resiliency and high-performance specifications of the satellite still allow it to support high-speed broadband services for government and commercial customers over North America, where the satellite is currently deployed. (Source: ASD Network)

16 Oct 24. Goonhilly to boost deep space communications capacity. Goonhilly will provide deep space communications services to the UK Space Agency and international partners from Cornwall, under a new contract.

Goonhilly Earth Station Ltd (Goonhilly) will provide deep space communications services to the UK Space Agency and international partners from its satellite Earth station in Cornwall, under a new contract announced today (16 October) during the International Astronautical Congress in Milan.

Space agencies and companies use a global network of large antennas to communicate with, and transfer data between, their spacecraft and controllers on Earth. As the numbers of space missions beyond Earth orbit – to destinations including the Moon – increase, the capacity of these existing services is reaching their limit.

Several of the world’s space agencies already share resources to cope with high demand, but this issue is predicted to deteriorate with the increase in robotic and human activity around the Moon.

The UK is in a unique position to provide increased capacity through facilities like Goonhilly, which is the world’s most experienced provider of commercial lunar and deep space communications services. Since 2021, Goonhilly has supported over 17 spacecraft beyond geostationary orbit, including CubeSats deployed on the Artemis-I mission. Goonhilly has also provided services for international organisations, including ESA, ISRO, and Intuitive Machines.

Minister for Data Protection and Telecoms, Sir Chris Bryant, said:

Just as digital infrastructure helps us stay connected here on Earth, this government-backed contract will play a vital role in supporting humanity’s next steps to the Moon and beyond.

The UK has a real competitive advantage in space and I want to exploit that to its full potential, using innovative commercial models such as those demonstrated by Goonhilly and the UK Space Agency to attract more investment, generate high-quality jobs and support our international partners.

This new agreement between the UK Space Agency and Goonhilly will help expand existing UK capabilities, unlock new and emerging markets and support the growth of the fledgling lunar economy. It will support Goonhilly to provide more services to international agencies and companies to help them cope with the increasing global demand for deep space communications. The contract is task-based and worth up to an initial £2 m this financial year.

Dr Paul Bate, Chief Executive of the UK Space Agency, said:

Our work with Goonhilly is a great example of how the UK can benefit from the commercial opportunities associated with developing the nascent lunar and deep space economy. This contract award signals a step change in how we use different tools as a government agency to support the growing space sector and strengthen international partnerships.

Earth ground stations will play an increasingly important role in every part of the sector, from supporting major UK-led missions such as TRUTHS and Moonlight to enabling the next generation of broadband connectivity in low Earth orbit. Developing this critical capability will help meet both our national and international ambitions in space.

Goonhilly Earth Station.

With the rapid rise in lunar missions, including upcoming examples like Intuitive Machines’ IM-2, Astrobotic’s Griffin Mission One, and NASA’s Artemis-II, the UK Space Agency recognises the potential for Goonhilly’s advanced capabilities to ensure that deep space networks are able to support increasing demand for communications services.

The UK Space Agency and Goonhilly will work with new international partners to showcase the quality of Goonhilly’s state-of-the-art assets, robust processes, and expert team, initially demonstrating downlink telemetry and navigation services, with a long-term goal of providing uplink services to control spacecraft in flight – services Goonhilly has already successfully provided for a number of high profile missions.

Executive Director of UKspace, Colin Baldwin, said:

Goonhilly Earth Station has pioneered commercial deep space communications capabilities in the UK. This agreement will put the UK at the heart of international missions to the Moon and Mars, and will continue to give us a seat at the top table of space faring nations.

As a founding member of the European Space Agency with strong international ties beyond Europe, the UK wants to play a leading role in addressing this issue facing the global space sector, while supporting the development of new commercial models and national capabilities, and attracting more investment into the growing sector.

Matthew Cosby, CTO, Goonhilly Earth Station:

Goonhilly is at the forefront of commercial lunar and deep space communication services, providing vital infrastructure and expertise that supports international missions to the Moon and beyond.

As the demand for deep space communications continues to grow, this new contract enables us to expand our capacity, support more missions, and play a key role in the next chapter of space exploration. We are excited to be contributing to the global space ecosystem and strengthening the UK’s leadership in this critical area.

Goonhilly is at the heart of a growing cluster of 300 space organisations in Cornwall and the South West of England, which generate an annual income of £600m and employ 3,200 people. (Source: https://www.gov.uk/)

17 Oct 24. UK and New Zealand agree blueprint for satellite removal and servicing missions.

The UK and New Zealand space agencies have signed a blueprint for the removal and servicing of operational satellites that are very close together or making contact with one another.

Contains modified Copernicus Sentinel data, processed by ESA

The arrangement, signed at the International Astronautical Congress in Milan, is designed to support missions in the fast-growing areas of in-orbit servicing, space debris removal and satellite refuelling, known as ‘rendezvous and proximity’ operations.

Modern society is increasingly reliant on satellite technology and the Earth’s orbits are more crowded than ever before. There is an urgent need to invest in new technologies that can help remove debris from space and keep satellites operating for longer.

However, these complex missions involve moving spacecraft close to one another, and the novel nature of these missions raises difficult questions around the application of international rules and guidelines, particularly if launched and operated by more than one nation. Given the importance of improving space sustainability, New Zealand and the UK have been exploring ways to reduce the legal, policy, and regulatory barriers, and uncertainty associated with multistate rendezvous and proximity missions.

The work between the UK and New Zealand is designed to demonstrate how international corporation in this area can keep space sustainable for current and future generations. It provides a set of principles for allocating liability between different states involved in the different stages of these missions. It does this within the framework set out in the Convention on International Liability for Damage Caused by Space Objects (the ‘Liability Convention’), as well as principles around licensing and information sharing.

As the Liability Convention was established in 1972, when most space missions were led by governments rather than companies, the UK and New Zealand are hoping to make its application to the current space age easier to navigate, reducing barriers for industry to carry out these important mission types.

UK Space Agency sign the arrangement at IAC 2024 in Milan.

The principles and guidance we have developed could apply more broadly to other states, and like the UK, we hope this work can serve as a blueprint to enable these important activities internationally as we look to address the challenges posed by orbital debris.

New Zealand is home to the world’s first private spaceport which has conducted 49 launches to date. The UK is due to host its first vertical orbital launches from spaceports in Scotland in 2025, following the first horizontal launch attempt from Spaceport Cornwall last year.

Independent research published in 2022 estimates the global market for In-Orbit Services and Manufacturing to be $14.3 bn. A 2023 report from the UKspace trade association puts the opportunity for the UK at £2.7 bn. (Source: https://www.gov.uk/)

13 Oct. 24. Private investments in space are essential, head of Italian space agency says, Private investment in the space sector is essential for its growth and must not be demonised, but needs to be regulated, the chief of Italian Space Agency ASI said on Sunday ahead of a conference on the industry in Milan.

“We must not demonise the arrival of private companies (in the sector),” ASI President Teodoro Valente told Reuters ahead of the International Astronautical Congress, which starts on Oct. 14. “All the estimates about exponential growth of the space economy are hardly achievable if there was no substantial entry of private companies.”

Valente added that “private input is essential because public resources (can then) be used as a multiplier”.

The global space economy is seen soaring to $1.8 trillion by 2035, up from $630 bn in 2023, growing at an average of 9% per year or almost twice the rate of projected growth in global GDP, a report by the World Economic Forum and McKinsey has estimated.

Investment from the private sector reached an all-time high of more than $70 bn in 2021 and 2022, the report added.

Valente said, however, that the entrance of private companies in space operations required clear legislation, identifying roles, responsibilities and also looking at the sector’s long-term sustainability.

He said these rules were needed to “address a series of solvable issues”, pointing to Italy’s recently-announced framework legislation for the space sector as an example. (Source: Reuters)

13 Oct. 24. SpaceX catches giant Starship booster in fifth flight test.

SpaceX in its fifth Starship test flight on Sunday returned the rocket’s towering first stage booster back to its Texas launch pad for the first time using giant mechanical arms, achieving another novel engineering feat in the company’s push to build a reusable moon and Mars vehicle.

The rocket’s first stage “Super Heavy” booster lifted off at 7:25 a.m. CT (1225 GMT) from SpaceX’s Boca Chica, Texas launch facilities, sending the Starship second stage rocket toward space before separating at an altitude of roughly 70 km (40 miles) to begin its return to land – the most daring part of the test flight.

The Super Heavy booster re-lit three of its 33 Raptor engines to slow its speedy descent back to SpaceX’s launch site, as it targeted the launch pad and tower it had blasted off from. The tower, taller than the Statue of Liberty at over 400 feet, is fitted with two large metal arms at the top.

With its engines roaring, the 233 foot (71 metres)-tall Super Heavy booster fell into the launch tower’s enclosing arms, hooking itself in place by tiny, protruding bars under the four forward grid fins it had used to steer itself through the air.

“The tower has caught the rocket!!” CEO Elon Musk wrote on X after the catch attempt. SpaceX engineers watching the company’s live stream roared in applause.

The novel catch-landing method marked the latest advance in SpaceX’s test-to-failure development campaign for a fully reusable rocket designed to loft more cargo into orbit, ferry humans to the moon for NASA and eventually reach Mars – the ultimate destination envisioned by Musk.

Meanwhile Starship, the rocket system’s second stage or top half, cruised at roughly 17,000 miles per hour 89 miles up in space, heading for the Indian Ocean near western Australia to demonstrate about 90 minutes into flight a controlled splashdown.

As Starship reentered Earth’s atmosphere horizontally, onboard cameras showed a smooth, pinkish-purple hue of superhot plasma blanketing the ship’s Earth-facing side and its two steering flaps, intense hypersonic friction displayed in a glowing aura.

The ship’s hot side is coated with 18,000 heat-shielding tiles that were improved since SpaceX’s last test in June, when Starship completed its first full test flight to the Indian Ocean but suffered tile damage that made its reentry difficult.

Starship this time appeared more intact upon re-igniting one of its six Raptor engines to position itself upright for the simulated ocean landing.

The SpaceX live stream showed the rocket touching down in the nighttime waters far off Australia’s coast, then toppling on its side, concluding its test mission.

A separate camera view from a vessel near the touchdown site then showed the ship exploding into a vast fireball, as SpaceX engineers could be heard on the live stream screaming in celebration. It was unclear whether the explosion was a controlled detonation or the result of a fuel leak.

Musk said the ship landed “precisely on target!”

Starship, first unveiled by Musk in 2017, has exploded several times in various stages of testing on past flights, but successfully completed a full flight in June for the first time.

The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration on Saturday approved SpaceX’s launch license for the fifth test, following weeks of tension between the company and its regulator over the pace of launch approvals and fines related to SpaceX’s workhorse rocket, the Falcon 9. (Source: Reuters)

07 Oct. 24. SpaceX sends off ESA’s Hera planetary defense mission to study NASA’s astroid redirection. Florida’s weather held steady on Monday, October 7, enabling SpaceX to launch the ESA Hera mission to interplanetary transfer orbit from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.

This was the 23rd and final launch for this Falcon 9 first stage booster, which previously launched Crew-1, Crew-2, SXM-8, CRS-23, IXPE, Transporter-4, Transporter-5, Globalstar FM15, ISI EROS C-3, Korea 425, Maxar 1, ASBM, and 10 Starlink missions.

Hera is a planetary defense mission that will study the impact NASA’s Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) mission spacecraft had on the Dimorphos asteroid, which Falcon 9 launched in November 2021. Hera will provide valuable data for future asteroid deflection missions and science to help humanity’s understanding of asteroid geophysics as well as solar system formation and evolutionary processes.

SpaceX to launch ESA’s Hera to study Didymos asteroid on Monday, weather permitting

This artist’s concept shows ESA’s Hera spacecraft and its CubeSats in orbit around the Dimorphos moonlet. NASA has selected 12 participating scientists to join the Hera mission.

On Monday, October 7th, at 7:52 AM – 8:27 AM PDT from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral, SpaceX plans to launch Hera, for the European Space Agency, on a space mission in its Space Safety program. The weather could present a challenge.

Its primary objective is to study the Didymos binary asteroid system that was impacted by DART and contribute to validation of the kinetic impact method to deviate a near-Earth asteroid in a colliding trajectory with Earth. It will measure the size and the morphology of the crater created by and momentum transferred by an artificial projectile impacting an asteroid, which will allow measuring the efficiency of the deflection produced by the impact. It will also analyze the expanding debris cloud caused by the impact.

According to weather officials, there’s a 15% chance of favorable weather conditions at the time of the launch. The forecast calls for a temperature of 75°F, moderate rain, 100% cloud cover, a wind speed of 16mph and 2.56in of rain. (Source: Satnews)

13 Oct. 24. infiniDome launches their new GPSdome-SunStone anti-jamming solution. has launched GPSdome-SunStone — this state-of-the-art anti-jamming module marks a significant milestone in the company’s journey of delivering next-generation navigation resiliency solutions to the defense and commercial sectors. The company’s solutions have been deployed across multiple industries, including defense, autonomous applications, and maritime, where the reliability of navigation systems is paramount. infiniDome’s technology, including the GPSdome series, has been rigorously tested in real-world environments, earning the trust of military forces and commercial sectors alike. Now, with the upcoming launch of GPSdome-SunStone, the company is once again setting the standard for secure, resilient GNSS protection.

12 Oct. 24. NSA issues updated guidance on Russian SVR cyber ops. The National Security Agency (NSA) joins the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the United States Cyber Command’s Cyber National Mission Force (CNMF), and the United Kingdom National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) to warn network defenders about ongoing Russian Federation Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) cyber threats and to recommend rapid countermeasures for security patching and mitigating systems.

To disrupt this activity, the report’s authors recommend baselining authorized devices and scrutinizing systems accessing their networks that do not adhere to the baseline, among other mitigations.

13 Oct. 24. Microsatellite project to monitor objects in space over Canada + the South Pole. The University of Manitoba (UM) and Magellan Aerospace (Magellan), in collaboration with Canada’s Department of National Defence (DND) science and technology organization, Defence Research and Development Canada (DRDC), and the United Kingdom’s Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl), are working together to to monitor and protect the Earth’s orbital environment.

Magellan and UM, both based in Winnipeg, Manitoba, are currently partnered on the DND-funded Redwing space domain awareness (SDA) microsatellite project. Redwing is a research and development (R&D) microsatellite valued at $15.8 m that is being designed, built, and operated in Canada.

Redwing will monitor objects orbiting Earth to help reduce future risks to Canada’s space infrastructure from space debris or human-caused interference. Magellan is responsible for designing, building, and testing the Redwing spacecraft as well as for mission operations. Other Redwing mission partners include ABB Inc. (main optical payload), C-CORE (operations support), as well as York University and UM (R&D support).

Building the Redwing smallsat, photo courtesy of Magellan Aerospace.

In April 2024, Canada’s DND signed a contract option with Magellan for $900,000 to add a companion nanosatellite to the Redwing mission. The nanosatellite, known as Little Innovator in Space Situational Awareness (LISSA), will be integrated with the Redwing satellite and will be deployed from Redwing sometime after launch once the two spacecraft have achieved an orbit at the designated altitude.

Leveraging the expertise provided by Ferguson and UM’s STARLab, Magellan is contracting the design and build of LISSA with UM. LISSA will follow in the same orbit as Redwing, operating some distance from it in a tandem in-track formation. In addition to performing its own observations, LISSA will serve as a convenient nearby object with which to exercise Redwing’s own monitoring and imaging capabilities.

LISSA will focus on observing satellites as they pass over the Earth’s South Pole, a region that is not well-covered by ground-based space surveillance sensors. Reflected light from ice and clouds during the Antarctic summer presents a significant technical challenge when imaging other space objects in visible light. For this reason, the UK’s Dstl is providing a short-wave infrared camera to be hosted on the LISSA nanosatellite, which will be less impacted by light scattered from the ice sheet. Also, many satellite materials are more reflective in the short-wave infrared increasing the likelihood of detecting them.

Both Redwing and LISSA are expected to launch in 2027. Both satellites will be operated by Magellan with support from UM’s STARLab, communicating through ground antenna stations owned by C-CORE in Inuvik, Northwest Territories and Happy Valley-Goose Bay, Newfoundland and Labrador. Mission data will be analyzed by DRDC and Dstl.

“Collaborations between industry, academia, and government are the foundation of innovation in the space sector. These partnerships merge cutting-edge research with industry expertise, accelerating advancements that will shape the future of space exploration and will cultivate the next generation of space professionals. By working together on LISSA and Redwing, we can yield superior results in space domain awareness that would be impossible in isolation,” said Corey Mack, Magellan’s Director of Engineering and Space Systems.

“With new launch companies providing unprecedented access to space, we need to research and develop new ways of monitoring space objects from small spacecraft to prevent collisions and to maintain space sustainability for the entire planet. This is a challenge of global scale, requiring international collaboration between industry and academia,” said Philip Ferguson, Associate Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering and lead of UM’s Space Technology and Advanced Research Laboratory (STARLab). “Research partnerships are critical to the future of the global space industry. This project between the UM, Magellan, DND, and Dstl will create sustainable technologies for the next generation of satellite missions.”

“The space domain continues to change and evolve and requires space faring nations to innovate to keep informed of the security situation in the space domain. DRDC is thrilled to have Dstl participate in the Redwing mission to help grow both nations’ defence space programs,” said Scott McLelland, DRDC Director of R&D for the Defend North America strategic focus area.

“The collaboration with our Canadian partners will enable us to improve the characterisation of objects and maintain security in space to protect our mutual interests,” said Dr. Gemma Bagheri, Dstl Space Research and Development Program Manager. (Source: Satnews)

SATELLITE SYSTEMS, SATCOM AND SPACE SYSTEMS UPDATE

October 11, 2024 by

10 Oct 24. The Boeing [NYSE: BA]-built X-37B will soon perform a series of advanced aerobraking maneuvers, taking the dynamic spaceplane from a Highly Elliptical Orbit (HEO), where it’s been operating since December 2023, and lowering its altitude using minimal fuel.
This will be the first time Boeing, the United States Space Force (USSF) and the X-37B attempt to accomplish this novel demonstration.
“Space is a vast and unforgiving environment where testing technologies is critical to the success of future endeavors,” said Michelle Parker, vice president of Boeing’s Space Mission Systems. “There is no other space platform as capable, flexible and maneuverable as the X-37B, and its next demonstration will be another proof point that this test vehicle sets the pace of innovation.”
During aerobraking, the X-37B will use the drag of Earth’s atmosphere to slow it down, reducing the vehicle’s energy and changing the orbit while expending minimal fuel. The Service Module disposal will be conducted in accordance with established standards for space debris mitigation, and the X-37B’s orbit change will occur in a safe and responsible manner. Once aerobraking is complete, the X-37B will resume its test and experimentation objectives.
“This first-of-a kind maneuver from the X-37B is an incredibly important milestone for the United States Space Force as we seek to expand our aptitude and ability to perform in this challenging domain,” said Gen. Chance Saltzman, Chief of Space Operations.
The program will leverage six successful missions of safely operating the X-37B around Earth during this next demonstration. Boeing brings decades of lessons learned from operating other spacecraft in a variety of orbits, from the Apollo missions, the Space Shuttle Program, and hundreds of government and commercial satellites.

10 Oct 24. UK and Canada announce satellite collaboration.
Dstl will test a short wave infrared camera to identify objects in orbit over the South Pole as part of a space domain awareness trial.
The UK is to collaborate with Canada on the Redwing microsatellite Space Domain Awareness (SDA) mission scheduled to launch in 2027.
Redwing will track objects in congested orbits with improved sensors, and provide near real-time tasking in response to evolving space events.
Redwing, which is the size of a small washing machine, will be directed and tasked by the Department of National Defence’s science and technology organisation, Defence Research and Development Canada (DRDC). The satellite will itself deploy a smaller nanosatellite that will incorporate a payload from the UK’s Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) on behalf of the Ministry of Defence (MOD) and UK Space Command.
Dr Gemma Bagheri, Dstl Space Research and Development Programme Manager, commented: “Space is increasingly congested and it is vital that we keep pace with new and emerging threats. The collaboration with our Canadian partners will enable us to improve the characterisation of objects and maintain security in space to protect our mutual interests.”
The nanosatellite, roughly the size of a cereal box and known as Little Innovator in Space Situational Awareness (LISSA), will incorporate as its primary payload a Dstl experimental short wave infrared (SWIR) camera. Once separated, Redwing and LISSA will fly in tandem in sun-synchronous low Earth orbit, approximately 575km above the Earth and up to 200km apart.
The mission will assess the capabilities of the SWIR camera with particular focus on the South Pole of Earth, where the glare from the illuminated Antarctic ice sheet can hinder object identification in orbit. Space objects over the Earth’s South Pole is less monitored than the North Pole and the mission will inform future space surveillance considerations based on findings from the mission.
This international research cooperation between the countries provides the opportunity for joint collaboration and for developing prototype infrastructure and data processing architecture.
Major General Paul Tedman, Commander, UK Space Command, said:
This is yet another example of the value of international collaboration in space. Through Redwing and LISSA, the UK and Canada will test innovative technologies, which in the long term may vastly improve our ability to monitor and identify objects in space.
Magellan Aerospace will design, build, prepare for launch, and operate the Redwing microsatellite and LISSA nanosatellite. LISSA will be built by the University of Manitoba. Bornea Dynamics has been contracted by Dstl to produce and qualify the SWIR camera payload hardware.
Scott McLelland, DRDC Director of Research and Development for the Defend North America strategic focus area, commented:
The space domain continues to change and evolve and requires space faring nations to innovate to keep informed of the security situation in the space domain. DRDC is thrilled to have Dstl participate in the Redwing mission to help grow both nations’ defence space programs.
(Source: https://www.gov.uk/)

08 Oct 24. Millennium completes PDR for FOO Fighter satellite programme.
The FOO Fighter aims to enhance missile defence by integrating fire control-quality sensors into a prototype satellite constellation.
Boeing company Millennium Space Systems has successfully completed the preliminary design review (PDR) for the Fire-control On Orbit-support-to-the-war Fighter (FOO Fighter) in the US.
In April 2024, the company secured a contract, a total potential value of approximately $414m, from the US Space Development Agency (SDA) to deliver a constellation of eight satellites with a ground system and perform mission operations.
The programme is now gearing up for the critical design review scheduled in early 2025.
implementation with Q14(1), ensuring coherence between both guidelines. “Understanding Q14 requires consideration of both Q2(R1) and Q2(R2), as these guidelines…
By Butterworth Laboratories
Millennium Space Systems portfolio lead Doug Hulse said: “We’re building off our common bus architecture, so our bus design is solid.
“For PDR, that allowed us to focus on the mission itself – that’s what’s critical.”
The FOO Fighter is designed to enhance missile defence by integrating fire control-quality sensors into a scalable prototype satellite constellation.
The programme aims to expedite the ability to provide fire-control in support of global detection, warning, and precision tracking of sophisticated missile threats, such as hypersonic missile systems.
The firm fixed-price contract forms part of the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture’s FOO Fighter programme, which is set to demonstrate the advanced missile defence capabilities of the proposed satellite constellation.
Boeing Space Mission Systems vice-president Michelle Parker said: “Just like the name says, our focus is the warfighter and ensuring our system can perform the mission they need.
“FOO Fighter really showcases our team’s ability to meet the mission, supporting a real-time warfighter need. Completing PDR in such a short timeframe is significant because it validates the feasibility and design of the system, ensuring we are moving with pace to meet mission requirements.”
The SDA has plans to launch the FOO Fighter constellation no later than the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2026. (Source: airforce-technology.com)
07 Oct 24. Kratos and Radisys Partner on Cloud Native 5G-NTN OpenSpace Solutions to Enable Seamless Satellite Access for Terrestrial Networks.
Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. (Nasdaq: KTOS), a technology company in the defense, national security and global markets, announced today that it is partnering with Radisys® Corporation, a global leader in open telecom solutions, to develop cloud native 5G-NTN (non-terrestrial network) solutions for satellite connectivity. These solutions will be available through Kratos OpenSpace® Platform, the only commercially available, fully software-defined satellite ground system.
Radisys is a leading Radio Access Network (RAN) partner for telecom and mobile network operators around the world. Radisys and Kratos share a common vision for the future of connectivity to provide open standards-based solutions that interoperate seamlessly across terrestrial and space networks.
“Radisys is the ideal partner for Kratos in leading the satellite industry forward with 5G-NTN solutions,” said Greg Quiggle, SVP Product Management at Kratos. “Together, we are building a cloud native end-to-end 5G solution for non-terrestrial networks in the OpenSpace Platform. This new solution will enable open, highly scalable high-performance 5G service delivery through any 5G core network worldwide.”
Together, Kratos and Radisys are developing a 5G-NTN satellite base station equivalent to a cellular base station but delivered completely as cloud native software. The ability to do satellite signal processing in software brings standards-based interoperability for quick orchestration of networks within a variety of elastic environments. Doing so better positions satellite operators and service providers to capture the $35 bn in revenue opportunities over the next decade recently identified by GSMA Intelligence at Mobile World Congress earlier this year.
“Our collaboration with Kratos on 5G-NTN solutions marks a significant milestone in the advancement of 5G non-terrestrial network technologies,” said Munish Chhabra, Head of Mobility Software and Services Business, Radisys. “This partnership will drive innovative applications, improve high-speed and ubiquitous global connectivity with seamless TN-NTN integration. Radisys’ unique value proposition of creating 5G-NTN RAN with ORAN disaggregated containerized architecture will help reduce the costs associated with non-terrestrial network communications and facilitate new NTN deployments and use cases.”
5G NTN technology allows satellites to provide internet access to almost anywhere on Earth in much the same way 5G works across cellular towers today. Kratos’ and Radisys’ 5G-NTN solutions will enable tighter integration with terrestrial networks to deliver true 5G mobile broadband over satellites.
According to Carmel Ortiz, SVP of Technology and Innovation at Intelsat, one of the world’s largest global satellite operators, “We are implementing Kratos’ OpenSpace Platform to support our next generation, multi-orbit network. This partnership between Kratos and Radisys gives us confidence that we will be able to offer our consumer, business and government customers best in class 5G services.” (Source: ASD Network)

06 Oct 24. US FAA authorizes SpaceX Falcon 9 vehicle for Monday flight.
• Summary
• FAA had grounded Falcon 9 after second stage malfunctioned
• Elon Musk’s company has publicly quarreled with the FAA
SpaceX’s workhorse Falcon 9 rocket can return to flight for a mission planned for Monday to launch the European Space Agency’s Hera spacecraft from Florida, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration said on Sunday.
Elon Musk’s company, which has engaged in a public quarrel with the FAA in recent weeks, said on Sunday it is planning the liftoff for 10:52 a.m. ET (1452 GMT) from Cape Canaveral.
“The SpaceX Falcon 9 vehicle is authorized to return to flight only for the planned Hera mission scheduled to launch on Oct. 7 from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida,” the FAA said on Sunday.
The agency said it has “determined that the absence of a second stage reentry for this mission adequately mitigates the primary risk to the public in the event of a reoccurrence of the mishap experienced with the Crew-9 mission.”
The FAA on Sept. 30 said SpaceX must investigate why the second stage of its Falcon 9 malfunctioned after a NASA astronaut mission, grounding the launch vehicle for the third time in three months. The malfunction caused the booster to fall into a region of the Pacific Ocean outside of the designated safety zone that the FAA approved for the mission.
Hera is set to study the effects of the 2022 impact that NASA’s DART spacecraft had with the asteroid Dimorphos in a test of a planetary defense system – the first time a spacecraft managed to alter the motion of any celestial body. Dimorphos is a moonlet of Didymos, which is defined as a near-Earth asteroid.
The Hera mission is expected to provide data for future asteroid deflection missions with an eye toward redirecting objects that could pose a future collision threat for Earth.
The FAA on Sept. 17 proposed fining SpaceX $633,000 for violating agency rules ahead of two 2023 Falcon 9 launches.
“They’ve been around 20 years, and I think they need to operate at the highest level of safety,” FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker said on Sept. 24.
SpaceX took issue with Whitaker’s comments, saying the company is the “safest, most reliable launch provider in the world, and is absolutely committed to safety in all operations.”
Whitaker defended the FAA’s decision to delay a planned September Starship 5 launch, noting that SpaceX failed to complete a timely sonic boom analysis as required. The FAA has said it does not expect a license determination before late November for that launch.
Musk has criticized FAA leaders over the agency’s proposed fine and called for Whitaker’s resignation.
In February 2023, the FAA proposed a $175,000 penalty against SpaceX for failing to submit some safety data to the agency prior to an August 2022 launch of Starlink satellites. The company paid that penalty.
(Source: Reuters)

06 Oct 24. ULA’s Vulcan launches second certification flight for U.S. Space Force “all rockets are not created equal”.
A United Launch Alliance (ULA) Vulcan rocket carrying the Cert-2 mission lifts off from Space Launch Complex-41 at 7:25 a.m. EDT, marking the completion of Vulcan’s second and final certification flight. Photo by United Launch Alliance
United Launch Alliance (ULA) ushers in a new era of space capabilities with the successful launch of its second certification flight (Cert-2) of the next generation Vulcan rocket on Oct. 4 at 7:25 a.m. EDT from Space Launch Complex-41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
“The success of Vulcan’s second certification flight heralds a new age of forward-looking technology committed to meeting the ever-growing requirements of space launch and supporting our nation’s assured access to space. We had an observation on one of our solid rocket boosters (SRB) that we are reviewing but we are overall pleased with the rocket’s performance and had a bullseye insertion,” said Tory Bruno, ULA’s president and CEO. “Vulcan provides high performance and greater affordability while continuing to deliver our unmatched reliability and orbital precision for all our customers across the national security, civil and commercial markets.”
The Cert-2 mission carried experiments and demonstrations associated with future capabilities of Centaur V, the world’s highest-performing upper stage designed to further deliver on ULA’s unrivaled legacy of reliability and precision. Centaur V provides 2.5 times the energy and 450 times the endurance of its predecessors, enabling the most complex orbital insertions within the most challenging and clandestine orbits.
“Vulcan is built with the strength of a national workforce whose unmatched dedication and innovation has modernized the very best of our industry-leading heritage,” said Mark Peller, vice president of Vulcan Development. “The foundation of Vulcan’s purpose-built design rests on the best of what we’ve learned from more than 130 combined years of launch experience with Atlas and Delta.” (Source: Satnews)

30 Sept 24. Rivada Space Networks, the would-be constellation operator of 288 yet-to-be-built satellites, is in deep trouble.
Rivada’s litany of problems continues to mount. Not only is the company late in stumping up the small matter of $2.4bn (€2.1bn) needed to build its ‘OuterNet’ constellation, Rivada now faces another major hurdle from its licensing authority, the tiny European state of Liechtenstein, which has allocated Rivada its operating license (for a fee of €6 m per annum).
On September 27th, Liechtenstein Vaterland, a newspaper in the country, described the Rivada project as being “on the brink.” It cites the challenges of building and launching 288 satellites by mid-2026 as being especially difficult, even if the funding was available immediately.
The newspaper reported that officials are considering reassigning the Rivada operating license given that the ITU timings for launching the fleet are now extremely close. Failure to meet the ITU deadline would render the license near-worthless.
The Liechtenstein filing with the ITU goes back to 2015 (as 3ECOM1-3) and called for 24 satellites in each of 12 orbital planes, or 264 satellites in total using Ku- and Ka-band. These 264, plus orbital spares, makes up the total 288 constellation.
Rivada is already in the ITU’s debt given that, in July of 2023, the ITU granted it a waiver and no longer requiring Rivada to put 10 per cent of its constellation into orbit in 2023 – a then impossible task. But clearly the ITU trusted that Rivada would get the $2.4 bn funding in place and start building satellites. Rivada gave the satellite build contract to Terran Orbital.
Rivada, under the terms of the ITU rules must put 144 satellites (half the constellation) into orbit by June 2026, and the other 144 a few weeks later by September 2026.
In July last year, Dr. Rainer Schnepfleitner, Director of the AK (Amt für Kommunikation) of Liechtenstein,, said, “The [Liechtenstein] Office for Communications has put its trust in the ITU process and is delighted about the positive decision of the Radio Regulations Board. These filings were secured at a very early stage in the development of Non-GSO constellations for global connectivity and are an important asset – not only for Liechtenstein. A shortage of launch capacity and delays in technology development have been significant challenges to overcome in order to deploy these constellations in the stipulated timeframe. The perseverance of Rivada and ITU’s positive decision mean that the deployment of the constellations can move forward for the benefit of all the stakeholders.”
Indeed, although not mentioned by the newspaper, there could be many interested parties in the Rivada license, not the least of which could be SpaceX, Amazon’s Project Kuiper, Telesat of Canada or others. Each would still have to meet the ITU’s obligatory mid-2026 completion date (or obtain a permitted delay).
However, the fallout from a Rivada collapse would be significant. Financial regulators on both sides of the Atlantic would be concerned, as would the U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission. Much the same applies to Terran Orbital.
The complaints from investors in Terran – now in the process of being acquired by Lockheed Martin – allege deliberate misinformation from Terran’s senior executives as to the company’s financial position. As one observer summed up the situation on September 28th, and stated, “[Terran CEO] Marc Bell would go from investor conference to investor conference (Jeffries, Gabelli, Schwab, Sidoti) claiming to have ‘real revenues and real backlog’ 90 percent of backlog was a mirage sold to investors.” (Source: Satnews)

29 Sept 24. The West of Scotland Space Cluster launches. The West of Scotland Space Cluster, the newest addition to the UK’s thriving ecosystem of regional space clusters, recently launched. The region is a key hub in the Scottish space sector, operating at the forefront of a European revolution in spacecraft systems, payload manufacture, launch (upstream) and data analysis (downstream) activity. Space companies, such as AAC Clyde Space and Spire Global, have led the way, building more satellites in Glasgow than any other city in Europe, with other players such as Craft Prospect and Alba Orbital introducing further innovation in the global small satellites market.
Aligned with the regional space clusters operating across the UK, the West of Scotland Space Clusters incorporates industry, universities and colleges, as well as economic development and support organisations, aiming to capitalize and expand on existing regional strengths in space technologies. The region’s capability extends from small satellite design, manufacture and mission capability and advanced space data-driven services to leading-edge R&D in fields such as quantum, photonics, communications and AI. It is widely acknowledged that the growth of the West of Scotland Space Cluster companies will be critical in helping Scotland achieve its ambition of securing £4 bn of the global space market by 2030.
Craig Clark MBE, space entrepreneur, the founder of AAC Clyde Space and a Professor of Practice in the University of Strathclyde’s space cluster, said that the new cluster would help drive regional growth, combining pioneering research, industry innovation and manufacturing facilities to provide the foundation for Scotland’s emerging end-to-end capability in the European small satellite value chain.
Mr. Clark said, “With SaxaVord Spaceport now operating as the first fully-licensed vertical launch Spaceport in Europe, the West of Scotland has a pivotal role to play in the delivery of the country’s end-to-end capability and helping to attract international companies to set up operations here as we have recently seen with the South African CubeSat imaging company, Simera Sense. From a standing start in 2005, Scotland now has one of the fastest-growing space sectors in the world, fuelled by global excellence in space-related research and a long history of innovation and entrepreneurship in engineering. The aim of the West of Scotland Space Cluster is to grease the wheels of the continued growth of the sector in the region and help make Scotland a leading global space player.”
John Ward, Senior Director of Research & Development at Spire Global, which designs and builds the world’s largest multipurpose satellite constellation in Glasgow, said that the new cluster would serve as a platform for greater connectivity and collaboration between the region’s key players. Mr. Ward said, “Spire Global has manufactured over 175 satellites right here in Glasgow, where the majority of our R&D efforts take place. This new space cluster will enhance collaboration and connectivity among regional players, accelerating innovation and creating a more integrated supply chain. By fostering this ecosystem, we can unlock new opportunities for growth and cement the West of Scotland as a leading hub in the global space industry.”
Andrew Strain, Chief Technology Officer at AAC Clyde Space, added that the cluster’s new advisory group would be focused on actions that drive growth across a region which stretches all the way to the Prestwick, home to Scotland’s largest aerospace hub. He said, “The West of Scotland has amassed an incredible amount of capability in the space industry over the past two decades, particularly in small satellite design and manufacturing. This year marks the 10th anniversary of the launch of Scotland’s first satellite UKube-1, built by Clyde Space Ltd, now part of AAC Clyde Space. In the following decade, Scotland has gone from never having launched a satellite to building more than anywhere else in Europe. Satellites and systems designed and built here account for hundreds of years of accumulated on-orbit heritage – very few places in the world can claim that. Through the West of Scotland Space Cluster, we have to opportunity to maintain and grow our admirable position in this innovative section of the space industry.”
Antonia Yendell, Head of the Space Ecosystem team at the UK Space Agency, said, “The UK Space Agency strongly supports and is investing in the growth of the Scottish Space Economy. The UK Space Ecosystem is a competitive advantage for the UK Space Sector and Scotland plays a critical role in our thriving and interconnected cluster network, developing our national capabilities and driving economic growth.” (Source: Satnews)

30 Sept 24. CesiumAstro unveils their new Element phased array satellite.
CesiumAstro has announced Element, a groundbreaking, fully integrated satellite platform that is set to revolutionize both defense and commercial space sectors. With adaptable, reconfigurable payloads, Element can evolve with changing mission conditions, advancing satellite flexibility and capability.
For years, CesiumAstro has been a pioneer in commercial phased array technology, focusing its resources and expertise on developing advanced satellite communication solutions. Element is the next step in CesiumAstro’s product roadmap, leveraging the company’s core strengths to deliver integrated, scalable satellites.
Key Features of Element
• Advanced phased array antenna systems developed with CesiumAstro’s expertise
• Fully integrated design for enhanced efficiency and performance
• Cutting-edge connectivity systems for improved data transmission
• Reconfigurable payloads adaptable to changing mission conditions
“With Element, we’re showcasing years of innovation in phased array technology,” said Shey Sabripour, Founder and CEO of CesiumAstro. “Our team has built a platform that not only pushes technological boundaries but also meets the evolving needs of defense and commercial customers.”
Trey Pappas, the Vice President of Business Development at CesiumAstro, said, “By offering a multi-beam active phased array satellite, we provide customers with a turnkey solution that reduces integration complexities and time-to-orbit. Element’s design enhances mission flexibility, performance, and reduces overall system costs.”
Mike Cheung, Vice President of Product at CesiumAstro, said, “We engineer our products for dual use and scalability from the ground up. Originally designed for defense applications, Element transitions seamlessly into all space connectivity markets, addressing both national security needs and commercial space industry opportunities.”
CesiumAstro is headquartered in Austin, Texas, with offices in Colorado, California, and the United Kingdom, CesiumAstro builds high-throughput, software-defined phased array communications payloads for airborne and space platforms, including satellites, missiles, UASs, and more. CesiumAstro’s full-stack, multi-mission hardware and software solutions enable a range of commercial, government, and defense objectives. CesiumAstro provides full in-house design, manufacturing, and testing capabilities based on the ISO AS9100 standard. (Source: Satnews)

30 Sept 24. U.S. Commerce Department’s new TraCSS launches initial capabilities. NOAA, a bureau of the U.S. Department of Commerce, announced that the initial phase of its Traffic Coordination System for Space (TraCSS) has begun delivering spaceflight safety services to a beta group of satellite operators. For the first time, satellite operators are receiving basic space situational awareness (SSA) data and space traffic coordination (STC) services from the Commerce Department.
TraCSS is a modern, cloud-based IT system that provides warning notifications for satellites potentially in danger of collision. With increasing numbers of satellites and orbital debris, space traffic information and safety notifications are essential for global spaceflight safety and the long-term sustainability of the space environment.
Nine satellite operators – NOAA, Maxar, Telesat, Intelsat, the Georgia Institute of Technology, Planet Labs, Eutelsat Oneweb, Iridium, and the Aerospace Corporation – now receive validated safety notifications from TraCSS in the form of conjunction data messages (CDMs, alerts describing potential collisions). TraCSS will add satellite operators and provide more data and services as the program progresses.
The announcement marks a milestone in DOC’s work to implement the U.S. Space Priorities Framework and Space Policy Directive-3, which directed DOC to take this mission over from the Department of Defense.
TraCSS is an agile software development program that is being conducted in several phases. In Phase 1.0, TraCSS provides CDMs for approximately 1,000 space objects six times a day. The CDMs generated by TraCSS Phase 1.0 are currently distributed to a set of beta users via the Space-Track.org website managed by the Department of Defense.
The TraCSS program has accelerated since receiving a significant funding boost in Fiscal Year 2023. Collaboration among the Department of Commerce, NOAA, and the Office of Space Commerce teams with industry enabled rapid progress from receiving an Authority to Proceed from DOC on March 5, 2024, to the TraCSS system integrator contract award later in March 2024, to achieving Authority to Operate with NOAA Office of the Chief Information Officer in August 2024, and the successful fielding of TraCSS 1.0.
This release marks the start of the beta test phase of the project, as the TraCSS team continues to field successive upgrades over the next year, leading to Phase 1.4 by the end of September 2025. Planned improvements include the establishment of a dedicated TraCSS.gov website and the integration of additional commercial SSA capabilities. The Office of Space Commerce (OSC) will also work with the Department of Defense to migrate satellite operators from Space-Track.org to TraCSS.
“The Office of Space Commerce leads our Department’s efforts to advance U.S. leadership in the global commercial space industry, and TraCSS is a testament to U.S. leadership in safe and sustainable space commerce,” said U.S. Department of Commerce Deputy Secretary Don Graves. “The Department of Commerce is building this system in close cooperation with industry partners to harness and promote commercial innovation in space. Together, we are helping to ensure the safe and sustainable growth of the space economy.”
“As space has become more congested, NOAA has risen to the challenge to prevent catastrophic collisions in space by developing TraCSS,” said NOAA Administrator Rick Spinrad, Ph.D.
“TraCSS represents a modern approach to spaceflight safety, integrating the latest technologies and providing on-ramps for continuous improvements that will scale into the future,” said Richard Dalbello, director of NOAA’s Office of Space Commerce. “I’m thankful for our team and partners for doing the hard work to launch the first phase on schedule.” (Source: Satnews)

SATELLITE SYSTEMS, SATCOM AND SPACE SYSTEMS UPDATE

October 4, 2024 by

30 Sept 24. Real-Time Video Streaming Demonstrated Over MUOS for U.S. Special Ops. Reticulate Micro has successfully demonstrated real-time video streaming over the Mobile User Objective System (MUOS) tactical satellite network, showcasing the technology’s potential for U.S. Special Operations. Reticulate Micro, Inc. has successfully demonstrated real-time video streaming over the Mobile User Objective System (MUOS) tactical satellite network for a U.S. Special Operations organization.

The joint U.S. Army live training exercise included Reticulate and its partners, NanTenna, LLC, and Curtiss-Wright, a provider of communications and processing systems for the tactical edge.

The teams integrated Reticulate Micro’s VAST video encoder and Curtiss-Wright Defense Solutions’ PacStar® Modular Radio Center to deliver live video over unbonded, Type 1 encrypted MUOS narrowband channels.

Despite the constrained bandwidth, the combined solution delivered minimal delay and clear picture quality, demonstrating the potential of live video over MUOS SATCOM systems.

The latest demonstration follows a U.S. Army demonstration of VAST over UHF TACSAT in February, conducted in partnership with NanTenna. Input from this and other demos is guiding Reticulate’s product roadmap, as the company looks to add new features and functionality to meet the U.S. military’s mobile comms requirements.

Brian Hawkins, principal architect, Reticulate Micro, who conducted the video at a U.S. Army site, commented, “We demonstrated a complete point-to-point, real-time full-motion video session over MUOS in both static and on-the-move scenarios. Overall reactions from the customer were extremely positive, with invites back for follow-on exercises.”

Joshua Cryer, president and CEO, Reticulate Micro, added, “We are proud of our team that executed this powerful demonstration. Along with our partners, NanTenna and Curtiss-Wright, we continue to make history together with low-latency and high-quality voice and video.”

Brian Perry, senior vice president and general manager, Curtiss-Wright Defense Solutions Division, stated, “Curtiss-Wright is dedicated to developing small form factor rugged tactical communications solutions for the US DOD and our allies. By pairing our PacStar® Modular Radio Center and Modular Data Center with components from defense industry-leading partners like Reticulate Micro and NanTenna, we are able to extend C2 networks with simultaneous voice, video, and mission data anywhere within the worldwide coverage area of MUOS.”

Thomas Larkin, president of NanTenna, reportedly considers the MUOS demonstration a huge leap forward in narrowband SATCOM capabilities, explaining, “As more and more users are allocated MUOS connectivity, it is imperative that we, as an industry, offer end-to-end solutions to maximize its utility value to the warfighter. This demonstrates that our existing technologies can provide high-quality, low-latency video, even in the most challenging environments.” (Source: https://www.defenseadvancement.com/)

03 Oct 24. Anduril Industries and FlackTek Partner to Revolutionize Production of Rocket Motor Systems. Anduril Industries today announced a partnership with FlackTek, a global leader in high-velocity bladeless mixing and processing solutions, to develop and manufacture the world’s most advanced mixing machine — the Mega FlackTek, also known as “The GOAT” — in Boulder, CO. This groundbreaking bladeless dual asymmetric centrifugal mixer, the only one of its kind globally, surpasses conventional planetary mixers by enabling multi-hundred-kilo batch processing in twin drum-style containers comparable to 55-gallon industrial drums. With this unprecedented capability, the Mega FlackTek will revolutionize rocket motor production, setting a new standard for defense manufacturing of Rocket Motor Systems at scale.

As an independent merchant supplier, Anduril Rocket Motor Systems is building and scaling a smarter, more agile production pipeline for Solid Rocket Motors (SRMs). The partnership with FlackTek enhances Anduril’s capability to deliver solid rocket motors at greater speed and scale, supporting defense programs that are vital for replenishing munitions and maintaining global security. Through FlackTek’s innovation, Anduril RMS has reduced its propellant manufacturing time from several hours to several minutes, significantly boosting its ability to meet customer demand.

Anduril has a demonstrated track record of success using previously existing FlackTek mixers since 2020, and has years of experience and extensive knowledge in the use of dual asymmetric centrifugal mixing for solid rocket propellant across its contracted programs. The new mixer’s size, speed, and efficiency will make it the heart of Anduril’s rocket propellant production capability that capitalizes on Anduril’s other advancements in rocket motor fabrication, all at a fraction of the footprint and labor requirements of more traditional facilities.

This larger and more advanced dual asymmetric centrifugal machine will power a more than ten-fold increase in Anduril’s production throughput, which amounts to a more than 24x increase in production throughput when compared to conventional planetary mixers of a similar size. For most tactical rocket propellants, the new mixer will match the throughput of a traditional 500-gallon bladed mixer and will exceed that throughput for particularly high-performance formulations that typically take longer to mix. FlackTek machinery also provides exceptional repeatability, minimizes waste, and ensures safer working environments through enhanced safety features, consistent processing, and minimized exposure to energetic material hazards.

This partnership capitalizes on FlackTek’s ability to consistently deliver on mission critical capabilities across numerous high tech industries that turn highly viscous materials into high performance products. From the ground up FlackTek has researched, designed, and delivered a purpose built energetic material mixer with all of the necessary safety and regulatory considerations factored into the design.

As Anduril emerges as a key independent merchant supplier of solid rocket motors to partners delivering missiles, hypersonics, and other solid rocket propulsion systems, FlackTek technology will play a pivotal role in continuing to scale defense production capabilities.

This partnership not only strengthens Anduril’s ability to meet the demands of the defense industry but also expands the industrial base by introducing more competition for Solid Rocket Motors. FlackTek’s advanced processing technology brings a much-needed leap forward, enabling faster, safer, more automated, more reliable, and more efficient production on an unprecedented scale. This enhanced speed and precision will be critical as Anduril accelerates development to meet the Department of Defense’s urgent need for an increase in solid rocket motor production.

FlackTek technology enables Anduril to focus on mission-critical projects without being burdened by the inefficiencies of traditional manufacturing processes, enhancing Anduril’s ability to deliver solid rocket motors to the most critical defense programs at greater speed and scale.

(Source: ASD Network)

02 Oct 24. Hanwha Systems to enhance SAR satellite technology. Hanwha Systems has developed and launched a small synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellite for Earth observation and intends to enhance its SAR technology to develop more satellites.

Speaking to Janes at the Korea Army International Defense Industry Exhibition (KADEX) 2024, held at Gyeryongdae from 2 to 6 October, a company official said it launched a SAR satellite from Jeju Island in December 2023.

This satellite can deliver 1m-resolution images of areas of interest to the Republic of Korea (RoK) Armed Forces, the official said.

The official added that the satellite is expected to support intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) operations of the RoK Armed Forces. Its primary objective is to monitor North Korean military activities.

“For example, images captured by the satellite can provide timely information to the RoK Armed Forces about suspicious North Korean military deployments and movements, ensuring military preparedness against possible threats,” the official said.

The satellite has a life cycle of three to five years, the official added.

According to the official, “Hanwha Systems is also collaborating with the South Korean government to develop a SAR satellite capable of delivering 0.5m-resolution images. This satellite is expected to be launched by the end of 2026.”

In addition, Hanwha Systems plans to independently develop another SAR satellite that can produce 0.25 m-resolution images, the official added.

In April Hanwha Systems announced that it plans to “enhance its SAR satellite technology to capture images that identify more detailed features such as low-rise buildings and cars in urban centres, flora and fauna in forests, and maritime vessels in the sea”.

27 Sep 24. Exolaunch and U-Space Announce Launch Services Agreement for Two Satellites on the Transporter-13 Mission with SpaceX.

Exolaunch will deploy the French satellite manufacturer’s “SOAP” and “PANDORE” satellites using its industry-leading EXOpod Nova deployer on the upcoming rideshare mission.

Exolaunch, a global leader in launch mission management, integration, and satellite deployment services, today announced the signing of a Launch Services Agreement (LSA) with French satellite manufacturer U-Space. The agreement includes the launch and deployment of two 12U cubesats — “SOAP” and “PANDORE” — on the Transporter-13 Rideshare with SpaceX, slated for early 2025.

U-Space, based in Toulouse, France, specializes in the design and construction of next-generation nanosatellites for commercial, scientific, and defense missions. With a heritage rooted in expertise developed at the French Space Agency (CNES), U-Space offers turnkey solutions for satellite projects, including feasibility studies, mission analysis, and satellite operations.

SOAP and PANDORE will showcase U-Space’s proficiency in nanosatellites construction. SOAP represents an important milestone for U-Space by being the first space system fully designed, built, and operated by the company. Its PANDORE mission is an innovative in-orbit demonstration (IOD) that will test several technologies.

Under the terms of the LSA, Exolaunch will provide U-Space with a complete service package designed to handle technical, logistical, and legal challenges of getting a satellite into space. This package encompasses launch capacity and mission planning, comprehensive testing, integration, global shipping, and satellite deployment for SOAP and PANDORE using Exolaunch’s proven hardware.

Exolaunch is set to deploy U-Space’s two satellites using its EXOpod Nova, a high-performance cubesat deployer specifically designed for larger 12U and 16U payloads. The EXOpod Nova ensures a reliable deployment and the highest safety standards for payloads. Its customizable design supports a variety of cubesat sizes, making it ideal for complex and diverse missions. The EXOpod Nova has successfully deployed hundreds of cubesats since its introduction to the market, and its separation mechanism and advanced shock protection guarantee smooth deployments into orbit.

U-Space’s Chief Executive Officer, Fabien Apper, commented on the contract: “This agreement with Exolaunch marks an important milestone for U-Space as we prepare to deploy SOAP and PANDORE. We chose Exolaunch for their proven mission management expertise and the unparalleled performance of their EXOpod Nova deployer, which will ensure the safe and precise deployment of our satellites. We look forward to collaborating with such a trusted partner in furthering the capabilities of small satellite technology.”

“We are thrilled to welcome U-Space as our new customer and partner on the upcoming launch of their cutting-edge satellites,” said Robert Sproles, chief executive officer at Exolaunch. “This collaboration exemplifies our shared commitment to providing flexible and reliable launch solutions while supporting the next generation of satellite technology. It’s been a pleasure to work with the U-Space team and have the opportunity to enable their ambitious goals in space. With launch preparations currently underway, we look forward to executing another successful launch for our valued customers.”

Exolaunch has been involved in every Transporter mission with SpaceX since the inception of the Rideshare program and is on track to execute many more rideshare missions for the company’s portfolio of global customers over the next few years. By combining flight-proven hardware with a decade of mission management expertise, Exolaunch continues to support emerging and established satellite manufacturers in achieving their mission objectives, further solidifying its position as a dedicated provider of launch and deployment solutions and fostering the growth of the commercial space industry in Europe and abroad. (Source: ASD Network)

02 Oct 24. ICEYE, the global leader in SAR satellite operations for Earth Observation and persistent monitoring, today introduced Dwell Precise, a new imaging mode that adds advanced capability to ICEYE’s line of Dwell products and builds on the release of Dwell Fine in March 2024. Dwell Precise provides a 25-centimeter resolution and is based on the 1200 MHz radar bandwidth announced earlier this year. 1200 MHz is currently the maximum that commercial satellites are allowed to use.

ICEYE’s Dwell Precise uniqueness comes from the combination of high-quality data with high resolution, and it will make a difference when identification of smaller objects or targets is required, e.g. types of vehicles and types of military equipment, without the need for additional intelligence sources. As a SAR satellite orbits the Earth its radar signals focus on a specific area of the planet’s surface to create an image based on return data. Like other modes in the Dwell product line, Dwell Precise data are taken from a much more comprehensive range of angles, allowing it to spot objects through tree cover and foliage.

ICEYE owns and operates the world’s largest constellation of SAR satellites. It first introduced Dwell mode in May 2023, and with the introduction of Dwell Fine in March 2024 and today’s launch of Dwell Precise, ICEYE further underlines its commitment to constant innovation in serving private and public sector organizations globally with the most advanced commercial Earth Observation capabilities and SAR satellite data.

John Cartwright, ICEYE’s SVP and Head of Data Product, said “Dwell Precise will be the industry’s highest fidelity 25 cm product. Dwell Precise represents the culmination of the industry’s best imaging capabilities and adds significant depth to our line of Dwell products. The increased resolution will allow ICEYE’s customers to identify objects and features on the earth’s surface with far greater clarity than was available previously, all while benefiting from the day/night all weather imaging capabilities of SAR.”

“The launch of Dwell Precise highlights ICEYE’s commitment to meeting the evolving mission sets of our customers through constant innovation and identification of ways to improve our products and services,” said Eric Jensen, CEO of ICEYE US.

02 Oct 24.  Honeywell (NASDAQ: HON) today announced a new Public-Private Partnership with the European Space Agency (ESA) to provide Honeywell’s Quantum Key Distribution Satellite (QKDSat), an ultra-secure telecommunications satellite that helps keep the exchange of sensitive information secure and private. The partnership supports Honeywell’s alignment of its portfolio with three powerful megatrends, including the future of aviation.

With the support of the United Kingdom Space Agency, Honeywell in the UK will lead a multi-country consortium to safeguard against communication data breaches. It will include Redwire of Belgium; Craft Prospect of the UK and several other key space engineering and satellite companies in Austria, Canada, Czechia and the UK.

The QKDSat Project between Honeywell and the ESA is designed to support civil, military and commercial entities such as financial institutions, telecommunications providers and critical infrastructure organizations, which generate large volumes of confidential data that require protection.

“Data breaches can cost companies ms of dollars, and the stakes are even higher for military or critical infrastructure organizations because any loss of confidential data can have serious national security concerns,” said Matt Milas, president, Defense and Space, Honeywell Aerospace Technologies. “A quantum-safe network equipped with QKDSat can reduce the number of security breaches and safeguard confidential data.”

QKDSat will become a trusted node operated from the UK in the Honeywell-led Quantum Space & Terrestrial Applications for Telecommunications Encryption (Q-STATE) network. Q-STATE helps protect data by generating quantum randomized keys and providing intercept awareness so that it can terminate a communication channel between the QKDSat and ground terminal before any data can be stolen.

“By developing end-to-end systems that extend to in-orbit validation, the QKDSat Project is supporting the success of European and Canadian industry in the highly competitive global telecommunications market while also de-risking partners investments so that they can continue to answer market needs,” said Laurent Jaffart, ESA director of Connectivity and Secure Communications. “The European Space Agency is proud to be able to partner with Honeywell and continue this strategic initiative to drive successful operational deployment and ultimately commercial adoption.”

30 Sep 24. Raytheon Delivers Missile-Warning Sensor.

USSF Next-Gen OPIR payload to provide critical missile warning data

Raytheon, an RTX (NYSE: RTX) business, delivered its first sensor payload to prime contractor Lockheed Martin, keeping the U.S. Space Force Space Systems Command’s first Next-Generation Overhead Persistent Infrared, or Next-Gen OPIR, Geosynchronous Earth Orbit (GEO) Block 0 missile warning satellite on track for a 2025 initial launch capability.

Designed to improve missile warning resilience and performance, two Next-Gen OPIR GEO satellites will eventually provide continuous coverage over mid-latitudes to the existing constellation. Raytheon is designing and building sensor payloads for both satellites.

Prior to delivery of the first payload, Raytheon completed a series of assessments including thermal vacuum testing. Thermal vacuum testing exposes the payload to a space-like environment and validates digital models to ensure the sensor meets design requirements. The second sensor payload is more than 60 percent completed and is scheduled to start thermal vacuum testing in early 2025.

“Persistent early warning of missile threats is critical to our national security,” said Sandy Brown, vice president for Mission Solutions & Payloads for Raytheon. “Our payloads offer early, resilient warning against increasingly challenging ballistic threats from adversaries.”

(Source: ASD Network)

01 Oct 24. Apex and Anduril Announce Partnership to Advance Space Capabilities. Anduril Industries is announcing a strategic partnership with Apex, a Los Angeles-based merchant supplier of productized satellite buses, to enable rapid development and delivery of space systems for the United States and partners.

Anduril will use Apex’s buses for missions where Apex’s off-the-shelf approach and scalable manufacturing enable Anduril to rapidly deliver capability to customers; such as space situational awareness, proliferated LEO architectures, and missile warning and tracking. Together, Anduril and Apex aim to set a new standard for quality, scale, and capability that can be delivered to customers to responsively meet their needs.

The agreement combines Apex’s capabilities as an innovative spacecraft bus manufacturer with Anduril’s AI-powered payloads and systems integration expertise. As part of this agreement, Anduril will utilize its capabilities as a mission systems integrator to field operational systems by bringing together technology across the industrial base. Anduril will also contribute its own products from on-orbit edge processing, versatile payloads, ground C2 systems, and other autonomous operations support that is essential to field mission-ready satellite constellations.

As a merchant supplier of satellite buses, Apex will provide its off the shelf spacecraft designed for mass manufacturing. These productized buses offer Anduril the scale, quality, and reliability it needs to advance their missions in space.Satellite buses provide necessary components for any spacecraft, allowing systems to maneuver, communicate, provide power, and more. Apex’s productized satellite buses are unique in their rapid manufacturability, allowing the company to deliver high-quality spacecraft in quantity at a pace necessary to meet critical mission needs.

Earlier this year, Anduril and Apex successfully launched their first joint mission, Aries SN1, with Anduril’s edge-processing payload. Pictured above is a photo taken by SN-1 sensors and processed by Anduril’s edge-payload, all tasked through Anduril’s Lattice platform. From initial concept to flight-ready delivery, this entire project was completed in just 2 months – an unprecedented speed – demonstrating the value of Anduril and Apex’s product-led approach that prioritizes interoperable components and productized off the shelf spacecraft, which can be rapidly integrated and customized for mission needs.

In 2025, Anduril will launch its own self-funded mission, powered by Apex’s Aries bus, featuring upgraded mission data processing and new infrared imaging capabilities, marking the next phase of their collaboration. This next mission will serve as an essential tech maturation demo, and it will be the foundation for Anduril and Apex’s commitment to regularly deploying more mass to orbit.

“We’re proud to partner with Apex to put our software-defined, hardware-enabled capabilities in space,” said Gokul Subramanian, Anduril’s SVP of Space and Engineering. “Apex’s productized, off-the shelf, approach to bus development offers the high quality and reliability Anduril needs for our IRAD mission as well as their ability to manufacture at scale to meet future demand.”

“Apex and Anduril are aligned in our approach to getting decisive capabilities into the hands of the warfighter at the necessary scale and speed,” said Ian Cinnamon, Apex Founder and CEO. “Anduril was founded on the belief that the exquisite, bespoke approach to defense capabilities will not keep pace with threats from China and Russia. Apex takes that same approach in space, providing productized capabilities to help our customers get on orbit as fast as possible. Together, Anduril and Apex can meet the Pentagon’s goal of rapidly proliferating capabilities in space.”

This partnership follows significant milestones for both companies, including Apex’s $95M Series B round, Anduril’s $1.5B Series F round, and the announcement of Anduril’s Arsenal-1 manufacturing facility. (Source: ASD Network)

01 Oct 24. Comtech (NASDAQ: CMTL) (the “Company”), a global technology leader, today announced SES Space & Defense recently awarded the Company an initial order for Comtech’s market-leading software-defined SLM-5650B and other next-generation modems. Initial quantities under this new contract are expected to be delivered over the next year.

“In today’s threat environment, secure, resilient, and ubiquitous connectivity is critical to maintaining an information advantage across all domains,” said John Ratigan, Interim CEO of Comtech. “This contract award further demonstrates the trust of SES Space & Defense in Comtech’s ability to deliver next-generation digital solutions. O3b mPOWER is among the world’s most innovative satellite constellations, and we are thrilled to partner with SES Space & Defense as they pave the way for modernized military satellite communications (“SATCOM”) operations.”

“We choose customer mission success first. Comtech’s SLM modem series includes features that are unique and critical to our customers’ missions,” said David Fields, President and CEO of SES Space & Defense. “It is important that Comtech is part of the O3b mPOWER service infrastructure. Their experience developing and manufacturing defense-oriented modems that are ‘allied by design’ with footprints in many domestic and international programs of records make it an easy decision.”

Developed and manufactured at its headquarters in Chandler, AZ, Comtech’s SLM-5650B is the Company’s current Wideband Global SATCOM-certified modem designed to deliver critical communications services for commercial backhaul and government and military applications. The software-defined SLM-5650B currently supports multiple critical DoD and NATO waveforms including DVB-S2X, the preferred waveform for SES’ O3b mPOWER constellation, with the ability to easily add more waveforms and functions to meet emerging mission needs.

Comtech’s portfolio of U.S. sovereign defense technologies and services, including the Company’s SLM-5650B and next-generation modems, align with the Space Force Commercial Space Strategy and deliver capabilities that will enhance Combined Joint All Domain Command and Control operations. Comtech’s expansive portfolio of defense and security technologies is designed to continuously evolve over time to enable digitalized SATCOM infrastructures and integrate services across blended military and commercial networks to significantly enhance mission effectiveness in future all-domain operations.

About Comtech

Comtech Telecommunications Corp. is a leading global technology company providing terrestrial and wireless network solutions, next-generation 9-1-1 emergency services, satellite and space communications technologies, and cloud native capabilities to commercial and government customers around the world. Our unique culture of innovation and employee empowerment unleashes a relentless passion for customer success. With multiple facilities located in technology corridors throughout the United States and around the world, Comtech leverages our global presence, technology leadership, and decades of experience to create the world’s most innovative communications solutions. For more information, please visit www.comtech.com.

About SES Space & Defense

SES Space & Defense is a wholly-owned subsidiary of SES and is exclusively focused on building, managing, and supporting the most advanced satellite network solutions for the U.S. Government. SES Space & Defense uses a proven multi-operator network integration and management capability, a broad global terrestrial network, as well as access to SES’s multi-orbit satellite fleet. It also offers U.S. Department of Defense customers the essential tools in cybersecurity for mission-critical operations, coupled with a proven track record in governance and compliance. SES Space & Defense operates under a proxy board, enabling it to support classified projects, and it has participated in the U.S. Government satcom sector for nearly five decades. Further information can be found at: www.sessd.com.

24 Sept 24. SpaceX’s Tuesday super foggy Vandenberg launch of 20 Starlink smallsats including 13 Direct to Cell. Another foggy but successful Vandenberg launch as SpaceX’s Falcon 9 sent 20 Starlink smallsats, including 13 with Direct to Cell capabilities, to low-Earth orbit from Space Launch Complex 4 East (SLC-4E) at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California on Tuesday, September 24, at 9:01 p.m. PT.

This is the 10th flight for the first stage booster supporting this mission, which previously launched NASA Crew-7, CRS-29, NROL-186, EarthCARE, Transporter-10, PACE, and three Starlink missions. Following stage separation, the first stage will land on the Of Course I Still Love You droneship, which will be stationed in the Pacific Ocean.

SpaceX’s Tuesday Starlink Group 8-9 smallsat launch

On Tuesday, September 24th, at 9:01 PM – 9:59 PM PDT, Space X plans to launch into low Earth orbit a batch of Starlink smallsat satellites that will likely include a mix of 13 Direct-to-Cell and 7 standard v2-Mini Starlink satellites. These satellites will help SpaceX move closer to achieve their goal of a Starlink smallsat space-based internet communication constellation.

The launch will take place from Space Launch Complex 4E, Vandenberg SFB, California, which has launched 159 rockets, including 159 orbital launch attempts, and has been the site for 771 rocket launches.

A live webcast of this mission will begin about five minutes prior to liftoff on X @SpaceX. You can also watch the webcast on the new X TV app.

SpaceX’s Starlink launches will be cut back for a few weeks as both of SpaceX’s Florida launch pads are currently occupied by high-priority missions. Launch Complex 39A (LC-39A) is being prepped for Falcon Heavy’s upcoming launch of Europa Clipper in October, and SpaceX’s Crew-9 is being attended to at SLC-40 for a September 26 launch. (Source: Satnews)

23 Sept 24. NASA selects launch provider for the new NOAA QuickSounder mission. NASA has selected Firefly Aerospace, Inc. of Cedar Park, Texas, to provide launch services for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) QuickSounder mission. The selection is part of NASA’s Venture-Class Acquisition of Dedicated and Rideshare (VADR) launch services contract. This contract allows the agency to make fixed-price indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity awards during VADR’s five-year ordering period, with a maximum total value of $300 m across all contracts.

The QuickSounder mission will support NOAA’s next generation satellite architecture for its future low Earth orbit program, which will provide mission-critical data for the agency’s National Weather Service, the nation’s weather industry, and other users worldwide.

QuickSounder is the first small satellite in NOAA’s Near Earth Orbit Network (NEON). A collaborative effort between NASA and NOAA, NEON will provide a new approach to developing a new global environmental satellite system by quickly building small to medium-sized satellites with Earth-observing instruments for weather forecasting, disaster management, and climate monitoring. QuickSounder has a launch readiness date of February 2026.

NASA will manage the development and launch of the satellites for NOAA. As the mission lead, NOAA provides funding, technical requirements, and will manage post-launch operations. NASA and NOAA will work with commercial partners to design and build the network’s spacecraft and instruments. (Source: Satnews)

27 Sept 24. US Space Force looking for commercial, manoeuvrable geostationary satellites. The US Space Force (USSF) intends to contract manoeuvrable satellites in geostationary Earth orbit (GEO) from commercial companies, Colonel Rich Kniseley, senior materiel leader of the service’s Commercial Space Office, told reporters on 16 September at the Air & Space Forces Association’s (AFA’s) Air, Space & Cyber conference in National Harbor, Maryland.

The Commercial Space Office contracts commercial companies to provide services for the US Department of Defense (DoD), many of which duplicate DoD capabilities to ensure greater reliability should its own satellites be disabled in conflict. Rather than purchase, launch, and operate satellites, the Commercial Space Office instead purchases services from already-launched satellites.

Col Kniseley’s office administers the proliferated low-Earth orbit (pLEO) contract, which awards commercial providers for services in LEO, including communications, radar target detection, among other roles. GEO service purchases are to be structured along the same lines, Col Kniseley said.

“We’ll build the contract similarly, where we’re going to be doing more mission areas than just commercial satcom [satellite communications]. It’ll be open to other mission areas, such as a potential PNT [position, navigation, and timing] solution [or] weather solution,” Col Kniseley said.

He said he hopes to select awardees for the first GEO services in 2025.

“We’ve already released the RFI [request for information], so we have a sense of what’s out there in industry and where industry is going,” Col Kniseley said.

USSF have already entered into a deal with California-based microsatellite maker Astranis to upgrade their latest commercial GEO microsatellite system, dubbed the Omega, to transmit across military bandwidths. USSF’s Space Systems Command (SSC) inked the USD13.2 m contract in September. (Source: Janes)

SATELLITE SYSTEMS, SATCOM AND SPACE SYSTEMS UPDATE

September 27, 2024 by

27 Sept 24. It’s official – the SANDF has a Space Command.

That the SA National Defence Force (SANDF) and its airborne service, the SA Air Force (SAAF), is committed to space was emphasised to delegates attending the second Air and Space Power symposium on 17 September when the newly established Space Command was officially recognised by South Africa’s senior soldier, SANDF Chief General Rudzani Maphwanya.

The recognition, as well as making known Major General Lancelot Mathebula as Space Command’s first head, marked progress which SAAF Chief Lieutenant General Wiseman Mbambo said started “a few years ago”. It was a challenge, he told delegates in his closing address to the symposium, “the men and women in blue did not hesitate to take on”. Before taking charge of the SAAF SCIPT (Space Command Integrated Planning Team), Mathebula was Chief Director Force Preparation.

Reflecting on progress since last year’s National Space Conference at the CSIR (Council for Scientific and Industrial Research), where Mbambo said the SAAF would host a space symposium this year, and last month’s second National Space Conference, Maphwanya said two years ago Space Command was “merely a vision, today those concepts have become concrete”.

Maphwanya told delegates to the second Air and Space Power symposium at Air Force Base Waterkloof, as reported by Airman Khanyisile Gina, the South African military’s “engagement with space goes beyond C4ISR (Command, Control, Communications, Computer, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance)”. “It is integral to advancing multi-domain warfare and ensuring our strategic edge.”

Acknowledging the financial implications of an addition to the SANDF structure, Maphwanya reassured delegates of his commitment to securing the necessary revenues. “As Chief of the South African National Defence Force, I will ensure that funding is made available over the next few financial years to fully support this vision.”

Closing the symposium, staged to coincide with the Africa Aerospace and Defence (AAD) exhibition at Air Force Base Waterkloof, Mbambo is reported as saying “there have been remarkable developments” with “impressive performances and contributions” in the space sector. These, according to the three-star, come from the SA National Space Agency (SASA), the University of KwaZulu-Natal by way of its Aerospace Systems Research Institute (ASRI) space propulsion programme, the Department of Science and Innovation (DSI) under the guidance of Minister Blade Nzimande, and unspecified others.

“Several engagements are taking place both internationally and across the South African space landscape, which have been extremely beneficial in accelerating our nascent South African National Defence Force Space Command. We have learned great lessons from our counterparts, and I must highlight that what the SCIPT team learned in Italy cemented my belief in collaboration. Their model, which showcased a national effort working hand in hand with civilian agencies and private industry, is a prime example. Together is the only way we can achieve great things,” Mbambo said.

A SAAF space-based sensing capability project will be registered before year-end with SCIPT continuing visits to international partners. Mbambo set a 2026 deadline for a technology demonstrator to fly. At the same time a Space Operations Directorate (presumably as opposed to the Space Command) will be staffed and in place to commence limited operations in support of both the SANDF and partners, Mbambo is reported as saying by Gina. (Source: https://www.defenceweb.co.za/)

27 Sept 24. Exosens, through its leading brand Photonis has invested £1m (approximately €1.2m) to advance space research and innovation in collaboration with Leicester’s Space Park.

Exosens has worked with University of Leicester academics for more than 25 years and more recently it forged a relationship with the university’s science and innovation hub, Space Park Leicester, working alongside it on technology which is being used in some of today’s most exciting space missions.

It has now invested £1m, through funding and other support, contributing to the creation of a Center of Excellence in Optics Design and Manufacturing at Space Park Leicester. This cumulated funding will enhance the METEOR space programme which brings together more than 100 researchers, industrial research and development personnel working on Earth observation and the challenges facing the space sector’s evolution.

Dr Adrian Martindale, Head of Space Projects and Instrumentation at Space Park Leicester and a Lecturer in Space Instrumentation at the University of Leicester, said: “Photonis’ technology is the enabler for certain types of scientific instruments and as a result its technology is on lots of space missions and is all over the Solar System. Exosens is supporting us to help develop the quality of the product and the performance of the technology, to push us into the next generation of projects. We have aspirations in space and they have aspirations for a market on the ground and by working together we hope to take both of these things forward.”

Chris Tisse, Chief Technology Officer at Exosens said: “We are proud to support cutting-edge space research at Space Park Leicester. This significant investment reflects our commitment to advancing the technology that powers groundbreaking space missions and innovation. By working together with the brilliant minds at the University of Leicester, we aim to push the boundaries of what’s possible in both space exploration and Earth-based applications.”

Leicester space academics worked with Photonis on detector systems and together they developed an entirely new X-ray optic. Photonis’ technology was the cornerstone of Space Park Leicester’s Mercury Imaging X-ray Spectrometer (MIXS) instrument which is on its way to Mercury on the European Space Agency’s BepiColombo mission.

Dr Martindale said: “Photonis’ technology is absolutely crucial to the development of that instrument. Essentially, MIXS will help to measure the X-rays that are emitted from the surface of the planet and by measuring them we’ll be able to figure out what the rocks on the surface are made of. This will tell us how the planet formed and we’ll see whether that fits in with theories about how the Solar System formed.”

The optic Photonis developed with Space Park Leicester has also led to Leicester’s space scientists working on several more significant missions.

These include SVOM (Space-based multi-band astronomical Variable Objects Monitor), which is dedicated to the study of the most distant explosion of stars, and SMILE (Solar wind Magnetosphere Ionosphere Link Explorer) which is a wide-field X-ray telescope that uses micropore optics to spectrally map the location, shape and motion of Earth’s magnetospheric boundaries.

Dr Martindale added: “Photonis’ technology will answer questions about Mercury and as a result questions about planetary science, it will answer questions about astronomy through SVOM and it will answer questions about the Earth through SMILE.”

To find out more about Exosens and leading brand Photonis, visit https://www.exosens.com/brands/photonis

For more information about Space Park Leicester, visit https://www.space-park.co.uk/ or to learn about the University of Leicester, go to https://le.ac.uk/about

ABOUT SPACE PARK LEICESTER:

Space Park Leicester is a community at the forefront of the UK space sector, established through a partnership led by the University of Leicester. A world-leading cluster for innovative research, enterprise and education in space and Earth observation, Space Park Leicester represents a collaborative hub for industry and academia to develop and grow.

Opened in Spring 2022 by British European Space Agency astronaut Major Tim Peake, Space Park Leicester provides state-of-the-art facilities for research, development, and manufacturing. It houses capabilities and companies covering an end-to-end life-cycle, from satellite design and engineering, through to downstream data and its applications. This creates unmatched opportunities for collaboration.

26 Sept 24. UK Space Agency-backed IoT firm to launch locally. An internet of things firm backed by the UK and European space agencies has been given permission to launch in Australia.

Lacuna Space, based in Oxford, England, creates “sensor-to-satellite” devices that allow equipment in remote areas to transmit small amounts of data via CubeSats.

The cheap devices can significantly send data for five years without needing to be recharged or replaced – making them ideal for the Australian outback.

“In Northern Queensland, a particularly dry and remote region, Lacuna Space is working with a company to manage water levels and drought conditions,” the firm said.

“Here, efficient water management is crucial to sustain livestock grazing and support local communities during droughts.

“By eliminating the need for expensive terrestrial infrastructure, Lacuna’s satellite IoT can help provide long-term insights to help mitigate the impact of droughts by ensuring more efficient water and resource management.”

Lacuna says its technology can also allow users to track environmental changes on land, remotely manage agricultural systems or monitor equipment performance. The devices work by transmitting a signal directly to a passing satellite that stores the messages for a short period of time until they pass over its network of ground stations.

The messages are then relayed automatically from the ground station to a cloud platform to be viewed on a web-based application.

Crucially, the signals use a long-range wide area network protocol that are specially designed to conserve battery power.

The news comes after a string of announcements from local companies promising to provide internet services to previously unconnectable regions.

Last month, for example, TPG revealed it would launch a “straight-to-mobile” satellite service for customers living in remote areas.

The agreement will, uniquely, not require customers to obtain any specific hardware and will instead work on all compatible handsets.

TPG told The Australian the service would eventually provide “near-100 per cent mobile coverage” across the country, eliminating “dead zones” in remote areas.

However, unlike its larger telco rival, TPG has agreed to work with Starlink rival Lynk Global, which uses a smaller number of low-Earth orbit satellites than its SpaceX-owned opposition.

Starlink, meanwhile, has pressed ahead with the launch of its portable satellite dish that allows users to access reliable internet on the go.

The device, which resembles a large laptop, works like a traditional dongle but allows users to go online without needing to be within the range of a phone mast.

The new mini dish costs $799 and can be paired with two plans: “Mobile Regional”, which costs $174 per month and offers unlimited mobile data, or “Mini Roam”, which costs $80 per month for 50 GB of data.

Crucially, the plan can be paused or unpaused anytime, opening it up to hikers and travellers who only want to use it for limited periods of the year.

Starlink only launched in Australia in 2021 but was previously only available via a permanent, fixed connection. (Source: Space Connect)

26 Sept 24. Space Commander Outlines Role of Partnerships Amid Growing Threats. The collective efforts of the United States and its allies to safeguard their shared interests in space are critical amid increasing threats in the domain, the commander of U.S. Space Command said yesterday.

Space Force Gen. Stephen N. Whiting said the risks posed to critical U.S. and allied space capabilities are accelerating as Russia and China, in particular, field an array of capabilities.

“The People’s Republic of China, specifically, is fielding capabilities at breathtaking speed, holding space systems in all orbital regimes at risk,” Whiting said during an address at the Air & Space Power Association’s Defense Space Conference in London.

“Along with Russia, they are deploying counterspace capabilities ranging from reversible, nonkinetic systems, such as and GPS jammers and cyberattacks, to direct ascent and co-orbital antisatellite weapons,” he said.

Threats that were once theoretical or future possibilities are now realities, Whiting said.

“Our strategic competitors also clearly recognize the advantages space provides on the modern battlefield,” he added. “Russia’s aggression in Ukraine shows that forces on land, at sea, and in the air can no longer move or conceal themselves without being tracked and targeted from space or by space-enabled systems.”

He said China has built a robust space-enabled network it aims to use to deny terrestrial forces and navies from accessing the Indo-Pacific region.

In addition to rapidly developing capabilities, Whiting said both China and Russia are challenging norms and responsible behaviors in space.

Whiting noted China’s recurring launch anomalies that generated significant debris, which pose a danger to assets in orbit.

He also highlighted Russia’s reported plan to deploy a nuclear weapon in space in violation of the Outer Space Treaty of 1967.

“Such a capability would have indiscriminate effects and pose a threat to all satellites operated by countries and companies around the globe,” Whiting said, adding that the U.S. would continue to engage with like-minded nations “to ensure that Russia understands the global community cannot tolerate a nuclear weapon in space.”

Addressing these growing threats, Whiting said, requires a strategic approach. And it starts with a capable, integrated team.

“Space is a team sport,” he said. “No single nation, department, service, agency or company can succeed alone. The full potential of space power is realized through the integration and synchronization of the joint, interagency, allied and commercial elements creating collective advantage that surpasses any competitor.”

U.S. Space Command plays a critical role in the integrated space enterprise, he said. He highlighted three moral responsibilities guiding Spacecom’s mission, including ensuring space capabilities, protecting and defending space constellations, and safeguarding against space-enabled attacks.

Underpinning Spacecom’s success is the shared trust it forges with partners and allies.

“Yes, and Russia are active in the international arena,” Whiting said. “But they cannot begin to replicate what we have: relationships forged over the decades in wartime and peace, built on a foundation of shared principles and values and in the chaos of conflict.” (Source: U.S. DoD)

25 Sept 24. Space Force picks four firms to design ‘Resilient GPS’ satellites. The Space Force’s Resilient GPS program is meant to shield the vital positioning signal from jamming. (Lockheed Martin)

The Space Force announced this week the four companies that will compete to build its first batch of Resilient GPS satellites, aimed at ensuring military and civilian users have access to reliable positioning, navigation and timing signals.

The service’s acquisition arm, Space Systems Command, chose L3Harris, Astranis, Axient and Sierra Space to create design concepts for the program. From that pool, it will select a subset to finalize their designs and build prototypes and then will pick one or more firms to build the first eight satellites. Command officials wants those spacecraft to be ready to launch by 2028.

The Pentagon has become increasingly concerned about GPS signals — used to guide weapons and help units navigate — being jammed or spoofed by adversaries. Russia has taken advantage of this vulnerability in Ukraine, using electronic warfare to jam signals on a regular basis.

The Resilient GPS program, or R-GPS, is meant to augment the Space Force’s current constellation of GPS satellites with a fleet of smaller spacecraft that will transmit a set of signals widely used by the military and civilian agencies.

The service used an accounting tactic provided by Congress to shift funding from elsewhere in its budget to award initial contracts. Known as a quick-start, the transfer authority came in the Fiscal 2024 National Defense Authorization Act, allowing the Defense Department to reprogram up to $100 m in funding to start high-priority programs before they are approved as part of a formal budget cycle.

“Thanks to the Quick-Start authority that was approved by Congress, we were able to field and award contracts for these low-cost satellites in less than six months,” Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall said in a statement. “This authority allows us to move faster and start new Space Force and Air Force programs.”

The early funding has allowed Space Systems Command to conduct market research, host an industry day, release a solicitation and award the first round of contracts in less than six months.

The Space Force did not disclose the value of those awards. However, it has told Congress it expects the program to cost $1 bn over the next five years. To date, it has shifted $40 m in FY23 funding to support he effort and has asked lawmakers to realign another $77 m in FY25 toward R-GPS.

The House Appropriations defense subcommittee has cast doubt on whether the effort will be as resilient as the Space Force hopes. In its version of FY25 defense spending legislation, the panel proposed denying the service’s request to realign FY25 money and questioned whether quick-start authorities should be used for the effort.

“While proliferation may provide some advantages, it is not clear how these additional satellites increase the resilience against the primary jamming threat to GPS, compared to alternative concepts for position, navigation, and timing systems being pursued elsewhere in the Department of Defense,” lawmakers said in a report accompanying the bill, released in June.

They also took issue with the program’s focus on resilient satellites versus improving the GPS ground systems and user equipment. The Space Force has said the goal is for the satellites to use existing devices.

Once the first R-GPS satellites are fielded, Space Systems Command officials envision updating the constellation with new technology on a regular cadence, similar to the Space Development Agency’s approach to fielding missile warning and data transport satellites as part of its Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture.

The service said each new batch of R-GPS capability will include up to eight satellites, but didn’t disclose how regularly it plans to field those spacecraft. (Source: C4ISR & Networks)

25 Sep 24. Rocket Lab Successfully Launches 53rd Electron Mission, Deploys Another Five Satellites for Kineis. Rocket Lab USA, Inc. (Nasdaq: RKLB) (“Rocket Lab” or “the Company”), a global leader in launch services and space systems, today successfully launched its 53rd Electron mission and deployed five satellites to Low Earth Orbit for French Internet-of-Things (IoT) company Kinéis.

The ‘Kinéis Killed the RadIOT Star’ lifted-off from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1 in Mahia, New Zealand at 11:01 am on 21 September NZST (23:01, 20 September UTC), successfully deploying five satellites to a 643 km orbit. The mission was the second of five dedicated Electron launches for Kinéis, a company backed by private and public investors including the French government’s space agency CNES (Centre National d’Études Spatiales) and CLS (Collecte Localisation Satellites), an international space-based solutions provider, to improve global IoT connectivity. The Kinéis constellation is designed to make it possible to connect and locate any connected object anywhere in the world, enabling data transmission to users in near-real time, at low bit rates and with very low energy consumption. By enabling internet connection to the Earth’s most remote locations, Kinéis constellation can support forest fire detection, water resource management, infrastructure and energy network monitoring, transport and logistics tracking, and much more.

Rocket Lab founder and CEO Sir Peter Beck said: “Today’s successful launch marks another milestone for Rocket Lab as we continue to enable innovative companies like Kinéis to push the boundaries of global IoT connectivity. With each mission, we are bringing the world closer together, allowing vital data to be transmitted from the remotest corners of the Earth.”

Across 53 launches Rocket Lab has now deployed 197 satellites for a diverse range of customers and missions, including NASA missions to the Moon, the National Reconnaissance Office and Space Force missions supporting national security and defense, scientific research to combat climate change, and commercial constellations providing vital data and services to millons of people on Earth. (Source: ASD Network)

24 Sept. 24. Neumann to put electric propulsion into more Inovor satellites. Neumann Space is set to integrate its electric propulsion system into more Inovor-made satellites after the two companies signed an MOU.

It follows the pair’s collaboration on the University of Melbourne’s high-profile SpIRIT nanosatellite, which blasted off last December.

That mission used Inovor Technologies’ “6U Bus platform” – effectively the spacecraft’s main body – but the new deal would see the Neumann Drive propulsion system integrated into the larger Apogee and Australis bus.

Inovor’s CEO, Dr Matt Tetlow, said the SpIRIT collaboration marked a “significant step forward”.

“By combining Neumann’s innovative electric propulsion system with our advanced small satellite capabilities, we’re paving the way for even greater mission versatility and performance for our customers,” he said.

Neumann has previously said its electric technology is simpler than traditional chemical propulsion methods and allows for the potential for spacecraft to be effectively refuelled and deorbited easier. This includes harnessing space debris for fuel.

Earlier this year, the company completed the first tests in orbit of the device onboard SpIRIT, with the spacecraft charging the device’s power capacitors and conducting test firings.

“The SpIRIT nanosatellite has been operating in orbit approximately 500 kilometres above Earth since its launch on 1 December 2023, during which time the consortium has worked to perform numerous diagnostic tests to validate the system’s electronics and, in doing so, confirm the resilience of the Neumann Drive to the challenging launch and orbital environments,” Neumann Space said. (Source: Space Connect)

24 Sept. 24. Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC) successfully completed its first over-the-air demonstration of a hybrid satellite communications (SATCOM) solution, providing seamless connection with Viasat and a commercial proliferated low Earth orbit (PLEO) communications provider. The demonstration validated resilient, uninterrupted connectivity while rapidly switching between constellations and orbits.

As a prime systems integrator, Northrop Grumman’s hybrid SATCOM solution enhances communication for pilots and operators between space, air and ground.
This capability increases mission effectiveness by making it exceedingly difficult for adversarial threats to disrupt U.S. communications across multiple orbits, providers and frequency bands.
Demonstrated for the Air Force Research Laboratory, this technology is an integral part of the Defense Experimentation Using Commercial Space Internet program, also known as Global Lightning.

Expert: Steven Conn, director of advanced communications and signals intelligence, Northrop Grumman: “Northrop Grumman is responding to the U.S. Air Force’s need for rapid deployment of resilient communications to develop and field the technologies required by our warfighters to meet today’s challenging missions. This successful test, leveraging a diverse team of commercial and defense SATCOM providers, is critical for the pace of maturity on the Global Lightning program and the ability to begin flight testing in the near future.”

Details: The Northrop Grumman hybrid SATCOM terminal is capable of hosting nine modems with network routing, security and encryption for mission networks. The terminal alternates among the modems if network failures occur to maintain resilient connectivity for the user.

The demonstration proved communications diversity with a connection to a commercial PLEO communications provider at Ku frequencies in low-Earth orbit and Viasat at Ka frequencies through its ViaSat-3 F1 satellite in geosynchronous orbit. The hybrid SATCOM terminal includes a Northrop Grumman radio outfitted with an antenna provided by GetSat.

19 Sep 24. Sidus Space Enhances LizzieSat Constellation Operations via Agreement with Neuraspace.

Neuraspace’s Space Traffic Management (STM) platform provides cutting edge Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) features that reinforce mission safety, efficiency and longevity for Sidus Space.

Sidus Space (NASDAQ: SIDU) (the “Company” or “Sidus”), a provider of end-to-end precision Space Infrastructure solutions and Data-as-a-Service products, announced today, at the World Space Business Week (WSBW) conference in Paris, the signing of an agreement with Neuraspace. Under the agreement, Neuraspace will provide Space Traffic Management and LEOP (Launch and Early Operations) support services to Sidus Space, thereby enhancing the Company’s constellation operation capabilities.

“This agreement is a strategic step as we prepare for the launch of our next LizzieSat™ satellite, which is manifested to launch later this year” explained Carol Craig, CEO of Sidus Space. “Precise situational awareness of our on-orbit assets is imperative to delivering solutions to our customers. We believe that the high accuracy and efficiency enabled by Neuraspace’s advanced AI and ML capabilities makes them the right STM partner for Sidus.”

Neuraspace will provide Sidus with high-precision tracking and real-time conjunction screening, using a global network of ground-based sensors, including optical, radar, and laser systems. Neuraspace will also deliver accurate and timely two-line element (TLE) data and deliver refined orbit determination, to ensure positive satellite identification and safety during separation.

Dr. Chiara Manfletti, CEO of Neuraspace, said “WSBW is a tremendous platform to network and exchange ideas with industry leaders on a world stage. It was the perfect opportunity for Sidus and Neuraspace to finalize this exciting agreement. Sidus’ LizzieSatTM constellation will benefit from the real-time collaborative exchange that Neuraspace’s services enable between satellite operators, which is the foundation for a sustainable space infrastructure.” (Source: ASD Network)

20 Sept. 24. Rocket Lab’s successful launch today of Kinéis Killed the RadIOT Star after yesterday’s abort. Rocket Lab’s Electron takes to the skies for its 53rd launch out of Mahia, NZ, for return French Internet-of-Things customer, Kinéis. Photo Credit: Rocket Lab

Rocket Lab USA, Inc. (Nasdaq: RKLB), provider of launch services and space systems, today successfully launched its 53rd Electron mission and deployed five satellites to Low Earth Orbit for French Internet-of-Things (IoT) company Kinéis.

The ‘Kinéis Killed the RadIOT Star’ lifted off from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1 in Mahia, New Zealand, at 11:01 a.m. on 21 September NZST (23:01, 20 September UTC), successfully deploying five satellites to a 643 km orbit.

The mission was the second of five dedicated Electron launches for Kinéis, a company backed by private and public investors including the French government’s space agency CNES (Centre National d’Études Spatiales) and CLS (Collecte Localisation Satellites), an international space-based solutions provider, to improve global IoT connectivity. The Kinéis constellation is designed to make it possible to connect and locate any connected object anywhere in the world, enabling data transmission to users in near-real time, at low bit rates and with very low energy consumption.

By enabling internet connection to the Earth’s most remote locations, Kinéis constellation can support forest fire detection, water resource management, infrastructure and energy network monitoring, transport and logistics tracking, and much more.

Rocket Lab founder and CEO Sir Peter Beck said, “Today’s successful launch marks another milestone for Rocket Lab as we continue to enable innovative companies like Kinéis to push the boundaries of global IoT connectivity. With each mission, we are bringing the world closer together, allowing vital data to be transmitted from the remotest corners of the Earth.”

17 Sept. 24. SpaceX launches ESA’s Galileo L13 navigation satellite, Europe’s alternative to American and Russian GPS.

On Tuesday, September 17 at 6:50 p.m. ET, Falcon 9 launched the European Commission’s Galileo L13 mission to orbit from to medium Earth orbit from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.

As reported yesterday weather was an issue and SpaceX got lucky today as the 45th Weather Squadron forecast just a 40 percent chance of favorable weather at liftoff. The booster recovery weather risk was also noted as “moderate” on a scale of low-moderate-high.

“Several factors are in play for the weather this week. Primarily an area of low pressure spinning off the southeast U.S. coastline will gradually move onshore near South Carolina by Tuesday afternoon,” meteorologists wrote. “This circulation pattern, along with several waves of upper-level vorticity will help generate convergent bands of clouds and associated showers rotating through most of Florida into Tuesday.

“Additionally, expect west coast seabreeze convection to make its way across Florida nearing the spaceport Tuesday afternoon further enhancing possibilities for showers and thunderstorms.”

Galileo is Europe’s own global navigation satellite system, providing a highly accurate, guaranteed global positioning service under civilian control. Currently providing Initial Services, Galileo is interoperable with GPS and Glonass, the US and Russian global satellite navigation systems. By offering dual frequencies as standard, Galileo can deliver real-time positioning accuracy down to the metre range.

This is the 22nd launch for this Falcon 9 first stage booster, that previously launched CRS-22, Crew-3, Turksat 5B, Crew-4, CRS-25, Eutelsat, HOTBIRD 13G, O3B mPOWER, PSN SATRIA, Telkomsat Marah Putih 2, and 12 Starlink missions. Following stage separation, the first stage landed on the Just Read the Instructions droneship, stationed in the Atlantic Ocean.

Rapid and reliable reusability is key to making life multiplanetary – every mission is an opportunity to learn and inform future missions. During the Galileo L12 mission earlier this year, the Falcon 9 booster was expended to provide the additional performance needed to deliver the payload to its orbit. (Source: Satnews)

16 Sept. 24. Russian military satellite(s) payload identity highly uncertain top secret launch on Tuesday. On Tuesday, September 17th Russia’s Angara 1.2 rocket is launching a Russian military satellite(s) of unknown identity from Plesetsk Cosmodrome, Russian Federation at a cost of $31,000,000, weather permitting.

The forecast calls for a temperature of 61°F, overcast clouds, 100% cloud cover and a wind speed of 3mph.

The Angara 1.2 is the base launcher for the Angara launch family that uses a modular approach to create multiple launch vehicle configurations for various mission requirements. The Angara 1.2 consists of a standard Universal Rocket Module for the core stage and either a modified Block I Upper Stage or a Briz-KM upper stage.

Plesetsk Cosmodrome, Russian Federation, has witnessed the launch of 6 rockets, including 6 orbital launch attemptsfor 1668 rocket launches. (Source: Satnews)

17 Sept. 24. ULA to launch Vulcan second certification mission, and continues the legacy of Atlas.

The United Launch Alliance second Vulcan certification flight (Cert-2) is scheduled for no earlier than (NET) October 4 from Space Launch Complex-41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida, during a window of 6:00 to 9:00 a.m. EDT.

The Cert-2 mission serves as the second of two certification flights required for the U.S. Space Force’s certification process. Vulcan continues the legacy of Atlas as the world’s only high energy architecture rocket and ushers in a new, innovative capability to meet the ever-growing requirements of space launch.

United Launch Alliance (ULA) hoists its Centaur V upper stage atop the Vulcan Cert-2 booster into the Vertical Integration Facility (VIF) adjacent to Space Launch Complex-41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. Photo credit: United Launch Alliance

The Cert-2 mission includes an inert payload and demonstrations associated with future Centaur V technologies. This is the second of two test flights required for ULA’s certification process with the U.S. Space Force. (Source: Satnews)

15 Sept. 24. TNO launches Qu-STAR to pioneer quantum internet via space.

TNO has launched a new project called Qu-STAR to define the role of space in quantum information networks.

The quantum internet, envisioned to connect quantum devices globally, currently faces distance limitations when relying exclusively on ground networks, restricting the exchange of quantum information to just a few hundred kilometers. Satellites present a promising solution to achieve global connectivity, yet the comprehensive architecture for a global quantum internet remains undefined. Qu-STAR will have the added benefit of strengthening the position of the Netherlands in this emerging field, leveraging the country’s strong expertise in quantum technology, free space optics, and photonics.

Quantum computing holds the potential to tackle some of today’s most significant challenges. To harness its full power, a network is needed that can link quantum devices around the world. Ground networks can only transmit quantum information over relatively short distances, making them insufficient for global connections. Satellites offer a promising solution for achieving worldwide reach, but the design of a comprehensive global quantum internet is still missing.

TNO will collaborate with Airbus Central Research and Technology to take up this task, aiming to define such a design. They will seek collaboration with stakeholders globally, in particular by contributing to the Quantum Internet Alliance and its recently launched Special Interest Group on Space. More broadly, the results of this will be openly accessible to the community.

TNO brings its extensive expertise in optics for laser satellite communications, quantum technology, and novel ICT (Information Communication Technology) infrastructures. Airbus, a key player in all pillars of quantum technology with a focus on aerospace applications, has developed advanced knowledge in ground-satellite optical and quantum communication links and quantum communication networks. Qu-STAR is the direct follow-up of the letter of intent that Airbus and TNO signed last November at the Conférence Érasme Descartes in presence of the ambassadors of France and the Netherlands.

Kees Buijsrogge, director TNO Space, said, “Our goal is to advance technologies and make a significant impact in achieving a global quantum internet. We believe that a collaborative, open approach will yield the best results, and welcome other organizations to join us in this initiative.” (Source: Satnews)

SATELLITE SYSTEMS, SATCOM AND SPACE SYSTEMS UPDATE

September 20, 2024 by

13 Sept 24. Spaceflux, a leading provider of Space Situational Awareness (SSA) solutions, has been awarded the “Infra-Red Sensor Technology Demonstrator System for Space Domain Awareness” contract by the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl), a UK Ministry of Defence’s (MOD) executive agency.

The contract to design and build an infrared telescope testbed to de-risk the technology for ground-based surveillance and characterisation of satellites marks a significant milestone in the company’s commitment to advancing SSA capabilities and reinforces the firm’s position as a world leader in SSA. This project will be led by Spaceflux’s new innovation hub, Spaceflux Labs, a dedicated research division that will propel the future of SSA technology.

Spaceflux Unveils Unique Daytime Satellite Tracking Capabilities

Spaceflux’s innovative solution features a large optical telescope equipped with two cameras, integrating both Short-Wave Infrared (SWIR) and visible sensors. This advanced setup will enable daylight tracking and unprecedented characterisation capabilities of satellites and space debris across all orbital regimes. Daylight tracking expands the operational window for tracking space objects beyond nighttime observation, allowing for 24/7 monitoring. This will help mitigate potential collisions, prevent accidental interference with operational satellites or missions and reduce the risk from in-space hazards. Advanced characterisation on the other hand, improves understanding of the behaviour of such objects and helps to optimise satellite deployments, de-orbiting procedures, and other space operations in increasingly congested orbital environments.

As part of the project, Spaceflux will enhance its existing data analytics platform, Cortex, to further improve the characterisation of space objects. These enhancements will be integrated into the Spaceflux Miru Stations, a fully integrated optical SST (Space Surveillance and Tracking) system, and the Track & Guard service, further enriching the company’s product offering capabilities.

The new infrared sensor system will be installed at the firm’s observatory in Spain, a strategic location that benefits from optimal weather conditions for infrared observations. Following the installation, Spaceflux will conduct a series of experiments over several months, and the results will be delivered to Dstl for assessment. Following the technology demonstrator, the company will integrate this advanced sensor into its global network permanently, enhancing Spaceflux’s ability to provide high-quality, timely space situational awareness data to its clients.

Marco Rocchetto, CEO of Spaceflux, commented, “Winning this Dstl contract is a testament to Spaceflux’s commitment to pushing the boundaries of space technology. By integrating innovative sensor technologies with our AI-driven analytics platform, CORTEX, we are poised to advance the UK’s capabilities in Space Domain Awareness significantly.”

Dr William Feline, Senior Principal Scientist at Dstl, commented, “Dstl are delighted to be working with Spaceflux in this novel and exciting area of research. We hope that this project will lead to significant enhancements in the UK’s sovereign SSA capabilities in support of the National Space Operations Centre (NSpOC).”

Launch of Spaceflux Labs: A Hub for Innovation and Collaboration

In tandem with the recent Dstl contract award, Spaceflux is thrilled to announce the official launch of Spaceflux Labs on October 1st 2024. Situated in London, Spaceflux Labs will serve as a dynamic hub of innovation, committed to pushing the boundaries of Space Domain Awareness through advanced research and close collaboration with customers and partners. Spaceflux Labs will act as a collaborative nexus, facilitating engagement with leading academic research in AI and Space Situational Awareness to accelerate the translation of cutting-edge science into market-ready solutions.

Led by Prof. Ingo Waldmann, one of Spaceflux’s co-founders and a distinguished astrophysics professor at University College London, Spaceflux Labs will focus on pioneering projects such as self-calibrating sensors, track-before-detect technologies, and sensor fusion. These initiatives aim to enhance the detection capabilities of smaller and fainter objects in space, contributing to global efforts to ensure a safer and more sustainable orbital environment.

Prof. Waldmann, who will be joining Spaceflux full-time as Chief Technology Officer (CTO) to lead the Labs, stated, “Spaceflux Labs represents the next chapter in our journey to revolutionise space situational awareness. Our goal is to drive innovation in AI and sensor technologies, fostering collaboration and co-creation with our partners to deliver transformative solutions that meet the challenges of tomorrow.”

This dual achievement showcases Spaceflux’s leadership and expertise in the field of space situational awareness and aligns with the firm’s recent successes and strategic objectives in the UK. This project not only advances Spaceflux’s technological capabilities, but also positions the company for future opportunities to supply next-generation state-of-the-art systems to other clients.

About Spaceflux

Spaceflux is a UK-based company founded in 2022 with the aim of tackling the problem of space congestion in view of rising satellite deployment. Leveraging a proprietary optical sensor network and a unique, AI-driven analytics platform, the company provides unparalleled tracking and mapping services of space objects.

The firm’s dynamic analytics ensure actionable insights about objects’ characteristics and behaviours derived from static image data. Catering primarily to satellite operators, governments, and the insurance industry, Spaceflux’s goal is to reduce congestion and create a safer space environment.

Since 2023, the company has become the only contracted commercial provider of geostationary satellite tracking data for the UK MoD and the UK Space Agency. Spaceflux’s mission is to support safe operations in space to ensure a sustainable space environment for future generations. (Source: PR Newswire)

16 Sept 24. Apex Announces Nova. Apex, the Los Angeles-based spacecraft bus platform manufacturing company, today announced Nova, its ESPA-Grande class satellite bus platform supporting payloads ranging from 200 to 500 kg.

Nova deliveries will begin in Q3 2025 and are focused on meeting the needs of operational proliferated LEO missions, including the U.S. Space Force’s Space Development Agency (SDA) architecture and classified programs. Similar to Apex’s Aries bus, Nova is designed with multiple configuration packages. Nova is offered in base and heavy configuration packages, with the base package fitting in a SpaceX Falcon 9 XL Rideshare envelope. When configured with the full suite of features, Nova can deliver over 2.5kw OAP to 500kg of payload.

“After seeing the success of our Aries platform, customers are increasingly looking at Apex to support their critical missions. We designed Nova to meet this need and support a wide range of payloads. Nova is ideal for customers looking to launch constellations requiring more power, higher mass, and other performance factors without sacrificing speed and production reliability,” Apex CEO Ian Cinnamon said.

As the U.S. Department of Defense’s and other government customers’ demand to launch new satellites ever increases, Nova and the other buses in Apex’s product line are well positioned to help the US and allied nations compete in the congested space domain. Apex’s differentiated productized approach to satellite bus manufacturing will reduce barriers for the development and exploration of space.

Nova is Apex’s third satellite bus product available to customers. It follows Aries, which successfully launched on March 4, 2024, and GEO Aries, the first productized satellite bus for geostationary orbit. As a mission driven organization that enables governments and companies around the world to further develop and explore space, Nova will help deliver on Apex’s core principles of standardization, production at scale, and rapid delivery for customers.

16 Sep 24. Anduril Expands Capabilities into the Space Domain Back Anduril Expands Capabilities into the Space Domain.

Anduril Expands Capabilities into the Space DomainToday we are expanding our advanced, AI-powered hardware and software capabilities into the final frontier: Space. This effort will enhance mission-critical Space Domain Awareness, Space Control, and Command and Control (C2) for U.S. military warfighters and allied partners, providing end-to-end solutions to address the growing threats posed by adversaries in space.

Our goal is to develop fully integrated hardware and software systems, utilizing Lattice for Space Missions, modular mission payloads, and strategic partnerships across the space industry. Space is a contested warfighting domain and we recognize the importance of equipping spacecraft with advanced autonomy and cutting-edge payloads, ensuring our Guardians maintain a decisive advantage in every mission.

With multiple hardware and software payloads already deployed on orbit, we are not waiting. We are investing our own internal dollars to mature our capabilities for the space domain. Today, Anduril is rapidly delivering advanced systems that range from on-orbit edge processing of sensor data to resilient satellite command and control. These advancements build upon our work with Space Systems Command to enhance communications within the Space Surveillance Network, by now working to advance the state of the art in linking ground-based sensors and space-based assets for better awareness of orbital threats.

As space becomes an increasingly congested and contested battleground, autonomy and edge processing has never been more critical to sustaining operations. Anduril is extending our software platform, Lattice, to autonomously monitor and manage space-based assets, improving situational awareness and reducing operator workload. The platform’s proven capabilities in air, land, and sea operations will now be extended to the space domain, integrating with spacecraft, payloads, and software built across the industrial base. Anduril will design, manufacture, and integrate modular mission payloads designed to enable unique mission requirements, leveraging our extensive expertise across imaging, electronic warfare, command and control, and mission autonomy. These payloads will provide warfighters with real-time data exploitation, autonomous coordination of satellites, and resilient communication capabilities. Anduril’s focus on modularity and adaptability ensures that these solutions can evolve alongside the rapidly changing threats across a variety of different orbits.

Like all other domains, regular deployment and testing is critical to building the best technology. Anduril is committed to investing its own IRAD to design, build, and launch our own fully integrated systems by the end of 2025. This mission will serve as a testbed for maturation of multiple Anduril and third party payloads which we will be announcing in the coming months. By launching and flying systems frequently, we can ensure that lessons are quickly learned and incorporated ahead of critical customer operations.

Anduril is dedicated to fostering partnerships across the space industry to ensure the most advanced solutions are delivered to the warfighter. We believe that an open and collaborative approach within the U.S. industrial base is essential to compete with adversaries making significant investments in this domain. In the coming months, we are excited to announce upcoming partnerships with satellite hardware suppliers, launch service providers, and ground system developers that will drive the development of best-in-class solutions on behalf of the government. (Source: ASD Network)

17 Sept 24. ReOrbit Enters into Strategic Agreement with Uzma for Small GEO Communications Satellite. ReOrbit, a Helsinki-based leading provider of software-enabled satellites, has entered into an agreement with the leader in the energy and technology landscape in Malaysia Uzma Berhad in relation to a Geostationary Earth Orbit (GEO) communications satellite project.

Under this agreement, ReOrbit together with Uzma aims to provide a software-enabled state-of-the-art GEO communications satellite to bring connectivity and ensure consistent coverage across Malaysia.

Uzma Group’s CEO, Dato’ Kamarul Redzuan bin Muhamed, emphasized the transformative potential of this collaboration: “Satellites and new space technologies are revolutionizing the way we connect, observe, and understand our world. Together, using our combined skill sets, we aim to unlock new opportunities and create a sustainable future in the New Space Economy.”

“This landmark agreement with our strategic partner, Uzma Berhad, solidifies our collaboration in unlocking connectivity in Malaysia. As a leader in cutting-edge GEO communications satellites, ReOrbit is happy to work alongside Uzma to map out ways our satellite technology, extensive in-house knowledge and expertise can support the booming economy and benefit the people in Malaysia”, said Sethu Saveda Suvanam, CEO and Founder of ReOrbit.

About ReOrbit

ReOrbit builds software-enabled satellites as network nodes. Our top-notch team of software engineers and system architects develop in-house software, procure hardware from the best-in-class suppliers, and seamlessly integrate the components to create flexible and secure satellites. By implementing onboard edge-processing and interoperability with other architectures, ReOrbit delivers the insights directly to the decision maker and ensures rapid response.

ReOrbit works with the most prominent entities within security, satcom and Earth observation. Our technology is supported by Business Finland, the European Space Agency and the European Commission.

Founded in 2019, ReOrbit is headquartered in Helsinki, Finland, with a subsidiary in Argentina. For more information, please visit https://www.reorbit.space/

About Uzma Berhad

Uzma Berhad is a leading energy and technology solutions provider in Malaysia, specialising in the development and advancement of innovative solutions in various sectors, especially in the Energy sector, and now including the space industry under the new business venture. With a commitment to excellence and a vision for the future, Uzma continues to spearhead technological advancements in Malaysia and beyond.

(Source: PR Newswire)

17 Sept 24. NL EASP AIR confirms SD Government as Satcom solutions provider to strengthen European border and coastal surveillance operations. SD Government, SDG, the satellite communications provider, has been named by NL EASP Air, the Dutch service provider for aerial maritime surveillance, coast guard, search and rescue (SAR) and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) operations, as its preferred provider of satcom connectivity solutions. The agreement with SDG strengthens the NL EASP Air offering by delivering a first-of-a-kind solution that enhances connectivity and live video transmission capabilities to support real-time surveillance and monitoring operations for European border and Coast Guard entities.

NL EASP Air selected SDG based on its ability to define and design an optimal end-to-end solution that delivers reliable and secure satellite communication solutions for specific mission needs. The new agreement will see SDG provide a comprehensive satcom and video transmission solution, by optimizing connectivity hardware including antennas and routers, and leveraging Viasat’s L-Band SwiftBroadband satellite network. Working in conjunction with ASMIRA, the cutting-edge video encoding software from AnsuR Technologies, the service enables crew to stream high-quality video from air to ground over data rates as low as 100 Kbps.

“We are pleased to partner with SDG as its proven expertise, reliability, and innovative spirit in developing satellite communications, coupled with the power of AnsuR Technologies, ensures that we can optimize state-of-the-art technology to complete our customer missions,” said Pieter Voeten, CEO of NL EASP Air. “Having a dedicated provider that delivers exceptional aerial surveillance services contributes to the safety and security of European borders and coastlines and brings real value to our operations by augmenting our operational efficiency and effectiveness.” In addition to managing flight operations through SD Pro®, the digital operations platform, NL EASP Air will benefit from an end-to-end solution that includes high-speed satellite connectivity, 24/7/365 customer support, Satcom traffic filtering, and cybersecurity services for seamless and uninterrupted communication across its fleet of three Dornier 328 special-mission aircraft.

“Supporting the needs of NL EASP Air in conjunction with AnsuR Technologies will save lives and protect European borders, and we remain committed to supporting the continued evolution of their advanced aerial surveillance solutions,” says SD Global Government Director Ben Massey. “We have extensive experience delivering sophisticated, customized solutions for airborne intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) operations and are proud that we can support the essential services provided by NL EASP Air.”

The agreement allows for continued growth should further aircraft join the NL EASP Air fleet. SDG secured the contract following conversations around defining and subsequently delivering the new solution. The relationship showcases SDG’s responsiveness, heritage in successfully supporting complex connectivity needs, and ability to work with diverse solution providers to create singular connectivity solutions.

16 Sept 24. Intelsat Unveils Terminal Strategy to Power Multi-Orbit Satellite Services. Intelsat operator of one of the world’s largest integrated satellite and terrestrial networks and leading provider of in-flight connectivity (IFC), will be the first operator in the world to offer multi-orbit solutions for all relevant business units by the first half of 2025 thanks to a new satellite terminal strategy that will deliver advanced capabilities and improved economics.

“Intelsat is making strategic bets on new technologies, including new investments in innovative terminal providers,” said Intelsat CEO David Wajsgras. “More and more customers will come to count on the broad reliability profile of multi-orbit solutions, and it is key to our future success. No single-orbit solution can match what Intelsat can offer when it comes to performance, resiliency and commercial flexibility.”

Intelsat has an unmatched network of geostationary satellites as well as partnerships with low Earth orbit providers. With the launch of a new robust terminal strategy, Intelsat is now able to deliver multi-orbit managed-service solutions across all relevant verticals including commercial aviation, government and mobility applications.

“Intelsat began the process of delivering operational multi-orbit terminals to the military and commercial airlines about two years ago,” Wajsgras said. “Today, our multi-orbit strategy is resonating with customers and validating our approach.”

The Intelsat multi-orbit terminal strategy includes minority investments with a few cutting-edge terminal providers. Intelsat recently invested in Paris-based Greenerwave and signed a technology agreement to develop an innovative electronically-steerable antenna that will be integrated into high throughput, multi-orbit terminals for Network and Data applications, as well.

Fast switching between multiple networks and multiple orbits, Greenerwave’s Electronically Steered Array (ESA) terminal will include Intelsat custom features to deliver unmatched reliability and performance for a differentiated connectivity experience for broadband, mobility, media and government customers, globally.

“Strategic investments with terminal providers allow us to work in partnership to bring these technologies to market faster while delivering a step change in the customer experience,” Wajsgras said.

The new scalable terminal will be available as part of the Intelsat’s Managed Service offerings, high-throughput, reliable connectivity without the worry and hassle of managing a satellite network. This new terminal combines flexible beamforming, real-time reconfiguration, and low-power consumption. A key innovation includes smaller dimensions that features interleaved receivers and transmitters on a single antenna panel. The antenna can operate as either a half-duplex or full-duplex terminal based on requirements, all while reducing the panel size by up to 50%.

16 Sept 24. Skynopy Adds AWS Ground Station to Its Service to Improve Satellite Data Receiving. Skynopy, a French space start-up specializing in satellite connectivity, is collaborating with Amazon Web Services (AWS) to expand Skynopy’s current global network of ground stations with 12 additional stations and improve satellite data acquisition. By making satellite communication effortless and intuitive, Skynopy seeks to revolutionize the way data is obtained. This collaboration will allow Skynopy to expand its network of ground stations and, more broadly, further streamline the complex communication processes between Earth and space. A member of the AWS Partner Network (APN), Skynopy has built its platform using AWS Ground Station and other AWS services according to best practices in the AWS Well-Architected Framework.

Addressing the Major Challenge of Satellite Connectivity

Satellites are used for a wide variety of use cases, including weather forecasting, surface imaging, and communications. Ground stations form the core of global satellite networks. Satellite connectivity—which is essential for controlling satellites and transmitting generated data back to Earth—remains a major bottleneck in the market. It impacts the speed of space program deployments and their performance in terms of data volume, speed, and latency. Using AWS helps Skynopy continue developing its turnkey connectivity service for low Earth orbit satellite operators in response to the growing demands of a rapidly expanding space industry.

The collaboration between Skynopy and AWS provides satellite operators a streamlined, seamless solution that significantly reduces the technical and commercial complexities of low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellite communications. The service developed by Skynopy using AWS Ground Station infrastructure embodies this vision. In just a few months, Skynopy successfully established communications with commercial satellites in orbit, including those of Endurosat.

Skynopy x AWS: A Collaboration for the Future of Space

AWS Ground Station is a fully managed service that lets customers command and control satellite communications, downlink and process satellite data, and scale their operations without having to worry about building or managing ground station infrastructure. With AWS Ground Station, you have direct access to AWS services and the AWS Global Infrastructure, including a low-latency global fiber network. Customers can configure their contacts with the AWS Ground Station console and deliver data in the following AWS regions: US West (Oregon), US East (Ohio, N. Virginia), Middle East (Bahrain), Europe (Stockholm, Ireland, Frankfurt), Asia Pacific (Dubbo, Seoul, Singapore), Africa (Cape Town), and South America (São Paulo).

“This is a pivotal milestone for Skynopy. This collaboration enhances Skynopy’s offerings by allowing operators to fully leverage AWS’s global infrastructure and services for their satellite receive-communication needs. By taking advantage of our ‘as a service’ approach, customers can focus entirely on their missions without worrying about the technical details of connectivity or the costly investment in ground antenna infrastructure,” concluded Pierre Bertrand, co-founder of Skynopy.

Earlier this year, Skynopy raised €3.1 m in funding to bring connectivity simplicity to the world of Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites. The company aims to transform the often complex and costly process of satellite communication into a streamlined, user-friendly experience. Leveraging this hybrid network of ground antennas, universal connectors, and innovative software solutions, Skynopy offers a turnkey connectivity service that makes it easier and faster for satellite operators to send commands and receive data. This approach not only reduces the capital expenditure required for traditional ground infrastructure, but also positions Skynopy as a leading player in the rapidly expanding space industry, with early clients including HEMERIA and CNES.

16 Sept 24. Hanwha Defence Australia, Hanwha Aerospace and Gilmour Space sign MoU. As South Korea’s leading space solution provider, Hanwha Aerospace provides critical support across the nation’s space programs.

“The trust built through the agreements for K9 self-propelled howitzers and Redback Infantry Fighting Vehicles (IFV) serves as a strong foundation,” Sean Yim, Space Program Manager at Hanwha Aerospace said. “This will pave the way for enhanced cooperation between South Korea and Australia in the increasingly important space industry.”

Hanwha Defence Australia will explore with its parent company to expand its R&D and manufacturing footprint in the country.

“The MoU signed here today demonstrates our firm intention to place Hanwha Defence Australia in the space domain,” Acting Managing Director Hanwha Defence Australia Dean Michie said. “All three companies are at the cutting edge of their fields, and I look forward to working with our partners to bring together new and innovative capabilities.”

Image courtesy of Gilmour Space: MOU signing – David Jervis, Head of Sales at Gilmour Space; Dean Michie, Acting Managing Director of Hanwha Defence Australia; Sean Yim, Space Hub/Business Development at Hanwha Aerospace. (Source: Google/https://spaceanddefense.io/)

10 Sep 24. SpaceX’s Success at last as Polaris Dawn soars to the highest orbit with humans since the Apollo 17

SpaceX announced that on Tuesday, September 10 at 5:23 a.m. ET, Falcon 9 launched Polaris Dawn to low-Earth orbit from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

It’s OK to write on these walls. The astronauts sign their names adding to the autographs of former brave astronauts. Photo captured on Tuesday, September 10, by Satnews from SpaceX’s video stream.

During their multi-day mission to orbit the passengers will attempt the first spacewalk of private astronauts, using spacesuit technology developed by SpaceX, and ascend to 1,400 kilometers, the highest orbit with humans since the Apollo 17 moon mission.

They will also test laser-based communications with Starlink a satellite broadband provider, and conduct 36 research studies and experiments from 31 partner institutions designed to advance both human health on Earth and during long-duration spaceflight, and test Starlink laser-based communications in space. (Source: Satnews)

12 Sep 24. SpaceX sends off second launch on Thursday, this one is 21 Starlink smallsats including 13 Direct to Cell.

Despite the curtain of overcast California skies SpaceX’s Falcon 9 successfully sent off 21 Starlink satellites, including 13 with Direct to Cell capabilities, to low-Earth orbit from Space Launch Complex 4 East (SLC-4E) at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, on Thursday, September 12 at 6:45 p.m. PT. This was SpaceX’s second launch today.

Earlier today SpaceX launched AST SpaceMobile’s BlueBird satellites from Cape Canaveral.

This is the 18th flight for the first stage booster supporting this mission, which previously launched NROL-87, NROL-85, SARah-1, SWOT, transporter-8, Transporter-9, NROL-146, and 10 Starlink missions.

Following stage separation, the first stage will land on the Of Course I Still Love You droneship, which will be stationed in the Pacific Ocean.

(Source: Satnews)

12 Sep 24. SpaceX sends BlueBirds flying as AST SpaceMobile’s largest satellite communications array launches in low Earth orbit. On Thursday, September 12 at 4:52 a.m. ET, Falcon 9 launched AST SpaceMobile’s BlueBird 1-5 mission to low-Earth orbit from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. The first five commercial satellites, called BlueBirds, each featuring the largest ever commercial communications arrays to be deployed in low Earth orbit, represent a significant milestone in AST SpaceMobile’s mission to bridge the digital divide and provide reliable cellular broadband service to bns worldwide in partnership with mobile network operators (MNOs). This was the 13th flight for the Falcon 9 first stage booster supporting this mission, which previously launched Crew-6, O3b mPOWER, USSF-124, and nine Starlink missions, making it the 347th successful landing.(Source: Satnews)

12 Sep 24. SpaceX to launch ESA’s Galileo L13, two more satellites for Europe’s alternative to American GPS.

SpaceX is scheduled to launch Galileo L13 (FOC FM26 & FM32) to Medium Earth Orbit, on Sunday, September 15th, at 3:57 PM – 4:39 PM PDT from Space Launch Complex 40, Cape Canaveral, Florida.

The launch is of two satellites for Europe’s Galileo navigation system. Originally planned for launch on Soyuz-ST and then Ariane 6 but both were unavailable.

Galileo provides Europe with an alternative to the American GPS and Russian GLONASS constellations, but will be interoperable with both systems.

Three months after their launch from Cape Canaveral, Galileo satellites 29 and 30 have reached their target positions at an altitude of 23 222 km, where they have been fully tested and declared operational.

Galileo services The current Galileo system consists of 28 satellites in all. All but two of these are positioned in three circular Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) planes at 23 222 km altitude above the Earth, and at an inclination of the orbital planes of 56 degrees to the equator. The remaining pair were placed in incorrect orbits by a Soyuz launcher error, and are currently employed for search and rescue but not as operational members of the constellation.

Initial services became available on 15 December 2016. Then as the constellation is built-up beyond that, new services will be tested and made available.

Galileo navigation signals provide good coverage even at latitudes up to 75 degrees north, which corresponds to Norway’s North Cape – the most northerly tip of Europe – and beyond. The large number of satellites together with the carefully-optimised constellation design, plus the planned availability of three active spare satellites per orbital plane, should ensure that the loss of one satellite should have no discernible effect on the user.

Ground infrastructure Two Galileo Control Centres (GCCs) have been implemented on European ground to provide for the control of the satellites and to perform the navigation mission management. The data provided by a global network of Galileo Sensor Stations (GSSs) are sent to the Galileo Control Centres through a redundant communications network. The GCCs use the data from the Sensor Stations to compute the integrity information and to synchronise the time signal of all satellites with the ground station clocks. The exchange of the data between the Control Centres and the satellites is performed through up-link stations.

As a further feature, Galileo is providing a global Search and Rescue (SAR) function, based on the operational Cospas-Sarsat system. Satellites are therefore equipped with a transponder, which is able to transfer the distress signals from the user transmitters to regional rescue co-ordination centres, which will then initiate the rescue operation.

At the same time, the system will send a response signal to the user, informing him that his situation has been detected and that help is on the way. This latter feature is new and is considered a major upgrade compared to the existing system, which does not provide user feedback. (Source: Satnews)

08 Sep 24. NASA and Boeing welcome the uncrewed “Starliner’s safe return” to Earth.

NASA and Boeing welcomed Starliner back to Earth following the uncrewed spacecraft’s successful landing at 10:01 p.m. MDT Sept. 6, 2024,

at the White Sands Space Harbor in New Mexico.

NASA and Boeing safely returned the uncrewed Starliner spacecraft’s return to Earth following its landing at 10:01 p.m., MDT, on September 6th at White Sands Space Harbor in New Mexico, concluding a three-month long flight test to the International Space Station (ISS).

“I am extremely proud of the work our collective team put into this entire flight test, and we are pleased to see Starliner’s safe return,” said Ken Bowersox, associate administrator, Space Operations Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters in Washington. “Even though it was necessary to return the spacecraft uncrewed, NASA and Boeing learned an incredible amount about Starliner in the most extreme environment possible. NASA looks forward to our continued work with the Boeing team to proceed toward certification of Starliner for crew rotation missions to the space station.”

The flight on June 5 was the first time astronauts launched aboard the Starliner. It was the third orbital flight of the spacecraft, and its second return from the orbiting laboratory. Starliner now will ship to NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida for inspection and processing.

NASA’s Commercial Crew Program requires a spacecraft to fly a crewed test flight to prove the system is ready for regular flights to and from the orbiting laboratory. Following Starliner’s return, the agency will review all mission-related data.

“We are excited to have Starliner home safely. This was an important test flight for NASA in setting us up for future missions on the Starliner system,” said Steve Stich, manager of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program. “There was a lot of valuable learning that will enable our long-term success. I want to commend the entire team for their hard work and dedication over the past three months.”

NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams launched on June 5 aboard Starliner for the agency’s Boeing Crewed Flight Test from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. On June 6, as Starliner approached the space station, NASA and Boeing identified helium leaks and experienced issues with the spacecraft’s reaction control thrusters. Following weeks of in-space and ground testing, technical interchange meetings, and agency reviews, NASA made the decision to prioritize safety and return Starliner without its crew. Wilmore and Williams will continue their work aboard station as part of the Expedition 71/72 crew, returning in February 2025 with the agency’s SpaceX Crew-9 mission.

The crew flight test is part of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program. The goal of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program is safe, reliable, and cost-effective transportation to and from the International Space Station and low Earth orbit. This already is providing additional research time and has increased the opportunity for discovery aboard humanity’s microgravity testbed, including helping NASA prepare for human exploration of the Moon and Mars. (Source: Satnews)

13 Sept 24. Terma announced its membership with Space Foundation, a leading non-profit organization that advocates for space education, exploration, and industry growth.

The membership agreement was signed at Space Foundation’s headquarters in Colorado Springs on 11 September, 2024, marking a significant step for Terma as it continues to strengthen its position in the U.S. space market. As a key focus area for the company, Terma is dedicated to expanding its activities and success in the U.S., a market that holds major growth potential.

“Joining Space Foundation is a natural next step for Terma as we grow our presence in the U.S. space market,” said Günther F. Lackner, Senior Vice President for Terma Space. “Our aim is to be an active participant in this thriving ecosystem, and we believe that membership with Space Foundation will provide us with the visibility, support, and networks we need to succeed.”

With a proven track record in delivering space solutions such as flight equipment, spacecraft operation solution, and testing services for over 75 space missions since 1972, Terma is well-prepared to support future US space missions and projects. The company looks forward to developing strong relationships through its membership and further advancing space technology alongside Space Foundation.

By partnering with Space Foundation, Terma strengthens its commitment to driving innovation and contributing to the success of space exploration.

13 Sept 24. France tests space lasers for secure satellite downlink in world first. French technology firms used laser to communicate between a low-orbit nano satellite and a commercial ground station in an experiment sponsored by the French Defence Innovation Agency, with France’s Armed Forces Ministry dubbing the test a world first.

A satellite from Unseenlabs with a laser payload established a stable link for several minutes with an optical ground station supplied by Cailabs, according to the ministry, which provided €5.5 m ($6.1 m) in funding for the project. The successful test this summer opens the way to integrating the system on France’s future military satellites, the ministry said.

The point-to-point nature of lasers makes them more secure than radio frequencies, and they can’t be jammed the way radio can, Cailabs CEO Jean-François Morizur told Defense News in an interview on Thursday. Additionally, a laser link can transfer very large files such as detailed Earth images in minutes, something that might require multiple orbits using radio signals, the CEO said.

“Anti-jamming is a big one,” Morizur said. “Low probability of detection, low probability of intercept means you can deploy it in some difficult contexts, you just don’t have the same signature as an RF antenna. Putting that on a ship makes sense, because you then reduce the radio footprint of your ship – both for ship-to-ship and ship to satellite.”

The higher data rates offered by laser are important for intelligence applications, as the growing volume of detailed satellite images of Earth is creating “very, very big files” that can be “quite tricky” to transfer with today’s satellite radio transmitters, according to the Cailabs CEO.

The successful test will make it possible to use space-based laser comms on mobile, land-based, naval and airborne platforms, the Armed Forces Ministry said. While the experiment is not the first for space-to-Earth laser communications, it’s the first using a commercially available ground station, according to Morizur.

The French government is keeping some information around the testing under wraps, including details on the date or who provided the laser payload. The ministry said the Keraunos project contributes to objectives in the 2024-2030 Military Programming Law to strengthen France’s space capabilities.

One of the goals of the Keraunos optical communications satellite project is to mitigate the effect of atmospheric turbulence that can hurt transmission quality, the ministry said. While the laser system used in the test will pass through some clouds, it can’t penetrate heavy cloud cover, according to Morizur.

The changed security situation in the world has accelerated government thinking around space, “one of the battlegrounds,” with a growing realization that space supremacy will be important, according to Morizur. In addition, the reduction in launch costs and cheap access to space are speeding up the space economy, he said.

“The more the space economy is growing, the more you have new tools, it becomes a field like any other, basically, where battle happens.”

The Cailabs ground station used in the test consists of a dome with a large telescope and several smaller ones, with the complexity being in processing the laser light, “that’s kind of where the magic happens,” Morizur said. The ground station can be made truck-sized, according to the CEO. Cailabs competitors include Safran in France and BridgeCom in the United States, he said.

Cailabs has seven ground stations under contract, including the one used in the test for the Armed Forces Ministry and a second one on order for the French government, as well as stations to be built for civilian clients including the European Space Agency and South Korea’s Contec. Most orders are for civilian applications, mainly for imagery, according to Morizur.

Morizur said the market for radio satellite gateways is valued at around $3 bn a year, and while optical ground stations will initially be a fragment of that, over time the opportunity will be “in the bns.”

Cailabs is currently leading in technology, price point and product maturity with its ground stations, and was picked for a number of recent competitive contracts, according to the CEO. The company has set up a team in the United States, where it sees contract opportunities, “and we are looking forward to supporting the U.S. government in many different ways,” Morizur said.

The company, which was co-founded by Morizur in 2013 and which has raised €46 m from investors, is unprofitable for now as it continues to spend on R&D and expansion, the CEO said. Cailabs received more than €10 m in orders last year, and “we stopped calling ourselves a startup a few years ago,” he added. (Source: Defense News)

SATELLITE SYSTEMS, SATCOM AND SPACE SYSTEMS UPDATE

September 13, 2024 by

11 Sep 24. Viasat Supports USAF with Next Generation Connectivity in Bamboo Eagle Exercise.

Viasat demonstrates support for Air Mobility Command ’25 by 25′ resilient connectivity objectives

Viasat, Inc. (NASDAQ: VSAT), a global leader in satellite communications, today announced that it successfully supported the U.S. Air Force’s (USAF) Air Mobility Command (AMC) and Air Combat Command (ACC) during exercise Bamboo Eagle 24-3 (BE 24-3). Following Viasat’s participation in the Mobility Guardian 2023 (MG23) exercise , this second iteration of Bamboo Eagle, based out of Nellis Air Force Base, took place at various locations across the United States and eastern Pacific Ocean from July 29 to August 10, 2024.

Like Bamboo Eagle 24-1, the BE 24-3 exercise included thousands of U.S. service members, as well as international allies and partners, and builds on the fundamentals practiced during MG23.

For the exercise, Viasat provided resilient and interoperable airborne communications through its C-130 Hercules Beyond Line-of-Sight (BLOS) hatch terminal and Move Out/Jump Off (MOJO) Next (MOJO Next) tactical gateway to crosslink incompatible networks and provide both command and control (C2) and situational awareness (SA) – all without requiring modification to the aircraft. Together, the BLOS hatch and MOJO Next provided a 360-degree view of the battlespace allowing AMC and ACC C-130J aircraft to exchange SA data with other Link-16 or Situational Awareness Data Link (SADL)-enabled platforms. This integration helps extends the common operational picture (COP) to all assets through the BLOS hatch terminal, from the tactical edge to the Air Operations Center (AOC), and allows operations specialists to command and control the mission more effectively.

Viasat’s C-130 Roll-On/Roll-Off (RORO) high-throughput G-18 Ka-band antenna hatch terminal (GAT-5518HM) was designed to operate across the full ITU Ka-band spectrum and all polarizations without user intervention required. These features enable the terminal to automatically roam across orbits and networks providing Automated Primary, Alternate, Contingency, and Emergency (APACE) capability with no user in the loop. The MOJO Next RORO interoperable tactical gateway was designed for operations in remote locations where network extensions are needed to execute the mission and connect incompatible networks and messages into clear communications. The gateway translates tactical data networks and supports a COP by relaying aircraft data in near real-time.

During the BE 24-3 exercise, Viasat’s C-130 hatch terminal and MOJO Next were moved between aircraft, installed, and operational in under one hour. The C-130J aircraft participated as red force aircraft, and ACC was able to develop tactics, techniques, and procedure (TTPs) with MAF for non-traditional tactical C2 (TAC C2), with mission critical applications operated by the Airborne Mission System Specialist. The interoperable tactical gateway with integrated Link-16 and SADL capability , coupled with the high-throughput BLOS C-130 hatch terminal, allowed the C-130Js to share real-time data with the Shadow Operations Center-Nellis (ShOC-N) and extend the COP for all participants.

“Viasat’s integrated capability enables MAF aircraft to function as high-throughput communication hubs, providing tactical command and control, situational awareness, and extending the common operational picture across the battlespace. This technology also facilitates connectivity between joint and coalition partners on different Tactical Datalinks (TDL),” said Victor Farah, Senior Vice President of Government Services and Solutions at Viasat. “Once linked, aircraft can adapt to mission changes in real-time during flight, enabling them to quickly identify and capitalize on opportunities to deploy, sustain, and maneuver the Joint Force, even in environments where information access is contested, degraded, or denied. Our flexible terminal and gateway technology, which can be rapidly installed without aircraft modifications, supports AMC’s initiative to equip 25 percent of the MAF fleet with next-generation, resilient connectivity by 2025 (’25 by 25′). This enhancement will provide increased maneuverability for airborne missions, ensuring operations are supported when and where needed.”

Commenting on the first iteration of Bamboo Eagle earlier this year , Gen. Mike Minihan, AMC Commander, said, “Connectivity investments will increase the survivability, agility, resiliency, and lethality of AMC warfighting capabilities.” (Source: ASD Network)

11 Sep 24. BlueHalo Accelerates Production for USSF SCAR Program with Key Supply Chain, Manufacturing Automation Investments. BlueHalo, the company transforming the future of global defense by modernizing satellite operations, announced today its expanded supply chain and manufacturing investments to support the U.S. Space Force (USSF) Space Rapid Capabilities Office (RCO) Satellite Communication Augmentation Resource (SCAR) program. These investments will ensure quality and reduce both risk and cost for customers while enabling BlueHalo to manufacture and deliver an increasing number of its BADGER ground terminal systems. Together with Space RCO, BlueHalo is building a more resilient space architecture to maintain our national security posture in an increasingly contested, congested and competitive space domain.

To expand production capacity, BlueHalo has invested in automated testing capabilities within its state-of-the-art manufacturing campus in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The integrated testing technology allows for large-scale testing to be completed within days as opposed to a full month required for manual testing–reducing production timelines, lowering labor and facility costs, and providing more reliable and consistent quality across production.

“BlueHalo is investing in innovation that is transforming our nation’s space communications capabilities, but it doesn’t end there,” said Mary Clum, BlueHalo Portfolio President and Corporate Executive Vice President. “Our strategic investments in automation and robotics on the manufacturing lines are expanding our ability to produce at scale and meet the demands of the future while maintaining high standards of affordability, safety, and quality. Side-by-side with Space RCO, we are incredibly proud of the work we have done to reduce costs and risk while delivering one of the most critically urgent national security priorities of our time.”

BlueHalo is also driving delivery of the SCAR program with supply chain investments, pre-purchasing integral components with long lead times to prepare for increased production and take advantage of economies of scale. Key suppliers have adopted similar early purchasing strategies for enhanced supply chain alignment across the SCAR program–providing further cost and schedule savings and reduced risk for the customer.

“The SCAR Program will significantly enhance our satellite communication capabilities. By leveraging cutting-edge technology, we’re not only increasing capacity but also building a more resilient and responsive network,” said Dr. Kelly Hammett, Director of the Space Rapid Capabilities Office. “Developing these capabilities ensures Space Force is equipped to face global challenges in a contested space environment.”

BADGER is a multi-band, deployable ground communications system built upon BlueHalo’s core MSDA technology, a scalable phased array solution that simplifies mission operations through agile and re-configurable beamforming tiles. The SCAR program, announced in May of 2022, covers initial design through full-rate production of BADGER to deliver a fleet of transportable, ground-based phased-array antennas. Other primary components of the SCAR program include the development and delivery of accompanying ground electronics and software to provide robust, flexible communications capabilities for USSF satellites.

BlueHalo previously announced other key program milestones, including the USSF Guardian orientation held earlier this year and the successful demonstration of BADGER’s satellite tracking and signal processing last fall. The program is planning for initial delivery in 2025. (Source: ASD Network)

10 Sep 24. L3Harris Successfully Completes CDR for USAF Global Lightning Experiment.

Success in this milestone brings Hybrid SATCOM capabilities one step closer to dozens of Air Force platforms.

L3Harris Technologies successfully completed a Critical Design Review (CDR) for a U.S. Air Force Global Lightning development program that validated the company’s Rapidly Adaptable Standards-compliant Open Radio (RASOR™) Modular Open System Approach (MOSA) solution ability to effectively connect service-specified waveforms from Earth to Commercial Satellite Internet (CSI) constellations.

The program is one in a series called “Defense Experiment Using Commercial Space Internet” – or “DEUCSI” – that the Air Force Research Laboratory’s Integrated Capabilities Directorate began years ago in support of the service’s Hybrid Satellite Communications (SATCOM) concept.

L3Harris has been supporting DEUCSI since its inception in 2021. The Air Force awarded the company an initial $81 m contract last year for this particular exercise, known as “Call 3,” which aimed at developing ground systems – both fixed and mobile – and airborne terminals capable of connecting both commercial and traditional military waveforms to multiple SATCOM constellations in Earth’s orbit.

“Following this successful CDR, we plan on conducting integrated hardware testing within the next year to support Air Force flight tests currently scheduled to begin at the end of 2025,” said Adam Milner, L3Harris Senior Manager of Space Networks. “This milestone brings the Air Force one step closer to bringing true Hybrid SATCOM capabilities and redundancy to dozens of platforms.”

Opening the Aperture

The DEUCSI Call 3 CDR comes on the heels of an Engineering Change Proposal (ECP) valued at $90m, which expands the program’s scope to include additional CSI and resilient, military communications waveforms.

“The ECP doubled the content and connectivity diversity we provide for this initiative, producing multiple hybrid satcom systems to fulfill the higher-level Hybrid SATCOM requirement,” said Milner.

Delivering Hybrid SATCOM

In the program, L3Harris builds radio modules from CSI vendor carrier boards so they can connect via the company’s RASOR terminal.

We take the carrier boards from the vendors, build them into radio modules and plug them into our Rapidly Adaptable Standards-compliant Radio (RASOR™) chassis.

The RASOR chassis, known as RARE™ (Rapidly Adaptable Ruggedized Enclosure), solution can scale from three to 12 slots with customized modules, which include L3Harris-proprietary technology as well as third-party solutions. The individual modules can provide a wide breadth of cross-domain capabilities with multi-level security, from resilient line-of-sight and beyond-line-of-sight communications to Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance, Command and Control, Assured Positioning, Navigation and Timing and Electronic Warfare.

“We provide the insight and experience that comes from more than 20 years delivering modular and software-defined radios to military customers and more than 50 years of tactical and strategic communications support and innovation,” said Milner. “Open architectures provide the flexibility the Air Force will require to proactively plan and coordinate rapid insertion of emerging technology – through the development of swappable radio modules, rather than full hardware – as new SATCOM constellations are launched into orbit.” (Source: ASD Network)

11 Sept 24. Scotland’s space sector key to UK ambitions. The UK Space Agency is supporting Scotland’s largest commercial space conference, which opened today (Wednesday 11 September) in Glasgow.

Dr Paul Bate, CEO of the UK Space Agency, speaking at Space Comm Expo Scotland.

Scotland’s space sector is home to advanced satellite manufacturing capabilities, data analysis expertise and a fast-growing satellite launch market that is attracting significant interest and investment from the global space community.

The latest Size and Health of the UK Space Industry report estimates that 228 space organisations in Scotland generated a combined income of £298 m in 2021/22, almost double the amount for 2018/19 in real terms (£157 m).

Internal analysis shows the UK’s national space programmes (excluding European Space Agency) allocated 15% of available funding since 2018 to organisations based in Scotland.

The UK Space Agency is supporting the Space Comm Expo Scotland event, which begins today (11 September) at the SEC Glasgow and is set to welcome 3,000 visitors.

UK Space Agency Chief Executive Dr Paul Bate hosted an industry roundtable at the event, with the support of Space Scotland, to explore the future of the Scottish space ecosystem, before delivering a keynote speech to the conference.

Dr Paul Bate said: “Our work with Scotland’s space sector is long standing, as is Scotland’s vital contribution to the wider UK space ecosystem. We opened our Edinburgh office earlier this year and it is great to be in Glasgow today for the first Space Comm Expo Scotland, where we want to deepen existing partnerships and explore new frontiers.

We know that Scotland has the best sites in the UK to launch rockets vertically from, and its universities are home to some of the greatest minds in space science. This is a growth sector that is at its best when we work together, and learn from one another, across governments, industry and academia. Nothing we do in space is easy. But the benefits this sector brings to all our lives make it more than worth it.”

The UK Space Agency is also supporting the development of Scotland’s space ecosystem by investing in its not-for-profit sector development body, Space Scotland. This includes programmes that equip the nation’s space workforce with the expertise and skills they need, and is unlocking new market opportunities for space with adjacent industries like FinTech, AgriTech, and Robotics.

Daniel Smith, Founding Director of Space Scotland, said: “The space sector in Scotland is growing rapidly towards an ‘end-to-end’ offering that covers Europe-leading small satellite manufacture, orbital spaceflight capabilities and critically, capturing global insights from space data that underpin adjacent sector activity, environmental protection and disaster response. With this growth comes a wealth of business and employment opportunities to benefit the economy across Scotland and the wider UK. The UK Space Agency’s new office and continued partnership with Space Scotland will help maximise these opportunities, supporting the delivery of the Scottish Space Strategy, whilst further enabling ongoing work around sustainability, skills and the creation of an increasingly diverse workforce.”

Recent UK Space Agency investments in Scotland include:

£5m for a suborbital rocket test at SaxaVord Spaceport by HyImpulse UK
£3.5m for a project led by Spire Global and supported by STAR-Dundee for further developments of a novel instrument that could improve weather forecasting
£1.9m for Smiths Interconnect to enhance its space qualification laboratory in Dundee. This has already catalysed £3.5 m in follow-on investment to date

A key focus area of the Scottish Space Strategy is space sustainability, and the UK Space Agency has invested £1.5m in a pioneering project, led by the University of Strathclyde alongside international partners, to accelerate the development of Artificial intelligence technologies to improve space operations, safety and sustainability. The project is paving the way for the creation of a new virtual Institute on AI for Space Safety & Sustainability.

The UK Space Agency is also continuing to assess a potential national Active Debris Removal (ADR) mission and to develop and derisk the key technologies required to clean up the orbital environment. A new Sustainable Space Community Hub launched in collaboration with the British Standards Institution (BSI), will enable stakeholders to easily find and share information about space sustainability, funding and collaboration opportunities and upcoming events. It will also support engagement with the development of Space Sustainability Standards which set the foundation for sustainable practices across the industry.

The SaxaVord and Sutherland spaceports are working towards hosting the first vertical rocket launches from UK soil next year. When fully operational, these spaceports plan to support a combined 42 annual launches from Scotland.

The UK government announced the award of £10m to SaxaVord spaceport earlier this year. Building a sustainable launch sector is a key driver of regional economic growth, creating hundreds of high-skilled jobs and spreading prosperity. (Source: https://www.gov.uk/)

11 Sept 24. Rheinmetall expands cooperation with ICEYE and obtains exclusive rights to distribute SAR satellites to Germany and Hungary. Rheinmetall and ICEYE, the global leader in Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) satellite operations for Earth Observation, are expanding their cooperation. The two companies signed a teaming agreement to this effect.

As part of this agreement, Rheinmetall will integrate ICEYE capabilities into their next generation battlefield systems. In addition, Rheinmetall and ICEYE are pursuing joint opportunities in several markets globally, including Germany and Hungary, where Rheinmetall now has exclusive rights to distribute ICEYE SAR satellites to military and government end-users under this agreement.

Armin Papperger, CEO Rheinmetall AG: “The space domain is an integral part of a defence strategy and of great relevance to our military clients. We are convinced that our combined capabilities will enable us to develop innovative approaches to offer customized solutions for our military customers in the future.”

In June 2024, the Düsseldorf-based technology group had already announced its participation in the world’s largest fleet of radar reconnaissance satellites. In this way, Rheinmetall aims to make space-based reconnaissance data usable on the tactical battlefield.

SAR satellites offer the advantage over conventional satellites that they can generate high-resolution images regardless of weather conditions or time of day. These are very detailed and make even the smallest objects on the earth’s surface identifiable. This can bring decisive advantages for the armed forces in terms of surveillance, target acquisition, reconnaissance or their own positioning on the battlefield.

09 Sept 24. China Launches First Batch of Internet Satellites, Aiming to Rival SpaceX’s Starlink. China has successfully launched its first batch of low-Earth orbit internet satellites, marking a significant step in its efforts to develop a satellite network to rival SpaceX’s Starlink. Geespace, a subsidiary of Chinese automaker Geely, confirmed the launch of 18 satellites as part of its “Qianfan” constellation. The launch took place at the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center in Shanxi Province.

The Qianfan constellation, which could eventually consist of over 15,000 satellites, aims to provide global internet coverage, much like SpaceX’s Starlink network. The development is part of China’s broader strategy to expand its commercial space industry and reduce reliance on foreign satellite services.

This launch follows recent regulatory changes that have encouraged private space companies in China. While the Chinese government traditionally controlled space activities, the rise of companies like Geespace signals the country’s intent to blend government oversight with the private sector.

By 2025, China aims to deploy 648 satellites in the first phase of the constellation, with plans for continued expansion in the coming years. The project is part of China’s broader space ambitions, which also include a lunar exploration program and developing its own global navigation system. (Source: https://www.sofx.com/)

10 Sept 24. Boeing [NYSE: BA] today announced the scheduled 2026 launch of a satellite – dubbed Q4S – which is designed to demonstrate quantum entanglement swapping capabilities on orbit. This Boeing-funded, first-of-its-kind space mission brings humanity closer to building a secure, global quantum internet that connects quantum sensors and computers.

Quantum sensors are much more precise than today’s state-of-the-art instruments and quantum computers have the capacity to process large amounts of data, offering potential to revolutionize an array of industries. This experiment is attempting to demonstrate quantum networking in space, helping to better understand how these networks can be built across vast distances and remain highly synchronized.

Boeing is setting the stage for a revolution in how we handle information with secure, quantum-enhanced applications, such as fault-tolerant systems that reduce errors in computing, secure voting mechanisms that protect electoral integrity, and blind quantum computing which allows data to be processed without exposure.

“We’re making a big bet on quantum technology,” said Jay Lowell, chief engineer for Boeing’s Disruptive Computing, Networks & Sensors organization. “Quantum entanglement swapping underpins the communication of the future, expanding quantum networks beyond simple point-to-point communication. We’re launching Q4S to prove it can be done in orbit.”

Entanglement swapping relies on quantum teleportation – a method where the information carried by a particle can be transferred without having to move the particle itself across the distance. Albert Einstein famously referred to this ethereal concept as “spooky action at a distance,” underscoring the complex nature of quantum mechanics.

“By demonstrating entanglement swapping, we can create a scalable network, where quantum information can be transmitted over vast distances, something currently limited by decoherence and loss,” said Lowell.

Quantum networking capabilities in space can unlock new potential, helping researchers gather more data about the Earth and space environments – areas where current instrument sensitivity and resolution limit progress.

“Boeing has always served as a pioneer, pushing the boundaries of what’s possible,” said Todd Citron, Boeing’s Chief Technology Officer. “We’re doing much more than participating in quantum research, we are leading the way to operationalize and scale quantum technologies for global applications.”

The year-long Q4S demonstration involves two entangled-photon pair sources housed within a space vehicle. Boeing’s payload and technology partner, HRL Laboratories, a joint venture between Boeing and GM [NYSE: GM], has made significant advancements in benchtop exercises as the joint team finalizes technical designs of a space-hardened payload that is ready for launch.

As a leading global aerospace company, Boeing develops, manufactures and services commercial airplanes, defense products and space systems for customers in more than 150 countries. As a top U.S. exporter, the company leverages the talents of a global supplier base to advance economic opportunity, sustainability and community impact. Boeing’s diverse team is committed to innovating for the future, leading with sustainability, and cultivating a culture based on the company’s core values of safety, quality and integrity. Join our team and find your purpose at boeing.com/careers.

HRL Laboratories, LLC, Malibu, California, (hrl.com) pioneers the next frontiers of physical and information science. Delivering transformative technologies in automotive, aerospace and defense, HRL advances the critical missions of its customers. As a private company owned jointly by Boeing and GM, HRL is a source of innovations that advance the state of the art in profound and far-reaching ways.

04 Sep 24. Godspeed as Arianespace’s Vega soars on its grand finale launch for ESA’s Sentinel-2C mission. Arianespace’s Vega successful soared from Europe’s Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana, on its last journey on Wednesday, September 4th, 2024 at 10.50 p.m. local time (September 5th, at 1.50 a.m. UTC, 3.50 a.m. CEST).

This mission, called “VV24”, will place its passenger, the Copernicus Sentinel-2C satellite, into Sun-Synchronous Orbit at an altitude of around 780 km. Spacecraft separation will occur 57 minutes after lift-off. Sentinel-2C is part of the European Commission’s Copernicus Earth Observation program, the world’s most advanced Earth observation system.

Copernicus provides continuous, independent, and reliable Earth observation data and services to public authorities, companies and citizens around the globe. The program is co-funded by the EU and ESA. The Copernicus Sentinel-2C satellite, with its wide swath, high-resolution, and multi-spectral imaging capabilities, will support a broad range of operational applications including agriculture, water quality monitoring, natural disaster management (e.g. wildfires, volcanoes, floods), and methane emissions detection.

For agriculture, the mission helps to monitor crop health, predict yields and enable precision farming. Images are used to detect crop type, and to determine biophysical variables such as leaf area index, leaf chlorophyll content and leaf water content to monitor plant growth and health.

Sentinel-2C reached French Guiana on July 18th, 2024 on board Canopée, the first sail-assisted cargo ship, pioneering environmental responsibility in industrial shipping. The satellite’s arrival in Kourou marked the beginning of the launch campaign led by Arianespace teams. The satellite underwent a precise series of pre-launch tests in preparation for its lift-off, leading to the Launch Readiness Review (LRR) on September 2nd, 2024.

The completion of the LRR triggerd the approval for proceeding to the launch countdown. Before the upcoming launch of Sentinel-2C, which was designed and built by a consortium of around 60 companies led by Airbus Defence and Space, Sentinel-1A, Sentinel-2A, Sentinel-1B and Sentinel-2B were successfully launched by Arianespace.

The VV24 mission once again highlights Arianespace’s commitment to space for a better life on Earth, as well as ensuring Europe’s independent access to space. The Vega rocket, designed to send into different orbits mainly light Earth observation and scientific payloads, was launched for the first time from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana in February 2012.

In all, counting this final upcoming VV24 mission, Vega will have carried out a total of 22 launches throughout its years in service and the mission will mark the handover to the Vega C launcher, scheduled to return to flight by the end of 2024. The Vega program is the result of the cooperation of 10 European countries. It has been developed under the leadership of ESA, with Italy (ASI) as the first contributor, Avio Spa (Colleferro, Italy) as a prime contractor delivering a ready to lift-off launcher to Arianespace, which will remain its operator up to Vega Flight 29 (VV29). (Source: Satnews)

03 Sep 24. Rocket Lab sets launch date for 2nd dedicated Kinéis mission to deploy IoT constellation. Rocket Lab USA, Inc. (Nasdaq: RKLB) has set the launch window for the company’s 53rd Electron Launch — this mission will be the second of five dedicated launches for the French company, Kinéis.

The ‘Kinéis Killed the RadIOT Star’ mission is scheduled to launch from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1 in Mahia, New Zealand, during a 14 day launch window that opens on September 17, 2024, NZST.

This mission will launch just three months after the ‘No Time Toulouse’ mission, Kinéis’ first launch with Rocket Lab. ‘Kinéis Killed the RadIOT Star’ will be the second of five dedicated Electron launches for Kinéis, a company backed by private and public investors including the French government’s space agency CNES (Centre National d’Études Spatiales) and CLS (Collecte Localisation Satellites) an international space-based solutions provider, to improve global Internet of Things (IoT) connectivity.

Kinéis’ constellation will connect any object anywhere in the world and guarantee the transmission of targeted and useful data to users, in near-real time, with low energy consumption with more powerful 30 kg class smallsats that integrate IoT technology. The constellation also includes a second mission: a ship-tracking Automatic Identification System (AIS). Once deployed, these technologies will allow Kinéis to expand across multiple industries and scale from 20,000 devices connected to ms. The second constellation launch will add an additional five new satellites to its planned 25 in number and will enhance Kinéis’ ability to connect the planet and address essential challenges for humanity, its activities, and its environment.

The ‘Kinéis Killed the RadIOT Star’ launch has been tailored specifically to meet Kinéis’ mission requirements, giving them greater control over launch schedule, orbit, and deployment parameters than would be possible on a larger rideshare mission. Tailored mission parameters for this launch include:

Instantaneous launch window
After the first Curie engine burn to circularize the Kick Stage’s orbit, Curie will ignite again for an eight second burn to set a specific argument of perigee, enabling Kinéis to deploy five satellites to a precise location for each one of the five launches,
All five satellites will be deployed in a precise sequence in singles and as pairs to build out the constellation exactly as Kinéis needs it,
Finally, Curie will conduct a perigee lowering burn to reduce the Kick Stage’s orbital lifetime to keep space sustainable.

“We’re excited to welcome the Kinéis team on board Electron again as we help them build out their constellation,” said Rocket Lab founder and CEO, Sir Peter Beck. “Dedicated launch is key for the kind of precise orbital deployment requirements many constellation operators need, so we’re proud to make that possible once again.”

“The Kinéis teams are ready to build on the success of the first launch. They have capitalized on this first and delicate technical experience of putting our first five satellites into position and are delivering a real technical performance in managing the five new satellites simultaneously, in addition to the five already in the air,” said Alexandre Tisserant, Chairman of Kinéis. “Rocket Lab’s Electron launcher made a major contribution to this success, thanks to the precision with which it injected our nanosatellites into their positions. The IoT revolution is underway. Thanks to our space-based connectivity, we’ll be able to connect any object anywhere in the world in near real time. Go Kinéis!” (Source: Satnews)

04 Sep 24. Infostellar providing GSaaS support for Panasonic’s CURTIS Satellite using partner ground stations. Infostellar Inc., a Ground Segment as a Service (GSaaS) provider, is going to support Panasonic Group’s CURTIS satellite by providing multiple ground stations through the company’s StellarStation platform.

Infostellar provided a ground station in Gifu, Japan, owned by Kawasaki Heavy Industries (KHI); a ground station in Azerbaijan owned by Azercosmos; and ground stations in South Africa and Bahrain owned by another partner ground station facility, for the CURTIS satellite mission. Using StellarStation the ground station setup for these four different ground stations was completed in just a few months, enabling CURTIS a rapid technology demonstration.

CURTIS was launched from the International Space Station (ISS) in April of 2024, and this technical demo satellite consists mainly of the following three mission payloads:

(1）Demonstrate the operation of the satellite itself, designed as an easy-to-assemble satellite

(2）Conduct technical demonstrations of Panasonic Group products in space. Panasonic will demonstrate components using components and modules that are already in use on the ground, and verify the possibility of converting them for space usage.

(3）Demonstrate circuit formation technology using a thermal management unit composed of technology that downsizes the basic bus section of the satellite and expands the volume of the mission section, as well as graphite material technology with excellent heat dissipation properties. This is done by using high-density circuit design and mounting technologies developed in mobile terminals and product groups that require compactness and light weight.

It is common for such technology demonstrations to use a single ground station. This is because setting up a ground station is a complex and time-consuming task, and it is not efficient to use multiple ground stations operated by different owners for a technology demonstration. However, StellarStation provides a network of third-party ground stations around the world and enables the setup of multiple ground stations in a short period of time. In addition, the use of multiple ground stations increases opportunities for communication with satellites in the S-band, which is common for satellite operations, and allows for large observational data to be downloaded over multiple separate contacts, leading to a quick and effective implementation of the technical demonstration.

In addition to providing ground stations through StellarStation, Infostellar also supported Panasonic in their ITU international frequency coordination and the acquisition of radio licenses for the satellite and overseas ground stations. The Kinki Bureau of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) issued the radio station license on July 22, 2024, and Infostellar was able to provide comprehensive support as a GSaaS (Ground Segment as a Service) provider.

Infostellar will continue to support CURTIS operations by providing a network of ground stations through StellarStation.

Naomi Kurahara, CEO of Infostellar, said, “Infostellar is very pleased to support Panasonic Group’s satellite “CURTIS” by providing multiple ground stations through StellarStation and supporting the acquisition of radio station licenses. Our mission is “We connect Earth and Space to empower the future.” And we aim to be the most effective enabler of space business by providing the best access to satellite, as our vision. We hope to contribute to the success of satellite operators’ missions by providing a comprehensive range of services related to the ground segment. Through the access of technical data obtained from the Panasonic Group’s demonstration, we hope that this will lead to the future development of the space industry. (Source: Satnews)

10 Sept 24. ‘Expanding Space – Scottish region to lead on space sector growth.’ The West of Scotland Space Cluster, the newest addition to the UK’s thriving ecosystem of regional space clusters, is launched today ahead of Space-Comm Expo Scotland at SEC Glasgow 11-12 September, one of the year’s biggest UK space industry events.

The region is a key hub in the Scottish space sector, operating at the forefront of a European revolution in spacecraft systems, payload manufacture, launch (upstream) and data analysis (downstream) activity. Space companies such as AAC Clyde Space and Spire Global have led the way, building more satellites in Glasgow than any other city in Europe, with other players such as Craft Prospect and Alba Orbital introducing further innovation in the global small satellites market.

Aligned with the regional space clusters operating across the UK, the West of Scotland Space Clusters incorporates industry, universities and colleges, as well as economic development and support organisations, aiming to capitalise and expand on existing regional strengths in space technologies. The region’s capability extends from small satellite design, manufacture and mission capability and advanced space data-driven services to leading-edge R&D in fields such as quantum, photonics, communications and AI. It is widely acknowledged that the growth of the West of Scotland Space Cluster companies will be critical in helping Scotland achieve its ambition of securing £4 bn of the global space market by 2030.

Craig Clark MBE, space entrepreneur, the founder of AAC Clyde Space and a Professor of Practice in the University of Strathclyde’s space cluster, said that the new cluster would help drive regional growth, combining pioneering research, industry innovation and manufacturing facilities to provide the foundation for Scotland’s emerging end-to-end capability in the European small satellite value chain.

“With SaxaVord Spaceport now operating as the first fully-licensed vertical launch Spaceport in Europe, the West of Scotland has a pivotal role to play in the delivery of the country’s end-to-end capability and helping to attract international companies to set up operations here as we have recently seen with the South African CubeSat imaging company, Simera Sense.

“From a standing start in 2005, Scotland now has one of the fastest-growing space sectors in the world, fuelled by global excellence in space-related research and a long history of innovation and entrepreneurship in engineering. The aim of the West of Scotland Space Cluster is to grease the wheels of the continued growth of the sector in the region and help make Scotland a leading global space player.”

John Ward, Senior Director of Research & Development at Spire Global, which designs and builds the world’s largest multipurpose satellite constellation in Glasgow, said that the new cluster would serve as a platform for greater connectivity and collaboration between the region’s key players.

“Spire Global has manufactured over 175 satellites right here in Glasgow, where the majority of our R&D efforts take place. This new space cluster will enhance collaboration and connectivity among regional players, accelerating innovation and creating a more integrated supply chain. By fostering this ecosystem, we can unlock new opportunities for growth and cement the West of Scotland as a leading hub in the global space industry.”

Andrew Strain, Chief Technology Officer at AAC Clyde Space, added that the cluster’s new advisory group would be focused on actions that drive growth across a region which stretches all the way to the Prestwick, home to Scotland’s largest aerospace hub: “The West of Scotland has amassed an incredible amount of capability in the space industry over the past two decades, particularly in small satellite design and manufacturing. This year marks the 10th anniversary of the launch of Scotland’s first satellite UKube-1, built by Clyde Space Ltd, now part of AAC Clyde Space.

“In the following decade, Scotland has gone from never having launched a satellite to building more than anywhere else in Europe. Satellites and systems designed and built here account for hundreds of years of accumulated on-orbit heritage – very few places in the world can claim that. Through the West of Scotland Space Cluster, we have to opportunity to maintain and grow our admirable position in this innovative section of the space industry.”

Antonia Yendell, Head of the Space Ecosystem team at the UK Space Agency said: “The UK Space Agency strongly supports and is investing in the growth of the Scottish Space Economy. The UK Space Ecosystem is a competitive advantage for the UK Space Sector and Scotland plays a critical role in our thriving and interconnected cluster network, developing our national capabilities and driving economic growth.”

10 Sept 24. Xiphera Develops Quantum-Resilient Hardware Security Solutions for Space. Xiphera, Ltd, a Finnish company designing and implementing hardware-based security solutions, announces a project for developing quantum-resilient Authenticated Boot and Hardware Root of Trust solutions for space-grade semiconductor architectures.

Authenticated Boot and Hardware Root of Trust solutions ensure trust in the digital hardware components and system configurations in space and satellite infrastructures. Xiphera’s implementations are based on hybrid cryptography – a combination of traditional and Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC) – thus ensuring the security of the system throughout its life cycle.

The development project is partially financed by the European Space Agency, as part of its General Support Technology Program (GSTP). The solutions have been designed in close co-operation with Frontgrade Gaisler, a leading Swedish developer of space-grade electronics. Authenticated Boot is planned to be integrated into Frontgrade Gaisler’s space-grade GR765 processor.

The Authenticated Boot and Hardware Root of Trust technologies are productised for general availability in Xiphera’s nQrux® family of Hardware Trust Engines – highly optimised and customisable security solutions for FPGAs and ASICs. The first released product is nQrux® Secure Boot, available immediately for semiconductor and equipment vendors in space technology and other industrial and critical infrastructure sectors.

“The ESA project will increase European digital sovereignty and resilience both in the supply chain and underlying technology. Our IP cores have always been secure by design, and the complex solutions developed in this project require careful system design methodology” says Petri Jehkonen, Xiphera’s Director of Strategic Programs. “In addition to delivering first class cryptographic algorithms and security protocols, the technology we develop must be compatible with space-grade ASIC manufacturing processes. Xiphera’s solutions are designed in pure digital logic without any hidden software components. This benefit is emphasised particularly in space-grade applications, where software components typically require significantly more complicated validation and certification paths.”

“The integration of Xiphera technology in our next-generation GR765 octa-core SoC provides the foundation to build systems that are resilient against cybersecurity threats” says Jan Andersson Nerén, Director of Engineering at Frontgrade Gaisler. “This collaboration allows our customers to meet stricter requirements while minimising impact on development effort. It also allows them to tackle both present and future challenges, including those posed by quantum computing.”

“Security elements are required today in most space systems. Sensitive elements uploaded over the air, such as software, FPGA bitstreams and telecommands need to be authenticated. Mission data, if confidential or of commercial value, must be encrypted. We are looking forward to working with Xiphera to develop quantum-resistant secure IP cores for space processing chips, namely microprocessors and FPGA” says Roland Weigand from Microelectronics Section at ESA.

About Xiphera

Xiphera, Ltd, designs and implements hardware-based security using proven cryptographic algorithms. Our strong cryptographic expertise and extensive experience in digital system design enable us to help our customers to protect their most valuable assets.

We offer secure and highly optimised cryptographic Intellectual Property (IP) cores, designed directly for Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs) and Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs) without software components. The broad, fully in-house designed, and up-to-date portfolio, including implementations of Post-Quantum Cryptography, enables cost-effective development projects with fast time-to-market – providing peace of mind in a dangerous world.

SATELLITE SYSTEMS, SATCOM AND SPACE SYSTEMS UPDATE

September 6, 2024 by

05 Sept 24. Space Development Agency Will Soon Deliver Capability to Warfighters. The Defense Department wants missile-tracking capability available to combatant commanders for operational use by the end of calendar year 2025, the director of the Space Development Agency said yesterday.

Derek Tournear said the agency has launched 27 demonstration satellites, while keeping one on the ground for a test bed for debugging and software updates to those satellites in geosynchronous low Earth orbit at a Defense News Conference event in Arlington, Virginia.

During the discussion of advances in missile tracking from space using data transport and missile tracking satellites, Tournear said the Space Development Agency is still in tranche 0, which means the early stages of satellite deployment for capability demonstrations.

These satellites for national security are referred to as PWSA, or proliferated warfighter space architecture.

Tranche 0 proved that Link 16 from space to warfighter is feasible, he said. Link 16 is a secure military communications system that allows the exchange of real-time tactical data among military aircraft, ships and ground forces by U.S. and coalition forces.

Link 16 from space has “never been done before,” he said. It was demonstrated with Australian partners and a U.S. Navy aircraft carrier and airframe. Future tests will include Norway, Tournear said.

The next question the agency will address is: Can you do the missile-tracking mission from low Earth orbit satellites with all of the space clutter in that orbit with a dim-appearing missile in flight in real time?

The answer is yes. There’s been some success zeroing in on missile or rocket “targets of opportunity,” including a SpaceX launch and some classified missile launches that can’t be discussed, he said.

Another question answered by tranche 0: Can DOD form an optical network in low Earth orbit using laser communications? “Last night, it was actually demonstrated. Two tracking satellites did that, acquiring and maintaining links for several hours,” he said.

Tranche 1 should be initiated around the end of this calendar year or a little after.

Tranche 2 is in the design phase, with launch scheduled to begin around September 2026.

Tranche 3 work is ongoing. These satellites have about a five-year design life, so tranche 3 will need to replenish some of the earlier satellites.

Tournear noted that his agency is a lean, fast-paced, results-driven organization that is cost-effective, and fully accountable to and supported by Congress. (Source: U.S. DoD)

05 Sept 24. US Navy investigation reveals illegal Starlink Wi-Fi plot aboard combat vessel. In what could be one of the boldest incidents of the threats posed by individuals using unauthorised devices on an organisation’s network, a US Navy report has revealed the details of a plot to install and manage an illegal Starlink Wi-Fi network on board a combat vessel while deployed.

The report, seen by the Navy Times, outlines the plans by the ship’s senior enlisted crew to purchase, install, manage, and ultimately attempt to hide the network from junior crew and superior officers alike.

The ship’s senior chief, Command Senior Chief Grisel Marrero, conspired with other chiefs aboard the USS Manchester (pictured) to install the network prior to a deployment to the west Pacific in April 2023.

The Starlink dish was secretly installed on the Independence Class vessel’s weather deck, where it was relatively out of view. The network was initially named “STINKY”, but it was later renamed to appear to be a wireless printer – despite there being no such devices aboard.

As rumours began to circulate among the wider crew, senior officers approached CSC Marrero, who repeatedly lied about its existence.

For obvious reasons, the US Navy limits internet access while on deployment, but the ship’s senior enlisted crew used the network to send messages home, stream media, and keep track of sports scores.

The Starlink dish wasn’t discovered until a civilian technician, installing a Starshield satellite communication system, noted the device and reported it to a senior crew member. The dish was removed; however, CSC Marrero again lied about the device, claiming that it was authorised and only for use in port.

When the USS Manchester’s commanding officer finally learnt of the existence of the network on 24 August, she confronted Marrero, who provided doctored usage logs in an attempt to trick the CO into believing the network was, in fact, only used while docked. The CO continued to be suspicious, however, and Marrero finally admitted, on 26 August, that the network had been in use while deployed. (Source: Space Connect)

05 Sept 24. Polish defense firms ink deals for new satellite reconnaissance capability. Poland’s defense industry is looking to sharpen its view of the earth from space, as two firms recently signed a new agreement to work together on high-resolution optical satellites to provide imagery for users in Poland. During the 32nd International Defense Industry Exhibition (MSPO) in Kielce, ICEYE Polska, the Polish arm of Finnish synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellite firm ICEYE, and Wrocław-based optical and vision tech specialists Scanway signed a Memorandum of Understanding regarding the design of high-resolution optical satellites. The sats would initially provide imagery for Polish users, but potentially also for global customers in the future.

The document was signed on Tuesday by the president and co-founder of ICEYE, Rafał Modrzewski, and the president and founder of Scanway, Jędrzej Kowalewski.

The new satellites are to be used for defense purposes and will have an optical resolution of around 50 cm, necessary for targets detection and identification. They will join ICEYE’s existing SAR systems, giving Polish customers access to comprehensive Earth observation data, the companies said.

ICEYE’s numerous SAR satellites can visit the same place above Earth even dozens of times a day and perform radar imaging day and night, regardless of weather conditions.

“Currently, the armed forces need optical systems with a resolution of at least 50 cm. Such systems can be installed on satellites of the 150-200 kg class, manufactured and operated by ICEYE. (…) We have already placed 38 of them in orbit,” said Modrzewski.

“Providing customers with increasingly larger and more advanced optical instruments capable of imaging with a resolution of less than 1 meter is a strategic direction of Scanway’s development,” added Kowalewski.

The next day ICEYE Polska was party to another agreement, this one with Wojskowe Zakłady Łączności Nr 1 (WZŁ-1, Military Communications Works) and Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa (PGZ, Polish Armament Group), to jointly develop what they called a Mobile ISR Cell (Mobilna Platforma Rozpoznania Satelitarnego ISR, MPRS ISR), adapted to cooperate with SAR satellites and satellites equipped with optical sensors.

The group said the new solution combines communication and data transmission systems, power supply unit and a specially designed antenna system, ensuring fast data transmission and its direct distribution to the appropriate recipients at any command level.

MPRS ISR is designed to provide the ability to conduct permanent operations using the ICEYE satellite constellation, collect data almost in real time and analyze it on an ongoing basis. The system is designed for cooperation at the operational level, supporting commanders in making decisions and providing situational awareness on the battlefield more efficiently and quicker.

“Satellite reconnaissance and communication systems play an important role in the functioning of the armed forces. Acquiring and processing satellite imaging data in real time can provide an advantage on the modern battlefield. These are the conclusions that can be drawn, among others, from the ongoing armed conflict in Ukraine,” said Krzysztof Trofiniak, PGZ President of the Management Board. (Source: Breaking Defense.com)

05 Sept 24. Ensured SATCOM, GPS alternatives tops among Space Force budget wishes.

“Every dollar invested brings asymmetric returns, while every cut risks asymmetric losses, given the continued advancements of the competitors, the Space Force budget needs more, not fewer, resources to do our job,” said Gen. Michael Guetlein, Space Force vice chief.

As senior Space Force officials double down on their campaign to massively increase the service’s funding ahead of decision-making on the Pentagon’s fiscal 2026 budget request, a handful of priorities are at the top of the list for new monies. These include alternatives to GPS, more reliable satellite communications (SATCOM), and improved intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) to support warfighters on the battlefield, according to the Space Force vice chief.

Citing ever-growing threats from China and Russia, Gen. Michael Guetlein told the Defense News conference on Wednesday that the service requires an influx of cash both to improve traditional space support services to combatant commanders, and bolster offensive and defensive capabilities to go up against adversary space systems.

“We need additional resources to meet the increasing demand for capability,” he said. “At 3 percent of the DoD budget, the Space Force is worth every penny. It offers tremendous value proposition for the nation. Every dollar invested brings asymmetric returns, while every cut risks asymmetric losses, given the continued advancements of the competitors, the Space Force budget needs more, not fewer, resources to do our job.”

Guetlein noted that Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall recently asserted (in an interview with Defense News) that the Space Force needs to “double or triple over time” its current annual budget of some $30 bn to adequately fund its assigned missions.

Kendall’s statement echoed a May assessment by veteran space budget analysts Todd Harrison of the American Enterprise Institute and Mike Tierney, chief of legislative affairs at the National Security Space Association (NSSA), which found that the Space Force’s eyes are bigger than its stomach. The service’s FY25 five-year budget plan, essentially a flat line, fails to fully support all the new acquisition programs being launched, the experts stressed.

Supporting The Joint Force

Guetlein said that in order to guarantee that “space capabilities will be there when needed” by military forces, the service needs to invest in both more SATCOM and “more resilient SATCOM” to ensure connectivity across the Joint Force.

L3Harris is answering the Department of Defense’s call for strengthened competition, safeguarding a future for the nation and democracy worldwide.

From Ross Niebergall, President, Aerojet Rocketdyne, L3Harris Technologies

“We know we need more satellite communications capacity, and we expect a significant increase in demand in the coming years and during times of crisis or conflict. The additional capacity will come from domestic investments in organic SATCOM like the Wideband Global SATCOM system and the Mobile User Objective Satellite system,” he said.

Increased bandwidth also “will come from commercial partnerships, like we’re doing through the Commercial SATCOM Office, and it will come from international partnerships like we have with Norway and with Luxembourg,” he added.

Guetlein further pointed to the Space Development Agency’s plan for a Transport Layer of low latency, high capacity data relay satellites in low Earth orbit as a critical future capability. “It is foundational to programs like the Combined Joint All Domain Command and Control System, or CJADC2, which is a multidomain command and control system that shares command, common operating pictures and data with the Joint Force and our allies,” he said.

More “resilient position, navigation and timing” capabilities, including “alternative methods to GPS,” are another key area of operations where an influx of funds is required, Guetlein stressed. He explained that the Space Force has already started “studies and low level effort on what we call Resilient GPS,” via Kendall’s “quick start” initiative. With $100 m approved by Congress as part of the FY24 National Defense Authorization Act, the initiative was designed to speed critical acquisitions by getting around constraints of the cumbersome budget process.

The Space Force in June released a request for proposal for the Resilient GPS effort to develop small satellites to complement the current 31 Global Positioning System satellites on orbit to members of the Space Enterprise Consortium (SpEC). Details of the RFP are restricted to consortium members, but an earlier request for information to industry stressed that the new prototype satellites should also be able to integrate into current ground systems. Space News on June 25 reported that Space Systems Command some time this fall plans to select up to five R-GPS design concepts that include the ability to signals for both civil and military use, plus the jam-resistant M-code.

However, the service is “waiting on the ’25 budget on the Hill to see where that kind of shakes out,” Guetlein said.

The Space Force further needs to invest in expanded “intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance,” he added. The service has already launched a new satellite development program with the National Reconnaissance Office to track moving targets on the ground, and Guetlein noted that it is studying how to track airborne targets from space — with a goal of getting both capabilities to the field sometime in the early 2030s.

‘Protect And Defend’

“In addition, we are focused on preventing the adversary from using space against us,” Guetlein said.

He explained that the service continues “to invest in the kit to counter these [adversary] kill webs in three primary areas: enhanced [space domain] awareness to eliminate operational surprise; increased SATCOM to enable our own kill webs and support the joint warfighter; and in protecting and defending our space capabilities in order to eliminate the first mover advantage, and if necessary, to defeat their kill webs.”

However, with regard to defeating enemy systems, Guetlein said that “most of this kit is classified.”

He elaborated that the protect and defense mission includes “building defense measures into our next generation platforms, disaggregating capabilities to eliminate single points of failure, and proliferating capabilities across multiple orbits and platforms to significantly expand their attack surface. It also includes partnering with our allies and with industry to share threat data.”

Improved SATCOM, moving target indication, and reliable GPS also will play a role in helping the Space Force and Joint Force counter adversary space systems and prevent them from targeting US forces using those assets, he added.

“We are hard at work to avoid operational surprise and to ensure our adversaries cannot achieve first mover advantage in space,” he said.

Guetlein acknowledged that budget trends, especially on Capitol Hill, are not looking favorable for a major top-line hike for any of the services, stressing that the Space Force is honing in on its top priorities.

“We are definitely sacrificing some because there’s definitely not enough resources to go around,” he said. “We know we can’t buy everything we need, so we are ruthlessly prioritizing all the kit that we’re buying to make sure that it’s the biggest bang for the buck, if you will, during times of crisis or conflict. (Source: Breaking Defense.com)

05 Sept 24. Production scaling woes delay next Space Development Agency launches. The Space Force’s Space Development Agency now expects its next tranche of satellites to begin launching late this year or early next due to supplier delays. (U.S. Space Force/Senior Airman Thomas Sjoberg)

Plans for the Space Force’s Space Development Agency to kick-start its next phase of launches this month is on hold due to supplier delays, according to its director Derek Tournear.

September was supposed to be the start of a 10-month streak of regular SDA launches to put the agency’s Tranche 1 satellites — which will provide initial operational capability — in low Earth orbit. Those spacecraft will now likely fly at the end of this year or early next, Tournear said Wednesday at the Defense News Conference.

The delays are primarily linked to financial troubles among some SDA vendors who have struggled to scale their manufacturing capacity, he said. That includes California-based Mynaric, which supplies optical terminals to several of the agency’s satellite providers and has struggled to ramp up production.

“These are things we have to work through with our primes, our spacecraft providers, to make sure they can continue to pull that schedule in when they have those kinds of delays,” Tournear said.

The Tranche 1 satellites are part of SDA’s broader proliferated space architecture, which it envisions will eventually include hundreds of missile tracking and data transport spacecraft operating from low Earth orbit, about 1,200 miles above the equator.

SDA started launching its Tranche 0 satellites in April 2023 and as of February has put all 27 of those spacecraft in orbit. That launch plan also hit a snag after supply chain issues tied to the COVID-19 pandemic stalled the first mission by about six months.

A July report from The Aerospace Corporation raised questions about whether these early setbacks indicate the agency’s plan to build and launch satellites on a two-year cadence — refreshing technology with each new tranche — is too ambitious. The study highlights the challenge of continuous modernization and production scaling within a still-maturing small satellite industrial base.

“These examples may become less common as SDA launches and operates more and more satellites, but developing and integrating new technologies without disrupting launch schedules or existing capabilities will not be easy,” it states.

Tournear attributed the launch delays to “growing pains” within the industrial base and the agency, which was formed five years ago. The two-year launch and technology refresh cycle is key to SDA’s model, so he doesn’t see that approach changing. Instead, the hope is that as companies learn and adapt to this model, they face fewer supply and schedule challenges.

If things progress as planned, he added, many of those kinks will be worked through by the time Tranche 2 satellites start to launch in 2026.

“I think as industry grows, they get more into this mindset of production delivery versus program management, which is a different mindset for people doing defense contracting,” Tournear said. “I think we’ll see that they’ll be able to hit the milestones a little easier, but right now we’re in that growing pain.”

Once in orbit, the Tranche 1 satellites are slated to hit their operational acceptance milestone by 2025. SDA is also working to field the ground systems that will operate those spacecraft. An agency official told Defense News those systems are in their testing phase and SDA will hold a readiness review this fall. The agency previously planned to have authority to operate the ground segment in the spring, but is now aiming to hit that milestone before Tranche 1 launches.

Tranche 2 satellites are in the design phase, with companies either completing or approaching a critical design review.

Meanwhile, SDA convened its warfighter council last month to discuss requirements for Tranche 3 satellites, which will fly in 2028. The council is made up of combatant commanders and other military users who sign off on the agency’s capability plans.

For Tranche 3 transport satellites, SDA is seeking more advanced phased arrays, which will allow spacecraft to connect with more users on the ground — particularly tactical forces that rely on an S-band signal.

On the missile warning and tracking side, Tournear said the goal is to achieve global missile defense coverage through its Tranche 3 satellites, which means those spacecraft will be able to track an advanced missile through its entire flight, transmit data and intercept.

SDA hasn’t determined the number of satellites it will need in Tranche 3, but Tournear noted that the agency plans to issue solicitations for those spacecraft next year. (Source: Defense News)

04 Sep 24. Viasat Introduces Enhanced LAISR Service for Crewed and Uncrewed Airborne, Maritime and Land Platforms.

On-demand, managed L-Band service offers a cost-effective, flexible solution for government mobile user

Viasat Inc. (NASDAQ: VSAT), a global leader in satellite communications, today introduced Enhanced LAISR, its global mobility, on-demand managed L-band service offering communications flexibility for airborne, maritime and land users worldwide. It will deliver highly available, flexible, on-demand capabilities enabled by Viasat’s seamless, global L-band space and ground network.

The award-winning L-band Airborne Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (LAISR) solution was developed to meet specific government requirements. It delivers cost-effective, high-speed beyond line-of-sight (BLOS) satellite communications (SATCOM) connectivity for mobile platforms via low size, weight and power (SWaP) user terminals. Military operations benefit from all-weather resilience and 99.9 percent network reliability.

As government organizations increasingly rely on highly mobile crewed and uncrewed Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions worldwide, they need reliable, consistent SATCOM connectivity to transmit large volumes of data. Enhanced LAISR service will deliver on-demand, managed L-band network access to customers around the world, ensuring users can access the service whenever and wherever it is needed.

Customers will use the new Enhanced L-band Maritime Antenna (ELMA) and soon-to-be available LAISR-COTM (comms-on-the-move) terminal to connect to Enhanced LAISR services. Additional terminals are in development to provide access to the Enhanced LAISR service and deliver reliable, high-speed, seamless connectivity and uniform global capabilities via a further reduced SWaP form factor.

Steve Gizinski, Chief Technology Officer of Viasat Government, said, “Enhanced LAISR is the latest example of Viasat’s continuous focus on enhancing terminals and services to deliver additional value and resilience to our government customers as their needs evolve. With Enhanced LAISR, we are expanding upon the proven LAISR capability and our robust service level agreements to provide a highly flexible and accessible service to support crewed and uncrewed ISR missions worldwide.” (Source: ASD Network)

05 Sep 24. The third Copernicus Sentinel-2 satellite has been successfully launched on a Vega rocket from Kourou, French Guiana. The Airbus-built Sentinel-2C satellite will enter service in low Earth orbit at 780 km following initial testing and commissioning. Then, it will replace Sentinel-2A, which will retire and operate in tandem with Sentinel-2B.

Marc Steckling, Head of Earth Observation, Science and Exploration at Airbus, said: “This launch gives the world another important sensor to monitor our changing planet and provides crucial continuity since the first Sentinel-2 satellite launch in 2015. Equipped with a high-resolution multispectral imager the satellite will collect vital imagery for a myriad of applications from agriculture to water quality monitoring.”

The Sentinel-2-mission is based on a constellation of two identical satellites, flying in the same orbit but 180° apart for optimal coverage and revisit time. The satellites orbit the Earth every 100 minutes covering all Earth’s land surfaces, large islands, inland and coastal waters every five days.

Offering “colour vision” for the Copernicus programme, Sentinel-2C – like its precursor satellites Sentinel-2A and -2B – will deliver optical images from the visible to short-wave infrared range of the electromagnetic spectrum. The 1.1 ton satellite will enable continuation of imaging in 13 spectral bands with a resolution (per pixel) of 10, 20 or 60 metres and a uniquely large swath width of 290 km.

Sentinel-2 satellite data are used for monitoring land use and changes, soil sealing, land management, agriculture, forestry, natural disasters (floods, forest fires, landslides and erosion) and to assist humanitarian aid missions. Environmental observation in coastal areas likewise forms part of these activities, as does glacier, ice and snow monitoring.

Each Sentinel-2 satellite collects 1.5 terabytes of data per day, after on-board compression. The data is formatted at high speed and temporarily stored on board in the highest capacity Mass Memory and Formatting unit currently flying in space. Data recording and laser-enabled downlink can take place simultaneously at high speed via the EDRS SpaceDataHighway, in addition to the direct X-band link to the ground stations.

The Sentinel satellites are part of Copernicus, the Earth Observation component of the EU Space Programme, managed by the European Commission (EC) in partnership with the European Space Agency (ESA). The Copernicus Sentinels provide remote sensing data of the Earth, providing key operational services related to the environment and security.

The launch was on the final Vega rocket operated by Arianespace, before the shift to the new Vega C version.

04 Sept 24. Space Development Agency’s first satellites demo key capabilities. The Space Development Agency’s first batch of satellites, dubbed Tranche 0, have demonstrated several key capabilities. (Northrop Grumman)

Following a successful optical communications test this week, the Space Development Agency’s first batch of data-transport and missile-tracking satellites have met all of the agency’s demonstration targets, according to director Derek Tournear.

The agency started launching its Tranche 0 demonstration satellites in April 2023 and today has 27 spacecraft in orbit. The systems are meant to observe and collect information on missiles launches and transport data in space and with users on the ground. They’ll also reduce development risks for future SDA satellites.

This week’s test involved two satellites, built by SpaceX, connecting via a laser-communication link through SDA-compliant terminals. The test met the agency’s requirement that the spacecraft make a connection in less than two minutes, Tournear said Wednesday at the Defense News Conference in Arlington.

In essence, the demo showed that SDA’s transport satellites can form an optical network in low Earth orbit.

“From my perspective, we have demonstrated all of the big rocks and burned down all of the risk for Tranche 1 in Tranche 0 based on that success,” Tournear said.

Among the other demonstration hurdles was demonstrating the ability to establish a Link 16 connection from space. Link 16 is a tactical communications system that U.S. forces, NATO and international allies rely on for real-time data exchange. During a demonstration last November, SDA used three satellites from its Transport Layer, all built by Denver-based York Space Systems. The Air Force’s 46th Test Squadron at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, supported the mission from the ground.

In early August, SDA pushed the capability further, making a Link 16 connection with an aircraft carrier and a plane on its deck.

Both Link 16 tests were over international waters or airspace as the agency awaits approvals from the Federal Aviation Administration to use Link 16 to broadcast signals from space through the National Airspace System. Tournear said SDA hopes to have those approvals and conduct U.S. tests this year, adding that the FAA’s conservative approach, while prudent, has created schedule issues for the agency.

“It has an impact and it will impact Tranche 1 as we go forward, when we actually want to be able to do a lot of demonstrations after launch to be able to get operational acceptance,” he said.

The other major test for SDA’s Tranche 0 satellites concerns the ability to track missile launches from low Earth orbit. Skeptics thought the clutter in LEO, which is about 1,200 miles above Earth, would make it too hard to spot a dim missile target. However, Tournear said, the agency has used its first handful of tracking satellites to spot a variety of missiles and rocket launches, including SpaceX’s Starship.

The SDA satellites have yet to detect a U.S. hypersonic flight test, but Tournear said his team is working closely with the Missile Defense Agency to find opportunities for the spacecraft to track a flight. (Source: Defense News)

25 Aug 24. Creotech launches EagleEye. Creotech Instruments, Poland’s largest manufacturer of satellites, satellite systems and components listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange, has announced the launch of the company’s largest and most advanced satellite ever – EagleEye.

EagleEye on-orbit, image courtesy of Creotech.

The satellite was launched via a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket in partnership with Exolaunch. The purpose of the mission is to demo the key functions of the EagleEye satellite system.

EagleEye is the largest Polish observation satellite ever built by Polish engineers. Its weight is about 55 kg, which corresponds to the total weight of all Polish satellites that have been built since the beginning of our participation in space exploration.

The goal of the EagleEye mission is to place the satellite in an orbit of about 510 km, from where it will enter into a Very Low Earth Orbit (vLEO) of about 350 km altitude, using an ion engine. This is where the satellite will be tested to see how it can be operated and to increase the efficiency of Earth imaging.

Poland’s newest satellite is based on a proprietary HyperSat platform, which is already a key element in a number of projects at national and European level. The platform has been designed to support satellites weighing up to 200 kg. Its parameters allow it to be adapted to the tasks and requirements of a variety of space missions. Already next year, more satellites based on this particular system are planned to be launched. However, the main element of the platform’s commercialization will come as soon as the EagleEye system has been tested in orbit.

EagleEye has also been equipped with an optical telescope from the Polish company Scanway, which allows images of the Earth’s surface to be taken in the visible (VIS) and near-infrared (NIR) bands.

A third entity, the Space Research Centre of the Polish Academy of Sciences (PAN), the instrument’s computer supplier, was also involved in the project.

Creotech Instruments has 12 years of experience in designing and building space subsystems. It has successfully participated in more than 40 commercial and scientific missions. The company has also participated in many ESA projects, i.e. the EXOMARS mission, JUICE on its way to Jupiter or OPS-SAT. (Source: Satnews)

26 Aug 24. Loft Orbital and Marlan Space to create the Middle East’s first private manufacturing space company of commercial satellite constellations for LEO.

Abu Dhabi-based Marlan Space, a new space company affiliated with International Holding Company (IHC) has established a joint venture with Loft Orbital to form Orbitworks, the Middle East’s first private space infrastructure company.

Orbitworks marks a significant milestone in the UAE’s rapidly growing space sector, becoming the first to produce commercial low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite constellations. With an initial investment of over $100m, Orbitworks aims to produce up to fifty 500 kg satellites annually. Loft Orbital, established in 2017, brings extensive expertise, technology, and a strong reputation to the venture, supporting a wide range of missions across telecommunications, Earth observation, and scientific research.

Orbitworks is set to begin construction of a state-of-the-art facility that will employ advanced hardware, software and industrial technologies for integration and test of satellites.

Orbitworks has secured components for its first 10 satellites, the first of which could be launched as early as the first quarter of 2026. Orbitworks will help Loft Orbital further its vision of flying any payload for any customer in the shortest time to orbit.

Orbitworks aims to partner with local component manufacturers and technology providers in the UAE, leveraging Loft’s solutions for seamless technology integration.

The first satellite platform is expected to be assembled, integrated, and tested by early 2025. Loft and Marlan have begun recruiting talent both internationally and within the UAE, focusing on hardware, software, test engineering, and other aerospace engineering disciplines.

The UAE has built one of the most advanced AI ecosystems globally, and Orbitworks will collaborate with AI companies and research organizations by providing them with a simple pathway to deploy their apps to orbit.

Pierre-Damien Vaujour, CEO of San Francisco based Loft Orbital, commented, “We have long believed in the dynamism and growth of the UAE’s space sector, and we are proud to be playing a small part in the country’s journey to becoming a space powerhouse. From the moment we first met with Marlan Space, we were excited about their vision for bringing scaled production and operations of LEO satellite constellations to the UAE. We are thrilled to support and partner with all players in the country’s space, satellite, cloud, and AI industries.” (Source: Satnews)

25 Aug 24. Norway officially licensed to launch at Andøya Spaceport. Less than one year after the opening of the Norwegian spaceport at Andøya, Andøya Spaceport has reached yet another important milestone towards the first launch of satellites from Norwegian soil.

On Thursday 22nd of August, Andøya Spaceport received its Launch Site Operator license from the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Fisheries. Norway is thus taking another important step into the newspace age and consolidating Norway’s position as the leading space nation in the Arctic.

With this license, Andøya Spaceport located on the island of Andøya in Nordland has formally become a Launch Site Operator, with the overall responsibility for developing, operating and ensuring safe operations from the newly developed spaceport. The license allows the spaceport to operate the launch site for launch vehicles that places satellites into orbit from Norwegian soil.

“There is a huge team effort behind the work to get this license in place. Ever since 2018, our team has been building the foundation that now enables launch of satellites from Norwegian soil. The Collaboration with Isar Aerospace, authorities and stakeholder groups has been key. Building a spaceport from scratch has required patience, creativity and perseverance, and has demanded varied expertise from many different industries.“ said Lasse Berg, Interim President, Andøya Spaceport.

Norway as a space nation and safe steward of spaceport concepts for Europe

The fact that Andøya Spaceport has now received permission to conduct operations have major strategic implications for Norway and our partners and marks the start of Norway’s newspace age. The space industry is not only a critical factor in handling national and international functions, but also a catalyst for innovation and economic growth as it opens the doors to an entirely new ecosystem. With Andøya Spaceport as an operational spaceport, Norway can now play an active role in the global space industry by offering sovereign, reliable and fast access to space from Norwegian soil. This is an important step in positioning Norway as a key actor for space infrastructure, and it emphasizes national ambitions to become a key space nation in Europe. (Source: Satnews)

26 Aug 24. Bridge Technologies launches upgraded satellite module. As part of a wider range of upgrade modules being made for their existing VB120 and VB220 monitoring probe lines, Bridge Technologies has launched their VB278 module, which will expand the extensive capabilities of both base probes to incorporate satellite contribution and direct-to-home distribution monitoring, supporting the DVB-S, DVB-S2 and DVB-S2X modulation standards.

The base VB120 and VB220 accommodate a range of network standards, including IP unicasts and multicasts, OTT/ABR streams, and a whole range of RF formats, as well as SRT and ASI, offering key monitoring features such as TR 101 290 analysis, IP multicast monitoring, HLS/M-DASH monitoring, TS recording, RF analysis and SRT relay operations. SRT (Secure Reliability Transport) is of particular interest, because it allows for received RF streams to be converted into an IP/UDP stream, which is then made available via the SRT standard. This framework makes it possible to gain central access to streams that would otherwise be hard to access, thus giving engineers greater insight, diagnostic capability and control over their network.

Through the addition of new VB278 module, these probes gain up to four independent RF L-band inputs, which allow for the specific monitoring and analysis of the RF streams found in satellite contribution and direct-to-home distribution infrastructure. With each VB278 module, one input is activated by default, and the other three through software license key. Two VB278 modules can be added to any single chassis, therefore allowing for up to eight independent RF inputs, and through the use of round-robin operation, a significantly higher number of transponders can be monitored overall.

Alongside support for DVB-S, DVB-S2 and DVB-S2X, the VB278 supports QPSK, 8PSK and 8/16/32APSK modulation standards, along with DirecTV and AMC mode support. Configuration of the probe for symbol rate detection – requiring only the input of the frequency by the user – adds to the intuitive and easy-to-use nature of the module, an element common to all Bridge probes. Moreover, the VB278 incorporates a range of monitoring metrics and graphs specific to satellite signal analysis, including Modulation Error Rate (MER), Signal to Noise Rate (SNR), Error Vector Magnitude (EVM), Constellation Diagrams, RS Packet Error, Trend RF graphs, Pilot detection and Energy per information bit/transmitted bit/symbol to noise power spectral density ratio. These are all presented using clear, intuitive, at-a-glance metrics which inform in-the-moment decision making, along with longer term, strategic planning, both in terms of network engineering and business development. All of this data can be accessed from anywhere in the world through any HTML5-enabled web browser.

In addition, the VB278 is future-proofed through the incorporation of an expansion port for hardware add-on functionality, which in the near-future will include a Software-Defined-Radio (SDR) plug-on block which allows for a range of added functions, including waterfall spectrum analysis and I/Q spectrum triggered recording. These expanded functionalities will have importance for areas such as signal interference detection and intermittent fault analysis, and represent Bridge Technologies’ commitment to increasing the range, flexibility, functionality, versatility and capacity of their core monitoring solutions, providing for broadcasters who maintain complex, hybrid and evolving networks.

Chairman Simen K. Frostad said, “Our commitment to IP-based broadcast – a vision we’ve held for 20 years – has been vindicated in the broadcast market. But even bigger than that is our commitment to monitoring in general, regardless of platform. We will be looking forward to demonstrating this entire range of Bridge monitoring solutions at IBC2024, with a particular focus on the way that our full range of monitoring probes can be combined to meet the unique needs of individual customer systems architectures, all accessible through a single, intuitive interface. That is why we have developed an extensive range of add-ons for our core VB120 and VB220 probes, including the VB273 for redundancy and the VB258 for the monitoring of DVB-T/T2, ATSC1.0/ATSC 3.0, DVB-C, QAM-B and ISDB-T formats.” (Source: Satnews)

01 Sept 24. FAA lifts latest Falcon 9 ban in days. The rocket lifted off from Cape Canaveral in Florida on Saturday, placing 21 Starlink satellites in orbit before a separate Falcon 9 delivered another batch of 21 into low-Earth orbit (LEO) from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California.

It comes after the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) paused blast-offs after one of the boosters failed to land correctly on the drone ship at sea. The bodged touchdown was the first mishap in 267 attempts, stretching back to February 2021.

SpaceX revolutionised launch when it pioneered reusable rockets over a decade ago.

The innovation dramatically lowers the cost of placing satellites in orbit by preserving the most expensive part of the launch vehicle, which can often cost the same as a commercial airliner.

The Falcon 9 first stage has four landing legs made from carbon fibre and aluminium honeycomb that deploy just before landing. Automation, rather than human control, makes rapid control decisions that allow the touchdowns to be reliable.

The FAA gave no reason for lifting the ban so quickly. However, it is thought that it allowed launches to continue mid-investigation, as the failure presented no risk to the public.

SpaceX itself insisted the incident was “purely a recovery issue” that posed no threat to its mission, which otherwise deployed its satellites successfully.

“The SpaceX Falcon 9 vehicle may return to flight operations while the overall investigation of the anomaly during the Starlink Group 8-6 mission remains open, provided all other licence requirements are met,” the FAA said in a statement.

“SpaceX made the return to flight request on August 29, and the FAA gave approval on August 30.”

The news comes after the FAA lifted a separate Falcon 9 ban in July following a problem with a second-stage engine that failed to reignite on schedule.

After a short investigation, SpaceX concluded the problem was caused by a liquid oxygen leak within the insulation around the upper-stage engine.

The company was able to contact 10 of the satellites planned for orbit but revealed they were in an “enormously high-drag environment” that prevented their rescue.

As a short-term fix, engineers are now removing the failed sense line and sensor on the second-stage engine to enable blast-offs to continue. (Source: Space Connect)

SATELLITE SYSTEMS, SATCOM AND SPACE SYSTEMS UPDATE

August 30, 2024 by

28 Aug 24. SDA begins prototype work on Warlock fire-control payload. A SpaceX Falcon 9 loaded with a Tranche 0 payload variant for the Space Development Agency’s Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture (PWSA) sits on the launch pad at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. (Space Development Agency)

The Space Development Agency (SDA) has begun prototype development for a new fire-control mission payload system, as part of the agency’s kick-off for the newest satellite variant in its Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture (PWSA).

Prototype variants of the Warlock fire-control mission payload will be included in the mission loadout for the new Gamma variant satellites for Tranche 2 of the PWSA’s Transport Layer constellation, according to an SDA statement.

Agency officials awarded Colorado-based York Space Systems and Tyvak Nano-Satellite Systems in California the USD424 m development contract for 20 Tranche 2 Transport Layer (T2TL) Gamma satellites in August.

Under the terms of the firm-fixed price, other transaction authority (OTA) agreements, each company will build 10 T2TL-Gamma satellite prototypes, for a total of 20 T2TL-Gamma space vehicles (SVs) and payloads.

The York Space Systems’ segment of the OTA contract is worth approximately USD170 m, with Tyvak Nano-Satellite Systems receiving USD245 m as part of the T2TL-Gamma deal. In addition to the Warlock payload, SDA programme officials are developing other prototype applications for the Gamma variant satellites.

In addition to the Warlock payload, York Space Systems and Tyvak Nano-Satellite Systems will produce a Ka-band mission payload, as well as subsystem prototypes to address data network routing, signal encryption, and platform navigation, according to the T2TL-Gamma industry solicitation issued in December 2023. (Source: Janes)

28 Aug 24. Gotonomi, a leading provider of UAV satellite connectivity solutions, has announced the completion of further successful flight trials and the opening of orders for production units of all variants of its UAV satcom terminals at Commercial UAV Expo 2024 in Las Vegas. The launch marks a significant milestone, transitioning from pre-production flight development kits to type-approved, commercial terminals, enabling scalable beyond visual line of sight operations (BVLOS) for drone operators wishing to offer services such as inspection, surveillance, and delivery.

Following extensive verification testing, including flight trials across the EU, US, Canada, Australia, UK, and Brazil, deliveries of CE/FCC/RCC/ISED marked units will start from October 2024. All commercially available terminal variants will have achieved Viasat type approval making them the first UAV terminals to receive approval for Regional Class 4 operations. Flight development kits for R&D purposes are still available for delivery now.

Matthew Hill, General Manager at Gotonomi, stated, “Following an extensive period of testing of our flight development kits, were thrilled to move into the production phase and preparing to ship commercial product. We see the Inspection and Surveillance market pushing forward the need for reliable BVLOS operations and we’re delighted to offer the Velaris Inspection Bundle, in collaboration with our partners Viasat and Videosoft Global, to meet the needs of those customers.”

The ‘inspection and surveillance’ product bundle, includes:

Gotonomi Velaris Edge Module, with integrated SOM
Gotonomi 200-A Omni Antenna
Videosoft’s ultra-low bandwidth video streaming software pre-loaded on the terminal
Videosoft software licence
Viasat airtime
The Inspection Bundle will be launched with introductory incentive pricing applied to a limited quantity. Expressions of interest will be taken at CUAV Expo.

25 Aug 24. ‘Stranded’ Starliner crew to return with SpaceX in U-turn. NASA has finally conceded defeat and revealed the ‘stranded’ Starliner crew on the ISS will return to Earth with SpaceX in February.

The space agency said returning Sunita “Suni” Williams and Barry “Butch” Wilmore onboard the Boeing spacecraft was too risky as engineers still hadn’t fully deduced what went wrong with its thrusters.

The news means Starliner will now return to Earth without crew early next month, while two of the four astronauts originally due to blast off on the upcoming SpaceX Crew-9 mission will lose their seats.

After a series of delays, Starliner finally blasted off to the ISS in June on its historic first crewed mission. The spacecraft was due to come back after just a week, but issues with both the thrusters and helium leaks mean their stay will now extend to eight months.

Previously, both Boeing and NASA have strongly denied any suggestion the pair would not return on Starliner, despite the potential to send it back home autonomously without crew.

Over the last two months, teams on Earth have been trying to duplicate the loss of performance in the thrusters, with researchers concluding that a Teflon seal had heated and expanded, which constrained the flow of oxidiser.

However, on Saturday, Steve Stich, NASA commercial crew program manager, revealed there was still “too much uncertainty” in predicting how the thruster would perform after undocking.

“There was just too much risk for the crew, and so we decided to pursue the uncrewed test flight,” he said.

Ken Bowersox, NASA’s associate administrator for space operations, added that one important factor in making the call was that teams didn’t know much about how they could use the thrusters on the way back home “before we encounter a problem”.

In a boost to Boeing, though, Bowersox said the decision was a close call and only made last week.

“With more time, we might have gotten a lot smarter, but we’re just at the point where we need to bring Starliner home,” he said.

Bill Nelson, NASA’s administrator, also attempted to downplay criticism of Boeing by arguing spaceflight is risky “even at its routine” and a test flight “by nature is neither safe nor routine”.

“So the decision to keep Butch and Suni aboard the ISS and bring the Boeing Starliner home uncrewed is a result of a commitment to safety,” he said. “Safety is our North Star of what we are trying to do in a very hostile environment, in which if you make a mistake, it’s very unforgiving.”

The current Starliner mission is the final test flight before NASA certifies the vehicle for regular operational missions.

Starliner was initially due to blast off to the ISS in early May, but the first attempt was scrubbed at the last minute because of a faulty valve on the rocket’s Centaur upper stage.

A subsequent try was also repeatedly delayed, this time due to a helium issue. Finally, a third problem was found to be linked to a flange in a thruster in the spacecraft’s service module.

May’s scrubbed launches are the latest in years of issues for Starliner, which Boeing hopes will be able to regularly send US astronauts into space much like SpaceX’s Dragon capsule.

Starliner’s first attempt at a flight without humans onboard failed in 2019 due to software glitches, but it eventually docked with the ISS in May 2022. (Source: Space Connect)

26 Aug 24. Axiom Space and Nokia Partner to Enable High-Speed Cellular Network Capabilities in Next-Gen Lunar Spacesuits.

Axiom Space has partnered with Nokia to integrate advanced 4G/LTE communication capabilities into the next-generation spacesuits that will be used for the Artemis III lunar mission.

Together, Nokia and Axiom Space will incorporate high-speed cellular-network capabilities in the Axiom Extravehicular Mobility Unit (AxEMU), supporting HD video, telemetry data and voice transmission over multiple kilometers on the Moon. This advancement will enable Artemis III crewmembers to capture real-time video and communicate with mission controllers on Earth while they explore the lunar surface.

“Axiom Space is excited to work with Nokia to build on the advanced capabilities of our next-generation spacesuit,” said Russell Ralston, Axiom Space executive vice president of extravehicular activity. “Adding high-speed 4G/LTE network capability on the Moon will serve as a vital bridge linking astronauts to Earth, facilitating crucial data exchange, and enabling high-definition video communication over long distances.”

Nokia plans to deploy the first cellular network on the Moon as part of Intuitive Machines’ IM-2 mission, which is scheduled to be delivered to the launch site in 2024. During that mission, Nokia aims to demonstrate that cellular connectivity can facilitate crucial communications during future lunar or Mars missions. Nokia’s Lunar Surface Communications System (LSCS), pioneered by Nokia Bell Labs’ research and innovation, will be deployed during IM-2 and will be further adapted for use in the AxEMU spacesuit.

“Just as astronauts will need life support, shelter and food, they will need advanced networks to communicate with each other and go about their crucial work,” said Thierry E. Klein, President of Bell Labs Solutions Research at Nokia. “Bell Labs has a long history of working on space projects, and Nokia is a leader in designing and building networks that connect the world. We are taking advantage of the same standards-based technologies that connect bns of devices on Earth every day, while bringing new innovation and technologies to bear on the specific challenges encountered in space.”

The fully autonomous LSCS has two components: a network- in- a- box combines the radio, base station and core network elements of a terrestrial cellular network into a single unit, and device modules that will be integrated into the AxEMU spacesuits. Both the network and device modules have been carefully engineered to withstand the extreme environmental conditions on the lunar surface and the dynamic stress of spaceflight, and have been optimized for size, weight and power consumption.

Axiom Space was recently awarded $57.5m from NASA to make this 4G/LTE network modification to the lunar spacesuit for the Artemis III mission, building upon its first Artemis task order in 2022, valued at $228 m.

Axiom Space’s spacesuits will provide astronauts with advanced capabilities for space exploration while providing NASA with commercially developed human systems needed to access, live, and work on and around the Moon.

Axiom Space’s development of these next-generation spacesuits and Nokia’s lunar surface communications innovations are significant advancements toward furthering American leadership in space exploration, enabling a deeper understanding of the Moon, the solar system, and beyond. (Source: ASD Network)

20 Aug 24. SpaceX shares the sky with smallsat rideshare mission. On Friday, August 16, SpaceX launched its rideshare satellites. Photo captured by Satnews from SpaceX’s video stream.

A beautiful day at the beach just perfect for a launch. SpaceX enjoyed another successful launch at 11:53 PDT on Friday, August 16, when Falcon 9 launched the Transporter-11 mission to low-Earth orbit from Space Launch Complex 4E (SLC-4E) at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California.

Transporter 11 includes a variety of payloads from different companies such as an Nvidia Jetson Orin NX chip that provides AI and edge computing graphics processing unit (GPU).

There are 116 payloads on this flight, including CubeSats, MicroSats, and an orbital transfer vehicle carrying eight of those payloads, five of which will be be deployed at a later time. To date, SpaceX has launched more than 1,000 smallsats for 130+ customers across their entire Rideshare program.

This is the 12th flight for the first stage booster supporting this mission which previously launched SDA-0A, SARah-2, and nine Starlink missions. Following stage separation, Falcon 9 landed on Landing Zone 4 (LZ-4) at Vandenberg Space Force Base. (Source: Satnews)

20 Aug 24. ISRO’s mission success with EOS-08 launch.

SSLV-D3 Mission:

The third developmental flight of SSLV is successful. The SSLV-D3 placed EOS-08 precisely into the orbit.

The third developmental flight of SSLV is successfully launched on August 16, 2024.

This flight completes the SSLV Development Project and enables operational missions by Indian industry and NSIL.

The primary objectives of the EOS-08 mission include designing and developing a microsatellite, creating payload instruments compatible with the microsatellite bus, and incorporating new technologies required for future operational satellites.

ISRO to launch EOS-08’s three payloads on Friday

ISRO is prepped to launch an Earth observation satellite EOS-08 onboard the third and final developmental flight of its Small Satellite Launch Vehicle on Friday morning. The primary objectives of the EOS-08 mission include designing and developing a microsatellite, creating payload instruments compatible with the microsatellite bus, and incorporating new technologies required for future operational satellites.

The Satish Dhawan Space Centre spaceport located about 135 km east of Chennai is buzzing with activity once again as ISRO gears up for a rocket launch nearly after a gap of about six months.

The previous missions undertaken by the Bengaluru-headquartered space agency in 2024 were the successful launches of PSLV-C58/XPoSat mission on January 1 and GSLV-F14/INSAT-3DS mission on February 17. (Source: Satnews)

16 Aug 24. Sateliot prepares for commercial ops following the successful launch of 4 new satellites. Sateliot has successfully launched four additional satellites as part of the company’s 5G NB-IoT NTN constellation— these satellites, designed to extend the coverage of Mobile Telecom Operators to 100% of the planet, were deployed via the SpaceX Transporter-11 mission.

The launch occurred on Friday, August 16, at 20:18 CET, aboard a Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. A special event in Barcelona brought together the Sateliot family and key stakeholders to witness the launch live, featuring support from ESA, GSMA, the Spanish Government, and more.

Presented by Josep Calatayud, director of the “Control de Misión” YouTube channel , the event featured interviews with shareholders, authorities, and employees. Co-founders Jaume Sanpera (CEO) and Marco Guadalupi (CTO) provided in-depth explanations and forecasts for Sateliot’s future.

Re-watch the entire event at this direct link…

Inspired by Antoni Gaudí‘s iconic dragon, the mission badge for ‘Revolution‘ symbolizes the resilience of Sateliot’s technology and the company’s global ambitions. The four flames represent each newly launched satellite, with the multicolored fragments foreshadowing a constellation of more than 100 satellites by 2028. It also represents the revolution of the 5G NB-IoT NTN standard as Sateliot is presented with the opportunity to transform industries worldwide; regardless of location or infrastructure, connectivity black spots will become a thing of the past.

The technology incorporates enhancements from previous satellites and is the first constellation to implement standard GSMA and 3GPP developments fully on satellites. In addition to providing commercial services, Sateliot aims to use these advancements to continue leading the NTN community in future innovations.. Sateliot’s approach, featuring its patented “Store and Forward” technology, offers unparalleled global connectivity with its new orbital plane.

Additionally, the company is advancing a certification program for commercial terminals to expedite the integration of their service into the market. Looking ahead, Sateliot plans to deploy additional satellites by 2025 and is actively engaged in discussions to secure a Series B funding round of 30m euros.

Since its founding in 2018, Sateliot has raised 25m euros and aims to achieve revenues of 1bn euros by 2030. Sateliot’s technology, which initially will connect more than eight m devices from companies that have already contracted the service, is characterized by its democratic and accessible nature. It is designed to support a wide range of use cases for SMEs, public administrations, and large enterprises in sectors such as agriculture, livestock, logistics, and critical infrastructures. (Source: Satnews)

18 Aug 24. Planet launches 1st Tanager-1 (Hyperspectral Satellite) + 36 SuperDoves with SpaceX. Planet Labs PBC (NYSE:PL) has revealed that the company’s first announced hyperspectral satellite, Tanager-1, along with 36 SuperDoves (Flock 4BE) were successfully launched into orbit during the Transporter-11 Rideshare mission with SpaceX, which lifted off from Vandenberg Space Force Base on Friday, August 16, 2024 — the Planet team has successfully made contact with Tanager-1 and has started the commissioning process.

Tanager-1 is made possible by the Carbon Mapper Coalition , a philanthropically-funded effort to develop and deploy satellites designed to detect and track methane and CO2 super-emitters at a level of granularity needed to support direct mitigation action.

Tanager-1 combines Planet’s cutting-edge agile aerospace and smallsat bus technology with the state-of-the-art imaging spectrometer design developed at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL).

Methane is a potent greenhouse gas that has accounted for around 30 percent of atmospheric warming since 1750. In order to slow and ultimately halt global warming, methane emissions must be slashed this decade along with a sustained program to reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. Future Tanager imagery will be analyzed by expert scientists at Carbon Mapper for methane and CO2 source detection and quantification, meanwhile Planet will commercialize the hyperspectral data for a variety of use cases including defense and intelligence monitoring, biodiversity assessments, mineral mapping, and water quality assessments.

Photo of Planet’s SuperDoves smallsats, image courtesy of the company.

In addition to Tanager-1, the Transporter-11 rocket delivered 36 SuperDoves to orbit to contribute to Planet’s flagship daily, global monitoring mission (please see www.planet.com/pulse/36-planet-superdoves-successfully-launch-on-spacexs-falcon-9-rocket/). PlanetScope data is used by hundreds of customers in defense and intelligence, civil government, and commercial markets to take informed action, and better contextualize events they’re seeing on the ground now. Planet’s daily scan and deep archive of data across the globe is unique within the industry and provides customers with a continuous and comprehensive view of their areas of interest. Further, the archive acts as a rich training ground for predictive machine-learning and advanced artificial-intelligence models, accelerating users’ ability to draw insights from the terabytes of data collected by Planet each day.

“This is an amazing all California effort! A Planet satellite carrying a JPL payload on a SpaceX rocket, from Vandenberg Air Force Base for a California charity Carbon Mapper to help the State of California! We’re proud to be a part of it,” said Will Marshall, Co-Founder and CEO of Planet. “Delivering innovative space-based solutions to our customers that improve environmental conditions is core to our mission. Placing cutting-edge imaging spectrometer technology in a smallsat bus platform is a remarkable achievement for this Coalition. I’m incredibly proud of our team and everyone who helped bring this satellite to life.” (Source: Satnews)

18 Aug 24. KSAT providing satellite C&C for ESA’s Arctic Weather satellite. Kongsberg Satellite Services (KSAT) significantly expanded their ground segment capabilities and the company is delivering comprehensive, end-to-end, ground segment services, including satellite operations (SatOps), for the European Space Agency’s (ESA) Arctic Weather Satellite mission as part of a consortium with Thales Alenia Space, headed up by OHB Sweden.

As part of their New Space approach, ESA has engaged a consortium of industry leaders, with OHB Sweden responsible for building the satellite and KSAT entrusted with operating the entire ground segment.

KSAT’s role in this mission is essential. The company is operating all aspects of the ground segment, from launch support to first contact all the way through to decommissioning. This includes advanced satellite operations designed to optimize performance and reliability through automated systems, minimizing the need for human intervention. With this capability, KSAT ensures seamless communication and control throughout the entire lifecycle of the Arctic Weather Satellite.

The data collected by this satellite will be critical in improving weather forecasting in the Arctic region and supporting vital climate research. KSAT’s extensive ground station network, including the world’s largest polar station in Svalbard, provides unparalleled access and communication capabilities for LEO satellites, making it an ideal partner for this mission.

“ESA’s New Space approach for this mission is a game-changer, and we are thrilled to be a part of it. By providing the full ground segment, including satellite operations, we are not only supporting the Arctic Weather Satellite but also showcasing the strength and flexibility of commercial partnerships in space,” said Rolf Skatteboe CEO and President of KSAT. “By incorporating satellite operations into our ground segment services, we are now able to provide an unmatched end-to-end solution for satellite missions. This positions KSAT as a total provider in the ground segment, capable of delivering scalable and cost-effective services to our clients. We take care of the ground so that they can focus on their mission. Our involvement in the Arctic Weather Satellite mission is a testament to our advanced capabilities and our ability to meet the demands of complex satellite missions. We are excited to contribute to this mission, which will have a significant impact on weather forecasting and climate research in the future.” (Source: Satnews)

23 Aug 24. UK says space-related risks remain 50 percent above average. The National Space Operations Centre (NSpOC) says that overall risks to UK interests in space and on Earth from space-related threats, risks, and hazards were lower in July than in June with fewer re-entry, conjunction and space weather alerts issued. Whilst the number of re-entry events meeting the alert threshold reduced from a high in June, the number of re-entries monitored remained above average for 2024.

NSpOC reports that all the centre’s warning and protection services functioned as expected throughout the period.

A total of 44 uncontrolled re-entries were monitored by NSpOC in July. This represents 8 percent fewer objects re-entering the Earth’s atmosphere in July than June, but this is still approximately 50 percent above average for the year. NSpOC attributes this trend to the planned decommissioning of small communications satellites and expects this above average trend to continue in August. On 19 July, a US satellite DMSP 5D-2 F8 fragmented, generating five pieces of catalogued debris. Investigations suggest that the main body of the satellite may remain largely intact.

During the whole month of July, NSpOC warned UK-licensed satellite operators of 1,795 potential collision risks. Such warnings enable operators to take critical collision avoidance decisions. Meanwhile, the Met Office issued 27 critical space weather alerts in July, representing a 58 percent decrease from June.

There were 13 new launches in July and a total increase in the US Satellite Catalogue of 143 registered space objects (RSOs). Of those launches, three were performed by SpaceX to deploy an additional 22 Starlink satellites. The remaining 121 RSOs were from previous months or new launches, ISS deployed satellites, or debris newly recorded in the US Satellite Catalogue.

The UK Space Agency released its updated evaluation strategy on 22 August. The strategy notes that “the evidence base for understanding which space interventions work, why, and how is emerging” but warns that research development and innovation in space is challenging to evaluate. It cites the example of the first Active Debris Removal (ADR) mission, which is yet to happen but scheduled to take place in 2025. The UK government first unveiled its Plan for Space Sustainability in 2022 with the aim of tackling the growing volume of debris in space.

(Source: www.unmannedairspace.info)

SATELLITE SYSTEMS, SATCOM AND SPACE SYSTEMS UPDATE

August 23, 2024 by

22 Aug 24. Neumann’s electric propulsion system successfully tested.

Neumann Space has successfully completed the first tests in orbit of its electric propulsion system.

The SA-based company’s ‘Neumann Drive’ is attached to the University of Melbourne’s SpIRIT nanosatellite, which blasted off last December.

This month, SpIRIT was able to charge the device’s power capacitors using its solar panels and batteries.

It also conducted several test firings, which significantly demonstrated that Molybdenum could be used as a solid metallic propellant.

“The SpIRIT nanosatellite has been operating in orbit approximately 500km above Earth since its launch on 1 December 2023, during which time the consortium has worked to perform numerous diagnostic tests to validate the system’s electronics and, in doing so, confirm the resilience of the Neumann Drive to the challenging launch and orbital environments,” said Neumann Space.

“A comprehensive Neumann Drive testing campaign will continue for the remaining of the two-year SpIRIT mission, with the goal of establishing for the first time the long-term characterisation of the system in orbit.”

Enrico Palermo, head of the Australian Space Agency, said, “The Agency congratulates Neumann Space and the SpIRIT team on this milestone, and we’re proud that our investment in this science mission continues to boost Australia’s space heritage.”

SpIRIT, meanwhile, aims to search for gamma rays. The 11.5-kilogram device deploys solar panels and thermal radiators to search for the elusive phenomenon created when stars die or collide.

The project – known in full as the Space Industry Responsive Intelligent Thermal nanosatellite – is a unique collaboration with the Italian Space Agency, which has created the scientific instruments on board.

Four years in the making, its solar panels power the “selfie stick” camera, guidance systems, and a pioneering electric propulsion system created by Neumann Space.

It’s designed to fly in low-Earth orbit for two years in a polar (or sun-synchronous) orbit, travelling “vertically” from north to south but positioned so it always faces the sun at a similar angle.

When its mission is complete, SpIRIT will be placed in a safe mode and burn up on re-entry into the atmosphere.

The project is a significant moment for the local industry, given it’s also a collaboration between Inovor Technologies, Neumann Space, Sitael Australia, and Nova Systems. The Australian Space Agency supported the project with almost $7m in grants.

22 Aug 24. European Space Agency selects CGI to implement pilot study for European Civil Security from Space hub network. CGI (TSX: GIB.A) (NYSE: GIB), one of the largest independent IT and business consulting services firms in the world, has been awarded a study by the European Space Agency (ESA) to better define the needs and specifications of a suite of Civil Security from Space (CSS) Hubs. CSS aims to bring together – as part of a European network – a suite of space technologies, such as communication, Earth Observation (EO) and navigation, within an “integrated system” delivering real-time actionable information to first responders during crises. Fraunhofer Institute for Telecommunications, Heinrich Hertz Institute (HHI) is also part of the team, augmenting CGI’s expertise in Artificial Intelligence (AI), a key tool needed to integrate big data from different sources and enable fast predictions.

A key focus of the study will be on a new generation of a “digital marketplace” enabling rapid access to integrated satcom and EO services. The aim is to enable users – for example, first responders and crisis centers – to receive actionable and trustworthy space-based solutions in a timely and secure manner.

By fostering such “integrated system”, ESA intends to use CGI’s expertise in disaster management and GOVSATCOM services to enable new solutions and market opportunities supporting crisis and disaster management.

Integration of AI technologies will be one of this project’s most important components. Two use cases will be studied as examples: one on detecting areas afflicted by fires and the other on modelling precipitation runoff. CGI is responsible for the fire detection use case, while HHI will contribute the use case on modelling precipitation runoff.

“The goal of the study is to provide seamless access to state-of-the-art satellite communication and earth observation services and enable deployed teams to quickly obtain important information – whenever and wherever it is needed,” explains Stephane Pirio, ESA Pooling and sharing development manager. “Within the scope of this study, a single interface prototype platform will be prototyped by merging different space-related disciplines – telecommunications and earth observation. This new approach will revolutionize the work of players in the realm of civilian security while enabling them to acquire, monitor, and administer a variety of services.”

CGI is responsible for strategically planning the study with the participation of various interest groups, supported by HHI. Together with HHI, CGI will develop a roadmap for the combined Satcom and EO marketplace and design a prototype that integrates the CGI Sense360 IP solution. CGI’s solution provides complete situational images while drawing on data from a wide variety of sources including satellites, drones, maps, data on infrastructure, geodata, weather and environmental data, online databases, blogs, and social media. The prototype will capitalize on a centralized ‘pooling and sharing’ system for secure satellite communication services, previously developed by CGI with support of ESA, as a key building block of the GOVSATCOM hub.

“With CGI Sense360, we have the technical expertise in building earth observation services and developing corresponding platforms for data analysis. Drawing upon our experience in supporting clients globally with natural disaster planning and recovery programs, we will develop the feasibility study for European Civil Security stakeholders and support in delivering more efficient and effective ways to organize rescue operations during humanitarian crises,” said Ulli Leibnitz, Senior Vice President Consulting Services and Head of the Space Division in Germany. “Together with HHI, we are well positioned to recruit and integrate a variety of stakeholders for defining standards that will then enable, for the first time, the comprehensive use of earth observation and satellite communication technologies for civil security.”

21 Aug 24. Reliant on Starlink, Army eager for more SATCOM constellation options. The Army is leaning heavily on SpaceX’s Starlink satellite network for advanced command and control, but service officials say they want to keep their options open as new commercial megaconstellations materialize.

Mark Kitz, the Army’s program executive officer for tactical command, control and communications, said Wednesday that the importance of proliferated low Earth orbit satellite networks was on display at the service’s most recent Project Convergence Capstone event, where the Army experiments with multi-domain connectivity concepts.

“I don’t think you could take 10 steps without tripping over a Starshield terminal,” Kitz said at AFCEA’s TechNet conference in Augusta, Georgia. “I would say the Army is very committed to pLEO and Starshield.”

Starshield is SpaceX’s military business unit, which provides access to the company’s Starlink constellation, a fleet of more than 6,000 satellites in LEO, about 1,200 miles above Earth’s surface. The growing network of spacecraft provides internet service for private consumers as well as militaries around the world.

The company has expanded its military space footprint in recent years, providing launch services through its Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy rockets and receiving its first military satellite production contract in 2021 from the Space Development Agency.

The Ukrainian military has relied heavily on Starlink in its war with Russia, and last year the U.S. Space Force awarded the company a contract for the satellite service. Starshield is also building a classified constellation of hundreds of spy satellites for the National Reconnaissance Office, Reuters reported earlier this year.

While Starlink is the dominant player providing space-based communications services, several other companies have plans to join them. Amazon is designing a 3,000-satellite network called Project Kuiper, with its first operational spacecraft slated to launch late this year. U.K.-based OneWeb and Luxembourg’s Intelsat are also developing large SATCOM constellations with slightly different market focuses than SpaceX.

Speaking with Kitz at TechNet, Director of the Army’s Network Cross-Functional Team Maj. Gen. Patrick Ellis said that as these constellations come online, the Army wants to ensure its units have access to multiple connectivity options.

“What we’re really looking for is that diversification of transport, and that is one of the tools we’re looking to give commanders,” Ellis said.

One way the Army is looking to give commanders access to more satellite services is through its Next-Generation Tactical Terminal. The program is designing a capability to leverage constellations based in multiple orbits and frequency bands through a single terminal by building an agnostic radio frequency receiver.

“We want to get out of bringing a new antenna every time we want to change providers,” Kitz said. “If a unit deploys and they want to leverage a Ka-band Kuiper, they have that RF front end. If they want to be leveraging Starshield, we swap modems and we go.” (Source: Defense News)

19 Aug 24. Sceye, an aerospace company with a background in material science and manufacturer of High-Altitude Platform Systems (HAPS), announced today that it completed a full diurnal flight in the stratosphere while staying over an area of operation. This is a critical milestone towards long-duration flights of months or years by using of solar power through daylight hours, and battery capacity enabling overnight flight through solar recharge the next morning. The HAPS launched at 7:36 AM MST on August 15th from the company’s New Mexico facility and landed at 12:21 PM MST the following day after the flight test points were completed.

“This is a significant milestone for the Sceye team, towards opening up vast opportunities in the stratosphere, building an entirely new layer of infrastructure between drones and satellites,” said Sceye CEO and Founder, Mikkel Vestergaard Frandsen. The ability to stay in the stratosphere for long durations over an area of operation offers a unique vantage point for detecting climate disasters in real time like wildfires and methane leaks, as well as connectivity to the bns of unconnected which conventional infrastructures cannot serve.

Today’s launch furthered all key stratospheric objectives of the Sceye 2024 test program, including demonstrating diurnal flight, controlled relocation, and the ability to stay over an area of operation. The completion of these objectives will allow Sceye to initiate commercial use cases.

“The flight was an important demonstration of our platform’s performance and resilience. I’m looking forward to seeing the growth and capabilities scale with each and every flight that follows,” said Stephanie Luongo, Sceye Chief of Mission Operations.

Sceye has completed twenty test flights, with two additional test flights planned for 2024, further maturing the platform in preparation for commercialization.

The flight carried an advanced payload suite consisting of instruments for addressing some of humanity’s most critical issues : stereo-optical cameras, for creating precise elevation models used to understand disasters such as floodings and earthquakes and how to mitigate them; infrared cameras to allow for prediction and detection of wildfires and to detect methane leaks in real time, representing two significant sources of global warming. The payload also included synthetic aperture radar that allows the platform to see through clouds and observe the planet’s most vital systems in any weather and time of day.

About Sceye

Sceye is an aerospace company founded in 2014 to unleash the possibilities in the stratosphere by uplifting and connecting all people and protecting our planet. The company is leading the industry of High-Altitude Platform Systems (HAPS) to provide universal and equitable connectivity, improve climate change monitoring, natural resource stewardship, wildfire detection and better detect and contain disasters before they spiral out of control. (Source: PR Newswire)

19 Aug 24. Umbra, a vertically integrated space technology company operating the world’s highest resolution commercial Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) satellites, today announced that it has successfully launched a new pair of SAR satellites, Umbra-09 and Umbra-10, aboard the Transporter-11 Rideshare mission with SpaceX on August 16, 2024.

Umbra launched its first mission that included two-satellite tandem operations, Umbra-07 and Umbra-08, aboard the Transporter-9 mission on November 9, 2023. Umbra will continue deploying its constellation to satisfy global commercial demand for high-resolution, densely spaced monostatic and multistatic imagery.

“Umbra already delivers the largest volume of high-resolution SAR imagery in the concentrated areas of highest demand,” said Todd Master, Chief Operating Officer of Umbra. “These additional satellites will unlock even more imagery over high-demand areas for our customers, and our paired operations offer the ability to generate incredible data products uniquely enabled by Umbra.”

Thanks to their unique satellite design and advanced mission scheduling technology, Umbra satellites capture seven times more images over high-demand areas and in higher resolution than any commercial competitor.

Umbra has won several contracts with government and commercial organizations like Maxar, the largest commercial satellite imagery vendor in the U.S. Umbra data provides timely insights and actionable intelligence when and where it’s needed most.

Umbra recently expanded its business by launching a Mission Solutions line, leveraging its vertical integration and remote sensing expertise to develop custom satellite solutions for governments and large multinational corporations.

Since its establishment in 2015, Umbra has become a leader in remote sensing. Umbra’s innovative SAR imaging and patented satellite technology solutions offer all-weather, day-and-night monitoring, setting new standards for reliability, precision, and intelligence gathering.

ABOUT UMBRA

Umbra is a vertically integrated space technology company providing satellite technology solutions and intelligence data as a service to commercial and government customers. Our cutting-edge products help customers solve complex business, environmental, and security challenges. Umbra is founded, funded, built and operated in the USA with headquarters in Santa Barbara, California, and has a presence in Austin, Texas, and Washington, D.C. For more information, visit https://umbra.space (Source: PR Newswire)

19 Aug 24. The Polaris Program, a test and developmental program of new spaceflight technology, will usher in a new era of commercial space exploration when SpaceX’s Falcon 9 launches the program’s first mission, Polaris Dawn, on Monday, August 26, 2024. This milestone mission will include testing a next-generation spacesuit during the first commercial spacewalk; endeavoring to achieve the highest altitude of any human spaceflight mission since the Apollo program; and testing a new communication system using Starlink. There will be a special on-orbit reading of a children’s book, Kisses from Space, written by a crewmember; and much more. The four crewmembers will also use their approximately five days on-orbit to conduct nearly 40 critical health research experiments, all while raising funds for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital®.

“After more than two years of training, we are excited to embark on this mission,” said Jared Isaacman, commander of the Polaris Dawn mission. “We are incredibly thankful for this opportunity and to the thousands of SpaceX engineers who have contributed to this endeavor. We hope the results from our mission will accelerate SpaceX’s vision to make life multiplanetary and support St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and its efforts to improve global survival rates for childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases. Throughout our mission, we will aim to inspire humankind to look up and imagine what we can achieve here on Earth and in the worlds beyond our own.”

The Polaris Dawn crew includes:

Jared Isaacman, Mission Commander, is founder and CEO of Shift4, and also served as Mission Commander of Inspiration4, the world’s first all-civilian mission to space in 2021 that helped raise over $250 m for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. An accomplished aviator and adventurer from Pennsylvania, Isaacman is rated to fly commercial and military aircraft and holds several world air records, including two Speed-Around-The-World flights;
Scott “Kidd” Poteet, Mission Pilot, is a retired United States Air Force Lieutenant Colonel and his 20 years in the service included Commander of the 64th Aggressor Squadron, USAF Thunderbird #4 Demonstration Pilot, Operational Test & Evaluation Pilot, and Flight Examiner. Poteet previously served as mission director for Inspiration4. A runner and triathlete, New Hampshire native, Poteet has completed 15 Ironman Triathlons since 2000, including four Ironman World Championships in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii;
Sarah Gillis, Mission Specialist, is a Colorado native who is a Lead Space Operations Engineer at SpaceX, where she is responsible for overseeing the company’s astronaut training program. A classically trained violinist, Gillis began as an intern for SpaceX in 2015, and worked on human-in-the-loop testing of the Dragon spacecraft. Her mentor, former NASA astronaut Joseph R. Tanner, first encouraged her to study aerospace engineering at the University of Colorado Boulder. Inspired by her experience as a musician, Gillis has developed a curriculum, A Musician’s Guide to Reaching for the Stars, in collaboration with El Sistema USA, that encourages students to reach for their dreams and discover the connections between music, creativity and exploration; and
Anna Menon, Mission Specialist and Medical Officer, is a Lead Space Operations Engineer at SpaceX, where she manages the development of crew operations and serves in Mission Control as both a Mission Director and Crew Communicator. Menon resides in Houston and is married to newly minted NASA astronaut Anil Menon. She has written a children’s book, Kisses from Space, which was inspired by her experience preparing for the Polaris Dawn mission and her desire to share her spaceflight experience with her two young children. She will read it from space during the mission and proceeds from her sales of the book will benefit St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital®. Kisses from Space is now available in bookstores nationwide and wherever books are available online.

The Polaris Dawn crew will leverage Falcon 9’s and Dragon’s maximum performance to endeavor to reach several milestones for commercial spaceflight, including:

Flying higher than any previous Dragon mission to date and reaching the highest Earth orbit ever flown while moving through portions of the Van Allen radiation belt at an orbital altitude of 190 x 1,400 kilometers (870 miles) from Earth’s surface – or more than three times higher than the International Space Station. This will be the highest altitude of any human spaceflight mission in more than a half-century since the Apollo program;
Attempting the first-ever commercial spacewalk. This will take place at an elliptical orbit of 190 x 700 kilometers (435 miles) above Earth in newly developed SpaceX EVA spacesuits. During the spacewalk, the crew will conduct a series of tests that will provide necessary data that will allow SpaceX teams to produce and scale for future long-duration missions. The crew worked with SpaceX engineers throughout suit development, testing various iterations for mobility and performance (along with mobility aids and systems procedures), and conducted operations inside vacuum chambers to validate pre-breathe protocols and the readiness of the EVA suit;
Testing laser-based satellite communication using optical links between the Dragon spacecraft and Starlink satellites, revolutionizing the speed and quality of space communications;
Conducting nearly 40 experiments for critical scientific research designed to advance our knowledge of human health both on Earth and during future long-duration space flights.

The Polaris Dawn crew is in the final stages after more than two years of essential training activities preparing them for the landmark mission. This training has included centrifuge operations, hundreds of hours of Dragon simulations, skydiving, survival training, high performance aircraft piloting, Zero-G flight training and altitude training, as well as classroom academics and medical testing. Additionally, and especially important for Polaris Dawn, the crew received extensive EVA training, both underwater and suspended operations, as well as the associated medical training.

St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital® is the official charitable partner of Polaris Dawn and fundraising for St. Jude will be integrated into various aspects of the mission. DORITOS®, a PepsiCo Foods brand, is making a significant donation to St. Jude and will join this historic mission. IWC Schaffhausen will also support the mission through its specially designed and donated Pilot’s Watch Chronograph Edition “Polaris Dawn” watch, which will be worn on the flight before being auctioned to benefit St. Jude.

Additional details will be revealed leading up to, during, and after the mission via the Polaris Dawn website and social media channels, including other first-of-their-kind events to be held and shared while in orbit.

About Polaris Dawn

Polaris Dawn is the first of three human spaceflights under the Polaris Program. The program is named after Polaris, a constellation of three stars more commonly known as the North Star, which has been a guiding light throughout human history to help us navigate the world and inspire progress. The mission is in support of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital®. To learn more about Polaris Dawn, visit https://polarisprogram.com/dawn/ and follow the mission on X (@PolarisProgram), and Instagram (@PolarisProgram). (Source: PR Newswire)

20 Aug 24. Global satellite communications pioneers, ALL.SPACE, have announced their terminals have been certified by SES, a leading global content and connectivity satellite operator enabling the company to continue delivering ubiquitous connectivity across space, land, air, and sea for the defence sector, with cutting-edge technology solutions that address the complex challenges of today’s evolving satellite industry.

As an SES-certified organisation, ALL.SPACE is approved to work on all SES Ka-band GEO satellites and its MEO O3b network.

The announcement comes as ALL.SPACE is attending TechNet Augusta 2024, hosted by the AFCEA (Armed Forces Communications & Electronics Association International), to demonstrate Hydra, a new product designed to provide resilience in GEO, MEO and LEO satellite operations, which enables simultaneous data transmission to two satellites and doubles terminal capacity to 250MHz.

Research* has found that the market for military satellite technology has been steadily growing in recent years and is expected to grow 8.5% by 2028, reaching a total market value of $74.4 bn. A result of rising global concern around terrorism driving an increased need for global surveillance, communication and data transfer capabilities.

As improved military communication networks become critical, products like ALL.SPACE’s Hydra will play a pivotal role in advancing technology solutions for the defence sector.

Paul McCarter, COO, ALL.SPACE: “This milestone not only highlights our commitment to innovation and excellence but also sets a new standard in the satellite communications industry. Our ability to provide simultaneous connectivity over GEO, MEO, and LEO orbits will enable us to deliver unparalleled solutions to our customers. We are excited to showcase our latest product, Hydra, at TechNet Augusta 2024, which we believe will revolutionise data assurance in satellite operations and play a crucial role in advancing technology solutions for the defence sector.”

11 Aug 24. SpaceX launches Space Norway Arctic Satellite Broadband mission on a foggy California evening. With one m pounds of fuel a foggy California Pacific Ocean site was the scene of SpaceX’s launch of Space Norway Arctic Satellite Broadband mission. Liftoff was exactly at 7:02 PDT from Space Launch Complex 4E (SLC-4E) at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. Following stage separation, the first stage landed on the Of Course I Still Love You droneship, which is stationed in the Pacific Ocean.

This is the 22nd flight of the first stage booster supporting this mission, which previously launched Crew-1, Crew-2, SXM-8, CRS-23, IXPE, Transporter-4, Transporter-5, Globalstar FM15, ISI EROS C-3, Korea 425, Maxar 1, and 10 Starlink missions.

The U.S. Air Force provides the Extremely High Frequency eXtended Data Rate payloads on ASBM satellites as part of the Enhanced Polar System Recapitalization (EPS-R) program.

The Enhanced Polar System (EPS) provides protected tactical extremely high frequency (EHF) satellite communications in the North Polar Region. EPS is the next-generation tactical SATCOM system that replaces the Interim Polar System (IPS) and serves as a polar adjunct to the Advanced EHF (AEHF) satellite constellation. The EPS Recapitalization (EPS-R) program will extend the polar capability provided by EPS until the fielding of the next-generation Protected Tactical SATCOM (PTS) system expected to launch in the early 2030s. (Source: Satnews)

15 Aug 24. SpaceX launches Maxar’s WorldView 3 & 4 Earth imaging satellites. These are the second pair of six planned WorldView Legion satellites, which will enhance Maxar Intelligence’s constellation by delivering industry-leading resolution and accuracy. When all six WorldView Legion satellites are launched, it will triple Maxar Intelligence’s capacity to collect 30 cm-class and multispectral imagery. The full Maxar constellation of 10 electro-optical satellites will image the most rapidly changing areas on Earth as frequently as every 20 to 30 minutes, from sunup to sundown.

On Thursday, August 15, SpaceX’s Falcon 9 booster successfully returned after the WorldView 3 & 4 Earth Imaging satellites’ launch. This was the 16th flight for the Falcon 9 first stage booster B1076 supporting this mission that landed 7:48 minutes later at Landing Zone 1, about six miles from where it had launched only minutes before. Moments later, a pair of sonic booms sounded the booster’s return. This booster previously launched CRS-26, OneWeb Launch 16, Intelsat IS-40e, O3b mPOWER, Ovzon 3, Eutelsat 36D, Turksat 6A, and eight Starlink missions. (Source: Satnews)

09 Aug 24. KSAT intros fully automated KSATlite launch + deorbit Service following Rocket Lab collaboration. Kongsberg Satellite Services (KSAT) has announced the launch of the company’s fully automated launch and deorbit service on the KSATlite network. The development of this service has been greatly enhanced by the close collaboration between KSAT and Rocket Lab, a global leader in launch services and space systems.

The new service is an enhancement of the existing KSATlite portfolio to provide seamless, automated support for launch vehicles and deorbit operations. Designed to meet the growing demands of the space industry, this new service with unique antenna tracking features and extended monitoring and control capabilities enables complex mission support.

Rocket Lab’s Electron launch vehicle is one of the world’s most frequently launched rockets, having successfully delivered 190+ satellites to space for government and commercial customers across science and exploration missions, Earth observation, weather monitoring, and national security.

Further expanding its launch capabilities, Rocket Lab is developing its new medium lift reusable rocket Neutron to launch constellations of satellites, national security and defense missions, and interplanetary missions from mid 2025.

Rocket Lab also designs, builds, launches, and operates spacecraft for a variety of government and commercial satellite operators, enabling missions to the Moon for NASA, and providing in space operations, deorbit, and return to Earth spacecraft re entry operations for commercial customers such as Varda Space Industries.

By working together, both companies have leveraged their expertise to create a more efficient and reliable service. This co-engineering effort not only benefits KSAT and Rocket Lab but also provides significant advantages for launch and satellite operators by offering improved service quality and reduced operational costs.

Key Features and Benefits

Automation: The service offers end-to-end automation, from the pre-launch test to the actual launch event, eliminating the need for manual intervention and reducing the risk of human error.
New features: Unique antenna tracking features suitable for support of complex mission design and extended monitoring and control capabilities
Scalability: The KSATlite network’s scalable infrastructure ensures that the service can accommodate a wide range of missions across any location
Global Coverage: With an extensive network of ground stations strategically located around the globe, KSATlite provides unparalleled coverage and connectivity for launchers and satellite operators
Reliability: The automated system is built on KSAT’s proven technology, ensuring high reliability and uptime for critical operations
Cost Efficiency: By automating key processes, the service reduces operational costs, providing a cost-effective solution for launch companies and satellite operators
Standardization: Application of industry standards including IRIG-106 ensures compatibility for mission operations

“Our fully automated launch and deorbit service represents a major advancement in ground station technology,” said Arthur Kvalheim Merlin, Director of Ground Network Products. “By integrating this capability into our KSATlite network, we are setting a new standard for efficiency and reliability in space operations. This innovation will not only streamline the process for our customers but also significantly reduce operational risks and costs.” KSAT targets an operational readiness of the service in 2025, with one of its earlier customers being Rocket Lab and their brand-new Neutron rocket.” (Source: Satnews)

15 Aug 24. Resolve Optics offers miniature space ready optics. Key considerations when designing lenses for use in smallsats (micro and nano) include how they react to the vibration and shock encountered on launch as well as the extremes of temperature, high vacuum and cosmic radiation that are encountered in space.

Rob Watkinson of Resolve Optics said, “As satellites have decreased in size there is the necessity for the optics that lie at the heart of these imaging platforms to also reduce in size and weight. This is not always a straightforward task. If you are developing a camera system for a micro- or nanosatellite-based space mission, we recommend incorporating a compact sensor and then it will be possible for us to keep the lens design compact as well. Being able to keep the size of the lens compact also helps them withstand vibration and shock during launch into space as the mass is small. To ensure your micro- or nanosatellite optics are sufficiently robust, all elements in our space-ready optics are secured and unable to break loose when subjected to the rigours of launch and other environmental factors. All our satellite lenses and optical systems are athermalized to ensure they maintain focus throughout the wide operating temperature range typically experienced in space. The impact of cosmic radiation on your lens or optical system is a major consideration when designing for use in space. Unfortunately, standard optical glass types turn brown or grey when exposed to cosmic radiation. As a result, the light transmission of the lens will degrade markedly in just days or weeks. For longer term space missions, we use cerium doped glass elements that prolong the life of the satellite lens or optical system to years.”

Over the last 20 years, Resolve Optics has built a reputation for designing and supplying high performance space ready optical systems for monitoring the outside of spacecraft looking for any signs of damage caused by space debris or micro meteorites. For inspection tasks, where the optical system is required to view a specific area to aid operation. As part of a vision systems used to guide and dock payload craft visiting platforms such as used on the International Space Station. And, to enhance remote sensing from satellites where powerful, high-resolution lenses enable the Earth to be viewed from space providing valuable data on the Earth to be viewed from space providing valuable weather patterns and the impact of climate change. (Source: Satnews)

14 Aug 24. AST SpaceMobile’s satellites arrive at Cape Canaveral for upcoming launch. AST SpaceMobile BlueBird satellites arrive at Cape Canaveral. AST SpaceMobile, Inc. (“AST SpaceMobile”) (NASDAQ: ASTS) has announced that the firm’s first five commercial satellites, called BlueBirds, have arrived in Cape Canaveral, Florida, ahead of the planned orbital launch during a 7 day launch window this September.”

The BlueBird satellites feature the largest-ever commercial communications arrays to be deployed in LEO, at a remarkable 693 square feet, a technological leap forward in AST SpaceMobile’s ability to deliver seamless cellular broadband connectivity to bns of mobile users worldwide.

Building on the success of its BlueWalker 3 satellite, AST SpaceMobile’s first five commercial satellites will have a tenfold increase in processing capacity. This advancement sets the stage for delivering global space-based cellular broadband directly to everyday smartphones, starting with non-continuous coverage across the continental United States using over 5,600 cells on premium low-band spectrum.

These first five commercial satellites were built in AST SpaceMobile state-of-the-art 185,000 square feet facilities in Midland, TX, specifically designed for satellite production. This advanced facility, equipped with cutting-edge technology, is a testament to AST SpaceMobile’s commitment to innovation and operational excellence.

During 2024, AST SpaceMobile has secured additional strategic investment from AT&T, Verizon, Google and Vodafone, as well as a new contract award with the United States Government through a prime contractor. The company has agreements with more than 45 mobile network operators globally, which have more than 2.8 bn existing subscribers total, including Vodafone Group, AT&T, Verizon, Rakuten Mobile, Bell Canada, Orange, Telefonica, TIM, Saudi Telecom Company, Zain KSA, Etisalat, Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison, Telkomsel, Smart Communications, Globe Telecom, Millicom, Smartfren, Telecom Argentina, MTN, Telstra, Africell, Liberty Latin America and others. AT&T, Verizon, Vodafone, Google, Rakuten, American Tower, and Bell Canada are also existing investors in AST SpaceMobile. (Source: Satnews)

11 Aug 24. Rocket Lab USA, Inc. (Nasdaq: RKLB), a global leader in launch services and space systems, today successfully launched its 52nd Electron rocket and deployed a single satellite to low Earth orbit for Capella Space (Capella).

The mission, named “A Sky Full of SARs” in a nod to the synthetic aperture radar (SAR) capabilities of Capella’s spacecraft, lifted off at 01:18 AM New Zealand Standard Time on August 12th from Launch Complex 1, Rocket Lab’s private orbital launch site on New Zealand’s Mahia Peninsula. The mission deployed the next of Capella’s third-generation SAR Acadia satellites to a mid-inclination 615km low Earth orbit. In addition to the launch service, Rocket Lab provided a custom extended fairing on Electron to encompass the payload before Capella’s satellite was deployed to space from a Rocket Lab-produced separation system.

The mission was the fifth launch for Capella that’s taken place since Capella’s first mission on Electron in August 2020. That mission, called “I Can’t Believe It’s Not Optical”, launched from Launch Complex 1 to deploy the very first satellite in Capella’s SAR constellation. Subsequent successful missions include the “Stronger Together” mission launched for Capella from Rocket Lab’s Launch Complex 2 on Wallops Island, Virginia, in March 2023 and the “We Love The Nightlife” mission launched from Launch Complex 1 in New Zealand just five months later in August 2023.

Rocket Lab founder and CEO Peter Beck says, “Electron is a reliable constellation builder, providing precise and dedicated deployment to unique orbits that allows satellite operators like Capella to iteratively build out their constellation when and where they need to. I’m proud of the team for delivering this latest successful mission for Capella and for successfully delivering nine missions so far this year as Electron’s launch cadence continues to ramp up. With many more missions scheduled in the coming weeks and months, we look forward to delivering our busiest launch year yet in 2024.”

The launch window for Rocket Lab’s next Electron mission will be announced in the coming days. Most recently Rocket Lab announced a record 10 launch contract with Japanese Earth observation company Synspective, with another two launches in addition to that contract already booked and scheduled for launch on Electron this year. Other satellite operators expected to launch this year under existing multi-launch contracts with Rocket Lab include space-based intelligence company BlackSky and French Internet-of-Things (IoT) company Kinéis. (Source: Satnews)

17 Aug 24. Morocco Strengthens Defence Capabilities with Acquisition of Advanced Earth Observation Satellites from Israel. Morocco has finalised a deal with Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) to acquire two cutting-edge Earth Observation satellites in a significant move to bolster its intelligence and surveillance capabilities. Announced by Military Africa, the agreement is valued at approximately USD 1 bn and is a strategic step toward enhancing Morocco’s capacity to monitor and address geopolitical challenges in the region.

Replacing the Mohammed VI Satellites

This acquisition marks a pivotal moment in Morocco’s ongoing efforts to upgrade its space-based intelligence infrastructure. The new satellites are set to replace the Mohammed VI-A and Mohammed VI-B satellites developed by the Airbus Defence and Space France and Thales Alenia Space France consortium. Replacing these satellites is part of Morocco’s broader strategy to diversify and strengthen the Royal Armed Forces’ capabilities across air, ground, naval, and space domains.

Introducing the Ofek 13 (Ofeq-13) Reconnaissance Satellites

The newly acquired satellites, known as Ofek 13, are expected to be operational within five years and will bring significant advancements in reconnaissance technology. These satellites are equipped with Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) technology, allowing high-resolution imaging with a resolution of up to 0.5 meters. Unlike traditional optical satellites, SAR technology enables satellites to capture images in any weather condition, day or night, making them a reliable tool for continuous surveillance.

The ability of SAR to penetrate vegetation and soil is particularly valuable, as it allows for detecting hidden ground features. This capability is essential for creating accurate topographic maps, which can be used for various applications, including border security, monitoring civil unrest, and supporting disaster management efforts. Therefore, by providing detailed and reliable information, these satellites will enable the Moroccan government to respond swiftly to potential conflicts, manage natural resources more effectively, and address environmental and land use issues.

Enhancing National Security and Governance

Deploying the Ofek 13 satellites is expected to significantly enhance Morocco’s ability to monitor its borders and ensure national security. The high-resolution images provided by the satellites will allow for better detection and response to threats, contributing to a more secure and stable region. Additionally, the satellites will support Morocco’s efforts to manage and mitigate the impact of natural disasters, ultimately protecting vulnerable populations. Moreover, the SAR technology’s capacity to provide transparent and verifiable data will be crucial in promoting evidence-based policymaking. Thus, by enabling informed decisions, the new satellites will foster public trust in government actions and help reduce tensions within the country.

A Broader Defence Partnership

The acquisition of these satellites is part of a broader defence cooperation between Morocco and Israel, which has been growing since the two countries formalised their defence ties in late 2021. Between August and November 2021, Morocco and Israel signed three accords on political consultations, aviation, and culture. This was Israel’s first-ever defence MoU with an Arab country, allowing for smoother cooperation between their defence establishments and making it easier for Israel to sell arms to the North African nation.

This partnership encompasses intelligence sharing, collaboration in military industries, and procurement of advanced defence technologies. In addition, the acquisition of the Ofek 13 satellites underscores the depth of this cooperation and highlights Morocco’s commitment to strengthening its defence capabilities through strategic international partnerships.

(Source: Google/https://spaceinafrica.com/)

17 Aug 24. ICEYE, the global leader in synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellite operations for Earth Observation, persistent monitoring, and natural catastrophe solutions, has successfully launched four new SAR satellites on August 16, 2024. The new satellites further expand the world’s largest SAR constellation, owned and operated by ICEYE. The satellites were integrated via Exolaunch and successfully lifted off aboard the Transporter-11 Rideshare mission with Space X from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, USA. Each spacecraft has established communication, and early routine operations are underway.

The satellites serve both ICEYE’s commercial and dedicated customer missions and were manufactured by ICEYE in Finland and ICEYE US in the United States. The satellites include the first ICEYE satellite launch for Bayanat (a leading provider of AI-powered geospatial solutions) and Al Yah Satellite Communications Company PJSC (Yahsat – the UAE’s flagship satellite solutions provider) for their earlier announced Earth Observation Space Program.

“With frequent and steady deployment of new satellites into the ICEYE constellation, we are making progress towards our vision of improving life on Earth by becoming the global source of truth in Earth Observation. The powerful and capable satellite constellation ensures fulfilling our commitments to working as a trusted partner with a growing number of governments and commercial industries to deliver timely, accurate, and actionable insights for faster and better decision-making. We are proud to launch the first ICEYE satellite for our customer Bayanat and Yahsat and look forward to continued successful cooperation on their missions”, said Rafal Modrzewski, CEO and Co-Founder of ICEYE.

Hasan Al Hosani, Managing Director of Bayanat, said: “The launch of our first satellite marks a highly anticipated milestone for both our collaborative efforts and for the UAE. This is a triumphant moment for Bayanat and a defining step toward our future as Space42. Inaugurating our Earth Observation capabilities, including the debut of our SAR satellite constellation, will further strengthen our position as a leader in AI-powered geospatial analytics. Our ongoing partnership with ICEYE, building on our shared ambition with Yahsat, continues to prove invaluable, enabling us to leverage space insights for informed decision-making on Earth.”

Ali Al Hashemi, Group CEO of Yahsat, said: “The successful launch of our SAR satellite is a testament to the synergies between Bayanat and Yahsat as we press ahead with the anticipated merger to form Space42. The SAR satellite constellation to be launched over the next 3 years will enable us to expand as a multi-orbit satellite operator, encompassing Geostationary Orbit and Low Earth Orbit satellites while also developing satellite manufacturing capabilities in the UAE. This significant step also solidifies our extensive experience and reaffirms our place as pioneers in the UAE’s space sector and a significant player in the global SpaceTech industry.”

“We are pleased to add more next generation, U.S.-manufactured satellite capacity to the constellation. This further strengthens our capabilities to serve our customers with actionable data and insights”, said Eric Jensen, CEO of ICEYE US.

ICEYE operates the world’s largest constellation of SAR satellites. These satellites can image any location on the Earth’s surface in any environmental condition, day or night. SAR data provides precise insights for ICEYE’s government and commercial customers in near real-time.

ICEYE plans to launch up to 13 new satellites in 2024, and 10-15 new satellites annually in 2025 and beyond for its constellation and customers. The previous launch in March 2024 successfully deployed three new satellites into the constellation, and in 2023 ICEYE successfully launched 10 new satellites.

About ICEYE

ICEYE delivers unparalleled persistent monitoring capabilities to detect and respond to changes in any location on Earth, faster and more accurately than ever before.

Owning the world’s largest synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellite constellation, ICEYE provides objective, near real-time insights, ensuring that customers have unmatched access to actionable data, day or night, even in challenging environmental conditions. As a trusted partner to governments and commercial industries, ICEYE delivers intelligence in sectors such as insurance, natural catastrophe response and recovery, security, maritime monitoring, and finance, enabling decision-making that contributes to community resilience and sustainable development.

ICEYE operates internationally with offices in Finland, Poland, Spain, the UK, and the US. We have more than 700 employees, inspired by the shared vision of improving life on Earth by becoming the global source of truth in Earth Observation.

17 Aug 24. UK Space Command successfully launches first military satellite. Cutting-edge new satellite launched by UK Space Command to provide crucial space-based intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance.

Colleagues from Surrey Satellites Technology Limited watch the Space X Launch.

A UK satellite to support military operations successfully launched into space last night.

Named Tyche, the satellite is UK Space Command’s first satellite which can capture daytime images and videos of the Earth’s surface.

The satellite will strengthen the UK’s Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities.

As the conflict in Ukraine has shown, the use of space is crucial to military operations. Tyche is the first satellite to be launched under the Ministry of Defence’s space-based ISR programme, which will deliver a constellation of satellites and supporting ground systems by 2031.

These satellites will not only support military operations, but also contribute to other government tasks, including natural disaster monitoring, the development of mapping information, environmental monitoring and tracking the impact of climate change around the world.

Designed and built in the UK through a £22 m contract awarded by Defence Equipment & Support to Surrey Satellites Technology Limited (SSTL), Tyche is the first satellite to be fully owned by the Ministry of Defence.

SSTL received the first signals from Tyche – which is comparable in size to a washing machine – a few hours after lift-off, confirming the successful launch.

Minister for Defence Procurement and Industry, Maria Eagle said:

“Tyche will provide essential intelligence for military operations as well as supporting wider tasks across government.”

“Tyche also shows the UK’s commitment to support innovation in science and technology, stimulating growth across the sector and supporting highly skilled jobs in the UK.”

UK Space Commander, Major General Paul Tedman said:

“This is a fabulous day for UK space. The successful launch of Tyche has shown that UK Space Command, and its essential partners across defence and industry, can rapidly take a concept through to the delivery of a satellite capability on orbit.”

“Tyche represents the first of a future constellation of Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance satellites that we’ll launch over the coming years.”

“I’d like to take this opportunity to congratulate everybody involved with Tyche and thank them for their support.”

Paul Russell, DE&S Space Team Leader, said:

“Working closely with UK Space Command, Dstl and industry to understand how to deliver in a new, complex and critical environment has been an exciting journey.

“To see Tyche – the first of a new generation of UK military capabilities – delivered into orbit is an incredibly proud moment and a tribute to everyone’s commitment to this key project.”

Operating in Low Earth Orbit over a five-year lifespan, Tyche will provide timely space-based imagery in support of the UK Armed Forces.  The design and build of the 150-kilogramme satellite has supported around 100 high-skilled roles at SSTL since 2022.

Tyche was launched from Vandenberg Space Force Base, California, by SpaceX, on their re-usable Falcon 9 rocket, as part of the ‘Transporter 11’ mission. (Source: https://www.gov.uk/)

SATELLITE SYSTEMS, SATCOM AND SPACE SYSTEMS UPDATE

SATELLITE SYSTEMS, SATCOM AND SPACE SYSTEMS UPDATE

SATELLITE SYSTEMS, SATCOM AND SPACE SYSTEMS UPDATE

SATELLITE SYSTEMS, SATCOM AND SPACE SYSTEMS UPDATE

SATELLITE SYSTEMS, SATCOM AND SPACE SYSTEMS UPDATE

SATELLITE SYSTEMS, SATCOM AND SPACE SYSTEMS UPDATE

SATELLITE SYSTEMS, SATCOM AND SPACE SYSTEMS UPDATE

SATELLITE SYSTEMS, SATCOM AND SPACE SYSTEMS UPDATE

SATELLITE SYSTEMS, SATCOM AND SPACE SYSTEMS UPDATE

SATELLITE SYSTEMS, SATCOM AND SPACE SYSTEMS UPDATE

SATELLITE SYSTEMS, SATCOM AND SPACE SYSTEMS UPDATE

SATELLITE SYSTEMS, SATCOM AND SPACE SYSTEMS UPDATE

SATELLITE SYSTEMS, SATCOM AND SPACE SYSTEMS UPDATE

SATELLITE SYSTEMS, SATCOM AND SPACE SYSTEMS UPDATE

SATELLITE SYSTEMS, SATCOM AND SPACE SYSTEMS UPDATE

SATELLITE SYSTEMS, SATCOM AND SPACE SYSTEMS UPDATE

SATELLITE SYSTEMS, SATCOM AND SPACE SYSTEMS UPDATE

SATELLITE SYSTEMS, SATCOM AND SPACE SYSTEMS UPDATE

SATELLITE SYSTEMS, SATCOM AND SPACE SYSTEMS UPDATE

SATELLITE SYSTEMS, SATCOM AND SPACE SYSTEMS UPDATE

Protek Selected By Dutch Armed Forces

PARLIAMENTARY QUESTIONS

MANAGEMENT ON THE MOVE