Sponsored By Viasat
www.viasat.com/gov-uk
————————————————————————
09 Jul 20. Envistacom Partners with NOVELSAT to Deliver a Virtualized Commercial Multi-Access Waveform for Satellite Connectivity.
NOVELSAT’s High-Performance Commercial Multi-Access Satellite Waveform will be incorporated into Envistacom’s Transport Virtualization Ecosystem.
Envistacom, LLC, a leading technology enterprise which delivers advanced communications, cyber and other related services to customers in the aerospace, defense, and intelligence communities, announced today that NOVELSAT, a global leader in content connectivity via satellite, will incorporate its high-performance satellite access waveforms into Envistacom’s Transport Virtualization Ecosystem (TVE).
Envistacom will deliver an open-architecture ecosystem which will enable virtualized applications such as advanced communications waveforms, encryption, data analytics, and other real-time continuous processing applications to reside in common off-the-shelf (COTS) hardware. The Envistacom/NOVELSAT partnership allows commercial and Department of Defense customers to benefit from the ability to download NOVELSAT’s Multi-Access Waveform as an application to be operated on non-proprietary COTS High-Performance Computers (HPCs) acting as a Virtual Modem in Envistacom’s Transport Virtualization Ecosystem. Envistacom’s ecosystem (TVE) will provide DoD customers with greater cost savings through the use of COTS hardware, faster time to market (TTM), more configurable/adaptable solutions, mix and match capabilities to achieve the best results, and easier sustainment and enhancement efforts providing portability between hardware generations without re-engineering legacy technology.
“NOVELSAT is proud to work with Envistacom to enable the delivery of a virtualized commercial multi-access waveform through Envistacom’s Transport Virtualization Ecosystem for easy customer adoption,” said Aviv Ronai, VP Marketing and Product at NOVELSAT. “Incorporating our proven waveform performance, robustness, and system resiliency into Envistacom’s Transport Virtualization Ecosystem will yield an exceptional solution for mission critical communications.”
The combination of NOVELSAT systems waveforms with Envistacom’s virtualization ecosystem will provide resilient, high-performance, and ubiquitous connectivity for mission-critical applications.
“Envistacom is pleased that NOVELSAT has elected to bring its commercial waveforms to our Transport Virtualization Ecosystem in order to enhance the future of resilient satellite connectivity,” said Michael Young, Envistacom’s Senior Director of Business Development for Advanced Technology. “Adjacent markets have already adopted the notion of virtualization to lighten the logistical and operational burdens of the user. Envistacom looks forward to our partnership with NOVELSAT and their thought leadership in the satellite arena.”
To learn more about Envistacom’s Transport Virtualization Ecosystem, please visit https://www.envistacom.com/envistacom-announces-its-transport-virtualization-ecosystem/ (Source: BUSINESS WIRE)
09 Jul 20. Space Force’s stopgap polar communications system passes another milestone. The U.S. Space Force’s stopgap Arctic communications system has passed another major milestone, with it’s Control and Planning Segment (CAPS) ground system passing a critical design review.
The Space and Missile Systems Center said officials completed a “delta critical design review” of Enhanced Polar System Recapitalization’s (EPS-R) CAPS design June 25. In a press release, SMC noted the assessment included three months of review by the government and contractor teams, covering areas of risk, software and hardware requirement traceability, testing, performance, cost and schedule.
Slated to launch in late 2022, the EPS-R payloads will fill a vital gap in providing secure communications for war fighters in the Arctic. The constellation it’s replacing, the Enhanced Polar System (EPS) is not expected to last until the polar components of the Protected Tactical SATCOM and Evolved Strategic SATCOM are fielded in the 2030s, and so EPS-R will serve as a stopgap measure in the interim. Both EPS-R and EPS are effectively the Arctic components of the Advanced Extremely High Frequency constellation.
Northrop Grumman was awarded a $429m contract for the two EPS-R payloads in February 2018. The payloads will be hosted on two Space Norway satellites. The EPS-R payloads passed critical design review in October.
Northrop Grumman was also awarded an $87m contract in May 2019 to design and build the Control and Planning Segment (CAPS) which will manage both the EPS-R and EPS payloads.
“The EPS-R program’s unprecedented approach provides an advantage to warfighters in the increasingly contested Arctic region. EPS-R leverages the best practices of our industry partners, in concert with commercial space and launch vehicle providers while collaborating with our Norwegian partners. The EPS-R CAPS system will command the EPS/EPS-R constellation allowing US Space Force space operators to provide continuous communication services to Arctic users,” explained Maj. Craig Zinck, EPS-R Ground program manager, in a statement. EPS-R CAPS will now move to further testing. (Source: Defense News)
09 Jul 20. LatConnect 60 prepares to launch new national security satellite constellation. Perth-based LatConnect 60 has announced a global space partnership to build and deploy a smart satellite constellation over Australian skies to help the Australian government and commercial clients monitor and protect their interests in the region.
The announcement comes amid rising global tensions, with the Australian Prime Minister last week announcing a $1.35bn response to a major cyber attack targeting Australia by a state-based actor.
With plans to launch in June 2021, the new low-Earth orbit smart satellite constellation will provide close to real time data on request to clients giving Australia a boost to its strategic observation capabilities.
LatConnect 60 founder and CEO Venkat Pillay said, “The reality is until now Australia has had to rely on overseas providers for access to critical earth observation data.
“COVID-19, coupled with rising global tensions, has made governments and companies take a closer look at the technologies they need and who they can rely on to provide those technologies in a crisis. Australia is too reliant on overseas companies for observation data and that data is not exclusive or secure.”
LatConnect 60 also announced a new security partnership with ProximaX, who will use a combination of two-layer encryption, de-centralised storage and blockchain technology to encrypt and secure all data captured by LatConnect 60 satellites to ensure it is resilient to attack.
Pillay added, “We are excited to be working with ProximaX. Their sophisticated encryption and de-centralised data storage architecture is combined with blockchain technology to thwart cyber attacks, ensuring the data we collect will remain protected from the types of hostile attacks that the Australian government is facing.”
LatConnect 60’s smart satellite constellation offers a valuable service differentiator in the geospatial market by collecting high resolution Earth observation (EO) imagery products and RF signal intelligence at the same timestamp, and processing it on-orbit with machine learning capabilities to make sense of the data.
An Australian company, LatConnect 60 has chosen to set up its headquarters in Perth, while it is also plugged into the growing South Australian space ecosystem and is a start-up member of the SmartSat Cooperative Research Centre based in Adelaide.
“We have based our headquarters in Perth to take advantage of the space innovation hub which is coming to life thanks to the WA government’s recent investment and leadership in developing these technologies, which will provide the jobs of the future,” said Pillay.
LatConnect 60 is collaborating with satellite partner York Space Systems and Perth’s Curtin University, which will develop local capability in WA. Professors Ba-Ngu Vo and Ba Tuong Vo, from the Intelligent Sensing and Perception (ISP) Group at Curtin University, have been selected as the main research partners with LatConnect 60.
“The ISP Group is developing new algorithms to exploit rapid advances in AI, IoT and embedded systems, which are expected to underpin the signal processing and data analytics onboard the new satellites,” said Professor Ba-Ngu Vo.
LatConnect 60 has ambitious plans to cement Australia’s position as a major player in the growing space economy, initially supplying its services to Australian clients before expanding across the region and the globe as it scales up its satellite constellation and product applications.
Founded by Venkat Pillay and Rueben Rajasingam, the leadership team at LatConnect 60 brings with it an impressive track record, having worked with the likes of NASA, the Canadian and European space programs, CSIRO and BHP Billiton.
The key industries set to benefit from access to the new RF Signal Intelligence and High Resolution Multispectral Imaging include government security and intelligence agencies; as well as mining, oil and gas; agriculture; and maritime. Potential examples of use are maritime surveillance, resource exploration, and crop yield and change detection in farming.
LatConnect 60 is an Australian company founded in Perth, Western Australia, that provides vital insights for our world. LatConnect 60 is launching its own low-Earth orbit smart satellite constellation that will have a global service reach.
10 Jul 20. Australia and Japan to confirm new partnership in space capabilities. Prime Minister Scott Morrison and his Japanese counterpart, Prime Minister Abe Shinzo, have announced a partnership between the two national space agencies, promoting greater co-operation in space science, research and education.
As Australia’s closest and ‘most mature’ partnership in the region, the Australia-Japan partnership has undergone several evolutions throughout its life since it was established in a formalised Commerce Agreement in 1957.
The latest of which comes as the post-Second World War economic, political and strategic order appears to be in tatters, beset on all sides by great power rivals, the impact of COVID-19 and broader global trends each serving to impact the security and sovereignty of both nations.
While there are a number of marked differences between the two, both Australia and Japan share similar realities, island nations, dependent upon the benevolence of the global order, free, unencumbered access to the maritime commons and robust, collaborative alliances and partnerships.
Despite its relative isolation, Australia’s position as a global trading nation, entrenched in the maintenance and expansion of the post-Second World War order has left the nation at a unique and troubling cross roads, particularly as its two largest and most influential “great and powerful” friends, the US and the UK, appear to be floundering against the tide of history.
Nowhere is this more evident than across the Indo-Pacific as an emboldened Beijing continues to punish Australia for pursuing a global inquiry into the origins and China’s handling of COVID-19, while also leveraging the comparatively diminished presence of the US military in the region to project power and intimidate both Japan and Taiwan.
In response, Japan has closely followed the modernisation of the Chinese armed forces and raised concerns about the nation’s defence capabilities. The Japanese government has responded with an unprecedented defence budget, which provides opportunities for Australian industry.
The pre-war power has long sought to shake off the chains of the pacifist constitution enforced upon it by the US, UK, Australia and other allies following the end of the war in the Pacific.
As a result, Prime Minister Scott Morrison in collaboration with his Japanese counterpart, Abe Shinzo, has sought to bring the already strong relationship between the two nations closer together, with the Prime Minister’s official statement saying:
“The meeting will build on and reaffirm the importance of our Special Strategic Partnership in a time of global economic and strategic uncertainty. The meeting presents a timely opportunity to reaffirm the shared principles, values and global outlook that reinforce one of Australia’s closest regional partnerships.”
Expanding on this, Prime Minister Morrison said, “Prime Minister Abe and I will discuss our shared experiences in responding to the COVID-19 crisis and ways we can work together, with other regional partners, to help ensure an open, inclusive and prosperous Indo-Pacific.
“We will discuss ways to co-ordinate our assistance in the Pacific and south-east Asia to strengthen health systems, and promote economic resilience and recovery. I also look forward to discussing with Prime Minister Abe opportunities to further deepen our defence and security ties.”
Space has emerged as the next battleground for great powers and their allies seeking to maximise their technological, economic and political advantages, accordingly, both Prime Minister Morrison and Prime Minister Abe have announced an expansion of the close relationship between the two nations’ respective research and development ecosystems and the space agencies.
“The leaders recognised that accelerated digital transformation and ICT innovation in response to COVID-19 should maximise the benefits of the evolving digital economy. In this regard, the leaders committed to continue promoting international discussions under the Osaka Track, to further elaborate ‘Data Free Flow with Trust’, and lead international rule-making under the Joint Statement Initiative on Electronic Commerce at the WTO,” the joint statement said.
“The leaders also welcomed increasing co-operation between the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency and the Australian Space Agency, including the signing of the memorandum of co-operation to further promote space co-operation. The leaders also highlighted the Hayabusa-2 capsule recovery in South Australia planned for the end of this year.”
This is expanded to include enhancing the economic partnership between the two nations, particularly in the high technology domain and to guarantee critical supplies of raw materials essential to continued cyber security, telecommunications innovation, space exploration, broader research and development.
“The leaders acknowledged that Japan and Australia’s mutual economic security and prosperity depends on secure and reliable supply chains for critical goods and services. In this context, they emphasised the need to strengthen bilateral cooperation on cyber security, critical technology and energy and natural resources sectors, to ensure secure and resilient critical infrastructure and systems of national significance. Critical minerals and communications such as 5G involving companies from Japan and Australia were a particular focus,” the statement said. (Source: Space Connect)
09 Jul 20. WA company to launch new national security satellite constellation. Perth-based LatConnect 60 has announced a global space partnership to build and deploy a smart satellite constellation over Australian skies to help the Australian government and commercial clients monitor and protect their interests in the region.
The announcement comes amid rising global tensions, with the Australian Prime Minister last week announcing a $1.35bn response to a major cyber attack targeting Australia by a state-based actor.
With plans to launch in June 2021, the new low-Earth orbit smart satellite constellation will provide close to real time data on request to clients giving Australia a boost to its strategic observation capabilities.
LatConnect 60 founder and CEO Venkat Pillay said, “The reality is until now Australia has had to rely on overseas providers for access to critical earth observation data.
“COVID-19, coupled with rising global tensions, has made governments and companies take a closer look at the technologies they need and who they can rely on to provide those technologies in a crisis. Australia is too reliant on overseas companies for observation data and that data is not exclusive or secure.”
LatConnect 60 also announced a new security partnership with ProximaX, who will use a combination of two-layer encryption, de-centralised storage and blockchain technology to encrypt and secure all data captured by LatConnect 60 satellites to ensure it is resilient to attack.
Pillay added, “We are excited to be working with ProximaX. Their sophisticated encryption and de-centralised data storage architecture is combined with blockchain technology to thwart cyber attacks, ensuring the data we collect will remain protected from the types of hostile attacks that the Australian government is facing.”
LatConnect 60’s smart satellite constellation offers a valuable service differentiator in the geospatial market by collecting high resolution Earth observation (EO) imagery products and RF signal intelligence at the same timestamp, and processing it on-orbit with machine learning capabilities to make sense of the data.
An Australian company, LatConnect 60 has chosen to set up its headquarters in Perth, while it is also plugged into the growing South Australian space ecosystem and is a start-up member of the SmartSat Cooperative Research Centre based in Adelaide.
LatConnect 60 is collaborating with satellite partner York Space Systems and Perth’s Curtin University, which will develop local capability in WA. Professors Ba-Ngu Vo and Ba Tuong Vo, from the Intelligent Sensing and Perception (ISP) Group at Curtin University, have been selected as the main research partners with LatConnect 60.
“The ISP Group is developing new algorithms to exploit rapid advances in AI, IoT and embedded systems, which are expected to underpin the signal processing and data analytics onboard the new satellites,” said Professor Ba-Ngu Vo.
LatConnect 60 has ambitious plans to cement Australia’s position as a major player in the growing space economy, initially supplying its services to Australian clients before expanding across the region and the globe as it scales up its satellite constellation and product applications.
Founded by Venkat Pillay and Rueben Rajasingam, the leadership team at LatConnect 60 brings with it an impressive track record, having worked with the likes of NASA, the Canadian and European space programs, CSIRO and BHP Billiton.
The key industries set to benefit from access to the new RF Signal Intelligence and High Resolution Multispectral Imaging include government security and intelligence agencies; as well as mining, oil and gas; agriculture; and maritime. Potential examples of use are maritime surveillance, resource exploration, and crop yield and change detection in farming.
LatConnect 60 is an Australian company founded in Perth, Western Australia, that provides vital insights for our world. LatConnect 60 is launching its own low-Earth orbit smart satellite constellation that will have a global service reach. (Source: Defence Connect)
08 Jul 20. AFCEA Europe Space Workshop. Space, as an operational domain in defense and as a specific part of critical infrastructure and its importance to the welfare of nations and its people has become an emerging topic in the Brussels arena.
Recent political and technological developments such as the European Union’s “New Space” approach, NATO’s view on space as an operational domain, nano satellites and internet via space are adding pressure on one of the most unknown but critical elements of space operations – enhanced cyber security. As cyber attacks can impede operations in or via space physically as well as virtually in many ways, developing a sophisticated defense stance is of increasing importance. If we are not reacting, taking over complete command on a satellite via hacking can be witnessed in the future more regularly.
Therefore, this workshop on Cyber Security in and for Space Operations organised by AFCEA Europe, is focusing on raising awareness on specific cyber security requirements, fostering mutual understanding between strategists, space operators and cyber defenders, and intends to identify steps to be taken in support of the new, more cyber-secure space era.
The newest challenges, concepts and technologies will be discussed with representatives from NATO, the EU, national governments, research institutions and industry during this workshop. In addition, this workshop may also help to establish a Brussels-based group of like-minded experts for space-related questions in defence for both NATO and the EU.
The AFCEA Europe Space workshop will be held on 3 September 2020 in Brussels, Belgium. Information on programme and registration is available on https://www.afcea.org/europe (Source: ESD Spotlight)
06 Jul 20. Satellite for US Air Force Successfully Launches as Part of L3Harris’ Responsive Constellation Contract.
Highlights:
- Continues company’s cadence of developing end-to-end satellites for customer
- Provides U.S. Air Force on-orbit imagery and delivers products directly to warfighters
- Signals readiness to continue development of larger Air Force satellite constellation
L3Harris Technologies (NYSE:LHX) launched the latest in a demonstration series of end-to-end small satellites as part of a U.S. Air Force constellation the company is responsible for developing.
As the prime contractor for the firm fixed-price development space mission, L3Harris is designing, developing, building, testing and deploying the satellites. The company will task, command and control the satellite system, as well as perform on-board processing of data to deliver imagery products directly to warfighters on tactical timelines.
“L3Harris has developed and supported various aspects of satellite missions over the last several decades as a component supplier or hosted payload,” said Ed Zoiss, President, Space and Airborne Systems, L3Harris. “In collaboration with the U.S. Air Force, we pulled the pieces together to successfully plan, develop and execute an affordable, high-performance space mission, which is part of a responsive constellation contract.”
The Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicles Secondary Payload Adapter, or ESPA-class, satellite system will use L3Harris’ fully reprogrammable payload platform — allowing operators to reconfigure smallsat payloads on orbit to changing missions. The company’s High Compaction Ratio unfurlable X-band reflector is also on board to enable high-speed data communication. L3Harris is an end-to-end solutions provider for affordable, responsive smallsat systems that deliver high value for the most challenging Department of Defense and Intelligence Community missions. (Source: PR Newswire)
06 Jul 20. Israel launches new satellite. Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) announced on 6 July the successful launch of a new military satellite. Developed by IAI with the Space Administration in the Directorate of Defence Research and Development in the Israeli MoD, the Ofek 16 EO reconnaissance satellite was sent into orbit on a Shavit launcher.
‘IMoD and IAI engineers have started a series of pre-planned tests to determine the propriety and performance level of the satellite before it begins its full operational activities,’ IAI announced.
Rafael Advanced Defense Systems and state-owned company Tomer developed the launch engines for prime contractor IAI. Elbit Systems was responsible for the development and production of the advanced camera and payload on the satellite. Other industry support came from Rokar and Cielo.
Officials from the Israeli Intelligence Corps and Israeli Air Force ‘have also been deeply involved in the satellite development process‘, IAI revealed.
The latest Ofek launch comes at a time of heightened regional tensions with Iran, and it is reasonable to assume that the satellite will be used to monitor areas of interest in that country. Once the satellite is deemed fully operational, the MoD will deliver day-to-day responsibilities for running Ofek 16 to Unit 9900 (part of the Intelligence Corps). (Source: Shephard)
07 Jul 20. Airbus to partner with Optus to provide reconfigurable communications satellite. Airbus Defence and Space has won a contract for a fully reconfigurable telecommunications satellite from Australia’s second-largest telecommunications company and leading satellite operator Optus – the satellite will be based on Airbus’ new standard OneSat product line and is Airbus’ first contract from the Australian operator.
Airbus will deliver an end-to-end solution, including design and manufacture of the Optus 11 spacecraft, as well as an advanced digital suite to manage the digital payload and operate the end-to-end satellite resources, providing Optus with a turnkey system and the ability to add hosted payloads such as SBAS.
What sets Optus 11 apart is its ability to adjust its coverage, capacity and frequency, through on board processing and active antennas with beam forming capability.
The spacecraft will deliver power and bandwidth dynamically to strengthen capacity and resilience of Optus fleet and enable Optus to configure and adapt the payload mission to end-user needs, taking advantage of the latest innovations in payload and resource management.
Airbus’ head of space systems, Jean-Marc Nasr, said, “We are grateful to Optus for their trust in Airbus in a region where we have ambitions to work with local industry to support space technology development in both the civil and defence sectors.”
Optus 11 will deliver a combination of broadcast and broadband VHTS missions in Ku band over Australia and New Zealand, to improve Direct to Home broadcasting over the Australasia region, increase reach in the Antarctic and Pacific zones and support growth into mobile markets, helping eliminate connectivity black spots through the Australian government’s Mobile Black Spot program.
“OneSat is a truly disruptive product, both from a manufacturing, and operational point of view, and gives customers the flexibility they need to serve their markets. This contract from Australia’s leading satellite operator, Optus, is a ringing endorsement that our R&D strategy in developing innovative products is the right one. OneSat’s high flexibility, very compact design and accelerated production should see the satellite in orbit for Optus in 2023,” Nasr added.
Airbus’ ‘ready-made’ OneSat satellite builds on the company’s heritage from its Eurostar telecommunications satellites, which have clocked up more than 800 years of successful operation in orbit.
This order further strengthens Airbus’ leadership in new generation reconfigurable telecommunications satellites and enables Optus with the option to add additional spacecraft in the near future.
The investments made by Airbus and its partners in very innovative OneSat developments are supported by the European Space Agency and national agencies, in particular the UK and French space agencies. (Source: Space Connect)
07 Jul 20. Failure to launch: Rocket Lab launch mission fails to reach orbit. Given the myriad successes enjoyed by the space industry, particularly launch companies, in recent years it is easy to forget that orbital launch is incredibly difficult, as Rocket Lab discovered recently.
Following a successful lift-off, first stage burn, and stage separation, Rocket Lab experienced an anomaly during its 13th Electron mission, ‘Pics Or It Didn’t Happen’.
The issue occurred approximately four minutes into the flight on 4 July 2020 and resulted in the safe loss of the vehicle. As a result, the payloads onboard Electron were not deployed to orbit.
Electron remained within the predicted launch corridors and caused no harm to personnel or the launch site. Rocket Lab is working closely with the FAA to investigate the anomaly and identify its root cause to correct the issue to move forward.
Peter Beck, Rocket Lab founder and chief executive, reassured customers, saying, “We are deeply sorry to our customers Spaceflight Inc., Canon Electronics Inc., Planet, and In-Space Missions for the loss of their payloads. We know many people poured their hearts and souls into those spacecraft. Today’s anomaly is a reminder that space launch can be unforgiving, but we will identify the issue, rectify it, and be safely back on the pad as soon as possible.”
The anomaly occurred after 11 consecutive successful orbital launches of the Electron launch vehicle. Rocket Lab currently has more than eight Electron vehicles in production, ready for a rapid return to flight as soon as investigations are complete and any required corrective actions are in place.
“The launch team operated with professionalism and expertise to implement systems and procedures that ensured the anomaly was managed safely. I’m proud of the way they have responded to a tough day. We’re working together as a team to comb through the data, learn from today, and prepare for our next mission,” Beck added.
Rocket Lab is at the forefront of an exciting new era of small satellite technology. We all rely on satellites. They connect us, keep us safe, help us understand our planet and manage our impact on it, and enable us to innovate and explore.
Rocket Lab’s core business is to enable companies, students, scientists, researchers, governments and entrepreneurs alike to get their ideas to orbit, right now.
A solar system of possibilities has opened up for people who thought space was out of reach, until now.
The company’s satellites are keeping countries connected and borders protected, they’re monitoring weather and managing waste, they’re providing insights on climate change, and helping us manage resources for future generations. (Source: Space Connect)
06 Jul 20. Celestia UK is a setting up a permanent base in Scotland. Celestia UK specialises in the advancement of state-of-the-art antenna systems used for tracking satellites. It has announced today that Heriot-Watt University’s Research Park will be its permanent base in Scotland after a successful five-month residency at the university’s Global Research Innovation and Discovery (GRID) facility.
Celestia says the move will enable it to embark on its next development phase, which includes setting up new lab and assembly facilities, as well as provide it with a larger base to deliver cutting-edge innovation.
Following a £2.5m research and development award from Scottish Enterprise earlier this year to develop a new electronic scanning antenna, Celestia UK will create 18 new jobs in Scotland, recruiting engineers across several different disciplines.
The Research Park is recognised internationally as a centre for high-calibre science and engineering research. In its new facilities, Celestia UK will also design and produce a next-generation flat panel satellite antenna for aircraft.
Scotland has a strong and growing reputation in the space industry with companies in the sector increasing from 104 to 132 between 2016 and 2019, while 18% of jobs in the UK space sector are based here.
Jose Alonso, chairman of Celestia UK’s parent company, Celestia Technologies Group, said: “We chose Scotland because of its burgeoning space sector, which is characterised by a high level of skill, R&D and investment.
“The enterprise team at GRID has been hugely supportive from day one, providing a highly collaborative environment for us as a dynamic, young tech start-up.
“They played a key role in helping us establish our business in Edinburgh and, in particular, in strengthening our links with the university and local businesses.
“For us, it feels like a setting where high tech companies and SMEs with a strong R&D focus in Scotland can really thrive.” (Source: News Now//www.thenational.scot/news)
29 Jun 20. U.S. Space Force SMC’s Wide Field of View Satellite OK to Ship to Launch Site. Approvals have been issued after a joint NASA / United States Space Force (USSF) Space and Missile Systems Center (SMC) management and technical review in which the Wide Field of View (WFOV) Testbed spacecraft has been declared ready to ship to launch site. WFOV is informing the Next Gen OPIR, a missile warning satellite system acquisition program that will deliver advanced capabilities to keep pace with adversary advancements.
United Launch Alliance (ULA) ATLAS V rocket will launch the spacecraft next year. The approval came when Millennium Space Systems, a division of Boeing, passed this major program milestone after detailed reviews of the satellite’s performance in environmental testing. While awaiting launch, NASA and USSF SMC are planning risk reduction tests with the integrated spacecraft with its ULA launch interfaces and its integrated ground segment. Following those tests, the satellite will ship next year to the launch site. It is scheduled to launch in 2021 on its mission in geosynchronous orbit (GEO).
“The Wide Field of View program highlights our commitment to innovation and is critical to advancing the technology required to meet the growing threat,” said Col. Charles Galbreath, Deputy Director, Innovation and Prototyping, Development Corps, Space and Missile Systems Center. “Working with our incredible partners, we’ve demonstrated how to prototype new missile warning sensors, created a flexible testbed to fly them on, and qualified a new satellite platform for GEO at a significant cost savings. These are all capabilities we need now to support our warfighters and allies worldwide.”
“The WFOV Pre-Ship Review is the capstone of the integrated space vehicle design verification and ensures readiness for flight,” said Jennifer Schaaf, Millennium Space Systems program manager for WFOV systems engineering, integration and test.
A large portion of the AQUILA M8 bus leverages Millennium’s in-house capabilities. These organically developed capabilities are a key enabler for executing agile, affordable space programs.
Sponsored by the Space and Missile Systems Center and managed by the NASA Ames Research Center, the mid-sized GEO spacecraft is based on Millennium’s AQUILA M8 affordable platform series and hosts a transformational OPIR six-degree staring sensor developed under a separate contract by L3Harris Technologies. WFOV Testbed is designed for a 3 to 5-year life in GEO with a total mass up to 3,000 kg and a payload accommodation over 350 kg. The satellite’s primary mission in orbit is to explore future missile warning algorithms with data collected in space. (Source: Satnews)
29 Jun 20. UK’s OneWeb Interests, SpaceX Launch Slippage + Intelsat-ITSO Dispute. The UK government is widely reported to have joined a consortium that is bidding for bankrupt OneWeb’s satellite system — the UK reportedly put £500m (or possibly $500m) into the consortium for a bid on June 26th.
The UK’s interest in OneWeb is for a potential alternate space system to the EU’s Galileo GPS service, itself an alternate to the US and its well-known GPS (Global Positioning System) system.
However, there’s significant criticism of the move with various experts saying that OneWeb’s satellites – even with modifications – are not fit for a GPS purpose. OneWeb’s satellites are all in LEO of 1200 kms, while GPS craft operate at significantly higher altitudes. The US system has just 24 satellites to provide global coverage, plus a handful of in-flight back-ups, and they orbit at 20,300 kms. Galileo has just 27 satellites in its system plus three spares and orbiting at 23,222 kms.
OneWeb’s satellites, because of their much lower heights, need a far greater constellation to provide total coverage. The OneWeb scheme calls for a total of 900 satellites although the company has filed with the FCC for another 48,000 to complete its coverage and operation density for mass market adoption.
Airbus is currently involved in a 50/50 joint venture to build the OneWeb fleet from a factory in Florida. In a statement, Airbus said: “The OneWeb constellation could help address the UK’s future space requirements and with innovative thinking should further enhance the UK’s place at the forefront of satellite technology and applications. Airbus and the wider UK space ecosystem have the skills to build future capability and then drive export opportunities. We would look forward to supporting OneWeb in the next phase of their business and growing the UK contribution to this market changing business.”
It is also reported that Chinese interests have examined OneWeb’s assets; however, it is also seen that China would suffer some extreme roadblocks in terms of their bid(s).
“The fundamental starting point is, yes, we’ve bought the wrong satellites,” said Dr. Bleddyn Bowen, a space policy expert at the University of Leicester speaking to The Guardian. “OneWeb is working on basically the same idea as Elon Musk’s Starlink; a mega-constellation of satellites in Low Earth Orbit, which are used to connect people on the ground to the Internet. What’s happened is that the very talented lobbyists at OneWeb have convinced the government that we can completely redesign some of the satellites to piggyback a navigation payload on it. It’s bolting an unproven technology on to a mega-constellation that’s designed to do something else. It’s a tech and business gamble.
Giles Thorne, a research analyst at investment bank Jefferies, and a highly-regarded voice in satellite matters, was blunt, saying, “This situation is nonsensical to me. This situation looks like nationalism trumping solid industrial policy. Let’s give the government the benefit of the doubt: if the output the government wants is a UK-branded positioning system, a projection of UK power around the world and supporting the UK satellite industry base, then it is probably quicker and cheaper to smash the square peg of OneWeb into the round hole of a Galileo replacement than it is to do it from scratch.”
Sami Kassab, also considered an expert on satellite matters, in his Exane/BNPP bank’s note to clients, said that his list of potential bidders/buyers includes Eutelsat, Amazon, Inmarsat, Airbus and possibly Chinese players and stated that it is unlikely that SES and Space X will bid, as they already have a similar but more advanced infrastructure in place. He noted, “Eutelsat has no LEO broadband assets and acquiring OneWeb would make strategic sense but be financially risky as the ROI on this constellation is more than questionable (hence the Chapter 11). In our view, Eutelsat is unlikely to bid on its own but it could be part of a broader consortium including the French State (as suggested in the FT‘s article) and potentially Airbus (OneWeb spacecraft manufacturer). The support of Government funding would reduce the financial risk for any private bidder. We also believe that a failed attempt by Eutelsat/France to acquire OneWeb would increase the odds of a SES-Eutelsat merger as a European political response to the UK’s investment in New Space. Available economies of scale would be significant in our view.”
Chris Forrester continues his reporting at the Advanced Television infosite with a posting that reads…
First it was bad weather at the Cape which slipped the SpaceX June 23rd launch to June 25th, then June 26th, but then the Falcon 9 rocket with a cargo of 57 Starlink satellites – plus a few guest craft – was postponed again just 2 hours before the planned launch – even though the weather was good.
“Standing down from today’s Starlink mission; team needed additional time for pre-launch checkouts, but Falcon 9 and the satellites are healthy,” SpaceX wrote in an update on Twitter. “Will announce new target launch date once confirmed on the Range.”
The delay means that there are now launch pressures on Musk’s team because another Falcon 9 is due for launch on June 30th from a nearby pad to place a GPS III satellite – manufactured by Lockheed Martin – into orbit for the US Space Force. The GPS mission uses a rocket that has already flown 4 times before including two earlier Starlink missions.
This particular GPS satellite replaces an older craft in the 31-satellite set and provides improved accuracy as well as anti-jamming technology. The delayed Falcon 9 rocket for the Starlink mission is no slouch and has flown 4 times. No date has yet been set for the launch attempt.
SpaceX has previously said they would likely manage 24 rocket launches annually and this next batch will be the 10th launch of 57 Starlink craft. This will be the 10th launch of Elon Musk’s Starlink satellites and take the total in orbit to almost 600.
Musk says that his Starlink service will debut “later this summer” first serving Alaska and the northern US and Canadian regions. He has said that he only needs about 400 satellites in orbit to provide a basic ‘beta’ service, and that a fleet of 800 would provide “moderate” coverage for public subscribers/users.
A third Forrester story reveals that the dispute between Intelsat, itself in Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, and the International Telecommunications Satellite Organisation (ITSO) and payments claimed as owed by Intelsat to ITSO, was due to be heard by the bankruptcy court on June 30th and that legal event has now been delayed.
It will now be heard on July 28th during the next ‘Omnibus Hearing’ by the court.
ITSO, an intergovernmental organisation comprising 149 member states, supervises Intelsat’s public service obligations. ITSO wanted the court to order Intelsat pay up outstanding cash to fund its activities.
Some of the ITSO claims are denied by Intelsat which says that ITSO’s obligations do not extend – for example – to funding expensive trips to Davos and the World Economic Forum as well as other unwarranted expenses.
Intelsat says that ITSO’s extra claims are without merit and should be dismissed. (Source: Satnews)
30 Jun 20. MSB Broadband VSAT Network to be Supplied by SpaceBridge. SpaceBridge Inc. has been selected by Satellite Communication Technologies – “SCT” — to supply an HTS Multiple Spot Beam (MSB) Broadband VSAT Network — the network to be supplied incorporates SpaceBridge’s ASAT™ System including its turnkey WaveSwitch™, Point-to-MultiPoint Satellite Broadband Platform technology.
“SpaceBridge was selected following careful evaluation of a public tender and showed a high level of performance with the ability to provide its solution that addresses perfectly SCT’s challenges using advanced MSB platform to serve various types of customers,” said Mr. Salim Al Alawi – SCT Executive Director and CEO.
The SpaceBridge ASAT Platform, sized to support SCT growth to thousands of Remote Terminals, will deliver services enabling enterprises, mobile network operators and homeland security entities to transmit real time applications data under the Arabsat Satellite coverage in the Sultanate of Oman and it’s economical water.
Operating multiple high throughput DVB-S2X beams in the forward channel, coupled with SpaceBridge’s advanced QoS and Performance Enhancement Proxy (PEP), SCT will provide high speed and spectrally efficient bandwidth to their customers. On the returns, SCT benefits from dynamic MF-TDMA return channels delivering industry leading reaction time and bandwidth delivery based on customer demands.
Additionally, WaveSwitch enables SCT to dynamically switch customers with higher bandwidth demands from MF-TDMA dynamic SCPC, providing SCT with benefits from high performance, improved spectral efficiency on the returns and increasing the overall satellite data throughput.
Executive Comments
“We are very pleased to have been chosen by SCT for this vital network. SpaceBridge’s technology offers unique and innovative advanced performance in the market by implementing the latest industry standards allowing our customers to provide a quality telecommunication solution in a cost-effective manner.” said Mr. David Gelerman – President & CEO of SpaceBridge Inc.
“By introducing the latest Satellite Technologies to the Omani market; SCT is aiming to provide “All in One” platform which supports several verticals and satisfy the needs to the end user levels. In addition to introduce a cost-effective managed solutions among the Sultanate of Oman. SpaceBridge was the choice to serve the low-end user application all the way to the Mobile Backhauling and IP-Trunking,” said Mr. Mohammad Abu Hmaidan – General Manager Commercial of SCT
“The SpaceBridge’s system is fundamentally designed to be scalable and efficient for SCT as a long-standing and important partner to our business and we are happy to deploy the most effective HTS satellite network solution available in the marketplace to meet SCT current needs, we are confident in our ability to support SCT as the network grows in capacity and reach,” added Mr. Jamil Joseph, VP Sales – EMEA. (Source: Satnews)
————————————————————————-
At Viasat, we’re driven to connect every warfighter, platform, and node on the battlefield. As a global communications company, we power millions of fast, resilient connections for military forces around the world – connections that have the capacity to revolutionize the mission – in the air, on the ground, and at sea. Our customers depend on us for connectivity that brings greater operational capabilities, whether we’re securing the U.S. Government’s networks, delivering satellite and wireless communications to the remote edges of the battlefield, or providing senior leaders with the ability to perform mission-critical communications while in flight. We’re a team of fearless innovators, driven to redefine what’s possible. And we’re not done – we’re just beginning.
————————————————————————