Sponsored By Viasat
www.viasat.com/gov-uk
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18 Oct 22. Viasat and Inmarsat Receive Approval for Proposed Combination from Australia’s Foreign Investment Review Board.
Viasat Inc., (NASDAQ: VSAT), a global communications company, and Inmarsat, a leading provider of global mobile satellite communications services, today announced that the Australian Government’s Foreign Investment Review Board (FIRB) has confirmed it has no objections to the planned combination of their businesses.
FIRB’s clearance of Viasat’s proposed acquisition of Inmarsat under the Foreign Acquisitions and Takeovers Act 1975 is the latest approval for the transaction. Australia is an important market in which the companies have significant business and customer relationships.
Mark Dankberg, CEO and executive chairman of Viasat, said: “We’re delighted to secure approval from the Australian Government. The combined business will have the scale, deep engineering capabilities and scope to deliver leading technology and services for our customers in Australia and across the globe. Australia is well advanced as a space-faring nation and we are excited about the significant opportunities to support the growth of the Australian space sector, given the increased resources, unity of purpose and broader coverage the joint entity will have.”
Rajeev Suri, Inmarsat CEO, added: “Approval by Australia’s Foreign Investment Review Board is a welcome further endorsement of the sound competitive logic behind the transaction. Australia is an international market that is key to global advances and innovation in mobility. Their approval brings us one step closer to being even better placed to invest in the technologies required to compete in a fast-changing global satellite communications market undergoing profound changes.”
The proposed transaction has already secured several key regulatory approvals, most recently with the UK Government’s clearance of the proposed transaction under the National Security and Investment Act, and over the summer from the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States. (Source: PR Newswire)
20 Oct 22. SpaceX hired for two European launches to fill gap left by Russia. Europe will commission two rocket launches from Elon Musk’s SpaceX after the Ukraine conflict barred access to Russia’s Soyuz, the European Space Agency (ESA) confirmed on Thursday.
The launches include the Euclid space telescope and the Hera probe, a follow-up mission to NASA’s DART spacecraft which last month succeeded in altering the path of a moonlet in the first test of a future planetary defence system.
“The member states have decided that Euclid and Hera are proposed to be launched on Falcon 9,” ESA Director General Josef Aschbacher told reporters after a meeting of the 22-nation agency’s ministerial council.
The launches will take place in 2023 and 2024 respectively.
Reuters reported in August that ESA had begun preliminary technical discussions with SpaceX that could lead to the temporary use of its launchers after the Ukraine conflict blocked Western access to Russia’s Soyuz rockets.
Industry sources had said up to two launches could be affected by the switch from Soyuz to SpaceX.
A third payload which had been due to ride on Soyuz – the Earth Cloud Aerosol and Radiation Explorer, or EarthCARE – will now be launched on Europe’s Vega C instead, Aschbacher said.
Built by Airbus (AIR.PA) on behalf of the European and Japanese space agencies, the EarthCARE satellite will be launched in early 2024 to fill a gap in the scientific modelling of climate change.
ESA is still looking for alternatives for two further missions that had been in the Soyuz launch pipeline.
Aschbacher made the announcement a day after ESA revealed a new fourth-quarter 2023 target for the first launch of Ariane 6, its latest launch vehicle, marking a delay of about six months.
ESA had previously said Ariane 6 could slip into 2023 from 2022 without giving a more precise window, but it was widely understood to be aiming for early next year.
Originally due to make its first launch in 2020, the twin-variant Ariane 6 was developed to counter lower-cost competition from SpaceX and preserve Europe’s independent access to space.
Europe has until now depended on the Italian Vega for small payloads, Russia’s Soyuz for medium ones and the near-retirement Ariane 5 for heavy missions. ESA said on Wednesday it planned to launch the three remaining Ariane 5 rockets in the first half of next year. (Source: Reuters)
19 Oct 22. Space Force may seek commercial fleet to augment wartime needs. The U.S. Space Force may seek to deepen partnerships with private companies by establishing a fleet of commercial spacecraft that could be on standby for military use, much like the Civil Reserve Air Fleet.
Through the CRAF, the Department of Defense contracts with commercial airlines to provide additional airlift capacity in emergencies. The reserve fleet has been activated just three times in its 70 year history, most recently in the summer of 2021 to aid in the U.S. military’s evacuation mission in Afghanistan.
The Commercial Augmentation Space Reserve could function in a similar manner, Col. Joseph Roth, director of Space Systems Command’s Innovation and Prototyping Directorate, said Oct. 19. The service plans to meet with companies and congressional stakeholders in Washington in January to gather feedback, he said.
“We definitely need the best and brightest minds working for that,” Roth said at the Armed Forces Communications & Electronics Association’s Space Industry Days event in Los Angeles. “That concept could be very powerful for us to use today.”
While the Pentagon has some unique needs, commercial space companies already provide many capabilities the department relies on, including satellite communications, space domain awareness and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance.
Brig. Gen. Dennis Bythewood, deputy commander of U.S. Space Command’s Joint Task Force-Space Defense, said the key is creating a construct for DoD to makes use of those services.
“I don’t know if there is a mission thread, maybe other than missile warning, where there aren’t commercial in-roads where they’re selling either the same or a similar service to what we buy with the military,” he said during the same event. “We’re interested in how we exploit it.”
As the Space Force fleshes out its plans for CASR, Bythewood said questions remain about how to manage liability and ensure commercially owned capabilities are protected from enemy attack.
“It won’t be benign when we need them at our worst,” he said. “I do think there’s a lot of work there.”
Col. Todd Benson, director of requirements for the Space Force, noted that as the service looks to draw from multiple commercial sources for some of these capabilities, integrating them with its broader portfolio of satellites and ground control systems will be vital.
“When these solutions come forward to surge, they have to be able to be integrated directly into what the joint force is doing at the time,” he said during the event.
U.S. SPACECOM is working to address the integration piece. Commander Gen. James Dickinson released a strategy in April aimed at working more closely with commercial companies and making it easier for the military to take advantage of their capabilities. (Source: C4ISR & Networks)
20 Oct 22. PLD Space and Repsol develop renewable fuels for micro-launchers.
- The alliance of these two Spanish companies, unprecedented in the space segment, combines technology and sustainability.
- The main challenge of the agreement is to formulate new renewable rocket fuels and reduce the carbon footprint by 90% or even go negative
PLD Space, the leading European company in the micro-launcher industry, and Repsol have signed a pioneering collaboration agreement to jointly develop renewable fuels for space vehicles. The agreement includes both feasibility studies to replace current fuels with others produced with sustainable raw materials, as well as the design of new renewable fuels, which will be tailor-made in the Repsol Technology Lab for the rocket propellants manufactured by PLD Space, specifically for the MIURA recoverable micro-launchers. In this way, both companies are making progress towards the European Union’s goal of climate neutrality by 2050.
With this agreement, the two companies are revolutionizing the future of rocket fuels, which currently use liquid kerosene similar to that used in civil aviation, or a specific rocket fuel called RP-1.
Repsol will formulate the new fuels from renewable or recycled raw materials, specifically, from advanced biofuels made from waste as raw material or using synthetic fuels that are produced from renewable hydrogen and CO2 removed from the atmosphere. In this way, a reduction of the carbon footprint of up to 90% or even negative is achieved.
Raúl Verdú, CBDO and Co-founder of PLD Space, has pointed out that “we were the first company in Europe to publicly commit to the recovery of its micro-launchers as proof of its commitment to the environment. We want to continue researching all the alternatives that allow us to reduce our carbon footprint, also in propulsion”.
Javier Aríztegui, Repsol’s Senior Product Design Manager at Repsol Technology Lab, sees this project as “a great opportunity, as Repsol will apply the deep knowledge it has acquired over the years in the formulation of all types of fuels, including racing fuels, to develop a sustainable fuel for space vehicles. It is a challenge, and we feel prepared to face it successfully”.
PLD Space is developing two reusable micro-launchers, the suborbital MIURA 1 and orbital MIURA 5, intended to provide commercial launch services to customers worldwide. Its family of liquid-fueled engines, called TEPREL, is powered by kerosene and liquid oxygen (KeroLOX). For MIURA 1, the firm currently uses Jet-A1 fuel, the fuel commonly used in aviation, while the propellant -the combination of a fuel and the comburent, which is usually oxygen- planned for MIURA 5 is RP-1, the standard for rocket engines.
“One of the challenges of the project is to maintain the same level of performance of the MIURA micro-launchers,” says PLD Space Propulsion Manager, Francesco Spalletta. “Our responsibility is to maintain the vehicle performance while minimizing its environmental impact”.
19 Oct 22. US AFRL’s small satellite Ascent completes all mission objectives. Ascent is now performing extended missions to determine bus electronics’ survivability in GEO space conditions.
Artist’s rendering of the AFRL Ascent spacecraft with fully deployed solar arrays. Credit: US Air Force graphic.
The US Air Force Research Laboratory’s (AFRL) small spacecraft, called Ascent, has successfully completed all its assigned mission objectives.
Ascent is a 12-unit CubeSat that was launched in December last year.
It was the first satellite to be flown by the US AFRL in the geosynchronous Earth orbit (GEO) space.
For decades, advances in technology and a move away from traditional blast furnaces (BFs) toward electric arc furnaces (EAFs) have greatly reduced energy use in steel.
The objective of Ascent’s deployment was to assess the performance of different commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) technologies in a GEO space environment, where the satellites match the rotation of the Earth.
The spacecraft was developed by Small Satellite Portfolio, within the AFRL Space Vehicles Directorate based at Kirtland Air Force Base in Ohio, US in collaboration with Space Security and Defense Programme.
With a ceiling value of $10m, the Ascent satellite programme involved the contribution of around 15 researchers from AFRL, as well as from other contractors.
Following the mission completion, Ascent is currently carrying out other extended missions to determine the COTS bus electronics’ survivability in GEO space conditions.
Ascent programme manager captain Sunderlin Jackson said: “The survivability of COTS electronics in the GEO environment, has taken us by surprise.
“No one expected Ascent would still be operating as well as it is, this long after deployment.
“This gives us alternatives to creating our own satellite components, saving both time and money.”
According to the AFRL, data collected by Ascent will provide a better understanding of how different components survive in harsh GEO space environments, which is crucial for the fielding of future satellites.
Jackson added: “Now that we have data that proves the effectiveness in that region, we will be monitoring for trends in spacecraft health over time, continuing nominal operations, and exploring options to transfer to another agency as a training or demonstrations asset.” (Source: airforce-technology.com)
18 Oct 22. Rivada Space Networks Signs MoU with Quantum Encryption Leader SpeQtral to Develop Ultra-Secure Communications for Government & Enterprise Worldwide. Rivada Space Networks GmbH, a global network company launching a constellation of 600 low-earth-orbit satellites (LEO) to enable secure, global connectivity for governments and enterprises, today announced it has signed a partnership agreement with SpeQtral, an emerging leader in quantum-secure communications systems.
Our world is increasingly data-driven, cloud-based and cybersecurity conscious, creating an ever-growing demand to upgrade the networks that transport data around the globe. And with the geopolitical and cybersecurity threats of recent months, we are increasingly looking to the new low-earth-orbit (LEO) constellations and a fundamentally different network architecture to provide connectivity that meets today’s demands for security, latency, throughput, reach and mobility.
Quantum-secure communications systems and specifically Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) technology are seen as crucial elements in the development of forthcoming highly secure, satellite-enabled connectivity networks. QKD uses quantum entanglement to distribute encryption keys to secure communications networks. SpeQtral’s QKD technology platform enables the creation and distribution of computationally uncrackable encryption keys, by leveraging the laws of physics instead of computational algorithms.
Rivada Space Networks (RSN) is partnering with SpeQtral to demonstrate the technical compatibility of adding a QKD encryption layer to enhance the security of communications over low earth orbit (LEO) satellite constellations. In 2024, RSN will start the launch of its 600-satellite laser-connected constellation with four precursor satellites and SpeQtral will launch its QKD satellite, SpeQtral-1. This will allow RSN and SpeQtral to jointly establish quantum-secure data links over the RSN precursor satellites and validate both the space and ground station terminals required for QKD-enabled encrypted traffic on the Rivada Space Networks constellation.
Chune Yang Lum, Co-founder and CEO of SpeQtral, said: “We are delighted to work with international partners to employ SpeQtral-1 for the demonstration of ultra-secure communications, executing on our vision to realise global QKD. We have had strong synergies with our partners thus far and are excited to bring our technology one step closer to enabling telecommunication network providers to incorporate a valued-added quantum security feature to their offering”.
Severin Meister, CEO of RIvada Space Networks GmbH added: “Recent events in Ukraine have demonstrated that we are increasingly reliant on the commercial satellite sector and in particular new satellite constellations to provide high-performance, resilient communications infrastructure. Security is a key attribute of Rivada’s unique gateway-less architecture and we believe leveraging quantum technology will enable us to deploy the most secure communications network in the world. Meister continued: “Trialing this innovative new technology here in Germany is extremely important for us as we recently joined the EU’s multi-stakeholder Secure Connectivity Programme, and we are excited to add quantum encryption capability to the provision of an independent and secure communications infrastructure for Europe”.
* Rivada Space Network Chief Operating Officer, Mark Rigolle outlined Rivada’s game-changing connectivity network with all its advantages for enterprise and government communications at the Asia Pacific Satellite Communications Council (APSCC) annual gathering of the Asia Pacific satellite and space community taking place in Seoul. (Source: PR Newswire)
18 Oct 22. mPower Technology Selected by OneWeb for Innovation Program Demonstration. Innovative solar technology company, mPower Technology, Inc., announced today that its DragonSCALES™ solar modules have been selected by global space-based communications company, OneWeb, for an innovation program demonstration. The project will kick off this year. The objective of this demonstration is to evaluate DragonSCALES silicon solar module performance under representative LEO (low-Earth orbit) mission conditions.
mPower Technology designed DragonSCALES to meet the specific requirements of space applications, including low-Earth orbit environments. Leveraging well-established and affordable materials, processes and tools from the silicon photovoltaic (PV) and microelectronics industries, DragonSCALES enables completely new design options that are highly flexible, resilient, lightweight and can be rapidly deployed at extremely low cost.
OneWeb is a global communications network powered by a constellation of 648 low-Earth orbit satellites. Headquartered in London, OneWeb enables high-speed, low latency connectivity for governments, businesses, and communities everywhere around the world. “OneWeb is eager to evaluate DragonSCALES,” said Valery Gineste, VP, Technologies at OneWeb. “We look forward to working with such innovative companies that can bring low-cost space power solutions that have been a challenge until now.”
“We are excited to have been selected by OneWeb to demonstrate the market-leading features of DragonSCALES,” said Kevin Hell, mPower’s chief executive officer. “Our unique solution for low-Eearth satellite constellations is not only affordable, it’s qualified, flight proven and ready for high-volume production.” (Source: PR Newswire)
19 Oct 22. Europe plans first Ariane 6 rocket launch in Q4 of 2023. Europe plans to launch the first Ariane 6 rocket, its next-generation space launcher, in the fourth quarter of 2023, the European Space Agency (ESA) said on Wednesday.
The 22-nation agency had previously said it was delaying the first launch from 2022 to 2023 without giving details.
Ariane 6 is being developed by ArianeGroup, a joint venture of Airbus (AIR.PA) and Safran (SAF.PA), on behalf of ESA in an effort to reduce launch costs in the face of new private competition from SpaceX and to secure Europe’s access to space.
Developed at a cost of just under 4 bn euros ($3.9 bn) and originally set for an inaugural launch in July 2020, the project has been hit by a series of delays.
Buoyed by a major order from Amazon for its Project Kuiper constellation earlier this year, ArianeGroup subsidiary Arianespace, which operates the launches, said it had won a total of 29 orders for Ariane 6 and 7 for the smaller Vega C.
Arianespace expects some three quarters of Ariane 6 launches to come from the commercial sector, with institutional customers making up 60% of launches for the Italian-developed Vega C. The company is looking for alternative launch slots for five missions that had been scheduled to lift off on Russian Soyuz rockets, including the Euclid space telescope and the first in a series of extreme weather warning satellites. (Source: Google/Reuters)
17 Oct 22. Funding review may set back major Australian space project. The Labor government’s review of Coalition funding projects may delay a $1.2bn satellite program. The National Space Mission for Earth Observation is a landmark space program for the Australian space industry that involves cooperation among several Australian government departments, US government agencies and NASA. The program was announced in March this year as a central part of the Morrison government’s budget.
Led by the Australian Space Agency (ASA), the program was designed to increase Australia’s sovereign space capabilities and provide increased opportunities for jobs and investment within the industry.
The program would see Australia design and build four entirely Australian satellites for the purpose of collecting vital Earth observation data.
Working alongside the ASA would be the CSIRO, Geoscience Australia, the Bureau of Meteorology and the Department of Defence.
The program is “the most significant investment ever made in Australia’s civil space sector” said former minister for science and technology Melissa Price in March.
The funding review is not limited to the National Space Mission for Earth Observation, with the current Labor government set to review all Coalition funding ahead of the budget that will be handed down on the 25th of October.
Another space program included in the review is the ASA’s $150m “Moon to Mars” program, which provides grants and funding to Australian space businesses to be involved in NASA’s Artemis program.
The current Minister for Industry and Science, Ed Husic, released a statement on the review via a spokesperson, saying the government is “going line-by-line through all commitments of the previous government”.
“It would be irresponsible for us to tick off expenditure without rigorous review,” they added.
The main concern from the Australian space industry is that the review will lead to delays and setbacks in the program, which could seriously jeopardise its success.
Some in the industry are speculating that the review may delay the project by up to 12 months, which would complicate an already complex program with numerous moving parts.
Industry leaders stressed the important of the $1.2bn satellite program, with Space Industry Association of Australia CEO James Brown saying the program was “critical” to Australia’s security and economic prosperity.
“It is the key to ensuring Australia can contribute to sustainable space and the operational needs of multiple government departments and agencies,” said Brown. (Source: Space Connect)
18 Oct 22. Science Minister in Italy for first meeting with European Space Agency. Science Minister Nusrat Ghani visits Italy to meet with European Space Agency (ESA).
This week (Monday 17 October), recently appointed Minister for Science and Investment Security Nusrat Ghani arrived at the European Space Agency (ESA)’s Centre for Earth Observation to meet with ESA’s Director General Josef Aschbacher, and Austrian Minister for Climate Action, Environment, Energy, Mobility and Technology, Leonore Gewessler.
Minister Ghani was joined by UK Space Agency CEO Paul Bate for the visit, the Minister’s first trip outside the UK since being appointed in her ministerial position within the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy.
The meeting with Dr. Aschbacher came ahead of this year’s ESA Council of Ministers (CMIN22), set to take place in November, at which member states look to invest in the next evolution of ESA missions and programmes, and at which the UK contribution to ESA will be confirmed.
November’s Ministerial council will present an exciting opportunity to help set the future direction of ESA, and to achieve an outcome for the UK that delivers on our National Space Strategy (NSS) objectives while driving growth and supporting safety and sustainability on Earth.
Minister for Science and Investment Security Nusrat Ghani said: “I am proud to be representing the UK space sector as we discuss our ambitions ahead of the ESA Council of Ministers next month. There are a series of important programmes on the table, and I want to harness opportunities in space to grow the UK economy, create jobs and inspire young people into STEM careers. It was important to me that my first international trip was with ESA and I look forward to the Council of Ministers meeting in November and campaigning for 2025 UK Presidency.”
We’re also making new funding available now to strengthen the UK’s position as a world leader in the satellite communications market, and I look forward to seeing the results of the competition.
Having committed £374 m per year over five years to ESA in 2019, the UK’s investment and collaboration with the agency is of significant value to the economy and domestic sector, illustrated by new UK Space Agency report findings published this week, which find that for every £1 invested, ESA will generate an overall return of £11.80 for the UK economy.
The visit to Italy also coincided with Minister Ghani’s unveiling of a new £15 m fund for UK businesses to revolutionise satellite communications technology. The competition will prioritise customer needs, support sustainable growth and catalyse further investment into the UK space sector, which already employs 47,000 people.
The trip was indicative of the UK’s strong commitment to the space and R&D sector both at home and across Europe. The UK’s European and global partnerships form an essential part of this government’s ambitions in the field as we begin to explore the possibility of bidding for the ESA presidency for 2025, continue to advocate for our association to the Horizon Europe research programme, and look ahead to a busy pipeline of bilateral engagements across R&D. (Source: https://www.gov.uk/)
17 Oct 22. £15m investment in satellite communications from UK Space Agency. Science Minister Nusrat Ghani has unveiled a new £15 m fund for UK businesses to revolutionise satellite communications technology.
Science Minister Nusrat Ghani has unveiled a new £15 m fund for UK businesses to revolutionise satellite communications technology.
The competition, running until next spring, is open to organisations developing ambitious technologies across the satellite communications ecosystem. It will prioritise customer needs, support sustainable growth and catalyse further investment into the UK space sector, which already employs 47,000 people.
Ideas can focus on creating entire new satellite constellations, ground systems, or delivering new services to customers, and will be funded through the UK Space Agency’s leading role in the European Space Agency (ESA) Advanced Research in Telecommunications Services (ARTES) programme.
This new funding package is announced as the Science Minister travels to Rome, Italy, in her first space-focused visit overseas to meet ESA Director General Josef Aschbacher.
The meeting comes ahead of the ESA Council of Ministers (CMIN22) next month where the UK and other member states will negotiate their future contributions to ESA for priority space projects and missions.
Science Minister Nusrat Ghani said:
I am proud to be representing the UK space sector as we discuss our ambitions ahead of the ESA Council of Ministers next month. There are a series of important programmes on the table and I want to harness opportunities in space to grow the UK economy, create jobs and inspire young people into STEM careers.
We’re also making new funding available now to strengthen the UK’s position as a world leader in the satellite communications market, and I look forward to seeing the results of the competition.
The £15 m fund comes as a new report shows every £1 invested in ESA generates an overall return of £11.80 for the UK economy.
The Impact Evaluation of UK Investment in the European Space Agency also shows the UK is in the top three nations in terms of scientific output, with the USA and Germany. This is a measure of the publication rate per every £1 invested among key space-faring countries.
The UK’s role in ESA is an important part of delivering on the government’s ambitious National Space Strategy. The UK committed £374 m per year over five years to ESA in 2019 and this report looks at the impact of that investment in 2020 and 2021.
The ARTES programme is one of the UK Space Agency’s key commercial drivers for UK space sector growth and includes projects such as Eurostar Neo. UK involvement, which is expected to bring a 20:1 return on investment, will see new geostationary satellites developed by UK-based Airbus launched into space to provide better broadcast, internet and communications services around the world.
Dr Paul Bate, Chief Executive of the UK Space Agency, said: Our ESA membership delivers huge advantages to the UK, by catalysing investment into the sector, backing innovative companies, and providing access to new missions and capabilities such as the James Webb Space Telescope.
As a founding member of ESA, UK space organisations benefit from access to world-class facilities in the UK and Europe, the expertise of ESA’s 3,000 staff, and close links to the wider international space community, including other space agencies like NASA.
This new report demonstrates how our participation in ESA translates into real results for the UK economy and continues to play an important role in meeting our national space ambitions. (Source: https://www.gov.uk/)
17 Oct 22. Airbus Beluga delivers Airbus satellite to Kennedy Space Center. First Airbus Eurostar Neo satellite successfully launched just hours before its twin arrived at KSC. A special aircraft landed at the Kennedy Space Center at Cape Canaveral in Florida this weekend: the Airbus BelugaST (A300-600ST). It delivered the Airbus-built HOTBIRD 13G satellite for Eutelsat. This happened a few hours after its twin, HOTBIRD 13F, was successfully launched by a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket.
The spacecraft are the first members of the new “Eurostar Neo” family of Airbus telecommunications satellites, based on a next-generation platform and technologies developed with the support of the European Space Agency (ESA), and others, including the Centre National d’Etudes Spatiales (CNES) and the UK Space Agency (UKSA).
This milestone also marks the first time since 2009 that the Beluga has visited the USA – when it transported the International Space Station European module “Tranquility”. For this latest mission, the Beluga used 30 % Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) for its departure flight from Toulouse – reflecting Airbus’ decarbonisation ambitions.
“It is a true honour to consecutively showcase two satellites for our customer Eutelsat: two pieces of European technology at the iconic Kennedy Space Center,” said Jean-Marc Nasr, Head of Space Systems at Airbus. “The ability of Airbus to field an autonomous European solution is underscored by the transportation of our satellites in the unique Beluga aircraft – a true example of pan-Airbus synergies!”
Once they reach their orbital position, these two satellites, with more efficient power and thermal control systems than their predecessors, will be able to broadcast more than 1,000 television channels across Europe, Northern Africa and the Middle East. They will also enhance Eutelsat’s ability to provide connectivity for more than 135 m people, as they replace three Eutelsat satellites currently in orbit.
With the advent of the new BelugaXL, based on the larger A330-200 platform, the existing BelugaST fleet is progressively being made available for outsized freight transport services globally. Since the launch of the new Airbus Beluga Transport service in January, the BelugaST has performed missions for various customers worldwide.
09 Oct 22. SpaceX’s Success as Intelsat’s G-33/G-34 mission launches.
On Saturday, October 8 at 7:05 p.m. ET, SpaceX‘s Falcon 9 launched the Intelsat G-33/G-34 mission to a geosynchronous transfer orbit from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. The two satellites launched on top of booster B1060, which ties the record for the most-flown booster in SpaceX’s fleet, numbering 14. This was also the first time a commercial payload flew on a booster with that many flights under its belt. The booster previously supported GPS-III-SV03, Türksat-5A, Transporter-2, as well as 10 different Starlink missions.
After stage separation, the first stage landed on the A Shortfall of Gravitas droneship, stationed in the Atlantic Ocean.
“Today’s launch demonstrates Intelsat’s long-term commitment to our media customers,” said Intelsat CEO Dave Wajsgras. “The Intelsat Galaxy fleet is the most reliable and efficient media content distribution system in North America, and this investment will provide our customers with a reliable and high-performance technology path for media distribution through the next decade.”
Galaxy 33 separated from the vehicle at 7:38 p.m. EDT, and Intelsat confirmed its signal acquisition at 7:43 p.m. EDT. Galaxy 34 separated from the vehicle at 7:43 p.m. EDT, and Intelsat confirmed its signal acquisition at 8:20 p.m. EDT.
Galaxy 33 will be the replacement satellite at 133 degrees west once it is in service in early November. The satellite will provide service continuity for distribution to cable headends throughout the United States.
Galaxy 34 will replace Galaxy 12 at 129 degrees west once it is in service in late 2022. This satellite will serve as the new restoration payload for Intelsat’s Galaxy cable distribution customers, allowing the previous restoration role at 121 degrees west to be converted to a core cable distribution satellite.
UPDATE 2
The launch on Friday has been scrubbed. Now SpaceX is targeting Saturday, October 8 for launch of the Intelsat G-33/G-34 mission to a geosynchronous transfer orbit from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. The 70-minute launch window opens at 7:05 p.m. ET (23:05 UTC).
UPDATE 1
After an auto-abort by Falcon 9 at T-30 seconds stopped the count for the day on October 6 the launch was moved to Friday, October 7th. SpaceX is targeting Friday, October 7th, for the launch of the Intelsat G-33/G-34 satellites to GEO from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.
Artistic rendition of the Galaxy 33 and Galaxy 34 satellites on-orbit. Image is courtesy of Intelsat.
The 67-minute launch window opens at 7:06 p.m. ET (23:07 UTC).
The Falcon 9 first stage booster supporting this mission previously launched GPS III-3, Turksat 5A, Transporter-2, and 10 Starlink missions. (Source: Satnews)
10 Oct 22. Angola’s Angosat-2 to launch from Kazakhstan. Angola’s Anglosat-2, manufactured by Russia, is scheduled to be launched from Baikonur, Kazakhstan, on October 12th, and will replace Angosat-1 that was launch in December of 2017.
Angola intends to reduce the lack of connectivity in the country for its citizenry as well as the entire content via the expansion of telecom services to the most remote areas of the nation as well as the southern region of Africa and much of southern Europe via their new satellite.
Angosat-2 weighs two tons, will have a design life of 15 years and will provide 13 gigabytes, with the spacecraft based on the Eurostar-3000 platform. and have a design life span of 15 years. (Source: Satnews)
10 Oct 22. Advances in LEO satellite tracking, SATCOM control + 3D laser-based satellite antenna scanning revealed by Hiltron Communications. Supported on a high-stability ground pillar, HMAM LEO incorporates the computing resources to track satellites using the NORAD TLE (two-line element) data format, which defines satellite locations based on their location and velocity. HMAM LEO is capable of accommodating parabolic antennas up to 2.4 meters diameter and can lock onto the desired satellite within the approximately 10 minute timespan where an LEO satellite is in sight. The mount can be oriented within more than 360 degrees of azimuth and 80 degrees of elevation at the required tracking speed.
“LEO satellites occupy the sharp edge of communications technology, as evidenced by the strong investment in satellite constellations offering low-latency internet access from practically any location,” said Jean-Luc George van Eeckhoutte, Hiltron Sales Manager. “Our recently introduced HMAM LEO is a complete system combining the strength, precision, smoothness of operation and internal computing capabilities necessary to monitor low Earth orbit satellites. LEO satellites typically have an orbiting period of 128 minutes or less, making at least 11.25 orbits per day. Precise tracking is essential.”
Hiltron HSACU4 compact antenna control unit
The Hiltron HSACU4 is a compact antenna control unit for use with flyaway antennas. It is based on the same modular architecture as the HACU antenna control unit which is used for antennas at hundreds of Earth stations worldwide. Elements such as a polarization driver, an integrated beacon receiver or power supply modules for the LNBs can be integrated. Control and monitoring are performed through an Ethernet link with an intuitive web interface, or via a directly connected handheld unit. An auto-pointing function can be activated using the web interface which displays the coordinates of the target satellite. After locating the satellite, the HSACU4 progresses to fine-adjustment mode. It can also scan a predefined area and search within this area for a satellite. Steptrack and TLE for NORAD data are supported and can be automatically activated after fine pointing of the antenna. Prediction tracking is included for inclined-orbit satellites.
Hiltron ESA 3D Laser-Based Satellite Antenna Evaluation
3D laser scanning and evaluation of teleport antennas is service based on technology developed by Hiltron’s subsidiary partner, ESA Microwave GmbH. It allows reflectors of practically any size to be measured quickly and at very high resolution as part of a complete performance evaluation. This is especially important when teleport antennas are upgraded to higher frequencies such as the Ka-band. The 3D laser-based satellite antenna scanning service is available to new and existing Hiltron customers for any brand and model of satellite reflector, up to 35 meters in diameter.
“The 3D laser scanning technique we use is far more accurate than the commonly employed photogrammetry method and can be performed while the antenna is actually in operation,” said Peter Kneissl, Head of Research & Development at ESA Microwave. “It is also much more efficient than photogrammetry, which requires manual attachment of measurement targets to the reflector, a time-consuming process and one which results in only a few hundred points being measured. Our technique can capture a m surface reference points per second with a geometric accuracy of less than 1 mm. The resultant information is integrated into a cloud of approximately 60 m points from which a computer-aided design model is created. After digitization and computation of the reflector and sub-reflector topography, we use the ingested data to calculate alignment, registration and any required fine-tuning such as surface restoration. Measured specifications and related performance parameters are delivered to the antenna operator or owner together with recommendations clarifying whether the antenna would benefit from upgrading, conversion or fitting with a multi-band feed system.“ (Source: Satnews)
11 Oct 22. DARPA’s SPCE program to push beyond power limitations in space. Rapidly proliferating smallsats in LEO are expanding space-based capabilities critical to both government and industry. As the subsequent, ever-increasing demand strains operational limitations of LEO satellites, DARPA’s new Space Power Conversion Electronics (SPCE) program seeks greater efficiencies in usable power in the harsh space environment.
Space-based power consumption generates heat that can only be offloaded through radiation. This type of thermal management constrains the maximum operating power a satellite can consume. Usable power is further reduced by the inefficiencies in point-of-load (POL) converters.
The main function of POL converters is to deliver power at significantly lower voltage than the high-voltage main satellite power bus for payloads. These lower-voltage applications include onboard microsystems that execute computing and other electronic functions.
Today’s space POL converters comprise radiation-hardened, high-voltage switching transistors and radiation-resistant passive and active circuit elements to survive in challenging space conditions. These components, subject to extensive development and testing processes to withstand radiation damage, trail the performance of their counterparts built for non-radiated applications, such as ground-based systems. The latter can leverage faster, more cutting-edge components, but the radiation-hardening process reduces POL power efficiency in space to as little as 60% – severely limiting a satellite’s capabilities and battery lifetime.
Improved power efficiency in the harsh, radiated space environment is necessary to meet demands for new, increasingly advanced mission capabilities as well as extended lifetimes for persistent LEO constellations.
The goal of DARPA’s SPCE program is to boost the performance of space-based POL systems through development of high-voltage, radiation-tolerant transistors and integrated circuit technologies that are low-loss, high-voltage, and radiation tolerant.
The SPCE program consists of three program phases. The 20-month first phase will target radiation-tolerant, high-performance, high-voltage transistors development, while Phase 2 focuses on low-loss integration development and Phase 3 targets high-efficiency conversion circuit demonstration.
“SPCE will exploit a combination of materials and device-engineering, integrating advanced materials of different types and composition – or heterogenous material synthesis – and novel device designs. This will help achieve radiation-tolerant power transistors for space that offer performance that is competitive with terrestrial, state-of-the-art wide bandgap semiconductor power transistors,” said Jason Woo, DARPA program manager for SPCE. “With proliferation in LEO, 60% efficiency is no longer good enough.”
According to Woo, if successful, SPCE breakthroughs could extend system lifetimes and create new mission capabilities for persistent LEO constellations operating in difficult space terrains. (Source: Satnews)
09 Oct 22. Libre Space Foundation’s QUBIK mission reaches orbit. On October 1, 2022, Libre Space Foundation‘s QUBIK mission reached orbit. The mission was onboard Firefly Aerospace’s Alpha Flight 2, which was launched successfully from the Vandenberg Space Force Base in California.
The Alpha FLTA002 was Firefly Aerospace ’s second technology demonstration flight, attempting to launch multiple satellites to LEO. The flight experienced a nominal countdown and lift-off at 12:01 AM PDT-07:01 UTC and proceeded with flawless progress throughout each stage of the mission.
It hosted a number of academic, educational and scientific payloads, providing an excellent opportunity for non-profits, startups and space-related organizations to gain access to space. Libre Space Foundation was among these organizations and thanks Firefly Aerospace for this opportunity.
The QUBIK Mission Libre Space Foundation’s QUBIK mission is comprised of a set of PocketQubes plus a PocketQube deployer. The entire mission was built using open-source hardware and software.
The two PocketQubes, QUBIK-3 and QUBIK-4 were tasked to perform a series of radio amateur experiments on Identifying and Tracking satellites early on, upon deployment. The deployer, PICOBUS, was the first-ever, open-source, PocketQube deployer.
The mission reached orbit successfully and data was received from it using SatNOGS, the largest, open-source network of satellite ground stations.
For Libre Space Foundation, this was their second mission to reach space. Their first successful attempt was in 2017 with UPSat, the first-ever, open-source satellite. Ever since it was founded in 2015, Libre Space Foundation has remained true to its vision “for an Open and Accessible Outer Space for all”. This not-for-profit organization designs and develops open-source, space-related technologies, with all its projects being open-source and available to everyone. Libre Space Foundation maintains great collaborations with Space agencies, University Institutions, Space Organizations, Libraries, and Companies that help make space open to all humanity. (Source: Satnews)
17 Oct 22. Pitfalls and Possibilities: Discussing the Future of 5G NB-IoT NTN System Architecture. The finalisation of 3GPP’s Release 17 has solidified space-based 5G NB-IoT and direct-to-device connectivity as a reality. Increasing interest in satellite-based 5G services places new demands on NB-IoT system architecture to achieve uninterrupted network coverage across vast geographical areas whilst addressing current connectivity challenges and constraints worldwide. GateHouse SatCom’s Product Director, Svend Holme Sørensen, and Senior Software Architect, Henrik Krogh Møller, introduce the architecture and system elements required for developing 5G NB-IoT NTN systems now and in the future.
GateHouse SatCom has developed leading-edge satellite communication systems for over 20 years. Today, the software-only company and waveform developer contributes its expertise to several commercial and military markets and recently became an Individual Member of ETSI and an active participant in 3GPP’s revolutionary Release 17 to standardise direct-to-device 5G NB-IoT specifications.
With the inclusion of NTN into the 3GPP standards, it is expected that the next generation of IoT devices will only need to be updated with an NTN compatible chipset to roam between mobile and satellite networks.
“Direct-to-device 5G service capability is a significant milestone for satellite-based connectivity and offers many exciting opportunities”, says GateHouse SatCom’s Product Director, Svend Holme Sørensen, continuing:
“We previously witnessed satellite-based connectivity through the lens of large terminals and big antennas designed only for satellite communications. The devices we help develop today can work with terrestrial and satellite services, allowing widespread, uninterrupted ground-based and satellite-based 5G network device usage across multiple industries, even in notoriously hard-to-cover regions”.
Industries can implement satellite-driven 5G services into devices also designed for terrestrial services using NB-IoT NTN system architecture capabilities.
“We see many devices only supporting terrestrial connectivity but have huge NB-IoT NTN adaptability potential. The logistics industry could finally obtain the coveted end-to-end visibility. The farming industry could have livestock activity and GPS trackers powered by satellites. Likewise, the agriculture verticals could adopt satellite-powered wireless temperature and humidity loggers. The possibilities are endless”.
However, Svend explains further that developing 5G NB-IoT system architecture to achieve optimal interoperability and connectivity between terrestrial networks, non-terrestrial networks and ms of IoT devices isn’t without its challenges.
Playing catch up and adapting
3GPP originally created NB-IoT for terrestrial use in its Release 13 specifications, with the system architecture involving no satellite-driven signalling.
An NB-IoT device connects directly to the network through a Uu interface, reaching a ground-based NodeB tower in the cellular network. When the NB-IoT device eventually sends data to the internet, it goes through the packet core — in this case, a 4G EPC. This NB-IoT terrestrial system architecture formed the basis for satellite-driven NTN connectivity exploration via Release 16 pre-studies and Release 17 specifications.
“Satellites now play a critical role in adapting NB-IoT NTN system architecture to existing terrestrial networks. Instead of a device connecting to a NodeB cellular tower directly, its service link will first pass through a satellite, forwarding a signal via a feeder link to a ground-based NTN NodeB that’s connected to the satellite operator’s EPC”, explains GateHouse SatCom’s Senior Software Architect, Henrik Krogh Møller.
Release 17 currently focuses on Transparent Mode (See Fig. 1), where the NodeB is ground-based. Regenerative Mode, which will be studied in Release 18 and again in Release 19, aims to implement NodeBs as payloads on the satellites. Implementation will require further device, NodeB and EPC adaption to increase connection speed and efficiency.
Service and feeder link constraints
Several service and feeder link challenges exist, including doppler, delay, signal changes and path loss, all of which depend on the satellite, its elevation angle and position in the sky.
High-orbit GEO satellites operating 36,000 km above the ground will experience significantly higher path loss than lower orbit LEO (NGSO) satellites at e.g., 600 km. Signal delay and NGSO-affected doppler will also vary as a satellite moves closer or further away.
“The device’s physical layer requires adaptation enabled by GNSS positioning information to compensate for these challenges. Satellites will broadcast their position and timing information in this compensation”, explains Henrik.
Another area of focus is how satellites handle ms of constantly moving IoT devices, cover multiple tracking areas simultaneously in a short period and stay connected to NGSO networks:
“Devices are given a list of tracking area identifiers similar to terrestrial networks. The NodeB will broadcast its current tracking identifier and a list of tracking areas in service, which will change over time as satellites move. This list will guide device paging, and only devices with an intersection between the lists can be paged. Devices may send their locations to the network, providing for optimisation”.
Higher frequency equals greater signalling challenges
Release 17’s NB-IoT NTN specifications will begin operating on S-band frequencies which range between 2-4 gigahertz (GHz), crossing the conventional ultra-high frequency (UHF) and super high frequency (SHF) band boundaries at 3 GHz. Aviation, shipping and space industries utilise S-band for their optimised two-way communication and content delivery capabilities for mobile networks and handheld devices.
However, Svend states that higher frequencies “involve major technical challenges”, affecting satellite-connected 5G service quality, efficiency and reliability worldwide. This challenge primarily affects high-orbit GEOs operating at frequencies of above 6 GHz.
“Discussions are ongoing between 3GPP and the International Telecommunication Industry (ITU)to address frequency spectrum challenges and how they affect NB-IoT connectivity. Unfortunately, these discussions haven’t been resolved, but we believe they will in the future”.
14 Oct 22. AUSA 2022: L3Harris rolls-out new satcom mission module. L3Harris Technologies unveiled a new mission module to support tactical radio communications, enabling handheld combat radios to tap into US Space Force’s (USSF’s) tactical satellite communications (satcom) network. The mission module, rolled-out during the annual Association of the US Army (AUSA) 2022 conference in Washington, DC from 10 to 12 October, will let the company’s AN/PRC-163 two-channel handheld combat radio connect to USSF’s Distributed Tactical Communications Systems (DTCS). The introduction of the new module will eliminate the need for US Armed Forces units to carry a separate Iridium satcom radio to connect to the DTCS, according to a 12 October company statement. (Source: Janes)
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