Sponsored By Viasat
www.viasat.com/gov-uk
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21 Nov 23. Viasat’s Broadband Arctic Extension Closer as Spacecraft Complete Key Tests. Viasat, Inc. (NASDAQ: VSAT), a global leader in satellite communications, has announced the second satellite in the upcoming Arctic Satellite Broadband Mission has completed thermal vacuum testing at Northrop Grumman’s Dulles, VA, site: a significant milestone as the project looks to connect the Arctic region with high speed broadband in the second half of 2024.
The mission, led by the Space Norway subsidiary Heosat, will see two satellites deployed in a highly elliptical orbit (HEO) in the world’s first HEO mission carrying a broadband commercial service payload. The two satellites – ASBM-1 and ASBM-2 – will host Viasat’s GX-10a and GX-10b Ka-band payloads, extending Viasat’s high-speed global network across the Arctic region.
The spacecraft are designed to integrate as part of Viasat’s wider satellite fleet and extend the coverage of its Ka-band network beyond that available from geostationary satellites. The payloads will be Viasat’s first in non-geostationary orbit and will become a key element of its co-operative hybrid network. Once launched, these new payloads will increase Viasat’s fleet size to 20, with an additional eight under development.
The Arctic has rapidly growing connectivity needs to serve governments, shipping companies, commercial airlines, and scientists. In October 2023, the UK Government’s Environmental Audit Committee called for a greater political focus on the region and further research into the potential for environmental and economic impacts of changing weather patterns. Alongside GX10a and b, the spacecraft will host payloads for the Norwegian Armed Forces and the US Space Force.
Mark Dickinson, Head of Space Systems, Viasat, said: “We have been talking with our customers, partners, and shareholders about how the combination with Inmarsat has given us a new scale and scope to deliver new solutions to meet our customers’ requirements. This is an example of what that means in practice. The investment we’ve made in our network is creating the flexibility, coverage, and interoperability to meaningfully connect the world wherever and whenever our customers need it – even if they happen to be standing on the North Pole.”
Space Norway Program Director, Kjell-Ove Skare, said: “With both satellites through the thermal vacuum test we are really closing in on making this strategically important capability real. We have seen an unprecedented collaborative effort with Viasat, the US Space Force, our Norwegian Armed Forces and with Northrop Grumman, and are all looking forward to providing the first dedicated broadband services to users in the real Arctic.”
The ASBM-1 and ASBM-2 spacecraft will now undergo their final testing and readiness activities. Once complete, they will be transferred to Vandenberg Space Force Base, California and launched together on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket in mid-2024. The company will share further details on the launch schedule once confirmed. Source: PR Newswire)
23 Nov 23. Skyrora and Spirit to Enhance Future UK Launch Capability.
Skyrora and Spirit AeroSystems have announced a collaboration on orbital launch capability. The companies celebrated the announcement on the conference’s opening day in Belfast, home to Spirit’s largest UK manufacturing facility.
UK-based, launch-vehicle manufacturer, Skyrora is developing an agile, end-to-end, launch service to provide access to space for small satellites globally. Having conducted a test launch of the suborbital Skylark L vehicle in October 2022, as part of the company’s incremental learning approach to launch, Skyrora is well on track to become the first UK company to vertically launch satellites from the UK, expecting to conduct up to 16 launches per year once operating at scale.
“This alliance is a real testament to the strides Skyrora has made, and continues to make, towards our mission of being the first British company to launch from UK soil. It will allow us to renew our focus on localising our supply chain as much as possible, which is a key part of our mission to create a responsible and sustainable approach to orbital launch,” said Volodymyr Levykin, CEO and Founder, Skyrora.
“By collaborating with innovative partners like Spirit, Skyrora will be able to access manufacturing and testing capacity right here in the UK. Historically, space has not been an environmentally friendly industry, but we are committed to being a responsible player that continues to foster talent and skills nationally as the ambitious new space economy goes from strength to strength,” Mr Levykin added.
Spirit’s presence in UK space is growing. Its broad offering of highly adaptive manufacturing and testing solutions in metallics and composites, at both its Scotland and Northern Ireland facilities, brings significant industrial capacity to Skyrora’s launch proposition. Leveraging Spirit’s aerostructures expertise, the companies will explore opportunities to transition Skyrora’s orbital launch vehicles from development to full-scale production.
“Through our support of innovative, sustainable, space technologies and clusters, we can add real value to building UK launch capability. Spirit’s role will be to fully industrialise Skyrora’s future production requirements, ensuring a smooth path from development to manufacture,” said Sir Michael J Ryan CBE, Vice President, European Space and Defence, Spirit AeroSystems.
“The UK Space Conference provides a fantastic platform for companies like ours to cement relationships enabling commercial success within the sector including, importantly, UK launch activity,” Sir Michael added.
The UK Government has made orbital launch a key priority, with the National Space Strategy outlining plans to secure an increased portion of a global space economy expected to be worth £490 billion by 2030. “This collaboration between Skyrora and Spirit clearly demonstrates the attractiveness of the UK’s thriving launch sector and the growing interest from both UK-based and international companies,” said Matt Archer, Director of Launch, UK Space Agency.
“Relationships such as this will not only build our domestic spaceflight capability but also help deliver Government’s ambition for the UK to be Europe’s leading provider of small satellite launch by 2030, creating highly skilled jobs and local opportunities across the UK,” Mr Archer added.
Collaborative goals also include the research of space technologies, particularly in additive manufacturing. Skyrora will provide Spirit with access to Skyprint 2, the largest in-house hybrid 3D printer of its kind in Europe. Located in Skyrora’s manufacturing facility just outside Glasgow, research enabled by Skyprint 2 has the potential to unlock a localised supply chain to reduce costs and lead times for Spirit, bolster industrial cooperation, and promote growth within the UK space sector.
(Source: ASD Network)
23 Nov 23. Rocket Factory Augsburg (RFA) and the German Space Agency in the German Aerospace Center (DLR) today announced the winners of the second round of the payload competition for German launcher systems at an event in Berlin. Eight customers with a total payload of 200kg will fly on the second test flight of the RFA ONE. After the first flight of the RFA ONE was fully booked, there was more demand than capacity for the second flight.
After RFA won the DLR Microlauncher competition organized by the German Space Agency in the German Aerospace Center (DLR) in April 2022, the company was awarded prize money of 11 m euros. As part of this, RFA was able to secure the German government as an anchor customer for the first two flights. Following this success, satellite manufacturers, research institutes and start-ups were invited to apply for these flights in a call for tenders issued by DLR. A jury of experts has now selected eight missions/winners with a total payload of 200 kg for the second test flight of RFA ONE, which will reach a sun-synchronous orbit at an altitude of 500 km. In this orbit, the satellites will be precisely positioned and can be rapidly commissioned to fulfil their individual missions. The launch is planned for the end of 2024.
DLR received more applications for the second flight of RFA ONE than for any other small launcher. The demand was significantly higher than the available capacity. The fact that the second flight is fully booked once again confirms RFA’s technological and commercial leadership.
Jörn Spurmann, RFA’s Chief Commercial Officer, said: “We are delighted with the high demand for our second launch, which underlines the growing confidence in our launch service product and the RFA team. The successful partnership with the German Space Agency (DLR) is seen as a pioneering model for efficient cooperation at the European level. The European Launcher Challenge, initiated by Germany, is a promising approach to increase the use of private launch services by institutions and countries. We are now doing all we can to lay the foundations for these promising developments with the first flight next year”.
The payload competition is part of the German Space Agency’s micro-launcher competition at German Aerospace Center. The aim of this programme is to drive forward the commercialization of European space and to improve the independence and competitiveness of companies and research institutions, particularly in the field of smaller payloads.
“We see these competitions as a catalyst and pioneer for the commercialization of space activities in Germany and Europe,” says Dr. Walther Pelzer, DLR Executive Board Member and Director General of the German Space Agency at DLR.
The following missions will be on board the second test flight of RFA ONE:
MIDAS
DLR Cologne
Germany
MIDAS will investigate the self-assembly of structures formed by active self-propelled microswimmers, and the long-term stability of these aggregates under microgravity conditions. Microswimmers are model systems that mimic the motion of cells and microorganisms. In suspension, they form aggregates that can be solidified into so-called active materials that can convert energy into mechanical motion on a microscopic scale. Such active materials possess great potential in applications as smart materials that can adapt their physical properties to changes in the environment. The proposal is in line with the ESA SciSpaceE White Paper defining the road map for Soft Matter and Biophysics (§2.6). The payload proposed here is derived from a payload previously flown several times on the MAPHEUS sounding rocket.
SPACEMAST
DLR Braunschweig
Germany
The SpaceMast Camera Mast is a deployable camera mast mounted directly to the Redshift OTV of RFA ONE. Once the Redshift OTV reaches the first target orbit, a 7m composite mast is deployed with a camera on its tip, to full (7m) or intermediate length (e.g. 2 m) for overview or closer view video footage of the OTV and the payloads being released/deployed. The camera mast can be retracted for further OTV transfer maneuvers and deployed again to make video footage of further payloads to be deployed.
More info: https://event.dlr.de/ila2022/spacemast/
Platform 9
Endurosat
Bulgaria
Platform-9 is part of EnduroSat’s Shared Satellite Constellation, which offers visionary companies the shortest and most affordable path to orbit for deploying their services, in-orbit testing and validation. EnduroSat’s unique software-defined NanoSat architecture allows for multiple sensors to operate together reliably on a single satellite, resulting in outstanding sustainable space service. Fewer satellites in orbit, used with much higher efficiency, shared as a common resource in orbit. Furthermore, EnduroSat’s redundant multi-master architecture provides unique payload operations reliability.
More info: https://www.endurosat.com/
VIBES Pioneer
Hochschule Bremen
Germany
VIBES Pioneer is a 3U CubeSat. The goal of the mission is to improve the optical performance of spacecraft using digital technologies. The spacecraft hosts an optical payload equipped with a light and cost-effective disturbance measurement and management system. During each image acquisition, accelerometers log the perturbations emitted by reaction wheels and their propagation along the satellite structure. Passive isolators placed on the structural path between the reaction wheel and the camera will reduce the disturbances. An active line-of-sight system for fine-pointing control of the payload will further improve the performance. The generated image data and satellite status information will be delivered to the ground with a software-defined radio.
More info: https://www.hs-bremen.de/forschen/forschungs-und-transferprofil/forschungsprojekt/visionary-ingenuity-boosting-european-spacecraft-microvibration-management-system/
PW3-Sat3
University of Warsaw
Poland
PW-Sat3 is the third satellite constructed by the Students’ Space Association at the Warsaw University of Technology in Poland. Following the deorbit sail demonstration performed by the PW-Sat2 team, the student team designed a butane warm-gas propulsion system with an additional heating chamber and membrane for pressurization. According to the mission plan, the device will perform orbit correction and deorbiting maneuvers to address the collision risk and space debris problems.
More info: https://pw-sat.pl/en/home-page/
Flamingo
Vyoma
Germany
Flamingo is a pilot mission for a satellite constellation to be deployed in an orbit around Earth. The remaining ten satellites shall be deployed from 2025 (the so-called Flamingo NextGen mission). Current trends point to a continuous increase in congestion of the near-Earth space environment, and novel approaches to detection, characterization, tracking and management of traffic must be sought to ensure space remains a safe, integral part of societies and economies worldwide, in a cost-effective manner. Vyoma’s satellites will passively monitor the space environment using optical onboard cameras and provide frequent updates to the ground. The data generated by the constellation shall enhance current space situational awareness (SSA) capabilities and enable satellite owners to make informed operational decisions.
More info: https://www.vyoma.space/
3Cat-8
Universitat Politecnica De Catalunya
Spain
The 3Cat-8 mission is a comprehensive satellite project encompassing educational, scientific, and technological objectives. It offers a unique educational opportunity, being primarily executed by students with support from industry contributions, including advanced technologies like an ionic thruster and OWL. The mission also focuses on ground-breaking scientific endeavours, notably the near-simultaneous ionospheric scintillation monitoring using GNSS Radio Occultation, and capturing the ionosphere’s multispectral polarized emission imaging. This is complemented by Radio Frequency Interference monitoring in both L- and K- bands.
More info: https://nanosatlab.upc.edu/en
MOVE-BEYOND
Technische Universität – WARR e.V.
Germany
The MOVE-BEYOND mission is dedicated to testing the innovative MOVE-BEYOND bus system, a pivotal development in satellite technology. This system is designed with a novel approach that emphasizes scalability and flexibility, enabling it to accommodate a diverse range of payloads. In line with this, it presents a unique opportunity for payloads that do not yet have a defined bus system. This mission represents a significant step forward in making satellite technology more adaptable and inclusive of various research and application needs, potentially revolutionizing how payloads are integrated and deployed in space missions.
About the German Space Agency at DLR
The German Aerospace Center (Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt; DLR) is the Federal Republic of Germany’s research centre for aeronautics and space. The organisation also conducts research and development activities in the fields of aeronautics, space, energy, transport, security and digitalisation. Within DLR the German Space Agency implements the Federal Government’s space strategy. More than 330 employees based in Bonn coordinate all of the German space activities at national and European levels and represents German space interests worldwide on behalf of the Federal Government. The tasks of German Space Agency at DLR include the planning and implementation of the national space programme and the management of Germany’s contributions to the European Space Agency (ESA) and the European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites (EUMETSAT).
About Rocket Factory
Rocket Factory Augsburg was founded in 2018 with the vision to enable data generating business models in space to better monitor, protect and connect our planet Earth. Against this background, the company’s goal is to offer launch services of up to 1.300kg into low Earth orbits and beyond on a weekly basis at highly competitive prices. With this, RFA wants to democratize access to space and reduce the launch costs in the space industry. The RFA ONE launch service combines three key competitive advantages: A customer-focused service with precise in-orbit delivery and a high degree of mission flexibility through its Redshift OTV; at a highly competitive price; made possible by superior staged combustion technology, low-cost stainless-steel structures and usage of industrial components. In June 2023, RFA became the first company in Europe to fire a complete upper stage with a staged combustion engine for the entire duration of the flight. In August, American investor KKR acquired a stake in RFA.
23 Nov 23. North Korea received Russian aid for satellite launch -South Korea lawmakers. North Korea got help from Russia for its successful launch of a reconnaissance satellite this week, South Korean lawmakers said on Thursday, citing the country’s intelligence agency.
Tuesday’s launch was North Korea’s third attempt after two failed tries, and the first since its leader Kim Jong Un’s rare trip to Russia in September, during which President Vladimir Putin promised to help Pyongyang build satellites.
After talks between the leaders, North Korea sent data on launch vehicles used in two previous satellite launches, and Russia offered its analysis of the data, according to Yoo Sang-bum, a member of the parliamentary intelligence committee.
“Regarding the success of the third launch, the National Intelligence Service assessed that there was assistance from Russia,” Yoo told reporters, citing Putin’s publicly stated pledge to help with the North’s launch vehicle, and the exchange of data between Pyongyang and Moscow.
North Korea’s state media said on Wednesday the country’s leader viewed images taken above Guam of U.S. military installations, but Yoo said it was difficult to verify whether the satellite was capable of capturing such images.
South Korea’s military has said parts of a rocket salvaged following the failed second launch in May showed that it had no meaningful use as a reconnaissance satellite.
“They were not in a situation to determine the satellite’s capabilities unless North Korea releases a video showing that it took those pictures of Guam,” Yoo said, citing the intelligence agency.
Youn Kun-young, another committee member, said that the launch was successful because the satellite entered orbit, and that North Korea could launch more satellites and conduct a nuclear test next year.
The latest launch triggered condemnation from the United States and other Western countries, while South Korea suspended part of a 2018 military pact with the North.
Russia and North Korea have denied arms transactions but have vowed to intensify military cooperation.
Moscow’s foreign ministry spokeswoman, Maria Zakharova, on Wednesday denied illegal military dealings with North Korea, saying Russia was implementing U.N. Security Council resolutions. “The accusations that have been brought against us … are unsubstantiated and have no evidence whatsoever,” Zakharova told a briefing.
The U.N. resolutions – passed with Russia’s support – prohibit development of technology applicable to North Korea’s ballistic missile programs and cooperation in areas such as nuclear science, technology, aerospace and aeronautical engineering.
(Source: Reuters)
22 Nov 23. New telescope to provide UK with crucial space awareness. UK Space Command and the UK Space Agency have announced the award of a contract to Spaceflux to build a new ground-based space camera-telescope system in Cyprus.
Known as Project ‘Nyx Alpha’, the telescope will monitor objects in geostationary orbit, approximately 36,000km above Earth’s equator.
Its primary mission will be to provide position information on UK satellites, helping to prevent collisions, protect critical space assets, and enhance the UK’s Space Domain Awareness (SDA). The contract brings another boost to the UK’s growing space industry, supporting existing jobs and creating opportunities in the sector.
The system has also been designed to allow for the sharing of data with partner organisations and international allies, improving the UK’s contribution to strategic space relationships, and increasing opportunities for collaboration in the space domain.
Spaceflux, a UK space technology company, will build, maintain, and routinely operate the system. It will be tasked by UK Space Agency and UK Space Command analysts from the UK Space Operations Centre at RAF High Wycombe.
The contract award was announced today at the UK Space Conference in Belfast, by Air Vice-Marshal Paul Godfrey, Commander of UK Space Command, and Dr Paul Bate, CEO of the UK Space Agency.
Air Vice-Marshal Paul Godfrey, Commander of UK Space Command, said: “Space Domain Awareness underpins our ability to protect and defend UK and allied interests in space. The UK has critical assets in geostationary orbit, and Project Nyx Alpha will help us to monitor them more closely. It is great to see that UK Space Command and the UK Space Agency are working with some of the most innovative UK space companies to develop our nation’s space capabilities.”
Dr Paul Bate, CEO of the UK Space Agency, said: “With more than 8,000 operational satellites and 30,000 pieces of trackable debris orbiting the Earth, the ability to operate safely in space is growing increasingly challenging. That is why we’re putting the UK at the forefront of global efforts to ensure a safe, secure, and sustainable space environment. Building and operating this new sensor in Cyprus will enhance our ability to track objects, avoid collisions and protect the satellites we depend on for daily life. The procurement marks a significant development for both the UK Space Agency and UK Space Command – by working together, we are developing the capabilities the country needs and delivering maximum value to the UK taxpayer.”
Dr Marco Rocchetto, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Spaceflux, said: “Space Domain Awareness is vital for the safety and security of in-orbit assets and is increasingly becoming foundational in space operations. Spaceflux has developed solutions, which guarantee timeliness, reliability, and accuracy of SDA systems. As a company based in London, we’re thrilled and deeply proud to support UKSA and UK Space Command in enhancing this sovereign capability, contributing to the safety of our national space ecosystem, and promoting a secure and sustainable space environment. These contracts will not only allow us to further advance our technologies, but also contribute to the growth of the national space ecosystem.”
The location and elevation of the site in Cyprus provides a better view of the geostationary orbit than sites on the UK mainland. This procurement will help UK Space Command protect and defend UK interests in space, including SKYNET, the UK’s world-leading family of military communications satellites.
At the conference, Air Vice-Marshal Paul Godfrey and Dr Paul Bate also announced that UK Space Command and the UK Space Agency have procured SDA data from Spaceflux, as well as Raytheon Systems. These will cover Low, Medium, and High Earth Orbits, and geostationary orbits, supporting civil and military missions in space.
In addition to the contract award for the space system, UK Space Command and the UK Space Agency will launch the National Space Operations Centre next year. The National Space Operations Centre will combine and coordinate civilian and military SDA capabilities to enable operations and protect UK interests from relevant space-related threats, risks, and hazards.
These projects fulfil elements of the National Space Strategy, and the supporting Defence Space Strategy, which both highlight SDA as a key civil and defence space capability priority. SDA involves the detection, identification, and tracking of objects in space, and understanding the effects of threats and hazards such as space weather, to ensure the UK has knowledge of what is occurring in space.
Spaceflux was set up in 2022 with the aim of leveraging their ground-based telescopes, in combination with a unique AI-driven analytics platform, to tackle the problem of space congestion in view of rising satellite deployment. The company will use its expertise to build, maintain, and routinely operate the commissioned sensor, which will be tasked by UK Space Agency and UK Space Command analysts from the UK Space Operations Centre at RAF High Wycombe. The sensor, a part of Project Nyx Alpha, will monitor objects in GEO, approximately 36,000km above Earth’s equator, with its primary mission being the provision of information on UK satellites, helping to prevent collisions and protect critical space assets. The system has also been designed to allow for the sharing of data with partner organisations and international allies, improving the UK’s contribution to strategic space relationships, and increasing opportunities for collaboration in the space domain.
The contract award was announced on stage at the UK Space Conference in Belfast by Air Vice-Marshal Paul Godfrey, Commander of UK Space Command, who stated, “Space Domain Awareness underpins our ability to protect and defend UK and allied interests in space. The UK has critical assets in geostationary orbit, and Project Nyx Alpha will help us to monitor them more closely. (Source: https://www.gov.uk/)
22 Nov 23. Northumbria University announces £50m space skills, research and development centre set to transform the UK space industry. Investments from Lockheed Martin, the UK Space Agency and Northumbria University forge pathway for NESST’s global prominence
Northumbria University, Newcastle has secured a total of £50m in funding to create a world-leading space skills, research and technology centre in the North East of England.
Major funding awards that were confirmed today from the UK Space Agency and global aerospace giant, Lockheed Martin have been match-funded by the University itself to create the North East Space Skills and Technology Centre.
The centre, which will be known as NESST, will be a “game-changer” for the UK space economy. NESST is expected to directly support the creation of over 350 jobs and inject over £260m into the North East economy over the next 30 years, playing a critical role in the government’s levelling-up agenda and immediately becoming a catalyst for the wider development of the UK space sector in the North East region.
In addition to this, Lockheed Martin committed a further £15 m investment in NESST to work with Northumbria’s experts on collaborative research, technology development, in-demand skills provision and STEM engagement activities over a 10-year period.
Through this strategic agreement, Lockheed Martin will become the first anchor tenant in NESST, creating unprecedented links for UK companies to access the global space market.
In recognition of the University’s excellence in all aspects of space research, and the transformative impact of NESST on the North East region and beyond, Northumbria University confirmed it would match-fund the UK Space Agency and Lockheed Martin awards with a further £25m, bringing the overall total investment in NESST to £50m.
Located in the heart of Northumbria University’s Newcastle city campus, NESST will be a new national space asset that brings together industry and academia to collaborate on internationally significant space research and technological developments.
NESST will put the UK at the forefront of research and innovation in areas including optical satellite communications, space weather and space-based energy, and will lead the way in providing specialist education and training to ensure the UK space sector has the highly skilled workers it needs in the future.
Lockheed Martin and Northumbria University first joined forces in 2022 to support the development of skills, research and technology in the space sector. Lockheed Martin has previously invested £630,000 into collaborations with the University on a number of trailblazing projects, including working together to create machine learning algorithms to detect and record nanojets, as well as joining forces to accelerate the use of space-based solar power. Its award of £15m will be split evenly across capital equipment to be used in the centre and research and development work.
The UK Space Agency award to Northumbria was the largest of all the projects funded and the maximum amount that could be granted under the organisation’s new Space Clusters Infrastructure Fund (SCIF) – an initiative aimed at increasing the capability, capacity, and connectivity of the UK’s space research and development infrastructure – and is a clear sign of the UK Space Agency’s confidence in the University’s ambitions.
The University’s Wynne Jones building, which overlooks Newcastle’s central motorway, will be transformed into a prominent, iconic home for NESST. The building, which is due to re-open in 2025, will feature world-class laboratory, testing, teaching, collaboration and office spaces, and the surrounding public spaces will be extensively regenerated to create an attractive new environment.
A major stimulus to the thriving local space cluster ecosystem, NESST will be home to some of the University’s key existing partnerships with local, national and international organisations and will also be open to businesses of all sizes working in the space sector.
Northumbria University is one of the UK’s leading universities in solar and space physics, receiving a number of significant funding awards in recent months including £5m from the UK Space Agency to take forward work to build a new laser-based satellite communications system and awards totalling £2.6m from the Science and Technology Facilities Council to fund studies into the Sun’s activity and its impact on Earth and to create a new Centre for Doctoral Training in the field of data intensive science.
The flagship NESST development marks a further step-change for Northumbria’s reputation as one of the UK’s leading universities for research and teaching, following its success in the latest Research Excellence Framework and being named Times Higher Education’s University of the Year 2022.
Professor Andy Long, Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive of Northumbria University, said: “This is a pivotal moment, not just for Northumbria University, but for the wider North East region and indeed, for the UK space sector as a whole. “This catalytic funding from both the UK Space Agency and Lockheed Martin recognises the world-leading excellence in all aspects of space research at Northumbria University. Quite simply, NESST will be a game-changer for the whole of the North East, ensuring the region becomes a major hub for innovation in the global space economy.”
Nik Smith, Regional Director for UK and Europe, Lockheed Martin, said: “NESST is one part of Lockheed Martin’s investment plans for our space business in the UK and will provide early prototyping and test facilities for new capabilities that could eventually be manufactured onshore. It will also be a reskilling hub, providing the pipeline of talent we will need to deliver national and even global programmes. With this investment, Lockheed Martin is thrilled to further our collaboration with Northumbria University and the UK Space Agency, and be a part of such significant initiatives for the region and the entire UK space sector.”
Andrew Griffith MP, Minister of State at the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, said: “Making Britain a space superpower means backing brilliant ideas up and down the land and harnessing the full potential of talent in our growing sector – from Dundee to Newcastle, Cornwall to Snowdonia.
“By investing with the private sector in research and facilities across the UK, we are ensuring they become home to global industries that support the growth of our £17.5bn space sector, create hundreds of new jobs and build dynamic businesses across the UK.”
Dr Paul Bate, Chief Executive of the UK Space Agency, said: “Our space sector has been concentrated in London and the South East, but in recent years we’ve seen the emergence of vibrant clusters across the whole of the country and significant investments from world-leading companies such as Lockheed Martin. This is a fantastic opportunity for Northumbria University to further propel the UK to the forefront of world-class research and innovation with the North East Space Skills and Technology Centre (NESST), helping us lead the way in optical satellite communications, space weather and energy research, education and training.
“It’s a brilliant example of the potential of our thriving space sector across the length and breadth of the UK to develop innovative infrastructure that helps us deliver increasingly ambitious missions and capabilities. The Space Clusters Infrastructure Fund highlights the government’s commitment to space and will help deliver the goal set out in the National Space Strategy to build one of the most innovative and attractive space economies in the world, developing new skills and creating jobs.”
Cllr Nick Kemp, Leader of Newcastle City Council, said: “The North East Space Skills and Technology Centre is an incredibly exciting development for our city and the wider region.
“This is an opportunity to make Newcastle a major player in the UK space industry while providing a significant boost to the local economy and providing hundreds of new opportunities for people.
“We are very fortunate in Newcastle to have the world-leading academic institutions that we do, and securing the funding for this landmark project is an outstanding achievement for Northumbria University, and is testament to the excellence of the research it undertakes.”
21 Nov 23. Satellogic Receives NOAA License to Expand U.S. Government Business. Satellogic Inc. (NASDAQ: SATL), a leader in sub-meter resolution Earth Observation (“EO”) data collection, today announced that it has been granted a remote sensing license by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (“NOAA”) as part of Satellogic’s strategy to capitalize on high-value opportunities in the U.S.
The license results in Satellogic being subject to NOAA’s oversight as Satellogic pivots operational control of its satellite constellation to its U.S. personnel and expands the Satellogic ground station network to include U.S. based ground stations. The license was granted following a NOAA and inter-agency review of the Satellogic constellation assessing national security, foreign policy, and U.S. international risks and obligations.
“Satellogic’s industry-leading capacity and agility to frequently remap large areas worldwide has driven our commercial solutions and uniquely positioned us to fill a gap for the U.S. and its allies,” said Matt Tirman, President of Satellogic. “U.S. defense, intelligence, and civilian agencies have recognized a significant and growing need to collaborate with commercial partners like Satellogic that can provide rapid, accurate, and trusted geospatial data for a range of global applications.”
Satellogic initiated the license application for its Aleph-1 Constellation as a critical step in establishing an end-to-end U.S. pixel path and expanding support for customers with NOAA requirements. Services include global tasking capacity, a range of high-quality geospatial data, Satellogic’s unique Constellation-as-a-Service model, and direct satellite sales via its Space Systems program.
This news comes on the heels of the company’s recent announcement of its decision to redomicile to the U.S., with an aim to complete the process in the first half of 2024. Satellogic anticipates targeting new U.S. intelligence opportunities in 2024 in addition to its current pipeline of international government and commercial opportunities.
Satellogic operates the largest commercial fleet of submeter resolution EO satellites in the world and provides EO data to governments and corporations for better decision-making. Its mission is to advance cost-efficiencies as well as rapidly iterate its proprietary technology for the purpose of expanding affordable access to critical information about the planet and life on Earth.
About Satellogic
Founded in 2010 by Emiliano Kargieman and Gerardo Richarte, Satellogic (NASDAQ: SATL) is the first vertically integrated geospatial company, driving real outcomes with planetary-scale insights. Satellogic is creating and continuously enhancing the first scalable, fully automated EO platform with the ability to remap the entire planet at both high-frequency and high-resolution, providing accessible and affordable solutions for customers.
Satellogic’s mission is to democratize access to geospatial data through its information platform of high-resolution images to help solve the world’s most pressing problems including climate change, energy supply, and food security. Using its patented Earth imaging technology, Satellogic unlocks the power of EO to deliver high-quality, planetary insights at the lowest cost in the industry.
With more than a decade of experience in space, Satellogic has proven technology and a strong track record of delivering satellites to orbit and high-resolution data to customers at the right price point. (Source: BUSINESS WIRE)
22 Nov 23. Brazil acquires new satcom capability for LPD fleet. The Brazilian Navy is acquiring a new satellite communications (satcom) system for NDM Bahia (G40) multi-purpose landing platform dock (LPD) to improve the satcom capability of the amphibious warfare ship.
A tender launched by the Brazilian Naval Commission in Washington, DC, on behalf of the Logistics Center for Navy Material, took place between September and October for the acquisition, installation, activation, and integration of an X-band, dual antenna satcom terminal, for the NDM Bahia ship. Janes was told that the proposals received from undisclosed interested companies are currently being analysed for decision. The satcom systems aboard Brazilian warships are usually linked to SISCOMIS, the country’s system for military satellite communications, which utilises the SGDC-1 strategic communications satellite for X-band transmission. Since being commissioned in March 2016 for Surface Force Command, the NDM Bahia. (Source: Janes)
22 Nov 23. RoK boosts military surveillance after North claims spy satellite launch.
- Summary
- North Korea says successfully places spy satellite in orbit
- Move condemned by US and its allies, U.N. Secretary General
- Seoul to suspend part of a military pact agreed with the North
- US submarine joins aircraft carrier in South Korea show of force
South Korea moved to suspend on Wednesday part of a military agreement it signed with Pyongyang in 2018 after the isolated North defied warnings from the United States and its allies and launched a spy satellite, calling it a success.
North Korea said it placed its first spy satellite in orbit on Tuesday and vowed to launch more in the near future. Photographs published by North Korean state media showed what appeared to be leader Kim Jong Un watching the fiery launch of a rocket from a base.
South Korea and Japan, which first reported the launch, could not immediately verify whether a satellite was in orbit. The Pentagon said the U.S. military was still assessing whether the launch was a success.
South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, in Britain for a state visit, approved the decision to suspend part of the inter-Korean agreement. Yoon earlier led a National Security Council meeting with ministers and the intelligence chief by video link.
The pact, known as the Comprehensive Military Agreement and aimed at de-escalating tensions between the rivals, was signed at a 2018 summit between former South Korean President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.
But critics have called for it to be scrapped, saying it weakened Seoul’s ability to monitor North Korea’s actions around the border, while Pyongyang has flagrantly violated the agreement.
South Korea’s Defence Ministry said it was suspending a clause in the agreement as of 3 p.m. (0600 GMT) and resuming aerial surveillance near the joint border.
North Korea’s KCNA state news agency said the Malligyong-1 satellite was launched on a Chollima-1 rocket from the Sohae satellite launch facility at 10:42 p.m. (1342 GMT) on Tuesday and entered orbit at 10:54 p.m. (1354 GMT). KCNA cited North Korea’s National Aerospace Technology Administration.
North Korea had notified Japan it planned to launch a satellite between Wednesday and Dec. 1, after two failed attempts to launch what it called spy satellites this year.
South Korea’s military said it believed the latest rocket carried a reconnaissance satellite. Aegis-system equipped destroyers from South Korea, Japan and the United States were in position to track the launch vehicle and share information.
Japanese broadcaster FNN reported a test on sharing information on Tuesday’s launch failed because of technical problems. The three countries have boosted military cooperation to respond to North Korea’s missile threat.
RUSSIA CONNECTION
On Wednesday, the U.S. nuclear-powered submarine USS Santa Fe docked at a South Korean port, a day after the Carl Vinson aircraft carrier arrived in a show of force against North Korea’s nuclear and missile programs.
U.S. National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson called the satellite launch “a brazen violation of multiple U.N. Security Council resolutions,” and said it “raises tensions, and risks destabilizing the security situation in the region and beyond.”
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called for North Korea to fully comply with U.N. resolutions and urged Pyongyang to return to dialogue, a spokesperson said.
Tuesday’s launch is the first since North Korean leader Kim Jong Un met Vladimir Putin at Russia’s modern space facility in September, where the Russian president promised to help Pyongyang build satellites.
South Korean officials have said the latest launch most likely involved technical assistance from Moscow under a growing partnership that has seen North Korea send ms of artillery shells to Russia.
Some missile experts, however, said that it was too soon for Russian technical assistance to have been fully incorporated into the satellite or the rocket and that Moscow would not have shared highly sensitive and proprietary technology.
“This consultation may not have been an in-depth involvement in the design, but likely targeted specific challenging aspects within North Korea’s planned design,” said Hong Min, an expert on the North’s weapons development at the Korea Institute for National Unification.
Jeffrey Lewis, a missile expert at the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies, said it is much too early for the North to have integrated Russia’s assistance.
“Maybe the Russians gave them some advice, but it’s normal for countries to launch and learn,” Lewis said.
Russia and North Korea have denied conducting arms deals, but are publicly promising deeper cooperation.
KCNA said Kim Jong Un personally observed the launch, which came just over a week before South Korea plans to send its first spy satellite into space on a rocket operated by the U.S. company Space X.
After the May launch attempt, South Korea retrieved the wreckage of the satellite from the sea and said an analysis showed it had limited use as a reconnaissance platform. (Source: Reuters)
21 Nov 23. Space for Our Future: UK aims to join Atlantic Constellation with funding for new Earth observation satellite. The UK is aiming to join Portugal and Spain as a member of the Atlantic Constellation and is contributing a new pathfinder satellite designed and built by a UK-based company adding to the innovative Earth and coastal monitoring and data sharing network. This new commitment, announced on the opening day of the UK Space Conference in Belfast, will further strengthen the UK’s national capabilities in Earth observation technology and complement the UK’s contributions to the EU Copernicus programme, European Space Agency and bilateral missions. The UK Space Agency is providing £3m to support the build of the new pathfinder satellite, intended to be one of the first in the Constellation, with co-funding from Open Cosmos, based on the Harwell Space Campus in Oxfordshire. The Atlantic Constellation is a flagship, global project for the development of a constellation of small satellites for Ocean, Earth and Climate monitoring. The satellite built in the UK will be of the same design and launched in the same orbital plane as 3 others from Portugal constituting the first batch of the constellation. This will significantly increase the frequency of revisit time at the beginning of the Constellation formation, offering valuable and regularly updated data, and supporting critical services such as the detection, monitoring and mitigation of natural disasters. Minister of State at the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, Andrew Griffith, said:
Earth observation will play an absolutely vital role in tackling global challenges like climate change and disaster relief, providing the data we need at speed, while supporting key UK industries like agriculture and energy.
By working with Open Cosmos on a new satellite and supporting our Atlantic partners, Spain and Portugal, we can harness space tech for our shared goals, while creating new skills opportunities and jobs for the future to grow the UK economy.
Open Cosmos is a growing company that has recently added a further 2 satellite missions to its OpenConstellation, successfully launched on 11 November and recently raised $50 m in Series B funding from leading impact investors to accelerate its international growth and expand its product offering.
Rafael Jorda Siquier, Chief Executive of Open Cosmos, said:
Building a shared satellite constellation is a very effective way of having high revisit diverse data over each region of interest. The UK joining Portugal and Spain in the Atlantic Constellation is a major step forward in the national EO strategy and we are very proud that Open Cosmos has been contracted to deliver the first UK pathfinder satellite.
The UK Space Conference
The announcement comes as the UK Space Conference is set to open in Belfast, with the theme of Space for Our Future. The UK Space Agency will also unveil a package of 23 projects worth £4 m from its Enabling Technologies Programme and create a Rocketry Research, Training and Teaching (R2T2) Hub, delivering rocket science PhDs that support the growing UK satellite launch market.
Dr Paul Bate, Chief Executive of the UK Space Agency, said: “There’s no better way to open the UK Space Conference than by backing a new Earth observation mission and investing in the future workforce, with support for new rocket science PhDs.
Space has been shaping our lives for decades but is set to become increasingly critical as we take the necessary steps to protect our planet, drive prosperity and push the boundaries of human knowledge.
That’s why we are focused on catalysing investment, delivering new missions and capabilities in areas such as Earth observation and the low-Earth orbit economy, and championing the opportunities that our growing space sector brings to people and businesses up and down the country.”
Further details
Atlantic Constellation
The UK’s pathfinder satellite contribution aims to join the Atlantic Constellation and will increase the frequency of the revisit time in the first orbital plane by 33%, meaning more observations can be made of the same point on Earth. This will be a critical boost to one of the Constellation’s key ambitions of securing a high frequency of data provision to manage disaster relief.
The data access and provision policies for members of the Atlantic Constellation will shortly be established jointly with Portugal and Spain. During the first year of operations, UK users are expected to be able to task the satellite over an area of interest and benefit from higher-frequency data and shorter re-visit times over the UK.
The main applications of data from the Constellation will include disaster relief action, early detection of climate change indicators, increasing agricultural productivity and improving energy use.
Enabling Technologies Programme
The UK Space Agency has announced £4 m of funding for 23 projects from its Enabling Technologies Programme (ETP), that could boost UK leadership in new space technologies and applications around the world.
The programme provides an opportunity for the UK space sector to accelerate the development of leading-edge technologies that could be used to tackle global problems and benefit the work of space organisations internationally.
The total government funding is £4m – made up of £3.2m from the UK Space Agency with £800,000 contributed by the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC).
The projects, from academia and industry across England, Scotland, and Wales, explore how we can use space more efficiently for purposes such as weather prediction, climate-change monitoring, and space debris removal through methods of propulsion, sterilisation, in-orbit servicing, imaging, and more.
Rocketry Research, Training and Teaching Hub
The UK Space Agency is investing £4.9m in the creation of the R2T2 PhD Hub, which will secure 30 skilled PhD graduates in three cohorts of 10, with cohorts 2 and 3 partially funded by industry. The Hub will comprise of a network of universities from across the UK, enabling the sharing of expertise and resources. This is part of a package of skills interventions, designed to equip young people with the expertise and experience needed to be part of the UK’s growing spaceflight industry.
Matt Archer, Director of Launch, UK Space Agency said:
To achieve our ambition for the UK to be Europe’s leading provider of small satellite launch by 2030, we need a ready supply of skilled launch professionals.
The Rocketry, Research, Training and Teaching Hub will help provide a new generation with the skills and knowledge necessary to support the UK’s small satellite launch market and enable further market expansion. (Source: https://www.gov.uk/)
21 Nov 23. New UK funding for space technology projects. The UK Space Agency has announced 23 ground-breaking projects that could boost UK leadership in new space technologies and applications around the world. The Enabling Technologies Programme (ETP) provides opportunities for the UK space sector to accelerate the development of leading-edge technologies that could be used to tackle global problems and benefit the work of space organisations internationally.
The total government funding is £4m – made up of £3.2m from the UK Space Agency with £800,000 contributed by the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC), part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI).
The projects from academia and industry explore how space can be used more efficiently for purposes such as weather prediction, climate-change monitoring, and space debris removal through methods of propulsion, sterilisation, in-orbit servicing, imaging, and more.
Dr Paul Bate, CEO of the UK Space Agency, said: “Space science and technology has never been more important to life on Earth. The Enabling Technologies Programme demonstrates how our work at the UK Space Agency is empowering scientists and engineers in universities, companies and research institutes to develop new capabilities and advance the technologies of tomorrow. From the use of space data for weather predication and flood monitoring, to new methods of propulsion and in-orbit servicing, these new projects are great examples of how we can harness the power of space to protect our planet and people.”
One project from the University of Glasgow explores how a spacecraft can consume its own body as fuel – to support scalable, cost-effective low Earth orbit access.
Meanwhile, the University of Bristol looks at use of data from the UK-backed Surface Water and Ocean Topography (SWOT) mission, targeting an order or magnitude improvement in accuracy for global flood modelling.
Another, run by Oxford Dynamics looks at how a long-range radar system could detect objects in low Earth orbit to support space debris mitigation operations.
Professor Grahame Blair, STFC Executive Director, Programmes, said:
We are living through an incredibly exciting time for the UK space industry. Thanks to initiatives such as the Enabling Technologies Programme, our space scientists are continually pushing the frontiers of Earth observation, satellite communications, and even manned space exploration, with untold benefits to society. STFC is proud to partner with the UK Space Agency to support the UK space science community and help solidify the UK’s position as a world leader in the space economy.
Support from the ETP fund is key to addressing project barriers in research and development, bringing high value space technologies to market that can create jobs and benefit people, businesses and communities for generations to come.
Projects
University of Southampton (£201,000) – Development of a sterilisation method using non-thermal plasma to support human spaceflight and exploration.
University of Southampton (£102,000) – Development of Raman-spectroscopy (which uses scattered light to measure vibrational energy of samples) for detecting low level biosignatures (substance that provide evidence of life), which will particularly support exploration of icy worlds, including the Moon and Mars.
Fraunhofer Centre for Applied Photonics, UK (£240,000) – Development of a low SWaP light detection and ranging method (LiDAR) instrument that can be mounted onto unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to support Earth observation.
Fraunhofer Centre for Applied Photonics, UK (£247,000) – Development of low cost, room temperature photon counting detectors that can be used in imaging, sensing and optical communications.
University of Manchester (£190,000) – Development of alternative motion techniques that expand the range and operating capabilities for extra-terrestrial robotics, supporting future rover and exploration missions.
Imperial College London (£144,000) – Development of a new approach for magnetometer systems that reduces the need for booms on a spacecraft, helping to lower the cost of space science missions.
MDA Space and Robotics (£147,000)– Development of a novel laser sensor to make complex, vision-based missions possible in poor illumination conditions.
RAL Space (£233,000) – Development of a highly stabilised laser which can be used in low Earth orbit to support space weather measurement.
MDA Space and Robotics UK (£141,000) – Development of short-range, rotating LiDAR, more efficient in terms of size, weight and power, that can be used in planetary surface robotics.
Surrey Space Centre, University of Surrey (£250,000) – Development of a detector for high energy particles that can be used in solar or cosmic ray missions and to enhance space weather predictions.
University of Birmingham (£250,000) – Development of a new operational and technical capability to assess the state and condition of satellites from orbit using sub-THz radar imagery, supporting in-orbit service capabilities.
University of Leicester (£183,000) – Development of sample return instrument boxes and portable sample containers to support rover and sample return missions.
Durham University (£159,000) – Development of a solar polarimeter (optical instrument used to determine polarisation of light samples) that can be wavelength-tuned to measure the solar magnetic field over several hundred kilometres depth within the second layer of the Sun’s atmosphere.
University of Hertfordshire (£100,000) – Project to substantially increase the dynamic range of complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) imaging sensors to support astronomy, in collaboration with XCAM and the Open University.
University of Glasgow (£250,000) – Additive manufacturing material and process testing in a simulated space environment, enabling rapid, sustainable and cost-effective component qualification.
University of Glasgow (£290,000) – Pilot scale testing of an autophage (self-consuming) propulsion system – whereby the spacecraft consumes its own body as fuel – which supports scalable, cost-effective low Earth orbit access.
Teer Coatings Ltd (£124,000) – Development of a novel bimetallic doped, thin-film MoS2 solid lubricant with long lifetime, low friction coefficient and stability under atmospheric conditions. An enabling technology for long duration missions.
Oxford Dynamics (£194,000) – Development of a long-range radar system capable of detecting objects in low Earth orbit, which could support space debris mitigation operations.
Newton Launch Systems (£194,000) – Development of a nitrous oxide monopropellant thruster using induction heating as the trigger, with the aim of providing a solution to end-of-life satellite disposal.
University of Bristol (£206,000) – Use of data from NASA’s UK-backed Surface Water and Ocean Topography (SWOT) mission to improve order of magnitude accuracy for global flood modelling.
Orbit Fab (£228,000) – Development of an in-orbit refuelling interface, using a grasping technique, to enhance satellite servicing solutions that support sustainable space operations.
University of Strathclyde (£250,000) – Development of a technique combining hyperspectral technology (imagine using a wide electromagnetic spectrum) with machine learning to determine the movement of space objects, with could support active debris removal operations.
GMV (£250,000) – Development of a novel distributed simulation environment using a robotic testbed with digital twins and cutting-edge extended reality to verify and validate IOSM operations. An enabling technology for in orbit refuelling and satellite servicing. (Source: https://www.gov.uk/)
20 Nov 23. Rocket Lab to open spacecraft parts manufacturing facility in Maryland. Rocket Lab, a provider of launch services and spacecraft systems, is establishing a manufacturing facility in Maryland to meet growing demand for advanced materials used in space missions.
The California-based firm will develop systems hardware at the Space Structures Complex, including satellite dispensers, panels and accessories, solar panel substrates and spacecraft buses, it said in a Nov. 17 statement.
The announcement marks an expansion of Rocket Lab’s space systems business, the company said, and is “designed to deliver a comprehensive suite of advanced composite products for the space industry and to further vertically integrate supply for the company’s internal needs across launch and space systems.”
Rocket Lab already has composite manufacturing in facilities in California, New Mexico and New Zealand. The new building will allow the company to expand that capability closer to its integration and test complex in Virginia.
The 113,000 square foot complex — a former Lockheed Martin launch facility in Middle River, Md. — will also help establish a long-term supply line for the composite structures needed to support Rocket Lab’s new launch vehicle, Neutron.
The reusable, medium-lift rocket, designed to carry 13,000 kilograms (14.3 tons) to orbit, is slated to fly for the first time next year. The launch vehicle is larger than the company’s workhorse rocket, Electron, which can lift 300 kilograms. The spacecraft carries small satellites to orbit.
The company also operates a variant of Electron that can be used to test hypersonic systems, which can fly at speeds of Mach 5 or higher. Called the Hypersonic Accelerator Suborbital Test Electron rocket, or HASTE, the vehicle is being used by the Defense Department to support flight tests.
Rocket Lab announced Nov. 8 that HASTE was selected for the Defense Innovation Unit’s Hypersonic and High-Cadence Airborne Testing Capabilities, or HyCAT, program. The mission will feature a payload developed by Australian company Hypersonix. (Source: C4ISR & Networks)
21 Nov 23. North Korea: Planned third satellite launch attempt raises regional security, disruption concerns. On 21 November, North Korea informed Japan of its intention to launch a satellite between 22 November and 1 December. This announcement marks North Korea’s potential third attempt in 2023 to launch a domestically developed spy satellite, following two failed attempts earlier in the year. Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has voiced opposition to the plans, referencing UN Security Council resolutions that restrict North Korea’s use of ballistic missile technology. The potential launch comes amid plans for South Korea’s own satellite launch on 30 November with US assistance. The Japanese security forces are preparing for the launch and potential rocket debris. The previous failed launches prompted emergency alerts in Japan and South Korea, advising residents to take cover. North Korea’s satellite launch, if successful, is expected to exacerbate regional tensions and heighten security concerns by enhancing Pyongyang’s military intelligence and surveillance capabilities. (Source: Sibylline)
16 Nov 23. Hughes JUPITER 3 Satellite Begins Over the Air Testing with the Ground System. Hughes Network Systems, an EchoStar (Nasdaq: SATS) company, today announced its JUPITER™ 3 ultra-high-density satellite has successfully deployed its solar arrays and antennas, and the spacecraft has passed readiness testing by the manufacturer, Maxar Space Systems. Hughes is now testing the satellite communications with ground equipment, which is the final step before initiating broadband services for customers such as airlines, corporations, governments, and consumers of its popular HughesNet service. The JUPITER 3 satellite will bring over 500 Gbps of additional broadband capacity across North and South America.
“Reaching this milestone demonstrates the engineering excellence and innovation our team infused into this satellite,” said Hamid Akhavan, CEO, EchoStar. “As the largest commercial satellite ever built, JUPITER 3 will double the capacity of our fleet serving more customers who live beyond the reach of cable and fiber internet by providing ubiquitous connectivity throughout the Americas. This achievement is a testament to the strength of our JUPITER System technology, the de facto standard for satellite connectivity.”
The increased capacity of JUPITER 3 will power new HughesNet® satellite internet plans, including innovative HughesNet Fusion® Plans that use multipath technology to reduce latency for a more responsive internet experience.
JUPITER 3 will support the efforts by Hughes to bridge the digital divide and provide internet access to rural customers across the Americas, as well as applications such as in-flight Wi-Fi for airline passengers, enterprise networking, and cellular backhaul for mobile network operators (MNOs).
The JUPITER 3 orbital position is 22,236 miles (35,786 kilometers) above the equator at 95 degrees west. For more information and to follow along on the journey to JUPITER 3, visit the Hughes website. (Source: PR Newswire)
17 Nov 23. Northrop Grumman pulls out of UK narrowband military satellite tender – FT. U.S. defence company Northrop Grumman (NOC.N) has pulled out of a competition to supply narrowband military satellite communications for Britain’s armed forces, the Financial Times reported on Friday.
Northrop had partnered with Airbus (AIR.PA) in its bid.
The two companies last month agreed a strategic partnership to bid for the wideband component of Britain’s SKYNET military satellite communications programme, according to an Oct. 23 statement.
The FT said Northrop’s withdrawal from the narrowband part of the tender left a partnership between Thales Alenia Space and Thales UK as the only contender in the race.
Northrop told the FT: “After thoroughly reviewing the invitation to negotiate for the SKYNET narrowband military satellite communications programme, the company has decided to withdraw from procurement”.
A UK Ministry of Defence spokesperson said: “SKYNET 6 will deliver the UK’s next generation of military satellite communications and the narrowband and wideband procurement processes are ongoing.”
(Source: Reuters)
12 Nov 23. The 5th + 6th SES O3b mPOWER MEO sats successfully launched by SpaceX. This was the ninth flight of the first stage booster supporting this mission, which previously launched CRS-26, OneWeb Launch 16, Intelsat IS-40e, and five Starlink missions.
The first stage was successfully landed on the A Shortfall of Gravitas drone ship stationed in the Atlantic Ocean. This was the 245th recovery of the first stage by the company.
With the fifth and sixth O3b mPOWER satellites launched, the system is now completed with the six MEO satellites required in their slots to offer high-performance network services that will deliver high throughput, predictable low latency, unique flexibility and service availability.
Last month, SES announced it will add to the constellation two more satellites built by Boeing, bringing the total number of O3b mPOWER satellites to 13. The additional investment is expected to be covered within SES’s existing committed CapEx envelope. The first four O3b mPOWER satellites launched in the last year have arrived at their target orbital position and are undergoing in-orbit checks, including a series of system validation tests encompassing both space and ground components.
In 2023 alone, SES has rolled out and tested more than 160 O3b mPOWER terminals over the existing O3b constellation to serve mobility, telecom, government, and enterprise customers.
“With the fifth and sixth O3b mPOWER satellites launched and going operational in the next few months, we are gearing up to deliver the high-performance connectivity services our customers need. By building resiliency into the network, we are confident our customers will be able to depend on us to deliver the reliable and secure connectivity required to run their operations.” — Ruy Pinto, CEO, SES. (Source: Satnews)
12 Nov 23. SpaceX’s launch of Transporter-9 hauls 90 payloads for deployments. On Saturday, November 11 at 10:49 a.m. PT, Falcon 9 launched Transporter-9, SpaceX’s ninth dedicated smallsat rideshare program mission, from Space Launch Complex 4E at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California.
This was the 12th launch and landing of this Falcon 9 stage booster, which previously supported the launch of NROL-87, NROL-85, SARah-1, SWOT, Transporter-8, and six Starlink missions
During this mission, 90 payloads “including cubesats, microsats, and orbital transfer vehicles carrying spacecraft to be deployed at a later time,” according to the mission description from Falcon 9 across 89 deployments, and 86 deployments have been confirmed.
Teams are continuing to review data for the remaining payloads, though it may take customers some time to provide additional information on the status of their payloads. (Source: Satnews)
12 Nov 23. Globalsat to market ARSAT’s IoT and broadband connectivity solutions. Last week, the launch of the GEO Satellite IoT service took place at the ARSAT teleport in Benavidez, Buenos Aires province. This service holds great potential for development in vertical markets such as agriculture, energy, and transportation, among others, in which Globalsat Group has extensive experience in implementing and expanding solutions at a regional level.
The framework agreement between ARSAT and Globalsat Group allows Globalsat to market ARSAT’s new GEO Satellite IoT connectivity solution at a regional level, as well as broadband satellite internet services for homes and businesses.
The satellite IoT connectivity service enables bidirectional message transmission for both fixed and mobile applications through an innovative, compact terminal that is easy to install. This new IoT solution, based on geostationary satellites, uses a small and lightweight HiSky terminal that integrates the satellite modem and a flat panel antenna, complemented by ST Engineering iDirect’s Hub technology. The new IoT service offers low installation and maintenance costs, minimal power consumption, and coverage in Argentina and the entire region through ARSAT’s fleet of geostationary satellites.
Regarding broadband satellite internet connectivity, Globalsat Group will market terminals and services in the Argentine territory thanks to ARSAT’s high-performance Ka-band satellite capacity (HTS). Initially, the service will be offered in the mountainous region from Jujuy to Chubut via the Telstar-19 Vantage satellite and, soon, nationwide through the SES-17 satellite. The capacity of these two Ka-band HTS satellites has been incorporated as an enhancement to the Argentine Satellite System and will be used by ARSAT on a temporary basis until the next ARSAT satellite, the ARSAT-SG1, is launched into geostationary orbit. The ARSAT-SG1 will be the first high-performance HTS Ka-band satellite in ARSAT’s fleet, with a total capacity of 70 Gbps.
- Alberto Palacios, CEO of Globalsat Group, commented, “Celebrating this strategic agreement with ARSAT consolidates the strategic alliance between Globalsat Argentina, the local subsidiary of Globalsat Group, and ARSAT, a significant player in regional telecommunications based in the southern country. Leveraging our respective strengths, Globalsat and ARSAT will jointly offer comprehensive solutions to customers in remote areas, allowing them to access satellite connectivity at very competitive rates, with the added value of our extensive expertise in providing mission-critical communications to thousands of customers in sectors such as energy, government, defense, media, mining, banking, agriculture, NGOs, and tourism, among others.”
Palacios also added, “Although we are a multi-country organization and operate throughout the hemisphere from our base in the United States, our consortium’s origin is in Latin America, with our own offices in Mexico, Colombia, Peru, and Ecuador and a significant presence in neighboring countries such as Brazil, Bolivia, and Chile. For this reason, we are especially pleased to strengthen our ties with Argentina, enhancing our regional presence and contributing to the integration of economies and peoples with historical connections and brotherhood.”
Guillermo Rus, Vice President of ARSAT, commented, “The new Satellite IoT product, featuring hiSky and ST Engineering iDirect technology, allows ARSAT to add value to its Ku-band geostationary satellite fleet while enabling companies like Globalsat to develop tailored solutions for various market verticals. With Satellite IoT, ARSAT expands and diversifies its satellite product portfolio, providing the market with a low-cost and cutting-edge technology solution for asset management wherever they are located.”
At the time of the agreement’s signing, ARSAT President Facundo Leal stated, “We are very pleased to have reached this agreement with Globalsat. Providing satellite connectivity at a competitive price is something ARSAT highly values. As a public company, ARSAT has the social mission of bridging the digital divide. This agreement with Globalsat is a firm step in that direction.” (Source: Satnews)
15 Nov 23. Dawn Aerospace’s new subsidiary expands operations to Toulouse, France. Dawn Aerospace, a space transportation company with offices in the Netherlands, New Zealand and the USA, today announced the formation of a new subsidiary Dawn Aerospace France SAS based in Toulouse. This marks another milestone in the company’s expansion, creating a permanent presence in one of the world’s most renowned aerospace hubs.
“We are excited to be putting down roots in Toulouse, a city with a rich history in aerospace and a strong community of aerospace innovators”, said Stefan Powell, Dawn Aerospace CEO. “This move puts us closer to our French customers and will allow us to build long-term partnerships with French entities to provide unique, European-made propulsion solutions.”
Dawn’s Toulouse office will initially focus on customer support, business development and R&D.
Dawn is the fastest-growing supplier of satellite chemical green-propulsion systems in the world. They have 69 units of hardware on 14 operational satellites and a further 200 delivered to international customers awaiting launch. Dawn’s systems use non-toxic propellants, nitrous oxide and propylene, which are readily accessible and significantly reduce the complexity and costs associated with commonly used toxic propellants such as hydrazine.
The company is also building a spaceplane, a rapidly reusable launch vehicle that combines the performance of a rocket with the fleet economics of an aircraft. A subscale technology demonstrator, the Mk-II Aurora, has completed 50 test flights, 47 with surrogate jet engines and three under rocket power.
The subsidiary announcement took place at the Space Tech Expo Europe in Bremen at the Occitanie region plateau, and was attended by the VP of the region, Jalil Benabdillah.
“We’d like to express our sincere thanks to the City of Toulouse and the Occitanie Region for their warm welcome and the support they’ve shown us. We’re looking forward to a long and productive presence here”, Jeroen Wink, Dawn Aerospace Co-founder and CRO said.
Local authorities and industry leaders have expressed their enthusiasm about Dawn Aerospace’s move.
“The establishment of Dawn Aerospace stands as a clear testament to the region’s vibrant aerospace ecosystem. We extend a heartfelt welcome and eagerly anticipate fruitful collaborations ahead,” said Jalil Benabdillah, VP in charge of Economics, Innovation & Reindustrialization of the Occitanie Region & VP of the AD’OCC agency. (Source: Satnews)
12 Nov 23. Planet’s 1st Pelican tech demo sat plus 36 SuperDoves launch via SpaceX. The launch of Pelican-1 is a major milestone for Planet’s next-generation high-resolution mission. Over time, the Pelican constellation is expected to offer a more capable and cost-effective upgrade to the Company’s current high-resolution satellites, the SkySats. Pelican-1 is not expected to produce commercially available data; rather, the R&D satellite is tasked with collecting information and on-orbit learnings for integration into Planet’s future Pelican and Tanager designs, which share a common satellite bus.
Planet launches a number of SuperDoves each year in order to replenish its on-orbit medium resolution fleet with the latest technology and hardware. The 36 SuperDoves launched via the SpaceX Transporter-9 mission — Planet’s Flock 4Q — have started their automated commissioning process and are expected to begin collecting imagery in the coming days. Planet’s SuperDoves capture daily, 8-band data of Earth’s changing systems, allowing commercial users, researchers, and governments to gain unparalleled insight at regional and global scales.
“Pelican-1 was designed and built entirely by the Planet team in our manufacturing lab in San Francisco, an incredible feat to accomplish in just a few short years. I am incredibly proud of the team’s dedication to this project and ready for the next phase of the mission – collecting instrumental learnings and feedback from Pelican-1 on-orbit. These learnings will be critical to both the Pelican and Tanager missions.” — James Mason, Planet’s Senior Vice President of Space Systems. (Source: Satnews)
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At Viasat, we’re driven to connect every warfighter, platform, and node on the battlefield. As a global communications company, we power ms 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.
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