Sponsored By Viasat
www.viasat.com/gov-uk
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18 Oct 18. Viasat Inc. (NASDAQ: VSAT), a global communications company, in partnership with MDA, a Maxar Technologies company, today announced plans to establish a repair, maintenance and upgrade service facility for Viasat’s Link 16 military communication terminals in Halifax, Nova Scotia. The Halifax facility will be strategically located near the largest East Coast bases of the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) and Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF), which will allow Viasat and MDA to provide enhanced technical support for Viasat’s Small Tactical Terminals (STT) and other small, next generation Link 16 devices. This support will include everything from software upgrades and crypto modernization initiatives, to retrofitting Multifunctional Information Distribution System Low Volume Terminal (MIDS-LVT) Block Upgrade 2 devices for critical RCN and RCAF platforms; including Halifax class frigates and Aurora aircraft, among others.
“This new Halifax facility represents Viasat’s growing strategic footprint across Canada and our continued commitment to supporting the Canadian Armed Forces’ (CAF) evolving mission needs,” said Ken Peterman, president, Government Systems, Viasat. “MDA has been an important partner, enabling us to rapidly deliver the latest advancements in Link 16 technology to a variety of CAF customers across Canada.”
Mike Greenley, group president MDA added, “As one of the largest Canadian-based aerospace and defense companies, we have a long-term commitment to developing comprehensive Canadian capabilities that will enhance a variety of mission sets and benefit local economies. The MDA and Viasat Halifax facility will not only improve Link 16 advancements for CAF customers, it will also bring substantial economic benefits and job opportunities to the region.”
Viasat is a market leader in Link 16 tactical data links with a broad portfolio of terminal configurations and form factors in the industry and thousands of systems fielded to allied countries around the globe. Viasat’s tactical Link 16 radio communications systems provide U.S. and international allied warfighters with greater situational awareness by exchanging digital data over a common communication link that is continuously and automatically updated in real-time, reducing the chance of fratricide or duplicate assignments, while significantly enhancing mission effectiveness.
16 Oct 18. USAF to Use Rapid Acquisition Authority for New Satellite Program. The Air Force plans to use authorities granted by Congress to build its next constellation of highly protected military communications satellites, an Air Force official said Oct. 15.
Col. David Ashley, program manager for the Air Force’s advanced extremely high frequency (AEHF) system, said during a media teleconference that the service will use the Section 804 rapid prototyping and fielding authority for its follow-on to the Advanced-EHF satellite program.
Section 804 is a new approach geared toward streamlining the acquisition process in hopes of bringing operational capabilities to the field in under five years.
Ashley also serves as program manager for the evolved strategic system, which will be the follow-on protected communications system. The Advanced-EHF satellites provide U.S. forces and allies such as Great Britain, Canada and the Netherlands highly protected communications and nuclear command and control.
The Air Force plans to meet in December with their senior acquisition executive to “get that strategy approved,” Ashley added. He declined to give further details on the matter.
The Air Force has come under criticism for the slow pace in which it fields space systems, which is also one of the stated reasons for the Trump administration called for the creation of a space force. Air Force Space Command awarded the first Advanced-EHF contract in 2001.
AEHF-1 was launched on August 14, 2010, four years behind schedule. AEHF-2 was launched on May 4, 2012, and AEHF-3 was launched Sept. 18, 2013.
Meanwhile, the fourth communications satellite of the Advanced-EHF constellation is scheduled to launch Oct. 17 from the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket.
The AEHF program, which is a series of six satellites, will provide 10 times the extended data range of the 1990s-era MILSTAR satellites, using the extreme data rate, or XDR payload. The AEHF is a follow-on to the MILSTAR constellation.
The AEHF-4 was scheduled to launch in October of 2017, but was delayed due to requests from the government to provide the satellite with additional protections, Mike Cacheiro, Lockheed Martin’s AEHF program manager said. An Air Force Space Command statement said another reason for the long gap between launches was to reconfigure the Atlas V boosters “to maximize chances for mission success.”
Ashley acknowledged that not all ground terminals were ready to use the XDR payload. “Some of the terminals are not yet compatible with the XDR and they are in the process of transitioning to that,” he said of users such as U.S. Strategic Command. Lockheed Martin is the prime contractor for the satellites and the ground systems with Northrop Grumman providing the XDR payloads. (Source: glstrade.com/Breaking Defense.com)
17 Oct 18. The fourth Advanced Extremely High Frequency (AEHF) protected communication satellite, built by Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) for the U.S. Air Force, was successfully launched today at 12:15 a.m. from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V 551 rocket. Lockheed Martin confirmed signal acquisition at 3:47 a.m. ET. The AEHF system provides global, survivable, highly secure and protected communications for strategic command and tactical warfighters operating on ground, sea and air platforms. The satellite will now move into a testing phase prior to hand over to the Air Force. With four satellites in orbit, the AEHF constellation completes a geostationary ring and will be able to deliver global coverage.
“It’s good to return with our mission partners to see the culmination of expertise, skill and partnership that we have worked diligently toward to make this AEHF launch a success,” said Mike Cacheiro, vice president of Protected Communication Systems at Lockheed Martin. “This is a substantial milestone for AEHF, and as we look ahead, we continue to improve and upgrade this mission to deliver these vital communications capabilities to the Air Force.”
AEHF also serves international partners including Canada, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom.
Lockheed Martin is on contract with the Air Force to deliver the fifth and sixth satellites and upgraded the Mission Planning ground system. Lockheed Martin contributed payload system engineering, mission control ground software, solar arrays and the LM A2100 spacecraft bus, which is a dependable and low-risk platform for commercial, civil and military satellites. All AEHF satellites are assembled at the company’s Sunnyvale, Calif. facility.
One AEHF satellite provides greater total capacity than the entire legacy five-satellite Milstar constellation. Individual data rates increase five-fold, permitting transmission of tactical military communications, such as real-time video, battlefield maps and targeting data. In addition, AEHF affords national leaders anti-jam, always-on connectivity during all levels of conflict.
The AEHF team includes the U.S. Air Force Military Satellite Communications Systems Directorate at the Space and Missile Systems Center, Los Angeles Air Force Base, Calif. Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company, Sunnyvale, Calif., is the AEHF prime contractor, space and ground segments provider as well as system integrator, with Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems, Redondo Beach, Calif., as the payload provider.
16 Oct 18. Astronics Corporation (Nasdaq:ATRO), a leading provider of advanced technologies for the global aerospace, defense and semiconductor industries, announced that its wholly owned subsidiary, Astronics AeroSat, had its FliteStream® connectivity solutions tested, qualified, and approved to operate across Intelsat’s FlexExec business aviation service. Astronics AeroSat’s FliteStream connectivity solutions are the first inflight terminals to obtain approval to operate over Intelsat’s FlexExec service. FliteStream is a widely deployed satellite broadband data solution of fuselage- and tail-mount SATCOM products designed for government, commercial, business and VVIP aviation operators and passengers. FlexExec is a managed end-to-end service that is accessible via Intelsat’s global, high-performing, multi-layered Ku-band satellite fleet. Specifically designed to cover high-traffic business jet routes, FlexExec integrates layers of high-throughput satellite (HTS) coverage from the company’s proven Intelsat EpicNG fleet with the company’s wide-beam Ku-band satellites to deliver added resiliency and redundancy.
FlexExec also aggregates Intelsat’s space segment and the IntelsatOne ground infrastructure into a simplified, streamlined ecosystem. By having one cohesive network, service providers will immediately gain operational efficiencies and be in a stronger position to simplify the in-flight experience for flight departments. In addition, the flexibility of the FlexExec platform enables Intelsat’s service providers to define their offerings for customers on an individual basis rather than on a one-size-fits-all model. (Source: BUSINESS WIRE)
16 Oct 18. Kleos signs MoU with defence prime. Kleos Space has announced the signing of a second MoU with Airbus Defence and Space, as both companies investigate opportunities to collaborate for the in-space manufacturing of structural elements. Kleos Space and parent Magna Parva (UK) have developed an in-space manufacturing system that will provide a method of producing huge carbon composite 3D structures in space. A prototype system has been successfully built and tested under ‘near space’ conditions at Kleos’ development facility. This MoU demonstrates the potential for production of assemblies, equipment or even buildings from fully cured and consolidated carbon fibre materials, potentially miles in length.
The Kleos Space precision robotic technology manufactures 3D space structures using a supply of carbon fibres and a resin that is processed by ‘pultrusion’ through a heat forming die in a continuous process, producing cured carbon composite elements of extraordinary length. As the resin and materials behave differently in space, the development has included testing under both ambient atmospheric and vacuum conditions.
While pultrusion itself is an established manufacturing process, it has now been miniaturised down to a size where the equipment can be accommodated on spacecraft, and further work is under way to advance the technical readiness of the concept.
Airbus is currently investigating in-space manufacturing with a view to developing and accessing the required capabilities in Europe. In this capacity Airbus has agreed to support Kleos with guidance and expertise, enabling the development of applicable 3D structures.
Kleos Space, listed on the Australian Stock Exchange, is a space enabled, activity based intelligence, data as a service company and innovative in-space manufacturing technology developer based in Luxembourg. (Source: Defence Connect)
15 Oct 18. Renesas Electronics Simplifies Satellite Subsystem Design with Precision Current Sources for Sensing Applications. Rad-Hard ISL70591SEH and ISL70592SEH Deliver Ultra-High Spaceflight Performance in a Small Package. Renesas Electronics Corporation (TSE:6723), a premier supplier of advanced semiconductor solutions, today announced the ISL70591SEH and ISL70592SEH radiation-hardened precision current sources designed to provide current excitation to the more than 300 resistive sensors that monitor the health of a satellite’s subsystems. The two new Renesas devices are the first current source ICs in its line of space products, and are ideally suited for telemetry, tracking & command, attitude & orbital control, and electrical power subsystem applications.
“The ISL70591SEH and ISL70592SEH provide a scalable and highly reliable solution that simplifies the sensor health monitoring of critical spaceflight subsystems.”
The ISL70591SEH and ISL70592SEH come in 4-lead ceramic flatpack packages and provide 100µA and 1mA of output current, respectively. They offer a smaller footprint than competitive devices, and replace the discrete solutions that typically require three to five components. The smaller package size boosts reliability by placing the excitation source closer to the sensor. The Renesas current source ICs also reduce system errors by delivering ultra-low noise for higher accuracy over temperature and radiation. Their high output impedance rejects voltage variations on the supply line, and lets designers parallel multiple current sources if they need higher current.
The ISL70591SEH and ISL70592SEH deliver ultra-high performance in the most demanding environments by leveraging Renesas’ proprietary silicon on insulator process, which provides single event latch-up (SEL) and single event burn-out (SEB) robustness in heavy ion environments. Both devices are radiation assurance tested to 100krad(Si) at high dose rate and 75krad(Si) at low dose rate. In addition, Renesas’ innovative floating design lets users create a current source or sink with no ground connection.
“Our new precision current source devices give satellite customers the high performance, ease of use, and small footprint they need for their designs,” said Philip Chesley, Vice President of Industrial Analog and Power Business Division, Renesas Electronics Corporation. “The ISL70591SEH and ISL70592SEH provide a scalable and highly reliable solution that simplifies the sensor health monitoring of critical spaceflight subsystems.”
Key Features of ISL70591SEH and ISL70592SEH
- Wide operating range of 3V to 40V allows operation off unregulated 28V power rails
- High initial accuracy (+V = 20V at 25°C)
o ISL70591SEH: ±0.34%
o ISL70592SEH: ±0.30%
- Low temperature coefficient of 2.25nA/°C
- Radiation hardness wafer-by-wafer assurance:
o High Dose Rate (HDR) (50-300rad(Si)/s):100krad(Si)
o Low Dose Rate (LDR) (0.01rad(Si)/s): 75krad(Si)
- SEE hardness assurance: no SEB/SEL to LETTH, +V = 35V, 86MeV•cm2/mg
- Temperature operating range: -55°C to +125°C
The ISL70591SEH and ISL70592SEH can be combined with the following Renesas space parts to form an analog signal chain that includes power management and communications devices: ISL71590SEH temperature sensor, ISL71840SEH 16-channel multiplexer, ISL70517SEH instrumentation amplifier, ISL71090SEH25 low-noise voltage reference, ISL70001ASEH 6A synchronous buck regulator, and ISL72026SEH 3.3V CAN transceiver.
Availability
The ISL70591SEH and ISL70592SEH radiation-hardened precision current sources are available now in 4-lead CDFP packages or in die form. For more information on the ISL70591SEH, please visit: www.renesas.com/products/isl70591seh. For more information on the ISL70592SEH, please visit: www.renesas.com/products/isl70592seh.
(Note) Renesas branding policy will continue to apply the Intersil brand for military and aerospace products. (Source: BUSINESS WIRE)
15 Oct 18. SD Avionics, the hardware manufacturing division of Satcom Direct, has partnered with QEST Quantenelektronische Systeme GmbH, a worldwide market leader in innovative aeronautical antennas, to develop a new flat panel connectivity antenna for business and military aviation. The electronically steered phased-array antenna system aims to be the smallest and most efficient form factor, bringing high speed connectivity to a wider range of aircraft. SD will be the exclusive provider of this antenna to business aviation, military and government markets globally. Compatible satellite network constellations will be announced next year.
Purpose fit for small to mid-size jets, where a tail-mounted antenna solution is not an option, the lightweight, low-profile design will bring high-speed connectivity to a wide range of airframes. Scalable and modular, the flat panel system conforms to the size and shape requirements of an individual aircraft fuselage without bringing excessive weight or power requirements.
SD Avionics is working with aircraft OEMs on product specification and development, targeting product launch in late 2020. Once available, the antenna system will become part of SD Xperience, bringing future-proof technology compatible with LEO and GEO satellite networks operating in multiple frequency bands to the portfolio. A conceptual light-jet prototype is available for viewing at SD’s NBAA, booth 250 and static display SD40.
“We are committed to providing global connectivity solutions across the business aviation sector. The introduction of this flat panel antenna will enable an even greater selection of connectivity options for a wider range of platforms around the world. Our investment means more passengers, crew, and flight departments will access reliable, secure connectivity to support their day-to-day operations,” said Jim Jensen, Founder and CEO of SD.
“Partnering with SD has enabled a dynamic development approach combining technical ingenuity with years of business aviation experience to help formulate a product that we know the market will welcome. We wanted to create technology to substantially improve connectivity access within the General Aviation market place and working with Satcom Direct has enabled us to do this. We know the segment will benefit as a result,” said Dr. Joerg Oppenlaender, Chief Technology Officer of QEST.
10 Oct 18. Viasat Offers Highest-Speed Connectivity Package for Bombardier Global Aircraft–Made Available Exclusively Through StandardAero. Viasat Inc. (Nasdaq: VSAT), a global communications company, today announced an exclusive distributor agreement with StandardAero to offer a high-speed connectivity package for Bombardier Global business jets. The package will cover Viasat’s Ka-band and dual-band Ka-/Ku-band equipment, inclusive of the Viasat shipset, radome and STC, for all Bombardier Global Express, Global Express XRS, Global 5000 and Global 6000 aircraft.
Through this agreement, operators and other maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) shops of Bombardier Global aircraft can work directly with StandardAero to install Viasat’s in-flight connectivity system on the select named Bombardier models.
“Owners and operators of Bombardier Global aircraft no longer have to wait to install the industry’s fastest, most robust in-flight connectivity system for their business jets—they can install Viasat’s advanced business jet connectivity system today,” said Jerry Goodwin, vice president, Global Network Services, Viasat. “Our in-flight connectivity service is proven to support more passengers and more devices simultaneously through all phases of flight, when performing bandwidth-intensive applications, including accessing virtual private networks, or streaming high-definition video calls, cloud content or live TV entertainment. And with our dual-band solution, operators will have access to more global coverage, redundancy and still have Viasat’s highest-speed Ka-band solution.”
StandardAero will offer Viasat’s most advanced business aviation dual-band, Ku-band and Ka-band shipsets, including the Global Aero Terminal 5510, which will tap into the ViaSat-1, ViaSat-2 and European Ka-band satellite platforms, and will be forward-compatible with Viasat’s future-generation satellite constellation, ViaSat-3—enabling use of the ViaSat-3 capacity with no additional hardware upgrades. ViaSat-3 is an ultra-high capacity satellite platform, which will be comprised of three ViaSat-3 class satellites offering global coverage. Each ViaSat-3 satellite is expected to deliver one terabit per second capacity, which is around the estimated total network capacity of commercial communications satellites in space today.
“Our business jet customers want fast, reliable internet—no matter where they fly,” said Marc Drobny, president, StandardAero Business Aviation. “As the only master distributor of Viasat’s Ka-band and dual-band packages, we have an opportunity to work with our Bombardier Global aircraft customers as well as other MROs, and set them up with a connectivity solution that will leverage the latest satellite technology for faster speeds, more capacity and improved performance today and well into the future. We are proud to expand our industry leadership in connectivity solutions with this exciting partnership—especially as more business jet customers want to get online, globally.” (Source: ASD Network)
11 Oct 18. SpaceX left out of next stage in Air Force’s next-generation rocket program. The Air Force on Wednesday awarded contracts to Blue Origin, Northrop Grumman Innovation Systems — formerly known as Orbital ATK — and United Launch Alliance to continue developing next-generation rockets. The shocking decision leaves out SpaceX, although the company could rejoin the competition later. Over the next year or so, the companies will create launch system prototypes: Blue Origin with its New Glenn launch system, Northrop with its OmegA rocket and ULA with its Vulcan Centaur system. Ultimately, the Air Force will narrow the field from three to two developers, who will continually compete for national security rocket launch opportunities from fiscal year 2020 onward.
SpaceX was considered by many to be a shoo-in to move forward in the competition, which the Air Force calls Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle or EELV.
The company will be able to jump into the EELV competition at a later date, an Air Force spokesman clarified in a statement to Defense News.
“Beyond the offerors selected for award, the Air Force cannot comment on specific offeror’s proposal or whether the Air Force chose not to award to a specific company,” the spokesman said. “It is important to note that SpaceX is a valuable partner to the launch service community and the Phase 2 solicitation will be a full and open competition for all launch providers who have a low-risk proposal to achieve Air Force certification prior to initial launch.”
The Oct. 10 awards come in the form of public-private partnerships of various values. ULA’s agreement is worth $967m in funds from the Air Force, Northrop’s stands at $792m, while Blue Origin’s clocks in at a mere $500m.
SpaceX and ULA, a joint venture of Boeing and Lockheed Martin, are the Air Force’s only current launch providers. However, SpaceX has only recently begun flying U.S. military payloads into space, winning its first contract to do so in 2016.
Under the EELV program, the competitors must develop or source domestically-produced propulsion systems — a reversal of the current status quo. ULA’s stalwart Atlas V rocket, which was the dominant launch system for years of national security space missions, is powered by a Russian-made RD-180 engine.
“Our launch program is a great example of how we are fielding tomorrow’s Air Force faster and smarter,” said Secretary of the Air Force Heather Wilson. “We’re making the most of the authorities Congress gave us and we will no longer be reliant on the Russian-built RD-180 rocket engine.”
The winning competitors have already begun celebrating the Air Force’s decision.
“ULA has launched 130 missions, with 100 percent success,” the company said in a statement. “With an American-made Vulcan Centaur, our customers will get the same reliability with higher performance at a lower cost.”
Jeff Bezos, the Blue Origin founder who spoke at the Air Force Association’s annual conference last month, tweeted his thanks to the service.
“We are proud to serve the national security space community and are committed to providing safe, reliable access to space for the nation,” he said. (Source: Defense News)
12 Oct 18. Military Satellite Market set to Grow to $24.47bn by 2028, says new report. The Military Satellites Market Report, now available on ASDReports, 2018-2028 evaluates the current amount of defence expenditure for different types of Military Satellites. For modern militaries bandwidth is as much a critical resource as food, fuel and ammunition. Globally there is continuously growing demand for bandwidth. Total global bandwidth consumption is doubling every two to three years and militaries are just as increasingly reliant on information. Information dominance is seen as the essence of force-multiplication. This information dominance is sustained and thus largely measurable by bandwidth. This report analyses leading national markets in the military satellite market covering key topics such as current geopolitical developments, military satellite modernisation, R&D and teaming agreements in the field of military satellites. Comprehensive national market coverage is also reinforced by information on recent military satellite contracts and launches, as well as company profiles of 13 leading companies that are either well established in the market, or have the potential to increase their market share in the future, and 7 other significant companies that either fill important niche markets, have a sizeable growth potential during the forecast period, or are otherwise highly relevant to the market
The report analyst commented “National governments’ ever-greater demands for military satellite bandwidth to ensure information superiority will radically grow and alter the military satellite market in the next decade. So great is the need for Military data that it is increasingly transmitted through commercial satellites. In fact approximately 80% of the US’s military data is currently transmitted via commercial systems. A single Reaper drone flying over Afghanistan uses several times more bandwidth than was used by the United States in the entire 1991 Gulf War. Meeting this demand is unsustainable within the current military satellite paradigm. The era of multi-billion dollar sole-purpose military spacecraft is coming to an end. The future of the military satellite market is in ever-smaller platforms such as Microsatellites and increased integration with the burgeoning civilian space sector which has pioneered several technological advancements catching the eyes of military satellite procurers in the process. The global military satellite market will grow slowly in the first three years of the forecast period as the United States reduces its spending on Space-based Systems as a result of budgetary sequestration. As this pressure eases, smaller satellites development cycles begin and launch costs will reduce. The global market will grow strongly as smaller national markets expand.”
Leading companies featured in the report who are developing military satellite market includes include The Boeing Company, Israel Aerospace Industries, Lockheed-Martin, Mitsubishi Electric Corporation, Raytheon Company, Inmarsat, ISS Reshetnev, Orbital ATK Inc., SES S.A., Space Exploration Technologies Corporation, ViaSat Inc, Thales Alenia Space. (Source: ASD Network)
09 Oct 18. Forrester Reports: SES Wants Bids for an Open Satellite Design. Journalist Chris Forrester of Advanced TV, and a Senior Contributor to Satnews Publishers, is reporting that SES is looking to order a series of satellites with a revolutionary design — the new concept sees a ‘one size fits all’ concept where the firm’s next-generation of satellites could be placed into MEO as well GEO orbits.
According to reports, SES is inviting Airbus, Boeing and Thales Alenia to bid for the design and build contracts for the new craft. This flexibility comes about because satellites are, these days, fully digitized and able to be configured for almost any position around the globe and can equally be set-up for either MEO or GEO roles almost at the last minute prior to launch.
At a briefing at the recent Euroconsult organized World Satellite Business Week in Paris, and reported by specialist publication Space Intel Report, journalists were told by SES CEO Steve Collar and CTO Martin Halliwell that SES was not supporting the concept of ‘in-orbit’ refueling of satellites. Instead, SES was backing this new design model where the satellites would be all-electric craft with lifetimes of 13 to 16 years and a launch mass of 2500 to 2900 kgs., and thus smaller than would usually be the case.
SES is also backing a new, lower-cost manufacturing pattern, where satellites would roll down the production line just as aircraft are today. In seeking to have an ‘open’ standard, the end result could be purchased from manufacturers such as Eutelsat, Intelsat or any of SES’ normal rivals. The clear advantage to all the satellite operators is a lower manufacturing cost, and speedier production. (Source: Satnews)
09 Oct 18. Maxar’s SSL’s Portfolio Potential Includes Innovative Solutions with DoD and Other U.S. Government’s Agencies. SSL is one of three companies qualified to compete for Department of Defense business under the SSPEDI contract. Here’s what SSL, a Maxar Technologies company (formerly MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates Ltd.) (NYSE: MAXR) (TSX: MAXR), provider of satellites and spacecraft systems announced. This new contract is one of a number of new programs with great potential in SSL’s increasing U.S. government portfolio. The Department of Defense’s contract is entitled Small Spacecraft Prototyping Engineering Development and Integration — Space Solutions (SSPEDI) which is managed by NASA’s Ames Research Center in California. This contract in under an interagency agreement with the Department of Defense’s Space Rapid Capabilities Office.
The SSPEDI concept establishes a rapid and flexible method for the Department of Defense’s Space Rapid Capabilities Office to acquire commercially-developed solutions for small to medium spacecraft and related systems from a pool of pre-qualified candidates. As one of the awardees, SSL is eligible to compete for multiple future awards over the five-year ordering period of the contract, up to a cumulative value of $750m. To produce strong positive results, SSL is combining energies with Maxar Technologies, and will closely partner with Maxar’s geospatial insights company, Radiant Solutions. Radiant will study next-generation systems for Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) and contribute its world-class mission engineering expertise to the company’s solutions.
Richard White, president of SSL Government Systems said that they continue to gain momentum in growing the pipeline for U.S. government DoD and civil space programs. SSL’s focus on small form-factor satellites for government applications is combined with a full suite of powerful solutions for space mission assurance, space infrastructure, and enhanced ISR missions. SSPEDI is one of many successes over the last year. Recent progress and achievements that further the momentum in the U.S. government market include:
- Expanding the scope of work on the NASA asteroid exploration mission Psyche, which is on track for its scheduled launch in 2022
- Reaching a major milestone in building the spacecraft bus and robotic arms for the Robotic Servicing of Geosynchronous Satellites (RSGS) program, developed through a public-private partnership with DARPA
- Progressing on schedule for both the spacecraft bus and robotic arms for NASA’s Restore-L project
- Contracting with NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory to design and build critical equipment for a spacecraft that will explore Europa, an icy moon of Jupiter.
The company also continues to work across the U.S. Department of Defense, civil, and commercial space communities on several current programs and studies to ensure that the U.S. government agencies define next-generation space technologies:
- Advanced space architectures for the U.S. Air Force’s Strategic Enterprise Vision
- On-orbit assembly and manufacturing in LEO and critical technologiesfor servicing and space exploration for NASA
- Next-generation missile defense concepts for Missile Defense Agency
- Secure satellite communications for the U.S. Air Force
SSL’s new technologies, tools, and its commercial focus all combine to develop innovative solutions such as its geosynchronous satellite platform, and commercial production capability to design and build small satellites for a broad range of applications, including high resolution remote sensing and communications.
The company also partners with MDA, DigitalGlobe and Radiant Solutions to provide end-to-end solutions, mission systems engineering, advanced signal and imagery processing, multi-intelligence analytics, and ground systems that simplify and speed decision-making cycles. (Source: Satnews)
10 Oct 18. ÅAC Clyde Delivers Kepler’s Second Satellite CASE in Record Time. This satellite was delivered in under three months, all of which is part of a pilot program. ÅAC Clyde has delivered its second 3U satellite to Canadian company Kepler Communications, which is set for launch later this year. The satellite was manufactured in under three months to form part of a pilot program to demonstrate its store-and-forward data service aiming for a much larger constellation targeting as well the global IoT market and in-space connectivity. The satellite named CASE, is the second built by ÅAC Clyde for Kepler. It will support the first 3U satellite KIPP, also delivered by ÅAC Clyde and launched early 2018. The two spacecraft are part of a pilot program that carries Kepler’s novel Software Defined Radio (SDR) and antenna array, representing the first commercial entity to launch and operate a Low-Earth Orbiting communications satellite in Ku-band.
ÅAC Clyde was recently awarded the contract from Kepler Communications for a further satellite, a 6U platform named TARS. TARS will expand on the success of the two 3U predecessors by carrying a full suite of upgraded communications and processing units developed by Kepler to deliver both broadband and narrowband telecommunication services. For more information about TARS please click here.
Iraklis Hatziathanasiou, VP Business Development ÅAC Clyde said that with CASE, they have demonstrated their ability with short lead-times to deliver reliable customer solutions for commercial applications. They look forward to continue working with Kepler Communications as they expand their operations.
Jared Bottoms, Lead Systems Engineer Kepler Communications added that CASE was an opportunity for them to quickly incorporate what they previously learned from KIPP, while also extending their service capacity and service response. The pilot KIPP and CASE program is a great first demonstration of handling high data-volumes from global users through multiple spacecraft. It really strengthens their Global Data Service offering while they await the increased capacity and IoT capability that will come from TARS.
Kepler aims to form a considerably larger constellation based on the program that also includes the recently ordered 6U satellite from ÅAC Clyde. The forthcoming GEN1 constellation will incorporate 10 more satellites set to roll-out in 2020, followed by GEN2 in 2021 with additional 50 satellites, and GEN3 in 2022 with a further 80 satellites to complete the 140-satellite constellation.
The first spacecraft in the program, KIPP, was successfully launched into Low Earth Orbit in January 2018 from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre (JSLC) in North-western China and is performing well on-orbit. In particular, the mission has proven the operation of ÅAC Clyde’s precision 3-axis control system and the On-Board Computer, which is a highly resilient system that has already demonstrated impressive operational uptime.
Craig Clark MBE, Founder of Clyde Space and CSO of ÅAC Clyde said that ÅAC Clyde aims to take a leading position in the emerging small satellite constellation market. In delivering “Satellite as a Service”, they combine best-in-class manufacturing capabilities, novel operational structures and cutting-edge technology to offer customers unrivalled access to space. (Source: Satnews)
08 Oct 18. SpaceX’s NightLight Launches SAOCOM 1A Satellite and a Successful Return of Falcon 9. It was a text book launch and then recovery of SpaceX’s Falcon 9 on Sunday, October 7 at 7:21 p.m. PDT. SpaceX successfully launched the SAOCOM 1A satellite from Space Launch Complex 4E (SLC-4E) at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. The satellite was deployed about 12 minutes after liftoff. Following stage separation, Falcon 9’s first stage returned to land at SpaceX’s Landing Zone 4 (LZ-4) at Vandenberg Air Force Base. This was SpaceX’s first land landing on the West Coast.
LZ-4 is built on the former site of Space Launch Complex 4W, from which Titan rockets were previously launched. Having a rocket’s first stage return safely to Earth is part Space Exploration Technologies Corp.’s strategy to reduce launch costs and win market share. SpaceX already has recovered rocket boosters numerous times, on land in Florida and on drone ships at sea.
SpaceX’s Space Launch Complex 4E at Vandenberg Air Force Base has a long history dating back to the early 1960s. Originally an Atlas launch pad activated in 1962, SLC-4E was in active use until its last Titan IV launch in 2005. SpaceX’s groundbreaking was in July 2011, and extensive modifications and reconstruction of the launch pad were completed just 17 months later.
SLC-4E consists of a concrete launch pad/apron and a flame exhaust duct. Surrounding the pad are RP- 1 and liquid oxygen storage tanks and an integration hangar. Before launch, Falcon 9’s stages, fairing and the mission payload are housed inside the hangar. A crane/lift system moves Falcon 9 into a transporter erector system and the fairing and its payload are mated to the rocket. The vehicle is rolled from the hangar to the launch pad shortly before launch to minimize exposure to the elements.
The SAOCOM 1A satellite is operated by Argentina’s Space Agency, the National Commission on Space Activities (CONAE). The satellite carries an active instrument consisting of a Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR), which works in the microwave range of the electromagnetic spectrum, particularly the L-band.
The SAOCOM 1 mission consists of a constellation of two identical satellites, SAOCOM 1A and 1B, each of which carries an L-Band SAR polarimetric instrument. The mission’s main purpose is to gather soil moisture information.
SAOCOM 1, together with the Italian COSMO-SkyMed X-Band SAR constellation, comprise the Italian-Argentine Satellite System for Emergency Management (SIASGE), a partnership between CONAE and the Italian Space Agency (ASI). Flying both constellations along the same orbit supports a rapid response by providing SAR information in emergency situations. International partnerships include ground support from ESA (Europe), and technical support from CSA (Canada) and NASA (US).
SAOCOM was developed by CONAE within the framework of the National Space Program, with the participation of companies and organizations of the national system of science and technology like the Atomic Energy Commission (CNEA) and companies like VENG and INVAP, who is the primary contractor of the project. (Source: Satnews)
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