Sponsored By Viasat
www.viasat.com/gov-uk
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07 Mar 24. Viasat and Rocket Lab Partner to Showcase On-Demand, Low-Latency Data Relay Services for LEO Satellites. Viasat Inc. (NASDAQ: VSAT), a global leader in satellite communications, today announced it selected Rocket Lab USA, Inc (Nasdaq: RKLB), a leading launch and space systems company, to support Viasat’s hybrid space communications networks demonstrations by producing a spacecraft bus and providing mission operation support. The demonstrations will make evident Viasat’s portfolio of multi-band, space-based relay communication services in support of Low Earth Orbit (LEO) space missions with substantial flexibility in managing data, with lower data latency and higher throughput in real time.
The demonstrations are part of Viasat’s work across two awards, totaling $80m, under NASA’s Communications Services Project (CSP), which is evaluating commercial satellite communications services and technologies to support NASA near-Earth communications requirements as it sunsets the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System (TDRSS).
LEO satellites typically require direct line-of-sight to a ground station to communicate, introducing significant data latency into the mission operations. Viasat’s Ka- and L-band relay solutions are designed to address this challenge with near real-time, low-data latency communications. The Real-Time Space Relay (RTSR) space-qualified Ka-band terminal will use Viasat’s high-capacity Ka-band network of satellites in geostationary orbit (GEO) to enable LEO operators on-demand access to critical mission data. The InCommand system will use Viasat’s global L-band network to provide real-time telemetry, tracking and command (TT&C) operations at any point in the spacecraft’s orbit. Rocket Lab will also provide a new L-band radio for InCommand called Frontier, which will support demonstrations of various TT&C applications.
Scheduled to launch in early 2026, the demonstration mission will also include direct-to-ground communications through Viasat’s Real-Time Earth (RTE) Ground-Station-as-a-Service for S-, X-, and Ka-bands. All transports will be integrated through Viasat’s Integrated Space Access Network (ISAN) to show the benefits of adaptable transport, giving LEO operators the ability to access data while balancing network availability, cost, and time-sensitive applications.
“We are proud to support NASA with this critically needed real-time space relay communications capability and excited about our continuing partnership with Rocket Lab to support Viasat’s growing space missions portfolio,” said Michael Maughan, Vice President of Space and Mission Systems, Viasat Government Systems. “From Earth observation and scientific missions to supporting defense operations, we designed our space relay services to be a highly flexible, cost effective and scalable solution for both government and commercial LEO operators to transport data based on application and mission needs.”
Rocket Lab Vice President of Space Systems, Brad Clevenger, said: “Rocket Lab spacecraft are built on configurable, high-performance subsystems based on constellation-class manufacturing. By providing a configurable platform that can be tailored to suit even the most complex missions, our customers can focus on their own novel hardware and services and leave the development and operation of the spacecraft to us. We look forward to supporting Viasat on the NASA CSP mission, as it will also add responsive satellite communications capabilities to our configurable platform.”
The Rocket Lab spacecraft will provide the power, communications, propulsion, and attitude control for the mission demonstration. Rocket Lab will incorporate its own satellite components and sub-systems into the spacecraft including star trackers, reaction wheels, solar panels, S-band radios, flight software and ground software, and the new L-band radio in development for the future InCommand service. (Source: BUSINESS WIRE)
07 Mar 24. Italy’s Leonardo looks to space for future growth. Italy’s aerospace conglomerate Leonardo is preparing to invest in space as one of the pillars of its new industrial strategy, aiming to tap into a buoyant global defence market.
“Space is fundamental for defence and security in the future, both in terms of satellites and in terms of services,” Chief Executive Roberto Cingolani told reporters at a recent press briefing.
Cingolani, a minister in the previous Italian government, said more private and public investment in the space sector was needed to develop defence systems and secure communications.
State-controlled Leonardo manufactures satellites, orbiting infrastructure and sensors, as well as managing satellite services and propulsion and launching systems.
There is plenty of room for growth as space generated just under 4% of Leonardo’s full year core profit in 2023.
“For the first time the space industry will be an important chapter in the company’s business plan,” the company’s Chief Space Business Officer Franco Ongaro told reporters on Monday, ahead of the presentation of the plan on March 12.
Morgan Stanley estimates the global space industry will generate revenue of more than $1trn or more in 2040, up from around $350bn in 2020.
Italy’s Industry Minister Adolfo Urso said on Monday that space was fundamental for the development of the economy.
He said parliament would approve by the summer a national framework law to regulate the fast expanding space economy sector and that the government had earmarked 320 m euros ($347 m) for the next two years.
Ongaro said Leonardo’s space businesses would include partnerships and manufacturing.
Leonardo has teamed up with France’s Thales through two separate joint ventures, satellite services company Telespazio and space manufacturer Thales Alenia Space.
In February the Ministry of Defence asked Leonardo to study the development of its military space cloud architecture project, the first in Europe.
Earlier this week, Telespazio’s Fucino space centre in central Italy was assigned the role of the main control site for the IRIS² EU satellite constellation. (Source: Google/Reuters)
07 Mar 24. Spanish startup Sateliot joins race for cheap space connections. Spanish space startup Sateliot is raising cash to send 100 microwave oven-sized satellites to the orbit, entering a crowded race for a slice of a market potentially worth $100bn to offer cheap data connections via space. The company, which already has two test satellites in orbit, seeks 100m euros ($109m) in equity and debt from private equity investors, funds and banks, CEO Jaume Sanpera said in remarks cleared for publication on Thursday.
Sateliot expects to launch its first four commercial satellites by June, he said.
“With just four satellites, we will be able to invoice, to go commercial in the second half of this year,” Sanpera told Reuters at the Sateliot facility in northwestern Spain where his teams are manufacturing the nano-satellites.
Sateliot has an order book worth about 187 m euros in annual revenue, and its clients are mostly from countries with vast areas not covered by mobile networks, including Canada, Brazil, South Africa, Indonesia or Australia, Sanpera said.
Sateliot has spent about 25m euros to develop, build and send in orbit, through SpaceX, the two test satellites and the first four commercial ones.
The space industry is going through a market revolution as new technologies have reduced the cost and the size of space devices to a fraction of what they used to be, with many startups joining the fray.
Lucas Bishop of investment firm Seraphim Space said only the most cost-efficient of the few dozen nano-satellite operators would likely make it.
While larger operators such as Elon Musk’s Starlink are focusing on providing high-speed Internet connection on the ground from a network of thousands of satellites, startups are setting up smaller networks, dubbed constellations, to extend the reach of the “Internet of things”, or IoT.
Sateliot is aiming at connecting small devices, such as monitoring equipment on refrigerator containers shipped by sea, with satellites. Potential customers include logistics companies, farmers, oil platforms, or environmental applications, Sanpera said.
Luigi Scatteia, space adviser at PwC said the ability to operate and maintain the whole system seamlessly, including robust, low-power, autonomous equipment at the user end, complete with advanced software, is another key challenge, possibly more complex than deploying the satellites.
Sateliot, in which defence contractor Indra (IDR.MC), opens new tab, telecoms infrastructure operator Cellnex (CLNX.MC), and the Spanish government hold stakes of 10.5%, 3.5% and 4.69%, respectively, plans to deploy the 100 satellites by 2028 and hit 1bn euros in revenue by 2030. ($1 = 0.9196 euros) (Source: Google/Reuters)
06 Mar 24. Space Development Agency Approach is ‘Constructive Disrupter,’ Says Its Director. The Space Development Agency has been incredibly disruptive to the Pentagon’s traditional acquisition approach, but in a way that’s good for the warfighter, said Derek Tournear, SDA director, who spoke today in the Pentagon.
Tournear called the approach a “constructive disrupter,” inspired by and modeled on Clayton Christensen’s book, “The Innovator’s Dilemma.”
“We’re disrupting in a way that’s constructive for the entire space enterprise,” he said, noting that the agency has made acquisitions outside of the traditional approach, which means speeding up the process to acquire the best in technological advancements.
The innovator’s dilemma isn’t unique to the Pentagon. It happens everywhere in big organizations because once you get things moving in a certain direction, you develop resources, processes and values that become the status quo, he said.
“Everyone in the Pentagon is a patriot. They want to do the right thing.” But sometimes the status quo isn’t the right approach, he said.
The agency has dedicated workforce that is laser-focused on two key elements: site targeting for the warfighters and advanced missile detection and tracking, Tournear said.
“We’re all focused on the mission of delivering those capabilities. Everyone comes to work every day focused on one thing: getting those satellites up and capabilities to the warfighters,” he said.
Tranche 0 is now operational with 27 satellites in orbit, using Link 16, which is communications gear used by the warfighters in the United States and NATO. That’s a big achievement, he said.
This year begins Tranche 1 with about 160 satellites planned for launch, followed by Tranche 2 with about 300, Tournear said.
There are a lot of proposals from industry from companies not well known for Tranche 2. That speaks to the market’s healthy driving force for the defense space industry, he said. “I was surprised by the number of proposals that we saw.”
There are always people in industry that say to the department, “You know, if the prices go up, you can get more capabilities.” However, technological advances have driven the prices down and vendors are getting in line with DOD’s price-point targets, which ultimately save taxpayer dollars and add capability for the warfighters, he said. (Source: U.S. DoD)
06 Mar 24. New funding to boost space sector growth across the UK. 6 projects across the UK’s growing space sector have been announced today at Space-Comm Expo, following publication of the government’s Space Industrial Plan.
Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd (SSTL), one of the nation’s leading satellite manufacturers, has won a project from the UK Space Agency’s flagship Space Clusters Infrastructure Fund (SCIF).
The £250,000 public investment, matched by the company, will enhance SSTL’s facilities with a Research and Development Imager Cleanroom in Guildford. This will support the development of cutting-edge, space-based imaging technology – the ‘eyes’ of satellites that monitor our planet and the space environment.
SCIF, which has awarded £47 m to date, for projects ranging from a space skills centre in Newcastle to a microgravity research centre in Cardiff, builds upon the UK Space Agency’s wider investments to develop the UK space ecosystem.
As set out in the Space Industrial Plan, the government is committed to continuing its support for space clusters across the UK and providing the tools needed to drive collaboration between them and catalyse further investment.
Minister for Space, Andrew Griffith said: “Our £250,000 investment in Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd underlines the key role this government sees for UK businesses in advancing global space capabilities.”
Aligned with our new Space Industrial Plan, this funding will enhance SSTL’s research facilities so it can drive forward innovation in cutting-edge imaging technology, which is so crucial for satellite operations.
Philip Brownnett, Managing Director of SSTL, said: “We’re pleased to have been selected by the UK Space Agency for the Space Cluster Infrastructure Fund. By enhancing our optical Research and Development Cleanroom Facility, the new project will help address the growing need for space-based imaging equipment for a wide range of commercial, defence and governmental customers. This will give a real boost to cutting-edge research into space imaging technology carried out in the UK.”
The UK Space Agency is announcing a total of £500,000 for a further 5 projects today to foster collaboration between the UK’s network of space clusters:
Space North
Uniting Space Hub Yorkshire, the North West Space Cluster, and Space North East England to showcase the region’s resilient communications expertise, attract inward investment and boost research and collaboration.
Unlocking Space for Agriculture
Bringing together regional space and agricultural sectors in Scotland and the East of England to explore challenge-based opportunities through space capability research and knowledge-sharing.
South West Space Partnership
Building on the strengths of Space West, the Cornwall Space Cluster, the West of England Combined Authority, Cornwall Council and Invest Bristol & Bath, this pan-regional partnership aims to promote the region’s space capability, attract international investment and develop strategic collaborations.
Power4Space
Strengthening ties between the North West Space Cluster and Midlands Space Cluster, and their respective supply chains, to seize commercial opportunities in novel power systems for deep space applications.
Using Earth Observation to monitor Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) and Seaweed Production
Leveraging Earth observation capabilities within NI Space, Space Wales and the Space East clusters to monitor water bodies for harmful algal blooms and seaweed production, improving delivery of local government services using space assets and data.
Dr Paul Bate, Chief Executive of the UK Space Agency, said: “With entrepreneurs and businesses from across the UK space sector at Space-Comm Expo, I’m pleased to announce this series of targeted projects to support the continued growth of our space ecosystem and deliver on the government’s Space Industrial Plan. Hot off the heels of the Chancellor’s Budget boost for Low-Earth Orbit satellite manufacturing in the UK, these new projects will help catalyse investment, increase collaboration and boost prosperity across the country.”
In yesterday’s Spring Budget 2024, the Chancellor announced the launch of the full Connectivity in Low Earth Orbit (C-LEO) programme, building on the initial £15 m C-LEO call that was announced at the Autumn Statement.
This programme of up to £160 m over the next 4 years will unleash the country’s potential to become a global leader in next generation satellite communication technologies while creating hundreds of highly skilled jobs to boost the Prime Minister’s priority of growing our economy. This will ensure that the UK space sector is able to compete in the rapidly growing global market of LEO constellations.
The government will also make available £10 m of funding to SaxaVord Spaceport to support orbital launch in 2024, subject to due diligence.
The UK Space Agency funds a wide range of projects to catalyse investment, deliver new missions and capabilities, and champion space. Recent announcements include:
- a £2 m upgrade to the Satellite Applications Catapult’s In-Orbit Servicing and Manufacturing (IOSM) facility at the Westcott Space Cluster in Aylesbury, which will provide unique capabilities in the UK where companies can verify, validate and demonstrate a range of in-orbit operations including manufacturing, servicing, inspection, repair and assembly
- a £10 m investment into telecoms capabilities under the European Space Agency (ESA) Advanced Research in Telecommunication System (ARTES) programme
- the launch of the Unlocking Space for Business programme with a £2 m investment into initiatives to help organisations understand how satellite data and services could support their growth and kick off pilot projects and partnerships
- a £7.4m investment into collaborations between UK and international space organisations, supporting their bids for selection by major science and exploration missions. (Source: https://www.gov.uk/)
07 Mar 24. Astrolight Joins NATO DIANA to Accelerate Innovation in Defense Technology, Will Facilitate Communication Between Ships.
Astrolight’s entry into the Defense Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic (DIANA) represents a significant advancement in its mission to deploy its dual-use laser communication technology for defense applications. The company has already been utilizing DIANA’s resources and expertise to support such NATO initiatives as revolutionizing ship-to-ship laser communications.
Astrolight, a pioneering technology company dedicated to facilitating space-to-Earth and ship-to-ship laser communications, has joined the Defense Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic (DIANA), which will advance its dual-use laser communication technology in the defense sector.
The focus will be on facilitating tactical communication between navy ships. The company plans to develop a product for optical communication between ships so that they can communicate without using conventional radio systems.
Today, Astrolight is already conducting a project with the Lithuanian Naval Flotilla. Justinas Žukauskas, Lieutenant Commander of the Lithuanian Navy, highlighted that the Navy initiated the proposal to develop this technology in response to the evolving demands of the operational environment in the Baltic Sea. It aims to establish alternative communication systems tailored to the unique requirements of Lithuania’s naval vessels.
“The upcoming prototype signifies a pivotal addition to our technology, introducing alternative communication methods through laser technology while simultaneously addressing the crucial imperative of reducing electromagnetic signatures for heightened operational stealth. Moreover, this technology holds potential for adaptation in the land domain as well,” added LCDR Žukauskas.
Astrolight specializes in free space optical communication, a secure and high-bandwidth communications technology that enables two distant objects to communicate using laser beams. Leveraging the optical spectrum’s significantly higher frequency, Astrolight’s space-to-ground laser communication terminals ATLAS offer enhanced security and speed compared to traditional radio frequency systems.
As part of the partnership with DIANA, Astrolight will collaborate with NATO and other defense stakeholders to adapt its laser communication terminals for terrestrial applications. This collaboration will enable Astrolight to utilize its dual-use technology further, expand its product portfolio, and tap into new markets within the defense industry.
DIANA provides startups like Astrolight with access to a network of experts, resources, and funding opportunities to help them develop and commercialize innovative technologies for defense applications.
“As a commercial company specializing in the development of dual-use telecommunications technology, our partnership with NATO DIANA is pivotal in transitioning our expertise into the defense sector,” said Laurynas Mačiulis, Astrolight co-founder and CEO. “The participation in DIANA’s program involves guiding us through defence-specific requirements and facilitating our understanding of the nuances associated with this market. It also encompasses adapting our space-developed product for terrestrial applications, with a primary focus on enabling laser communication between navy ships.”
Further, DIANA is a prestigious accelerator program focused on advancing innovation in defense technology and strategies within NATO. Leveraging its acceleration program and test center network, DIANA supports startups that can address NATO’s specific challenges, including energy resilience, undersea sensing and surveillance, and secure information sharing.
“We’re delighted to have Astrolight as part of DIANA’s first cohort of innovators,” said Dr. Tien Pham, DIANA’s Chief Scientist. “Laurynas and his colleagues are working on exciting prospects to improve secure communications on the ground and in space. As part of DIANA’s program, Astrolight receives training, funding, commercial advice, and much more to grow its technology. We’re looking forward to seeing what the team achieves in the months and years ahead.”
Looking ahead, Astrolight will continue to develop its space-to-Earth optical connectivity solutions as Mačiulis reiterates that there is still a lack of bandwidth for making data collected by satellites accessible.
“Our planet’s satellites are amassing unprecedented amounts of data about Earth, yet our ability to download this information is severely limited by outdated technology,” said Mačiulis. “By leveraging optical communication systems that are more than 10 times faster than traditional radio communications, Astrolight aims to bridge the connectivity gap between space and Earth, and this way unlock the full potential of satellite data for the benefit of humanity.”
The company plans to finish certifying its prototype space-to-Earth laser communication terminal ATLAS-1 this year with an in-orbit demonstration mission scheduled for early 2025. The next steps involve undergoing an environmental test campaign to ensure that ATLAS-1 can operate in the harsh conditions of space.
05 Mar 24. Gilmour closes on Eris launch with spaceport licence. Gilmour is a step closer to the first test flight of its Eris rocket after its spaceport was granted a licence to operate from the Australian Space Agency.
However, the company still requires a separate launch permit before it can begin the four initial blast-offs from the Bowen Orbital Spaceport in North Queensland.
Gilmour has been developing its three-stage launch vehicle for eight years and hopes to address a gap in the global market for small satellite launch providers.
The company’s CEO, Adam Gilmour, said the announcement meant Australia now has its own “road to space”.
“The ability to launch our own satellites, on launch vehicles that we own and control, to key orbits in space from Australia, will be a significant capability for our global customers, as well as for our nation and allies,” he said.
Gilmour already employs more than 100 people and hopes to increase its headcount to more than 300 by mid-2027.
It’s one of several businesses in Australia building spaceports for either its own or clients’ rockets, with Gilmour facing competition from ELA’s Arnhem Space Centre in the Northern Territory and Southern Launch’s Orbital Launch Complex in SA.
The news comes days after the full text of the landmark deal that will allow more US rockets to blast off from Australian spaceports was released.
The Technology Safeguards Agreement (TSA) has also been tabled in Parliament and will be subject to an inquiry examining its potential benefits and challenges.
Currently, launching US spacecraft in Australia is difficult, given concerns about protecting sensitive US technology. However, the TSA will remove many of the barriers faced by firms in both countries.
Joel Lisk, a research associate in space law at Flinders University, said the TSA is a “complex document” because it protects US technology but contains advantages over similar deals agreed with the UK and New Zealand.
“The TSA imposes significant supervision, disclosure and compliance requirements on the Australian government and any business seeking to provide services to US companies,” he explained.
“This includes the establishment of ‘controlled’ and ‘segregated’ areas within Australia restricted to US citizens and people approved by the US, restrictions on who can examine US technology when it is brought into Australia, and limitations on the countries Australia (and Australian businesses) can deal with or provide space-related services to.
“The UK and NZ also have TSAs with the US to enable space businesses to go to those jurisdictions, but in a welcome development, it appears that not all restrictions in those agreements have been applied to Australia.
“This included restrictions on the ability for New Zealand to develop its own rocket technology that have not been carried over to the Australian TSA as this would have had substantial negative impacts on the existing Australian space sector.
“The TSAs in place in the UK and NZ have both facilitated launches from those jurisdictions.”
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese signed the agreement in Washington in October alongside the US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken.
05 Mar 24. Kymeta Announces Grant of Two New U.S. Patents for Multi-Network Operation. Kymeta leads the Multi X satcom revolution with first to market products supported by innovative patents for hybrid satellite/cellular operation and multi-satellite network connectivity from a flat panel electronically steered antenna. World-leading flat panel satellite antenna company Kymeta (www.kymetacorp.com) announced today the United States Patent and Trademark Office awarded Kymeta Corporation two U.S. patents. The first patent is related to the cooperation of a SD-WAN edge appliance and a satellite terminal, enabling users to engage in concurrent or switched satellite and cellular communications. The second patent is related to an Electronically Steered Array (ESA) antenna operating across multiple satellite networks in multiple modes (e.g., concurrent mode, switched mode, etc.). These achievements demonstrate Kymeta’s continued thought leadership in the marketplace as the satellite communications industry evolves into a multi-orbit, multi-network ecosystem.
Ryan Stevenson, Ph.D., Senior Vice President, and Chief Scientist at Kymeta, emphasized the company’s dedication to expanding its intellectual property (IP) with relevant additions to its patent portfolio and technology roadmap. He stated, “These patents exemplify our proven track record of continuous innovation and translating those innovations into fielded solutions. The launch in 2023 of the Hawk™ u8 LEO, Peregrine™ u8 LEO, and the Osprey™ u8 ‒ Hybrid-GEO-LEO [user terminals] demonstrate Kymeta’s commitment to leading the multi-x satcom revolution.”
With these latest additions, Kymeta’s patent count surpasses 230 in the U.S. and internationally, along with an additional 165 pending applications. Since its establishment in 2012, the company has consistently demonstrated thought leadership in the market through continuous innovation and the advancement of Kymeta’s connectivity solutions.
U.S. Patent No. 11,818,606, issued November 14, 2023
https://ppubs.uspto.gov/dirsearch-public/print/downloadPdf/11818606
U.S. Patent No. 11,729,633, issued August 15, 2023
https://ppubs.uspto.gov/dirsearch-public/print/downloadPdf/11729633
About Kymeta
Kymeta is the industry leader in flat panel satellite antennas, providing purpose-built solutions across a variety of enterprise and military applications and unlocking the commercial value of space to address the vast, unmet demand for ubiquitous broadband and truly mobile connectivity for customers around the world. Its innovative metasurface technology, coupled with a software-first approach, delivers the first commercially available, metamaterial-based and electronically steered flat panel satellite antenna. Kymeta’s low-cost, low-power and high throughput solutions make it easy to connect on the move or while stationary – for any vehicle, vessel, aircraft, or fixed platform – enabling industries on earth to transform their operations by harnessing capacity in space.
Kymeta is a privately held company based in Redmond
04 Mar 24. Airbus Defence and Space and mu Space’s Memorandum of Understanding.
On January 26, 2024, Airbus Defence and Space SAS (“Airbus”) and mu Space and Advanced Technology Co, Ltd (“mu Space”) entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate on potential future Thailand small satellite missions. This MoU outlines the terms and conditions for their cooperation and the key principles that would govern their relationship for the establishment of the Project.
Airbus, a French company with expertise in space programs and systems, and mu Space, a Thai company specializing in satellite design, manufacture, and operations, believe that their combined expertise can lead to successful collaboration in the field of advanced space technology.
The main purpose of this Agreement is to establish the terms and conditions under which the Parties will cooperate to establish the Project. The Project aims to identify the activities needed for its implementation, create a roadmap for its execution, and establish the preliminary principles for a definitive binding agreement that would formalize their relationship.
Both companies have identified several areas of cooperation for the Project, including Earth-observation, Space Situational Awareness (SSA), Low Earth Orbit (LEO) communications, Science and Technology, and Planetary missions. They will collaborate to establish the Project, exchange relevant information regularly, and participate in meetings with local stakeholders to present the Project.
This MoU between Airbus and mu Space sets the stage for potential collaboration and cooperation on future Thailand small satellite missions. With mu Space constantly looking to drive Thailand and Asia into the global aerospace market, this MoU with aerospace giants Airbus is a push in the right direction for mu Space and its end goal. (Source: Google/Satnews)
04 Mar 24. GEOST bets on focal plane, edge computing capabilities for PWSA fire control. Arizona-based sensor payload company GEOST is betting big that improved focal plane fidelity, coupled with artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled imagery processing at the edge, will be the solution for the new fire-control payload being developed for the Pentagon’s Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture (PWSA).
GEOST – a subsidiary of LightRidge Solutions – and the Space Development Agency (SDA) in February reached a deal for GEOST to develop and produce 16 fire-control mission payloads for Tranche 2 Tracking Layer (T2TL) of the PWSA.
The PWSA payload contract “is a transformational win” for the GEOST team, according to Bill Gattle, CEO of LightRidge Solutions.
The payload development deal “does open up new markets … proving that some of the things we have done, at a smaller scale, we can now do at a larger scale”, he said during an early February interview with Janes. (Source: Janes)
04 Mar 24. Italy to host main control centre for EU satellite constellation. A space centre in the heart of Italy is set to host the main control site for the low-orbit IRIS² (pronounced ‘Iris squared’) EU satellite constellation, Italy’s industry minister said on Monday.
The Fucino Space Centre, close to the town of l’Aquila and one of the world’s largest space centres for civilian use, will be expanded to include control operations for IRIS², Adolfo Urso told a press conference.
The centre already manages the European satellite positioning and navigation system Galileo.
IRIS² is designed to compete with Elon Musk’s Starlink and Jeff Bezos’ Kuiper.
It is an array of up to 170 satellites that will secure communications for European Union governments and open new commercial broadband services to under-served areas between 2025 and 2027.
“IRIS² will be the European answer to low-Earth-orbit constellations, which are becoming the future of telecoms,” said Franco Ongaro, Chief Space Business Officer for Italian aerospace and defence conglomerate Leonardo (LDOF.MI), opens new tab.
The Fucino site is owned by Telespazio, jointly controlled 67%-33% by Leonardo (LDOF.MI), opens new tab and France’s Thales (TCFP.PA), opens new tab respectively.
“It [IRIS²] is a critical [piece of] infrastructure for the country, as it enables a series of operations relevant to aspects of national security,” Telespazio CEO Luigi Pasquali said.
The deal will be formally announced by the European Commission in coming days, Urso said, including two other centres to be located in Toulouse, France, and in Luxembourg.
Urso added that 50 m euros ($54 m) would be invested and 200 new jobs created at the Fucino centre.
Ongaro added that the EU is expected to assign the first contracts for IRIS² as soon as this year.
The EU has pledged that 30% of the EU-funded part of IRIS², which is worth 2.4bn euros, will be allocated to small firms. ($1 = 0.9217 euros) (Source: Reuters)
03 Mar 24. RMIT creates super strong material for rocket parts. Researchers at RMIT have used 3D printing to create a new type of super-strong material that could be used to create rocket parts.
The university said the artificial ‘metamaterial’ – made from common titanium alloy – is 50 per cent stronger than the next strongest alloy of similar density used in aerospace applications.
It comes as the space industry is increasingly experimenting with 3D printing to create next-generation materials that can better cope with the unique rigours of space travel.
RMIT said that while its new material is currently resistant to temperatures as high as 350 °C, it could potentially withstand temperatures up to 600 °C using more heat-resistant titanium alloys.
However, the study’s lead author, PhD candidate Jordan Noronha, warned that because the technology required to make the new material is not widely available, its adoption by industry might take some time.
“Traditional manufacturing processes are not practical for the fabrication of these intricate metal metamaterials, and not everyone has a laser powder bed fusion machine in their warehouse,” he said.
“However, as the technology develops, it will become more accessible, and the printing process will become much faster, enabling a larger audience to implement our high-strength multi-topology metamaterials in their components.
“Importantly, metal 3D printing allows easy net shape fabrication for real applications.”
The new metamaterial gains its unique strength by imitating lattice-style structures seen in nature but uses 3D printing to negative the technique’s traditional drawback – which sees the load stress concentrating on the inside areas of the hollow struts, leading to premature failures.
“Ideally, the stress in all complex cellular materials should be evenly spread,” said RMIT’s Distinguished Professor, Ma Qian.
“However, for most topologies, it is common for less than half of the material to mainly bear the compressive load, while the larger volume of material is structurally insignificant.”
RMIT said that by “pushing 3D printing design to its limits”, it was able to optimise a new type of lattice structure to distribute the stress more evenly.
“We designed a hollow tubular lattice structure that has a thin band running inside it. These two elements together show strength and lightness never before seen together in nature,” said Qian.
“By effectively merging two complementary lattice structures to evenly distribute stress, we avoid the weak points where stress normally concentrates.”
It comes after Space Connect reported in September how the iLAuNCH research collaboration would begin work on a new 3D printing facility that aims to manufacture spacecraft structures using an electron beam.
The additive manufacturing project is the first in development from iLAuNCH and is partnering with Adelaide-based VPG Innovation.
“This important project is well underway in one of our key focus areas – additive manufacturing,” said iLAuNCH Trailblazer executive director Darin Lovett.
“Increasing the availability of custom structures, which are space-ready, will support the growing space sector.
“The partnership will also support a world-class Australian sovereign manufacturing capability that will create new jobs alongside a highly trained workforce, leading to global exports within the space industry and other markets.”
The $180-m iLAuNCH trailblazer is a partnership between the universities of South Australia (UniSA) and Southern Queensland (UniSQ), ANU, and more than 20 industry partners.
It’s aimed at accelerating the development of a space manufacturing sector. (Source: Space Connect)
27 Feb 24. ST Engineering iDirect and AITELECOM/APCO are expanding their partnership to deploy new, cutting-edge technology on the SES 17 network, increasing connectivity services throughout Latin America.
Together, the companies have deployed ST Engineering iDirect’s flexible and scalable Dialog multi-service satellite communications platform with hundreds of operational sites deploying its MDM3310 modems across two, high throughput satellite (HTS) Ka-band beams. Such platforms take advantage of the high packets per second processing capabilities specifically designed for 4G/5G mobile backhaul applications.
Advancing on this success, AITELECOM/APCO is continuing to work with ST Engineering iDirect as it looks to expand to additional HTS beams on the SES 17 network. The update will further roll out ST Engineering iDirect’s award-winning Mx-DMA® MRC waveform with intelligent automation, which has been a key component in enabling AITELECOM/APCO to deliver critical connectivity for 4G cellular backhaul and enterprise services.
The demand for cellular backhaul services across Mexico has seen a major surge in recent years. In 2022, more than 74 percent of mobile phone users in Mexico accessed the internet through their mobile phone. By 2027, it is projected that this will rise to around 88 percent. To continue delivering the best connectivity performance to its customers in Mexico and across Latin America, AITELECOM/APCO is forging close collaborations with best-in-breed technology partners championing innovation.
Orlando Castillo, Chief Executive Officer of AITELECOM/APCO, said, “The high efficiency of ST Engineering iDirect’s solutions, combined with the expertise and experience of the AITELECOM/APCO integration and operational processes, have been extremely beneficial in the growth of our 4G networks, bringing cost-effective communication services to people in the most rural towns in the southwest of Mexico. We partnered with ST Engineering iDirect as we were impressed by the team’s ability to provide a comprehensive turnkey and managed-services solution under an innovative long-term scheme. We’ve found deployment to be very quick and efficient, with excellent technical support and project planning. Above all, we’re seeing very strong network performance with exceptional bit/hertz efficiencies.”
Diego Casquero, Regional Vice President, Latin America at ST Engineering iDirect, said, “Supporting our customers’ growth and expansion is a key priority for us – with AITELECOM/APCO, we provided a tailored technical support and deployment strategy to ensure comprehensive network availability and service delivery. The scalable nature of our technology and the availability and capability of our support team are essential requirements to fulfil AITELECOM/APCO’s vision. Our Mx-DMA MRC technology has helped AITELECOM/APCO simplify its operations by sharing capacity seamlessly and very efficiently among its user terminals, satisfying the most demanding throughput requirements presented by both its MNO and enterprise customers.” (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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