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25 Mar 24. UK Space Agency announces new headquarters and regional offices.
The UK Space Agency is opening new headquarters at the Harwell Science Campus’ Space Cluster in Oxfordshire, and offices in Scotland, Wales and the Midlands.
The UK Space Agency is opening new headquarters in Harwell, Oxfordshire and regional offices in Scotland, Wales and the Midlands as it works to support the space sector across the UK.
Aligned with the government’s Levelling Up strategy, the expansion will enable the Agency to collaborate more closely with the UK’s thriving space sector, while promoting regional skills and job opportunities to deliver increasingly ambitious missions and capabilities.
The UK space sector is growing faster than the rest of the UK economy. It’s worth over £17.5 billion per year and employs over 45,000 people, while satellites underpin £360 billion per year of wider economic activity.
The new HQ at Harwell is due to open in June, while offices at William Morgan House in Cardiff and Space Park Leicester will open in April, with the office at Queen Elizabeth House, in Edinburgh, opening later in the summer.
Andrew Griffith MP, Minister for Space at the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, said:
Harwell’s Space Cluster is already a hub of collaboration with more than 100 thriving research organisations and 1,400 jobs making it the ideal location for the UK Space Agency’s new headquarters.
At the same time our space sector has grown considerably across all parts of the UK and new offices in Edinburgh, Cardiff and Leicester will serve the talented space researchers and innovators around the country while creating more jobs, growing our local economies and strengthening the UK’s science superpower ambitions.
Dr Paul Bate, CEO of the UK Space Agency, said: “This is a transformational moment for the UK Space Agency, responding directly to the feedback that the Agency should be embedded in the sector. Our new headquarters, located at the UK’s biggest space cluster in Harwell, will connect to regional offices in Edinburgh, Cardiff, and Leicester, and our existing London and Swindon teams, helping us recruit space talent from across the nation and deliver the National Space Strategy. “
This will place the UK Space Agency at the heart of the space sector we serve, boosting growth, improving relationships with regional organisations and supporting a strong, diverse and connected sector.
We have seen a significant rise in space organisations across the UK and it’s crucial we nurture their skills and expertise, to ensure we continue this journey.
The new structure will create significant opportunities to build on high-growth areas, such as Earth observation and satellite broadband. It will also help the UK establish early leadership in emerging markets such as in‑orbit spacecraft servicing, active space debris removal, and the new lunar economy, enabling us to help forge a greener, smarter and more inclusive sector.
The Agency will retain offices in London and Swindon.
UKspace Chair, John Hanley, said: “The Agency’s decision to relocate its HQ will strengthen Harwell’s reputation as a major international space hub. It will also enable many UKspace members based at the Space Cluster to enjoy closer collaboration and support from the Agency. Furthermore, the opening of three regional offices in key locations will inevitably help the UK space sector ecosystem expand, as space-based businesses in those regions benefit from opportunities to interact more frequently with Agency staff.
Stuart Grant, Chief Executive of Harwell Campus, said: “We’re delighted to welcome the UK Space Agency to the thriving space cluster of over 100 organisations at Harwell Campus. Their presence cements the campus’ position as a leading international space hub and will help leverage synergies, drive innovation, and foster partnerships with key industry players.
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. “
Dr Barbara Ghinelli, Director for UKRI-STFC’s Innovation Clusters and for the Harwell Campus, said: “The UK Space Agency joining the Harwell Campus is not just about connecting with our thriving community, but becoming integral to shaping the future of space exploration. It’s about contributing to a collective vision shared worldwide, and that’s to push our limits and tackle real-world problems through partnership, creativity, and innovation. “
Further comment
UK Government minister for Scotland, Donald Cameron, said: “The Scottish space sector continues to go from strength to strength with the latest figures showing an almost £40m increase in income and more than 100 new highly-skilled jobs with support from the UK Government. I welcome the UK Space Agency opening their first permanent Scottish office in Edinburgh and look forward to working closely together as this exciting sector continues to grow.”
Welsh Secretary David TC Davies said:
I’m delighted that the UK Space Agency is opening an office in Cardiff to support the fast-growing space sector in Wales. The UK Government has made significant investments in companies like Space Forge in Cardiff, and in research programmes at Welsh Universities. We have built talent and expertise and it’s great to see support coming to Wales to help the sector grow and develop.”
Dr Hina Khan, Executive Director of Space Scotland, said: “The opening of the UK Space Agency’s new office in Scotland is very welcomed by Space Scotland. We look forward to strengthening our partnership and fostering greater involvement with the UK Space Agency in developing the Scottish Space Ecosystem. We eagerly anticipate the opportunities that this closer collaboration will bring, as we work hand in hand to leverage Scotland’s strengths and expertise. By fostering greater connectivity and cooperation, we can drive innovation, create new jobs, and propel Scotland’s space sector to even greater heights.”
John Whalley, CEO of Space Wales, said: “The opening of the UK Space Agency’s office in Cardiff marks a transformative opportunity for the Welsh space sector. With over 85 space-related organisations across the nation, this not only acts as an opportunity to amplify our successes but also ignite further partnerships with the UK Space Agency to launch the Welsh space sector to new heights.”
(Source: https://www.gov.uk/)
06 Mar 24. European satellite constellation for very low earth orbit to launch in two years. The European Defence Agency (EDA) has brought together two EU Member States to develop a satellite demonstrator that can manoeuvre from Low Earth Orbit (LEO) to Very Low Earth Orbit (VLEO) – and back again.
The €10m project – called LEO2VLEO: Military Crisis-Response Satellite Constellation – with the Netherlands and Austria, will design, develop, launch and operate a constellation of between two and four satellites. It aims for a space launch in two years time. In this innovative approach to space, the project will, once operational, have the capability to support military operations.
The project was signed on 19 January 2024 between the Netherlands, Austria, and EDA. It was signed in EDA’s Capability Technology Area (CapTech) Space, which helped bring the two countries together for this collaborative project. EDA will support the project throughout.
Very Low Earth Orbit (VLEO) is most commonly situated at an altitude of between 250-350 kilometres. It has the advantage of being closer to the earth than the traditional orbit of satellites, allowing for higher resolution images from optical sensors, improved communications and agility.
As a demonstrator for initial space capabilities, the LEO2VLEO project aims to show the cost benefits of such an approach in a short timeframe. While VLEO is safer from collisions with space debris because objects eventually burn up, dragged into the Earth’s atmosphere, such altitudes require satellites to deal with surface erosion from atomic oxygen and so need more resistant materials.
Developing a satellite able to manoeuvre back into the traditional Low Earth Orbit (LEO) would extend its lifespan by spending time in VLEO only when necessary, as well as presenting lower costs and additional launch opportunities.
EDA Hub for EU Defence Innovation, known as HEDI, has funded a preliminary study for this problem; HEDI was established within EDA in 2022 to foster innovative solutions for military capabilities. If successful, the LEO2VLEO demonstrator could pave the way for a fully operational system to support military missions in the future.
(Source: EDA)
14 Mar 24. Enhancing maritime surveillance: EDA and SatCen begin new phase of cooperation. ©The European Defence Agency (EDA) and the European Union Satellite Centre (SatCen) signed a bilateral agreement on 14 March 2024 to initiate a new phase of cooperation within MARSUR, the maritime surveillance information exchange system crafted by EDA.
Launched in 2005 as a network for sharing open-source maritime information, MARSUR has since matured into a multi-faceted information exchange platform. The multinational initiative resulting from this effort now encompasses 22 European navies. Out of this pool, under the EDA framework, 16 EU navies are developing a capability for the automatic exchange of maritime surveillance information and decision-making support.
MARSUR’s wide scope of services allow for information exchange, coordination and support to decision-making, aiming to improve the common ‘Recognised Maritime Picture’. The network plays an important role as a defence layer of the EU framework for exchanging information and maritime situation awareness, known as the Common Information Sharing Environment (CISE).
Now in its third stage of development, which is known as MARSUR III, the project is upgrading its technology and capabilities. That will soon include the exchange of classified information. The bilateral agreement will provide the operational basis for the exchange of relevant data between SatCen and the MARSUR community through a secure network.
“This bilateral agreement is a unique mechanism introduced under the MARSUR III project to involve SatCen in EDA ad hoc activities under the control and funding of the contributing Member States,” said EDA Chief Executive Jiří Šedivý. “I am pleased to sign it today on behalf of the MARSUR III contributing members,” he said.
SatCen has aligned its efforts with EDA to define requirements and support maritime situational awareness with satellite data and analysis. SatCen joined the initiative in 2017 and in May 2021 signed the MARSUR III project arrangement for 2021-2026 and the way ahead.
SatCen Director, Ambassador Sorin Ducaru, said: “I look forward to intensifying the excellent inter-agency collaboration by concluding this agreement, which will solidify the SatCen collaboration within MARSUR over the long term, and I would like to thank all actors involved, in particular the Member States as well as the teams of SatCen and EDA.”
MARSUR III will now benefit from SatCen’s expertise, particularly in terms of governance, as it takes a role as permanent chair of the Technical Advisory Board, in training of operators and technicians, exchanging information and products, and connecting to CISE with its bridging node.
SatCen will in turn connect its resources to the information held by European navies. SatCen will also welcome two MARSUR maritime surveillance experts, funded by the MARSUR community.
During the signing ceremony, Commander Joachim Weidmann, Chairperson of the MARSUR Management Group and representing the participating nations, said: “The bilateral agreement between EDA and SatCen is a milestone, and it is important that both organisations show the willingness to succeed in ensuring that relevant operational maritime information is shared in the required time.”
EDA’s wider role
EDA supports its 27 Member States in improving their defence capabilities through European cooperation. Acting as an enabler and facilitator for Ministries of Defence willing to engage in collaborative capability projects, the Agency has become the hub for European defence cooperation with expertise and networks allowing it to the whole spectrum of defence capabilities.
Member States use EDA as an intergovernmental expert platform where their collaborative projects are supported, facilitated, and implemented. For more details, please see here. (Source: EDA)
14 Mar 24. Exolaunch Signs Multi-Launch Agreement With SATORO Space.
- SATORO Space’s first satellite launch enabled by Exolaunch took place on March 4, 2024.
Exolaunch, the global leader in launch mission management, integration, and satellite deployment services, today announced the signing of a multi-launch agreement (MLA) with Asian-based SATORO Space, a cutting-edge commercial satellite manufacturer specializing in small satellites. The MLA encompasses a strategic partnerxship between Exolaunch and SATORO Space to deploy at least three satellites through 2025, marking a significant collaboration in advancing the global commercial space industry.
Under the terms of the MLA, the first launch took place on SpaceX’s Transporter-10 mission, which launched SATORO’s IRIS-F1 satellite on March 4, 2024 from Vandenberg Space Force Base, California. Using Exolaunch’s renowned EXOpod Nova containerized satellite deployer, IRIS-F1 was successfully deployed and will conduct a scientific in-orbit verification mission with an innovative automatic identification system (AIS). Subsequent launches will follow, extending the agreement through the end of 2025.
Initially, what began as a single launch agreement for SATORO Space, under the expertise of Exolaunch, has evolved into a comprehensive multi-launch commitment that extends to future rideshare missions. This expansion underlines the confidence and trust that SATORO Space places in Exolaunch’s team, mission management capabilities, and reliable, flight-proven hardware.
SATORO Space, a spin-off from the prestigious National Cheng Kung University (NCKU), is a direct outcome of successful collaborative efforts between academia and industry and brings a wealth of expertise in building small satellites. SATORO is poised to emerge as a preeminent commercial satellite manufacturer in Asia, contributing to the region’s growing presence in the global space industry. With Exolaunch’s flight heritage in launching over 390 satellites across 26 unique missions, this collaboration will enable and ensure seamless deployment and mission success for SATORO Space’s satellites.
“We are pleased to announce this multi-launch agreement with SATORO Space, highlighting the synergies between our launch mission integration capabilities and their expertise in smallsat manufacturing,” remarked Kier Fortier, managing director of Exolaunch USA. “We are especially thrilled and privileged to have successfully deployed the IRIS-F1 satellite, and look forward to a successful partnership, contributing to the advancement of space exploration, innovation, and commercial satellite technology. This partnership reflects our commitment to making space accessible, supporting emerging players in the NewSpace industry, and providing flexible and reliable launch solutions to meet the evolving needs of our global customers.” (Source: ASD Network)
20 Mar 24. Boost to land-based connectivity as Hanwha Phasor launches enterprise-grade flat-panel satellite antenna for mobile communications.
Hanwha Phasor, a UK-based satellite communications company, has announced it will release its land antenna, for mobile communications, the Phasor L3300B, to the market in Q3 of 2024. The Phasor L3300B is an active electronically steered antenna (AESA) which has been developed for commercial and military use.
This announcement marks the first time that Hanwha Phasor’s land antenna solution will be available for commercial and defence use, offering users uninterrupted communications regardless of the environment. This is as a result of dual simultaneous receive channels, meaning the antenna can form connections with new satellites before breaking its current connection.
With conflict in mainland Europe and the Middle East, and a growing number of natural disasters each year – the necessity for uninterrupted communications has never been more pressing. Hanwha Phasor’s new product helps fill this gap. The product provides the highest levels of connection, operating in Ku-Band, and is able to connect to both Geostationary Satellites (GEO) as well as the Low Earth Orbiting (LEO) constellations, and is compliant with OneWeb and developed to be compatible with leading providers.
The flat-panel design, weighing only 30kg with a 150mm thickness, makes the Phasor L3300B antenna an ideal option of choice for Armed Forces personnel and first responders operating in contested and high-intensity environments. This new offering from Hanwha Phasor will ensure this connectivity, keeping Armed Forces personnel and first responders safe, and ensuring they are able to carry out their roles more effectively.
Hanwha Phasor makes the announcement at Satellite 2024 as it displays the Phasor L3300B for the first time. The business has had a strong period in the lead-up to the conference with recent announcements including, a partnership with Lufthansa Technik as well as an agreement with OneWeb to become a User Terminal on their network.
19 Mar 24. Northrop, DARPA envision moon ‘railroad’ for lunar logistics.
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency is working with Northrop Grumman to flesh out a concept for a moon-based railroad network.
“The envisioned lunar railroad network could transport humans, supplies and resources for commercial ventures across the lunar surface — contributing to a space economy for the United States and international partners,” Northrop said in a March 19 statement.
The company’s work will focus on identifying the interfaces, resources and funding needed to build such a network as well as the technological and logistical risks. Northrop will also propose lunar rail system prototypes explore how the capability could be built and operated.
The effort is part of DARPA’s Lunar Architecture Capability Study, or LunA-10. The seven-month study will not fund construction or hardware development but is instead designed to identify the technologies that are foundational to developing a future infrastructure on the moon.
Northrop was one of 14 companies DARPA selected in December to explore concepts to support a future lunar economy by 2035. Focus areas for those studies include power generation, moon mining and resource utilization, navigation, and mobility and logistics. The firms selected include launch providers, startups, defense prime contractors and tech companies. DARPA has not disclosed the value of the contracts it awarded.
The studies come as the U.S., its international partners and commercial firms envision future activity around the moon. In recent years, DARPA and the Air Force Research Laboratory have started several programs to explore logistics and satellite sensing in a lunar environment.
The Space Force’s interest in the military utility of operations around the moon is also growing. The service in February announced plans to create a Space Futures Command that will validate forward-looking concepts and emerging missions. Cislunar operations — defined as activity around the moon — is one of the first concepts the command will explore.
Speaking March 18 at the Satellite 2024 conference in Washington, D.C., Lt. Gen. Shawn Bratton — the Space Force’s chief strategy and resourcing officer — said Space Futures Command’s cislunar work will focus on understanding whether operations in that environment offer military benefits to the service.
The plan is to then share that information with Chief of Space Operations Gen. Chance Saltzman and Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall.
“I think there’s important mission there. I can’t prove that there’s military utility there,” Bratton said. “I think we owe the boss, both Gen. Saltzman and the secretary, a little bit better data that validates that . . . yes, cislunar is critical and here’s how we should use it.”
(Source: Defense News Early Bird/Defense News)
20 Mar 24. Revolutionary rocket eats for the stars. Igniting innovation: With the help of DASA funding, engineers from the University of Glasgow successfully test-fired a rocket that eats itself for fuel
- With the help of DASA funding, the University of Glasgow has successfully test-fired an autophage rocket that consumes its own fuselage for fuel
- This technology can help significantly reduce the dry mass of launch vehicles, increasing payload fraction and facilitating miniaturisation
- DASA played a key role in offering a flexible and outcome-oriented funding approach, which helped the engineers achieve their objective of demonstrating the feasibility of the self-eating rocket.
The idea of a rocket that consumes its own fuselage has been on the minds of engineers since 1938. This is because traditional rocket launch vehicles are both huge and expensive, which poses cost and logistics challenges when it comes to launching rockets with smaller payloads.
Conventional rockets reduce their weight post-launch through staging, where each stage functions as an independent launch vehicle capable of handling the weight of the stage above it, using up its fuel, disconnecting, and dropping away on a step-by-step basis.
However, an autophage (Latin for self-eating) rocket uses up its own fuselage, as fuel, on a continuous basis. This refined solution allows freed-up mass to be used for payloads instead.
Thanks to funding from DASA, and the ingenuity of engineers from the University of Glasgow, this innovative concept has become closer to reality.
A small rocket with a big appetite
Engineers at the University of Glasgow have been developing the autophage rocket concept since 2016, and first sought funding from DASA through the Open Call in 2019. Here, DASA’s flexible and outcome-focused approach, emphasising collaboration and adapting through incremental progress, greatly benefited the small engineering team with limited resources. This approach provided them with the flexibility to develop their idea over the next few years.
The team encountered various engineering obstacles, including maintaining the fuselage’s structural integrity during injection, and combining the structural fuel with other liquid propellants. The team explored options such as improving the engine inlet to streamline propellant injection, incorporating methods such as pulse combustion to generate pressure spikes for easier fuselage insertion.
On working with DASA, Professor Patrick Harkness, of the University of Glasgow’s James Watt School of Engineering, said:
Our team enjoyed working with DASA. The discussion of our idea and the submission of our proposal was very collaborative, and delivery felt like a shared endeavour with positive contributions from all sides. The autophage concept seems to offer a more continuous solution to the Tsiolkovsky equation, compared to the traditional staged approach, and we’re looking forward to translating that into payload in the years ahead.
Rocket Scran
Fast forward to 2023, and the team at the University of Glasgow successfully test-fired the novel, self-supporting autophage engine.
The trial happened in July 2023 at the MachLab facility in Machrihanish Airbase. During the test, a rocket engine generating 100 newtons of thrust utilised waste combustion heat to melt its polyethylene plastic fuselage. The melted fuselage plastic was then directed into the engine’s combustion system, effectively producing extra fuel to complement its liquid propellant.
The test not only demonstrated that molten polyethylene can serve as a fuel source, but also that the plastic fuselage proved capable of enduring the necessary forces to deliver the fuel to the engine, which is a crucial aspect in creating a feasible flight concept. During the test, the team also demonstrated the ability to control, throttle, and restart the autophage rocket’s burn, which is another capability that will be required in the future.
Igniting innovation: what’s next?
The successful test-firing of the autophage engine demonstrates significant potential for developing launch vehicles designed for smaller payloads. As the innovative approach transforms “dead mass” into fuel, it effectively generates extra energy and addresses mass-related issues encountered during small-scale rocket launches, such as nano satellites.
The University of Glasgow engineers will further develop the autophage engine with backing from the UK Space Agency (UKSA) and the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC), which is part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI). The next milestone of the project aims to reach up to 1 kilo newton of thrust. After that, the team will focus on enhancing the engine design even more to reach thrust levels comparable for flight.
(Source: https://www.gov.uk/)
18 Mar 24. ESA Kicks Off 2 New Navigation Missions. ESA has signed contracts with several European companies for an overall amount of € 233m to develop Genesis and a LEO-PNT demonstrator, two new missions within the FutureNAV programme that will keep Europe at the forefront of satellite navigation worldwide.
“With Genesis and LEO-PNT we are responding to rapidly growing needs for more resilient and precise navigation and ensuring Europe leads global satellite navigation, the largest downstream space market. I am excited to see our competitive industry bring these two missions to life”, says Javier Benedicto, ESA Director of Navigation.
The contract for Genesis amounts to € 76.6m. A consortium of 14 entities led by OHB Italia S.p.A. (IT) is tasked with developing, manufacturing, qualifying, calibrating, launching and operating the Genesis satellite, including all its payloads. This mission is supported by Italy, Belgium, France, Switzerland, Hungary and the UK. The Genesis satellite is planned to launch in 2028, followed by years of scientific exploitation.
For LEO-PNT, two parallel contracts of € 78.4m each have been signed for two end-to-end low Earth orbit positioning, navigation and timing (LEO-PNT) in-orbit demonstrators. The contracts include the design and development of satellites and payloads, ground segment, test user segment and satellite launches, operations, experimentation and demonstration of services with end users.
One of the contracts for LEO-PNT demonstrator is led by GMV Aerospace and Defence S.A.U. (ES), as overall system prime and OHB System AG (DE) as space segment prime and core partner. The other contract is led by Thales Alenia Space France S.A.S (FR) as overall system prime and Thales Alenia Space SPA (IT) as space segment prime. The two consortia involve over 50 entities from 14 countries, including industrial actors with a long heritage in space, together with new actors following novel approaches to space – a combination of space primes, midcaps and SMEs, also engaging representatives from end-user communities.
The first LEO-PNT satellite is planned to launch within 20 months from kick-off and the complete demonstration constellation to be in orbit before 2027.
The missions were approved at ESA’s Ministerial council of 2022 as part of FutureNAV programme, in ESA’s Navigation Directorate. FutureNAV enables ESA to respond to trends and needs in the field of positioning, navigation and timing, and allows Europe to stay on the cutting edge of satellite navigation technology.
Genesis, a flying observatory to measure Earth down to the millimetre
Genesis will contribute to a highly improved International Terrestrial Reference Frame (ITRF) of Earth with an accuracy of 1 mm and a long-term stability of 0.1 mm/year, providing a coordinate system for the most rigorous navigation applications on our planet.
The ITRF serves as a reference for all space- and ground-based observations for navigation and Earth sciences. An updated International Terrestrial Reference Frame (ITRF) will have immediate benefits on satellite-based systems, impacting Galileo-enabled applications in fields like aviation, traffic management, autonomous vehicles, positioning and navigation.
In addition, an enhanced ITRF will benefit countless other fields: meteorology, natural hazard prediction, monitoring climate change effects, land management and surveying, study of gravitational and non-gravitational forces, to name a few.
Genesis’ extreme accuracy will be achieved by co-locating the main geodetic (Earth-measuring) techniques: satellite navigation ranging, very-long-baseline interferometry, satellite laser ranging and possibly DORIS onboard one well-calibrated satellite that acts as a flying observatory, which will allow to determine biases inherent to each technique and correct them for superior precision. The instruments will be synchronized by an ultra-stable oscillator (USO).
LEO-PNT, a resilient navigation system of systems
LEO-PNT (low Earth orbit positioning navigation and timing) is a small constellation of demonstration satellites that will fly close to Earth and test the use of novel signals and frequency bands, unlocking exceptional resilience, accuracy and speed in navigation that will potentially enable a long list of new applications and services.
The constellation will demonstrate the benefits of working in combination with Galileo and other global navigation satellite systems in a multi-layer approach. LEO-PNT will assure signals to improve robustness of existing GNSS in medium Earth orbit such as natural phenomena impairments and interferences, and provide services to places where today’s satnav systems cannot reach deep urban areas and even indoors. This mission will also demonstrate the capability of a LEO navigation constellation to provide a monitoring capability for Galileo and EGNOS signals from space.
Another objective of this mission is to demonstrate the interoperability of PNT with open communication standards, including 5G/6G, opening the door to new applications for Internet-of-Things, emergency services and low latency data for positioning and timing.
The applications that a navigation constellation in low Earth orbit can enable together with existing GNSS range from transportation including automotive, autonomous vehicles, rail and maritime and digital mobility in general, critical infrastructure, mobile devices, asset tracking or indoor. (Source: ASD Network)
20 Mar 24. Blue Origin’s Blue Ring to Demo Operation Capabilities on DarkSky-1 Mission. Blue Origin will demonstrate Blue Ring’s mission operation capabilities and core flight systems on an upcoming Defense Innovation Unit (DIU)-sponsored launch, furthering its mission to build a road to space.
Blue Ring’s end-to-end services will seamlessly connect ground and space communications to support a variety of missions on-orbit. The DarkSky-1 (DS-1) mission will demonstrate Blue Origin’s flight systems, including space-based processing capabilities, telemetry, tracking and command (TT&C) hardware, and ground-based radiometric tracking.
“The lessons learned from this DS-1 mission will provide a leap forward for Blue Ring and its ability to provide greater access to multiple orbits, bringing us closer to our vision of ms of people living and working in space for the benefit of Earth,” said Paul Ebertz, Senior Vice President of Blue Origin’s In-Space Systems.
The DS-1 mission is a collaboration between Blue Origin and DIU for in-flight validation of Blue Ring’s orbital payload and mission operation capabilities under an Other Transaction Agreement. The U.S. Space Force’s Space Systems Command’s Assured Access to Space Mission Manifest Office manifested the DS-1 mission to fly on a National Security Space Launch.
Blue Ring has unprecedented delta-V capabilities for commercial and government customers to easily maneuver through multiple orbits. The spacecraft platform also provides in-space processing and access to onboard data storage to ensure a customer’s successful mission.
The DarkSky-1 mission is expected to be launched co-manifested on the upper stage of a future National Security Space Launch. The launch service provider and specific timeframe have not been disclosed.
18 Mar 24. Astronics Corporation Launches Next Generation Typhon T-400 Ku SATCOM System.
- Simplified, Dual LRU (Line Replaceable Unit) Ku system provides maximum connectivity performance with a low-cost design
Astronics Corporation (Nasdaq: ATRO), a leading provider of advanced technologies for global aerospace, defense and other mission critical industries, launched today the Typhon T-400 Series system, which represents the next generation in Satellite Communications (SATCOM) connectivity technology. The Typhon T-400 Series is designed to seamlessly operate on any GEO-based Ku Satellite network, effectively addressing challenges associated with the high cost of equipping an aircraft with SATCOM connectivity.
“Astronics continues to lead the way in optimizing connectivity for airborne platforms,” said Mike Kuehn, President of Astronics CSC. “By leveraging cutting-edge technologies and emphasizing installation flexibility, the Typhon T-400 series sets a new standard for connectivity hardware. This innovative system achieves significant optimization by reducing the number of LRUs required from four to two thereby streamlining installation and substantially cutting down the total fly-away cost. Furthermore, customizable variants of the system, including a modem-less configuration, offer special mission and military end-users heightened flexibility.”
Advanced satellite technology combined with the innovative Modem Manager (MODMAN), the Typhon T-400 Series is a streamlined Dual LRU system that provides both ease of installation and cost savings. To further facilitate a seamless and cost-effective installation process, the system incorporates commonly sourced connectors with low-cost cabling. As a result, the system also enables reduced total life cycle costs. At the core of the Typhon T-400 series lies the integration of the iQ800 modem technology from iDirect, a renowned leader in satellite communications. This advanced, future-proofed modem technology ensures optimal connectivity and data transmission capabilities, empowering seamless communication and the highest available data rates in even the most demanding airborne environments.
One of the standout features of the Typhon T-400 series is the Modem Manager (MODMAN), which boasts a flange mount design and enhanced environmental specifications. This allows for secure mounting in any orientation, both inside and outside the pressure vessel. The antenna can be flexibly mounted on the aircraft fuselage or tail, offering unparalleled installation versatility. Moreover, the system offers options for a modem-less version, seamlessly integrating with external customer-furnished modems for enhanced security applications, ease of export, and flexible system integration. (Source: ASD Network)
20 Mar 24. Bittium Continued Deliveries of Mexsat Satellite Terminals to Mexico. Bittium has continued the deliveries of Mexsat satellite terminals to its cooperation partner Inmosat in Mexico. Inmosat is a certified provider of telecommunications solutions in the Mexican authority market and has been the exclusive distributor of Bittium’s Mexsat phones to Mexican national security organizations since 2021. In addition to the satellite terminals, Bittium will deliver different accessories that are related to the terminals. The first purchase order was received at the end of the year 2023 and the second one at the beginning of the year 2024. The final batches of the orders were delivered in February 2024. The total value of the purchase orders was approximately EUR 2.4m. The Android™ based Mexsat terminals developed for the Mexican state by Bittium have been designed to be part of the state-operated Mexican Satellite System known as Mexsat. The devices work both in terrestrial and satellite networks, and communication through both networks is secure, fast, and easy. The development of the devices was completed in 2017 and since then there have been yearly product deliveries to the authorities using the system.
“The demand for the Mexsat terminals has been constant as new authority organizations have adopted satellite communication as part of their communication systems. Cooperation with Inmosat has been a good and effective solution as their extensive sales and customer support network in the states of Mexico has been a significant advantage for the customer organizations across Mexico”, says Tommi Kangas, Senior Vice President of Bittium’s Defense & Security business segment.
“Bittium’s continuous effort towards innovation and security has allowed Inmosat to create an ecosystem with a reliable and effective solution that continues to grow among national security entities in Mexico. In addition, the Mexican government recently changed the way the Mexsat service is commercialized, opening the possibility for other government branches, in addition to national security entities, to acquire the Mexsat technology. With Bittium’s and Inmosat’s partnership we have been able to give the customer the service they need, with the scope of crafting a better solution each time.” says Héctor González, CEO of Inmosat.
18 Mar 24. Kymeta Begins Fulfilling Customer Orders of its First Multi-Orbit, On-the-Move Flat-Panel Antenna for Military Users.
World-leading flat-panel satellite antenna company, Kymeta (www.kymetacorp.com), announced today at SATELLITE 2024 that the Osprey u8 HGL, a hybrid geostationary/low Earth orbit (GEO/LEO/LTE) terminal purpose-built for military users, is shipping out of their facility in Woodinville, Washington. This marks the first commercially available multi-orbit terminal and the first multi-orbit terminal on Eutelsat OneWeb’s LEO network. Kymeta announced the official launch in October last year and is fulfilling a backlog of orders.
In February, the Kymeta team demonstrated in the field the capabilities of the new Osprey u8 HGL delivering resilient, auto-PACE ready communications for the armed forces to meet the demands of challenging and rugged military environments. The multi-orbit, multi-network capabilities of the Osprey u8 HGL terminal will offer even greater availability, while being durable, low power consuming, having low visibility, and easy to use.
The Osprey u8 HGL includes a field swappable modem cartridge and a OneWeb modem to enable connectivity with the Eutelsat OneWeb LEO network. At launch an iDirect 950mp cartridge is available enabling TRANSEC services over GEO. Other cartridge configurations will be available soon enabling end users to customize their terminal configuration based on their mission needs.
Initial feedback was overwhelmingly positive, with one military member stating: “This is everything we’ve been looking for in a terminal, form function and features. The LEO to GEO switching far exceeded our expectations. It’s amazing that Kymeta is already delivering on the community’s urgent need for multi-orbit SATCOM.”
Others in attendance at Army field demonstrations commented, “I cannot wait to get started with these!” and “Wow! It tracks satellites over some very difficult terrain.”
“The Kymeta Osprey HGL has a unique capability to address government requirements in support of government PACE plans,” said Ian Canning, Chief Operating Officer, OneWeb Technologies. “The Osprey supports multi-network/orbit requirements through the concurrent LTE/satellite configuration with the added benefit of now being able to add OneWeb LEO capabilities.”
Jon Osler, Senior Vice President Global Sales and Services of Kymeta, commented: “In the contemporary military landscape, mobile connectivity has become indispensable for achieving success. Unlike any other sector, the military relies heavily on dependable, adaptable, and resilient on-the-go communication systems to fulfill its operational and training needs. We take pride in our longstanding partnership with the military, delivering cutting-edge solutions that meet and exceed expectations.”
This milestone further establishes Kymeta as the leader in the multi-X revolution. Attendees of SATELLITE 2024 in Washington, DC, March 18– 20 are encouraged to visit Kymeta’s meeting room 156 to see the Osprey u8 HGL in person and to speak with a member of the Kymeta team. (Source: BUSINESS WIRE)
18 Mar 24. China’s military, state media slam U.S. after Reuters report on SpaceX spy satellites. Chinese military and state-run media on Sunday accused the United States of threatening global security, days after a Reuters report which found Elon Musk’s SpaceX was building hundreds of spy satellites for a U.S. intelligence agency.
SpaceX’s Starshield unit is developing the satellite network under a classified $1.8 bn contract with the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO), Reuters reported on Friday, citing five sources familiar with the programme.
A social media account run by the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) said the SpaceX program exposed the United States’ “shamelessness and double standards” as Washington accuses Chinese tech companies of threatening U.S. security.
“We urge U.S. companies to not help a villain do evil,” Junzhengping, an account run by the PLA, posted on social media platform Weibo on Sunday. The account has 1.1 m followers.
“All countries worldwide should be vigilant and protect against new and even bigger security threats created by the U.S. government,” the post said.
Wang Yanan, chief editor of Aerospace Knowledge, a magazine overseen by the ruling Communist Party, was quoted in an interview as saying the SpaceX satellite project posed “a challenge to global security and stability”.
“The United States’ high-profile intelligence reconnaissance of countries or regions it is concerned about will inevitably cause some hot issues to become more sensitive or even escalate,” Wang told The Global Times, a Chinese state-controlled newspaper, in an interview published on Sunday.
Musk runs other companies including electric vehicle maker Tesla that has a large manufacturing presence in China. Neither Junzhengping or the Global Times mentioned Musk or Tesla.
In response to the Reuters’ story, the NRO acknowledged its mission to develop space-based surveillance systems, but declined to comment on the extent of SpaceX’s involvement.
SpaceX, the world’s largest satellite operator, did not respond to several requests for comment about the contract.
The planned Starshield network is separate from Starlink, SpaceX’s growing commercial broadband constellation that has about 5,500 satellites in space to provide near-global internet to consumers, companies and government agencies.
Chinese researchers in the PLA have over the past two years studied the deployment of Starlink in the war in Ukraine and repeatedly warned about the risks it poses to China.
China has said it also plans to start building its own satellite constellations.
Space X, NRO, and the Pentagon did not immediately respond to requests for comment on China’s reaction to the contract. (Source: Reuters)
18 Mar 24. US, Japan urge nations not to deploy nuclear weapons in orbit. The United States and Japan on Monday proposed a U.N. Security Council resolution stressing that nations should comply with a treaty that bars putting nuclear weapons in space, a message that appeared aimed at Russia.
Washington believes Moscow is developing a space-based anti-satellite nuclear weapon whose detonation could cause havoc by disrupting everything from military communications to phone-based ride services, a source familiar with the matter has said.
Russia, a party to the 1967 Outer Space Treaty that bars putting “in orbit around the earth any objects carrying nuclear weapons or any other kinds of weapons of mass destruction,” has previously said it opposes deploying nuclear weapons ins space.
Russia’s defense minister has also denied it is developing such a weapon. Deploying a nuclear weapon in orbit is barred by the treaty; developing one, however, is not prohibited.
In their resolution seen by Reuters, the United States, the only nation to use a nuclear weapon in war, and Japan, the only nation attacked with one, urged countries bound by the treaty not to place such weapons in space and also not to develop them.
Reports about possible Russian development emerged after a Republican lawmaker on Feb. 14 issued a cryptic statement warning of a “serious national security threat.”
The clearest public sign Washington thinks Moscow is working on such a weapon was a White House spokesman’s Feb. 15 comment that the lawmaker’s letter was related to a space-based anti-satellite weapon that Russia was developing but had not deployed, and that would violate the Outer Space Treaty. (Source: Reuters)
15 Mar 24. EDA and SatCen improve naval data exchange. The European Defence Agency and the EU Satellite Centre sign a bilateral agreement to initiate a new phase of the MANSUR data exchange system.
The European Defence Agency (EDA) and the EU Satellite Centre (SatCen) have signed a bilateral agreement on 14 March 2024 to enhance the protective layer of maritime surveillance data.
Specifically, the two agencies will build on their co-operation in developing the MANSUR maritime data exchange system, now in its third generation (III).
Launched in 2005 as a network for sharing open-source maritime information, MARSUR has since matured into a multi-faceted information exchange platform.
The multinational initiative resulting from this effort now encompasses 22 European navies. Out of this pool, under the EDA framework, 16 EU navies are developing a capability for the automatic exchange of maritime surveillance information and decision-making support.
MARSUR’s wide scope of services allow for information exchange, co-ordination and support to decision-making, aiming to improve the common ‘Recognised Maritime Picture’. The network plays an important role as a defence layer of the EU framework for exchanging information and maritime situation awareness, known as the Common Information Sharing Environment (CISE).
Now, the MANSUR III project is upgrading its technology and capabilities, which will soon include the exchange of classified information. The recent bilateral agreement will provide the operational basis for the exchange of relevant data between SatCen and the MARSUR community through a secure network.
SatCen has aligned its efforts with EDA to define requirements and support maritime situational awareness with satellite data and analysis. SatCen joined the initiative in 2017, and in May 2021 signed the MARSUR III project arrangement for 2021-2026 and the way ahead.
MARSUR III will now benefit from SatCen’s expertise, particularly in terms of governance, as it takes a role as permanent chair of the Technical Advisory Board, in training of operators and technicians, exchanging information and products, and connecting to CISE with its bridging node.
SatCen will in turn connect its resources to the information held by European navies. SatCen will also welcome two MARSUR maritime surveillance experts, funded by the MARSUR community.
During the signing ceremony, Commander Joachim Weidmann, Chairperson of the MARSUR Management Group and representing the participating nations, said: “The bilateral agreement between EDA and SatCen is a milestone, and it is important that both organisations show the willingness to succeed in ensuring that relevant operational maritime information is shared in the required time.” (Source: airforce-technology.com)
18 Mar 24. Kanyini satellite successfully completes critical testing milestone. The South Australian government’s satellite, Kanyini, has achieved a key milestone with the successful completion of its Environmental Stress Screening (ESS) ahead of the satellite’s mid-2024 launch. The critical ESS testing was conducted at the National Space Test Facility at the Australian National University in Canberra.
The Kanyini mission is a collaboration between the South Australian Government, the SmartSat Cooperative Research Centre as mission lead, Adelaide-based commercial satellite manufacturer Inovor Technologies, and global IoT provider Myriota. Kanyini will be launched onboard SpaceX’s Transporter-11 mission from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, USA, later this year.
Manufactured entirely in Adelaide’s Lot Fourteen, Kanyini underwent two weeks of trials including exposing the satellite to extreme temperature variations, intense vibrations, and crushing vacuum conditions. The satellite remained fully operational throughout the extensive testing, passing the screening with flying colours.
“In reaching this milestone, Kanyini has already achieved one of our key goals for the mission – building the capacity of the Australian space industry and advancing the local expertise within the sector,” said Mission Director Peter Nikoloff, who is also a co-founder of Nova Group.
“The collaborative effort from the whole mission team, including SmartSat CRC and our partners Myriota and Inovor Technologies, as well as the support from the South Australian Government, has been outstanding up until now,” he added.
With Kanyini’s full System Integration Review also concluded, the successful completion of this testing now sees the wholly South Australian-based mission team embarking on the final manufacturing phase in readiness for launch.
The launch of Kanyini marks a pivotal step for the South Australian space sector. It will build space flight heritage for local satellite manufacturing, Internet of Things (IoT) and mission lead capabilities – a fundamental requirement for success in the global space sector.
Once in orbit, Kanyini’s dual IoT and imager payloads will deliver critical space data to be used by government and research institutions to expand their knowledge, particularly in relation to sustainability and climate impacts.
The enhanced onboard processing capability of the Hyperscout 2 imager, together with advanced Artificial Intelligence algorithms, enables smart processing of data directly in orbit, supporting rapid decision-making for time-critical applications such as smoke detection for bushfires and other services. (Source: https://www.ex2.com.au/news/)
10 Mar 24. SpaceX’s 2 successful launches from two coasts first from Florida’s Cape Canaveral.
On Sunday, March 10 at 7:05 p.m. ET, Falcon 9 launched 23 Starlink satellites to low-Earth orbit from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.
This was the 11th flight for the first stage booster supporting this mission, which previously launched Crew-5, GPS III Space Vehicle 06, Inmarsat I6-F2, CRS-28, Intelsat G-37, NG-20, and now five Starlink missions.
This mission was the ninth launch for SpaceX from Florida in 2024 and the 309th launch of a Falcon 9 rocket to date.
Another weekend launch as SpaceX targets Sunday, March 10 for a Falcon 9 launch of 23 Starlink satellites to low-Earth orbit from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. Liftoff is targeted for 7:05 p.m. ET, with backup opportunities available until 10:21 p.m. ET. If needed, additional opportunities are also available on Monday, March 11 starting at 6:42 p.m. ET.
The forecast calls for a temperature of 68°F, overcast clouds, 100% cloud cover and a wind speed of 12mph.
A live webcast of this mission will begin on X @SpaceX about five minutes prior to liftoff. Watch live.
This is the 11th flight for the first stage booster supporting this mission, which previously launched Crew-5, GPS III Space Vehicle 06, Inmarsat I6-F2, CRS-28, Intelsat G-37, NG-20, and four Starlink missions. Following stage separation, the first stage will land on the Just Read the Instructions droneship, which will be stationed in the Atlantic Ocean. (Source: Satnews)
12 Mar 24. Success as Rocket Lab launches 45th Electron mission, 4th for longtime partner Synspective. Rocket Lab USA, Inc. (Nasdaq: RKLB) provider of launch services and space systems, today launched its 45th Electron rocket, successfully deploying a fourth synthetic aperture radar satellite to Synspective’s Earth-observation constellation.
“Owl Night Long,” a dedicated mission for Synspective, launched from Pad B at Rocket Lab’s Launch Complex 1 in New Zealand at 04:03 NZDT March 13, 2024 (15:03 UTC, March 12). The mission delivered a single spacecraft, the StriX-3 satellite, to a 561km Sun Synchronous Orbit, where it joined Synspective’s growing constellation.
Rocket Lab has been the sole launch provider for Synspective’s constellation, previously delivering three satellites across launches in September 2022, February 2022, and December 2020. Rocket Lab will launch two more missions for Synspective as part of a multi-launch agreement signed in 2023.
“Owl Night Long” was Rocket Lab’s third Electron mission of 2024. Rocket Lab’s next launch is scheduled to liftoff no earlier than March 20th from Launch Complex 2 in Wallops, Virginia for the National Reconnaissance Office.
Rocket Lab is ramping up for their third launch this year and the 45th Electron launch overall. The ‘Owl Night Long’ mission is scheduled to launch from Pad B at Launch Complex 1 in Mahia, New Zealand, and will carry a single satellite for Synspective.
Synspective Satellite Rocket Lab Clearnroom, Launch Complex 1, Mahia, NZ
Electron will carry the Strix-3 satellite to a Sun Synchronous Orbit where it will join a constellation of the other StriX-series satellite from Synspective, a Japanese Earth-imaging company.
The StriX-series satellites are a Synthetic Aperture Radar, or SAR, spacecraft that can image millimeter-level changes to the Earth’s surface from space, independent of weather conditions at any time day or night. The constellation to return to any spot on the globe every 12 hours. (Source: Satnews)
14 Mar 24. Hispasat + Infinite Orbits to cooperate on European life extension mission. Hispasat and Infinite Orbits will collaborate in analyzing a life extension mission, using Endurance, Infinite Orbits’ GEO satellite life extension service solution.
Both entities are enthusiastic about advancing the development of a European life extension service solution for GEO satellites. Infinite Orbits serves as the service provider, while Hispasat acts as the recipient of this service. They recognize the substantial commercial demand for this type of service on a global scale and believe it is financially viable for both GEO satellite operators and life extension service providers, especially once the majority of non-recurring development costs are absorbed and a competitive design and manufacturing approach is considered.
The parties emphasize that the creation of a European Life Extension service solution is crucial to maintaining a competitive edge for the broader European Space Industry and, specifically, for European satellite service providers.
Infinite Orbits is dedicated to presenting a European-made, state-of-the-art replicable technical solution developed in Toulouse, France, by the end of 2026 or the beginning of 2027. Additionally, they plan to showcase a real-life, replicable use case of such service supporting the international expansion of Hispasat—a prominent European satellite operator. This collaboration will demonstrate the inaugural European life extension service in GEO.
According to the agreement, both parties target finalizing the corresponding satellite life extension service contract in the first half of 2024.
Adel HADDOUD, CEO of Infinite Orbits, said, “After the successful launch and start of commercial service of our first line of GEO-Orbit services with Orbit Guard # in 2023, we are proud to partner with Hispasat for the launch of our second line of GEO orbit services, proposing a real-life commercial mission leveraging our GEO satellite Life Extension solution Endurance to extend the operational and commercial life of an important satellite of the Hispasat fleet. This first mission will help us materialize the substantial pipeline of international commercial prospects that we have constituted over the past months, contributing to the international development of the European Space Industry as a net positive contributor to the French and European economy.“ (Source: Satnews)
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