04 Jul 24. US–Australia launch deal passes key milestone. The landmark deal to allow more US rockets to blast off from Australian spaceports looks set to become law after MPs and Senators approved it.
The Joint Standing Committee on Treaties (JSCOT) confirmed on Thursday it had approved the Technology Safeguards Agreement (TSA) after it heard from stakeholders including the SIAA and spaceport firm ELA.
It follows Prime Minister Anthony Albanese signing off the agreement in Washington in October alongside the US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken.
Australia currently has several launch sites preparing to launch rockets, including ELA’s Arnhem Space Centre in the Northern Territory, Gilmour’s Bowen Orbital Spaceport in Queensland, and Southern Launch’s Orbital Launch Complex in SA.
However, launching US spacecraft in Australia is difficult, given concerns about protecting sensitive US technology. The TSA, though, removes many of the barriers firms face in both countries.
“This agreement aligns with Australia’s national interests and benefits the development of the Australian space industry, by growing a more skilled workforce in the space sector and providing increased opportunities for Australian companies,” said Josh Wilson MP, the committee chair.
“The increase in US investment and activity will also benefit the Australian economy. The agreement reflects Australia’s commitment to transforming and growing our space sector, as well as further developing our strong bilateral relationship with the US.”
Upon the original announcement of the TSA last year, both ELA and Southern Launch praised the deal.
“This creates a circular process that will benefit the wider local space industry and put the skills and capabilities of Australian space companies to the forefront of the global space market,” said Southern Launch chief executive officer Lloyd Damp.
“Not to mention the incredible benefits that in-space manufacturing can provide to everyone in society – the TSA paves the way for a new era of space potential.”
ELA’s CEO, Michael Jones, said his business had been negotiating with US rocket manufacturers for several years now, and his team have been awaiting the TSA’s completion.
“Today’s events are great news for us and clears the way for us to finalise our contracts with US launchers,” he said.
“The agreement with the US will be the most comprehensive and detailed TSA of its kind for any nation and there has been a lot of effort by key Australian space industry parties and government entities behind the scenes to ensure we get it right.”
However, despite its broad support from the industry, the agreement has faced criticism for its constraints, which include only allowing US staff to be allowed near their launch vehicles in specially defined “segregated areas”.
“Australia’s role would be essentially limited to renting out concrete pads and providing morning coffee to our American friends as they walk into their secured site,” Adam Gilmour told The Australian earlier this year.
“So much for supporting growth across our local supply chain and opening new doors for highly-skilled tech jobs and supply chains in Australia.”
(Source: Defence Connect)
28 Jun 24. Ariane 6 Launches LIFI: Light-speed Secure Communications.
- Europe’s newest rocket soon launches, taking with it many space missions each with a unique objective, destination and team at home, cheering them on. Whether launching new satellites to look back and study Earth, peer out to deep space or test important new technologies in orbit, Ariane 6’s first flight will showcase the versatility and flexibility of this impressive, heavy-lift launcher. Read on for all about LIFI, then see who else is flying first.
As well as CubeSats and reentry capsules, Ariane 6 will launch four onboard experiments that will carry out research during the rocket’s flight, ending their mission as the rocket does. LIFI is one of them, a new technology experiment from French company Oledcomm, a spinoff from Paris-Saclay University.
Wi-Fi (‘Wireless Fidelity’) uses radio waves to send data without wires, providing wireless internet and network connections. Li-Fi (‘Light Fidelity’) does the same using light, that for certain applications may offer greater security, higher bandwidth, lower cost and power consumption compared to using Wi-Fi.
“LEDs can switch on and off several m times a second. Using the invisible spectrum of light in the infrared, Oledcomm converts information into binary data, like optical Morse code. This modulation occurs so quickly, more than 10 m times a second, that the eye cannot perceive it. Our experiment will confirm that this technology can also be used under space conditions.”
For space missions, Li-Fi technology allows for ultra-secure and interference-free wireless connection, and significant weight savings by eliminating radiation-resistant space-grade cables. It is an important step forward too for intra-satellite communications – i.e. the exchange of information between different subsystems within a single satellite. Ariane 6, during its first launch set for early July, will be the first rocket to integrate Li-Fi technology.
The 40 x 60 x 16 mm LIFI experiment consists of two ‘SatelLiFe’ modules 80 cm apart, fitted under the rocket’s fairing, which will communicate via Li-Fi. On detection of lift-off, they will exchange data with each other, enabling the team to study the communication performance and ensure the system is robust to withstand the rigours of launch.
The LIFI experiment could simplify the process of integrating payloads onto Ariane 6 as, in the future, Li-Fi technology could be used to communicate between rocket parts instead of cables, lessening the mass onboard and therefore the amount of fuel needed, potentially having an impact on the associated carbon footprint.
“The LIFI experiment onboard Ariane 6 will be a world first as it will be the first time that Li-Fi technology has been embedded in a space launcher, enabling us to demonstrate the robustness of Li-Fi systems and plan for future integration onto other missions, rockets, satellites and spacecraft,” explains Benjamin Azoulay, CEO (Chief Executive Officer) of Oledcomm.
“This is an incredible opportunity offered to us by ArianeGroup and ESA, whom we would like to thank. Beyond the visibility of being part of Ariane 6’s first launch, which is going to be enormous, with the technical support from ArianeGroup teams we have increased our skills in various areas. We are happy to be part of the adventure and hope it will be a success.”
Europe’s new heavy-lift rocket has been designed for all futures, and at its core is maximum versatility. Ariane 6 can put any satellite or payload into any orbital path. This is made possible with the new restartable Vinci engine that will power up the Ariane 6 upper stage repeatedly, stopping and starting to insert spacecraft into any orbit they need to be.
“Over and above the excitement and pleasure I have had in carrying out this project, it is almost a childhood dream that I am realising: working for the European launcher Ariane 6! What an opportunity,” concludes Oledcomm’s Maxime L’huillier, responsible for developing the software for the LIFI demonstrator. “I now hope that this is just the beginning of Li-Fi communication within the Ariane 6 launcher, and that I’ll be lucky enough to experience many more launches into orbit.” (Source: ASD Network)
28 Jun 24. Intelsat, Starfish Space Reach Deal for Satellite Servicing Mission. Intelsat, operator of the world’s largest integrated satellite and terrestrial network, signed a contract for a Starfish Otter servicing vehicle to provide life extension services to an Intelsat geostationary satellite, beginning in 2026. This landmark agreement reinforces Intelsat’s commitment to utilizing satellite servicing technologies to maximize the value its satellites can provide to customers and will mark Starfish’s first mission to provide services to a commercial satellite operator with Otter.
“For six decades, Intelsat has shown commitment to innovation and leveraging new technologies from throughout the industry,” said Jean-Luc Froeliger, Intelsat’s Senior Vice President of Space Systems. “By engaging with emerging ventures, we create unique value for Intelsat while fostering a dynamic and competitive environment that drives advancement in space systems. Starfish is the perfect example of this kind of progress, and we look forward to utilizing the services provided by their Otter satellite to maximize the value the world’s largest geostationary satellite fleet can deliver for our customers.”
Intelsat has been a pioneer of extending satellite missions, signing its first agreement for satellite life extension in 2016, and procuring multiple additional life extension missions in recent years. The contract between Intelsat and Starfish represents a significant step for both companies, expanding the market for satellite servicing, and pushing the industry towards a new paradigm for satellite operations. With its Otter spacecraft, Starfish Space utilizes a small satellite architecture and breakthrough hardware and software technologies to provide rapid, flexible, and cost-effective on-orbit servicing missions for satellites.
Starfish will begin its first servicing mission for Intelsat in 2026. Initially, Otter will dock with and maneuver a retired Intelsat satellite in geostationary graveyard orbit. Following this initial operation, Otter will proceed to dock with and provide life extension service to an operational Intelsat satellite, using its onboard propulsion system to keep the client satellite in operational orbit for additional years of life.
“Starfish Space is delighted to be supporting Intelsat with services provided by Otter,” said Dr. Trevor Bennett, Co-Founder of Starfish Space. “They are an incredible team at the forefront of the industry and the Otter will help them deliver even more to their customers. We’re also excited that this will be the first of many Otters that will make on-orbit servicing a standard part of satellite operations.” (Source: ASD Network)
21 Jun 24. Simera Sense opening an optical payload development hub in Toulouse France.
Simera Sense is strengthening the firm’s global presence by opening an office in Toulouse, France. This move is a testament to its growth strategy, bolstered by the 13.5 euros m funding secured in an investment round earlier this year.
The company already has 19 optical payloads in space and another 43 delivered and ready for launch to customers worldwide. Many of these clients are European-based, including Loft Orbital, Prométhée Earth Intelligence, AAC Clyde Space, Open Cosmos, OHB Systems AG, and many others. This rapid growth and demand for Simera Sense’s optical payloads necessitate expanding its development and production capacity.
Toulouse, strategically selected for its position within the aerospace ecosystem, will be the home of the new facility. This facility, an R&D engineering and production hub, will service the existing client pool in France as well as the rest of Europe and will also contribute to developing High- to Very High-resolution optical payloads for Earth Observation (EO).
“Simera Sense is recruiting for several positions at its Toulouse office, including senior and junior roles. Join us to be part of a dynamic team in the NewSpace ecosystem.” said Kammy Brun, Managing Director of Simera Sense, France. “We look forward to building a solid team with expertise and experience in optics, thermal systems engineering, embedded software engineering and AIT (Assembly, Integration and Testing). Our core team will comprise 4 to 6 members by Q4 this year, and we have multiple job openings, including senior project manager, senior systems engineers, public relations& bid managers, and several PhD vacancies. The team is expected to double in size by 2025 and triple by the following year.”
Charlotte Voisin, Business Development Manager for Aeronautics & Space at Invest in Toulouse, said, “We are delighted that Simera Sense is opening a subsidiary in Toulouse, the European Capital of Space. Since 2019, I have supported the Simera team by facilitating connections with our ecosystem, potential customers, and key institutions. This nearly five-year effort has been fruitful, as Simera Sense has successfully developed commercial products and grown from a start-up to a scale-up with the opening of their French subsidiary. This new R&D and engineering centre will serve both European and global customers, thanks to the collaborative efforts of Aerospace Valley, ADOCC, Business France, and Toulouse’s economic development agency.“ (Source: Satnews)
21 Jun 24. Viasat satellite network in use by TCTEC Telecom to tackle supply chain disruption. Viasat, Inc. (NASDAQ: VSAT) is working with TCTEC Telecom to provide its satellites for the company’s Long Range (LoRa) Peer-to-Peer technology, which allows vehicle tracking, direct communication between trucks, and alert monitoring.
Headquartered in Londrina, Southern Brazil, TCTEC Telecom operates 81 offices in the country and has more than 20 years of experience delivering satellite connectivity for clients in the public and private sectors, spanning a range of industries. In transport, its end-to-end IoT solutions give fleet operators to-the-minute visibility of their supply chain, with real-time indicators, vehicle monitoring, and even fuel auditing to help companies operate more efficiently and lower emissions.
The company has now joined ELEVATE, Viasat’s growth program, ecosystem, and marketplace for ambitious IoT providers, connectivity wholesalers, and manufacturers who want to work with Viasat to use its network and footprint at scale.
As a new member, TCTEC Telecom will be able to access Viasat’s highly reliable satellite connectivity and secure, enterprise-grade network infrastructure to strengthen its capacity and work with Viasat’s ecosystem of partners.
James Grisbrook, Senior Director, Marketing and Communications, Viasat Enterprise, said, “The global supply chain market is set to experience a compound annual growth rate of more than 10% between 2020 and 2027, all while tackling significant economic and political headwinds. Access to reliable connectivity and smart technology is going to be vital to meet rising demand – particularly in countries with large rural areas like Brazil. With ELEVATE, we’re excited to work with forward-thinking companies like TCTEC to bring more groundbreaking solutions at speed.”
Augusto Machado, IT Director, TCTEC Telecom, said, “TCTEC Telecom is excited about the ELEVATE partnership with Viasat and all the new possibilities that this program can offer. For us, this collaboration means more than just a partnership; it is an opportunity to drive our technology forward and deliver innovative connectivity and communication solutions.(Source: Satnews)
26 Jun 24. WISeKey announces developments in secure IoT connectivity + upcoming smallsats launch. WISeKey International Holding Ltd. (“WISeKey”) (SIX: WIHN, NASDAQ: WKEY) has announced that its subsidiary, WISeSat.Space, is engaging in new developments that include the launch of a new generation of satellites, installation of a satellite antenna in Switzerland, development of a neutral satellite constellation from Europe, and collaboration with the Swiss Army.
In Q4 2024, WISeSat.Space is set to launch a new generation of satellites from California. This launch will mark a significant milestone in the Company’s efforts to expand its satellite constellation, further enhancing its ability to provide global IoT connectivity and environmental monitoring. The new generation of satellites are expected to offer improved performance and capabilities, supporting a wide range of applications from climate change monitoring to disaster management and smart agriculture.
In the same quarter, WISeSat.Space plans to install a satellite antenna in Switzerland. This installation will enable the monitoring and management of its satellite constellation, ensuring optimal performance and reliability of its IoT connectivity solutions. This development underscores WISeSat.Space’s commitment to maintaining robust and secure satellite operations.
The Company is also currently developing a constellation of 88 additional low-orbit satellites to optimize global coverage for IoT devices and an enhanced WISeSat satellite, planned for launch in Q3 2024. This upgraded satellite will incorporate SEALSQ Corp. (“SEALSQ”) (NASDAQ: LAES) semiconductor technology and WISeKey cryptographic keys, designed to boost performance in space and communication capabilities.
To date, the Company has successfully launched 17 low-orbit satellites in cooperation with FOSSA Systems, primarily aboard SpaceX Transporter Rideshare missions. (Source: Satnews)