07 Aug 24. Firefly Aerospace Announces 2nd Multi-Launch Agreement with L3Harris for up to 20 Alpha Launches.
- New 5-year agreement supports L3Harris’ Space Business beyond Firefly’s existing agreement for three L3Harris launches in 2026
Firefly Aerospace, Inc. , an end-to-end space transportation company, today announced it signed a multi-launch agreement with L3Harris Technologies (NYSE:LHX) for up to 20 launches on Firefly’s Alpha rocket, including two to four missions per year from 2027 to 2031 depending on customer needs. The new agreement is in addition to Firefly’s existing multi-launch agreement with L3Harris for three Alpha missions in 2026.
“The Firefly team is proud to build on our existing relationship with L3Harris and serve as a long-term launch provider for their robust satellite systems,” said Peter Schumacher, Interim CEO at Firefly Aerospace. “Firefly continues to see growing demand for Alpha’s responsive small-lift services, and we’re committed to providing a dedicated launch option that takes our customers directly to their preferred orbits.”
Under the agreement, Firefly’s Alpha rocket will launch L3Harris spacecraft into low-Earth orbit from Firefly’s SLC-2 launch site at the Vandenberg Space Force Base. Alpha supports the responsive space needs of both government and commercial customers with the ability to provide direct, on-demand deliveries for satellites up to 1,030 kg.
Following the most recent Alpha launch for NASA , Firefly continues to accelerate vehicle production. The company’s latest facility expansion in Briggs, Texas, including a new automated fiber placement machine, allows the team to rapidly build and test Alpha’s carbon composite structures in a matter of days versus weeks.
Firefly Aerospace is an end-to-end space transportation company with launch, lunar, and on-orbit services. Headquartered in central Texas, Firefly is a portfolio company of AE Industrial Partners (“AEI”) focused on delivering responsive, reliable, and affordable space access for government and commercial customers. Firefly’s small- to medium-lift launch vehicles, lunar landers, and orbital vehicles provide the space industry with a single source for missions from low Earth orbit to the surface of the Moon and beyond. For more information, visit www.fireflyspace.com. (Source: ASD Network)
08 Aug 24. Rocket Lab Schedules Next Electron Launch Just Eight Days After Previous Mission.
Rocket Lab USA, Inc. (Nasdaq: RKLB) (“Rocket Lab” or “the Company”), a global leader in launch services and space systems, today announced it has scheduled the launch for its 52nd Electron mission which will deploy a single satellite for American space tech company Capella Space (“Capella”).
The mission is scheduled to launch during a 14-day window that opens on August 11th from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1 on New Zealand’s Mahia Peninsula. The mission will deploy Capella’s Acadia-3 SAR satellite, a synthetic aperture radar satellite for Earth imagery and observation, to a mid-inclination 615km circular orbit to add to Capella’s existing SAR satellite constellation.
This 52nd Electron launch by Rocket Lab comes just eight days after the previous launch of Electron on August 3rd for another constellation customer, demonstrating Rocket Lab’s responsive launch capability for the global satellite industry. This upcoming mission for Capella will be Rocket Lab’s tenth mission for 2024, equaling the Company’s annual launch record set in 2023.
The mission will be Rocket Lab’s fifth launch for Capella to build out the company’s Earth-imaging constellation. In addition to the launch service, Rocket Lab is providing Capella Space with a custom extended fairing for the Acadia-3 satellite on Electron and a separation system produced by Rocket Lab.
‘A Sky Full Of SARs’ mission details:
- Launch window: NET Sunday August 11, NZST/UTC.
- Launch location: Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1, Mahia.
- Launch Vehicle: Electron.
- Satellite Operator: Capella Space.
- Payload: SAR Earth-imaging Acadia satellite.
- Orbital Destination: 615km circular Earth orbit.
(Source: ASD Network)
08 Aug 24. Plans announced to redevelop Cawdor Barracks for landmark radar initiative.
Plans to redevelop Cawdor Barracks in Pembrokeshire, Wales to host a landmark radar initiative have been announced by the Ministry of Defence.
DARC technical demonstrator in White Sands, New Mexico
Known as the Deep Space Advanced Radar Capability (DARC), the initiative will secure long-term jobs and help protect essential satellite communication and navigation networks.
DARC will see a network of ground-based radars in Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States provide global space monitoring, increasing AUKUS nations’ ability to detect, track and identify objects in deep space, up to around 36,000km away from earth.
This capability will benefit these nations’ land, air, and maritime forces, as well as protecting critical infrastructure and benefitting domestic construction and space industries. DARC will play a crucial role in AUKUS nations’ ability to support safety and security in the Indo-Pacific and the rest of the world.
Defence Secretary, John Healey said: “The proposed redevelopment of Cawdor Barracks secures jobs at home and defence capabilities for the future. Space plays a crucial role in our daily lives – used by everything from our mobile phones to banking services. It is also used by UK Defence to conduct vital tasks such as supporting military operations, navigating forces and gathering intelligence. This new radar programme will not only enhance our awareness of deep space, but also help protect our space assets alongside our closest partners.”
Cawdor Barracks has a long history of supporting the UK’s military. The site has been both a Royal Air Force flying station and a Royal Navy base. Currently home to 14 Signal Regiment, the Ministry of Defence announced in 2016 that the barracks would close no earlier than 2028. The redevelopment of the site for DARC would keep the site open, with a permanent presence of up to 100 personnel to operate and maintain the radar capability.
Secretary of State for Wales, Jo Stevens said: “I welcome the proposed redevelopment of Cawdor Barracks to host the UK’s Deep Space Advanced Radar Capability (DARC) site, which would secure jobs and help protect our national security. This is an important project for Wales and this government is committed to working with the local community to ensure its success. By enhancing our awareness and understanding of what is happening in space, we can continue to ensure it remains safe, sustainable and accessible to all.”
The Ministry of Defence is committed to undertaking all necessary planning and environmental processes required to gain consent for the proposed redevelopment of the site and its safe operation. A comprehensive Environmental Impact Assessment, including a Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment, is underway in support of a planning application to Pembrokeshire County Council. The Council’s granting of planning permission is conditional on DARC meeting all the required safety standards.
In particular, the safety processes will ensure that DARC meets international environmental and health standards as set by the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) and the World Health Organisation, and this is standard practice for all MOD installations.
Engagement will also take place with the local community in developing proposals for DARC and there will be two local public information events prior to the statutory consultation period that is required by Pembrokeshire County Council. Members of the MOD DARC programme team will attend these events to discuss the proposals, answer any questions and hear local community views.
(Source: https://www.gov.uk/)
07 Aug 24. Boeing’s Starliner astronauts could return on SpaceX capsule in Feb 2025, NASA says. NASA officials said on Wednesday the two astronauts delivered to the International Space Station in June by Boeing’s (BA.N) Starliner could return on SpaceX’s Crew Dragon in February 2025 if Starliner is still deemed unsafe to return to Earth.
The U.S. space agency has been discussing potential plans with SpaceX to leave two seats empty on an upcoming Crew Dragon launch for NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, who became the first crew to fly Boeing’s Starliner capsule.
The astronauts’ test mission, initially expected to last about eight days on the station, has been drawn out by issues on Starliner’s propulsion system that have increasingly called into question the spacecraft’s ability to safely return them to Earth as planned.
A Boeing spokesperson said if NASA decides to change Starliner’s mission, the company “will take the actions necessary to configure Starliner for an uncrewed return.”
Thruster failures during Starliner’s initial approach to the ISS in June and several leaks of helium – used to pressurize those thrusters – have set Boeing off on a testing campaign to understand the cause and propose fixes to NASA, which has the final say. Recent results have unearthed new information, causing greater alarm about a safe return.
The latest test data have stirred disagreements and debate within NASA about whether to accept the risk of a Starliner return to Earth, or make the call to use Crew Dragon instead.
Fossil bones found in Argentina with cut marks suggestive of butchering indicate humans were present in southern South America some 21,000 years ago, according to researchers.
Using a SpaceX craft to return astronauts that Boeing had planned to bring back on Starliner would be a major blow to an aerospace giant that has struggled for years to compete with SpaceX and its more experienced Crew Dragon.
Starliner has been docked to the ISS for 63 of the maximum 90 days it can stay, and it is parked at the same port that Crew Dragon will have to use to deliver the upcoming astronaut crew.
Early Tuesday morning, NASA, using a SpaceX rocket and a Northrop Grumman (NOC.N) capsule, delivered a routine shipment of food and supplies to the station, including extra clothes for Wilmore and Williams.
Starliner’s high-stakes mission is a final test required before NASA can certify the spacecraft for routine astronaut flights to and from the ISS. Crew Dragon received NASA approval for astronaut flights in 2020.
Starliner development has been set back by management issues and numerous engineering problems. It has cost Boeing $1.6bn since 2016, including $125m from Starliner’s current test mission, securities filings show.
CONCERNS AT NASA
A meeting this week of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program, which oversees Starliner, ended with some officials disagreeing with a plan to accept Boeing’s testing data and use Starliner to bring the astronauts home, officials said during a news conference.
“We didn’t poll in a way that led to a conclusion,” Commercial Crew Program chief Steve Stich said.
“We heard from a lot of folks that had concerns, and the decision was not clear,” Ken Bowersox, NASA’s space operations chief, added.
A Boeing executive was not at the Wednesday press conference.
While no decision has been made on using Starliner or Crew Dragon, NASA has been buying Boeing more time to do more testing and gather more data to build a better case to trust Starliner. Sometime next week is when NASA expects to decide, officials said.
The agency on Tuesday delayed by more than a month SpaceX’s upcoming Crew Dragon mission, a routine flight called Crew-9, that is expected to send three NASA astronauts and a Russian cosmonaut to the ISS.
NASA’s ISS program chief said the agency has not yet decided which astronauts they would pull off the mission for Wilmore and Williams if needed.
Boeing’s testing so far has shown that four of Starliner’s jets had failed in June because they overheated and automatically turned off, while other thrusters re-fired during tests appeared weaker than normal because of some restriction to their propellant.
Ground tests in late July at the White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico have helped reveal that the thrusters’ overheating causes a teflon seal to warp, choking propellant tubes for the thrusters and thereby weakening their thrust.
“That, I would say, upped the level of discomfort, and not having a total understanding of the physics of what’s happening,” Stich said, describing why NASA now appears more willing to discuss a Crew Dragon contingency after previously downplaying such a prospect to reporters. (Source: Reuters)
06 Aug 24. Rocket Lab Partners With KSAT To Streamline Satellite Communications for Customers with Upgraded Ground Station Service. Small Sat Conference. Rocket Lab USA, Inc. (Nasdaq: RKLB) (“Rocket Lab” or “the Company”), a global leader in launch services and space systems, has partnered with Kongsberg Satellite Services (KSAT), a world leading provider of communication services for spacecraft and launch vehicles, to develop a new global ground station service for its operations and customers that enables efficient and reliable communications for future Neutron launches, increasingly ambitious Electron launches, and on-orbit operations, spacecraft deorbit, and return-to-Earth missions with Rocket Lab spacecraft.
Rocket Lab’s Electron launch vehicle is one of the world’s most frequently launched rockets, having successfully delivered 191 satellites to space for government and commercial customers across science and exploration missions, Earth observation, weather monitoring, and national security. Further expanding its launch capabilities, Rocket Lab is developing its new medium-lift reusable rocket Neutron to launch constellations of satellites, national security and defense missions, and interplanetary missions from mid-2025. Rocket Lab also designs, builds, launches, and operates spacecraft for a variety of government and commercial satellite operators, enabling missions to the Moon for NASA, and providing in-space operations, deorbit, and return-to-Earth spacecraft re-entry operations for commercial customers like Varda Space Industries.
With preparations for Neutron’s first launch, additional return-to-Earth spacecraft missions scheduled for Varda, and more than 40 satellites in the Company’s backlog, Rocket Lab has worked closely with KSAT to co-engineer a new satellite communications service that meets the critical requirements of these future missions. As the sole provider of ground station services to Rocket Lab, KSAT’s network has been scaled to meet both Rocket Lab’s launch and spacecraft operations and the demands of the space industry to ensure optimal performance, minimal latency, and robust support throughout the mission lifecycle.
The expanded satellite communications service now available to KSAT’s and Rocket Lab’s customers includes unique antenna tracking features for complex mission designs across a global ground station network of more than 200 antennas; real-time telemetry, tracking, and control (TT&C); extended monitoring, control, and data acquisition capabilities in S-band, X-band, and Ka-band supporting key IRIG-106 modulation codes; automated ground station scheduling for satellite passes; and other upgraded features and benefits.
Rocket Lab’s Vice President, Business Development & Strategy, Space Systems, Richard French, says: “This upgraded satellite communications service for Electron and Neutron launches and across our various spacecraft streamlines our customers’ missions and simplifies their access to space/ Satellite operators can outsource their satellite operations and communications to us, allowing them to focus on their mission at hand rather than having to build and operate their own ground station infrastructure. We’re delighted to be able to ensure our customers benefit from a reliable, scalable service through our ongoing partnership with KSAT.”
KSAT’s Director of Ground Network Products, Arthur Merlin, says: “Partnering with Rocket Lab exemplifies our commitment to advancing ground network technology through strategic collaborations. This partnership leverages the strengths of both organizations, ensuring seamless and reliable communications for our customers worldwide. We are excited to work closely with Rocket Lab, a leader in innovative launch solutions, to enhance our service offerings and drive forward the development of space communication.”
Additionally, Rocket Lab offers technical and regulatory services as part of its streamlined end-to-end mission solution for customers, including support with radio licensing, frequency coordination to manage unwanted interference, and process navigation through the most complex regulatory environments, as well as a range of technical support services. (Source: BUSINESS WIRE)
06 Aug 24. Impulse Space Announces Availability of New GEO Rideshare Program and Design Upgrade for Mira Vehicle. Impulse Space, a leader in in-space transportation services, announced two new offerings today to provide additional access to and maneuverability within Geostationary Earth Orbit and other high-energy orbits. The first offering is a new GEO Rideshare Program for small satellites, featuring Impulse’s high-performance kick stage, Helios. The second is an updated design for the Mira spacecraft, Impulse’s original orbital transfer vehicle (OTV). This upgrade will enable operations in GEO and other high-energy orbits, providing a reliable, high delta-v vehicle for missions requiring enhanced maneuverability and rapid repositioning.
Impulse’s GEO Rideshare Program plans to provide reliable and rapid deployment of small satellites in GEO for a fraction of today’s cost. Operators will no longer have to spend many months orbit-raising to GEO after a GTO drop off, or else purchase a dedicated launch on an expensive, low-supply heavy launcher. The first GEO Rideshare mission is targeted for 2027 on a dedicated launch vehicle. Payload ports start at 300 kg and accommodate both 24-inch rings and 40-by-40-inch four-point separation systems.
Exolaunch, a global leader in launch mission management, integration, and satellite deployment services, will support this program through providing rideshare availability and satellite deployment solutions. “Impulse’s introduction of the GEO Rideshare Program marks a transformative milestone for the satellite industry, making cost-effective and timely access to GEO a reality,” said Kier Fortier, vice president of global business development at Exolaunch. “Our collaboration with Impulse is a testament to the strong synergies between our teams and exemplifies our commitment to providing cutting-edge launch and deployment solutions. Having successfully launched nearly 400 satellites across 29 rideshare missions, including a 16U to GEO in 2023, we’re excited to see this innovative solution brought to GEO. This program will revolutionize market dynamics and expand access to high-energy orbits, and we’re proud to support this forward-looking initiative.”
The upgraded Mira vehicle is designed to maximize performance from the Impulse GEO Rideshare Program and other launch vehicle offerings. For operators looking to focus solely on their payloads, the upgraded Mira vehicle will provide an ideal option for hosting, capable of integrating as a GEO Rideshare passenger on Helios and then enabling precise deployment or hosting on arrival on orbit.
Mira has already proven its reliability and performance following a successful LEO Express-1 mission, which included the deployment of a customer payload in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) and a 150 km apogee raise completed in only 75 seconds—an achievement believed to be the largest single maneuver at the time by a nitrous-based propulsion system. The upgraded Mira retains its core capabilities, such as the powerful Saiph thrusters (6 lbf each), the use of storable and nontoxic propellants, a 300 kg payload capacity, six-degree-of-freedom (6DOF) and fine pointing capabilities for unparalleled spacecraft attitude control, and compatibility with a variety of launch providers and payload integrations. The refreshed design also introduces significant enhancements, including radiation hardening, improved avionics, and a more robust power supply. The payload interface supports a variety of integration options, such as multiple small satellite clusters, up to nine 16U CubeSat dispensers, and many custom configurations. The updated Mira vehicle will become the new base model, with customizations available on a case-by-case basis for specific mission needs.
These upgrades unlock new applications in GEO, such as payload hosting and constellation deployment. Mira’s high delta-v capability (500 m/s for a 300 kg payload or 1,200 m/s for a 10 kg payload) and 6DOF control provide exceptional versatility for rendezvous and proximity operations (RPO) and space situational awareness (SSA). With these advancements, Mira continues to set the standard for OTV performance, offering unparalleled dexterity and a broad range of mission capabilities.
“As access to GEO continues opening up, we’re seeing demand shift from static to dynamic operations for assets in these high-energy orbits,” said Impulse Space CEO and founder Tom Mueller. “Mira has demonstrated success with rapid, responsive repositioning thanks to its powerful engines, and we’re confident our updated design will meet the evolving GEO needs of our customers in commercial, scientific, and defense sectors.”
Production will leverage the same vertical integration approach that enabled the original Mira to move from a clean-sheet design to successful in-space operations in just 15 months. By maintaining in-house control over vehicle design, manufacturing, and assembly, Impulse can deliver improvements in cost, efficiency, innovation, and reliability for customers.
The updated Mira design is set for its first launch in late 2025. Impulse has already attracted interest from several potential customers and partners, including a planned Orbit Fab GEO refueling mission.
About Impulse Space
Impulse Space, the in-space transportation company founded by Tom Mueller, is opening access beyond Low Earth Orbit (LEO) with its fleet of in-space transportation vehicles. The flight-proven Mira vehicle uses a nontoxic, high-impulse chemical propulsion system to offer orbital transport, constellation deployment, and precision reentry services to customers from LEO to GEO. The high-energy Helios vehicle unlocks orbits beyond LEO with its powerful Deneb engine, dropping off payloads in MEO, GEO, heliocentric, lunar, and other planetary orbits. Led by a team that delivered the most reliable rockets in history, Impulse provides economical and efficient in-space transportation by reliably and rapidly getting customers where they want to go. For more information, visit www.impulsespace.com.
(Source: BUSINESS WIRE)
06 Aug 24. Australia formally joins US-led Landsat EO program. Australia has formally joined the Landsat Next Earth observation program led by NASA and the US Geological Survey. The satellites, which are set to launch in 2031, aim to capture images at a super-high resolution that will enable governments and organisations to better manage crops, enhance urban environments and improve responses to natural disasters.
The deal was signed by Minister for Foreign Affairs Penny Wong and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken at a ministerial communique in Washington.
It comes after the federal government quietly announced in March that it would join the initiative, which it said would give Australia access to “next-generation” data. Australia is currently reliant on international Earth observation satellites after it controversially shelved plans to create its own last year.
Already, the federal government’s 2024-25 Budget has committed $207.4m over the next four years to Landsat, with a further $38.2m earmarked each year thereafter.
As part of the deal, Geoscience Australia will deliver an upgraded ground station in Alice Springs along with advanced spatial data processing and analytics capabilities.
“The partnership will extend free and open access to Landsat Next data to users in Australia and throughout the Indo-Pacific region,” said the Department of Industry, Science and Resources in a statement.
“This will support evidence-based decision-making across the region, particularly in relation to climate change adaptation planning and disaster management activities.”
The Landsat news significantly follows the Labor government’s decision to scrap the $1.2 bn National Space Mission for Earth Observation (NSMEO) that was announced by the previous administration.
The NSMEO announcement led to huge criticism from the sector, with many industry figures accusing Labor of giving up on space.
Swinburne University professor Alan Duffy, for example, argued government cuts were having a “chilling factor”, while Equatorial Launch Australia chief executive officer Michael Jones went further, accusing space of now being a low priority for the new government.
“Call it what it is: the lack of federal government support with the change in government makes me nervous, and it makes the job really hard,” he said at last year’s Australian Space Summit.
06 Aug 24. UK Space Command holds debut space wargaming exercise. UK Space Command held its debut space wargaming exercise – ‘Space Warrior’ – in July at Southwick Park, Hampshire.
Held between 24 and 26 July the exercise focused on identifying future space-based intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) capability requirements for the command, a UK Space Command spokesperson informed Janes on 2 August.
This involved exploring what “space-based ISR capabilities need to be developed and retained as a sovereign, defence-owned capability, [as well as] where UK Space Command can collaborate with allies and partners, and what services can be accessed through UK and international commercial providers”.
When asked what technologies were employed, the spokesperson said that it involved a tabletop exercise aimed at drawing out knowledge and expertise. UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) staff and personnel, international partners, and industry suppliers were involved, they added.
A separate Royal Air Force (RAF) announcement noted that ‘Space Warrior’ explored how commercial space-based ISR and defence’s own ISR capabilities such as the ISTARI multisatellite system can co-operate.
Tyche, a 150 kg electro-optical concept demonstrator satellite being built by Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd (SSTL), is also on track to launch this summer, the announcement added.
For more information on UK Space Command and its activities, please seeUK Space Command’s first satellite set to launch by JulyandDefence Space 2022: UK Space Command details future plans.
(Source: Janes)
05 Aug 24. Viasat Introduces Multi-Mission Orchestrator Solution for LEO Constellations.
- New orchestration solution addresses satellite system complexity with automation to optimize network planning, operations and mission performance
Viasat Inc. (NASDAQ: VSAT), a global leader in satellite communications, today announced the introduction of Viasat’s newly developed Multi-Mission Orchestrator (MMO) solution, an automated constellation management and planning capability designed to optimize and coordinate space vehicle scheduling and secure data transport across constellation networks. This new mission planning solution is designed to support increasingly complex, proliferated low Earth orbit (LEO) constellations, which require advanced operational capabilities to effectively support vehicle orchestration, planning, and mission execution.
By generating an operational schedule for every satellite within a constellation, Viasat’s MMO software service evaluates mission performance from a global perspective, while adhering to the specific constraints and capabilities of each satellite within the constellation. This advanced system enables a simultaneous search for each satellite’s schedule through the fulfillment of operational tasks, ensuring coordination between cooperative systems and setting an operationally feasible and secure constellation schedule. This approach is designed to enable autonomous, responsive, and cooperative operations, significantly reducing the demand on ground operators and facilitating direct command specifications to every vehicle involved.
MMO will support fully autonomous mission planning and execution, significantly reducing the need for ground-based control and enabling satellites to operate independently in complex environments. This capability is supported by Viasat’s robust communication infrastructure, ensuring effective data routing and operational coordination. MMO’s advanced planning algorithms and infrastructure integration position it as a leading solution for agencies and companies targeting resilient satellite operations. MMO algorithms can be ground-based or hosted onboard the space vehicles, allowing them to cooperate and coordinate operations across the fleet and domain space.
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“With the creation and availability of new communication routes and services, there is a growing need for more efficient decision making to optimize these resources in a sustainable and effective manner. Viasat’s MMO solution provides a new, flexible framework to address growing complexity introduced by disparate systems,” Michael Maughan, Vice President of Space and Mission Systems, Viasat Government. “Automated orchestration helps removes much of the manual planning process for operations teams and provides greater autonomy while improving mission operations performance.”
Whether it’s data collection planning or coordinating satellite maneuvers, the Viasat MMO solution is designed to support a wide range of space mission needs. A future on-orbit demonstration of the MMO solution is planned in 2026. (Source: ASD Network)
05 Aug 24. Binar CubeSats blast off to ISS. Curtin University’s second batch of Binar CubeSats are on their way to the ISS after blasting off from Cape Canaveral on Sunday.
Binar 2, 3, and 4 are travelling with Northrop Grumman’s Cygnus cargo freighter to the space laboratory before being released into low-Earth orbit a few weeks later.
The satellites are carrying instrumentation from CSIRO to test how new materials can protect electronics against harmful radiation in space, alongside transmitters from Perth-based communications systems company AVI.
Once successfully deployed, the CubeSats will orbit the Earth approximately every 90 minutes for 6–12 months at 400 kilometres above the planet’s surface.
The Cygnus spacecraft, meanwhile, was successfully launched by SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.
The NG-21 mission is carrying over 8,200 pounds of equipment, science experiments, and supplies to the crew aboard the ISS.
The blast-off did suffer initial problems, though, with the spacecraft not perming some burns needed to raise its orbit.
However, Northrop Grumman insisted Cygnus is now at a safe altitude and engineers are “working a new burn and trajectory plan”.
It follows the original Binar-1 satellite’s launch in August 2021. It similarly headed to the ISS before being deployed from the Station’s Kibō module.
A team of engineers and PhD students from the Space Science and Technology Centre at Curtin were responsible for the construction of the small CubeSat. Its primary mission goal was a technology demonstration: the satellite used a novel and innovative design that meant all its satellite systems were integrated into a single circuit board. Binar-1 eventually crashed back towards Earth in October 2022. (Source: Space Connect)
31 Jul 24. Orbit Communication Systems Ltd., a leading provider of airborne communication solutions, announced today a milestone collaboration with Viasat Inc., a global leader in satellite communications, for the engineering and supply of advanced satellite communication (SATCOM) Multi-Purpose Terminals (MPT) for airborne platforms. This work is expected to significantly enhance performance and access for Viasat customers across diverse satellite networks, simplifying connectivity management.
When available, Orbit will introduce next-generation airborne SATCOM systems that will seamlessly integrate across Viasat’s global Ka-band networks, which include the next-generation high-capacity ViaSat-3 network and the advanced Global Xpress (GX) network. These systems are designed to work with military Ka-band HCX steerable beams and are defined as WGS ready terminals. The innovative MPT systems consolidate network capabilities, allowing seamless switching for users.
The agreement includes delivery of 12″ / 30cm and 18″ / 45cm airborne terminals for military and government use, utilising dual polarisation and supporting the entire 3.5 GHz of Ka-band frequencies for high-speed data transmission and robust connectivity in dynamic environments. These systems are designed to support multiple networks, including various types of Viasat satellites. This flexibility will help increase resilient connectivity for customers with a simple, multi-network terminal capability that supports military operational needs.
Daniel Eschar, CEO of Orbit Communication Systems, stated, “We are immensely proud to be working with Viasat to supply the next generation of satellite communication systems, which will pave the way for connectivity with cutting-edge satellites boasting exceptional performance. This marks a significant achievement for our collaboration with Viasat, a major leader in the satellite services sector, serving military, government, and commercial clients. These systems will redefine airborne communication, ensuring seamless integration with advanced satellites.”
Steve Gizinski, Chief Technology Officer of Viasat Government, added, “We’re excited by Orbit’s technological capabilities and their continued collaboration in developing flexible terminals to support government needs. The terminals delivered through this effort will allow customers to access Viasat’s expanded services and support demands for reliable and resilient connectivity worldwide.”
About MPT – Multi Purpose Terminal: The Multi-Purpose Terminals (MPT) terminals support the ‘everywhere, all-the-time’ coverage requirements of military airborne users. They also allow government users to roam between commercial Ka-band and Mil-Ka services.
The terminals can be installed on a range of mission aircraft, rotary wing and uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAVs). They comply with industry standards, including MIL-STD-188-164C, RTCA DO-160G, Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI). They are compatible with military satellite systems, making them an ideal choice for government airborne Intelligence, Reconnaissance, and Surveillance (ISR) applications. (Source: joint-forces.com)
01 Aug 24. Space Propulsion-as-a-Service Gets a Boost!
- On 19 July, ESA kicked off the development of a new subscription-based space mobility service called Omega. As part of ESA’s Boost! Programme, the work now begins after the initial contract signature in early June with a consortium consisting of the companies Dawn Aerospace, UARX Space and Spherical Systems.
The Omega service would allow customers to buy and integrate ready-to-use smart propulsion systems that can be added to their satellite, backed by a full ‘turnkey’, or ready-to-use, service. Customers would be able to call on the Omega service throughout a satellite’s lifetime, from launch, deployment, and collision avoidance to end-of-life deorbiting.
“We are very impressed with what is being developed by the three partners that make up Omega, with their fresh take on the space propulsion business,” says ESA’s Jorgen Bru. “The service-based model that Omega is advancing foresees a future where satellite integrators can focus on their core business and Omega takes care of everything related to propulsion and transportation.”
The scope of the Boost! contract work programme is to further develop the propulsion-as-a-service concept and develop it up to a full hardware system and prototype test.
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The contract includes co-funding from ESA of €390 000 and includes Dawn Aerospace from the Netherlands and New Zealand, UARX Space from Spain and Spherical Systems from the Netherlands.
- Dawn Aerospace is a space transportation company that develops and provides green propulsion systems, with more than 16 satellites and 76 thrusters already launched into orbit.
- UARX Space is a company providing space transportation services for small satellites, from in-space logistics to rideshare and dedicated launch services.
- Spherical Systems is a company that designs electronic satellite systems, powered by semiconductors.
Omega would leverage the partners’ existing areas of specialisation. Dawn Aerospace’s SatDrive forms the base of the propulsion system, UARX will contribute their space service experience and develop the guidance, navigation and control, and computer for Omega and Spherical Systems will supply the power and interface system for the service and miniaturisation of critical components. The service would be suitable for satellites weighing 30 to 500 kg and uses standard interfaces for a complete ready-to-fly system.
Complete space transportation
A subscription service would encompass everything a customer needs to fly in space, from arranging a launch opportunity to documentation support, the initial deployment of the satellite in space to planning and executing manoeuvres throughout its lifetime.
“Our propulsion systems have been designed to lighten the load for satellite operators by being plug-and-play, with standardised interfaces for easy integration. This service would take that one step further by providing additional support for mission planning, manoeuvring and deorbiting,” says Jeroen Wink, Chief Revenue Officer and Co-Founder of Dawn.
“We are excited to contribute to the Omega project with in-orbit collision avoidance algorithms, to be supported by ESA, and to continue working with our long-term partners, Dawn and Spherical. Omega has a multidisciplinary focus that will serve both transfer and deployment vehicles and small satellites. It offers a unique value proposition with an unbeatable time to market,” said Andrés Villa, UARX’s Chief Technology Officer.
“To have been chosen as a subcontractor within the ESA Boost! Programme not only highlights the trust and confidence in SPHERICAL’s innovative technology but also sets a precedent for the future of flexible and reliable power systems in space,” says Thomas Parry, CEO of SPHERICAL. “Our best-in-class PCDU is perfect for the demanding requirements of the Omega service, offering unprecedented adaptability and resilience.”
With its Boost! programme, ESA is boosting commercial initiatives that offer transportation services to space, in space, and returning from space. The programme also supports Member States implementing national objectives for spaceports, testing facilities and more. Through Boost!, ESA is also implementing the European Flight Ticket Initiative together with the European Commission. (Source: ASD Network)
03 Aug 24. Rocket Lab sends off “Owl For One, One For Owl” smallsat mission for Synspective. Rocket Lab USA, Inc. (Nasdaq: RKLB) provider in launch services and space systems, today successfully launched its 51st Electron rocket and deployed a single satellite to low Earth orbit for Synspective, a Japanese Earth-imaging company.
The mission, named “Owl For One, One For Owl” in a nod to Synspective’s StriX satellites named after the genus for owls, lifted off at 04:39 a.m., August 3rd NZT (16:39 UTC, August 2nd) from Launch Complex 1, Rocket Lab’s private orbital launch site on New Zealand’s Mahia Peninsula. The mission deployed the fifth of Synspective’s StriX SAR-imaging satellites to low Earth orbit. In addition to the launch service, Rocket Lab provided a custom Electron fairing to encapsulate the StriX satellite and also performed an advanced mid-mission maneuver with Electron’s Kick Stage to shield the satellite from the sun and reduce radiation exposure on its way to orbit.
Rocket Lab has been the sole launch provider for Synspective’s constellation to date. This mission was the fifth launch of a total of 16 launches booked on Electron for Synspective and the second launch for the Japanese company this year, after the “Owl Night Long” mission launched in March 2024. Most recently, Synspective booked ten dedicated Electron launches as part of a new multi-launch agreement announced in June 2024, with the launches in that new deal set to take place across 2025-2027.
Rocket Lab founder and CEO Sir Peter Beck says, “It’s wonderful to have launched our second mission for Synspective in five months as we continue our longstanding launch partnership. Electron is the ideal rocket for providing flexible, tailored, and direct access to orbit for constellation builders like Synspective, and I’m proud of the team for delivering this latest mission success.”
The launch window for Rocket Lab’s next Electron mission will be announced in the coming days.
Rocket Lab stands down from Synspective’s SAR July 30 launch due to weather
At first Rocket Lab’s hopeful launch date looked questionable as shown here in the X statement, then due to heavy rain at the New Zealand site the stand down was called.
Launch preparations are progressing well for our mission, but Mission Control is keeping a close eye on a band of heavy rain and thick cloud heading its way to the launch site. Weather POV currently = 60%.
Then later the mission is in stand down.
With an increased POV of ~80%, we’re standing down from today’s launch attempt due to weather. Details to come on our new target launch date.
Rocket Lab ready to launch Synspective’s SAR satellite on Wednesday for “Owl for One, One for Owl” mission to build a constellation
(Source: Satnews)
30 Jul 24. By the dawn’s early light ULA launches USSF-51 secret mission and grand finale for Atlas rocket. United Launch Alliance (ULA) successfully launched the company’s 100th national security mission to orbit with the launch of an Atlas V rocket on July 30 at 6:45 a.m. EDT from Space Launch Complex-41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. The rocket, carrying the USSF-51 mission for the United States Space Force’s Space Systems Command (SSC), marks a key milestone in a longstanding legacy of dedication to national security. ULA has launched 100 of the 118 critical U.S. Space Force and National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) missions flown since ULA was formed in December 2006.
“It’s incredibly gratifying to reflect on the steadfast partnership we’ve been honored to share with the U.S. Space Force since the founding of ULA,” said Gary Wentz, ULA vice president of Government and Commercial Programs. “We’re grateful for the opportunity to continue building on this trusted partnership and take very seriously the responsibility of promptly launching essential National Security Space satellite assets to orbit amidst the heightened threat environment our nation is facing in space.”
USSF-51 marks the final national security mission launched aboard the Atlas V rocket as ULA prepares to launch future National Security Space (NSS) missions on the next generation Vulcan rocket. Vulcan’s inaugural launch this past January marked the beginning of a new era of space capabilities by providing higher performance and greater affordability through the world’s only high energy architecture rocket designed to deliver any payload, at any time, to any orbit.
“The Atlas family of rockets has played a pivotal role in the advancement of national security and space superiority since the 1950s,” said Tory Bruno, ULA’s president and CEO. “Although today marks the final liftoff of a National Security Space mission aboard an Atlas rocket, we look forward to extending a legacy of outstanding teamwork and collaboration with the U.S. Space Force as we launch future missions for our national security partners aboard the Vulcan rocket.”
ULA’s next launch is the second certification flight (Cert-2) of the Vulcan rocket from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida. Vulcan will also launch USSF-106 and USSF-87, two critical NSS missions, to orbit later this year. (Source: Satnews)
31 Jul 24. Comtech AI-enabled public safety solution launched.
Comtech (NASDAQ: CMTL) late last month launched SmartAssist™, an AI-backed solution that was developed to answer low-priority, non-emergency calls without engaging a telecommunicator.
SmartAssist is designed to help Emergency Communications Centers (ECCs) and Public Safety Answering Points (PSAPs) manage call and IoT device volumes by using AI chatbots to answer and triage non-emergency calls. The first of many applications in SmartAssist relies on AI bots programmed using conversational design to understand the natural language of the caller and resolve the caller’s request without the need for human intervention for non-emergency calls.
The SmartAssist solution provides robust AI-backed voice and chatbot capabilities that enable public safety customers to leverage customized response solutions for a broad spectrum of low-priority non-emergency caller inquiries, ranging from text messages and form creation to foreign language capacities and performance metrics.
Comtech is partnering with multiple agencies and its Next Generation 911 customers across the United States in pre-market trials to integrate and deploy SmartAssist in PSAPs connected to the Company’s NG911 networks to enhance non-emergency 9-1-1 response rates, effectively prioritize mission-critical calls, improve situational awareness, and reduce staffing shortages.
SmartAssist is the first solution within Comtech’s SmartNG portfolio of services. The Company’s SmartNG portfolio of services will enable the convergence of Next Generation 911 and AI solutions to enhance and optimize ECC/PSAP workflows. As the first SmartNG service offered, SmartAssist will significantly enhance public safety call processing, reduce emergency response times, and alleviate the impacts of staffing shortages.
SmartAssist integrates with existing administrative phone lines without requiring changes to the Call Handling Equipment, allowing Comtech customers to immediately begin benefiting from this staff augmentation tool.
Comtech is continuing to build out its SmartNG portfolio, which will include other interoperable AI-backed capabilities that incorporate language identification, transcription, translation, and advanced analytics, among other services. Comtech’s SmartNG portfolio creates new comprehensive public safety solutions designed with the future in mind-enhancing emergency response and assisting with staffing challenges.
“One of the most critical challenges ECCs face today is staffing shortages, which can cause delays in 9-1-1 call answering times,” said Jeff Robertson, President of Comtech’s Terrestrial & Wireless Networks Segment. “Our SmartAssist solution solves call volume challenges and staffing shortages by streamlining 9-1-1 workflows with new AI-backed capabilities that can effectively handle most non-emergency administrative calls without telecommunicator assistance. Built on Comtech’s industry-leading public safety solutions, SmartAssist further demonstrates our ability to deliver innovative first-to-market solutions that solve today’s most pressing public safety challenges.” (Source: Satnews)
31 Jul 24. ATLAS Space Operations completes rapid onboarding of TROPICS Spacecraft In May of 2024, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) predicted an 85% likelihood of above-normal activity for the upcoming Atlantic hurricane season. This marked the fifth consecutive year with an above-normal prediction and, if proven accurate, would make 2024 the eighth year in the last decade to record above-normal activity. With the apparent increase in the destructive power of these storms, timely and detailed tropical cyclone data may be more important than ever.
This mission will provide NASA, NOAA, and other government agencies and commercial partners with rapid refresh microwave sounding observations, delivering improved resolution, configurable coverage, flexibility, reliability, and extremely low-cost launch access compared to other space-based storm-sensing technology.
Photo of the TROPICS smallsat, courtesy of Blue Canyon Technologies.
The data TROPICS provides is vital to weather forecasters, so when Lincoln Laboratory contacted ATLAS Space Operations in June to establish support at its Dubai ground station, the ATLAS team responded with urgency.
Within four weeks of receiving MIT LL’s purchase order, ATLAS had completed spacecraft integration and TROPICS was declared operational on ATLAS’ Global Federated Network—a process that typically takes ground segment providers several months or more to perform.
A streamlined, best-in-class customer onboarding experience is among the stated benefits of ATLAS Ground Software as a Service™ model. Even so, the ATLAS team was quick to credit the TROPICS spacecraft operations team for their collaboration in making the expedited integration possible.
“There are few missions in space with such immediate and concrete benefits as severe weather monitoring,” said ATLAS CEO John Williams. “Simply put, data from Lincoln Laboratory’s TROPICS mission saves lives. ATLAS is honored to quickly, securely, and reliably deliver that data to their team.”
ATLAS Space Operations is a leading provider of Ground Software as a Service™ in the space communications industry. ATLAS’ revolutionary Freedom® software has been recognized by industry-leading publications and organizations such as Via Satellite and the World Teleport Association. Additionally, ATLAS was highlighted in the CIO Review: Telecom Edition as Company of the Year (2023) as well as one of the 10 Most Promising Technologies. Lastly, Aerospace & Defense Review acknowledged ATLAS as one of the Top Satellite Solutions Providers. ATLAS combines the Freedom™ Software Platform and its global antenna network to achieve its mission of securing space access anytime, anywhere. To learn more, visit atlasspace.com. (Source: Satnews)