16 Aug 24. The Waratah Seed Space Qualification Mission, a NSW Government co-funded space-flight qualification initiative delivered by the University of Sydney, is set to launch from Vandenberg Space Force Base, California, USA, early tomorrow morning.
This milestone marks the culmination of years of hard work and collaboration between many government agencies, universities, and Australian space businesses.
Joining the Waratah Seed satellite on this mission are the University of Sydney’s other 6U CubeSat, “CUAVA-2”, and the South Australian research satellite, “Kanyini”.
The Waratah Seed satellite will carry cutting-edge technologies from five competition winning NSW space start-ups: Euroka Power, Spiral Blue, Extraterrestrial Power, Contactile, and Dandelions as well as technology from commercial clients Mawson Rovers, Deneb Space, The University of Technology Sydney, The University of Sydney, The University of NSW, SmartSat CRC and The ARC Training Centre for Cubesats, UAVs and their Applications (CUAVA).
This mission, and the payloads developed by these businesses, are testament to the innovative spirit and technical expertise that defines the Australian space industry.
Achieving this milestone is a cause for great celebration. The tireless efforts, the challenges overcome, and the breakthroughs achieved have all contributed to the remarkable progress of our industry.
Congratulations to all the dedicated teams and individuals whose continued hard work has made these missions possible. Your achievements underscore the exceptional prowess of the Australian space sector and highlight its potential for future growth. The trials and triumphs experienced along the way are achievements in themselves, demonstrating the strength and resilience of our industry.
Regardless of the outcome, the journey itself has been a resounding success and has helped set the stage for future successes in the Australian space industry.
Go Waratah Seed! Go CUAVA-2! Go Kanyini!
The NSW Government would also like to wholeheartedly thank the mission partners who made the Waratah Seed Space Qualification launch possible: SmartSat CRC, The Australian Centre for Space Engineering Research (ACSER), CUAVA, Delta-V, Saber Astronautics, Macquarie University, UTS, and, of course, the University of Sydney.
15 Aug 24. USPACE Technology Group Limited (“USPACE ” or “the Group”; Stock Code: 1725.HK) is pleased to announce that the Group has signed the strategic partnership agreement with the Egyptian Space Agency (“EgSA”), in relation to satellite manufacturing and testing, satellite launch, education and training, greatly expanding its business presence in the fast-growing African space market.
USPACE and EgSA also intend to set up a joint venture in Cairo, Egypt, which will be one of the first commercialised aerospace companies in Egypt, marking a significant milestone in the Group’s aerospace business development in the Africa region. USPACE and EgSA’s collaboration encompasses a wide range of initiatives, including the establishment of centers for satellite manufacturing, payload design and manufacturing, and component and precision manufacturing at the Egyptian Space City in Cairo Egypt. They will also establish an integrated satellite constellation for remote sensing and communication across the African continent, based at the Egyptian Space City, and a globally oriented space laboratory in Cairo. Furthermore, the partnership will establish comprehensive cooperation in space technology, encompassing design, programming, component and subsystem manufacturing, space payload development (electro-optical, radar, and communication), and satellite assembly, integration, and testing.
Established in January 2018, EgSA is headquartered in the Egyptian Space City, which is also the headquarters of the African Space Agency. EgSA is an Egyptian government organization that aims to acquire space technology and satellite launch capabilities to achieve the goals of the national sustainable development strategy “Egypt-SDS2030”.
In particular, the cooperation under the Strategic Partnership Agreement will allow USPACE to utilise EgSA’s existing aerospace technologies, facilities and infrastructures, including satellite manufacturing plants and facilities at the Egyptian Space City, and to gain access to EgSA’s established network with governmental space agencies in the region as the host of the African Space Agency, creating new collaboration opportunities with other market players and governmental agencies and further consolidating its position in the Africa continent.
USPACE’s globalization strategy continues to make substantial progress. The Company is gradually building a complete aerospace ecosystem, while innovating and creating core satellite products.
On 25 July 2024, marking the first anniversary of the establishment of the Group’s ASPACE Hong Kong Satellite Manufacturing Center, the Group unveiled its disruptively low-priced commercial optical satellites on its official website. These satellites offer resolutions ranging from 5 meters to 0.5 meters and are priced between USD35,000 and USD990,000. Among them, the most notable in the market is the commercial optical satellite with a high resolution of 0.5 meters, priced at only USD990,000. The Group also plans to offer nearly a hundred types of satellite components and application services, including separation seats, multi-satellite dispensers, and 0.5-meter resolution lightweight cameras.
The Group is confident that through this series of satellite products, it can directly participate in the competition of the global commercial aerospace market, rapidly enhance its brand awareness, significantly expand its customer base and further increase its market share.
About USPACE Technology Group Limited (USPACE)
USPACE Technology Group Limited (USPACE) is headquartered in Dubai, United Arab Emirates and Hong Kong, China. The Company is committed to using outer space technology and application services to promote the sustainable development of the Earth and the progress of human society, aiming to become a leading provider of outer space technology and Earth application services.
The Group focuses on satellite manufacturing as the core of its business development, building an integrated commercial aerospace ecosystem, including satellite component manufacturing, precision electronics manufacturing, satellite data applications, satellite measurement and control, satellite launches, and the operation and management of the Abu Dhabi Space Eco City in the United Arab Emirates.
For further information, please visit https://www.uspace.com/ (Source: PR Newswire)
14 Aug 24. Viasat, Inc. (NASDAQ: VSAT), a global leader in satellite communications, today announced the next evolution of its award-winning L-band tactical satellite service, L-TAC, delivering new features that allow service on-demand – when and where users need it. The L-TAC service is delivered through Viasat’s worldwide L-band network, connecting radio users and command centers worldwide using the tactical radios’ native waveforms, encryption and a secure terrestrial network.
The newly evolved L-TAC solution will automate the service’s ordering and provisioning system and deliver an automated L-TAC channel assignment capability for more effective resource allocation. This solution features a web portal that will allow end users or Viasat partners to order or schedule L-TAC service. This enhanced capability will enable users to request and receive service on-demand in specific beams and over geographic regions when and where they need to operate. As a result, global government customers can order immediate service to areas of operation and can schedule their resources more efficiently.
Furthermore, U.S. government customers now also have access to a radio frequency over Internet protocol (RFoIP) solution that supports remote monitoring of L-TAC channels. This enables L-TAC user nets, or radio nets, to be remotely accessed worldwide over IP, connecting users back to their headquarters, forward operating bases or other remote sites.
Government and military users have traditionally relied on line-of-sight Ultra High Frequency (UHF), Very High Frequency (VHF) and UHF SATCOM systems for tactical communications without practical alternatives when those services are unavailable. The Viasat L-TAC service provides this alternative and is complementary to existing UHF, VHF and UHF TACSAT radios, allowing users to leverage the same security-accredited equipment with advanced encryption over L-band satellite connections via interoperable waveforms.
“Our award-winning L-TAC solution is a trusted option for tactical, beyond line-of-sight communications with thousands of units deployed. We recognize that our government customers’ missions and requirements are always evolving so it is our responsibility to never stop innovating to meet those needs,” said Susan Miller, President, Viasat Government. “This latest evolution of L-TAC is in direct response to users’ feedback. It further enhances the capabilities available to our customers, while also delivering the flexibility, ease-of-use and implementation that today’s warfighters expect.”
For years, users around the world have trusted the L-TAC solution to deliver a combination of reliable voice and data connectivity, providing a robust and flexible beyond line-of-sight (BLOS) capability to support missions in the air, at sea and on land. The L-TAC service is actively supporting global operations for several nations’ armed forces around the world and a civilian alternative is available for police, fire and medical support services, emergency services, aid agencies, embassy communications and other civilian agency use. (Source: PR Newswire)
12 Aug 24. NGC-Built Arctic Satellite Broadband Mission Successfully Launches to Extend Arctic Connectivity. Space Norway’s two-satellite Arctic Satellite Broadband Mission (ASBM) constellation, built by Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC), successfully launched onboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base, California.
- In a historic partnership between Space Norway and the U.S. Space Force, ASBM marks the first time an operational U.S. military payload is hosted on an international commercial space mission.
- Northrop Grumman contributed critical components, including two U.S. Space Force Enhanced Polar System – Recapitalization (EPS-R) secure communication payloads, the Control and Planning Segment (CAPS) ground system, X-band and Ka-band payloads, two GEOStar-3 satellite buses, ground system for the GEOStar-3 satellites, systems integration and launch site integration operations.
- ASBM marks Northrop Grumman’s 48th mission using its GEOStar space vehicles, further establishing this satellite as a flight-proven and critical technology for commercial and military satellite communications missions
Expert:
Rob Fleming, corporate vice president and president, Northrop Grumman Space Systems: “Northrop Grumman’s end-to-end mission expertise and proven ability to deliver cutting-edge technology on orbit enables our customers’ most challenging missions. Our team came together at every stage of design, test and integration to bring commercial broadband and protected military satellite communications to the Arctic for many years to come.”
Details on ASBM:
ASBM will operate in a highly elliptical orbit to provide secure and reliable communications in the critical Arctic region for both commercial and military communications. For this mission, Northrop Grumman provided the space vehicles and operating systems for power, propulsion, communications, command and data handling, thermal control and guidance and navigational control. Among the payloads are a U.S. Space Force EPS-R hosted payloads, X-band payloads for the Norwegian Ministry of Defense, Ka-band payloads for Viasat and a Norwegian Radiation Monitor payload provided by Norwegian company IDEAS for the European Commission. Northrop Grumman also provided two Satellite Control Systems, located in Tromsø and Bardufoss, Norway, for Space Norway to operate these missions.
13 Aug 24. Arctic Broadband on the Way as Viasat Confirms Successful Launch.
- Space Norway’s Arctic Satellite Broadband Mission successfully launched aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 from Vandenberg Space Force Base, California, August 11, 2024 at 7.02pm PT.
- The two satellites carry payloads that Viasat aims to use to bring broadband connectivity to the Arctic from polar orbits.
Viasat, Inc. (NASDAQ: VSAT), a global leader in satellite communications, has confirmed the Arctic Satellite Broadband Mission (ASBM) has successfully launched from Vandenburg Space Force Base.
The mission, led by the Space Norway subsidiary Heosat, will see two satellites deployed in a highly elliptical orbit (HEO) in the world’s first HEO mission carrying a broadband commercial service payload. The two satellites – ASBM-1 and ASBM-2 – will host the GX10A and GX10B Ka-band payloads, which Viasat will use to extend the company’s high-speed global network with dedicated Arctic region coverage.
The satellites will be positioned into their orbit paths before technical testing and integration. The GX10A and 10B payloads are expected to enter service in early to mid calendar year 2025.
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The Arctic has rapidly growing connectivity demand as governments, commercial mobility customers and scientists continue to look North. Once in service, these new payloads will expand the coverage area served by Viasat, further strengthening the company’s global coverage capabilities with dedicated capacity for the Arctic region.
Viasat is further expanding its high-speed broadband capacity and capabilities for government and commercial mobility customers with five new Ka-band satellites currently under construction, which are expected to enter service during the course of the next few years.
Mark Dickinson, Head of Space Systems, Viasat, said: “We would like to thank Space Norway and our project partners for their continued hard work, collaboration, and vision to make this project a reality. I would also like to thank our highly skilled experts. They will now focus on bringing these payloads into service and creating the flexibility, coverage, and connectivity our customers need – wherever they operate.”
Space Norway Program Director, Kjell-Ove Skare, said: “With the successful launch of the ASBM satellites we are a major step closer to providing broadband to civilian, government and military users in the Arctic – which is the primary reason for this mission. This common goal has been the driving factor for Viasat, as well as for all parties involved in the ASBM program. It has truly been an excellent collaborative effort.” (Source: ASD Network)
13 Aug 24. DASA funding boosts 6 innovative future space technologies.
Stellar success: Secured as part of the Space to Innovate Campaign – Charlie Drop, six organizations have received funding to advance technologies that improve the UK’s capacity for safe operations in space.
- £1.6m overall funding allocated to 6 innovative organisations to develop space technologies.
- The Space to Innovate Campaign aims to find and fund solutions to major space hurdles to promote space resilience and operational effectiveness.
- The Space to Innovate Campaign – Charlie Drop is the third challenge in a joint collaboration between the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) and Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA).
The Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) and Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA) are pleased to announce that six innovators have shared £1.6m in funding to develop technologies for the space domain.
The funding was achieved as a result of Space to Innovate Campaign – Charlie Drop which invited innovators to submit their innovative technologies and solutions to help overcome the following challenge areas:
- Challenge Area 1: Novel ways to achieve fine resolution collection for intelligence, surveillance & reconnaissance (ISR)
- Challenge Area 2: Technologies and techniques to alert, protect and defend satellites
- Challenge Area 3: Satellite and ground segment technologies for future Defence and Security operations
Major General Paul Tedman, Commander, UK Space Command, said: “As space becomes increasingly contested and congested, the ability to harness novel technologies to ensure freedom of action is essential. We will continue to work with our partners in industry, DASA, Dstl to seize and maintain the competitive edge in space.”
Athos Ritsperis, Dstl Space Systems Programme Manager, said: “Accelerating the development of these technologies could contribute to the development of future operational concepts in support of the Defence Space Strategy. We look forward to working with all the contracted suppliers.”
Out of this world
The six projects that have been awarded Space to Innovate Campaign – Charlie Drop funding are:
Nottingham Scientific Ltd – GMV NSL Limited
This project aims to develop an automated system for the identification of unattributed radio transmission and for the prediction of the orbit of their source.
Surrey Satellite Technology Limited
This project aims to develop a fully deployable telescope for high resolution Intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) from Medium Earth Orbit (MEO).
Spectra Defence Limited
This project aims to develop an innovation that allows for high resolution remote imaging and characterisation of unknown objects approaching high value satellites in Geostationary orbits.
Super-Sharp Space Systems Ltd
This project aims to develop a control system to enable the self-alignment of large space telescopes.
University of Liverpool
This project aims to develop large area antenna systems that can be stowed via origami folding and a novel deployment mechanism for utilisation in low-Earth orbit (LEO).
QinetiQ Ltd Farnborough
This project aims to dramatically improve the ability to sense small objects that are largely invisible to our current sensing capability and yet pose a significant threat to the operation of space assets.
What is the Space to Innovate Campaign?
The space domain, which includes satellites and space-based services, is vital to modern life, enabling a range of civilian and military activities. Any form of disturbance to UK space capabilities, whether that is natural or intentional, can cause a severe disruption to UK prosperity.
The Space to Innovate Campaign seeks proposals that can maintain the UK’s freedom of action in the space domain by developing future space technologies that enhance and protect space military and civil potential.
What happened in the Space to Innovate Campaign – Alpha and Bravo Drop competitions?
The Space to Innovate Campaign – Charlie Drop follows on from the Alpha Drop, and Bravo drops where over £3.6 m worth of contracts were awarded altogether.
Read more about it here: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/1-m-in-contracts-awarded-to-enhance-the-uks-space-capabilities#:~:text=%C2%A31%20m%20in%20contracts%20awarded%20to%20enhance%20the%20UK’s%20space%20capabilities,-Secured%20through%20the&text=The%20Defence%20Science%20and%20Technology%20Laboratory%20(Dstl)%2C%20UK%20Space,technologies%20for%20the%20space%20domain. (Source: https://www.gov.uk/)
12 Aug 24. Rocket Lab Begins Installation of Large Carbon Composite Rocket-Building Machine. Rocket Lab USA, Inc. (Nasdaq: RKLB) (“Rocket Lab” or “the Company”), a global leader in launch services and space systems, today announced it has begun installation of the largest automated fiber placement (AFP) machine of its kind into the Company’s Neutron rocket production line in Middle River, MD. The AFP machine will enable Rocket Lab to automate production of the largest carbon composite rocket structures in history.
The custom-built 99 ton (90 tonne), 39 ft tall (12-meter) robotic machine, American-made by Electroimpact in Washington, has just completed final acceptance testing with the manufacturer and installation has begun at Rocket Lab’s Space Structures Complex in Middle River, Maryland. The new machine will automate the production of all large composite structures of the Neutron launch vehicle including the panels that make up the 91 ft (28 meter) length interstage and fairing, 22.9 ft (7 meter) diameter first stage, and the 16.4 ft (5 meter) diameter second stage tank.
The autonomous machine can move up to 98 ft (30 meters) in length and lay down continuous carbon fiber composite at a rate of 328 ft (100 meters) per minute. The AFP machine also has a fully automated real-time inspection system that hunts for miniscule defects throughout the laminated carbon composite and alerts the machine operator of any issues before the machine begins laying down the next layer, providing additional assurance that these critical structures of the launch vehicle meet Rocket Lab’s high-quality standards required for reusable Neutron launches.
As Neutron’s carbon composite structures move into full-scale production, this autonomous machine is expected to introduce significant time-savings of 150,000+ manufacturing hours into the production process.
Rocket Lab founder and CEO, Sir Peter Beck, says: “As we build the world’s largest carbon composite rocket, it makes sense that we require a world-first carbon composite fiber placement machine. We’re combining our proprietary flight-proven carbon composite technology, additive manufacturing, and autonomous robotics to design and build large-scale aerospace components at a pace that will support not only Neutron’s launch cadence, but support Electron and carbon composites structures for our spacecraft customers too. We worked closely with our excellent partners at Electroimpact to create this robot and we’re thrilled with the results. It’s an innovative machine producing a next-generation rocket from one of the birthplaces of the aerospace industry in Baltimore, and we can’t wait to see its first carbon composite printed panels come off the production line soon.”
The AFP machine will also be leveraged to print smaller carbon composite Neutron structures, first stages of Rocket Lab’s Electron launch vehicle, and other flight-proven carbon composite structures for space including spacecraft structural panels and assemblies, solar panel substrates, carbon composite tanks and primary structures, and custom projects for the aerospace industry. (Source: ASD Network)
12 Aug 24. Portable ‘outback internet’ Starlink dish launches. Australians travelling through remote locations can now access reliable internet on the go after Starlink launched its portable satellite dish locally.
The device, which resembles a large laptop, works like a traditional dongle but allows users to go online without needing to be within the range of a phone mast.
The new mini dish costs $799 and can be paired with two plans: “Mobile Regional”, which costs $174 per month and offers unlimited mobile data, or “Mini Roam”, which costs $80 per month for 50GB of data.
Crucially, the plan can be paused or unpaused anytime, opening it up to hikers and travellers who only want to use it for limited periods of the year.
Starlink only launched in Australia in 2021 but was previously only available via a permanent, fixed connection.
There are currently thought to be more than 6,000 Starlink satellites in orbit, though the company eventually hopes it can support more than 40,000.
The new portable service significantly comes before Optus goes one better and offers the SpaceX-backed service straight to mobile next year.
The agreement is unique because it will not require customers to obtain any specific hardware and will instead work on all compatible handsets.
Currently, the telco’s traditional service is unavailable across 60 per cent of Australia’s landmass, but the new tie-up will boost connectivity to almost 100 per cent.
The telco’s head of marketing, Matt Williams, previously said the agreement meant it would provide mobile coverage to 98.5 per cent of Australia’s population through its existing network.
“Australia’s vastness and terrain can make it difficult for any operator to provide mobile coverage everywhere it is needed – especially in remote or hard-to-reach locations,” he said.
“Our work with SpaceX aims to bring the coverage capabilities of satellites direct to compatible mobile handsets without the need for customers to buy additional equipment. This partnership builds on our proud history of satellite innovation in Australia.”
The phased rollout of SpaceX’s satellite capability will start with SMS in late 2024, with voice and data following in late 2025.
Space Connect also reported this year how Vocus launched “bonded” Starlink services nationwide in a move that will allow customers in remote locations to access internet speeds of up to 1.3 Gbps downstream.
Bonded internet allows two or more separate connections to combine their speeds while appearing as a single source to users.
The superfast speeds compare to Telstra’s residential Starlink connection, which offers just 50 Mbps download. (Source: Space Connect)
02 Aug 24. SpaceX is back in the groove with Friday’s launch of 23 Starlink small satellites. This was the 12th flight for the first stage booster supporting this mission, which previously launched Crew-6, O3b mPOWER, USSF-124, and eight Starlink missions.
SpaceX ready for Friday Starlink satellite launch
SpaceX is targeting Friday, August 2 for a Falcon 9 launch of 23 Starlink satellites to low-Earth orbit from Launch Complex 39A (LC-39A) at Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Liftoff is targeted for 1:01 a.m. ET, with backup opportunities available until 4:19 a.m. ET. If needed, additional opportunities are also available on Saturday, August 3 starting at 12:19 a.m. ET.
A live webcast of this mission will begin about five minutes prior to liftoff, which you can watch here and on X @SpaceX.
This is the 12th flight for the first stage booster supporting this mission, which previously launched Crew-6, O3b mPOWER, USSF-124, and eight Starlink missions. Following stage separation, the first stage will land on the A Shortfall of Gravitas droneship, which will be stationed in the Atlantic Ocean.
The 45th Weather Squadron at Patrick Space Force Base forecast 95 percent favorable conditions at liftoff. The only potential concern is a violation of the cumulus cloud rule. If SpaceX needs to pivot to its 24-hour launch delay, the weather outlook decreases to 80 percent favorable conditions. (Source: Satnews)
03 Aug 24. Rocket Lab sends off “Owl For One, One For Owl” smallsat mission for Synspective.
Rocket Lab’s Electron Rocket lifts off from Launch Complex 1 carrying a satellite to orbit for Japanese Earth-imaging company Synspective. (Photo: Business Wire)
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. (Source: Satnews)
02 Aug 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.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology Lincoln Laboratory (MIT LL) is leading the NASA Time-Resolved Observations of Precipitation structure and storm Intensity with a Constellation of Smallsats’ (TROPICS) mission.
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.” (Source: Satnews)
06 Aug 24. FCC approves AST SpaceMobile’s 1st commercial satellite launch.
AST SpaceMobile first five commercial satellites, BlueBird 1-5.
AST SpaceMobile, Inc. (NASDAQ: ASTS) has announced that the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has granted an initial license for space-based operations in the United States.
With this initial license, AST SpaceMobile is now authorized to launch and operate V, S and UHF frequencies to support gateway, feeder link and telemetry, tracking, and control operations for the first five commercial BlueBird satellites.
AST SpaceMobile has successfully completed the manufacturing, assembly, and environmental testing its first five BlueBird commercial satellites and are now ready for shipment to Cape Canaveral during the first week of August, with a 7-day launch window in September.
This FCC grant represents a critical step to advancing several important goals shared by AST SpaceMobile and the Commission, including closing the digital divide, expanding access to emergency communications, accelerating digital transformation and advancing U.S. leadership in direct-to-device regulation. This step follows the March 2024 update of AST SpaceMobile’s constellation filings with the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and related filings with the FCC, placing the planned commercial satellites under the jurisdiction of the United States.
During 2024, AST SpaceMobile has secured additional strategic investment from AT&T, Verizon, Google and Vodafone, as well as a new contract award with the United States Government through a prime contractor.
The company has agreements with more than 45 mobile network operators globally, which have more than 2.8 bn existing subscribers total, including Vodafone Group, AT&T, Verizon, Rakuten Mobile, Bell Canada, Orange, Telefonica, TIM, Saudi Telecom Company, Zain KSA, Etisalat, Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison, Telkomsel, Smart Communications, Globe Telecom, Millicom, Smartfren, Telecom Argentina, MTN, Telstra, Africell, Liberty Latin America and others. AT&T, Verizon, Vodafone, Google, Rakuten, American Tower, and Bell Canada are also existing investors in AST SpaceMobile. (Source: Satnews)
03 Aug 24. Maritime Launch Services congratulates the Government of Canada on space launch treaty with the U.S. Safeguard Agreement (TSA) with the United States — this landmark government-to-government treaty represents a significant milestone for the Canadian space industry, particularly launch, and paves the way for enhanced collaboration, innovation, and security in space technology between the two nations.
The TSA establishes a framework for the protection of sensitive technologies and intellectual property, including launch vehicles and satellites, ensuring that both countries can collaborate on space-related projects while maintaining the highest standards of security and compliance. This agreement strengthens the strategic partnership between Canada and the United States and also opens new avenues for growth and development within the Canadian commercial space sector by allowing U.S. technology to be launched to space from Canadian soil.
Maritime Launch is building Spaceport Nova Scotia, Canada’s first and only commercial spaceport located near Canso, Nova Scotia. In 2023, Maritime Launch conducted a first suborbital launch from Nova Scotia and the Company has plans for a first orbital launch in early 2026.
As a leading player in the Canadian commercial space industry, Maritime Launch Services recognizes the profound impact this agreement will have on the future of commercial launch, space exploration and technology development in Canada. By fostering a secure and collaborative environment, the TSA will enable Canadian companies, such as Maritime Launch, to participate more actively in global space initiatives, driving economic growth.
Since the company was created in 2016, Maritime Launch’s mission has been to provide reliable and cost-effective access to space for commercial and international government customers. With the TSA in place, Maritime Launch is poised to attract international partnerships, drive technological advancements in the space sector, and bring significant direct foreign investment and economic opportunity to Nova Scotia and Atlantic Canada.
Maritime Launch looks forward to leveraging the opportunities within the TSA and collaborating closely with Canada’s largest trading partner, the United States. The Company is well positioned to drive progress and position Canada as a global leader in space exploration and technology, bringing socio-economic benefits to our local communities, Nova Scotians, and all Canadians through job creation, space industry growth, and enhanced domestic launch capabilities. (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)
07 Aug 24. SpaceX to launch Arctic Satellite Broadband Mission August 11-12. After a delay from the original launch date of July 15th, 2024, SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch the Arctic Satellite Broadband Mission August 11-12, consisting of two satellites owned by Space Norway. The Falcon 9 will launch the two Northrop Grumman-built satellites into a highly elliptical orbit that lingers over the Arctic region. The satellites carry communications payloads for the Norwegian Ministry of Defense, the U.S. Space Force, and Inmarsat.
The launch will take place at SLC-4E, Vandenberg Space Force Base, California, at 7 p.m. PDT (10 p.m. EDT, 0200 UTC).
ASBM (Arctic Satellite Broadband Mission) 1 & 2 are two twin satellites built by Northrop Grumman for Space Norway, in cooperation with Inmarsat and the Norwegian Ministry of Defence.
They are designed to bring mobile broadband coverage in the Arctic for both civilians and military.
EPS-R serves as a prime example of how SSC, U.S. Space Force, and its allied partners are stronger together to deliver valued space capabilities on both fronts. The ASBM mission is scheduled for launch from Vandenberg Space Force Base, California aboard a SpaceX launch vehicle in 2024.
“The accomplishment of this key milestone was truly a joint effort and speaks to the outstanding teamwork between Northrop Grumman and our EPS-R program office. The team received and coordinated an enormous amount of technical data which was critical to verify that all segment and element requirements were met. We look forward to the new ground system entering operations,” said 1st Lt. Brooke Kunzelman, SSC EPS-R Ground Segment lead.
The US Air Force provides the Extremely High Frequency eXtended Data Rate payloads on ASBM satellites as part of the Enhanced Polar System Recapitalization (EPS-R) program. (Source: Satnews)
03 Aug 24. ReOrbit to perform IOD of secure space-to-space and space-to-ground data transfer for EO. ReOrbit is proceeding to the next phase of the European Space Agency (ESA) InCubed (stands for ‘Investing in Industrial Innovation‘) program.
As a continuation of the InCubed activity UKKO – Development and Demonstration of Technologies for Future Earth Observation (EO) Satellites — ReOrbit is planning an in-orbit demonstration (IOD) as an independent standalone flight opportunity. It will showcase the capabilities developed in the avionics architecture and the software stack in space, namely an end-to-end EO value chain between EO payloads and the end users, as well as satellite to satellite and satellite to ground communication.
ReOrbit will achieve this by onboarding a commercial, EO customer optical payload with full operational capacity. ReOrbit will perform the commissioning and validation of end-to-end operations including imaging, onboard data processing and data transfer to customer location. Another important part of this mission is equipping the IOD bus with the optical terminal, accompanied with the necessary autonomy, storage, and data transport capabilities to ensure secure, seamless data transfer from satellite to satellite, or from satellite to ground.
The IOD phase allows ReOrbit to validate its vision of the future of space applications where the transformation of satellites into truly intelligent, inter-connected platforms requires satellite systems to be defined by software, which facilitates a complete network integration – from space to ground. ReOrbit envisions the satellite design philosophy to revolve around the idea that data sharing and communications shall take place not only from space to ground, but also from space to space – enabling satellites to network, communicate with each other and thus improve mission efficiency. It is possible to achieve this thanks to a flexible software-first architecture, where all these aspects are dealt with upfront in the mission concept, as integrated functionalities.
Customer validation is an important factor of ensuring the commercial viability of the product. The technology ReOrbit has been developing for ESA’s InCubed Program has been already confirmed to be purchased by KaleidEO, a subsidiary of SatSure Analytics India. With this, KaleidEO aims to validate the performance of ReOrbit’s satellite platform for its needs as an outcome of the IOD phase, focusing on software-first capabilities of the platform, for different aspects such as quality, onboard processing, latency, dataflow, as well as exploring optical data relay as an enabler for EO. By performing this validation in the IOD phase, ReOrbit will establish its products usability to enable the state-of-the-art technologies in the EO domain. (Source: Satnews)
08 Aug 24. Rocket Lab Completes Successful First Hot Fire of Archimedes Engine for Neutron Rocket. Rocket Lab USA, Inc. (Nasdaq: RKLB) (“Rocket Lab” or “the Company”), a global leader in launch services and space systems, today announced it has successfully hot fired its new rocket engine Archimedes for the first time, reaching a critical technical milestone toward first launch of the Company’s new medium-lift rocket, Neutron.
Rocket Lab’s engineers completed the hot fire test at the Company’s Engine Test Complex within NASA’s Stennis Space Center in Hancock County, Mississippi, in August 2024. Archimedes performed well and ticked off several key test objectives, including reaching 102% power, anchoring the engine’s design ahead of Neutron’s first flight scheduled for mid-2025 – a schedule that would make Neutron the fastest a commercially developed medium-class launch vehicle has been brought to market. With the hot fire complete and full qualification campaign now underway, the Rocket Lab team is moving into full production of flight engines.
Rocket Lab founder and CEO, Sir Peter Beck, says: “Hot firing Archimedes is a major development milestone for Neutron and our team has done it on an accelerated timeline. Taking a new staged combustion liquid rocket engine from cleansheet design to hot fire in just a couple of years is industry-leading stuff. We’ve been consistently impressed with the performance of Archimedes in test, including with this hot fire, so with this critical milestone completed, we move into production of flight engines confidently and begin to close out the qualification test campaign in parallel to really hone performance for launch next year. From the day we started designing Archimedes we focused on delivering a flight engine, rather than early-stage prototype destined for multiple reworks and adjustments, so it’s gratifying to see this strategy bear fruit.”
The Archimedes engine will power Rocket Lab’s new reusable medium-lift rocket Neutron, a next-generation challenger to deliver a cost-effective, reliable, and responsive launch service for commercial and government missions. The advanced design of Neutron includes carbon composite for all of the rocket’s major structures and an innovative upper stage that enables high-performance for complex satellite deployments, including the deployment of satellite mega-constellations.
The Archimedes engine is an oxidizer rich staged combustion cycle engine that will power the reusable first stage of Neutron and the new rocket’s second stage that is designed to carry up to 13,000 kilograms of payload to space. Capable of producing up to 165,000 (733 kilonewtons) pounds of thrust per engine, Archimedes operates at lower stress levels than other rocket engines to enable rapid and reliable reusability. The combined thrust of nine Archimedes engines for Neutron’s first stage is designed to reach 1,450,000 lbf total. Archimedes uses a cryogenic propellant mix of liquid oxygen and LNG to enable higher reusability and performance, and many of its critical components are 3D printed including Archimedes’ turbo pump housings, pre-burner and main chamber components, valve housings, and engine structural components.
Production of the Archimedes engines takes place at Rocket Lab’s Engine Development Complex at its headquarters in Long Beach, California. (Source: ASD Network)
09 Aug 24. NGC Completes Successful 2nd Stage Solid Rocket Motor Static Test Powered by Digital Transformation.
Northrop Grumman Corporation’s (NYSE: NOC) digitally designed and manufactured large solid rocket motor successfully completed a static fire test at U.S. Air Force Arnold Engineering Development Complex.
- All test objectives were met during the event with performance data anchoring the digital model, confirming the motor’s performance and demonstrating the company’s ability to successfully build to design requirements using a digital environment.
- In addition to advanced model-based systems engineering (MBSE) used to design the high-performance second stage motor, a digital environment was also applied to the facilities and tools to manufacture the propulsion system.
- MBSE enables teams to extract data that enhances manufacturing processes and design evaluation, improves response to market demands, accelerates the implementation of process improvements and augments the company’s production capabilities.
Expert:
Jim Kalberer, vice president, propulsion systems: “We are using digital solutions across our business to produce solid rocket motors with speed, which is transforming how we design, test and manufacture the next generation of systems. The company’s propulsion business uses this level of engineering to deploy an advanced approach for newly developed rocket motors that are pushing model-based tools further than ever before.”
Details:
The test event was the company’s second successful static firing of a fully digitally designed large solid rocket motor. The first was the Common 50 High-Performance (C50HP) upper stage motor that can be adapted to support final stages of propulsion in the region outside of Earth’s atmosphere. The second stage motor is optimized for high-altitude flight and provides the required boost to transition payloads out of the atmosphere and into space. (Source: ASD Network)
09 Aug 24. BAE Systems-built NEOWISE Spacecraft Ends Mission After 14 Years in Space.
- The mission served as a predecessor to NASA’s next-generation infrared space telescope: Near-Earth Object Surveyor (NEO Surveyor)
BAE Systems is celebrating the successful completion of NASA’s Near-Earth Object Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (NEOWISE) mission today, which has officially ended after more than 14 years on orbit. On Aug. 8, the satellite was decommissioned after a command was sent from NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California, turning off its transmitter and putting it into hibernation. It will continue to drop toward Earth until it eventually safely burns up in the atmosphere in late 2024.
The satellite launched in 2009 as part of a NASA mission called WISE to map the sky using an infrared imager. After completing its survey in 2011, the satellite was placed into hibernation until 2013, when it was reactivated to take on a new mission called NEOWISE. Together, the WISE and NEOWISE missions have made a lasting impact, providing the scientific community with valuable data to track and study near-Earth objects throughout the solar system.
The satellite, which completed two all-sky surveys covering the sky over 23 times, identified tens of ms of supermassive black holes, catalogued thousands of near-Earth asteroids and comets, advanced planetary defense capabilities, and more. BAE Systems’ spacecraft was operated by NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory to complete the WISE and NEOWISE missions, using an advanced imager provided by the Space Dynamics Laboratory.
“The WISE and NEOWISE missions exceeded all expectations and returned invaluable insights about our solar system,” said Dr. Alberto Conti, vice president and general manager of Civil Space for BAE Systems Space & Mission Systems. “The success of NEOWISE has also been integral to the development of NASA’s NEO Surveyor telescope, which will carry on the critical mission of defending our planet from dangerous objects in our solar system. Our team is excited to again be playing a key role in the upcoming mission.”
With the NEOWISE mission completed, stakeholders will now turn their attention to NASA’s Near-Earth Object (NEO) Surveyor mission, the first planetary defense satellite designed specifically to discover and characterize asteroids and comets larger than 460 feet (140 meters), which could pose a danger on Earth.
BAE Systems will supply the spacecraft for the NEO Surveyor mission, in addition to the sunshade system, deployable aperture cover, and a variety of cryogenic thermomechanical components for the instrument system. BAE Systems will also lead the assembly, integration, and testing of the observatory along with providing launch integration support.
NEO Surveyor is scheduled to launch in fall of 2027.
(Source: ASD Network)