29 Nov 24. ‘Money still resides’ in JP9102, says Defence Industry Minister. The Minister for Defence Industry has said the “money still resides” in the JP9102 project, despite the deal with Lockheed Martin being cancelled. Speaking to Defence Connect’s Stephen Kuper, Pat Conroy said he was “frustrated and annoyed” by the commentary in the media and argued that the “very strong advice” from Defence was that the solution chosen was no longer right for Australia.
“We were putting all our eggs in one basket, and that basket was exposed,” he said.
It comes after the federal government earlier this month sensationally ripped up the $3 billion contract with Lockheed Martin to create a new military SATCOM capability for Australia.
The Australian, which broke the story, claimed the decision was due to a lack of budget. However, the federal government later insisted it was because multiple low-Earth orbit satellites are more secure from attacks than a single geostationary spacecraft, as planned by Lockheed.
Confirming the position, Conroy told Space Connect’s sister brand, Defence Connect, that the “IIP provision for this project hasn’t been touched” and the “money still resides” in that IIP.
“We’ve ceased the procurement activity, and we have focused on looking at other technology solutions, and that is, to be quite frank, because of the growing counter space threats,” he said.
“I’ve been frustrated and annoyed by some of the commentary out there, by people who just don’t have access to the classified briefings, who profess to be greater experts on this area than the ADF, who might be trying to sell their particular commercial technology or have a view.
“And some journalists have accepted that hook, line and sinker, and I find that frustrating.
“This is a project that’s been going on for a long time, and at the same time, there’s been a massive increase in counter-space threats. Some of that’s been very public.
“A lot of it hasn’t been public, but obviously, governments undertake analysis of what other countries are doing, and the very strong advice from the Defence Department was that the capability solution chosen was not the right one for the here and now. We were putting all our eggs in one basket, and that basket was exposed,
“So we made the hard decision in the national interest and go for a diversified solution that provides more resilience, and you can still have sovereignty that way.
“Sovereignty can be owning platforms, but if those platforms are lost on the first hour of a conflict, they’re not particularly sovereign.”
Conroy added the federal government was “focused on a multi-orbital capability” because it gives Australia “resilience”.
“I’m not going to get ahead of where Defence is going, but that that’ll be a mix of capabilities, a mix of ownership, where we will have legal and physical stepping rights that provide that sovereignty,” he said.
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It comes after Defence’s Director General of Space Capability told an audience in Canberra earlier this month that JP 9102 would be replaced. Speaking at MilCIS, Air Commodore Peter Thompson insisted the project was “not dead” and argued that the threat from adversaries had evolved.
“The only thing that changed was our potential procurement activity with Lockheed Martin,” he said on stage. “The capabilities have changed immensely since first pass. The threat is changing as well.
“Defence isn’t going to waste money on something that is no longer the best use of our money that we’ve got.”
JP 9102 was only signed off just 18 months ago, with prime contractor Lockheed Martin beating big hitters including Boeing, Northrop Grumman Australia, and Optus to become the “preferred tenderer”.
If approved, JP 9102 would have created more than 200 direct jobs, while Lockheed itself pressed ahead with making key appointments for its staff to oversee it.
Speaking to the ABC after Defence released a 187-word statement confirming the changes to JP 9102, Marles said that since the tender was announced eight years ago, industry has created technology that can “literally shoot satellites out of the sky”.
“But we’ve also seen technologies develop where you have thousands of microsatellites in a much more distributed way providing the same effect,” he said.
“We believe we can do that in this way faster and more cost-effective. So, this is frankly moving with the times and making sure that we have the capability that we need which meets the threats and the opportunities that we have in the future.”
(Source: Space Connect)
27 Nov 24. Lockheed ‘hopeful’ JP9102 could return in new form. Lockheed Martin’s most senior space leader in Australia has said his company is “hopeful” JP9102 contracts could return after its surprise axing earlier this month.
Speaking at the Space & Earth conference in WA on Tuesday, David Ball told the audience the prime was going to “employ a lot of people in Melbourne” to fulfil the deal and urged the federal government to continue to invest in local companies.
The intervention from Lockheed Martin Space’s regional director is believed to be the first public comment from the prime since the $3 bn project to deliver a new military satcom capability for Australia was effectively cancelled.
The Australian, which broke the story, claimed the decision was due to a lack of budget, but multiple officials subsequently insisted the money is still there, and only the tender with Lockheed was ripped up.
Defence Minister Richard Marles then argued the decision was actually taken because multiple low-Earth orbit satellites are more secure from attacks than a single geostationary spacecraft, as planned by Lockheed.
“We had a great lineup of Australian companies [for JP9102] to come and help us build the network, sustain the network, and operate the network, and we’re hopeful that will come around again as government reforms its thinking within those areas,” Ball said on stage.
“It’s really important that we participate here… we were going to employ a lot of people in Melbourne, around the engineering centre for JP9102.
“From a Lockheed Martin perspective, we employ about 1,600 people across Australia today, everywhere except Tasmania, and that’s going to probably double in the next three or four years, given the amount of work we have on with other capabilities that the government has acquired.
“So it’s really important to act locally, even though we’re a big global company. We’re here for a reason, and really, that reason is to embrace Australian industry and see how we can go forward.”
It comes after Defence’s Director General of Space Capability told an audience in Canberra earlier this month that JP 9102 would be replaced. Speaking at MilCIS, Air Commodore Peter Thompson insisted the project was “not dead” and argued that the threat from adversaries had evolved.
“The only thing that changed was our potential procurement activity with Lockheed Martin,” he said on stage. “The capabilities have changed immensely since first pass. The threat is changing as well.
“Defence isn’t going to waste money on something that is no longer the best use of our money that we’ve got.”
JP 9102 was only signed off just 18 months ago, with prime contractor Lockheed Martin beating big hitters including Boeing, Northrop Grumman Australia, and Optus to become the “preferred tenderer”.
If approved, JP 9102 would have created more than 200 direct jobs, while Lockheed itself pressed ahead with making key appointments for its staff to oversee it.
Speaking to the ABC after Defence released a 187-word statement confirming the changes to JP 9102, Marles said that since the tender was announced eight years ago, industry has created technology that can “literally shoot satellites out of the sky”.
“But we’ve also seen technologies develop where you have thousands of microsatellites in a much more distributed way providing the same effect,” he said.
“We believe we can do that in this way faster and more cost-effective. So, this is frankly moving with the times and making sure that we have the capability that we need which meets the threats and the opportunities that we have in the future.” (Source: Space Connect)
27 Nov 24. Lockheed Martin to launch key satellite prototypes. US defence conglomerate Lockheed Martin is poised to launch a pair of satellite technology demonstrators into orbit, which company officials say will prove out a series of advanced technologies in the areas of 5G and multimission satellite bus capability.
Company officials are preparing for the inaugural launch of its tactical intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) satellite (TacSat) variant, equipped for the first time with a 5G-based hybrid mesh network payload, dubbed ‘5G.MIL’, said Jeff Schrader, Lockheed Martin’s vice-president of global situation awareness.
“What TacSat does with that 5G payload is speed up the connectivity within a multidomain use case [scenario],” Schrader said during a 20 November briefing.
The 5G TacSat variant will also be outfitted with an infrared (IR) sensor package, dual hatting the ISR satellite as a high-speed satellite communications (satcom) platform, as well as a collection system via the IR sensor. Programme officials anticipate leveraging the 5G payload as a network and communications hub for both space- and terrestrial-based assets, Schrader explained.
“What I think we are going to do with this [payload] is connect a lot of other assets to it – space-to-ground and space-to-space [assets] and those kinds of things,” he said.
In November 2023 company officials demonstrated the 5G.MIL capability for the first time in a multimission environment, according to a company statement at the time. The 5G.MIL Unified Network Solutions (UNS) were successfully tested across numerous mission simulations to establish stability and suitability for use in Joint All-Domain Operations (JADO) and Combined Joint All-Domain Command and Control (CJADC2), company officials said in the statement. (Source: Janes)
26 Nov 24. Spectrum Advanced Manufacturing Technologies, Inc. (“Spectrum”), a subsidiary of Ocutrx Technologies, Inc. (“Ocutrx”) and a leader in precision electronics and assemblies manufacturing for over 25 years, today announced it has been named manufacturing partner for D-Orbit USA, the recently formed U.S. member company of Italian space logistics company D-Orbit Group. As part of the partnership, Spectrum is renovating a 7,500 sq ft facility, including the construction of a 2,000 sq ft ISO 8-100,000 Clean Room for assembling multiple satellite buses at once. Spectrum will provide material management, PCBA manufacturing, harness manufacturing, and final assembly of the D-Orbit USA satellite buses.
“We are honored to partner with the highly respected D-Orbit Group as they enter the U.S. market,” said Jeff Gilbert, CEO of Spectrum. “Spectrum and D-Orbit share the same values of dedication to our customers, commitment to a high quality of excellence, and relentless pursuit in pushing innovation forward with never-fail electronics and assemblies. Our partnership is a natural fit and we are happy to dedicate a large portion of manufacturing space for them. We look forward to growing together and making a lasting impact on the burgeoning satellite industry.”
Since its founding in 2011, D-Orbit Group has cemented itself as a market leader in space logistics and transportation, with a lengthy track record of space-proven technologies and successful missions. D-Orbit USA, founded in 2023, will be focused on satellite bus design, manufacturing, and business development in the United States satellite market. Its founding team is comprised of distinguished aerospace executives, including Mike Cassidy, CEO, formerly of Google; Mark Krebs, VP of Guidance and Control, formerly of SpaceX and Amazon’s Kuiper; Miles Gazic, VP of Avionics and Software, formerly of SpaceX; Danny Field, VP of Mechanical Engineering, formerly of OneWeb; and David Harrower, VP of Business Development, formerly of Terran Orbital.
Mike Cassidy, CEO of D-Orbit USA, added, “We are excited to kick off this partnership as high-reliability manufacturing is instrumental to our success, and we are thrilled to have Spectrum as our manufacturing partner. The Spectrum team has been a longtime leader in the production of never-fail satellite electronics and assemblies, which makes us proud to partner together to meet the needs of our customers.”
About Spectrum
Spectrum Advanced Manufacturing Technologies, Inc. (Spectrum AMT) is a prominent leader in High Reliability Circuit Card Assembly and Contract Manufacturing, with over 25 years of industry experience. Serving sectors such as Aerospace, Spaceflight, and Defense, Spectrum consistently meets high standards and client expectations. Spectrum is already a manufacturing partner to many of the Fortune 100 Satellite, Aerospace, and Defense contractors in the United States. Adhering to AS-9100, ISO, FDA, and NASA J-Standards, as well as the Space Addendum regulations and the principles of “never fail” reliability, Spectrum AMT exemplifies commitment and excellence. Spectrum is located in Colorado Springs at the Ocutrx-Spectrum Advanced Manufacturing Campus. Learn more at spectrumamt.com.
About D-Orbit USA
D-Orbit USA is based in Boulder, Colorado and is a member company of D-Orbit Group. D-Orbit Group is based in Italy and is a market leader in the space logistics and transportation services industry with a track record of space-proven services, technologies, and successful missions.
Founded in 2011, D-Orbit is the first company to address the logistics needs of the space market. ION Satellite Carrier, for example, is a space vehicle that can transport satellites in orbit and release them individually into distinct orbital slots, reducing the time from launch to operations by up to 85% and the launch costs of an entire satellite constellation by up to 40%. (Source: PR Newswire)
26 Nov 24. Airbus has signed a contract with the UK’s Ministry of Defence to provide the next-generation modems for the nation’s Skynet satellite communications constellation. The new modems are delivered for the Future Protected Modem Type-A project. They will replace the current Paradigm Modem System, support the Skynet 5 satellites and the yet-to-be-launched Skynet 6A satellite, and will provide several significant capability enhancements. The new-generation, sovereign modem has been designed, developed and manufactured in the UK.
Barry Austin, Head of the MOD’s Defence Digital Skynet programme, said: “We are very pleased that following a competition for the future, resilient satellite communications modem for UK Ministry of Defence, that an 18-year contract for design, manufacture and through-life support for this critical capability has been awarded. Building on their long heritage, this new Airbus-produced modem will ensure that the Skynet system continues to deliver world-class Military Satellite Communications to Front Line Commands and our deployed operational personnel worldwide.”
The FPMA Modem advanced Software-Defined Radio (SDR) system combines multiple techniques to provide a highly resilient solution, and is capable of hosting multiple waveforms. It will deliver safe and secure internet protocol (IP) communications on all commonly-used frequency bands, including X-band.
Richard Budd, Vice-President Space Digital Secure Connectivity UK, US and Asia, said: “This capability allows Airbus to continue to play a critical role in the provision of safe, secure, resilient and sovereign satellite communications capability for the UK, especially relevant in the current and dynamic operating environment.
“In particular, the FPMA modem enables capability evolution in response to more sophisticated threats and will do so at sea and on the ground. It’s a fundamental step towards secure Multi Domain Operations.”
The Future Protected Modem-A is due to enter service in 2026, supported and enabled by integrated logistics support and training solutions. The modem includes an intuitive and secure Network Management System, to ensure effective use of the spectrum and to monitor and control all the equipment.
26 Nov 24. magniX, the company powering the electric aviation revolution, today announced a historic milestone in completing testing of its magni650 electric propulsion unit (EPU) at NASA’s Electric Aircraft Testbed (NEAT) in Sandusky, Ohio.
The magni650 successfully performed at an altitude of 30,000 feet at a maximum continuous power of 700 kilowatts (kw) – an unprecedented achievement for an electric engine. The breakthrough performance of magniX’s EPU under simulated flight conditions at altitude demonstrates its readiness for the flight test phase of NASA’s Electrified Powertrain Flight Demonstration (EPFD) project and moves it closer to the world’s first electric engine certification.
In the next stage of EPFD, one of the four turbine engines on magniX’s De Havilland Dash 7 test aircraft will be replaced with a magni650 electric powertrain, with test flights planned for 2026. The final stage of the program will see a second turbine engine substituted with another magniX powertrain. This configuration is expected to reduce fuel consumption by up to 40% on a typical flight. Through the data collected, this will bring the electrification of large-scale commercial aircraft closer to entry-into-service by the end of the decade.
Accelerating The Takeoff of Electric Flight
With an unmatched record of powering first flights on five different aircraft, magniX is leading the advancement of electric aviation. Having launched its Samson batteries earlier in 2024, with unmatched energy density and cycle-life, magniX provides a full electric powertrain solution with a clear pathway to entry-into-service.
“The NEAT test campaign has moved us closer to the world’s first certification of an electric powertrain for aviation,” said Ben Loxton, magniX VP of Technical Programs. “The work we are doing with NASA in the EPFD project will enable the electrification of regional commercial aviation in pure electric on short routes, and hybridization on longer routes – significant steps toward the decarbonization of aerospace.”
22 Nov 24. Space Force plans to award 20 contracts for commercial reserve by 2026. The Space Force expects to award as many as 20 contracts over the next two years for private companies to join its Commercial Augmentation Space Reserve, which will create a mechanism for the military to better leverage commercial capabilities both in peacetime and during a conflict. Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall, who provides civilian oversight for the Space Force, approved the Commercial Space Office’s plan for the program, known as CASR, last year. Since then, the office has developed an implementation strategy, which includes writing contractual language for companies that will participate in the reserve. Vice Chief of Space Operations Gen. Michael Guetlein said this week the service plans to award five contracts in 2025 and another 15 in 2026. Those arrangements will detail the level of commercial capability the service needs in peacetime and provide a mechanism and pricing structure that will allow the service to access more capacity during a conflict.
“We’ve got a few things to work through about governance and contracting strategies, but we hope to have our first five contracts in ‘25 and then another 15 contracts or so in ‘26,” he said Wednesday at the National Security Innovation Forum in Washington.
The Space Force’s acquisition arm, Space Systems Command, announced last year it was planning to create a commercial space reserve. The team met with industry in February 2023 and formed a task force soon after to work through legal, policy, contracting and programmatic concerns.
The resulting strategy factors in those concerns as well as feedback from dozens of companies to ensure both the government and industry understand the requirements and risks associated with leaning more heavily on commercial systems during a crisis.
The U.S. will need programs like CASR that provide options for excess capacity as it prepares for the possibility of a future conflict with China or Russia, Guetlein said. He argued that the military’s posture in the past has been to strive for efficiency and perfect solutions when buying new systems, but that approach may not work against a peer adversary.
“What we know about this next fight is it’s not going to be efficient,” he said. “And we’re going to have to get comfortable with being inefficient. That means I need redundant capabilities, excess capacity, proliferation.”
Developing an acquisition and contracting strategy for CASR has also required the Space Force to work through some of the trickier questions about how much it should rely on commercial capabilities during wartime. Those concerns were illuminated in September 2023 when SpaceX founder Elon Musk revealed he had opted not to activate his company’s Starlink communication satellites in certain regions of Ukraine due to fears that Ukraine’s use of the service to launch an attack on Russia would escalate the war. The company provided Starlink terminals to Ukraine in the early days of the conflict and, at the time, was not performing those services through a contract with the U.S. military.
The service is still working through language to include in CASR contracts that addresses these types of “denial of service” scenarios, a Space Force official told reporters this week. The service is also working with the Office of the Secretary of Defense to study options for potentially compensating CASR companies whose space systems are targeted by an adversary.
“As part of CASR and then also part of this study, we are looking into potential wartime insurance,” the official said. “I do feel like that is going to be a policy decision.”
Companies selected for the reserve will participate in Defense Department war games, with the first CASR event slated for February 2025. Those exercises will help the Space Force get a sense of how much capacity is needed in different regions where the military operates.
The service has initial funding from Congress for CASR but is still determining how much funding it will need for the program moving forward, according to Lt. Gen. Philip Garrant, head of Space Systems Command.
Speaking Wednesday at a Defense Writers Group event in Washington, Garrant said he is working with SSC program offices to ensure that CASR needs are factored into a program’s acquisition strategy.
“We don’t want these teams to have to be doing everything as an afterthought,” he said. “We want it to be part of the original conversation.” (Source: Defense News Early Bird/Defense News)
22 Nov 24. LM’s Latest Space-Bound LM 400 Tech Demo Set to Launch in 2025. Multi-mission Satellite Completes Testing and is Ready to Showcase On-orbit Capabilities. Lockheed Martin (NYSE:LMT) today announced continued investment in its technology demonstrations with the upcoming launch of the LM 400, a new mid-sized, common, multi-mission space vehicle. It has completed testing and is currently preparing to embark on its journey on a Firefly Aerospace Alpha rocket in the first half of 2025.
“The LM 400 is Lockheed Martin’s most capable space vehicle, and is able to serve any mission in any orbit,” said Jeff Schrader, vice president, strategy and business development at Lockheed Martin Space. “This mid-sized, common bus is a game changer, because it can support any type of customer, including military, civil and commercial users – and can be customized to each individual mission.”
The LM 400 was digitally designed and developed for:
Any Mission: LM 400 is a common satellite bus design that provides significant customer cost savings. Missions could include remote sensing, communications, imaging and radar.
- Any Orbit: LM 400 was designed with greater propulsion and better low Earth orbit (LEO), medium Earth orbit (MEO), and geosynchronous equatorial orbit (GEO) operability compared to others in its class.
- Any Launch Configuration: LM 400 is compatible with a wide range of launch vehicles as a single, ride-share or multi-launch system.
- Mission Flexibility: LM 400 includes SmartSat™, the company’s software-defined architecture that gives customers even greater mission flexibility and the ability to perform on-board data processing.
- Support to CJADC2: LM 400 can conform to a Modular Open Systems Architecture (MOSA), and interoperate with other platforms across the military services to support the Department of Defense’s vision for Combined Joint All-Domain Command and Control (CJADC2) operations.
This mission will join Lockheed Martin’s growing self-funded technology demonstration portfolio, including the Electronically Steerable Antenna and Pony Express 2. These launches are centered on innovation and designed to deliver proven capabilities with greater speed and agility, which means customers gain access to advanced manufacturing and digital engineering that has already been tested on-orbit to address emerging threats. (Source: ASD Network)
17 Nov 24. Australia’s Optus X payload or TD7 satellite on secret mission is launched by SpaceX from Florida.
Satnews captured image at sunset in Florida from SpaceX’s live video.
On Sunday, November 17 at 5:28 p.m. ET, SpaceX’s Falcon 9 launched the TD7 mission to orbit at 5:28 p.m. EST (2228 UTC) from Launch Complex 39A (LC-39A) at Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The mission and payload are a mystery and are referred to in two different names. The Federal Aviation Administration, calls the payload ‘Optus-X,’ while SpaceX calls the mission ‘TD7.’
Non of the specifics of the mission are known and the agencies are not using its original name. During the launch the SpaceX announcer referred to the payload as a “communications satellite”.
- Ray Rutngamlug, Intelsat’s Associate General Counsel, reported Northrop Grumman’s role in the mission. “Intelsat clarifies that during the Optus X mission, Northrop Grumman will serve as the mission manager,” he wrote. “Northrop Grumman will build and send the commands to the Intelsat antenna, which will process and execute the commands. Telemetry received by Intelsat will be forwarded to Northrop Grumman.”
Satnews captures successful 369th landing from SpaceX’s live video.
This was the 16th flight of the first stage booster supporting this mission that previously launched Crew-5, GPS III Space Vehicle 06, Inmarsat I6-F2, CRS-28, NG-20, and nine Starlink missions. This was SpaceX’s 369th successful landing.
Northrop Grumman-built Optus X for Australia’s Optus ready for SpaceX launch on Sunday
MRV approaching commercial satellite for MEP installation
SpaceX will launch Northrop Grumman-built geostationary communications satellite, Optus X for Australian satellite operator Optus on Sunday, November 17 at 1:29 PM – 3:27 PM PST from Launch Complex 39A, Kennedy Space Center.
According to weather officials, there’s a 95% chance of favorable weather conditions at the time of the launch. The forecast calls for a temperature of 73°F, overcast clouds, 88% cloud cover and a wind speed of 7mph.
This is a project that has been planned over several years and a press release from Northrop Grumman in 2023 shared that under the launch agreement, SpaceX will provide launch services for a planned 2024 launch of the MRV and several MEPs. Optus, Australia’s largest satellite owner and operator, recently completed a purchase agreement with SpaceLogistics for installation of one of the MEPs on its D3 satellite in 2025. (Source: Satnews)
24 Nov 24. Rocket Lab’s HASTE suborbital launch vehicle soars testing hypersonic test launch capabilities. Rocket Lab’s second dedicated mission for Leidos successfully lifted off on November 24, 2024, at 06:00 UTC. The launch was performed by HASTE, a vehicle derived from the two-stage orbital-class expendable Electron, from Pad 0C (Rocket Lab LC-2) within NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility.
This mission marks the second launch of HASTE (Hypersonic Accelerator Suborbital Test Electron) and the first of four launches planned for Leidos between 2024 and 2025.
Rocket Lab was selected by Leidos to provide hypersonic test launch capabilities with HASTE under the MACH-TB project. The project was awarded by Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC) Crane through the Strategic and Spectrum Missions Advanced Resilient Trusted Systems (S2MARTS) Other Transaction Authority (OTA) vehicle on behalf of the U.S. Department of Defense Test Resource Management Center (TRMC).
Jeffrey McCormick, senior intelligence analyst said, “China now has the world’s leading hypersonic arsenal, and Russia currently has three deployed hypersonic weapon systems, including two that have been used in a conflict against Ukraine.”
Rocket Lab launched the first HASTE mission on 17 June 2023 for Leidos under the Multi-Service Advanced Capability Hypersonic Test Bed (MACH-TB) program.
Rocket Lab’s HASTE suborbital launch vehicle is derived from the Company’s Electron rocket but has been modified to support hypersonic payload deployment. By leveraging the heritage of Rocket Lab’s low-cost Electron – the world’s most frequently launched commercial small launch vehicle – HASTE offers true commercial testing capability at a fraction of the cost of current full-scale tests. (Source: Satnews)
14 Nov 24. AST SpaceMobile selects Blue Origin’s New Glenn Rocket to deliver BlueBird satellites to space. Blue Origin now has a multi-launch agreement (MLA) to deliver multiple, next-generation, AST SpaceMobile Block 2 BlueBird satellites to LEO on New Glenn— all launches will occur over a multi-year period from Blue Origin’s Launch Complex 36 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
Artistic rendition of AST SpaceMobiie’s BlueBird satellites on-orbit.
AST SpaceMobile is building the first and only space-based cellular broadband network designed for both commercial and government applications. It will operate directly with everyday smartphones and allow seamless switching between terrestrial cell towers and satellite signals depending on location and coverage needs.
New Glenn stands more than 320 feet (98 meters) tall and is named after John Glenn, the first person to orbit Earth. Its seven-meter fairing enables twice the payload volume of any five-meter class commercial launch system.
The vehicle’s reusable first stage is designed for a minimum of 25 missions and is powered by seven Blue Origin BE-4 engines, the most powerful liquefied natural gas (LNG)-fueled, oxygen-rich staged combustion engine ever flown. Its second stage is powered by two BE-3U engines. Each BE-3U generates 160,000 lbf of thrust in vacuum. Blue Origin also manufactures BE-7 engines for its Blue Moon lunar landers and New Shepard’s BE-3PM engine.
New Glenn’s first launch is on track for this year.
“New Glenn’s performance and unprecedented capacity within its seven-meter fairing enables us to deploy more of our Block 2 BlueBird satellites in orbit, helping provide continuous cellular broadband service coverage across some of the most in-demand cellular markets globally,” said Abel Avellan, Founder, Chairman, and CEO, AST SpaceMobile.
“It’s an honor to support AST SpaceMobile’s deployment of their next generation BlueBird satellites, which will expand connectivity across the globe and positively impact many lives,” said Dave Limp, CEO, Blue Origin. “New Glenn is purpose-built for these kinds of innovative and ambitious missions.” (Source: Satnews)
18 Nov 24. South Korea to launch 3rd spy satellite from Vandenberg base by year-end. South Korea officials hold a Korean national flag as they pose for a photograph as the second military reconnaissance satellite prepares to launch at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, US, in April. (Ministry of National Defense)
The South Korean military is close to launching a third spy satellite, to be a key asset in monitoring North Korea.
The third military reconnaissance satellite will be carried into orbit atop Space X’s Falcon 9 rocket, like the first two, around the third week of December from the Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, according to the Ministry of National Defense on Monday.
The upcoming launch is part of the South Korean military’s project to place five reconnaissance satellites in orbit by the end of 2025 to observe the Korean Peninsula and its surroundings. Some 1.3 trillion won ($932 m) was invested in the 10-year project, which kicked off in 2015.
The first satellite uses an electro-optical infrared technology that is capable of providing high resolution images all day round. The second satellite features a synthetic aperture radar that can penetrate clouds and darkness, as will the following three due to be launched under the project.
Vandenberg Space Force Base is where the South Korean military’s first reconnaissance satellite was sent to space in December last year. The second one was launched from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida this April.
A senior Defense Ministry official said the reconnaissance satellites will play a crucial role in the military’s so-called Kill Chain strategy for preemptively striking North Korean nuclear and missile facilities in the event of a contingency by identifying the location of enemy commands and bases.
“The addition of another satellite will enhance our military’s independent intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities,” the official said. “We will be operating a total of five satellites by next year.”
In November last year, North Korea launched its first military reconnaissance satellite — the Malligyong-1 — into orbit, leading to South Korea partially suspending the 2018 inter-Korean military pact in order to resume surveillance activities around the border.
While the North Korean satellite succeeded in entering orbit, the South Korean military does not think it is capable of carrying out meaningful military reconnaissance missions.
In May, a second attempt by North Korea to send another satellite ended in failure after the rocket carrying it exploded in midair and fell into the sea. The South Korean military retrieved the debris from the explosion at the time to analyze it.
Although North Korean leader Kim Jong-un said at the end of last year that his military would launch three reconnaissance satellites over 2024, no additional attempt was made after the second one failed. (Source: Satnews)