11 Dec 24. US military eyes joint technology through Japan space partnership. The U.S. Space Force hopes its new branch in Japan will spur fresh technology partnerships with the nation, particularly for domain awareness and deep-space observation.
The service on Dec. 4 activated United States Space Forces Japan as its sixth service component. The organization will provide personnel and space expertise to U.S. Space Forces Indo-Pacific. Brig. Gen. Anthony Mastalir, who leads the Space Force’s command in the region, said the establishment of the new component comes as Japan’s Ministry of Defense is prioritizing space in its national defense strategy — pledging to spend bns to improve on-orbit capabilities.
“To the extent that we’re able to shape and inform those investments in a way that makes working and fighting alongside allies more interoperable and more effective, I wanted to have an organization that could contribute to that solution,” he told reporters Tuesday at the Space Force Association Conference in Orlando, Fla.
The U.S. and Japan have been forging closer ties over the last year, with the Defense Department announcing in July it would elevate its command in Japan to a three-star billet that allows its leader to plan large operations with the country. And last month, the U.S. and Australia agreed to a more robust slate of exercises and trainings with Japan beginning with next year’s Talisman Sabre in Queensland.
Japan’s space endeavors include investments in space domain awareness — a top priority for the U.S. Space Force. In 2020, Japan agreed to host U.S. space domain awareness payloads on two satellites in the Quasi-Zenith Satellite System constellation, essentially its version of GPS. Those satellites will launch in 2025 and 2026.
Mastalir said the Space Force is also interested in Japan’s development of a deep-space radar and a standalone space domain awareness satellite slated to launch in the next few years.
“Having more space domain awareness capability, especially from a close ally like Japan, is only going to be helpful,” he said.
Since 2019, the Space Force has established service components to U.S. Space Command, U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, U.S. Central Command as well as U.S. European and Africa commands.
For the last two years, the service has been conducting mission analyses of its operations at those components to forge a plan for how it will flow forces to combatant commands. Mastalir said the document, known as a programming plan, is complete and awaiting final approval from Space Force leadership.
“Essentially this is a blueprint for how Space Force service components will contribute to combat and commands as we stand up other components around the globe,” he said. (Source: Defense News)
11 Dec 24. SES Equips Peruvian Air Force with High-throughput Connectivity via SES-14 Satellite. The Peruvian Air Force (PAF) is using SES’s high-throughput geostationary orbit (GEO) satellite solution to improve connectivity for its Air Force bases and enhance operations all over the country, SES announced today. Under the agreement, SES is providing a turnkey solution which includes delivery and installation of communications hardware, as well as training and enabling the PAF with SES-14 capacity to explore all the possibilities and improvements that the high-throughput satellite (HTS) can offer. SES-14’s wide beams and high-throughput spot beams will allow the PAF to utilise it for a broad range of operations and achieve mission success while enabling their air fleet to stay connected no matter how remote the operations. In particular, the flexible HTS beams will deliver high-performing, forward-return connectivity for real-time information exchange.
“We are pleased to have found a partner in Luxembourg-based SES who has decades of experience delivering high-throughput, high-performance connectivity services to governments around the world. It allows us to advance our digital transformation ambitions thanks to the latest satellite technology,” said General Marcos Francisco Robles Bocanegra, Director of Telematics for the Peruvian Air Force. “Real-time connectivity for the Air Force is a game-changer as it allows taking informed decisions in a timely way.”
“We are delighted to apply SES’s expertise in the Government and Defence domain to deliver a fully integrated solution that satisfies PAF’s demanding connectivity requirements and complying with a challenging implementation schedule. A central part of the solution is SES-14, a GEO HTS, that already provided its efficiency enabling aero applications. We are delighted that the PAF is now using SES-14 to better connect its bases and pilots,” said Omar Trujillo, Vice President of Enterprise Americas at SES. (Source: BUSINESS WIRE)
11 Dec 24. New ASRI rocket launch facility at Denel OTR. The Denel Overberg Test Range (OTR) has – thanks to funding from the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation (DSTI) – added a “sub-orbital sounding rocket launch facility” to its inventory. The facility was commissioned in October and unveiled by deputy DSTI minister Nomalungelo Gina last week (3 December) and seen as a first for South Africa and what is termed “a landmark achievement [locally] in the advancement of aerospace technology and innovation”. The new launch facility was implemented by the Aerospace Systems Research Institute (ASRI) at the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN).
“The space infrastructure programme funded by the DSTI and built by the University of KwaZulu-Natal’s Aerospace Systems Research Institute is a demonstration of what the combined efforts, resources and expertise of government, industry and institutions of knowledge production can achieve, working together for one national goal. This facility here today is a beacon of this partnership,” said the Deputy Minister.
It is designed as a pivotal resource for next generation aerospace projects and the facility will be used for testing and preparing advanced rocket systems, supporting critical research initiatives and driving technological progress in the aerospace industry.
According to the Deputy Minister, the facility is a significant step in South African endeavours to establish a launch capability.
“This gantry is a national asset that will be used to launch sub-orbital rockets built by ASRI and can accommodate larger solid-propellant vehicles of the type operated by spacefaring nations, including potential international clients on the continent and worldwide,” she said.
Unlike orbital launch vehicles that can steer themselves, sub-orbital rockets are unguided and must be launched off a gantry that can be accurately aimed, depending on flight trajectory, mission requirements and safety risks.
The new launch gantry has a state-of-the-art aiming and control system which allows the boom to rotate through 360 degrees in the horizontal plane, while enabling elevation to the vertical. This makes for pinpoint aiming accuracy in any direction and fast adjustment to account for factors including wind direction changes on launch days, a DSTI statement has it.
Standing as tall as a six-storey building when vertical, the boom can be lowered into the horizontal position during loading of the rocket on to the rail as well as for fitting of ground support systems to enable fuelling and the launch of the vehicle.
ASRI Director, Professor Mike Brooks, said the facility is equipped for advanced rocket testing, propulsion system development and flight-testing new technologies. Additionally it supports research in aerospace innovation, ensuring safe and efficient operations.
“The facility is designed to enable sub-orbital sounding rocket missions into the high atmosphere and beyond into space. Many countries use sounding rockets to conduct research related to atmospheric physics, radiation and magnetism in regions too high for balloons and too low for orbiting satellites.
“Sounding rockets help advance our understanding of the Earth and its atmosphere, but they are sizeable vehicles and need a purpose-built gantry from which to launch. The new facility makes it possible to launch ASRI’s smaller Phoenix hybrid rockets that reach around 18 km and are used for training young engineers, but it can also accommodate much larger commercial sounding rockets that can achieve altitudes above 200 km, which is well into space,” said Brooks.
ASRI sees the facility as a cornerstone too advance South Africa’s national priorities, including economic growth, job creation and skills development. By fostering innovation in aerospace technology the facility will attract investment, stimulate local industries and open new markets. It is designed to create highly skilled jobs while offering training opportunities that equip the next generation of engineers and scientists. Through these efforts, the facility will contribute significantly to positioning South Africa as a global leader in space exploration and technological innovation.
“Having a local facility from which to launch such rockets will act as a catalyst to bring rockets to South Africa for scientific missions. Importantly, it will also catalyse the local aerospace industry to develop a South African sounding rocket, as well as the payloads, onboard sensors and subsystems that go into these advanced machines. These activities will stimulate the South Africa’s aerospace industry, creating new economic opportunities for the local advanced manufacturing industry,” Brooks is quoted as saying.
The newly launched facility was put through its paces, successfully launching sounding rockets the Phoenix-1D on 2 December and Phoenix-1E two days later.
The gantry performed as advertised with the rockets doing the same during testing, reaching altitudes of 16.6 km and 11.9 km, respectively. One transmitted magnetometer data sampled during flight back to ground via a telemetry link, giving SA National Space Agency (SANSA) scientists an additional method of sampling the earth’s magnetic field. UKZN is among the top universities globally in terms of its ability to engineer high-performance hybrid rockets.
The unveiling of the national sounding rocket facility is a significant step forward in realising South Africa’s vision of a vibrant and sustainable space ecosystem, according to the DSTI. As the facility begins operations it will not only elevate South Africa’s position in global space research, but also inspire the next generation of space scientists, engineers and innovators, the Department said. (Source: https://www.defenceweb.co.za/)
11 Dec 24. Cuashub.com said today that Chinese national arrested for allegedly flying drone over Vandenberg Space Force Base. Federal agents arrested a Chinese national, Yinpiao Zhou, 39, on December 9 at San Francisco International Airport for allegedly flying a drone over Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. The incident occurred on November 30, coinciding with a sensitive SpaceX launch for the National Reconnaissance Office. Zhou was apprehended while attempting to board a flight to China, according to the US Attorney’s Office in Los Angeles. Zhou faces charges of failing to register a drone and violating national defense airspace, as outlined in a criminal complaint filed in Santa Barbara County federal court. He is scheduled to appear in federal court in San Francisco on Tuesday, said Ciaran McEvoy, a spokesperson for the US Attorney’s Office. Court documents allege that Zhou operated a DJI Mavic 2 drone, weighing approximately two pounds, from Ocean Park near Vandenberg Space Force Base. The drone was flown over the base for 59 minutes, during which it captured aerial photographs of SpaceX rocket pads and other sensitive areas.
“A review of the contents of the Drone SD Card showed several photographs of [the base] taken from an aerial viewpoint,” federal officials wrote in the complaint.
The complaint further states that Zhou had installed software enabling the drone to bypass altitude restrictions in national security airspace.
Federal agents allege that Zhou conducted a Google search for “Vandenberg Space Force Base Drone Rules” on December 8. Additionally, his phone contained messages on the Chinese social media app WeChat from October discussing the drone photography, authorities claim.
When questioned, Zhou reportedly admitted to federal agents that photographing the SpaceX facility “was probably not a good idea.”
SpaceX, owned by Elon Musk, regularly launches Falcon 9 rockets from Vandenberg Space Force Base, including missions under the National Security Space Launch Phase 3 program for the US Space Force. The November 30 launch at 3:10 a.m. successfully deployed a classified payload for the National Reconnaissance Office.
C-UAS defenses called into question
Zhou’s arrest comes at a time when concerns over drone activity near US military installations are running high. Over the past two months, unexplained drone sightings have been reported over US bases in the UK, prompting calls for action.
Congressman Tom Kean Jr. of New Jersey expressed frustration on Monday, stating:
“The safety and privacy of our residents must be a top priority, and right now, both are being put at risk.”
Kean urged federal agencies to allocate more resources to investigate and address the issue. Further investigations into Zhou’s activities and intentions are ongoing.
https://cuashub.com/en/content/chinese-national-arrested-for-allegedly-flying-drone-over-vandenberg-space-force-base/ (Source: https://cuashub.com/)
11 Dec 24. Lunar Pathfinder will be the world’s first dedicated lunar communications relay spacecraft when it launches in 2026. Lunar Pathfinder is a single spacecraft designed by Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd (SSTL) that will offer commercial communication services to lunar orbiters and surface assets such as rovers and instruments, as well as a lunar navigation services demonstrator and scientific experiments. The Lunar Pathfinder mission will support the booming demand from Lunar missions and serve the scientific community’s detailed study and analysis of the far side of the Moon, thus laying the foundation to support future sustainable science and exploration.
Polar Surface Data Relay
For polar surface assets, potentially with limited direct to Earth visibility, the use of Lunar Pathfinder’s data-relay service provides the assurance of a communication link, whatever obstacle the terrain may put between the asset and the Earth. Rovers, constrained to remain within line of sight of the lander to relay their communication, will find a new independence, both in how far they can go from the lander and how long they can survive beyond the lander’s limited lifetime.
For all lunar missions, including orbiters and near side surface assets, which could manage with direct to Earth communication, there is an additional economical and technical benefit to using the proximity data-relay service. Due to the proximity of the Lunar Pathfinder spacecraft, user assets could achieve higher data-rates with a lower performance, lower mass and lower cost communication module on-board.
Far side Lunar Exploration
The far side of the Moon, particularly the South Pole Aitkin Basin, is a key area for future robotic and human exploration due to its chemical and mineral composition. For surface assets on the far side of the Moon which operate without line of sight to Earth, Lunar Pathfinder’s communications relay service will be a mission enabler, providing the vital bridge between Earth and the lunar surface. The stable elliptical orbit of Lunar Pathfinder will allow for long duration visibility of the Southern Lunar Hemisphere each day, with maximum opportunities for the transmission and reception of data between Earth and the lunar surface.
Lunar Pathfinder Customers
Enabled by the UK subscription to the European Space Agency’s (ESA) exploration programme, ESA announced in December 2021 that it will be the anchor customer for services from Lunar Pathfinder. The agreement establishes ESA’s first commercial lunar services contract to deliver new opportunities for lower cost lunar science, technology demonstration and exploration missions. In addition, ESA is working with NASA on an agreement by which NASA would launch and deliver the Lunar Pathfinder spacecraft into its operational lunar orbit in exchange for data-relay services for their own missions, making NASA one of the first users of Lunar Pathfinder services.
Additional customers for services from Lunar Pathfinder are invited to calculate the service they could receive via SSTL’s Lunar Mission Builder App.
Lunar Pathfinder Experimental Payloads
As well as offering communication services to orbiters and lunar surface assets, Lunar Pathfinder will host a number of navigation and scientific experiments including:
- an ESA GNSS receiver, funded by the UK Space Agency and built by UK company European Engineering and Consultancy, capable of detecting weak signals coming from the Earth GNSS infrastructure (GPS and Galileo), demonstrating its potential role into lunar navigation services
- a NASA retro-reflector to demonstrate laser ranging capabilities
- an ESA radiation monitor to study orbital radiation conditions
Key facts
Some key facts about the mission include:
- Lunar Pathfinder spacecraft is being built by SSTL and is due for launch in 2026. It will be operated by SSTL from its Spacecraft Operations Centre in Guildford.
- Lunar Pathfinder will operate in an Elliptical Lunar Frozen Orbit (ELFO) for an operational lifetime of 8 years.
- Lunar Pathfinder will operate two simultaneous channels of communication with lunar assets, one in S-band and one in UHF: communications are relayed back to Earth ground stations in X-band.
- Phase A/B1 Moonlight study is being delivered by a consortium of experienced European space companies led by SSTL. The consortium includes SES Techcom, Airbus, GMV-NSL, Kongsberg Satellite Services and Goonhilly Earth Station.
How is the UK involved?
Lunar Pathfinder is supported by UK Space Agency funding via the European Space Agency.
The Lunar Pathfinder spacecraft is being built by Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd at the company’s facility in Guildford, as well as a number of sub-systems including an in-house S-band antenna.
UK company QinetiQ is using its heritage experience of Mars communication to design and build the Moon-link payload for the Lunar Pathfinder spacecraft. QinetiQ is working on the development of user terminals specifically designed units for compatibility to the Lunar Pathfinder service, for future users to plug and play.
On the ground segment side, Lunar Pathfinder will use the services of Goonhilly Earth Station deep space antenna in Cornwall, refurbished since the Apollo years and at the heart of the sustainable return to the Moon.
The Moonlight Phase A/B1 study is supported by the UK Space Agency across two competitive consortia, including UK companies SSTL, Airbus, Goonhilly Earth Station, GMV-NSL, KBR, Inmarsat and MDA UK. The implementation phase will be subject to future ESA subscriptions and competitive tender following ESA processes. (Source: https://www.gov.uk/)
10 Dec 24. Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) fully assembled, powered-on and advanced the U.S. Space Force’s first Next-Generation Overhead Persistent Infrared (Next-Gen OPIR) Geosynchronous Earth Orbit (GEO) Block 0 satellite to system level testing at its satellite manufacturing facility in Sunnyvale, California.
This Next-Gen OPIR satellite is one of two satellites that will serve as the GEO component of the Space Force’s planned multi-orbit, multi-layer missile warning and tracking architecture to protect our nation and allies against increasing ballistic missile, hypersonic and other emerging threats.
Why it Matters
Next-Gen OPIR is a pacesetting capability that will deliver survivable, missile warning, tracking and defense in a highly contested and congested space domain. From a high GEO orbit vantage point – approximately 22,000 miles above the Earth’s surface – Next-Gen OPIR GEO will provide enhanced sensing capabilities and global coverage to detect ballistic missile, hypersonic and other emerging threats. Its advanced missile warning capability will work in tandem with Space Systems Command’s Medium Earth Orbit Track Custody prototypes and the Space Development Agency’s Tracking Layer satellites in Low Earth Orbit to deter and defeat these threats.
“With its persistent, around the clock, watchman-like surveillance, Next-Gen OPIR GEO will add strength, reliability and resiliency to the Space Force’s future missile warning, tracking and defense architecture,” said Mike Corriea, Lockheed Martin Space’s vice president for Missile Warning programs.
Advancing Towards Launch
This most recent successful milestone in the satellite’s production and testing is a testament to engineering design and rigor. The space vehicle combines two major satellite components for this mission – Lockheed Martin’s LM 2100 bus with enhanced resiliency capabilities and a Raytheon-built advanced missile warning sensor payload. This means the new satellite and its mission payload has the green light for further system level testing, which includes a focus on environmental testing, as it moves toward a 2025 launch.
Lockheed Martin’s capabilities include the whole picture of integrated air and missile defense, from targets and interceptors to satellites, radars, sensors and command and control solutions.
10 Dec 24. ELA to ‘immediately’ shut spaceport in NT and move to Queensland. Equatorial Launch Australia has sensationally announced it will “immediately cease operations” at its spaceport in the Northern Territory and shift to a new site at Cape York in Queensland.
In a strongly worded statement, ELA said the decision was “forced by the inability to finalise a lease” for the expansion of its Arnhem Space Centre, which it blamed on the Northern Land Council.
It’s not known how the potential move would affect its current client contracts at its original site, which include two long-term tenants or any permits signed off by the Australian Space Agency.
A potential move would also make it a direct competitor to Space Centre Australia, the planned spaceport in Cape York that recently announced Scott Morrison as its new chairman.
“Equatorial Launch Australia (ELA) today announced the decision to immediately cease operations of the Arnhem Space Centre in the Northern Territory and relocate the spaceport to a new site in Queensland,” said the company in a press release quietly published on Monday.
“This decision has been forced by the inability of the company to finalise a lease for the expansion of the Arnhem Space Centre. The lease approval process had been in progress formally for just under three years (formal application on 1 January 2022).
“The decision came after the Northern Land Council (NLC) failed to meet its own specified deadline for the approval of the Head Lease for the fourth time over the last 12 months in October 2024.
“Despite desperate appeals from ELA, the Northern Territory Chief Minister’s Department, and the Gumatj Corporation since February 2024, the NLC would not issue a Head Lease or provide any official reasons for the delays.
“The Gumatj are ELA’s direct landlord for the existing site and are the traditional owners and operators of the adjacent and disused bauxite mine on the Gove Peninsula, the site that ELA had requested for the spaceport expansion.
“The continued delays from the NLC have made the existence of the spaceport in the Northern Territory challenging, and the most recent delay to late 2025 to allow consultation with traditional owner groups had the potential to put ELA in breach of its contractual obligations with launch clients and jeopardised a previously secured major funding round.
“Accordingly, Management and the Board of ELA were left with no option other than to act in the best interest of its customers and shareholders and abandon negotiations to seek an alternate equatorial site in Queensland.
“Working with the Queensland Government, ELA has identified a potential alternate site and has commenced planning and regulatory clearances for its contracted launches in Q3 2025. The new site, named the ‘Australian Space Centre Cape York™’, will be at Weipa in Queensland. More information about this new site will be released in coming days.
“ELA is saddened that the more than $100m investment that ELA was making in the East Arnhem region, and the projected $3.6bn in direct economic stimulus, local job creation, and support for local and regional students in STEM projects, as well as the long-term opportunities that were forecast over the life of the proposed lease, will now no longer materialise.
“ELA would like to thank the unrelenting support of the Northern Territory Government and the Gumatj Corporation, who have both been exemplary partners in the spaceport’s eight-year existence and throughout this difficult process.” (Source: Space Connect)
09 Dec 24. Lockheed Martin’s [NYSE: LMT] newest technology demonstration, called the Tactical Satellite (TacSat), is complete and ready for launch in 2025 aboard a Firefly Aerospace Alpha rocket.
TacSat is an intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance spacecraft with a mission to prove specialized sensing and communications capabilities on orbit. The satellite will participate in exercises next year that highlight cross-domain kill-web connectivity, enabling timely execution of tactical space missions.
“This area of focus is especially important to the future of space as it becomes a more contested environment,” said Paul Koether, director of tactical space at Lockheed Martin. “We’re thrilled to be one step closer to displaying game-changing communications and sensing in the ultimate high ground.”
What’s On Board?
In an increasingly complex battlespace, infrared sensing can be a decisive edge providing more complete situational awareness for allied forces.
TacSat will host a proven Lockheed Martin infrared sensor on board that brings previously developed technology to space for the first time. This sensor produces high quality imagery and it can interface with federated Battle Management Command & Control (BMC2) combat systems to provide joint forces with a comprehensive view of threats.
The satellite will also feature Lockheed Martin’s first 5G.MIL® payload on orbit. This provides cellular-like networking for military space assets, making satellite constellations more resilient. It also helps enable seamless connectivity with tools in the air, at sea and on land.
The power of proliferated connection and influx of actionable data this technology brings will strengthen our customers’ ability to stay ahead of threats on the horizon.
The Bigger Picture
Space-enhanced Combined Joint All-Domain Command and Control (CJADC2) will enable the global connection of our nation and allies’ military assets. Once operational on orbit, TacSat will be available for customer exercises, including learning endeavors related to Find, Fix, Track, Target, Engage, Assess (F2T2EA) missions.
Having successfully completed rigorous environmental testing earlier this summer, TacSat has completed its final checkouts at Lockheed Martin’s Littleton, Colorado, campus. Next up on its road to launch, the satellite will ship out to its launch site in California for final processing ahead of liftoff in 2025.
09 Dec 24. To Stay on Path, Defense Space Programs Need Domestic Software Developers. During the COVID-19 pandemic, shortages of electronic components slowed down development of satellites headed to the Space Development Agency. But it’s not only parts and subcomponents that affect the timeline of satellite delivery, said the agency’s director.
“Even though it takes a while to get the hardware and the supply chain built up to actually build the satellites, it doesn’t matter what you see on the schedule on day one, I’ll tell you right now … software is always on your critical path, mostly because you can’t start a lot of the software until you have some of the hardware,” said Derek Tournear, speaking Saturday at the Reagan National Defense Forum in Simi Valley, California.
The SDA is building the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture, which will eventually include hundreds of satellites, delivered in tranches every two years, with each tranche providing more capability than the last.
The network of hundreds of optically connected satellites will deliver two primary capabilities to warfighters on the ground. The first is beyond line-of-sight targeting for ground and maritime time-sensitive targets, which includes mobile missiles and ships, for instance. The system will provide the ability to detect those targets, track them, calculate a fire control solution and deliver that solution down to a weapons platform so the target can be destroyed. The second capability is similar to the first but for enemy missiles already in flight.
Right now, Tournear said, Tranche 0 of the PWSA is already in orbit. That includes about 27 satellites. Tranche 1 will come in a few months, he said, which means about 160 satellites in space by next year to provide operational capability to service members on the ground.
The Tranche 0 satellites, he said, launched about seven months late due to supply chain issues that resulted from COVID-19, including, among other things, an inability to buy resistors.
Tranche 1’s launch will be delayed as well, he said, also due to supply chain issues. But now, he said, it’s not resistors, but much more complex parts.
“We can buy resistors all day long now, but there’s a difference between being able to manufacture an optical terminal or a reaction wheel on the order of single digits versus being able to ramp that up to where I need 100 of them,” he said. “And obviously people were a little optimistic in how long it would take them to ramp up their manufacturing lines. And we pushed them. We pushed them pretty strongly on that.”
Now, he said, the supply chain for parts needed to make satellites has caught up to what’s needed by SDA. But it’s not only parts that satellites need, Tournear said, its software as well.
“Supply chain is not only supply chain in the hardware and being able to build things, but we also need a robust industrial base that can create software, test software, get the software ready to go, and build that capability up,” he said.
Right now, Tournear said, much of the industrial base relies on foreign entities to produce software. It’s something he said he’d like to see change.
“It’s one of the things that we’ve kind of said we’re worried about that at the Space Development Agency,” he said. “We want our flight software on our satellites to be written in the U.S., because that’s one of the supply chain interdiction things that I’m worried about. And so that’s been a bottleneck.”
Tournear was also clear that he looks to America’s “industrial base” to build the PWSA, not just the defense industrial base.
“I want people to also … stop thinking about the defense industrial base,” he said. “We don’t look at the defense industrial base. We look at the entire industrial base. And by the way, if you happen to do defense as part of that industrial base, more power to you. But we want to leverage the commercial side of that: hardware and software, because those are both critical.” (Source: U.S. DoD)
05 Dec 24. ESA launches Copernicus Sentinel-1C aboard Vega-C from French Guiana. The third Copernicus Sentinel-1 satellite, Sentinel-1C, has launched aboard a Vega-C rocket, flight VV25, from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana. The rocket lifted off on 5 December 2024 at 22:20 CET (18:20 local time). Sentinel-1C extends the legacy of its predecessors, delivering high-resolution radar imagery to monitor Earth’s changing environment, supporting a diverse range of applications and advance scientific research. Additionally, Sentinel-1C introduces new capabilities for detecting and monitoring maritime traffic.
The launch also marks Vega-C’s ‘return to flight’, a key step in restoring Europe’s independent access to space. Vega-C is the evolution of the Vega family of rockets and delivers increased performance, greater payload volume and improved competitiveness.
Ariane Launch Area 1 (ELV) has witnessed the launch of 51 rockets, including 51 orbital launch attempts, while Guiana Space Centre, French Guiana, has been the site for 323 rocket launches.
The third Copernicus Sentinel-1 satellite was launched on a Vega-C rocket from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana. Sentinel-1C extends the legacy of its predecessors, delivering high-resolution radar imagery to monitor Earth’s changing environment, supporting a diverse range of applications and advancing scientific research. Additionally, Sentinel-1C introduces new capabilities for detecting and monitoring maritime traffic.
Sentinel-1C was launched into orbit on 5 December, lifting off aboard Vega-C at 22:20 CET (18:20 local time). The launch proceeded smoothly, with the rocket reaching space in eight minutes and dropping off Sentinel-1C at approximately 00:04 CET.
The launcher’s mission, called VV25, is a return-to-flight for Vega-C – Europe’s lightweight, high-performance rocket – marking the restart of routine commercial operations for the new launcher. At 00:12 CET, ESA established communication with the satellite confirming that it was safely in orbit.
ESA’s Director General Josef Aschbacher said, “One moment combined two great European achievements today: the third launch of a Sentinel-1 satellite and the third launch of Vega-C, marking a triumphant return to form for both flagship European projects. It was exciting and touching to see the mix of the European launcher and Copernicus community and teams rooting each other on in true Team Europe form.
“With the insertion of Sentinel-1C into orbit, ESA continues a legacy of steadfast Sentinels protecting the Earth and exemplifies why Europe needs secured flights: because what we send to space provides benefits to Earth, and it all starts with a launch.”
ESA’s Director of Space Transportation Toni Tolker-Nielsen said, “Today’s launch marks a crucial step forward, reaffirming European independent access to space. With Vega-C back in flight and the inaugural launch of Ariane 6 in July, we are in a great place going forward and I salute all the hard-working teams all over Europe and its spaceport who have worked tirelessly to achieve this success.”
ESA’s Director of Earth Observation Programmes Simonetta Cheli added, “We are thrilled to celebrate the launch of Sentinel-1C, an example of the enduring partnership between ESA and the European Commission. The mission plays a crucial role in addressing global challenges like climate change and disaster response, while ensuring the continuity of vital radar data for monitoring Earth’s land, oceans and ice.
“With Sentinel-1C successfully in orbit and Vega-C back in flight, Europe continues to demonstrate its leadership in space, delivering tangible benefits for Earth through cutting-edge technology and collaboration.” (Source: Satnews)
02 Dec 24. Eseye + Sateliot join forces for global IoT via seamless satellite-terrestrial integration. The partnership aims to enable seamless and ubiquitous global connectivity in locations where there is no cellular coverage from a Mobile Operator. It uses the new 3GPP Release 17 (Rel.17) standard to achieve multi-RAT connectivity to non-terrestrial networks (NTN) from a single SIM solution. Sateliot is the first company to operate a LEO 5G / NB-IoT satellite constellation that functions to provide a seamless extension of existing cellular networks using the advanced Rel.17 protocol to cover 100% of the planet. The technology provides seamless connectivity, allowing cellular-enabled IoT devices to connect directly to its satellite network when terrestrial cellular coverage is unavailable. This process functions as standard roaming, providing a smooth and reliable user experience. This ensures customer devices can enjoy uninterrupted and reliable IoT connectivity across both terrestrial and satellite infrastructures, providing ultra-high-quality connectivity in the remotest environments.
Positioned in polar orbits, the satellites provide:
- Complete global coverage by
geographic coordinate
- Reaching even the most remote and underserved areas of the planet.
- Paving the way for IoT use case
innovation and global adoption.
Sateliot’s partnership with Eseye will provide comprehensive IoT connectivity solutions that cater to a wide range of applications and industries, driving innovation and operational excellence worldwide.
With the advancements of Eseye’s multi-RAT flexibility to use Sateliot’s satellite-based connectivity, urban and industrial IoT deployments will be able to access secure global coverage as well as reliability in remote and underserved areas where zero cellular coverage from any operator is available.
Release 17 standardizes using satellites with cellular modems and antennas, enabling connections to geostationary satellites and LEO constellations. Even in areas with poor terrestrial coverage, devices can switch to satellite networks, ensuring uninterrupted connectivity on highways, in forests, or in remote locations.
Leveraging partnerships with more than 700 operators in 190 countries, Eseye already ensures broad and reliable network access for IoT deployments. With its multi-RAT capabilities, Eseye supports various radio access technologies (e.g., LTE, eMTC) to enhance connectivity resilience and flexibility. With a focus on Urban and Industrial IoT, Eseye solutions are ideal for applications in smart grids, EV charging, manufacturing, and smart cities where robust terrestrial networks are essential.
Offering scalable global connectivity, Sateliot ensures IoT devices remain operational regardless of geographical challenges. While targeting applications and industries operating in remote or globally dispersed locations, its solutions are specifically designed to support agriculture, logistics, and environmental monitoring.
Employing satellite-based LPWAN and NTN NB-IoT technologies to extend IoT connectivity, Sateliot goes beyond traditional terrestrial limits by delivering cutting-edge satellite-based IoT connectivity and thus extending coverage to remote and underserved areas where terrestrial networks are limited or unavailable.
Gianluca Redolfi, Sateliot’s CCO, said, “Our strength comes from being ahead in operations, sales, and regulatory compliance. While many competitors face challenges like landing rights or sales, Sateliot stands out because we started working on the standard early, were the first to support it, and have gained strong backing from the industry.”
Adam Hayes, COO at Eseye, said, “Customers want their devices to connect and by working with Sateliot we can extend coverage beyond the current cellular offer. Together, we are paving the way for seamless, global connectivity that takes Eseye’s already highly resilient network to new heights to enable the interconnected world of tomorrow.” (Source: Satnews)
02 Dec 24. SpaceX launches secret NROL-126 mission, the second launch from two coasts on Saturday. On Saturday, November 30 at 12:10 a.m. PT, the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO), in partnership with the U.S. Space Force Space Launch Delta 30, and SpaceX watched as the Falcon 9 launched the NROL-126 mission and 20 Starlink satellites from Space Launch Complex 4 East (SLC-4E) at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. This was the first flight for the first stage booster supporting this mission. NROL-126 was the fifth launch of the NRO’s proliferated architecture of imaging satellites built by SpaceX and Northrop Grumman. SpaceX launched the first four batches of NRO satellites to low Earth orbit in May, June, September and October. The mission emblem’s blue circles artistically depict a proliferated constellation of satellites, reflecting the new paradigm for assets the NRO is putting on orbit. The constellation design also suggests an eye’s iris, reflecting the NRO’s reconnaissance mission — seeing Earth from the perspective of stars. Additional design elements include the limitless horizon and the path to orbit with a four-point star. The tagline, “Strength in Numbers,” describes the NRO’s new strategy of a proliferated overhead architecture — numerous, smaller satellites designed for capability and resilience. (Source: Satnews)
09 Dec 24. Space42 (ADX: SPACE42), a UAE-based AI-powered SpaceTech company with a global reach, and ICEYE, the global leader in Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) satellite operations for high-fidelity Earth Observation, today announced the creation of a joint venture to manufacture SAR satellites in the UAE, building on their successful cooperation, which includes the recent launch of the UAE’s first SAR satellite, Foresight-1, in August 2024. Focused on satellite manufacturing and deploying SAR satellite missions, this joint venture will directly advance the UAE’s Earth Observation (EO) Program, which was created to build national satellite remote sensing and EO capabilities. The joint venture aims to address the growing demand for high-resolution imagery and data from SAR satellites, which can be applied across various use cases. Space42’s new Assembly, Integration, and Testing (AIT) and LEO mission operations facilities in Abu Dhabi will be home to a local SAR ecosystem, hosting the joint venture’s manufacturing operations and Space42’s constellation operation services. This joint partnership also serves as a platform for technology transfer and knowledge sharing that will ultimately propel the national R&D efforts for future sovereign SAR payloads. The joint venture strengthens ICEYE’s local footprint to support UAE’s growing need for SAR and Earth Observation capabilities.
Hasan Al Hosani, CEO of Bayanat Smart Solutions, Space42, said: “The joint venture is a continuation of our ongoing strategic partnership with ICEYE to advance Earth Observation capabilities. It will directly support Space42’s commitment to unlocking the full potential of space and ground systems capabilities, ultimately adding customer value through AI-enabled solutions. It also supports the UAE’s space ambitions by bringing SAR manufacturing to the region, positioning the nation at the forefront of advancing space technology globally.”
This partnership will enrich the UAE’s industrial ecosystem by localizing the supply chain and sourcing components and services from existing industrial players in the UAE and build a strong local body of knowledge for the UAE in SAR with the participation of Emirati talent. It will also support Emiratization efforts, providing opportunities for national talent to drive innovation and contribute to economic growth and national prosperity.
Rafal Modrzewski, CEO and Co-founder of ICEYE said: “This joint venture is expected to bring efficiency in deploying, managing, and operating SAR constellations as Space42 and ICEYE join forces to address the market in a coordinated approach. We are proud to see our satellite production line extended to manufacture state-of-the-art SAR technologies in the UAE through our partnership with Space42, enhancing the global reach and positive impact of ICEYE’s technology. We are excited to grow ICEYE’s local footprint and look forward to accelerating the UAE space program and the local space and SAR capabilities by harnessing the most of both companies’ expertise for the benefit of the people of the UAE.”
This joint venture is the latest in several strategic partnerships that capitalize on Space42 and ICEYE’s complementary capabilities. The most recent was the successful launch of the UAE’s first SAR satellite, Foresight-1, in August 2024. Foresight-1 was launched as part of the UAE’s comprehensive SAR constellation, which will continue to grow over the next three years.
06 Dec 24. Joint Statement From The Combined Space Operations Initiative Principals’ Board Meeting in Italy to Advance Space Security. The Combined Space Operations (CSpO) Initiative Principals’ Board met from December 3-5, 2024, in Florence, Italy. Senior representatives from Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, New Zealand, Norway, the United Kingdom, and the United States gathered for the annual meeting. The Principals emphasized the importance of the responsible and lawful use of space, discussed existing and emerging threats to space systems, and identified further opportunities for collaboration and cooperation. This year, the CSpO Initiative celebrated its ten-year anniversary. Over these years, the Initiative has pursued collaborative efforts to meet rapidly evolving challenges and opportunities. Space services are integral to everyday lives around the world. World economies, research and development, social activities, transportation, and life-saving emergency services benefit from continuous technological advances in, from, to, and through space. These services enable communications around the globe, help provide weather forecasts, deliver humanitarian aid, and support traffic navigation. These services also underpin national security and defense, helping to protect societies and the global economy. The CSpO Initiative Principals shared perspectives on the current and future threats to the freedom of access to and use of space. Principals reiterated their national commitments to maintaining a peaceful, safe, stable, secure and sustainable outer space environment, and upholding existing legal frameworks. This includes the widely accepted Outer Space Treaty, and the obligation not to place in orbit around the Earth any objects carrying nuclear weapons or other weapons of mass destruction, the installation of such weapons on celestial bodies, or the stationing of such weapons in outer space in any other manner. The CSpO Initiative Principals discussed the importance of international dialogue and cooperation to promote safe and responsible operations in space, to reduce the risk of misperceptions, and to pursue activities in ways that minimize the creation of long-lived debris. Principals reaffirmed national commitments not to conduct destructive direct-ascent anti-satellite missile tests. Further, Principals shared views on and support for other multilateral efforts, including at the United Nations, to foster international cooperation, transparency, confidence-building and verification measures, and norms of responsible behavior and to ensure safety and security in space for all nations. Working together, the CSpO Initiative Participants are becoming more agile, resilient, and interoperable; ready to seize the opportunities of the rapidly evolving space sector; and able to address the challenges presented by a competitive, contested, and congested space domain. In looking to the future, the Principals committed to working together in pursuit of current and new opportunities for cooperation and collaboration; to preserve access and freedom to operate in space, and to promote responsible space behaviors in support of economic, scientific, commercial, and security interests. (Source: U.S. DoD)