Spire Global and Kleos Space S.A. (ASX: KSS, Frankfurt: KS1) are combing forces to combine Spire AIS data with KLEOS RF data to create a new shared capability to bring safety at sea.

Kleos and Spire have entered into an agreement to cooperate on creating enhanced tools for maritime safety. The effort will support and augment tools for governments, maritime agencies, and all organizations with strategic interest in detecting dark vessels.

The two companies, both with operations in Luxembourg, will introduce the new product offering in Q4 of this year — Spire data will now include with Kleos’ RF Reconnaissance data products, which are available on the site in three levels — Guardian RF, Guardian LOCATE and Guardian UDT — and can be pre-ordered by registered users on a monthly or annual basis.  Spire will deliver proprietary AIS data to the RF data Kleos providers in these situations where AIS is undetected.

This partnership represents the first time that AIS provider and RF Satellite provider have signed an agreement where these datasets can be easily integrated. And the first time two New Space organizations based in Luxembourg have partnered up to strengthen safety at sea.

John Lusk, GM, Spire Maritime, said that the company shares a desire to illuminate parts of the world, just as Kleos does — the firm  continue to partner with the most innovative industry experts to create new access to highly relevant datasets for customers worldwide. Spire Global’s reputation for valuable data is due to the company’s large constellation of fully owned and operated satellites that offer data and analytics for parts of the world where collecting data is notoriously difficult. The company recently created Spire Maritime, which closed out 2018 with 160% year-over-year revenue growth. The new effort is pushing the Satellite AIS maritime segment forward with unique innovations in product creation.

For all involved in the satellite and space industry and the various market segments that add value to these dynamic environments, the 2020 SmallSat Symposium is truly worth your consideration for attendance.

The SmallSat Symposium is hosted by Satnews Publishers which, since 1983, has been a provider of a satellite news, media and events. This information packed forum was created to enable you and your company to secure a larger portion of market share as well as to take part in the next stages of your company’s or organization’s growth.

The personal connections at the SmallSat Symposium enable attendees to network with established organizations, subject-matter experts as well as ‘New Space’ entrants.

The SmallSat Symposium will focus on new technologies and the business environment that is shaping the implementation of smallsat constellations, smallsat launchers, the challenges facing the smallsat developer and actors as well as the enormous benefits of these advanced technologies that will benefit our world.

This event assembles more than 100 diverse speakers, all of whom possess deep industry experience. Additionally, numerous opportunities exist to mingle and network with peers while enjoying exceptional, complimentary meals and refreshment breakfast.

Learn more at this direct link…

OneWeb has succeeded in bringing into use the company’s spectrum rights in the Ku- and Ka-band spectrum.

To achieve this milestone, OneWeb’s satellites have been transmitting at the designated frequencies in the correct orbit for more than 90 days, enabling OneWeb to meet the requirements to secure spectrum bands over which it has priority rights under ITU rules and regulations. These rights will now be confirmed as the UK administration, which has filed our satellite system with the ITU, will complete the required Notification and Registration process of the company’s LEO network.

By meeting the requirements of the ITU regulations, OneWeb is well on its way to securing spectrum rights to high priority Ku-band spectrum for service links, and Ka-band for its global gateways. It will now have access to over 6 GHz of spectrum that will enable it to deliver its high-speed, low latency connectivity.

This achievement is the latest in a string of major milestones charting OneWeb’s progress toward commercial service and full global coverage by 2021, including the successful launch of its first six satellites in February, the opening of its state-of-the-art Florida manufacturing facility earlier this month, and proving its ability to deliver low latency, high-speed services through its recent full HD streaming tests.

During the remainder of 2019, OneWeb will focus on commencing its monthly launch program of more than 30 satellites per month, building an initial constellation of 650 satellites on its way to 1,980 satellites. The first phase of the constellation will provide global coverage; and further additions to the network will be focused on adding capacity to meet growing customer demands.

Sustainability is a core OneWeb’s commitment to bridge the digital divide. In June 2019, OneWeb reaffirmed its promise to leave no trace in space with its Responsible Space commitments based on the premise that Space is a shared natural resource, which if used responsibly, can help transform the way we live, work, and connect.

Ruth Pritchard-Kelly, VP of Regulatory for OneWeb, said spectrum is a scarce resource and the ITU plays a vital role in the global management for access. The harsh reality for anyone trying to make a real impact on global connectivity is that no matter how good your network is, success is not possible without the correct spectrum. With the company’s spectrum now in use, OneWeb has proved it can bring together all the elements required —– in space, on the ground, and in between — to change the face of connectivity everywhere.

For all involved in the satellite and space industry and the various market segments that add value to these dynamic environments, the 2020 SmallSat Symposium is truly worth your consideration for attendance.

The SmallSat Symposium is hosted by Satnews Publishers which, since 1983, has been a provider of a satellite news, media and events. This information packed forum was created to enable you and your company to secure a larger portion of market share as well as to take part in the next stages of your company’s or organization’s growth.

The personal connections at the SmallSat Symposium enable attendees to network with established organizations, subject-matter experts as well as ‘New Space’ entrants.

The SmallSat Symposium will focus on new technologies and the business environment that is shaping the implementation of smallsat constellations, smallsat launchers, the challenges facing the smallsat developer and actors as well as the enormous benefits of these advanced technologies that will benefit our world.

This event assembles more than 100 diverse speakers, all of whom possess deep industry experience. Additionally, numerous opportunities exist to mingle and network with peers while enjoying exceptional, complimentary meals and refreshment breakfast.

Learn more at this direct link…

Spaceflight has purchased the first commercial launch of the Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV) from NewSpace India Limited (NSIL) scheduled for launch from the Satish Dhawan Space Center in Sriharikota, India, later this year.

Spaceflight has already sold-out the entire manifest for this secured SSLV-D2 launch with spacecraft from an undisclosed U.S.-based satellite constellation customer. Spaceflight will aggregate the mission, delivering a single point of contact for the customer, handling all aspects of integration and mission management for the launch. 

The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) developed the SSLV with a payload capacity of 500 kg. to mid-inclination LEO and 300 kg. to SSO, making it ideally suited for launching smallsats. By comparison, the larger Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) from ISRO is capable of launching 1100 – 1600 kg. capacity payload into SSO.

Artistic rendition of ISRO’s Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV).

With the completion of this mission, Spaceflight will have executed nine missions with ISRO, sending more than 100 spacecraft to orbit aboard its launch vehicles. The first SSLV mission will deploy commercial spacecraft in two different orbital planes.

For Spaceflight, this mission follows the successful launches of PSLV-C45 which deployed 21 rideshare spacecraft, GTO-1, which deployed the first commercial lunar lander in February aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9, and SSO-A, the company’s historic dedicated rideshare mission, which launched 64 unique smallsats in December 2018. To date, Spaceflight has negotiated the launch of 270 satellites and has plans for approximately 10 missions in 2019 launching nearly 100 payloads across a wide variety of launch vehicles, including the Falcon 9, Antares, Electron, Vega, Soyuz, LauncherOne, and PSLV/SSLV.

Curt Blake, CEO and President of Spaceflight, said the SSLV is the much-needed solution to fill the gap in the portfolio of small launch vehicles. SSLV is designed for the launch-on-demand concept with very quick turn-around capability in between launches. SSLV is perfectly suited for launching multiple microsatellites at a time and supports multiple orbital drop-offs. The company is excited to add SSLV to our launch portfolio and manage many launches together — first to LEO mid-inclinations this year and SSO missions starting in the fall of 2020. Blake added that as the firm’s customers seek to populate their constellations, they want access to launch vehicles sized for their spacecraft and budgets, across a mix of rideshare and dedicated missions. ISRO has been a trusted and reliable launch partner for years with the PSLV, and we’re very excited to work with NSIL to offer customers the option to launch from SSLV, hence Spaceflight’s purchase of its first available launch.

For all involved in the satellite and space industry and the various market segments that add value to these dynamic environments, the 2020 SmallSat Symposium is truly worth your consideration for attendance.

The SmallSat Symposium is hosted by Satnews Publishers which, since 1983, has been a provider of a satellite news, media and events. This information packed forum was created to enable you and your company to secure a larger portion of market share as well as to take part in the next stages of your company’s or organization’s growth.

The personal connections at the SmallSat Symposium enable attendees to network with established organizations, subject-matter experts as well as ‘New Space’ entrants.

The SmallSat Symposium will focus on new technologies and the business environment that is shaping the implementation of smallsat constellations, smallsat launchers, the challenges facing the smallsat developer and actors as well as the enormous benefits of these advanced technologies that will benefit our world.

This event assembles more than 100 diverse speakers, all of whom possess deep industry experience. Additionally, numerous opportunities exist to mingle and network with peers while enjoying exceptional, complimentary meals and refreshment breakfast.

Learn more at this direct link…

HawkEye 360 Inc. has secured $70 million in Series B financing — this financing capitalizes the company’s business plan to include buildout and launch of the HawkEye 360 commercial satellite constellation and development of the company’s line of RF analytic products by 2021.

Round participants include new investors Airbus and Esri, existing investors Razor’s Edge Ventures, Allied Minds, and Shield Capital Partners as well as additional undisclosed parties.

With this Series B financing, HawkEye 360 will focus on scaling its business to provide the fastest and most relevant RF analytics in the market to support rapidly growing customer demand. Today, HawkEye 360 is delivering products to customers using its first cluster of three formation flying satellites and fabricating a second satellite cluster for launch in early 2020. This financing supports the development and launch of four additional clusters, forming a fully operational constellation of 18 highly capable satellites with rapid global revisit.

Since being founded in 2015, HawkEye 360 has now raised over $100 million in funding. HawkEye 360 launched its first satellite cluster in December 2018 and brought its first product, RFGeo, to market in April of this year. RFGeo identifies and locates the position of a broad range of RF emitters, such as X-band navigation radars, VHF push-to-talk radios, satellite terminals, and emergency beacons. The company’s pioneering geospatial data layer reveals patterns of activity and provides valuable insights for maritime, defense/intelligence, telecommunications, and crisis response applications.

PJT Partners LP served as exclusive financial advisor and placement agent to HawkEye 360 in connection with the Series B capital raise.​ Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP acted as legal counsel for the company in connection with the transaction.

John Serafini, CEO, HawkEye 360, said receiving an investment of this size, especially for a pioneering space start-up, reaffirms the value investors place on the advanced capabilities of the company’s satellites and the highly innovative RF data analytic products the firm is delivering to customers. This financing capitalizes the development of the firm’s full constellation as well as provides exceptional access to European markets through the new investor and distribution partner, Airbus. The company is honored to have such a phenomenal group of investors supporting HawkEye 360’s work, the team, and the firm’s vision for the future of space-based RF analytics.

Mark Spoto, Chairman of HawkEye 360’s Board of Directors and Managing Director at Razor’s Edge, said the capital markets are now determining the leaders of the emerging commercial space marketplace. This funding demonstrates the strength of HawkEye 360’s team, business plan, and ability to execute on commitments. This company’s exceptional leadership and hardworking team of innovators have accomplished a series of major milestones. The Board and investor syndicate look forward to further successes as HawkEye 360 continues to expand services both in the U.S. marketplace and internationally.

Evert Dudok, Head of Communications, Intelligence and Security & Member of the Executive Committee at Airbus Defence and Space, added that the company is joining the funding of HawkEye 360 at an important time in their growth. Analytics from space is a game-changer for the industry and HawkEye 360’s satellite data are highly complementary to Airbus’ global portfolio of optical and synthetic aperture radar satellites. Therefore, Airbus believes this investment will support acceleration of their plans and will be of mutual business benefit to the companies in the future.

For all involved in the satellite and space industry and the various market segments that add value to these dynamic environments, the 2020 SmallSat Symposium is truly worth your consideration for attendance.

The SmallSat Symposium is hosted by Satnews Publishers which, since 1983, has been a provider of a satellite news, media and events. This information packed forum was created to enable you and your company to secure a larger portion of market share as well as to take part in the next stages of your company’s or organization’s growth.

The personal connections at the SmallSat Symposium enable attendees to network with established organizations, subject-matter experts as well as ‘New Space’ entrants.

The SmallSat Symposium will focus on new technologies and the business environment that is shaping the implementation of smallsat constellations, smallsat launchers, the challenges facing the smallsat developer and actors as well as the enormous benefits of these advanced technologies that will benefit our world.

This event assembles more than 100 diverse speakers, all of whom possess deep industry experience. Additionally, numerous opportunities exist to mingle and network with peers while enjoying exceptional, complimentary meals and refreshment breakfast.

Learn more at this direct link…

Alta Devices has announced the firm is scaling up solar production to meet growing demand for smallsats.

Tens of thousands of LEO smallsats are expected to be launched over the next decade. They will all rely on the sun for power. Alta Devices solar material has the potential to meet the specific needs of this SmallSat boom.

The single junction Gallium Arsenide photovoltaic product
currently produced by Alta Devices.

Solar is the single most expensive hardware component in a smallsat. Alta Devices has developed proprietary equipment to mass produce its thin film gallium arsenide. This equipment is being scaled up to produce at much higher volumes and lower cost than other space solar manufacturers. Alta’s ability to produce at this scale is unique and can substantially lower the cost of each SmallSat.

Furthermore, Alta Devices flexible solar cells provide a new level of mechanical and design flexibility for the satellite industry. Alta’s technology can be mounted to thin, flexible, low-mass deployable structures allowing creative design approaches to maximizing the solar array. These include coiled carbon fiber booms, flat-packed, polymer-based accordioned arrays, or even inflatable structures. This allows more compact design of the high-power solar arrays required to power high-speed LEO communication satellites.

Finally, traditional photovoltaic assemblies (PVAs) are composed of hundreds or thousands of small solar cells, each protected with a tile of glass, connected to each other through individual metallic welds, which are then carefully grouted to prevent electrical arcing and attack from the space environment. In contrast, Alta’s space product will consist of flexible, glass-free units that are 10 to 100 times larger, thus eliminating breakage, lowering cost and having no exposed electrical interconnects. Alta’s space product will enable bonding to customer substrates using a large-area, high-volume vacuum bonding process, as opposed to mounting individual cells or CICs (Coverglass Interconnected Cells).

Overall, Alta’s goal is to provide LEO satellite manufacturers with a better balance of solar conversion efficiency, reduced array weight, cell durability, speed of deployment, and cost compared with conventional space solar cells.

According to filings disclosed by the Federal Communications Commission, over 15,000 LEO smallsats are planned for deployment in the near future. The applications of these satellites include communications, scientific research, military intelligence, remote sensing, and new technology development.

Over the coming years, Alta Devices plans to produce tens of megawatts of solar. Manufacturing will take place at Alta Devices corporate facility in Sunnyvale, California, and at an international manufacturing facility. In April this year, Alta Devices solar was used on a successful mission to power over 60 ThinSats launched from the NASA Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia. Alta Devices is working with top satellite manufacturers for the deployment of its technology on several upcoming launches.

Alta Devices CEO, Jian Ding, said now that the company is established in the HALE UAV/HAPS market, the firm is committed to enabling LEO satellite projects with this unique technology. Alta Devices believes this solution will meet the needs of this fast-growing market.

For all involved in the satellite and space industry and the various market segments that add value to these dynamic environments, the 2020 SmallSat Symposium is truly worth your consideration for attendance.

The SmallSat Symposium is hosted by Satnews Publishers which, since 1983, has been a provider of a satellite news, media and events. This information packed forum was created to enable you and your company to secure a larger portion of market share as well as to take part in the next stages of your company’s or organization’s growth.

The personal connections at the SmallSat Symposium enable attendees to network with established organizations, subject-matter experts as well as ‘New Space’ entrants.

The SmallSat Symposium will focus on new technologies and the business environment that is shaping the implementation of smallsat constellations, smallsat launchers, the challenges facing the smallsat developer and actors as well as the enormous benefits of these advanced technologies that will benefit our world.

This event assembles more than 100 diverse speakers, all of whom possess deep industry experience. Additionally, numerous opportunities exist to mingle and network with peers while enjoying exceptional, complimentary meals and refreshment breakfast.

Learn more at this direct link…

To help accelerate the rapid development of new generations of technology, enhance satellite lifetimes, and better predict satellite reentry times, The Aerospace Corporation (Aerospace) designed AeroCube-10, a dual cubesat mission that deployed into orbit on August 7 from the Cygnus resupply vehicle.

One of the AeroCube-10 cubesats undergoes testing in Aerospace’s solar simulator laboratory in El Segundo, Calif.

Photo is courtesy of the company.

Most debris models estimate that nearly 1 million debris objects greater than 1 centimeter are in low Earth orbit, of which approximately 30 percent are identified as “lethal debris,” which can damage satellite sensors, erode solar arrays, or possibly puncture a space suit. Improving the space community’s ability to predict a satellite’s mechanical and orbital lifetime, and timing of debris reentry will help maintain a sustainable space environment.

One experiment consists of a dispenser with a set of 28 individually releasable atmospheric probes. These lightweight circular probes, similar in size to CDs, spring open into spherical objects. Due to the probes’ large surface areas being exposed to the atmosphere, they lose altitude quickly and burn up in a matter of weeks. The changes in velocity and altitude due to drag while reentering will be used to measure atmospheric density.

Falling Star payload is an experiment to study the time-varying density of the atmosphere.

Photo is courtesy of Jeff Berting, The Aerospace Corp.

Results from tracking the probes’ reentry also enable improved orbital lifetime calculations, satellite formation flying, and predictions for collision avoidance activities. 

Other experiments involve payloads on both AeroCube-10 satellites and deal with measuring radiation that could cause degradation of solar cells in space. Each satellite contains a group of space solar cells with varying levels of radiation-shielding thickness. The experiments provide information on how space solar cells degrade due to charged particle radiation in comparison to the degradation predicted by current models.

Each pair of AeroCube-10 1.5-unit cubesats measures 10 x 10 x 15 centimeters, and each unit in the pair has virtually identical shapes and mass (within 2 grams), which prevents the units from drifting apart. This proximity allows them to demonstrate satellite-to-satellite pointing and communication and test a steam propulsion thruster aboard AeroCube-10.

Catherine Venturini, a senior project leader in Aerospace’s Science and Technology Strategy and Development department, said that today’s sophisticated computer models are limited in predicting how the atmosphere will behave in the near or long term and do not provide exact timing of debris reentry. The company is using inexpensive cubesats equipped with dosimeters and other unique sensors to conduct experiments that will give The Aerospace Corporation enhanced space situational awareness (SSA).

For all involved in the satellite and space industry and the various market segments that add value to these dynamic environments, the 2020 SmallSat Symposium is truly worth your consideration for attendance.

The SmallSat Symposium is hosted by Satnews Publishers which, since 1983, has been a provider of a satellite news, media and events. This information packed forum was created to enable you and your company to secure a larger portion of market share as well as to take part in the next stages of your company’s or organization’s growth.

The personal connections at the SmallSat Symposium enable attendees to network with established organizations, subject-matter experts as well as ‘New Space’ entrants.

The SmallSat Symposium will focus on new technologies and the business environment that is shaping the implementation of smallsat constellations, smallsat launchers, the challenges facing the smallsat developer and actors as well as the enormous benefits of these advanced technologies that will benefit our world.

This event assembles more than 100 diverse speakers, all of whom possess deep industry experience. Additionally, numerous opportunities exist to mingle and network with peers while enjoying exceptional, complimentary meals and refreshment breakfast.

Learn more at this direct link…

Benchmark Space Systems has signed a manifest agreement with Firefly Aerospace (Austin, TX) to secure a ‘ride’ to space in Q1 2020.

Firefly and Benchmark Space have each completed extensive development and testing of their respective technologies and are primed for space. For Firefly’s inaugural Alpha Rocket launch, the target altitude of 300 km. provides an ideal environment for Benchmark Space to demonstrate the launch preparation and safety features of the DFAST propulsion system and run through a suite of maneuvers on-orbit. NearSpace Launch (Upland, IN) will provide their 3U FastBus satellite and mission support.

This announcement comes just a few days following the FCC’s timely revision of Part 25 satellite regulations that allow streamlined satellite licensing for spacecraft equipped with propulsion on board.

Benchmark Space’s DFAST product line was developed to provide the benefits of reliable, high-precision positioning and control capability with unprecedented safety and affordability.  This innovative system uses inert, non-toxic powdered fuel that is filled before shipping and remains inert until a pressurization command is triggered on-orbit.

Benchmark’s CEO, Ryan McDevitt, stated that collision avoidance and controlled end of life de-orbit capabilities are a popular discussion topic within the space industry as we expect tens of thousands of new satellites to be orbiting our planet over the next decade. The ability to ship, store, and inhibit an assembled and fueled DFAST is a game changer for lowering launch manifest and operational costs. He added that the team is planning to debut their liquid-fueled system later in 2020, following the completion of a development program with the U.S. Air Force.

For all involved in the satellite and space industry and the various market segments that add value to these dynamic environments, the 2020 SmallSat Symposium is truly worth your consideration for attendance.

The SmallSat Symposium is hosted by Satnews Publishers which, since 1983, has been a provider of a satellite news, media and events. This information packed forum was created to enable you and your company to secure a larger portion of market share as well as to take part in the next stages of your company’s or organization’s growth.

The personal connections at the SmallSat Symposium enable attendees to network with established organizations, subject-matter experts as well as ‘New Space’ entrants.

The SmallSat Symposium will focus on new technologies and the business environment that is shaping the implementation of smallsat constellations, smallsat launchers, the challenges facing the smallsat developer and actors as well as the enormous benefits of these advanced technologies that will benefit our world.

This event assembles more than 100 diverse speakers, all of whom possess deep industry experience. Additionally, numerous opportunities exist to mingle and network with peers while enjoying exceptional, complimentary meals and refreshment breakfast.

Learn more at this direct link…

Australian farmers could soon be looking to the stars rather than the skies for their weather information following the development of a rain gauge that uses a satellite network to transmit remote rainfall data.

South Australian satellite communications company Myriota and Queensland AgTech business Goanna Ag have partnered to develop the ‘everywhere’ solution that they say will unlock the power of remote monitoring at a price and scale never seen before. Myriota’s direct-to-orbit satellite network for the Internet of Things (IoT) means data from the devices can be transmitted in remote areas without internet or mobile phone coverage.

This Goaana Ag rain gauge will use Myriota’s direct-to-orbit satellite network to share data with its owner.

Photo is courtesy of Julian Simon Nguyen.

Goanna Ag has trialed a number of the rain gauges and water tank monitoring devices on Australian farms and is on the verge of commercial release with pricing and distribution currently being finalized. Pre-orders for the rain gauge and tank monitoring products are open with commercial sales expected to commence in October. Units are set to include three years of connectivity, data management and app access as standard.

Future iterations of the rain gauges are expected to have smart functionality including point specific weather forecasting generated by the Bureau of Meteorology, aggregated and granular rainfall mapping, and an initial on-the-go yield forecaster for dryland cropping.

Making the most of every drop of precious water is a challenge that Australian farmers have been dealing with for decades. This has been compounded by the impact of one of the worst droughts in living memory in many parts of Australia.

Myriota’s executive team (from left) Tom Rayner, Dr. Alex Grant, Dr. David Haley and Karina McLauchlan

Photo is courtesy of Rosina Possingham.

Spun out of the University of South Australia in 2015, Myriota last year raised $15 million through a Series A funding round, with Boeing HorizonX Ventures among the contributors. Last month, Myriota became the first startup to sign an agreement with the new Australian Space Agency. In May, the company also announced a partnership with cloud-based environmental platform Eagle.io with the aim of preserving global water supplies. The partnership will provide global software and telemetry solutions for water management issues faced by agricultural players and governments worldwide.

Myriota is based at space and innovation precinct Lot Fourteen in the Adelaide CBD, which is also home to the Australian Space Agency.

Fellow South Australian space startup Neumann Space has now joined the growing space ecosystem at Lot Fourteen, bolstering the precinct’s reputation as the ideal place for innovative collaboration across high-growth industries. Neumann Space has also signed an MOU with South Australian smallsat company Inovor to provide the thrust propulsion system needed in their smallsats.

Goanna Ag Chief Operating Officer Tom Dowling said the company had been working toward the solution for more than a decade and that, thanks to the firm’s partnership with Myriota, Goanna Ag hsa developed a game changing solution that will drive on-farm efficiencies — particularly around water management and optimization. The company’s clients know the value that comes from remote monitoring, but until now, the industry has been restricted by coverage and cost issues.

Myriota Business Development Executive Tom Rayner said the “everywhere” communication solution was ideally suited to agriculture and that with ground based communications requiring capital and geographical prioritization, there will be ‘black spots’ where data is lost, but through this collaboration with Goanna Ag, the company has been able to overcome these challenges of cost and connectivity.

Article by Andrew Spence, The Lead South Australia

For all involved in the satellite and space industry and the various market segments that add value to these dynamic environments, the 2020 SmallSat Symposium is truly worth your consideration for attendance.

The SmallSat Symposium is hosted by Satnews Publishers which, since 1983, has been a provider of a satellite news, media and events. This information packed forum was created to enable you and your company to secure a larger portion of market share as well as to take part in the next stages of your company’s or organization’s growth.

The personal connections at the SmallSat Symposium enable attendees to network with established organizations, subject-matter experts as well as ‘New Space’ entrants.

The SmallSat Symposium will focus on new technologies and the business environment that is shaping the implementation of smallsat constellations, smallsat launchers, the challenges facing the smallsat developer and actors as well as the enormous benefits of these advanced technologies that will benefit our world.

This event assembles more than 100 diverse speakers, all of whom possess deep industry experience. Additionally, numerous opportunities exist to mingle and network with peers while enjoying exceptional, complimentary meals and refreshment breakfast.

Learn more at this direct link…

In-Space Missions Ltd. will partner with Orbex, a UK-based orbital launch services company, to launch the Faraday-2b satellite from Scotland in 2022.  

Faraday-2b will be the largest of In-Space’s commercial Early Service/In-Orbit Demonstrator (IOD) missions to date. Its space-as-a-service Faraday missions provide ultra-low-cost access to space for customers needing to demonstrate new services and technologies with the potential to move into an operational phase. In-Space is currently manifesting payloads for this mission, whereby multiple organizations will share up to an expected 45 kg. payload on a single 80 kg. satellite. The company’s first mission, Faraday-1 will launch later in 2019.

With $40 million in project financing, Orbex publicly unveiled the engineering prototype of the Stage 2 of its Prime launch vehicle, a dedicated smallsat launcher in February of 2019, which is up to 30 percent lighter and 20 percent more efficient than any other vehicle in the micro launcher category. Orbex Prime uses bio-propane, a clean-burning, renewable fuel that cuts carbon emissions by 90 percent compared to traditional hydrocarbon fuels.

Artistic rendition of Space Hub Sutherland.

The Faraday-2b satellite will be launched from what is expected to be continental Europe’s first spaceport, Space Hub Sutherland, in the A’Mhoine peninsula in the Scottish Highlands. On August 1, 2019, Orbex’s partner, Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE), confirmed that the company had signed a 75 year lease option with landowners, the Melness Crofters Estate, to build and operate a spaceport on its land. This critical development opens the path for the UK and Europe’s first sovereign vertical launch capability.

Doug Liddle, CEO of In-Space, said traditional rideshares on a larger vehicle create a level of schedule uncertainty that can kill small space missions. For our Faraday service to thrive, the company needs the commercial and technical innovation that we have seen in Orbex, combined with the efficiency of a European launch site. Orbex is one of the most innovative NewSpace companies in Europe and in partnership with them, In-Space is able to deliver a turnkey service to customers that is miles ahead of the competition.

Chris Larmour, CEO of Orbex, said this is a dynamic time for the UK and European commercial space industry and the company is excited to be able to support the In-Space Early Service missions, which are providing highly agile orbital access for a host of new space services and technologies. In-Space’s commercial IOD capability is one more critical competence that will be available to customers within continental Europe. With the positive progress being made with Space Hub Sutherland and now In-Space signing as Orbex’s fourth customer, satellite owners can see that Scottish launches are fast becoming a commercial reality.

For all involved in the satellite and space industry and the various market segments that add value to these dynamic environments, the 2020 SmallSat Symposium is truly worth your consideration for attendance.

The SmallSat Symposium is hosted by Satnews Publishers which, since 1983, has been a provider of a satellite news, media and events. This information packed forum was created to enable you and your company to secure a larger portion of market share as well as to take part in the next stages of your company’s or organization’s growth.

The personal connections at the SmallSat Symposium enable attendees to network with established organizations, subject-matter experts as well as ‘New Space’ entrants.

The SmallSat Symposium will focus on new technologies and the business environment that is shaping the implementation of smallsat constellations, smallsat launchers, the challenges facing the smallsat developer and actors as well as the enormous benefits of these advanced technologies that will benefit our world.

This event assembles more than 100 diverse speakers, all of whom possess deep industry experience. Additionally, numerous opportunities exist to mingle and network with peers while enjoying exceptional, complimentary meals and refreshment breakfast.

Learn more at this direct link…

Rocket Lab plans to recover and re-fly the first stage of its Electron launch vehicle — this move aims to enable Rocket Lab to further increase launch frequency by eliminating the need to build a new first stage for every mission.

Artistic rendition of Rocket Lab’s of the re-entry of their Electron launch vehicle.

Work on Rocket Lab’s Electron first stage reuse program began in late 2018, at the end of the company’s first year of orbital launches. The plan to reuse Electron’s first stage will be implemented in two phases. The first phase will see Rocket Lab attempt to recover a full Electron first stage from the ocean downrange of Launch Complex 1 and have it shipped back to Rocket Lab’s Production Complex for refurbishment.

The second phase will see Electron’s first stage captured mid-air by helicopter, before the stage is transported back to Launch Complex 1 for refurbishment and relaunch. Rocket Lab plans to begin first stage recovery attempts in the coming year.  

A major step towards Rocket Lab’s reusability plans was completed on the company’s most recent launch, the Make It Rain mission, which launched on 29 June from Launch Complex 1. The first stage on this mission carried critical instrumentation and experiments that provided data to inform future recovery efforts. The next Electron mission, scheduled for launch in August, will also carry recovery instrumentation.  

Rocket Lab Founder and Chief Executive Peter Beck said reusing Electron’s first stage will enable the company to further increase launch frequency by reducing production time spent building new stages from scratch. From day one, Rocket Lab’s mission has been to provide frequent and reliable access to orbit for small satellites. Having delivered on this with Electron launching satellites to orbit almost every month, the company is now establishing the reusability program to further increase launch frequency,. Reusing the stage of a small launch vehicle is a complex challenge, as there’s little mass margin to dedicate to recovery systems. For a long time, Rocket Lab said the firm wouldn’t pursue reusability for this very reason; however, Rocket Lab has been able to develop the technology that could make recovery feasible for Electron. The firm is excited to put that technology into practice with a stage recovery attempt in the coming year.

For all involved in the satellite and space industry and the various market segments that add value to these dynamic environments, the 2020 SmallSat Symposium is truly worth your consideration for attendance.

The SmallSat Symposium is hosted by Satnews Publishers which, since 1983, has been a provider of a satellite news, media and events. This information packed forum was created to enable you and your company to secure a larger portion of market share as well as to take part in the next stages of your company’s or organization’s growth.

The personal connections at the SmallSat Symposium enable attendees to network with established organizations, subject-matter experts as well as ‘New Space’ entrants.

The SmallSat Symposium will focus on new technologies and the business environment that is shaping the implementation of smallsat constellations, smallsat launchers, the challenges facing the smallsat developer and actors as well as the enormous benefits of these advanced technologies that will benefit our world.

This event assembles more than 100 diverse speakers, all of whom possess deep industry experience. Additionally, numerous opportunities exist to mingle and network with peers while enjoying exceptional, complimentary meals and refreshment breakfast.

Learn more at this direct link…