A consortium of Norwegian and Dutch research centers have selected satellite integrator NanoAvionics to build two smallsats, ‘Birkeland’ and ‘Huygens.’

Artistic rendition of the Birkeland and Huygens smallsats on-orbit. Image is courtesy of NanoAvionics.

The purchase order is part of a military use of space (MilSpace) project under a bilateral strategic mutual assistance in research and technology (SMART) memorandum of understanding (MoU). The two nanosatellites are intended to demonstrate the concept of a space based spectrum monitoring system to geolocate radar signals. This is the first time for Norway and the Netherlands to launch a formation of satellites.

The BROS (binational radiofrequency observing satellites) mission is the first known two-satellite system to detect, classify, and accurately geolocate Radio Frequency signals, including navigation radars used on ships, by combining the measurement angle of arrival (AoA) and time difference of arrival (TDOA). Simultaneous detection of pulsed radio signals by both satellites flying in tandem enables accurate geolocation during all weather conditions.

“Birkeland” and “Huygens” will both be based on NanoAvioncs’ pre-configured M6P smallsat bus with a deployable solar panel configuration, high precision attitude determination and control system (ADCS) and a propulsion system. The mass of each 6U nanosatellite will be up to 10 kilograms.

Artistic rendition of a NanoAvionics M6P smallsat on-orbit. Image is courtesy of the company.

The launch of the two smallsats is scheduled for the second quarter of 2022 when they will be placed into a polar LEO with an altitude range of 450 to 600 km. Both smallsats will be positioned in the same orbital plane with a separation of 15 ro 25 km, allowing them to simultaneously detect emissions from radar systems. For a polar LEO orbit of 600 km altitude, the payload antenna will be able to cover any point on the Earth’s surface at least four times per day.

Drawing from experience from the Norwegian NorSat-3 and the Dutch BRIK-II missions, the consortium for this strategic and bilateral mission also expects to gain valuable insights into formation flying. The project team consists of the Norwegian Defence Research Establishment (FFI), the Royal Netherlands Aerospace Centre (NLR) and Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research (TNO).

Vytenis Buzas

Vytenis J. Buzas, Co-Founder and CEO of NanoAvionics, said that exchanging science, research and technology experience in this MilSpace mission is a great start for flourishing partnerships with the participating organizations. The agreement is also an example of the new cross over between commercial and military space missions. This was made possible by standardizing NanoAvionics’ bus design, which allows the firm’s nanosatellites to host a wide variety of payloads for diverse applications.

Smallsat manufacturer and mission integrator NanoAvionics, together with the Mexican Space Agency (AEM) and students from the Polytechnic University of Atlacomulco, will develop the first nanosatellite for the State of Mexico, the AtlaCom-1.

Building the smallsat is part of a pilot project to establish a nanosatellite infrastructure for future space missions designed and built by Mexico’s youth.

The NanoAvionics M6P smallsat bus.

The project, starting in September of 2020, is a testimony to the importance of space applications enabled by nanosatellites, which are rapidly becoming essential to national economies. Together, the Mexican Space Agency, led by Dr. Salvador Landeros, appointed director general of AEM in 2019, and NanoAvionics are fostering the advanced skills that Mexican youth will need to bring the country’s space industry forward.

NanoAvionics’ engineers will share their space mission experience and help the students and faculty at the Polytechnic University of Atlacomulco to develop the ATLA-1. The company’s multi-purpose nanosatellite buses are pre-configured and pre-qualified, allowing mission teams to focus on their payloads. As a result, technology development missions can produce results quicker and satellite constellations can enter commercial service much faster.

The project is further supported by the Mayor of Atlacomulco, Roberto Téllez-Monroy, an engineer with a passion for space technology.

F. Brent Abbott

Brent Abbott, the CEO of NanoAvionics US Inc., said the company’s participation in this educational pilot project with the Mexican Space Agency further confirms the firm’s status as a global mission integrator and the company’s determination to advance STEM education. NanoAvionics is continuing its work with universities and is proud to support AEM’s STEM efforts. Benefiting from NanoAvionics’ great expertise and technology, Mexican students will gain prodigious knowledge and skills to participate in their country’s growing space economy and experience the entire development and operation cycle of a space mission. To make sure all members involved in building the nanosatellite are protected, we’ll put the same strict guidelines, safety equipment and measures in place the company is already using in the firm’s manufacturing facilities.”

Mayor Téllez-Monroy added that nanosatellites and other technologies, such as breakthroughs in robotics, 3D-printing and biotech, mark the fourth industrial revolution and promise enormous economic benefits, not only to Mexico, but the entire world. NanoAvionics’ commitment to developing the technical skills of students in Atlacomulco will help building a solid foundation for Mexico’s emerging nanosatellite industry.

Equatorial Space has signed a letter of intent to work with Scottish launch aggregator, Responsive Access, on finding customers for launches of the firm’s smallsat launch vehicle.

The company’s fully hybrid launch vehicle, Volans, is being designed to carry up to 200 kg. of payload into near-equatorial LEO – a rare capability for the many smallsat launch companies active in this burgeoning sector and heavily regulated by technology export restrictions by their domiciles.

Aiming for the first orbital launch by 2021, ESI has previously been crowned the winner of MBRSC Innovation Cup 2018 in Dubai, a Top 500 Deep Tech Startup by Hello Tomorrow 2018, as well as the Most Promising Startup at the NAMIC Innovation Day 2019.

Responsive Access is a participant in the European Space Agency’s Business Incubation Centre and aims to simplify access to space through the use of innovative software and key partner relationships that provide a one-stop-shop for the launch of cubesats into orbit.

Simon Gwozda

Simon Gwozdz, the CEO and Founder of Equatorial Space, said the company has reached a point along the development roadmap when the firm can confidently discuss launch contracts, as this technology matures and the team grows. Despite the delays in the inaugural prototype mission, the Low Altitude Demonstrator, due to the COVID-19 crisis and resulting travel restrictions, Equatorial Space is pushing forward with all work being completed remotely.

CEO of Responsive Access, Andrew Paliwoda, added that the company is delighted to have formalized  initial discussions with this letter of intent and look forward to strengthening this partnership with Equatorial Space in the coming months by bringing them satellite payload opportunities to fit their timelines.

GeoOptics, Inc. has launched an original radio occultation data processing system called the GeoOptics Processor for Radio Occultation (GeoPRO) that provide even more accurate and timely weather data from its CICERO constellation of radio occultation (RO) satellites — CICERO smallsats are designed to create the most detailed picture ever assembled of the Earth’s ionosphere and atmosphere.

For many years, detailed scientific analyses of radio occultation data have used a precise processing method called “phase-matching” to produce the most accurate radio occultation profiles possible. However, this method was generally considered too resource intensive for use in real-time data processing for operational weather modeling and forecasting.

GeoOptics Processor for Radio Occultation (GeoPRO) produces spectrograms that reveal the disintegration of the dual-frequency raw radio occultation signal at lower altitudes. The red areas are signals reaching the receiver after passing through the atmosphere. The dashed line is the processed atmospheric bending angle on each frequency generated by GeoPRO. Image is courtesy of GeoOptics.

GeoOptics has developed GeoPRO as a real-time phase-matching processing system built around the on-demand parallelism enabled by serverless cloud-computing services, sometimes referred to as “Serverless Supercomputing.” By optimizing the processing system and running it on massively parallel serverless infrastructure, GeoPRO enables near-real-time phase-matching processing of large quantities of radio occultation data.

Traditionally, the processing of radio occultation data has been undertaken in a batch processing mode in which relatively large chunks of data are processed together and then released. However, as the number of GeoOptics satellites and ground stations increases, data will arrive much more frequently, requiring a different mode of operations to minimize data latency and maximize utility. GeoPRO is designed to make that transition possible.

Data from the new processing system have been made available to scientists around the world and GeoOptics commercial data partners. Due to the accuracy of the data processing and the quality of the Cion receiver, the data exhibits remarkably low bias even in warm air near the Earth’s surface, where lower quality radio occultation data often suffers from uncontrolled biases. Research has shown that this degree of accuracy in the lower atmosphere is vital for forecasting hurricanes and other high-impact weather events.

GeoOptics’ mission is to provide the most detailed picture possible of our planet’s atmosphere, surface and subsurface to our customers as well as scientific users around the world. We have embarked on our mission with our first constellation of nanosatellites, known as CICERO – Community Initiative for Cellular Earth Remote Observation. The first operational satellites contain advanced Global Navigation Satellite System Radio Occultation (GNSS-RO) sensors developed in partnership with the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) and Tyvak Nano-Satellite Systems.

Artistic rendition of GeoOptics CICERO smallsats on-orbit. Image is courtesy of LASP/NASA/GeoOptics.

With the company’s initial CICERO satellites on-orbit, GeoOptics is now providing the first and only high-quality commercial radio occultation data from space. Satellites now in work will expand upon and refine this capability and deploy other technologies to provide a comprehensive picture of the Earth’s environment.

Dr. Alex Satlman

Dr. Alex Saltman, COO and architect of the new processing system related that the company is excited to provide this newly refined data to customers who depend on getting the most timely and precise weather data possible. The firm is leveraging new technologies across the GeoOptics satellites, ground systems and now data processing to deliver best-in-class data as a service to the government and commercial customers.

Ovzon and Airbus Defence and Space have entered into a partnership through a reseller agreement wherein Airbus will include Ovzon’s innovative satellite communication services into their portfolio in the UK.

Together, Ovzon and Airbus will market Ovzon’s end-to-end services that include Ovzon’s mobile terminals and efficient, reliable support.

Airbus will integrate the Ovzon solution in to its extensive satellite communications product and system portfolio.

From late 2021, the offering will be expanded to include Ovzon’s own first satellite. According to the firm, this is an important step to further revolutionize mobile broadband by satellite, offering the highest bandwidth with the smallest terminals. Ovzon 3 is the first of a number of satellites planned for global reach of Ovzon’s high-end service.

Artistic rendition of the Ovzon 3 smallsat on-orbit.
Image is courtesy of the company.

Airbus is a leading integrator and provider of advanced secure satellite communication services and network management infrastructure. Airbus delivers flexibility, resiliency and security for governments, militaries and international agencies with an end-to-end service offer bringing the most comprehensive bandwidth and terminal portfolio coupled with leading capabilities in network services and solutions.

Magnus René, CEO of Ovzon, said the firm is excited to team with Airbus for them to include the company’s industry leading, end-to-end, satellite service in their product portfolio. Their professional team has a long history and legacy supplying satellite-based communication services to demanding customers.

Richard Budd, Head of Secure Communications in the UK and US at Airbus Defence and Space added that the company is always looking to ensure customers are benefiting from the best and latest technologies as part of the company’s ongoing service capability and offering. Being able to offer Ovzon’s advanced services and associated exciting mobile terminals to the firm’s portfolio means Airbus can continue to bring the best available solutions to the front line commands and end users.

Rocket Lab has signed a deal with Japanese satellite company Synspective to launch a synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellite in late 2020.

Synspective’s StriX-α satellite will be launched on an Electron launch vehicle as a dedicated mission from Launch Complex 1 in New Zealand.

The satellite will be the first in Synspective’s planned StriX constellation of around 25 SAR satellites designed to provide geospatial solutions. SAR satellites actively observe and acquire Earth surface information by transmitting and receiving reflected microwaves.

Compared with optical satellites, which rely on sunlight reflection, SAR can capture images of the ground surface in all weather conditions and at any time of the day or night.

With the StriX constellation, Synspective aims to equip companies, governments, and research organizations with high-quality and user-friendly information data that can be used for urban development planning, construction and infrastructure monitoring, and disaster response.

The launch of an Electron rocket from Launch Complex 1 in New Zealand. Photo is courtesy of Rocket Lab.

The StriX-α satellite will be the sole payload on the Electron launch vehicle for this mission, giving Synspective the ability to select the exact orbit, launch site, and launch timing that best suits the company’s needs.

Rocket Lab Founder and Chief Executive, Peter Beck, said the company is delighted to welcome Synspective to Electron the firm is honored to be play such a pivotal role in the development of the StriX constellation. Rocket Lab understands just how important it is to have control over the orbit and the launch schedule when building out a constellation, so the firm is proud to be delivering that capability to Synspective on Electron.

Synspective Founder and CEO, Dr. Motoyuki Arai, added the firm is pleased to work with Rocket Lab, a pioneer in rocket ventures. The company is also grateful for their flexibility in accepting Synspective’s requests on the satellite’s orbit and launch period. This year, the company will launch our first satellite as well as our SAR data solutions. With this launch, Synspective is taking a most important step toward establishing the company’s one stop service.

Alba Orbital has announced the end of the mission and re-entry of Unicorn-2C (NOOR 1B), Alba’s first Unicorn spacecraft to make orbit.

The spacecraft successfully deployed its quadruple deployable solar panel and the customer operator confirmed reception of spacecraft signal. This is a great first step in space, moving the system to TRL-9.

The Unicorn-2C smallsat. Photo is courtesy of Alba Orbital.

While this was an experimental mission, the company is proud to reach this milestone and looks forward to upgrading Unicorn-2.0 to our Unicorn-2.1 architecture for new customers.

Achievements of the mission

• First smallsat to successfully deploy quadruple deployable solar panels
• First PocketQube to deploy a solar panel
• First operational 3p PocketQube in history
• Validation of Unicorn subsystems: Structure, Thermal, Backplane (OBC/EPS), Alba Radio, Unicorn OS (Software),
• System moves from TRL-8 to TRL-9.
• First full spacecraft delivered in-orbit to a commercial customer
• FCC licensed, demonstrating route to license PocketQube in the US.
• Contract kickoff to in-orbit deployment in under 1 year

Missions stats

Time on Orbit: 123 days (4 months, 1 day)

TLEs: 288

Average TLEs per day: 2.34

TLEs average update rate: 10 hrs 15 minutes

Injection Orbit Albapod: 403 x 348km, 97 degrees incl.

Learn more about using Unicorn-2 at this direct infolink…

General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems (GA-EMS) has opened a new, modern spacecraft development, integration and test factory with state-of-the-art laboratories and secure facilities in Centennial, Colorado.

The 33,514 square foot facility triples GA-EMS’ capacity for satellite production, integration and testing for single to constellation-sized orders, and also houses an expanded mission operations center to support on-orbit satellite and customer payload commissioning and operations.

In particular, Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV) Secondary Payload Adapter (ESPA) class satellites, such as GA-EMS’ Orbital Test Bed satellite launched in 2019, are large enough to viably perform a variety of missions including weather and environmental monitoring, and lunar and planetary exploration, while small enough to be developed swiftly and affordably in large quantities. 

Scott Forney, president of GA-EMS, said Colorado is home to the nation’s second largest space economy and the company is excited to continue to expand development, production and mission capabilities in the region to meet the growing needs of the military, intelligence community, civil and commercial satellite communities. Over the last several years, the firm’s space portfolio has expanded to provide cost-effective design-to-on-orbit solutions offering a high degree of modularity and payload flexibility to suit a variety of mission needs and customer requirements. With this new, contemporary facility, the company can readily produce the quantities needed to meet the critical demand for small satellites in the rapidly growing space industry.”

Nick Bucci, VP of Missile Defense and Space Systems, add that this facility provides the ability to enhance the company’s portfolio of cost-efficient, flexible small satellite platforms, payloads, and integrated systems. GA-EMS has a history of development, integration, test and flight operations that are key to meeting the upcoming challenges to deliver constellation-sized missions to Low Earth Orbit and beyond. The firm’s highly experienced spacecraft engineers in Centennial are excited take on these unique challenges and deliver the innovative solutions that customers need.

The U.S. Space Force’s Rocket Systems Launch Program (RSLP) Office at Kirtland Air Force Base, Albuquerque, New Mexico, part of the Space and Missile Systems Center’s Launch Enterprise, has awarded a $35 million task order to VOX Space, LLC, of El Segundo, California, for the Space Test Program-S28 (STP-S28) launch service — this is the first task order under the Orbital Services Program-4 (OSP-4) Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract.

STP-S28 is a complex mission that will deliver a number of technology demonstrations to orbit, such as Space Domain Awareness and communications advancement, and inform future space system development.

VOX Space, a U.S.-incorporated, wholly-owned subsidiary of Virgin Orbit, LLC, will use three launches of the LauncherOne rocket to deliver 44 smallsats to LEO. The first launch is tentatively planned for October 2021.

Col. Rob Bongiovi, director of SMC’s Launch Enterprise at Los Angeles Air Force Base, aid the competitive award of the STP-S28 task order is a prime example of the flexible and responsive contracting processes the Launch Enterprise is using to deliver resilient and affordable space capabilities to our Nation. In today’s contested space domain, contracts must be flexible and responsive to meet the challenges facing the warfighter. The Small Launch and Targets Division accomplished the awarding of the STP-S28 task order in only five months using the OSP-4 contract.

The STP-S28 mission will provide orbital launch services for the Department of Defense’s Space Test Program. The DoD Space Test Program furthers the maturation of space-based warfighter technologies across the DoD enterprise by providing space access solutions for all research and development-related DoD auxiliary payloads on DoD, civil and commercial launches, and for all non-DoD auxiliary payloads seeking launch opportunities on DoD missions.

STP will provide payloads for STP-S28 via the DoD Space Experiments Review Board (SERB), as well as provide a number of International and Rideshare experiments. One such payload is QUEYSSAT, the #10 ranked SERB experiment and a cooperative effort between the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory and the Canadian Department of National Defence. This experiment will demonstrate and quantify the potential to improve Earth-satellite quantum channel uplinks via adaptive optics, expand quantum network concepts and exploit this capability for defense applications.

QUEYSSAT is illustrative of the technology demonstrations capable via smallsats that will be launched with this mission, as well as demonstrates one of the nearly 20 different organizations STP will partner with. OSP-4 allows for the rapid acquisition of launch services to meet mission requirements enabling launch within 12-24 months from Task Order award on a competitive basis.

OSP-4 also allows for yearly on-ramps throughout the ordering period to ensure emerging, innovative launch providers who are nearing completion of development and are launch capable within one year are part of the vendor pool to preserve, stimulate or enhance the competition pool. The STP-S28 mission is the first of 20 missions projected over the OSP-4 nine-year ordering period.

Lt. Col. Ryan Rose, chief of the Small Launch and Targets Division at Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico, added that the organization is excited to partner with VOX Space and believe the STP-S28 mission will showcase industry innovation, international partnering and provide a gateway to work with some of the newest, leading-edge entrants for emerging small launch service providers. With these small launch contracts, the organization is able to take more risks and move quickly to produce high rewards and tactically responsive launch capabilities for combatant commanders. This program provides the perfect opportunity to highlight SMC’s ability to streamline procurement and mission execution, foster innovation, and preserve the best chance for mission success.

STP-S29 is the next mission task order Rose’s team is working. They are currently in the requirements development phase and project an award by the end of 2020.

The Space and Missile Systems Center is the U.S. Space Force’s center of excellence for acquiring and developing military space systems. SMC’s portfolio includes space launch, global positioning, military space vehicle communications, defense meteorological space vehicles, range systems, space vehicle control networks, space-based infrared systems, and space situational awareness capabilities.

Omnispace has selected Thales Alenia Space to develop the initial component of the company’s satellite-based Internet of Things (IoT) infrastructure — this will advance Omnispace’s vision to deliver a global hybrid communications network based on 3GPP standards.

Thales Alenia Space will design and build an initial set of two satellites for operation in non-geostationary orbit (NGSO).

These initial satellites will support 3GPP-defined (the 3rd Generation Partnership Project telecommunications specifications that unite standard development organizations) Narrow-Band IoT radio interface and will serve to advance the development and implementation of Omnispace’s global hybrid network.

This announcement marks a key milestone as Omnispace initiates the development of its new generation NGSO satellite constellation that will operate in the S-band.

Artistic rendition of Omnispace’s satellites.

The development of this initial set of satellites will begin immediately and they are scheduled for launch in 2021. Omnispace and Thales Alenia Space, along-side other industry stakeholders, will contribute to the development of the 3GPP NTN friendly standard for global implementation.

Ram Viswanathan, President and CEO of Omnispace LLC, stated that Thales Alenia Space has a successful track record of developing NGSO satellite constellations and is well-qualified to support the company’s vision of delivering the world’s first global 5G non terrestrial network (NTN). This investment in the firm’s next-generation satellite infrastructure allows Omnispace to progress the development of the firm’s technology and demonstrate the company’s unique capabilities as the firm continues to work towards launching the company’s broader vision of a global hybrid network.

Hervé Derrey, CEO of Thales Alenia Space, added that the company is pleased to be working with Omnispace, which is taking a holistic approach to the design, development and deployment of their next-generation, IoT-based satellite network infrastructure. Omnispace’s selection of Thales Alenia Space reinforces the firm’s leadership position as a major industrial partner and the company’s expertise in space-based IoT communications and Thales Alenia Space looks forward to collaborating with Omnispace in delivering this innovative project.