TIGER Mission to be Initiated After OQ Technology and GOMspace Sign Contract

OQ Technology has signed a contract with GOMSpace to implement the TIGER mission — the TIGER mission represents a precursor mission to OQ Technology’s In-Orbit Demonstration satellite MACSAT.

The objective of TIGER is to demonstrate the transmission and reception of OQ Technology’s innovative Internet of Things (IoT) waveform using an existing satellite in space.

The mission will make use of a GOMX-4 satellite, which is part of a research and development mission by GomSpace. It includes two, 6U smallsats, each weighing 10 kg. that work together in formation to perform electronic surveillance in the arctic region. They were launched on February 3, 2018, and are still flying in LEO. The satellites carry Software-Defined Radio (SDR) payloads that can be programmed in space.


Artistic rendition of the GOMX-4 smallsat.

Image is courtesy of GOMspace.

OQ Technology in collaboration with GomSpace will perform the experiment by uplinking the required pieces of the software to send and receive the signals. This will further reinforce the capability of OQ Technology’s proposed waveform to carry user IoT data over the satellite, as well as provide valuable information about the satellite channel that can be used to optimize OQ Technology’s product.  Furthermore, it will pave the way and mitigate risks for OQ Technology’s final satellite IoT demonstration mission MACSAT. The mission will be implemented in a fast and agile way, which characterizes the business approach of NewSpace startups. 

Omar Qaise, CEO of OQ Technology, said the company’s vision is to upload our software to any software-defined radio payload on any other satellite. Given the high level of scalability that the firm can integrates into this system once deployed, the firm may no longer need to build its own satellites and could simply transform any flying satellite into an OQ Technology payload host providing this service to the end customer. OQ Technology is grateful to GomSpace for allowing the company to use their satellite and their SDR for the TIGER mission.


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 2020 SmallSat Symposium starts on February 3, 2020, with workshops, then the Conference runs February 4 to 6 at the Computer History Museum in Mountain View, California, in the heart of Silicon Valley.

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…

U.S. Satellite Operators Urge Commerce Department to Revise Proposed Commercial Remote Sensing Regulations

U.S. satellite operators Maxar Technologies (NYSE:MAXR) (TSX:MAXR), Planet Labs, HawkEye 360, BlackSky Global and Spire Global have urged the U.S. Department of Commerce to revise their proposed commercial remote sensing regulations which, as drafted, would put U.S. firms at a significant disadvantage in the global marketplace.

Maxar, Planet, HawkEye 360, BlackSky Global and Spire Global recently submitted a joint response to the Commerce Department’s Notice of Proposed Rulemaking objecting to the newly proposed rules. While U.S. satellite operators appreciate the Department’s recognition of the risk to American leadership in space that comes from overly burdensome regulation, the proposed regulations would undermine U.S. competitiveness, impair U.S. innovation and deter investment in the U.S. commercial space industry. Commenters urged the Commerce Department to significantly revise the proposed regulations to take a more narrowly tailored approach to ensure the pressing need for continued U.S. leadership in commercial space is more appropriately balanced with other regulatory interests.

The U.S. commercial space industry provides critical products and services that support disaster and humanitarian crisis response, national and global security interests and enhance the location-enabled services that billions of people around the world use every day. Addressing the lack of transparency, operational uncertainty and institutionalized delays that impair the ability of the U.S. industry to bring innovative products and services to market should be the primary focus of the Commerce Department’s efforts.

For example, license requests to bring new commercial satellite imagery capabilities to market can take years to approve, operators have little visibility into the decision-making process and operating licenses are subject to retroactive modifications after investment has already been made and systems are operating. By failing to address these issues, the proposed regulations put at risk continued U.S. leadership in the global commercial space industry, including the satellite imagery market, which is alone projected to reach $3 billion by 2020.

Dr. Walter Scott, Maxar CTO, stated that the U.S. commercial space industry needs smart regulations that promote innovation, encourage competitiveness and bolster national security and, unfortunately, the Commerce Department’s draft regulations fall far short of these goals. Maxar, Planet, HawkEye 360, BlackSky Global and Spire Global urge U.S. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross and the National Space Council to intervene and ensure that new regulations allow American space firms to continue to lead in this dynamic global industry.

Robbie Schingler, Planet’s Co-founder, added that the draft regulations represent a three-decade step backward. This is cold water thrown onto a thriving ecosystem with rapidly changing space architectures, many new entrants and novel business models. The companies strongly urge regulators to take a strategic view and create a forward-leaning environment that opens up near-Earth space to efficient, secure and trusted commercial enterprise. Building new industries bolsters American competitiveness and grows the economy, which fuels national security. Should this rule progress without significant modification, it will represent a direct threat to 21st century U.S. national security.


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 2020 SmallSat Symposium starts on February 3, 2020, with workshops, then the Conference runs February 4 to 6 at the Computer History Museum in Mountain View, California, in the heart of Silicon Valley.

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…

China Launches Three Smallsats for their Chuangxin-5 Constellation

China has successfully pushed three, new, remote sensing satellites into orbit from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in southwest China’s Sichuan Province.

The satellites — members of the Yaogan-30 family and for incorporation into the Chuangxin-5 (CX-5) constellation — were launched by a Long March-2C carrier rocket at 11:57 a.m. (Beijing Time). The satellites have entered their planned orbits and will be used for electromagnetic environment detection and related technological tests — analysts, however, believe these smallsats are designed for military intelligence and image capture and scrutiny.

This launch was the 308th mission of the Chinese Long March rocket series.

Rocket Lab to Launch New Constellation for UNSEENLABS and Rideshares for BlackSky and U.S. Air Force Space Command

Rocket Lab has announced the company’s next launch is a mission carrying satellites destined to begin a new constellation for UNSEENLABS, as well as more rideshare payloads for Spaceflight, consisting of a spacecraft for BlackSky and the United States Air Force Space Command.

The mission — named ‘Look Ma, No Hands’ — will lift-off in August from Launch Complex 1 in New Zealand, carrying a total of four satellites aboard an Electron launch vehicle.

The mission is manifested with a cubesat that will form the cornerstone of a new maritime surveillance constellation for French company UNSEENLABS. The constellation aims to deliver precise, reliable, and secure maritime data, enabling organizations to monitor their own vessels and observe those that present risks, such as pirates and illegal vessels.

Mission management and rideshare aggregator, Spaceflight, also manifested three satellites on its second rideshare mission with Rocket Lab. Among the rideshare payloads is BlackSky’s Global-4 Earth-imaging satellite. The satellite will join BlackSky Global-3, which was launched to low Earth orbit on an Electron vehicle in June 2019. BlackSky’s constellation delivers rapid-revisit satellite imagery to assist with monitoring economic activity such as crop development and herd migration, or surveying damage following natural disasters.

The final spacecraft manifested on the mission are two experimental satellites for the United States Air Force Space Command, designed to test new technologies including propulsion, power, communications, and drag capabilities for potential applications on future spacecraft.

This mission will be Rocket Lab’s eighth Electron launch overall and fourth mission of 2019, following on from the successful ‘Make It Rain’ mission for Spaceflight in late June. Rocket Lab has monthly missions scheduled for the remainder of 2019 for government and commercial small satellites.

Rocket Lab’s SVP of Global Launch Services, Lars Hoffman, said Rocket Lab’s ability to deploy multiple satellites to individual and precise orbits, even when flying as part of a rideshare mission, is a significant advantage for small satellite constellation operators. He noted that the company’s focus is on providing a frequent, reliable and precise launch service, whether small satellite constellation operators want to fly as a dedicated payload or as part of a rideshare mission. Rocket Lab’s innovative Kick Stage enables a level of flexibility and precision that simply wasn’t available to small satellite operators until Electron began orbital launches 18 months ago and the company is proud to be delivering that service to orbit every few weeks now.

Virgin Orbit Signs Agreement to Launch Small Satellites for the UK’s Royal Air Force

Virgin Orbit, the small satellite launch company backed by billionaire Richard Branson, has signed an initial agreement to develop small satellite launch capabilities for the U.K.’s Royal Air Force (RAF). The deal, which is part of the RAF’s Artemis project, will see Virgin Orbit aim to launch hardware provided by Guildford, U.K.-based Surrey Satellites in a demo mission.

This is in keeping with Virgin Orbit’s stated hope to bring spacecraft launch capabilities to the U.K. The closest the U.K. has come is when it launched a British satellite aboard a British rocket in 1971 — but that took off from a launchpad in Australia. Virgin Orbit announced a deal to build a new Spaceport in Cornwall, from which its modified 747 launch aircraft will take off, with a target open date of early next decade.

Virgin Orbit’s method for launching doesn’t involve terrestrial rockets at all, which helps a lot with the cost of infrastructure (since you basically just need a traditional airfield). Basically, a smaller rocket is attached to the wing of a modified Boeing 747, which then separates at a high cruising altitude and blasts the rest of the relatively short way to low Earth orbit carrying light payloads.

The method doesn’t work to get big, heavy satellites into space (which, somewhat ironically in this case, are the kind typically sent up by government and military agencies). But it’s perfect for sending smaller satellites, which have become popular because of their cost benefits in terms of both construction and launch price.

By Darrell Etherington, TechCrunch

Separation Systems Agreement Between Firefly Aerospace and RUAG Space

Firefly Aerospace, Inc. and RUAG Space have signed a Long-term Purchase Agreement for Separation Systems.

This new contract creates a supplier agreement for Firefly launch vehicles. This long-term contract is for multiple launches using a RUAG Space separation system (payload adapter) from RUAG Space in Linköping, Sweden. In addition, both parties recognize future business prospects based on Firefly’s Alpha launch vehicle.


Firefly Aerospace and RUAG Space have signed a long-term agreement for RUAG Space separation systems. RUAG Space presented a scaled down 3D printed model of their PAS 937S to Firefly at the signing process.(photo courtesy of Firefly)

From L-R:
Magnus Engström, RUAG Space, Manager, Mechanical Marketing and Sales, Eric Salwan, Director of Commercial Business Development, Sarah Hinze, Deputy Project Manager for Alpha, (left, signing contract) Christophe Bauer, RUAG Space, Director, Marketing and Sales, Product Group Launchers, Nate Woodford, Corporate Counsel, John Courter, Director of Structures (right, signing contract), Tom Markusic, CEO, Roderic Vanderscoff, Special Projects Engineer.

Dr. Tom Markusic, CEO of Firefly Aerospace, said that the company is the acknowledged leader in flight heritage separation systems. This agreement with RUAG provides the firm’s customers with the highest level of assurance that their spacecraft missions will be successful.

Peter Guggenbach, CEO of RUAG Space added the company has been expanding its business in the small launcher market in recent years and this new partnership with Firefly seeks to extend that impact in this market. This market segment is on the rise, and with the firm’s proven payload adapter systems and flexible product range, RUAG Space has a lot to offer our customers.

Telangana State Social Welfare Students Launch Own Satellite

Declaring once again that very little was beyond them, 15 students of the Telangana Social Welfare Residential Schools launched the SWAEROSAT-1 in the early hours of Friday.

The tiny payload was sent into the stratosphere with the help of a massive balloon from the premises of the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR), Hyderabad, around 2.40 am. The balloon reached an altitude of 26 km and recorded data throughout the flight which lasted about four hours.

The main objective of the mission was to study harmful radiations and also to measure the concentration of ozone at various altitudes and compare it to global standards.

The entire flight was tracked live with GPS from a control centre at TIFR and the payload was recovered at Gulbarga, Karnataka.

The 15-member team was mentored and trained by captain Anil Kumar and Sujay Sreedhar of Swaero-Sapiens Automation Solutions, Hyderabad. After the training, the students designed and developed the SWAEROSAT-1 and it was launched as a symbol of aspiration of millions of marginalized communities in the country. The joy of the students knew no bounds as their dream project of launching a near-space micro probe successfully into stratosphere became a reality.

All the students part of the launch hail from economically backward families with their parents working as daily wage laborers, masons, auto drivers, construction workers, vegetable vendors and roadside tea sellers.

“I never imagined in my dreams that I will get an opportunity to design a near-space micro probe at a young age. I feel that this is once in a lifetime opportunity and I am fortunate to be a part of the social welfare educational institutions,” said an elated team member Prasanna Lakshmi, a class IX student at Telangana Social Welfare Residential School-Isnapur.

Another team member J Divya from Gowlidoddi College, who wants to become a space scientist, said she was thrilled to witness payload taking off majestically without any glitches.

Minister for Welfare Koppula Eshwar congratulated students for their ‘remarkable scientific endeavour’ and for making the State proud. Telangana Social Welfare Residential Educational Institutions Society Secretary Dr. RS Praveen Kumar, who was present at the launch, said it was a rare feat in the history of TSWREIS.

“Perhaps for the first time in India, students of social welfare schools of Telangana launched their tiny payload into the stratosphere,” he tweeted later.

From TelanganaToday

 

Purdue University’s New Safer, Inexpensive Way to Propel Small Satellites


A team at Purdue University has developed a new safer and inexpensive way to propel small satellites. (Stock photo)

Finding inexpensive solutions for propelling CubeSats is one of the most critical components of the rapidly growing industry of commercial launches of satellites the size of a loaf of bread. The small size and relatively low cost have made CubeSats popular choices for commercial launches in recent years.

The first CubeSat was launched in 1999. Since then, more than 1,000 have been launched. The rapid development and application of nanosatellite technology has vastly accelerated mission complexity – sparking interest in robust, low-power and high-specific impulse micropropulsion systems.

Purdue University researchers have created a novel micropropulsion system for nanosatellite applications using a liquid fed pulsed-plasma thruster. It uses a liquid propellant for Lorentz-force pulsed-plasma accelerator and extended lifetime ignition system driven by nanosecond long pulses.


Purdue University researchers have created a novel micropropulsion system for nanosatellite applications using a liquid fed pulsed-plasma thruster.  (Courtesy: Purdue University)

“Our innovation helps address current challenges with CubeSat micropropulsion systems, including short operational lifetimes, contamination risks and economic challenges,” said Alexey Shashurin, an assistant professor of aeronautics and astronautics in Purdue’s College of Engineering. “Our system is better able to operate reliably for the entire mission and the liquid propellant we use does not create the contamination risks to the subsystems that we see with current options.”

Overall popularity of the CubeSats is driven heavily by the great advancement in miniaturization of electronic components and sensors that allows for new kinds of space missions and measurements using a CubeSat.

“We have taken the next step toward developing a robust propulsion system for CubeSats to provide for necessary maneuvering during missions,” Shashurin said. “Developing innovative technologies like this is one of my passions.”

Shashurin and his team worked with the Purdue Research Foundation Office of Technology Commercialization to file a provisional patent on the technology. They are looking for partners to continue development.

Thales Alenia Space Selects Syrlinks to Contribute to the Kinéis Smallsat Constellation

Syrlinks has been selected by Thales Alenia Space to contribute to the design and delivery of the payloads for the future Kinéis constellation smallsats.

These miniaturized payloads will recover the data transmitted from the beacons to the satellites before beaming them back to the ground-based stations. Syrlinks has been selected for proven expertise in space technology the design of methods to reduce system energy consumption.

The company has already been closely involved in this area, having worked as subcontractor of Thales Alenia Space since 2017 on the development of the Argos Néo payload for the demonstration nanosatellite built by the CNES (the French National Center for Space Studies). Syrlinks has now completed the development phase of this demonstration nanosatellite and delivered its flight model. The launch is scheduled for October 2019.

With 25 smallsats in service, Kinéis will operate the first European nanosatellite constellation for IoT. As announced last September, Kinéis has entrusted Thales Alenia Space with the development of the payloads, in partnership with Syrlinks, while Hemeria (a Nexeya corporation) will design and build the smallsats.

Syrlinks teams will develop a data collection instrument for the Kinéis constellation, incorporating highly evolved calculators to process the information collected. Thanks to component miniaturization, the hardware and firmware of the data collection instrument developed by Syrlinks weighs only 2 kg., while performing the same functions as the former generation 18 kg. system. This new equipment will be produced with the brand-new lab instruments and production tools acquired to produce Syrlinks equipment for the OneWeb constellation.

By 2022, Kinéis aims to connect several million objects located anywhere on Earth. Professionals and the general public will have access to a global, easy-to-use and affordable satellite localization and connectivity service. This global coverage is made possible by the coupling of the Argos and AIS systems.

The need to monitor goods and people is increasing and the number of connected objects is growing exponentially, with 30 billion connected objects by 2030. Finding a fishing vessel in distress, locating a lost container, tracking an extreme hiker in the wilderness… Extreme leisure, agriculture, fishing, logistics, yachting and science are all sectors of activity that will be able to rely on Kinéis’ global connectivity services. This new space adventure opens up new development prospects for Syrlinks because its solutions are easily and quickly adaptable to other programs and other uses at competitive prices.

Guy Richard, CEO of Syrlinks, said this new program has allowed the company to expand its range of space radiocommunication products with more advanced features to expand the firm’s range of smallsat products and solutions. This has opened up new international markets for the firm — by entering this complementary space market segment, the company also aims to offer new generation Argos beacons adapted to the constellation.

Jean Loïc Galle, CEO of Thales Alenia Space, added that the company is extremely proud to be able to contribute the firm’s expertise to the development of this structuring project for both Thales Alenia Space, subcontractors and partners. This is the completion of a fruitful collaboration between CLS, Nexeya, Syrlinks and Thales Alenia Space, which has credited an innovating system approach based on a high performance and high reliability nanosatellite constellation.

Christophe Vassal, CEO of CLS, noted that the company is strong contributor to the French excellence in space — with the unshakable support of the CNES and high accounts, the ocmpany will participate in a future round table and have decided to create Kinéis to make accessible, to the greatest number, satellite geolocation and data collection.

For its first space contract, Syrlinks participated in 2012 in the development of the CNES Myriade Evolutions platform’s radio links for Earth Oobservation missions. The popularity of Syrlinks was also based on the Rosetta space mission, initiated by the ESA, aimed at exploring Comet Tchouri. Syrlinks team designed and manufactured the wireless communication systems connecting the Rosetta probe to the Philae robot-lander.

Third PocketQube Workshop Announced

Following the successful 1st and 2nd PocketQube Workshop at TU Delft, Alba Orbital is announcing that the 3rd PocketQube workshop will be held in Glasgow, Scotland — the event will run on the 5th and 6th September in Glasgow University Union and will cover all key areas for PocketQube developers.

PocketQubes are very small satellites, comprising of one or more cubic units of approximately 5 cm. and are the next frontier of smallsats. They are similar to the successful cubesat form factor, but are one order of magnitude smaller and belonging to the class of picosatellites (100 to 1000 g.). In the future, vast networks of these tiny satellites may provide currently unforeseen applications.

They are at the cutting edge of miniaturization, allowing more people to access space than ever before.

With 30 speakers and exhibitions, this event hosts an impressive lineup including keynote speaker Jim Cantrell, CEO of Vector.

The workshop format is relaxed, focusing on content and collaboration, with coffee breaks and lunch provided for all attendees.

The end of the two day workshop will be wrapped with a drinks reception on the 6th of September from 7:00 p.m. onward, providing an excellent opportunity to network and socialize with like minded PocketQube enthusiasts.

Additional details may be viewed at this direct infolink…