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Gilmour Space Successfully Completes First Tech Demo of the Year

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Gilmour Space’s test firing of the company’s upper-stage hybrid rocket engine.
Photo is courtesy of the company.

Rocket engineers at Gilmour Space Technologies in Queensland, Australia, have completed the first in a series of major technology demonstrations this year — a successful 45-second ‘hot fire’ of their upper-stage hybrid rocket engine.

Unlike most commercial launch vehicles fueled by solid- or liquid-propulsion engines, Gilmour Space is developing new cost-effective, safe and green hybrid-propulsion technologies.

2020, the year of testing

As with most companies in Australia, Gilmour Space has been impacted by the severe bushfires and global COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the challenges, the company is tracking to complete a number significant tests this year, including a series of low-altitude flight tests of their guidance, navigation and control systems, a thrust vector control system test, and a more powerful static fire of their first-stage rocket engine.

Now with 50 employees in the company’s Gold Coast rocket facility, Gilmour Space is pushing the frontiers of Australian manufacturing and growth across the commercial, civil and defence space.

In December last year, the company signed a Strategic Statement of Intent with the Australian Space Agency to demonstrate its commitment to delivering ‘Access to Space’ as a civil priority area. In May, it signed a collaboration agreement with Australia’s Defence Science Technology Group to work on technologies that will enable sovereign launch capabilities in Australia.

Executive Comment

Adam Gilmour

“This was our longest and most efficient test fire to date,” said Gilmour Space CEO and Co-Founder, Adam Gilmour. “It’s a key demonstration of our ability to produce repeatable, stable, and high-performance combustion over a long duration burn; and a significant achievement in hybrid rocket development,” he added. “This engine will have the capability to power the upper stage of our Eris orbital launch vehicle, and deliver our customer payloads to required orbits. Our next test will be a full duration mission duty cycle firing of this engine.” He added, “Clearly, the momentum for launch is building here. With the right focus, investment, and hopefully a ready launch site by 2022, we believe that space could be a significant future industry for Australia – one that builds on our advanced manufacturing capabilities, and offers real opportunities for jobs, recovery and growth.”

Recent Gilmour Space news…

Strategic Space Technologies Agreement Signed by Gilmour Space with the Australian Defense Science Technology Group

Gilmour Space Receives Millions in Funding for Australian Government Flight-Ready Cryotanks

Relativity Space Selected by Iridium as an On Demand, Single Satellite, Launch Partner

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Artistic rendition of a Relativity Space Terran 1 rocket launch.

Relativity Space has announced that Iridium Communications Inc. (NASDAQ: IRDM) has signed a launch contract to deliver satellites to orbit.

The contract includes flexible timing for up to six dedicated launches to deploy Iridium’s ground spare satellites to Low Earth Orbit (LEO).  The launches will occur on an as-needed basis, determined by Iridium and using Relativity’s Terran 1, the world’s first 3D printed launch vehicle. Launches are planned for no earlier than 2023.

The second-generation Iridium constellation was completed in January 2019 and consists of 66 operational satellites and 9 on-orbit spares.  An additional six satellites were manufactured as ground spares and remain in storage.  Should the need arise to launch a ground spare, Relativity’s Terran 1 offers a cost-effective, efficient response time option for Iridium to quickly deploy a satellite to one of its six orbital planes. Relativity’s disruptive large-scale robotic 3D printing technology enables launches within months, instead of years.

Relativity Terran 1 rocket engine.

On June 24, 2020, Relativity also announced a Right of Entry Agreement with the United States Air Force, 30th Space Wing, for development of rocket launch facilities at Vandenberg Air Force Base. These launch site facilities will support flights to the polar orbits needed for the Iridium satellite constellation.

Relativity continues to grow its customer manifest and public-private partnerships. This agreement is the fifth announced launch customer for Relativity, and the first to take advantage of the company’s recently announced Right of Entry at Vandenberg Air Force Base. A potential launch site at Vandenberg is Relativity’s latest addition to its portfolio of major infrastructure partnerships, which also include a launch site Right of Entry at Cape Canaveral Launch Complex-16 and an exclusive-use Commercial Space Launch Act (CSLA) agreement for NASA test sites E4 and E2 at the NASA Stennis Space Center.

Relativity is the first and only venture-backed company with a Right of Entry directly with the U.S. Air Force at historic Launch Complex 16.

Executive Comments

Matt Desch

“The upgraded Iridium satellite constellation is operating incredibly well, but it’s prudent to have a cost-effective launch option available for future spare delivery,” said Matt Desch, the CEO of Iridium. “Relativity’s Terran 1 fits our launch needs to LEO well from both a price, responsiveness and capability perspective. And we know based on our previous experience that there are great benefits to engaging with a provider early on during development of the launch vehicle and it evolving around our particular needs.”

Tim Ellis

“Iridium offers critical communications over the planet’s entire surface, and we are very proud to be their launch partner that supports this capability,” said Tim Ellis, CEO and co-founder, Relativity Space. “As the first 3D printed launch vehicle, Terran 1 offers uniquely disruptive flexibility, cost, and performance advantages, especially for medium-payload missions that need dedicated launches.”

Recent Relativity Space news…

Relativity Space is in a New Space … Terran 1 Rocket Manufacturing to Long Beach, California

Smallsat Operators Lose in DC Court Decision Regarding FCC Auction

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A court case has been heard by the US Court of Appeals between ABS, Hispasat and Arsat — these companies had been arguing that the FCC should pause the date of Commission’s Dec auction of C-band frequencies over the US.

The trio were deliberately excluded by the FCC from its incentive plan for C-band compensation given to Intelsat, SES, Eutelsat, Telesat and Claro/StarOne.

The Appeal Court ruled against the three small satellite operators saying the Court was not satisfied that the small operators had satisfied the stringent requirements for a “stay pending appeal.”

FCC Chairman Ajit Pai welcomed the Court’s decision, adding that the ruling was great news for US consumers and leadership in 5G. The FCC had decided the three smaller operators were not eligible for the incentive payouts.

Ajit Pai

“I am very pleased that the D.C. Circuit rejected this attempt by small satellite operators with no US operations in the C-band to delay our efforts to repurpose critical mid-band spectrum,” Pai said. “The FCC will continue to defend our order on the merits, and I look forward to our C-band auction beginning on December 8th.”

However, the arguments may not be over — at least two of the players (Hispasat of Madrid and Arsat of Argentina) are already appealing this decision.

Article source: Chris Forrrester, Advanced Television infosite

Tethers Unlimited Delivers 15 SDRs to Millennium Space

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Tethers Unlimited, Inc. (TUI) announced it has completed delivery of 15 S-band Software Defined Radios (SDR) in support of a smallsat constellation mission being developed by Millennium Space Systems, a Boeing Company.

TUI delivered all 15 radios on schedule, demonstrating success in its efforts to stand up a radio production line capable of meeting the aggressive timelines of small satellite constellation program.  The deliveries also included the first small satellite mesh networking solution to support inter-satellite data transfer.

The SWIFT-SLX radio is a compact, affordable software defined radio designed to provide S-band and L-band communications for small satellites.  Its suite of “software defined apps” make it readily configurable to support a wide range of mission needs, from aviation to cislunar missions. TUI supports a wide range of band frequencies and makes an effort to work with the customer to meet their requirements. The SWIFT-SLX SDR has 11 units flying in LEO orbit and several dozen more in the launch pipeline.


Tethers Unlimited’s SWIFT-SLX SDR.

TUI has had a long-standing partnership on advanced space technologies with Millennium dating back over a decade.


Dr. Robert Hoyt

“Hitting this delivery rate has taken substantial investments in automating our radio testing infrastructure,” said Dr. Rob Hoyt, TUI’s President. “The space industry has traditionally focused on producing satellite components one at a time, and there wasn’t much experience in the industry with mass production.  We’ve brought in experts in lean production from outside the space industry, and that has paid off in a transformation of our radio manufacturing capability.”

“The culture of collaboration and teamwork between both Millennium Space Systems and Tethers Unlimited has contributed to this and many other past successes.” said Seckin Secilmis, TUI’s COO.

Recent Tethers Unlimited news…

Tethers Unlimited to Participate in NASA’s PUNCH Mission

AMERGINT Holdings Tethers … Through Acquisition … Tethers Unlimited

Space Networking Solution for Smallsats Unveiled by Tethers Unlimited

Stellar CAGR Predicted for Smallsat Market

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The $2.31 billion small satellites market is slated to reach beyond US$ 8.9 billion in revenues by the end of 2028, this according to a report from Future Market Insights.

Attributed to surging government funding, increasing support from private entities, soaring satellite adoption for R&D purposes, and increasing demand for Low Earth Orbit (LEO) services, Future Market Insights expects the global market for small satellites to observe robust growth at an estimated CAGR of 13.5% over a 10-year period, 2018-2028.

During the assessment period, small satellites market is anticipated to encounter with a few challenges such as space debris problems, insufficiency of skilled resources, and multiple regulatory hurdles; however, advances in space technology and strong governmental support will collectively help the market overcome the restraints and thrive at a stellar pace, globally.

Technological Advent and Surging Applications to Boost Nano-satellites Segment

By satellite type, nano-satellites are presumed to remain the largest as well as fastest growing segment throughout the forecast period. With around 41% revenue share of the market attained in 2017, nano-satellites segment will continue to gain traction due to growing applications in cellular communication. Innovations in IoT technology has also been a significant factor impacting the demand for nano-satellites in a positive manner since the recent past. Up from $946.8 million achieved in 2017, this segment is expected to reach beyond $3,000 million by the end of 2028.

Within this 10-year period, nano-satellites segment will reportedly expand at a healthy CAGR of 14%. Other satellite type segments are also anticipated to see impressive growth, including mini-satellites, micro-satellites, and pico-satellites. While micro-satellites represent a substantial market value share of above 25%, mini-satellites segment will continue to hold a considerably large share of above 22% by value, over the forecast period. Future Market Insights records growing demand for mini-satellites for weather forecasting and R&D applications.

Market Taxonomy: Overview

Among end-users, defence sector is likely to represent the largest shareholding segment by 2028 end, whereas commercial sector is anticipated to witness higher growth. Defence area has been generating substantial demand for small satellites, covering over 42% market value share by 2017 end, whereas the consumption from commercial sector is slated to increase at a high rate and bring in above 31% share of the market value for commercial segment during the assessment period. As per the regional segmentation analysis, North America will remain the largest market share contributor through to 2028. Western Europe, and SEA and others of APAC will exhibit significant growth over the decade.

Key Market Players: Overview

Some of the leading players in the global market for small satellites include Orbital ATK, Inc., Ball Corporation, Airbus S.A.S., Boeing, Lockheed Martin Corporation, Israel Aerospace Industries Ltd., QinetiQ, ISIS- Innovative Solutions In Space B.V., OHB SE, Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd., and Planet Labs Inc. While Airbus, Boeing, Lockheed Martin Corporation have been identified to be the predominant players, it has been found that the winning strategies of these three giants will provide a major thrust to the global small satellites market in near future.

Request Sample Report with depth at this direct link…

Diverse Defense Apps = Profitable Path for Smallsats

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A new report by XploreMR studies the growth drivers, trends, restraints, and highlights of the global small satellite (smallsat) market. Presenting exclusive insights into the market from 2018 to 2028, the report projects that the market will witness notable growth during the forecast period.

The growth of the market is mainly attributed to the growing demand for smallsats for Earth Observation (EO) services in diverse end-use sectors such as energy, telecommunication, oil & gas, and media, to name a few. Similarly, smallsats are extensively used in the defense sector in a wide range of applications, such as tactical communication, geospace and atmosphere research, and medium-resolution imagery.

Furthermore, the satellite communications segment is anticipated to remain the leading end-use segment and will continue to complement the growth of the market. Backed by the aforementioned factors, the global small satellite market is anticipated to create an absolute opportunity of $2.31 billion and reach a valuation of $8.94 billion during the forecast period.

The military segment is anticipated to remain a prominent end-use segment and will continue to bestow lucrative growth opportunities to the smallsat market. Defense sectors of numerous nations, both developed and developing, are focusing on enhancing their existing communications framework to gain a military advantage over their bordering and enemy nations. To cater to the increasing demand, manufacturers of smallsats are resorting to cost-effective approaches and are implementing industrial passives at each stage of development to manufacture satellites on a large scale.

On this premise, cubesats are gaining prominence in defense sector as they aid in enhancing battlefield communications, gathering information from unattended sensors, and in monitoring space weather. Moreover, as compared to conventional satellites, smallsats have shorter development cycles and require a smaller development team, thereby reducing the manufacturing and operational expenses. The aforementioned factors will continue to drive the small satellite market on a positive growth trajectory in the forthcoming years.

North America is a prominent regional market for small satellites, currently accounting for nearly 55% of market share, on the back of numerous satellite launches by the US-based companies and universities throughout the year. The region is anticipated to grow in market value at a stellar CAGR of 13.1% through the forecast period.

Moreover, the United States Commission has approved licenses for several commercial Earth Exploration Satellite Services (EESS) constellations that use smallsats operating on the cubesat concept. Such development will continue to support the regional growth of North America. On the other hand, it has been observed that the smallsat market has been gradually shifting from North America to Asia-Pacific (APAC), backed by significant investments in Japan, India, and China.

Increased expenditure by governments and private organizations is augmenting the market growth in China, which is anticipated to metamorphose into a leading region for the smallsat market. Backed by continual developments in space infrastructure, APAC is forecast to create an incremental opportunity of $594.9 million during the forecast period and will hold a respectable share in the global market value.

Some of the major market players in the global smallsat market studied in the report include, but are not limited to, The Boeing Company, Aerospace Corporation, Airbus Defense and Space, Lockheed Martin Corporation, Thales Group, Planet Labs Inc., Spire Global Inc., Thales Alenia Space, GomSpace Group AB, and Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd.

LeoStella Delivers Their First BlackSky Smallsats

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LeoStella, a specialized satellite constellation design and manufacturer, has delivered their first, two, fully manufactured satellites from the firm’s state-of-the-art production line.

The satellites are the fifth and sixth of an ongoing Earth Observation (EO) constellation program for the global monitoring company, BlackSky.

LeoStella’s intelligent manufacturing facility opened in 2019 and is the first of its kind. The satellites were delivered to the launch facility on June 1, 2020, and have been prepared for an upcoming SpaceX launch from Kennedy Space Center in Florida. LeoStella’s ability to minimize costs and reduce development and manufacturing time helps meet the increasing demand for satellite constellations in a time sensitive ecosystem.

LeoStella’s new production facility was developed to change the way satellites and constellations are produced to better meet the needs of agile space customers. The factory is a fully digital and networked environment that includes intelligent workstations, connected tools, automated test equipment, statistical process control, embedded product assurance, and a custom Manufacturing Resource Planning (MRP) backbone that manages and tracks all activities. Coupled with the manufacturing process is a robust supply chain of industry leaders with a focus on advanced technologies that help LeoStella offer an exceptional value proposition for its customers.

The satellites weigh approximately 50-kilograms and are designed to be operated in a variety of LEO orbit altitudes and inclinations. They are compatible with a wide range of rideshare and dedicated launch vehicles. The satellites are based on a product optimized for imaging missions with high resolution, agility and stability and can be configured for alternate missions and payloads.

Based in Tukwila, Washington, LeoStella is a joint venture between Thales Alenia Space and Spaceflight Industries.

“Successful delivery of these two BlackSky satellites marks another major milestone in LeoStella’s promise of rapid, low-cost, high-performance satellite constellations,” said Mike Hettich, CEO of LeoStella. “In a short time, we have created the designs, infrastructure, tools, and processes that enable constellation production at scale. Delivery of these satellites provides an important validation of our approach. It’s exciting to see the team bring our vision to reality.”

“LeoStella is a key partner in extending our global monitoring constellation,” said Brian O’Toole, CEO of BlackSky. “Their intelligent design and inventive manufacturing have established LeoStella as a leader in new space economics. Consequently, we’re able to deliver valuable first-to-know insights at a cost that makes it accessible for both business and government customers.”

 

New Smallsat Analysis & Report from XploreMR

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Small satellites (smallsats) are becoming more attractive, as they enable missions that cannot be accomplished by large satellites, such as high temporal and spatial resolution by gathering data from multiple points, in-orbit inspection of large satellites, and space missions consisting of a large number of satellites forming constellations.
     Small satellites enable missions in navigation, communication, remote sensing, and scientific research for civilian, commercial, and military purposes. XploreMR in its newly published report assesses the global small satellites market over a 10 year forecast period – 2018-2028. (Report title: Small Satellite Market: North America to Continue Market Dominance; Western Europe Slated for Robust Growth in the Years Ahead: Global Industry Analysis 2013 – 2017 and Opportunity Assessment 2018 – 2028)

Report Overview
This report presents an analysis about the current trends and ongoing developments in the small satellite market. Small satellites are artificial satellites with lower weights and smaller sizes, and are becoming more attractive in recent years due to lower development costs and shorter lead times as compared to large satellites.
     During the past few years, space systems and technologies have become a crucial part of the economic, scientific, and security capabilities of countries across the world. Various government and private organizations in the world are now focused on capitalizing on space systems to improve operational effectiveness, and to enhance homeland security and digital communication capabilities.

Scope of the Report
The scope of this market study includes the manufacturing of small satellite. Satellite-related services in consumer and commercial domains such as satellite TV and cellular communication, launch vehicle services, and ground equipment have been excluded from the scope of this market study. The research methodology of the market study includes extensive primary and secondary research. Various surveys were conducted with small satellite manufacturers and industry experts to understand the value chain and critical driving factors of the small satellite market. Desk research was conducted to identify current market trends and ongoing developments in the market.

Market Segmentation
The market has been segmented in two broader categories: satellite type and end user. The satellite type segment is further segmented into mini-satellites, micro-satellites, nano-satellites, and pico-satellites. Among these, the nano-satellites segment is expected to grow at a relatively higher CAGR during the forecast period, owing to an increase in the demand for nano-satellites in various applications such as Earth Observation (EO), research & development, and remote sensing.
     The nano-satellites segment is also expected to capture a market share of 43.0% during the forecast period. Among the end user segments, the commercial segment is expected to grow at a CAGR of 13.9% during the forecast period, as small satellites are now being increasingly used in several commercial applications such as air & maritime monitoring, communications, land use monitoring, agriculture monitoring, and disaster monitoring.
     The decrease in the prices of launch services and the increasing need for surveillance in defense are some of the primary factors which are fuelling the growth of the small satellite market. North America is expected to hold more than 50% of the market share in 2018. One of the major reasons for the dominance of North America is that, most satellite manufacturers are based in the U.S., and are delivering small satellites to various public and private organizations across the globe. However, the SEA & others market in the APAC region is expected to create more potential growth opportunities for the small satellite market in the coming few years, owing to the increasing demand for small satellites in India and ASEAN countries.

The final section of the report focuses on the profiles of leading companies in the global marketplace for small satellites. The market study also presents some recommendations for market stockholders. In brief, these recommendations encourage consultation between small satellite manufacturers, for which technological advancements should be an agenda issue, and professional bodies in non-satellite manufacturing sectors, such as media & entertainment and telecommunication services.

All stockholders in the smallsat industry should work in collaboration and exchange their resources in order to improve the quality of services that are being offered through small satellites.

Request a free sample of this report at this direct link…

Arianespace Postpones Flight VV16 Again

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As high-altitude winds above the Guiana Space Center remain unfavorable, Arianespace made the decision not to initiate the final chronology operations for Flight VV16 on Saturday, June 20, 2020. 

A new target date will be announced as soon as possible, based on the evolution of weather conditions.

The Vega launch vehicle and its 53 spacecraft payloads are in stable and safe conditions.

Unfavorable high-altitude wind conditions over the Guiana Space Center has led to a decision that the final preparation phase for Arianespace’s Flight VV16 with Vega could not be initiated as planned today. 

For its fifth mission in 2020 and the first Vega flight of the year, Arianespace will orbit 53 satellites on the Small Spacecraft Mission Service (SSMS) Proof of Concept (PoC) Flight, performed on behalf of 21 customers.

With this mission, designated Flight VV16, Arianespace underscores its comprehensive range of innovative and very competitive services to address the nano- and micro-satellite market sub-segment, serving both institutional and commercial needs. The creation of such a new service using the company’s light-lift Vega led to the SSMS project.

The European Space Agency (ESA) funded the SSMS hardware development, and also contributed with the European Union to the funding of this “Proof of Concept” (PoC) flight.

The combined European efforts will enhance Arianespace’s response to the rideshare demand with solutions that are perfectly suited to the flourishing small satellite market.

Perspectives Video Interview with Peter Beck, Chief Executive, Rocket Lab

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Successes abound with smallsat launch after smallsat launch with turnaround times bound to please…


Peter Beck is the founder and chief executive of Rocket Lab, a space systems company and the global leader in dedicated small satellite launch. Founded in 2006, Rocket Lab builds and launches rockets and satellites that provide access to space for organizations like NASA, the NRO, DARPA, the United States Air Force and the commercial space sector.


An associate professor in space systems, Peter led the development of ground-breaking Electron launch vehicle, which in 2019 was the 4th most frequently launched rocket in the world. Peter also leads the satellite division at Rocket Lab which is making it faster and easier to get the ideas of tomorrow on orbit today.