Archives for October 2020

Elon Musk, in a tweet after the latest Starlink launch, said that once this batch of 60 satellites are in their correct orbital positions then a test broadband service will start.

“We will be able to roll out a fairly wide public beta [service] in northern US and hopefully southern Canada,” Musk said. “Other countries to follow as soon as we receive regulatory approval.”

Normally it would take about 2-3 weeks following launch to place a flight of satellites into their designated positions.

Musk’s SpaceX rockets have launched around 775 satellites into orbit and is expected to place another 60 into orbit before the end of October. However, a batch of satellites launched in May 2019 have been deliberately de-orbited. SpaceX has yet to give a reason for the de-orbiting.

Spaceflight analyst Jonathan McDowell says that 39 satellites were de-orbited from that May 2019 launch.

ViaSat of California, an existing supplier of broadband services by satellite and a rival to Musk’s system, told the FCC in a filing in September that SpaceX was suffering in-orbit failures running at about 7 percent.

Viasat said, “An actual failure rate this high, manifesting after such a small fraction of a Starlink satellite’s design life has passed, optimistically implies a staggering 22 percent failure rate over the duration of the Starlink mission.”

However, SpaceX followed up these claims with its own September 29th statement to the FCC arguing that it had reported no failures in the last 233 Starlink satellites launched, and accusing ViaSat of refusing to allow facts to get in the way of the story it wishes to be true.

“SpaceX continues to work to improve the performance and reliability of its vehicles,” said the statement.

The October 6th launch was the 13th batch of Starlink craft to be launched. SpaceX has frequently said that its service will beam broadband connectivity at speeds of up to 100 Mb/s that conventional land-based services cannot reach economically.

Recent reports say that payTV giant DirecTV, owned by telco AT&T, is definitely up for sale and that some bids are already being submitted.

The New York Post said that “lowball bids” were actively being made and coming mostly from private equity interests. Goldman Sachs is handling the process. The newspaper says that Charlie Ergen’s Dish Network has not made a bid, although he has long described consolidation between the two US DTH payTV players as inevitable.

The first-round bids have taken place and nobody exceeded offering $20 billion for the business which is suffering declining subscribers. AT&T paid $49 billion (including debt) for the business back in July 2015.

It could be that the final bid – if accepted – would allow AT&T to retain a minority stake in DirecTV.

News stories were authored by journalist Chris Forrester, who posts for the Advanced Television infosite and is also a Senior Contributor for Satnews Publishers.

Exolaunch has signed a long-term launch agreement with SpaceX to secure Falcon 9 capacity for launching smallsats as part of SpaceX’s SmallSat Rideshare Program.

Under the agreement, Exolaunch manifests multiple microsatellites and cubesats on Falcon 9 rideshare missions to a sun-synchronous orbit throughout 2020 – 2021.

Exolaunch is accommodating 30 smallsats on the first SpaceX dedicated rideshare mission scheduled for launch this December and is gearing up for its launch campaign next month at the SpaceX launch facility at Cape Canaveral, Florida. Additionally, Exolaunch is planning to open an office in the U.S. to provide more flexible launch and deployment services to its growing list of stateside customers.

For the December mission, Exolaunch will provide comprehensive rideshare mission management, deployment and integration services for 30 satellites for its U.S. and European customers. Some of the core customers who signed up for launches through Exolaunch’s services include Loft Orbital, Swarm Technologies, NanoAvionics, German Aerospace Center (DLR), German universities and other commercial constellation customers.

On each Falcon 9 mission, Exolaunch will use their brand-new product, the EXOport, which is a flexible, multi-port adapter designed to enable optimal accommodation of microsats and cubesats. The company will also use their proprietary, flight-proven, separation systems – CarboNIX — the next generation shock-free separation system for smallsats, with upgraded modifications of the firm’s EXOpod cubesat deployers and EXObox sequencers to deploy customers’ satellites into their target orbit.

To date, Exolaunch has successfully arranged launch campaigns for more than 100 smallsats. This summer, Exolaunch also delivered its CarboNIX separation systems to deploy six SkySat microsatellites for Planet, successfully launched on two SpaceX’s Starlink missions onboard Falcon 9.

Executive Comments

“The SpaceX program is a game-changer for the rideshare launch industry giving new impetus for numerous constellations of small satellites. Teaming up with SpaceX, we are able to offer our customers seamless, reliable, and cost-effective launch solutions and expand access to space,” said Jeanne Medvedeva, VP of Launch Services at Exolaunch. “Our first mission with Falcon 9 later this year will set the precedent for our rideshares going forward, and we are delighted to extend partnership with SpaceX.”

Exolaunch’s Program Manager, Connor Jonas, added, “As we continue to sign on more U.S.-based customers, it makes sense strategically for Exolaunch to establish an additional office in the U.S. At this new location, we will set up a team of rideshare launch and deployment service experts who will be perfectly equipped to serve our customers and prospects in the states now and downstream.”     

KSAT has delivered more than 20,000 passes on the KSATLITE network in September — this is all-time-high for LITE, doubling the number of supports per month since January of this year and the growth seems to be continuing.

KSATLITE is KSAT´s ground network solution offering optimized support for smallsats and big constellations. The offered solution has gained popularity in the Smallsat marketplace and is currently experiencing high demand.

At the start of the year, the KSATLITE network accounted for 10,000 contacts out of the 50,000 monthly contacts on the KSAT global network. By the end of September, that number was more than 20,000.

The strong growth is caused by several factors but clearly indicates a vibrant and growing commercial space industry despite Covid -19. The total volume is growing due to the number of customers, the number of satellites launched, as well as the number of contacts required by both new and existing customers.

The sky is not the limit KSATLITE is set up with a software-optimized scheduling system. Leveraging up-to-date Application Programming Interfaces (API´s) enables efficient support for even the big LEO broadband and IoT constellations and the team is experienced in handling Launch vehicle, LEOP, and in-orbit support ensuring mission success throughout spacecraft lifecycle.

Since August, the LITE-team has provided LEOP support for close to thirty satellites on 6 launchers, 3 of them within the same week, thus demonstrating an unmatched ability to tackle high volumes across the network as well as simultaneous support capacity.

Executive Comment

“The growth we see now confirms that the way we operate matches perfectly the specific needs of customers in this market segment, both on solutions and price point,” said Kristian Jenssen, Director of KSATLITE. “It makes me extremely proud to see that the automated systems we have developed are scaling up seamlessly, and that we are able to handle both LEOP and big constellation support with just a small team. We have good reason to believe that this growth will continue. The sky is not the limit as they say. Easy integration of new missions means new satellites can easily be added. It’s a scalable system that allows satellite operators to scale their ground communications support as the constellation grows- and technically our systems are ready for another doubling.”

GHGSat has signed an agreement with ABB to deliver the payloads for GHGSat’s next three methane detecting satellites – a significant milestone in the firm’s plan to have a constellation of 10 spacecraft on-orbit by the end of 2022.

GHGSat is unique in operating satellites able to detect greenhouse gases (GHG) in high-resolution, a technology the company has demonstrated in space since 2016. While government GHG sensors in orbit provide regional scale measurements and global trends, GHGSat’s satellites are specifically designed to detect and quantify methane emissions from individual facilities. GHGSat’s sensor technology enables unprecedented leak monitoring capability as detection of sources 100 times smaller is possible with a resolution that is 100 times higher.

Accurate, cost-effective monitoring is vital as methane has a global warming potential c.84 times greater than that of carbon dioxide over 20 years. GHGSat’s space-based data and analytics enable regulators and operators in sectors such as oil and gas, waste management, mining, energy, and agriculture to properly assess and track methane emissions, and take prompt action to address leaks.

This capability will be further enhanced as GHGSat’s fleet expands in the coming years. “Iris” (GHGSat-C1), the company’s second satellite, launched successfully on 2nd September 2020, joining technology demonstrator “Claire”, in orbit since 2016. ABB delivered the payload for “Hugo” (GHGSat-C2), GHGSat’s third satellite, which is scheduled to launch by the end of the year.

Executive Comments

Announcing the new agreement, Stephane Germain, CEO, GHGSat said, “With GHGSat-C2, ABB has proven that they have the technical expertise and manufacturing capacity to support GHGSat’s growth. We are looking forward to this next phase of our partnership with ABB to rapidly expand our constellation.”

Marc Corriveau, General Manager, ABB Measurement & Analytics, Canada, commented, “We are currently seeing extensive innovation brought about by private initiatives in the space industry. At ABB we have built up a unique heritage in this sector over the decades helping scientists better understand the composition and evolution of our atmosphere. Our expertise in space optics and sensor development for industrial applications means that we are exceptionally well positioned to play a key role in GHGSat-C2. We are looking forward to collaborating on this exciting new project.”

Despite the days of weather delays, the launch of SpaceX‘s Starlinks took place on Tuesday, October 6 at 7:29 a.m. EDT, 11:29 UTC, SpaceX launched 60 Starlink satellites from Launch Complex 39A (LC-39A) at Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

Following stage separation, SpaceX landed Falcon 9’s first stage on the “Of Course I Still Love You” droneship, which was stationed in the Atlantic Ocean. One of Falcon 9’s fairing halves supported two previous Starlink launches, and Ms. Tree successfully caught that fairing half after launch. The Starlink satellites deployed approximately 1 hour and 1 minute after liftoff.

Falcon 9’s first stage previously supported launch of Crew Dragon’s first flight to the International Space Station with NASA astronauts onboard and the ANASIS-II mission.

Last week, emergency responders in Washington State shared their experience using Starlink. In the wake of the wildfires that devastated areas of the state in August, first responders there have been using the service for their purposes and to help bring the residents of Malden internet service while they rebuild their community.

Some of the first to benefit from the internet service has been first responders in areas impacted by wildfires in Washington state. SpaceX CEO Elon Musk said in a tweet the company is prioritizing emergency responders and locations with no internet connectivity” for its first customers. Malden is located about 35 miles south of Spokane, Washington, which falls within the northern latitudes our satellites currently service. The way emergency responders deployed Starlink in this context is representative of how Starlink works best—in remote or rural areas where internet connectivity is unavailable.

Our Starlink network is still in its early stages, but as our network grows our coverage will grow as well. If you would like to receive updates on Starlink news and service availability in your area, please visit starlink.com.

This launch will send the Starlink satellite constellation near 800 spacecraft in low-Earth orbit. Eventually, the company plans to have a fleet comprised of more than 40,000 satellites providing internet to even remote areas of the world.

Equatorial Space Systems (ESS) has appointed new members of the firm’s Board of Advisors — they will provide broad expertise in the engineering of space launch vehicles to the Singapore-based launcher company.

Equatorial Space Systems aims to revolutionize space launch operations with a launcher safer, simpler and more affordable than incumbents, by using the company’s proprietary hybrid propulsion technology. The company’s inaugural suborbital launch of the Dorado sounding rocket is slated for the first half of 2021.

Executive Comment

“It’s time for our next leap towards space – great advisors are worth their weight in gold, and can de-risk any R&D program immensely. Armed with Glenn’s and Marcelo’s’ support, set in their decades-long experience in fields of GNC systems and flight dynamics analysis, we will be able to accelerate our development program greatly,” says Simon Gwozdz, the CEO and Founder of ESS.

Mr. Glenn Haskins, previously with Lockheed Martin and Gilmour Space Technologies, will advise the company’s growing engineering team’s Guidance, Navigation and Control system development efforts. “In the words of Robert Goddard – it is difficult to say what is impossible, for the dream of yesterday is the hope of today and the reality of tomorrow – I can say I’m touched and excited to be a part of the ESS team, and help turning their dreams into reality,” he said.

Mr. Marcelo Martinez, a veteran aerodynamicist and flight dynamics engineer with nearly 40 years of experience in sounding rockets, missiles and ballistics, will advise the company’s efforts in the concept development and aero-mechanics aspects of their access to space vehicles. “I am very proud be invited to the advisory board of Equatorial Space System. I share the ESS vision in transforming the access to space with affordable and disruptive propulsion technology and well-crafted space vehicles. I will focus my efforts to coach and help the company’s fantastic team of young, brilliant engineers that will finally make the ESS vision a reality. I’m grateful to ESS management for this opportunity to be back in the sky,” noted the industry veteran behind projects such as the Tauro sounding rocket.

BlackSky has announced that their fifth and sixth global satellites have completed commissioning and are now in commercial operations.

The addition of these two satellites to the BlackSky constellation brings higher resolution and increased revisits for key customer markets around the world.

These latest two satellites launched in August of 2020 and successfully achieved their first image captures within 58 hours of operation. The satellites have been delivering customer collections since that time while concurrently completing the commissioning process.

BlackSky’s fifth and sixth satellites are already delivering enhanced image performance and growing revisits for BlackSky customers. By flying at lower altitudes than other satellites in BlackSky’s constellation, these latest two satellites can produce images with resolution up to 80 cm —a 20 percent improvement over the existing satellites in the constellation.

The position of these satellites at an inclination of 53 degrees will allow additional revisits across all markets with heightened performance in Europe and Asia. These advances will unlock more analytic and data driven opportunities for BlackSky’s customers.

The BlackSky constellation now includes six satellites. The company is on track to add 10 more satellites to its constellation by the end of 2021.

Executive Comment

“The addition of our fifth and sixth satellites into our commercial constellation is an important step in our strategy to provide our customers with data that materially impacts their mission and business objectives,” said Brian O’Toole, CEO of BlackSky. “We’ve always prioritized speed and utility so our customers experience incredible first-to-know insights. This campaign continues to execute on that commitment by delivering intelligence that can change outcomes.”

Momentus Inc.  (“Momentus” or the “Company”) has initiated a launch service agreement for deploying Skykraft’s smallsat on Vigoride’s mission that scheduled for launch in June of 2021.

Skykraft’s spacecraft is a pathfinder for a future large LEO constellation, and will be deployed via a new separation ring named EOS and developed by MECANO ID under a CNES contract thanks to the partial financing of the Future Investment Plan. The launch service agreement between Skykraft and Momentus provides for another smallsat launch in late 2021, part of an accelerated demonstration program of four, successive, satellite iterations before the launch of Skykraft’s Space Based Air Traffic Management constellation in 2023.

Skykraft is an Australian space company that specializes in the conceptualization, design, manufacturing and operations of smallsat constellations for the delivery of space-based global services. As a spin-off from the University of New South Wales Canberra’s Space Program, Skykraft’s rapidly maturing foundation constellation is dedicated to space-based Air Traffic Management services.

This constellation will provide continuous global coverage for aircraft at all altitudes, improving both the safety and efficiency of aircraft operations. Skykraft’s satellite will validate space-based VHF communication and demonstrate key technologies such as deployable antennas – paving the way for the 210-satellite Skykraft constellation poised to commence operations from 2023.

MECANO ID, a French company that specializes in developing mechanical and thermal-dominated systems that are to be subjected to harsh environments — mainly dedicated to the space environment — is now developing the high-precision deployer EOS for nanosatellites and microsatellites. Characterized by light-weight and low-spin deployment, EOS offers unparalleled ease of integration and access thanks to its fully axisymmetric design and customizable interfaces. The June 2021 mission with Skykraft and Momentus constitutes the flight qualification for EOS and opens the door for commercialization.

Executive Comments

“The Momentus Vigoride and MECANO ID EOS provide an efficient and flexible ride to orbit, allowing us to accelerate the development of our space-based service delivery constellation,” said Skykraft Chief Engineer Doug Griffin. “By enabling Skykraft to prove out key design features in the space environment, Momentus is helping us develop and evolve space-based services for the near future.”

“MECANO ID is proud to fly with Momentus on Vigoride, and to embark the Skykraft spacecraft for the demonstration flight of EOS, our deployer,” said Didier Zely, Product Line Manager at MECANO ID.

Stéphane Galinier, Business Development Manager, added, “MECANO ID selected MOMENTUS mainly for the technical maturity shown during our exchanges, despite the company’s young age.”

“Momentus is thrilled to announce our first launch service agreement with an Australian company. We have been amazed over the last year to observe the progress of the incredibly vibrant space community there, and look forward to support Skykraft with the launch of their pathfinder and subsequent constellation deployment,” said Mikhail Kokorich, CEO of Momentus. Fred Kennedy, President of Momentus. He added, “This agreement illustrates Momentus’ ability to operate across three continents and make newspace a truly global industry.”

Scotland’s space-related businesses, already expected to be valued at being worth £2 billion (€2.2bn) by 2030, could grow even more, according to a study by Scottish Enterprise.

“The rise of the space sector is apparent in the figures from a recent study conducted by Scottish Enterprise that forecast income from the sector could reach over £2 billion by 2030 as well as contribute data solutions to combat climate change,” the Scottish business agency said. “The industry ambition is to double income to £4 billion over the next ten years and with a rate of growth of 12 percent year-on-year it is on a steady path due to the commercial responsiveness in what’s described as the ‘new space’ operating environment.”

The report identified some key growth targets in three areas, the agency said: space applications, manufacturing and operations as well as auxiliary services. Scottish Enterprise supports space companies such as Spire Global, Celestia, AAC Clyde Space and Space Intelligence.

Scotland’s Minister for Trade, Investment and Innovation, Ivan McKee, said, “Our ambition is to capture the substantial economic benefits of the emerging global space sector by ensuring Scotland becomes the first country in Europe to provide an end-to-end solution for small satellite manufacture, launch and innovation in satellite data analysis, including critical earth observation and environmental data.”

This news story is authored by journalist Chris Forrester, who posts for the Advanced Television infosite and is also a Senior Contributor for Satnews Publishers.