Archives for February 2021

General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems (GA-EMS) has awarded a contract to Firefly Aerospace Inc. to launch a GA-EMS developed Orbital Test Bed (OTB) satellite carrying NASA’s Multi-Angle Imager for Aerosols (MAIA) instrument.

The launch vehicle delivering the satellite to space will be Firefly’s Alpha rocket and is scheduled to launch from Vandenberg Air Force Base in 2022.

MAIA’s planned three year on-orbit operation will measure airborne particulate matter in the atmosphere to allow team members to correlate MAIA’s measurements with adverse human health issues such as cardiovascular and respiratory disease, initially focused on 12 primary target areas around the world.

MAIA is a Venture-class mission within NASA’s Earth System Science Pathfinder Program at the agency’s Langley Research Center in Virginia. NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, CA is responsible for the MAIA instrument design, development, and delivery.

“The Alpha rocket meets all technical and performance requirements to launch GA-EMS’ OTB spacecraft with the MAIA instrument as the primary payload on a rideshare mission,” said Scott Forney, President of GA-EMS. “By leveraging Firefly’s inventive launch capabilities with our novel approach to satellite design and development, GA-EMS is able to assure our customers keep pace with the demand to launch missions like MAIA to advance NASA’s Earth Science research goals.”

“We are honored to have been selected by GA-EMS to launch this important NASA science payload,” said Dr. Tom Markusic, Firefly’s CEO. “The Firefly team and our industry partners look forward to supporting GA-EMS on this exciting mission. The MAIA payload is a perfect example of people all around the world directly benefiting from a leading-edge space mission.”

General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems (GA-EMS) Group researches, designs and manufactures first-of-a-kind electromagnetic and electric power generation systems. GA-EMS’ history of innovation has led to an expanding portfolio of specialized products and integrated system solutions that support aviation, space systems and satellites, missile defense, power and energy, and processing and monitoring applications for critical government, defense, industrial, and commercial customers worldwide.

Firefly is developing a family of launch and in-space vehicles and services that provide industry-leading affordability, convenience and reliability. Firefly’s launch vehicles use common technologies, manufacturing infrastructure and launch capabilities, providing LEO launch solutions for up to ten metric tons of payload at the lowest cost/kg in the small-lift class. Combined with Firefly’s in-space vehicles, such as the Space Utility Vehicle and Genesis Lander, Firefly provides the space industry with a one-stop shop for missions to the surface of the Moon or beyond. Headquartered in Cedar Park TX, Firefly has additional presence in Vandenberg, California, and Washington, D.C.

Hiber Four, and its sister satellite Hiber Three (launching in March), are half the volume (3U) of the previous generation, which reduces the mass and decreases the launch costs by up to 50 percent...

Hiber, announces that its most recent satellite, Hiber Four, was successfully launched in space, via SpaceX’s first rideshare mission of 2021, Transporter-1. Hiber is noted as the European satellite Internet-of-Things (IoT) company.

Hiber Four is a second generation satellite developed and assembled by Hiber’s engineers in its Amsterdam office. Hiber Four, and its sister satellite Hiber Three (launching in March), are half the volume (3U) of the previous generation, which reduces the mass and decreases the launch costs by up to 50 percent.

The newest generation of satellites also have an on-board propulsion system allowing Hiber’s ground engineers to adjust the satellite’s orbit. This ensures that Hiber Four, and its future descendants, avoid collisions and, importantly, de-orbit themselves at the end-of-life, making Hiber one of the most responsible CubeSat constellation operators in the world.

“This is just the start of what’s coming,” says Maarten Engelen, MD Technology and Co-founder at Hiber. “We moved all of our integration and operations for satellites and end-to-end solutions in-house last year, which gives us greater control over cost, functionality, and speed of improvement. By controlling the full solution, we can innovate faster and respond quickly to customer needs.”

Unlike the previous generation of satellites, which relied on external development and assembly, Hiber Four was developed in-house by Hiber’s satellite team. The satellites and Hiber’s end-to-end IoT solutions demonstrate the company’s ability to develop technically complex systems and operate them in the most harsh conditions. An example of this technical innovation is Hiber’s most recent product, HiberHilo, a complete end-to-end wellhead pressure and temperature monitoring system for oil and gas companies. By moving development in-house, Hiber is able to develop innovative and secure solutions on demand at a faster and more affordable rate, benefitting both its customers and the industry as a whole. 

“Hiber Four is the start of a new era at Hiber,” says Erik Wienk, COO, Hiber. “Not only does Hiber Four mean we can give better service levels to our customers, but it also shows what we’re capable of as a team.”

Hiber Four is the first of two new satellites that Hiber plans to launch this quarter. The next satellite, called Hiber Three, will launch in a Soyuz rocket in March 2021. Hiber Four was launched before Hiber Three because of a delay of the Soyuz launch vehicle.

Co-founder of TSL and Co-Inventor of the CubeSat, Bob Twiggs, stated, “To me, this (First ThinSat launch) was the most exciting day of my career.”

Corona or no corona virus, the Virginia middle and high school STEM programs are busy and getting ready to launch a second constellation of 30 small sats on February 20. Mission Success for NearSpace Launch Inc. (NSL) witnessed 60 ThinSat constellations that were launched off the Antares NG-11, to the International Space Station on April 17, 2019. 

Now this second constellation is manifested to launch February 20, 2021. The 30 ThinSats were developed for Virginia Space as a STEM program for middle and high schools where more than 400 students participated in the testing and delivery of experiments. The school teams were overseen by Twiggs Space Labs (TSL).  

Co-founder of TSL and Co-Inventor of the CubeSat, Bob Twiggs, stated, “Our goal is to inspire future generations of engineers and scientists through innovation in the field of space.” Twiggs goes further to say, “To me, this (First ThinSat launch) was the most exciting day of my career.” 
ThinSat is a new pioneering model for satellites that are scalable, simpler, and more affordable. Their focus is to broaden access to space for educational and space research participants.

The NSL’s EyeStar radios allow for 24/7 connectivity via Globalstar’s constellation and had 52 of the 60 ThinSat communicating in the first few hours. 

The ThinSat inventor and co-founder of NSL, Hank Voss states, “ThinSats will travel in a region of the atmosphere that is important to climate and space weather forecasts, but rarely studied because atmospheric drag makes it hard to keep satellites there,” Voss also expressed, as an emeritus professor, he is “thankful to Virginia Space and Twiggs Space Labs for investing in the project that has a such strong STEM and research outreach.”  

NearSpace Launch is now delivering a scaled up ThinSat to NASA and another constellation to Space Force for research and rapid manufacturing.  NearSpace Launch, Inc. (NSL) has flown 450+ systems and subsystems in the past five years, with 100 percent mission success for all commercial and research missions. NSL manufactures and produces ThinSats, CubeSats, Black Boxes, and Globalstar enabled communication systems (EyeStar radios) for a variety of commercial, governmental, and educational applications.

NSL was founded following the successful mission of TSAT with Globalstar. The mission proved one could effectively connect 24/7 to an NSL EyeStar radio via the Globalstar constellation. NSL has a heritage of 10 FastBus CubeSats, 100+ EyeStar radios, 60 ThinSat and additional sub-systems all excelling at their respective mission tasks.

Elon Musk’s Starlink broadband-by-satellite system has added South Africa as a target market.

South Africa’s media and telecoms regulator ICASA (Independent Communication Authority of South Africa) confirming that SpaceX is in discussion with the regulator about obtaining a license to operate in the country.

To operate in South Africa and to provide its satellite-based internet service in South Africa, SpaceX will need to acquire an Individual Electronic Communications Network Service (I-ECNS) and Individual Electronics Communications Service license.

“ICASA had a brief meeting with SpaceX about the regulatory requirements last week. A further meeting will be held in due course on the same matter,” the Authority told local press.

However, there’s a potential technical problem. South Africa is the host of the giant Square Kilometre Array (SKA) radio telescope which is based in a recognized ‘Radio Quiet Zone’ and extremely isolated location where external interference is minimal.

The SKA operates in the 10.6-10.7 GHz band. SpaceX uses the 10.7-12.7 GHz bands for its downlinks to users. The organization behind the SKA is worried that these downlinks from a multitude of LEO Starlink satellites will simply saturate and drown out the sensitive SKA signals.

Starlink has been widely reported to be looking to start services globally during 2022, and including South Africa.

Also of note is that Omnispace, a relatively new name in the satellite industry, states the company’s mission statement is to “redefine mobile connectivity for the 21st century.” The firm has recently raised $60 million (49.3 million euros) in equity financing.

Omnispace wants to build a global, 5G, hybrid mobile network and has already booked launch space on a SpaceX rocket for the company’s two satellites that being built by Thales Alenia Space for launch in 2022. Their aim is to set new standards for global connectivity solutions for the IoT, mobile satellite and mobile broadband markets.

“Omnispace is rethinking how communications networks operate. The launch of these satellites will enable the first phase of implementation towards delivering our world-class hybrid network, bringing the power of 5G from space to mobile networks, anywhere around the world,” said Ram Viswanathan, CEO, Omnispace.

The company’s strategy is to use terrestrial repeaters, and very low-cost ground (and vehicle) antennas which, with satellite coverage, can provide global coverage. The company says it will tap into 4G and 5G coverage from the likes of Verizon and Vodafone — then there’s its satellite constellation which will also use S-band transmissions.

Overall, the company says it will invest in about 200 LEO satellites and fewer than 15 MEO satellites. Omnispace owned the former ICO Global site in Queensland, Australia. The firm owns the ICO antennas in Germany. Sites in Dubai, South Africa, Chile and Mexico City are owned by the respective teleports in those locations. The company also has a key “partnership” position with Intelsat and it has outsourced its operations to that company. An Intelsat director sits on Omnispace’s board of directors.

This European company, Hiber, has successfully launched it’s second generation satellite developed inhouse. The new on-board propulsion system allows Hiber’s ground engineers to adjust the satellite’s orbit, safeguarding against collisions and, enabling de-orbit at the end-of-life, making Hiber one of the most responsible CubeSat constellation operators in the world.

Hiber Four is a second generation satellite developed and assembled by Hiber’s engineers in its Amsterdam office. Hiber Four, and its sister satellite Hiber Three (launching in March), are half the volume (3U) of the previous generation, which reduces the mass and decreases the launch costs by up to 50 percent. The newest generation of satellites also have an on-board propulsion system allowing Hiber’s ground engineers to adjust the satellite’s orbit. This ensures that Hiber Four, and its future descendants, avoid collisions and, importantly, de-orbit themselves at the end-of-life, making Hiber one of the most responsible CubeSat constellation operators in the world.

“This is just the start of what’s coming,” says Maarten Engelen, MD Technology and Co-founder at Hiber. “We moved all of our integration and operations for satellites and end-to-end solutions in-house last year, which gives us greater control over cost, functionality, and speed of improvement. By controlling the full solution, we can innovate faster and respond quickly to customer needs.”

Unlike the previous generation of satellites, which relied on external development and assembly, Hiber Four was developed in-house by Hiber’s satellite team. The satellites and Hiber’s end-to-end IoT solutions demonstrate the company’s ability to develop technically complex systems and operate them in the most harsh conditions. An example of this technical innovation is Hiber’s most recent product, HiberHilo, a complete end-to-end wellhead pressure and temperature monitoring system for oil and gas companies. By moving development in-house, Hiber is able to develop innovative and secure solutions on demand at a faster and more affordable rate, benefitting both its customers and the industry as a whole. 

“Hiber Four is the start of a new era at Hiber,” says Erik Wienk, COO, Hiber. “Not only does Hiber Four mean we can give better service levels to our customers, but it also shows what we’re capable of as a team.”

Hiber Four is the first of two new satellites that Hiber plans to launch this quarter. The next satellite, called Hiber Three, will launch in a Soyuz rocket in March 2021. Hiber Four was launched before Hiber Three because of a delay of the Soyuz launch vehicle.

 Spaceflight Inc. has revealed the details about the upcoming launch of their largest customer satellite launch to date, the Amazonia-1 spacecraft.

To accommodate the nearly 700-kilogram satellite, Spaceflight purchased an entire NewSpace India Limited’s (NSIL) Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV). The mission, named PSLV-C51/ Amazonia-1, is targeted for launch at the end of February from the Satish Dhawan Space Center, Sriharikota (SDSC, SHAR), India.  

The spacecraft was produced by INPE, the National Institute for Space Research (in Portuguese: Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas Espaciais), Brazil’s leading entity dedicated to space research and exploration and is the first Earth Observation (EO) satellite to be completely designed, integrated, tested and operated in Brazil.

Amazonia-1 will launch under a commercial arrangement with NSIL, an Indian government company under Department of Space (DOS) and the commercial arm of ISRO. 

A Sun Synchronous Orbiting satellite (SSO), Amazonia-1 will carry an optical camera that can autonomously generate images of any part of the world every five days, providing value in developing applications such as deforestation alerts in the Amazon. This will be the debut satellite based on the Brazilian Multi Mission Platform (MMP), a general-purpose service bus for 500 kg class satellites.

Spaceflight was awarded a multi-year contract to provide launch services for INPE through a highly competitive government procurement process among global launch providers in December of 2018. The Brazilian-built spacecraft is 1.7 meters in diameter and 2.6 meters tall and will be deployed to a mean altitude 752 kilometers SSO, while the additional secondary rideshare spacecraft will be deployed at a lower altitude. 

In addition to PSLV, Spaceflight works with a portfolio of global launch vehicles, including Falcon 9, Antares, Electron and Vega, to provide a variety of launch options to its customers. Most recently, Spaceflight successfully launched and deployed spacecraft on the company’s next-generation Orbital Transfer Vehicle (OTV), Sherpa-FX1, aboard the SpaceX Transporter-1 mission last month. 

This year, Spaceflight plans to launch multiple Sherpa vehicles in addition to many other rideshare missions, totaling more than 10 missions across the company’s global launch vehicle portfolio. 

“This mission is an important milestone for Brazil, INPE and Spaceflight and it has been an honor for our team to ready the inaugural Amazonia payload for launch,” said Marcy Mabry Rugland, Senior Mission Manager at Spaceflight. “Launching a satellite of this size posed unique complexities that our team expertly orchestrated, leaning on their expertise and years of experience managing missions on the PSLV. At Spaceflight, we are committed to opening up space access for any satellite company, regardless of size, preferred orbit or budget, and to find a way to successfully launch a spacecraft while meeting specific mission needs.” 

“The launch of our debut satellite for INPE is a significant achievement and we are grateful for Spaceflight’s dedication and support throughout our mission,” said Adenilson Silva, Amazonia mission responsible. “The deployment of Amazonia-1 will allow us to capture images and monitor the environment and agriculture throughout the Brazilian territory which will help us better understand the expansive terrestrial environment in the region. In addition to the technological achievements of the mission, it also represents the last step of MMP development. Spaceflight’s end-to-end launch services gives us confidence that our mission needs are managed and enables our team to fully focus on the satellite we’re preparing to launch.” 

Spaceflight offers a comprehensive suite of launch services and Sherpa® orbital transfer vehicles. The company provides launch flexibility to ensure customers’ smallsats get to orbit exactly when and where they want through a combination of long-standing relationships with a diverse portfolio of launch partners, innovative satellite integration capabilities, including flight and ground support hardware, licensing and logistics management, and extensive mission management expertise. Based in Seattle, Spaceflight has successfully launched hundreds of satellites and is a part of the Mitsui & Co., Ltd. portfolio, operating as an independent, U.S.-based company.

Elon Musk’s Starlink broadband-by-satellite system has added South Africa as a target market.

South Africa’s media and telecoms regulator ICASA (Independent Communication Authority of South Africa) confirming that SpaceX is in discussion with the regulator about obtaining a license to operate in the country.

To operate in South Africa and to provide its satellite-based internet service in South Africa, SpaceX will need to acquire an Individual Electronic Communications Network Service (I-ECNS) and Individual Electronics Communications Service license.

“ICASA had a brief meeting with SpaceX about the regulatory requirements last week. A further meeting will be held in due course on the same matter,” the Authority told local press.

However, there’s a potential technical problem. South Africa is the host of the giant Square Kilometre Array (SKA) radio telescope which is based in a recognized ‘Radio Quiet Zone’ and extremely isolated location where external interference is minimal.

The SKA operates in the 10.6-10.7 GHz band. SpaceX uses the 10.7-12.7 GHz bands for its downlinks to users. The organization behind the SKA is worried that these downlinks from a multitude of LEO Starlink satellites will simply saturate and drown out the sensitive SKA signals.

Starlink has been widely reported to be looking to start services globally during 2022, and including South Africa.

Also of note is that Omnispace, a relatively new name in the satellite industry, states the company’s mission statement is to “redefine mobile connectivity for the 21st century.” The firm has recently raised $60 million (49.3 million euros) in equity financing.

Omnispace wants to build a global, 5G, hybrid mobile network and has already booked launch space on a SpaceX rocket for the company’s two satellites that being built by Thales Alenia Space for launch in 2022. Their aim is to set new standards for global connectivity solutions for the IoT, mobile satellite and mobile broadband markets.

“Omnispace is rethinking how communications networks operate. The launch of these satellites will enable the first phase of implementation towards delivering our world-class hybrid network, bringing the power of 5G from space to mobile networks, anywhere around the world,” said Ram Viswanathan, CEO, Omnispace.

The company’s strategy is to use terrestrial repeaters, and very low-cost ground (and vehicle) antennas which, with satellite coverage, can provide global coverage. The company says it will tap into 4G and 5G coverage from the likes of Verizon and Vodafone — then there’s its satellite constellation which will also use S-band transmissions.

The company has a key “partnership” position with Intelsat and it has outsourced its operations to that company. An Intelsat director sits on Omnispace’s board of directors.