Archives for March 2021

The next Arianespace mission is planned from Vostochny Cosmodrome with Soyuz on March 25, 2021, to deliver 36 satellites into orbit.

By operating this fifth flight on behalf of OneWeb, Arianespace will bring the total fleet to 146 satellites in LEO.

Flight ST30, the second commercial mission performed by Arianespace and its Starsem affiliate from the Vostochny Cosmodrome, will put 36 of OneWeb’s satellites into a near-polar orbit at an altitude of 450 kilometers. The mission will have a total duration of three hours and 51 minutes and will include nine separations of four satellites, that will raise themselves to their operational orbit. This launch will bring up to speed Arianespace’s operations this year to the benefit of OneWeb, and will raise to 146 the number of satellites deployed for the global telecommunications operator.

OneWeb’s constellation will deliver high-speed, low-latency connectivity services to a wide range of customer sectors including aviation, maritime, backhaul services, as well as governments, emergency response services and more. Central to its purpose, OneWeb seeks to bring connectivity to every place where fiber cannot reach, and thereby bridge the digital divide.

Once deployed, the OneWeb constellation will enable user terminals that are capable of offering 3G, LTE, 5G and Wi-Fi coverage, providing high-speed access globally – by air, sea and land.

OneWeb Satellites, a joint venture between OneWeb and Airbus Defence and Space, is the constellation’s prime contractor. The satellites were built thanks to its leading-edge satellite manufacturing process that can build up to two satellites a day on a series production line dedicated to the assembly, integration, and testing of the satellites.

A total of 110 OneWeb satellites have already been orbited by Arianespace: the first six were successfully orbited by Arianespace from French Guiana on February 27, 2019. On February and March 2020, Arianespace and its Starsem affiliate successfully launched 68 OneWeb satellites from Baikonur Cosmodrome on two successful Soyuz flights. On December 2020, the team successfully delivered an additional 36 satellites into orbit, with first commercial flight operated from new Vostochny Cosmodrome.

Sateliot, the satellite telecommunications operator, is finalizing with Open Cosmos, the company that operates end-to-end space missions, the launch of its first smallsat, which is scheduled for the morning of March 20 from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.

Open Cosmos is the design creator and manufacturer of this first smallsat of what will eventually total one hundred satellites. These satellites will make up the constellation in which Sateliot will extend the IoT connection with 5G coverage globally and massively in the coming years. In addition, in recent weeks the company has been working on the integration of the payload, as well as on the logistics and exhaustive pre-launch testing phase.

The satellite has arrived from the Harwell technology and innovation campus where it has been manufactured in the United Kingdom, to Kazakhstan, where it is undergoing strict export and verification regimes in controlled environments to ensure its viability in its development.

Additionally, the satellite has already been integrated into the deployer, the box where it will be inserted into the rocket that will be responsible for its ejection into space once it reaches the orbit where it will operate, located around 500 km from Earth. A deployer that is connected to a sequencer will be responsible for activating the opening of the deployment system.

Once this phase is completed, Sateliot’s nanosatellite awaits launch aboard the Soyuz 2.1A rocket. Until it is launched into orbit, it will share the journey with the mission’s main satellite, the South Korean earth observation satellite CAS500-1, as well as some thirty other satellites.

Once it is launched into orbit, it will share the journey with the mission’s main satellite, the South Korean earth observation satellite CAS500-1, as well as some thirty other satellites.

With its launch into orbit, Sateliot will then enter a new technological phase, which will allow it to carry out field tests in real environments, providing very useful information for the evolution of its constellation, which is expected to start offering commercial service from 2022.

About the nanosatellite

This nanosatellite, 3B5GSAT, is the first of three in which Sateliot will test the IoT service with 5G coverage, and it comprises an innovative small technology, smaller than a microwave and weighing no more than 10 kg, made up of 10x10x10 cm cubes whose standards are adapted to the function to be performed.

Moreover, unlike large geostationary satellites that are almost 36,000 kilometres high, it will be in a low orbit, flying at only about 500 kilometres to ensure global IoT connectivity. It will travel at a speed of about 7 km per second, circling the Earth once every 90 minutes.

Open Cosmos is a space company that operates end-to-end satellite missions. It offers a comprehensive service that addresses the entire value chain of the space sector, covering the design, manufacture, mission management and launch of customised satellites for companies, institutions and governments around the world. These satellites are used primarily to do three things: collect critical Earth data for economic, environmental or security decisions; provide telecommunications services on a global scale; or develop space science and technology. Founded in 2015 in the UK, the company has experienced stellar growth and is currently expanding its business internationally. Its team is made up of a multidisciplinary group of more than 50 highly qualified professionals who make Open Cosmos an innovative, cutting-edge company and a leader in what they call ‘Enabling Space’, a sector whose space technology enables other industries to make profitable business decisions based on reliable global data. More information at https://www.open-cosmos.com/

Sateliot is the first satellite telecommunications operator to provide global and continuous connectivity to all the elements that will make up the Internet of Things (IoT) universe under the 5G protocol. Thanks to a constellation of state-of-the-art nanosatellites, located at low altitude and acting as mobile towers, Sateliot is the perfect complement to large telecommunications companies by providing them with the necessary infrastructure where terrestrial technologies do not reach. More information on our website, Twitter and LinkedIn.

SpacePath Communications (‘SpacePath’) has been awarded a contract for their super-compact solid-state amplifiers by a major U.S. satellite equipment manufacturer.

SpacePath will supply Ku- and X-band compact form factor, high efficiency and proven performance solid-state power amplifiers (SSPA). At 4.45 kg for the 100W Ku-band unit, these lightweight SSPAs will be deployed for commercial and secure, military communications in smallsat uplink terminals.

SpacePath’s high performance uplink amplifiers cover all mission-critical segments, including digital satellite newsgathering (DSNG), flyaway or truck-based systems, fixed-Earth stations and MILSATCOM.

Colin Bolton, Director of Business Development, SpacePath Communications, said, “We are delighted that our lightweight and compact solid-state amplifiers have been selected for these new applications. This latest order yet again underlines our proven credentials in advanced, uplink amplifier technology among the global telecommunications and SATCOM market.”

On March 20, at 9:07 a.m., Moscow Time, a launch of the Soyuz-2 launch vehicle with the Fregat upper stage by GK Launch Services is scheduled from the Baikonur Cosmodrome that will deliver 38 spacecraft from 18 countries into three Sun Synchronous Orbits (SSO).

CAS500-1 smallsat of the Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI), a government-funded research institute, engages not only in developing aerospace-related technologies but also in supporting a national aerospace development policy, is undertaking the implementation of Compact Advanced Satellite 500-1 (“CAS500-1,” hereafter) program for the Republic of Korea. The CAS500-1 program is a national program of Korean government to develop and operate 500 kg class medium size satellites with high resolution electro optical payload for earth observation mission on the low earth orbit. The primary mission of CAS500-1 is to provide high-resolution electro-optical images.

• a communications subsystem in the UHF band
• an X-band transmitter, an experimental GNSS (global positioning satellite system) receiver
• an optical payload for attitude determination
• laser ranging from ground for precise orbit determination.

ELSA-d smallsat, Astroscale Company, Japan, will be the first satellite to demonstrate the core technologies necessary for space debris docking and removal.

Four GRUS smallsat, Axelspace Company, Japan, are designed for the Earth observation at strict revisit rate.

NAJM-1 smallsat, Saudi Arabia, is an experimental/educational small satellite pathfinder mission for low-duty cycle earth imaging and communication from LEO.

DMSAT-1 smallsat is developed for the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre to perform multi-spectral observations in the visible and near-infrared bands in order to detect and monitor aerosols in the upper atmosphere.

3 ADELIS-SAMSON (1, 2, 3) smallsat, Technion, Israel Institute of Technology, are designed for demonstration of long-term autonomous cluster flight of multiple satellites and geolocation of the position of a terrestrial transmitter.

2 Kepler 6/7 smallsat, Kepler Communications Inc., Canada, are designed for the wideband and high data-rate communication in Ku-Band, as well as low-data rate narrowband communication in S-band. The spacecraft provide data transfer services to locations, assets, and IoT systems distributed across the globe with the Global Data Service (GDS) and EverywhereIoT services.

NANOSATC-BR2 smallsat is a scientific, academic and technological satellite designed for monitoring of the Earth’s Ionosphere and Magnetic Field, Southern Regional Space Research Center, University of Santa Maria, Brazil.

KMSL smallsat is a scientific satellite (experiments in microgravity), College of Engineering, Chosun University, Gwangju, Republic of Korea.

Pumbaa and Timon smallsats are designed for obtaining images of solar corona—including the region that is 10 times the Sun’s angular diameter. Astrodynamics and Control Laboratory of Yonsei University, Seoul City, Republic of Korea.

4 Beesat-5,-6,-7,-8 smallsats, Technische Universität Berlin, Germany.

Hiber-3 smallsat, the Netherlands, are designed for the provision of satellite connectivity to “internet-of-things” (IOT) devices.

Unisat-7 smallsat, GAUSS Srl, Italy, has been developed for the tryout of technology for the precise orbit insertion of small satellites of CubeSat format. The mission is based on the successful idea of acting first as an in-orbit deployer of third-party satellites, then operating as a flexible in-orbit demonstrator for space technology, while maintaining the telemetry RF link open for radio amateurs worldwide. UNISAT-7 will release six smallsats:

• Unicorn-1, tryout of technology for the precise orbit insertion of small satellites of CubeSat format, Germany
• DIY-1, test of deorbiting mechanism and verification of space qualification of the radio and solar cells, Argentina
• FEES, educational and scientific research satellite, Italy
• STECCO, educational and scientific research satellite, tryout of attitude control technology using the gravity gradient, Italy
• SMOG-1, Educational and scientific research satellite, Hungary
• BCCSAT-1, Educational and scientific research satellite, Thailand.

The First smallsat of High School of Economics “NIU VShE — DZZ”. The NRU HSE Earth Observation spacecraft has been developed through joint efforts by the Moscow Institute of Electronics and Mathematics (MIEM) and SPUTNIX. The 3U CubeSat is equipped with an experimental camera based on the stepped (Fresnel) lenses developed by the Samara University, and with a high-speed X-range transmitter. MIEM students were responsible for qualification of the satellite’s control systems.

3U CubeSat of Sirius Center and NRU HSE. The spacecraft is equipped with an improved DeCor-type instrument to monitor quick changes in the space radiation fluxes. Researchers from the Sirius University and the Moscow University’s Scientific and Research Institute of Nuclear Physics are in charge of the project’s scientific component – handling the space radiation detector and mission’s mathematical algorithms.

6U CubeSat Zorkiy (Sputniks). The satellite is equipped with a high-resolution (up to several meters per a pixel) telescope camera manufactured by the Lepton Research and Production Association (NPO Lepton). This makes it stand out among other spacecraft of a similar size.

SIMBA smallsat, Sapienza – University of Rome, is designed for monitoring of the wildlife behavior.

GRBAlpha smallsat, University of Košice, has been developed to demonstrate the detector technology and electronics for the future “Cubesats Applied for MEasuring and LOcalizing Transients” (CAMELOT) mission, which is a planned constellation of nanosatellites providing all-sky coverage with high sensitivity and localization accuracy following detections of gamma-ray transients.

Open Cosmos, the space company that provides end-to-end satellite missions, is the supplier of two of the missions to be launched on board. The company has been responsible for the design, manufacturing, integration and mission management of the custom-built nanosatellites for Lacuna Space and Sateliot.

Challenge One smallsat is an “Internet of Things” satellite, includes an innovative communication technology developed in TELNET facilities by Tunisian expertise. This Tunisian Satellite Launch will be the basis for the creation of a new space ecosystem for Tunisia and its region.

KSU CubeSat by the College of engineering (COE) at King Saud University is sending telemetry data and photos from the space to the ground station.

Lacuna Space based in UK and NL provides global connectivity for Internet-of-Things devices.

Sateliot is the satellite telecommunications operator that will launch a constellation of nanosatellites to democratize the Internet of Things with 5G coverage. The company plans to deploy 16 satellites from 2022 reaching 96 and an investment of over 100 million euros by 2025.

The launch operator is GK Launch Services (a subsidiary to the Roscosmos State Corporation).

GK Launch Services is a company established by Glavkosmos (a subsidiary of ROSCOSMOS State Space Corporation) and International Space Company Kosmotras. Its business is focused on setting-up and management of Soyuz-2 commercial launches from the Russian spaceports.

Kleos Space S.A (ASX:KSS, Frankfurt:KS1, Kleos or Company) has appointed experienced satellite software and systems engineer Vincent (Vinny) Furia as Technical Director.

In the newly created role, Mr. Furia will report to the CTO, with responsibility for effective and efficient development and deployment of the Kleos space based systems (progressing toward a constellation of satellite clusters), ground support, analytics and data delivery. Mr Furia was previously Space Operations Director at smallsat operator Spire Global, where he was responsible for managing a constellation of more than 100 satellites and 30 ground stations.

He brings more than eight years’ program and project management experience to Kleos and has 15 years’ expertise in software and systems engineering, including 11 years at global aerospace and defence technology innovator Harris Corporation.

Mr Furia’s appointment follows the establishment of Kleos’ Denver engineering office in January and builds on the recent preparation for commercialization of its radio frequency geolocation intelligence data with additional US-based appointments of Chief Revenue Officer Eric von Eckartsberg, Product Manager Guillermo Gutierrez and Sales Executive Alex Johnson. Kleos has engineering offices in Denver CO, the UK and Luxembourg.

Kleos successfully launched its first satellite cluster, the Kleos Scouting Mission, in November of 2020 and is on track to launch their Polar Vigilance Mission satellites mid-year aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9. Kleos’ third satellite cluster, the Polar Patrol Mission, is scheduled to launch in December 2021.

Andy Bowyer is the CEO of Kleos Space.

On Sunday, March 14, at 6:01 a.m. EDT, SpaceX launched 60 Starlink satellites from Launch Complex 39A (LC-39A) at Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

This was the ninth launch and landing of this Falcon 9 first stage booster, which previously supported launch of Crew Dragon Demo-1, RADARSAT Constellation, SXM-7, and five Starlink missions.

A video replay of this mission is available at this direct link…

Satellogic has announced new partnerships with four, major, US-based space organizations: The United States Geospatial Intelligence Foundation (USGIF), Intelligence and National Security Alliance (INSA), SmallSat Alliance and Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC).

Through its partnership with USGIF and INSA, Satellogic will help promote the application of geospatial intelligence (GEOINT) toward national security challenges, as well as advance intelligence and national security priorities. These organizational goals align with Satellogic’s long-term mission of providing the public sector with geospatial insights that enable decision makers to improve or protect their environments, including border, resource and infrastructure monitoring.

The SmallSat Alliance similarly aligns with Satellogic’s strategic goals through the Alliance’s trusted relationship with Congress and broader government officials. By joining the SmallSat Alliance, Satellogic will be able to help promote the usage of smallsat capabilities to complement government programs and roadmaps.

Through their member-driven consensus process, OGC serves as the leading authority on geospatial standards, ensuring that location information is findable, accessible, integratable and reusable. Together with OGC, Satellogic plans to lead discussions that ensure interoperability of geospatial data. Particularly given Satellogic’s global employee and customer-base, compatibility of geospatial data across country and use case is a leading priority for the company.

This series of partnerships comes on the heels of Tirman and VanMatre’s recent hires, which further expanded Satellogic’s US presence. Driven by Satellogic’s industry-leading in-orbit capacity and high-resolution imagery, Satellogic has a growing base of US government, international governments and commercial partners.

“The US government is leading the way when it comes to partnerships with commercial space companies, and we are thrilled to see them diversifying their portfolio to partner with companies like Satellogic to leverage the potential of high-frequency, high-resolution data,” said Matthew Tirman, Head of Satellogic North America. “US officials know that they can take full advantage of the power of industry to help fuel and support their missions, and organizations like USGIF, INSA and SmallSat are instrumental in ensuring the long-term success of these relationships. As the commercial provider with more capacity in orbit than any other, it makes sense for Satellogic to play a leading role through these partnerships.”

“As commercial space capabilities become more accessible globally, and public-private partnerships become increasingly important to both commercial and federal space entities, the relevance of interoperability through standards and policy cannot be understated,” said Thomas VanMatre, Vice President of Global Business Development at Satellogic. “That’s why Satellogic is proud to join the Open Geospatial Consortium and help guide discussions around the future use and integration of our impactful data.”

Founded in 2010, Satellogic is a global company with more than 200 employees and offices across the United States, South America, Europe and Asia. The company’s LEO satellite constellation, platform, and data science teams work together to deliver high-frequency, high resolution, end-to-end solutions at the right price point.

Accion Systems has signed a new partnership agreement with NanoAvionics US Inc. — the TILE in-space propulsion system will be listed as a preferred option for all appropriate missions that require electric in-space propulsion and Accion Systems will provide preferred pricing to NanoAvionics US Inc.

NanoAvionics is a smallsat mission integrator focused on delivering new generation satellite buses and propulsion systems for the satellite applications market. With facilities in North America and Europe, NanoAvionics has led more than 85 successful satellite missions and commercial projects, and counting.

The TILE propulsion system is uniquely superior to conventional electric propulsion, pioneering ionic liquid electrospray for commercial propulsion activities. TILE combines the use of a safe, inert liquid propellant with a simple mechanical design with few moving parts to create a propulsion system that is low-cost, compact, low pressure, and has less than 50% of the power draw of other propulsion technologies. The compact design and low power draw of the TILE system allow satellite bus manufacturers such as NanoAvionics to allocate more satellite volume and power to revenue generating payloads.

TILE’s modular design can be flexibly configured to meet various mission needs, mounting on almost any surface of the spacecraft, and easily and seamlessly integrated with existing mission control software.

“Our partnership with NanoAvionics continues the expansion of our safe, reliable and efficient TILE thrusters into the growing global satellite market,” said Peter Kant, CEO of Accion Systems.

“We are glad to add the unique capabilities of the TILE thrusters to enhance our product line for our customers and their ever-diverse missions,” said F. Brent Abbott, CEO of NanoAvionics US Inc.

Accion Systems develops advanced satellite propulsion systems for the space industry. Accion’s in-space propulsion technologies optimize scalability, performance, and efficiency. Accion’s flagship product, TILE, uses proprietary ion electrospray thrusters, bringing electric propulsion to satellites of all sizes and redefining in-space capabilities. Accion Systems was founded in 2014 and is based in Boston, Massachusetts.