Archives for April 2021

Eutelsat Communications (Euronext Paris: ETL) has entered into an agreement with OneWeb for the subscription of a c.24% equity stake, becoming a leading shareholder of the company alongside the UK Government and Bharti Global — Eutelsat will invest $550 million in OneWeb, with closing expected in H2 2021 subject to regulatory authorizations.

With much of its global network already deployed, the OneWeb constellation will operate 648 satellites in LEO offering low latency. This first generation of satellites will offer significant regional coverage by the end of 2021, reaching global coverage the following year.

OneWeb will be the first complete non-geostationary constellation with truly global coverage, significantly ahead of competing projects. It will deliver 1.1 Tbps of capacity addressing the government, fixed data and mobility markets. Plans include a second-generation constellation that will provide significant enhancements in terms of capacity, flexibility and economics. It anticipates annual revenues of circa $1 billion within three to five years following the full deployment of the constellation, with a partnership approach and profitable wholesale business model.

Eutelsat’s investment leaves OneWeb almost fully funded and the company is well advanced in terms of securing its remaining funding needs this year.

Eutelsat’s investment will come with similar governance rights to the UK Government and Bharti, including board representation, where its position and expertise as one of the world’s leading satellite operators will help to drive the success of the new constellation.

The investment will be 100% cash financed through Eutelsat’s liquidity position of 1.9 billion euros as at end-March 2021[1] and the $507 million US C-Band auction proceeds, and will be accounted for under the equity method. It is consistent with Eutelsat’s financial hurdle rates and does not alter its financial objectives, which are fully confirmed, including the medium-term net debt / EBITDA target of c.3x and a commitment to solicited Investment Grade credit ratings. Eutelsat’s policy of a stable to progressive dividend is also reiterated.

Commenting on the agreement, Rodolphe Belmer, Eutelsat’s Chief Executive Officer, said, “We are excited to become a shareholder and partner in OneWeb in the run up to its commercial launch and to participate in the substantial opportunity represented by the non-geostationary segment within our industry. We are confident in OneWeb’s right to win thanks to its earliness to market, priority spectrum rights and evolving, scalable technology. We look forward to working alongside the UK Government, Bharti and the other shareholders to open new opportunities and market access to ensure OneWeb maximizes its potential. OneWeb will become our main growth engine outside our broadcast and broadband applications, as we continue to maximize cash-flow extraction from our highly profitable heritage business and grow our fixed broadband vertical leveraging our geostationary assets.”

OneWeb Executive Chairman, Sunil Bharti Mittal, said: “We are delighted to welcome Eutelsat into OneWeb family. As an open multi-national business, we are committed to serving the global needs of Governments, Businesses and Communities across the Globe. Together we are stronger, benefiting from the entrepreneurial energy of Bharti, extensive global outreach of UK and long-term expertise of the satellite industry at Eutelsat. OneWeb, with its innovatory approach, is poised to take a leading position in LEO broadband connectivity”.

Neil Masterson, Chief Executive Officer of OneWeb added: “As OneWeb accelerates the deployment of its fleet and engages in discussions with potential customers, we welcome the powerful support of Eutelsat during the next exciting phase of our journey together, benefitting both companies equally. Eutelsat is a great partner for OneWeb thanks to our high level of complementarity in terms of technology, assets, addressable markets, geographic reach and institutional relationships”.

[1] €1.4 billion when restated for the upcoming € 500 million bond maturity

OHB Cosmos International Launch Services GmbH, a company of OHB SE’s newly established business segment OHB DIGITAL, as well as LuxSpace, the group’s Luxembourg-based satellite manufacturer, have both signed a contract for a dedicated launch with Germany-based launch service provider, Rocket Factory Augsburg AG (RFA), for upcoming missions that are scheduled for mid-2024 and 2025.

OHB Cosmos is the launch service provider of the OHB group. The company features a proven track record of organizing and conducting launches for institutional and commercial customers.

OHB Cosmos is trusted by governments and institutions around the world and has launched all of the German Bundeswehr’s SAR-Lupe satellites.

Recently, OHB Cosmos demonstrated its capabilities to conduct responsive launches. In January 2021, the company launched a customer’s spacecraft within a seven[1]month timeline. This marked a novelty on the commercial satellite launch market.

LuxSpace is the smallsat platforms expert of the OHB group and a provider of integrated applications and services. The company boosts a heritage in delivering microsatellite solutions for both global institutional and commercial customers, including the recently launched ESAIL satellite, powered by LuxSpace’s Triton-2 platform and developed in collaboration with the European Space Agency and exactEarth. ESAIL broke records in February 2021 by capturing two million AIS messages from ships at sea in a single day.

Rocket Factory, a start-up backed by the German satellite maker OHB as a strategic investor and Venture Capital firm Apollo Capital Partners, is currently developing a launcher system called RFA One for smallsats with a payload performance of up to 1300 kg to LEO. The first launch is scheduled for the end of 2022. The company recently qualified the upper stage tank system during cryogenic tests and currently is running a test campaign to hot-fire the main engine in Esrange, Sweden.

“OHB Cosmos and Rocket Factory share a common philosophy to provide the most customer-centric service at the lowest possible prices. OHB Cosmos with its extensive experience in launching satellites manufactured by the OHB group for its commercial and institutional customers, has now found its perfect match with RFA and its RFA ONE launch vehicle,” said Lutz Bertling, Chief Strategy & Development Officer at OHB. “Launching with a German-based launch provider simplifies and speeds up the whole process of launching payloads into orbit. We want to offer the most reliable and fastest launch service to our customers and are convinced that RFA will play a key role in improving the launch experience for our customers.”

“Signing with OHB Cosmos and LuxSpace demonstrates the competitiveness of RFA ONE,” said Jörn Spurmann, Chief Commercial Officer at RFA. “We are particularly proud that both companies picked RFA ONE over the numerous launch service providers they have previously been working with. Launching European-built spacecraft with a launch vehicle developed in Germany marks a significant milestone for Europe in its way to achieve independent access to space that secures prosperity for the next generations by fostering innovation and technological progress.”

“Through its one-of-a-kind orbital stage, RFA ONE offers unrivaled in-orbit flexibility and injection accuracy, which is exactly what our customers demand for their very specific and critical missions,” said Professor Dr. Indulis Kalnins, Managing Director at OHB Cosmos. “Our intention with this contract is to secure a launch opportunity for one of our customers’ planned launches in 2024. This launch agreement allows us to cater to all our customers’ requirements at the best possible price point.”

Dr. Stefan Brieschenk, Chief Operating Officer at RFA, added, “We are super excited to see RFA ONE entering into service with OHB Cosmos and LuxSpace. The RFA ONE launch system combines the most competitive payload capacity within its class with a disruptively low launch price. This is possible only by employing the most efficient propulsion technology available today: staged combustion. In addition to that, RFA ONE features a unique orbital stage to precisely position our customers’ payloads in their target orbits through additional on-orbit maneuvers, including inclination- and RAAN changes.”

“LuxSpace enables the space ambitions of business leaders and institutions requiring reliable platforms and integrated services to successfully fulfil their mission’s objectives. RFA ONE, through its one-of-a[1]kind orbital stage offers us the injection accuracy we are looking for to serve our customers. We are convinced that this launch service will set the bar for all missions to follow and are excited to partner with them,” said Edgar Milic, Chief Executive Officer at LuxSpace.

The Norwegian Space Agency and ThrustMe have announced they have completed trial integration of ThrustMe’s NPT30-I2 propulsion system into the NorSat- TD satellite.

During the mission, which is on schedule for launch in early 2022, both parties will demonstrate, amongst other things, just-in-time, low-thrust satellite collision avoidance maneuvers—a critical capability for acting on space situational awareness data and ensuring a sustainable space environment.

The NorSat-TD is the Norwegian Space Agency’s technology demonstrator mission that will lead the way to Norway’s maritime surveillance constellation. Onboard are six essential payloads and innovative technologies to be tested during the mission. One critical goal for the NorSat-TD project is to build up experience in Norway for propulsive satellite operations and ensure space safety by supporting the development of space situational awareness and traffic management systems for Norway’s upcoming future missions.

The iodine fueled NPT30-I2 propulsion system from ThrustMe was selected for its technical merits and relevance to the current and future Norwegian mission needs. Funding of the system was backed by the French space agency CNES, as an institutional partner to the mission. Additionally, the mission operations training and technical support provided by ThrustMe to the operators is fundamental to the mission objectives of building competence in Norway’s civil and industrial sector.

Fugro Norway is testing its sub-decimeter positioning payload, SpaceStar, on NorSat-TD. It will allow the Norwegian Space Agency and European Space Agency to follow the satellite’s position in Low-Earth-Orbit with very high accuracy; SpaceStar is sensitive enough to measure the thruster’s performance during transient propulsion periods for more accurate trajectory predictions. With SpaceStar and the onboard satellite laser ranging retro-reflector from SCF- Lab in Italy, the satellite provides multiple methods to track, predict, and verify its position. The ability to closely follow the satellite in real-time allows the operators to perform small safe test demonstration maneuvers, and test Space Situational Awareness (SSA) and Space Traffic Management (STM) architectures.

CNES will also support the evaluation of the thruster performances and precise navigation payloads with accurate ranging measurements done from Nice optical geodesy station.

“Norway is committed to safe and sustainable use of space, and the inclusion of ThrustMe’s propulsion technology is a concrete action to enable avoidance of collisions and reduce space debris at the end of the mission life,” said Christian Haugli-Hanssen, General Director of the Norwegian Space Agency.

“ThrustMe’s mission is to enable the growing space industry to remain sustainable while creating value on Earth and beyond. The NORSAT-TD mission will do exactly that. Getting the opportunity to assist the Norwegian Space Agency with our knowledge on how to prepare and operate a satellite with low thrust propulsion systems is extremely rewarding,” said Ane Aanesland, CEO and co-founder of ThrustMe.

“The NORSAT-TD satellite’s propulsion capacity thanks to ThrustMe’s iodine propulsion system, and the suite of precise navigation payloads onboard, gives the mission key capabilities needed to demonstrate the main CREAM* functionalities, which currently are under development in the ESA Space Safety Program,” said Tim Flohrer, head ESA’s Space Debris Office.

AAC Clyde Space AB has nominated Ursa Space CEO, Nicole Robinson, to their board of directors — she brings extensive experience within the US and European space market to this position and has a high profile among leading industry, professional groups.

Based just outside of Washington DC, Robinson is the President at Ursa Space Systems, a U.S.-based, satellite intelligence company that provides business and government decision-makers access to on-demand analytic solutions. Prior to Ursa Space, Robinson held senior positions at SES Satellite, a world leader in global content connectivity solutions in both Washington and Luxembourg and at General Dynamics.

She is currently the President of the Space and Satellite Professionals International (SSPI), the largest space and satellite professional association.

The appointment follows an active six months for AAC Clyde Space, wherein the company acquired three, fast growing, specialist space companies and broadened their range of activities and projects pipeline. These are…

• Hyperion, based in Delph, Netherlands, which specializes in high performance satellite subsystems including star trackers, laser communications and propulsion for satellites

• SpaceQuest, based in Virginia, USA, which is a highly experienced player in the fast-growing, Space Data as a Service sector

• Omnisys, based in Gothenburg, Sweden, which designs and develops high performance, weather space sensors

Rolf Hallencreutz, chairman of AAC Clyde Space, said, “I’m delighted with the nomination of Nicole to our board of directors. She has a great reputation in the industry and strong experience of the US and the European space markets. Her appointment demonstrates our commitment to growing our presence in the United States and also further developing our fast-growing Space Data as a Service offering (SDaaS). I look forward to working with her to capitalize on the exciting opportunities ahead for AAC Clyde Space.”

Nicole Robinson said, “The New Space economy is growing fast, as demand for satellites and the data they provide increases every year. AAC Clyde Space is well positioned to provide solutions to many customers and partners around the world. I am looking forward to bringing my experience of this dynamic market to help AAC Clyde Space establish a more prominent position in the US market and to further develop its services around the world.”

The nomination committee also propose that the Annual General Meeting re-elect Rolf Hallencreutz (Chairman), Anita Bernie, Per Aniansson, Per Danielsson and Will Whitehorn. The Annual General meeting will be held in Uppsala, Sweden, on May 27, 2021.

Greenpro Capital Corp. (NASDAQ:GRNQ) has announced their incubation of Angkasa-X for its LEO SATCOM project. Three parties signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), including the Malaysia Penang State Government and University Science of Malaysia (USM) in establishing the ASEAN Space Economy by forming the ASEAN-LINK satellite constellation.

Greenpro owns 28 million shares of Angkasa-X and is planning to list the company via an IPO on a U.S. exchange by the close of 2021. Greenpro intends to allocate and sell a portion of the 7,700 Sputnik NFTs (acquired on April 22nd) to back the Angkasa-X. The Sputnik NFTs have a value of 1 ETH each. The recent price of ETH was $2,479, resulting in a current “mark to market” profit of $379 per NFT on this investment.

Greenpro CEO Dr. CK Lee said, “We are delighted to participate in establishing the ASEAN Space Economy with our revolutionary fintech model in selling NFTs and building up a technological-social inclusion unicorn company with its vision that is aligned with the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).”

A video is available for viewing at this direct link…

On Wednesday, April 28, 2021, at 10:50 pm local time (01:50 UTC on Thursday, April 29), Arianespace’s first Vega mission (VV18) of the year will lift off from the Guiana Space Center, Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana, with the optical observation satellite Pleiades Neo 3.

After liftoff from the Guiana Space Center, the Vega launcher will fly for a little over six minutes, powered by the first three stages. The third stage will then fall back after separating from the upper composite, which comprises the AVUM upper stage, the Pleiades Neo 3 satellite, the SSMS and its five auxiliary passengers.

The AVUM stage will ignite its engine for the first time, in a powered phase lasting about eight minutes, followed by a ballistic phase lasting 37 minutes. The AVUM stage will then restart its engine for a second burn lasting a little over one minute, before releasing the Pleiades Neo 3 satellite.

The next two AVUM ignition phases will last about 37 minutes in all, followed by the release of the five auxiliary payloads. That will mark the end of mission VV18, one hour and 42 minutes after liftoff.

The first of four satellites in an advanced EO constellation, Pleiades Neo 3 was wholly funded and manufactured by its operator, Airbus. The 18th mission of Europe’s Vega light launcher will also orbit an observation smallsat for the Norwegian space agency, Norsat-3, plus four cubesats for the operators Eutelsat, NanoAvionics/Aurora Insight and Spire. These smallsats will be carried as auxiliary payloads on the innovative Small Spacecraft Mission Service (SSMS) deployment system. The SSMS rideshare service, developed with the support of the European space industry, was first deployed by Arianespace in September 2020.

Funded by the European Space Agency (ESA), Arianespace’s SSMS service will soon be joined by the Multiple Launch Service (MLS), a similar offering that uses the Ariane 6 launch vehicle. With these two services, Arianespace can offer a wide range of affordable launch opportunities for small satellites and constellations.

The production of the Vega launcher and preparations for mission VV18 were overseen by Avio, the prime contractor for the Vega launcher, under the direction of Arianespace and ESA. They followed all recommendations issued by the Independent Inquiry Commission established after the failure of the 17th Vega mission (VV17).

Axelspace Corporation has partnered with Gtt NetCorp, Inc. to provide EO data from AxelGlobe to Mexico, Central America, Venezuela and the Caribbean territory.

Under this partnership, Axelspace and Gtt NetCorp plan to enhance agriculture and land management monitoring using AxelGlobe data in these regions for agricultural purposes for the Blue Agave (main raw material to make tequila) and avocado plantations (“the green gold of Mexico”).

With more than 25 years’ experience leading geospatial innovation in Mexico and LATAM, Gtt NetCorp is constantly in pursuit of delivering solutions that have high, aggregate value to its customers.

Gtt NetCorp focuses on proprietary processes and methods applied to designing, developing, and implementing productivity transforming solutions that integrate geospatial, Big Data, robotics, AI/ML, and IT/IoT technologies.

Albedo has plans to design and operate a constellation of satellites that capture visible and thermal imagery at the highest resolution available and the company has announced a successful seed round that resulted in $10 million in funding to help meet their business and technology goals.

The firm’s mission is to be the catalyst in unlocking satellite imagery’s latent potential, with the goal of expanding current applications and propelling the discovery of new use cases. They stated that, whether their imagery is being used to reduce wildfire risk, assess the environmental impact of global forestry, contribute to timely 3D reconstructions of urban areas, or monitor carbon emissions from industrial power plants, their plan is to get better high-resolution data into the hands of decision makers… fast.

As a key step towards this goal, Albedo’s seed round was led by Initialized Capital, with participation from Liquid 2 Ventures, Soma Capital, Jetstream, Rebel Fund, and others.

In addition, Albedo’s angel investors have infused domain expertise and operating experience into the company and include… Keith Masback (former USGIF CEO), Tom Sheridan (Lt. General, USAF, Ret.), Kevin Mahaffey (Lookout co-founder), Daniel Kan (Cruise co-founder/CPO), Immad Akhund (Mercury co-founder/CEO), James Park (Fitbit co-founder / former CEO), and Harsh Patel (former Galvanize CEO).

This funding will be key in building out the company’s team of mission-driven experts, maturing their ground software and satellite design and partnering with hardware suppliers to start the development of Albedo’s first system.

Kleos Space S.A (ASX:KSS, Frankfurt:KS1, Kleos or Company) has confirmed that the development of the company’s second satellite cluster, the Polar Vigilance Mission (KSF1), is on track for a mid-2021 SpaceX launch, this news coming after the firm successfully completed their Integration Readiness Review and the satellites start the build process with satellite builder ISISPACE.

The four Polar Vigilance smallsats are in the assembly and testing phase in preparation for final acceptance. Kleos’ satellites will then be delivered to the launch site for integration into the SpaceX Falcon 9 launch vehicle.

The KSF1 Polar Vigilance Mission satellites are scheduled for a mid-2021 launch under a rideshare contract with Spaceflight Inc. The KSF1 satellites will launch into a 500 to 600 km SSO, increasing Kleos’ coverage to the north and south of the 37° inclination of the Scouting Mission satellites, which successfully launched in early November of 2020. Kleos’ third satellite cluster, the Polar Patrol Mission, is scheduled to launch in December 2021 aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9.

Kleos’ satellites detect and geolocate radio frequency transmissions to provide global activity-based intelligence, improving the detection of ‘dark’ activities such as drug and people smuggling, border challenges, and illegal fishing.

Kleos Space CTO Miles Ashcroft said, “Development of the KSF1 cluster is progressing at an incredible pace with delivery to site planned for the end of May. Kleos is leveraging the experience and enthusiasm of its satellite builder, Netherlands-based ISISPACE, to develop and deliver the satellites quickly as well as improve hardware and software capability. We are growing our constellation rapidly in 2021 with a further cluster scheduled for launch towards the end of the year. Every satellite cluster launched increases the ground covered and the time covered, thus, the value of our radio frequency geolocation data increases, enabling tiered subscription licenses for governments and commercial entities to be offered.”