Archives for May 2021

GomSpace has been selected to develop advanced satellites for global air traffic management by Indra and Enaire’s Startical consortium.

The global technology and consulting company Indra in Spain and the Spanish Air Navigational Service Provider (ANSP) Enaire has selected GomSpace A/S to deliver a large-scale development and demonstration project including the launch of three dedicated In Orbit Demonstration (IOD) smallsats.

The contract GomSpace disclosed on May 10 with Indra, which is estimated to be at a value of 14.5 million euros, is regarding the Startical project that was announced by Indra and Enaire on May 18.

The project is part of Indra and Enaire’s plan to establish a novel global air traffic management service from space, allowing aircraft everywhere to coordinate with air traffic managers using VHF and ADS-B technologies. Read the press release at this direct link…

Launch of the first demonstration satellite is scheduled for late 2022. The last two satellites are scheduled to be launched in late 2023.

“This is a truly transformative project for GomSpace, and we are very proud to be the technology partner for this demonstration project based on nanosatellite technology, where we can make use of our prior knowledge on tracking aircrafts with nanosatellites,” said Niels Buus, CEO at GomSpace.

GomSpace has been selected to develop advanced satellites for global air traffic management by Indra and Enaire’s Startical consortium.

The global technology and consulting company Indra in Spain and the Spanish Air Navigational Service Provider (ANSP) Enaire has selected GomSpace A/S to deliver a large-scale development and demonstration project including the launch of three dedicated In Orbit Demonstration (IOD) smallsats.

The contract GomSpace disclosed on May 10 with Indra, which is estimated to be at a value of 14.5 million euros, is regarding the Startical project that was announced by Indra and Enaire on May 18.

The project is part of Indra and Enaire’s plan to establish a novel global air traffic management service from space, allowing aircraft everywhere to coordinate with air traffic managers using VHF and ADS-B technologies. Read the press release at this direct link…

Launch of the first demonstration satellite is scheduled for late 2022. The last two satellites are scheduled to be launched in late 2023.

“This is a truly transformative project for GomSpace, and we are very proud to be the technology partner for this demonstration project based on nanosatellite technology, where we can make use of our prior knowledge on tracking aircrafts with nanosatellites,” said Niels Buus, CEO at GomSpace.

On Friday, May 28, 2021, OneWeb launched 36 satellites to bring the company one step closer to completing their commercial service by the end of the year — this was OneWeb’s seventh overall launch and the fourth in a five-launch program to fulfill the company’s ‘Five to 50’ service,.

The satellites are manufactured by OneWeb Satellites, a joint venture between OneWeb and Airbus Defence and Space, based in Space Coast, Florida.

The venture developed a production line process for manufacturing the satellites that dramatically lowers costs and also significantly accelerates output.

With two production lines in their Florida factory, each line can build one satellite in a single eight-hour shift, allowing OneWeb Satellites to produce satellites at a scale that will enable OneWeb to rapidly build out its full constellation. OneWeb Satellites employs more than 180 people in Florida and is on track to have a headcount of 200 at the Merritt Island facility on the Space Coast by the end of the year. OneWeb has now increased their satellite constellation to more than 200 spacecraft.

This latest launch adds 36 satellites to OneWeb’s constellation as the company works to complete their 648 LEO satellite fleet that will deliver high-speed, low-latency global connectivity. This launch placed the smallsats in their designated orbits and represents 80 percent of the constellation required to enable the firm’s connectivity solution to reach all regions north of 50 degrees latitude by June of 2021.

OneWeb plans to offer connectivity across the United Kingdom, Alaska, Northern Europe, Greenland, Iceland, the Arctic Seas and Canada. Their service is expected to be switched on before the end of the year and OneWeb intends to make global service available in 2022.

The launch occurred from the Vostochny Cosmodrome and was be conducted by Arianespace. This was the 57^th Soyuz mission conducted by Arianespace and their Starsem affiliate.

By operating this flight on behalf of OneWeb, Arianespace continues their record of fulfilling their customer’s ultimate ambition, that being to provide internet access for everyone, everywhere, all the time.

AAC Clyde Space has been selected by Astroscale UK Ltd. to co-engineer their satellite platform for a UK-based space debris removal program known as End-of-Life Services by Astroscale (ELSA-M) — the contract, valued at £260,000, is expected to be completed by the start of 2022.

AAC Clyde Space will design and update its Starbuck power subsystem, Sirius avionics and other systems to meet the requirements of this specific mission.

“Astroscale’s ELSA-M program will build on the technology and capability of the ELSA-d demonstration debris removal mission this year. The ELSA-M servicer will be optimised to remove multiple pieces of debris in a single mission, from Low Earth Orbit, and ensure that next generation telecommunication satellite missions can de-orbit safely,” explained Managing Director of Astroscale UK and Group Chief Commercial Officer, John Auburn.

“Traffic in Low Earth Orbit is expected to increase exponentially over the coming decade. In order for the space economy to progress effectively, and safely, the industry needs to adopt new practices to minimise space debris. We are happy to help to create pioneering solutions that support Astroscale’s efforts to actively remove debris from the small satellite space highways,” said AAC Clyde Space CEO Luis Gomes.

Founded in 2013, Astroscale is developing sustainable space systems and plans to mitigate the growing and hazardous build-up of debris in space. Astroscale UK has been defining the business case for debris removal services since 2017, leading the Mission Operations and commercialization of the company’s End-of-Life services, including developing the ELSA-M multi-client service development. ELSA-M was recently funded by the UK Space Agency, European Space Agency and OneWeb ‘Sunrise’ program award.

Quilty Analytics has issued to subscribers the latest edition of its Satcom Quarterly Briefing that evaluates Telesat’s innovative LEO satellite constellation called Lightspeed.

Telesat Lightspeed will combine 298 crosslinked next-gen satellites with an advanced ground infrastructure to create a highly secure, global mesh network that will mainly serve enterprise/ B2B markets, including carriers & MNOs, and customers in aero, maritime, and government. The first Telesat Lightspeed launches are planned for late 2023, and commercial service could commence in 2024.

Chris Quilty, Partner of Quilty Analytics, commented, “In our last Satcom Quarterly, we delved into SpaceX Starlink and the role it could play in fulfilling Elon Musk’s ambitions to colonize Mars. The positive comments we received were very gratifying, and many subscribers asked if we could do a similar evaluation of Telesat Lightspeed. Our key findings on Lightspeed are supported by discussions with colleagues across the space industry and communications with senior executives at Telesat.”

Here are highlights from Quilty’s latest Satcom Quarterly:

• Lightspeed’s innovative system design combines high capacity, low latency, and “plug & play” interoperability giving Telesat important advantages in serving enterprise markets.
• Unlike its LEO competitors, Telesat has a pre-existing satcom business with established customers, regulatory standing, global distribution, and a revenue base >$600 million that generates high EBITDA margins and significant free cash flows.
• Our financial model of the Lightspeed program confirms that Telesat will likely need to generate ‘run rate revenue’ of $2.5 billion to realize a return on its investment in line with a hurdle rate of 10-12%. To achieve this target, Telesat must grow its annual data revenues, currently at $300 million, by ~8x.
• Telesat has yet to start full satellite construction and could be 2+ years later to market than key NGSO competitors, such as OneWeb & O3b mPOWER, which are both targeting similar enterprise customers as Telesat.

Chris Quilty added, “The Lightspeed effort represents Telesat’s greatest opportunity in its 50-year history, but also presents significant risks. Challenges include: (1) securing financing, (2) keeping the program on-budget and on-schedule, and (3) driving billions in revenue from broadband SATCOM markets that have historically seen only modest growth. Compounding these challenges, Telesat can expect to face well-backed GEO/NGSO competitors that are likely to enter years ahead of Telesat Lightspeed.”

NanoAvionics has laid out its ambitious growth and business development plans for the USA via its existing facility in Columbia, Illinois.

The smallsat bus manufacturer and mission integrator will develop the only satellite manufacturing facility in the state to become its main hub in the US. Through this hub, NanoAvionics will further grow the portfolio and expand into other locations across the USA.

The company is also using it to coordinate all business development activities in the LATAM region, exemplified by the existing “D-2/AtlaCom-1” rideshare mission with Mexican consortium partners Space JLTZ and the Municipality
of Atlacomulco, among others.

NanoAvionics US revealed additional plans to open a full scale manufacturing, assembly, integration and test (MAIT) facility for serial manufacturing of smallsats and establish a mission operations center.

To enable and foster this growth, NanoAvionics intends to hire around 100 people by the end of 2022, about half of those for the Columbia hub.

The company has already tested the first satellites at the facilities for its US customers missions.

F. Brent Abbott, the CEO of NanoAvionics US, in charge of the Columbia hub, said, “The USA is the largest NewSpace hub in the world and NanoAvionics US has an ambitious goal to take 30 percent of the US market share in nano-/microsatellite manufacturing and mission provision services.

“This is a direct response to the demand we are seeing, with our US revenues having already surpassed last year’s figures. We are already in on-going negotiations about satellite constellations with four NewSpace companies in the USA.”

The Columbia facility will be used to produce numerous nano- and microsatellite buses, for both single and constellation missions. By using a mass production approach, similar to the principle of the automotive industry, NanoAvionics is capable to manufacture hundreds of identical smallsats within a relatively short time frame of 6-10 months — ideal for satellite constellations.

Abbott added, “Columbia’s lower operating and living cost will also keep NanoAvionics’ competitive advantage in a tough small satellite market driven by lowering cost, shorter lead times and greater payload volume.”

OneWeb’s seventh launch (ST32) of 36 made-in-Florida satellites from the Vostochny Cosmodrome will have a total duration of three hours and 51 minutes and will include nine separations, each of four satellites.

Once all 36 satellites have been contacted and moved into operational orbit, this deployment will bring OneWeb’s on-orbit constellation to 218 satellites, in readiness for commercial services to go live later this year in regions above the 50th parallel north. These regions include the UK, northern Europe, Greenland, Iceland, the Arctic Seas and Canada. Global services to follow in 2022.

OneWeb’s broadcast is planned to begin 25 minutes before lift-off. Lift-off is now scheduled for May 28 at 1:38 p.m. ET / 5:38 p.m. UTC / 6:38 p.m. BST / 7:38 p.m. CEST *May 29, 2:38 a.m. local time.

Arianespace, the launch provider, reported that due to the replacement of one item of electrical equipment on the Soyuz launcher at the Vostochny Space Center, the Flight ST32 – initially scheduled for May 27 – is being postponed by 24 hours.

The Soyuz launch vehicle and OneWeb satellites are in a stable and safe condition.

The new targeted launch date for satellite is May 28, 2021:

• 01:38 p.m., in Washington, D.C.,
• 5:38 p.m. Universal Time (UTC),
• 07:38 p.m., in Paris,
• 08:38 p.m., in Moscow,
• 02:38 a.m., at Tokyo and Vostochny Cosmodrome, on May 29.

Dawn Aerospace, a New Zealand/Dutch aerospace company, has announced significant backing from New Zealand’s largest tech investment firm, Movac.

Dawn is creating next-generation space transportation technologies. This investment will be used to scale the production of Dawn’s in-space propulsion products and to progress Dawn’s Mk-II, a suborbital plane that uses rocket engines, to a fully-fledged commercial service.

Movac has invested in a number of successful New Zealand tech companies including Vend, Unleashed Software, Aroa Biosurgery, PowerbyProxi, Greenbutton and Trade Me. Global From Day One (GD1) and Dawn’s existing investors, Icehouse Ventures and Erik Swan — have also contributed.

Since 2019, Dawn has provided in-space propulsion products to customers across the globe. These propulsion units have launched on SpaceX, Soyuz and Vega launchers, and the B20 thruster has since been validated in hundreds of on-orbit firings. Customers for the products include an IoT constellation, a space tug provider and Earth Observation (EO) companies.

Dawn’s Mk-II suborbital spaceplane has been certified for flight in New Zealand and is currently undergoing pre-commercial testing. Customers for the Mk-II service will include weather agencies, government entities and start-ups.

The vehicle is capable of capturing atmospheric data and will be used as a test bed for technology demonstrations. Much of the technology in this platform will also be use in Dawn’s Mk-III, an orbital satellite launch vehicle.

Dawn recently relocated their New Zealand-based operations to a larger facility in Christchurch, an 1,800 sqm workshop and office space. The new premises will support increased production and scaled R&D.

“This funding will help us scale production to meet customer demand, and continue developing products and services for the future of sustainable space transportation,” said Stefan Powell, Dawn CTO and Co-founder. “We’re thrilled to have the support of the talented team at Movac, and the continued support of our existing investors.”

Movac partner Mark Stuart commented, “We’re delighted to be able to work alongside Stefan and the Dawn team. Dawn’s technology and level of ambition is really compelling, and given our experience in working alongside some of the New Zealand’s most ambitious founders, we think it’s an excellent match.”

On Thursday, May 27, OneWeb will launch an additional 36 broadband internet satellites aboard a Soyuz launch vehicle from the Vostochny Cosmodrome in Russia. As a key supplier to OneWeb Satellites, RUAG Space built the satellite dispenser, which functions as an interface between the Soyuz rocket and satellites.

The dispenser will deposit the 36 satellites safely into space, bringing the constellation on-orbit from the current 182 to 218 in number.

OneWeb Satellites—a joint venture between OneWeb and Airbus—is OneWeb’s industrial partner and leads the design and manufacturing of OneWeb’s fleet of satellites. The RUAG Space dispensers for OneWeb are built in Linköping, Sweden. Each dispenser has a 1.7 meter central cylinder structure and a height of 5.5 metres.

RUAG Space also manufactures the OneWeb satellite back-bone (structure) in Titusville, Florida. The structures are manufactured using the Automated Potting Process, a production method that uses a pick and place machine to rapidly position special inserts filled with adhesive into the satellite structure’s sandwich panels.

RUAG Space produces the multi-layer thermal insulation that protects the OneWeb satellites from the cold and heat in space from approximately minus 150°C to plus 150°C (-238 degrees F to 302 degrees F). The insulation consists of several layers of metal-evaporated polyimide film.

RUAG Space in Austria also built handle equipment and transport containers. The high-tech, custom satellite containers are used to transport the assembled OneWeb satellites from Florida to the launch sites. The containers are equipped with a specifically designed damping system and climate-control.

“To deposit more than 200 OneWeb satellites in orbit is a big milestone. Our dispenser is super-light and includes state-of-the-art technology to safely place the satellites in orbit,” said Holger Wentscher, Senior Vice President Product Group Launchers at RUAG Space.