Archives for October 2021

Telesat is deploying Routing and Switching platforms from Ciena (NYSE: CIEN) for their Telesat Lightspeed terrestrial backhaul network.

Ciena’s routing and switching technology will ensure that Telesat has a modern, cost-effective network that takes advantage of emerging technologies that include network functions virtualization (NFV) and edge computing to efficiently support existing and future customer requirements.

The Telesat Lightspeed network will initially be comprised of 298 advanced LEO satellites that seamlessly integrate with terrestrial networks. LEO satellites operate 25 to 30 times closer to the Earth’s surface than traditional satellites and can process data with ultra-low latency—typically on par with fiber-optic speeds, even to the world’s most rural and remote locations.

Ciena is supplying hardware and software that will provide high-speed, high-capacity connections to governments, telcos, mobile operators, and other enterprise customers for the delivery of 5G, cloud computing, video, and other bandwidth-intensive broadband services.

Telesat will use Ciena’s 3926 and 5170 platforms to provide agile, assured Managed Extensibility Framework (MEF)-compliant services at the company’s points of presence (PoPs), as well as terrestrial connectivity to as many as 50 Earth-based landing stations. The Ciena platforms have advanced quality of service (QoS) mechanisms, including hierarchical ingress metering, that will provide Telesat with fine-grained control of network traffic.

Ciena’s Manage, Control and Plan (MCP) domain controller will provide highly effective software control and automation to drive business agility. Additionally, Telesat is using Ciena Services for terrestrial network design, implementation, and testing.

“As the leading provider of aggregated, global Tier 1 carrier connectivity, Ciena’s field-proven routing and switching technology will ensure flexible, reliable connectivity between our Earth station antennas and Points of Presence throughout the world. The seamless integration of on-ground data networks with our advanced Telesat Lightspeed satellites will ensure unmatched speed and performance for our global enterprise and government customers,” said Aneesh Dalvi, Director, Landing Stations and User Terminals, Telesat

“Telesat’s enterprise customers—MNOs, ISPs, aviation, and maritime companies—are seeking high-throughput, super-low-latency connectivity to support delay-sensitive applications like cloud-based services. Telesat Lightspeed, powered by Ciena networking technology on the ground, makes reliable satellite broadband at fiber-like speeds possible,” said Bruce Hembree, Vice President and General Manager, Americas, Ciena

The Space Development Agency (SDA) is seeking input on their Tranche 1 Demonstration and Experimentation System (T1DES) DRAFT RFP.

T1DES will augment the Tranche 1 Transport Layer (T1TL) constellation with demonstration and experimental capability. T1DES will leverage the low latency data transfer and Beyond Line Of Sight (BLOS) Command and Control (C&C) infrastructure established by the T1TL program to field and connect additional space vehicles with different mission payload configurations.

T1DES space vehicles (SVs) will be interoperable with T1TL SVs, to include compatible optical communications terminals (OCTs), networking and data routing, and ground system operations. T1DES SVs will host payloads either developed or sourced as part of this solicitation or provided by an external mission partner via the Partner Payload Program (P3). The SVs will be launched into a separate orbital plane via launch services procured by the T1DES Contractor and connected to the T1TL constellation.

The Draft T1DES Request for Proposal (RFP) may be found at this direct SAM.gov link.

To receive Attachment 1 (Statement of Work and Technical Requirements Document) and the Draft T1DES Bidder’s Library, please send an email to osd.pentagon.ousd-r-e.mbx.hq085022r0001@mail.mil with the subject line “SDA Draft T1DES RFP Attachment Request.” Please include your organization’s CAGE code and location in your request.

Requests received from organizations that do not possess a facility clearance of at least Secret will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. SDA will endeavor to respond to all requests in the order that they are received and within one business day of receipt. All feedback should be provided via email to osd.pentagon.ousd-r-e.mbx.hq085022r0001@mail.mil no later than November 08, 2021, at 12:00pm, EST, with the subject line “SDA Draft T1DES RFP Feedback.”

AAC Clyde Space has been contracted by OHB Sweden to deliver their Sirius command and data handling unit worth approximately 545 kEUR (approx. 5.6 MSEK) to ESA’s Arctic Weather Satellite.

OHB Sweden is the mission prime contractor for the Arctic Weather Satellite, providing the satellite platform and system integration. AAC Clyde Space received an order earlier in September to deliver a Starbuck power system with a value of 797 kEUR (approx. 8.2 MSEK), hence the total order value of core avionics to the project amounts to 1.3 MEUR (approx. 14 MSEK).

Omnisys Instruments, acquired by AAC Clyde Space in April of 2021, was contracted in March to supply weather sensors to the Arctic Weather Satellite, with a value of 12.2 MEUR (approx. 124 MSEK). The Group has now received orders with a total value of 13.5 MEUR (approx. 138 MSEK) from the satellite project.

The order for the Sirius command and data handling unit was preceded by a comprehensive review and consolidation of the original requirements. AAC Clyde Space is to deliver an engineering model in Q2, 2022, and a flight model in Q1, 2023.

ESA’s Arctic Weather Satellite is an initial prototype mission that aims to demonstrate the usefulness of radiometric measurements to improve weather forecasts in the Arctic region. The final solution would involve a full constellation of satellites to provide more frequent measurement, something that cannot be achieved by the larger geostationary satellites already in use to depict the areas.

“Arctic Weather Satellite has become a flagship project for the AAC Group, and we are proud to have such a central role in it. Additionally, the satellite project clearly illustrates how improved weather data can help us to better understand our environment for the benefit of both people and businesses,” said AAC Clyde Space CEO, Luis Gomes.

Since the early 1960s, research rockets have been sent into the Earth’s atmosphere from Andøya, Norway. Now, the Norwegian Government has given the green light to take steps to start new space adventure in the country.

A new spaceport will be built 30 miles south of the existing rocket launch site on Andøya where rockets can lift smallsats into orbit around the Earth. Andøya Space has extensive experience with launching rockets to research atmospheric phenomena and is now taking this additional step into space.

To be able to lift a satellite into orbit around the earth, larger rockets, higher speeds and more space are required than is necessary for a small research rocket. That is why a separate spaceport on Nordmela, Andøya, is being built. The first launch is planned for the second half of 2022. Andøya has both the experience and the geography needed to establish a spaceport.

First, this is where the Norwegian space adventure began. In August 1962, the Ferdinand 1 rocket was launched from Andøya, just five years after the world’s first Sputnik satellite was launched. Since then, more than 1,200 rockets have been launched from Andøya to make atmospheric measurements on behalf of organizations such as NASA. There is already a strong competence environment when it comes to rocket launches, information gathering and security around these activities on Andøya.

Secondly, Andøya has a number of geographical advantages: Andøya is ideally located in the far north of Vesterålen, with large sea areas and relatively little nearby air traffic. This means far safer rocket launches, with larger margins if something should happen to go wrong during launch. Both polar and sun-synchronous orbit can be reached from Andøya.

Traditionally, it has been extremely expensive and time-consuming to build satellites; however, in step with technological development, it has been possible to reduce satellite size and price. Smaller satellites mean lighter rockets and lower costs for launching them into orbit, plus the demand for launch sites is increasing.

When satellites become less expensive to build, more people will make them. There is a queue of satellites waiting for a free space on the large rockets that are being launched.

Traditionally, the owners of these smallsats are unable to select where in space their satellite will end up, or when they will be lifted into orbit. They have to hitchhike with larger satellites and then follow them. Therefore, a market has emerged for launching smallsats into space with relatively small launch vehicles. Then the satellite owners can decide for themselves when and where the satellites will go into orbit.

Norway is one of the great powers in shipping and, early on, used satellite communication to keep in touch with the merchant navy. Today, it is almost inconceivable not to have access to position data from satellite navigation satellites, and modern weather forecasts are almost impossible to create without weather satellites.

The revolution with smallsats means that there are new types of satellites that help all on a more personal level. Networks are expanding and broadband in a cabin via satellite can now be offered without such having to cost an arm and a leg. Experiments are being made to make satellites function as virtual base towers for mobile phones, and solutions are being developed to allow transport companies to keep track of trucks and containers in real time via satellite.

A space port on Andøya will provide jobs in the region, be a boost for the entire Norwegian space sector as well as meet the needs and capabilities of Europe. Locally on Andøya, the establishment will be of great importance, and be a contribution to restructuring and renewal.

OneWeb now has an arrangement via Letter of Intent with NewSpace India Limited (NSIL), the commercial arm of Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), to use the Indian-built, PSLV (Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle) and the heavier GSLV-MkIII (Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle) as potential platforms to launch OneWeb’s satellites in India from 2022.

The non-binding Letter of Intent was unveiled at the launch of Indian Space Association (ISpA). OneWeb is among the founding members of ISpA, which strives to be the collective voice of space and satellite companies in India and will work with stakeholders across for the development of India’s space ecosystem.

OneWeb is building its initial constellation of 648 LEO satellites and has already placed 322 satellites into orbit. Services will start this year to the Arctic region, to include Alaska, Canada, and the U.K.

By late 2022, OneWeb will offer its high-speed, low latency connectivity services in India and the world. Service testing on the satellites already on-orbit is underway. The results are positive, including seamless satellite and beam handovers, high speeds and low latency. OneWeb and NSIL will expeditiously convert the Letter of Intent into a binding agreement after obtaining all necessary approvals from their respective Boards.

OneWeb will undertake their 11th launch on the October 14, with a further 36 satellites on board. In under a year, the company has passed the halfway stage of its first generation constellation with 322 satellites now in space

OneWeb Chairman, Sunil Bharti Mittal, said, “ISRO has built formidable launch capabilities and India is part of the select group of countries to have history of successful launches. OneWeb will be delighted to use ISRO’s proven platforms to fulfill its vision of taking broadband connectivity across the earth, oceans and sky. We believe this initiative will further the Hon’ble Prime Minister’s vision of making India a key hub in the global space ecosystem and also boost the India-U.K. strategic partnership. We look forward to a deeper engagement with NSIL/ISRO over the coming years.”

Dr. K. Sivan, Chairman of ISRO, said, “We are delighted to have OneWeb looking into how our launch capabilities can help meet their global ambition to connect people everywhere. We are making tremendous progress and India is advancing its space capabilities and we look forward to working together.”

Varda Space Industries has signed a Launch Services Agreement with SpaceX to launch their initial space factory aboard a SpaceX rideshare mission, deploying to LEO in Q1 2023.

After Varda’s factory operation completes the on-orbit production run, the company’s space factory will execute a de-orbit maneuver to re-enter the atmosphere and return the finished product to customers on Earth.

Until now, nearly all in-space manufacturing research has been carried out on the International Space Station (ISS). While this research has demonstrated that innovative materials and products that will revolutionize industries on Earth can be created in the consistent microgravity environment of LEO – an environment that can’t be replicated on Earth – there has been no pathway to commercialization.

Until recently, manufacturing in orbit has been impossible to scale due to the cost, complexity and regulatory hurdles associated largely with launch vehicles. SpaceX’s new, competitively priced, rideshare program plus the FAA’s new streamlined regulatory framework now enable cost-effective access to orbit that finally makes large-scale space manufacturing and commercialization of the advancements made on the ISS a reality.

Varda Space Industries was founded by Will Bruey, who spent almost six years working on SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft, and Delian Asparouhov, Varda’s President and a Principal at Peter Thiel’s Founders Fund.

Varda’s first space factory is planned to launch in Q1 2023, with the second and third factories scheduled to follow through 2024. Each mission has a nominal three-month duration from launch to landing.

“We are excited for Varda’s signing with SpaceX as its launch provider. The massive reduction in barriers to entry will allow us to finally bring the enormous benefits of space, through microgravity manufacturing, to so many people on Earth whose lives will change tangibly for the better as a result,” said Asparouhov.

“Five years ago, a company like Varda would not have been possible. But today, we can economically deliver unique products that can only be manufactured in space because launches are cheaper, space hardware solutions are commoditizing, and smart regulatory progress has been made. Since prolonged exposure to zero gravity is not possible on the planet, it’s exciting to use our expertise in spacecraft to bring that brand new capability to industries serving large markets on Earth,” said Bruey. “I’m excited to use SpaceX as our launch provider because their reusable launch vehicles have proven to be highly reliable and cost-efficient, providing the certainty and unit economics that we rely on to deliver unprecedented access and value to all kinds of new products that can only be manufactured in space.”

Rocket Lab USA, Inc. has scheduled two dedicated launches in November for Spaceflight Inc.’s customer, real-time geospatial and global monitoring company, BlackSky (NYSE: BKSY).

A two-week launch window for Rocket Lab’s 22nd Electron launch will open November 11-24, 2021, while the 23rd Electron mission is targeted for lift-off during a two-week launch window that opens November 27. Both missions are scheduled to launch from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1 in New Zealand.

Each mission will deploy two Gen-2 satellites for BlackSky in a rapid expansion of the geospatial and global monitoring company’s LEO constellation. These two dedicated missions are part of a multi-launch agreement signed between Rocket Lab and Spaceflight Inc., for BlackSky earlier this year, and precede a third dedicated mission that will follow to deploy two additional BlackSky Gen-2 satellites. Together, these launches — along with a successfully deployed Gen-2 satellite on Rocket Lab’s “They Go Up So Fast” rideshare mission in March of this year — represent the largest number of satellites BlackSky has committed to a single launch provider to date.

The back-to-back launch of these two dedicated missions supports BlackSky’s aggressive scaling of its high-resolution, Earth-imaging constellation to bolster its delivery of analytics and insights to industries including transportation, infrastructure, land use, defense, supply chain management, and humanitarian aid.

“The speed to space Electron provides our customers is unmatched in the dedicated small launch industry, and we’re thrilled to be delivering a launch service that provides assurance for BlackSky to scale their constellation and services with confidence,” said Rocket Lab CEO, Peter Beck.