Archives for November 2021

Lunar Research Service (LRS) and Rocket Factory Augsburg AG (RFA) have agreed on a launch service contract.

RFA will fly a research mission of Ukraine-based LRS with its RFA ONE micro launcher into LEO. The flight, which will take place at the close of 2022 from Andøya, Norway, will be the maiden flight of the German-developed launch vehicle.

Lunar Research Service will use the results of the mission to improve its ground-orbit communications and test a solar concentrator that will be used in the upcoming lunar mission. Among the features of the mission are proprietary satellite design and a developed in-house deployment system.

“Ride-sharing opportunities let new space companies quickly prove their technologies to customers as well as to investors. At the same time, our customers can significantly reduce their time-to-market. By helping startups, research labs and scientists at the earliest stages of their development, we form a solid foundation for long-term partnership during their technology testing,” said Dmytro Khmara, CEO of Lunar Research Service.

"We are very happy to sign with LRS as a customer on our first launch. The contract is a demonstration of our attractive rideshare service pricing. We are honored by the trust from LRS to embark on our maiden launch and are looking forward to its joint preparation. We can hardly wait and are eager to fly customers into orbit," says Jörn Spurmann, Chief Commercial Officer of RFA,” said Jörn Spurmann, Chief Commercial Officer of RFA.

NASA has awarded $90,000 each to seven entrepreneurial startup companies under the agency’s Entrepreneur’s Challenge program. The awards will advance new technology concepts ranging from novel materials with properties not found in nature to innovative technologies that will enable smallsat science missions.

The following companies were selected as winners of the Entrepreneur’s Challenge:

• Morpheus Space of Los Angeles, California

• Multiscale Systems of Worcester, Massachusetts

• Nebula Compute of San Diego

• California Niobium Microsystems of Dayton, Ohio

• OAM Photonics of San Diego, California

• Resilient Computing of Bozeman, Montana

• Zephyr Computing of Oakland, California

NASA partnered with Starburst Aerospace in San Francisco, California, to launch the Entrepreneur’s Challenge, which aims to engage U.S.-based entrepreneurs. The program seeks fresh ideas in technology that could advance the agency’s science goals to explore and understand the solar system and beyond. The challenge also seeks to increase the number of entrepreneurial companies participating in the agency’s technology portfolio.

The technical focus areas for the 2021 Entrepreneur’s Challenge were:

• SmallSat technologies including advanced sensors, high-speed electronic systems, and the capability to autonomously recognize science phenomena in space and respond as needed
• Sensors made of metamaterials – manufactured materials with properties not found in nature – to detect and observe their surroundings at dramatically reduced size, weight, power, and cost
• Instruments to detect biomarkers or that can determine evidence of habitability on ocean worlds

Administered by NASA’s Science Mission Directorate, the competition was conducted in two rounds. In the first, companies nationwide submitted 44 submissions. A NASA judging panel selected 10 companies from the three focus areas to each receive a $10,000 award. In the second, the participants refined their concepts, developed detailed white papers, and gave presentations to the same panel of judges. The panel selected seven of the companies from two of the focus areas to receive an additional $80,000 in prize funding.

“We face audacious technical challenges to accomplish our NASA science goals,” said Florence Tan, acting Science Mission Directorate chief technologist at NASA Headquarters in Washington. “Entrepreneurs can bring a diversity of groundbreaking ideas, concepts, and innovations that are relevant to our science goals. We want to invest in breakthrough technologies that will lead to revolutionary science discoveries. This program is a wonderful way to keep those ideas coming into our technology development programs.”

Recently, BlackSky (NYSE: BKSY) secured a five-year, sole-source blanket purchase agreement by NASA to provide high revisit satellite imaging data in support of the agency’s existing Earth observation research to advance predictive capabilities.

As part of NASA’s Commercial Smallsat Data Acquisition Program (CSDAP), research teams worldwide will have access to high spectral and spatial resolutions with increased temporal frequency and other novel capabilities.

“This award reflects yet another valuable point of alignment between government demand and BlackSky’s commercially available real-time, global intelligence products,” said Brian E. O’Toole, CEO of BlackSky. “Helping NASA-backed researchers broaden their understanding around critical changes in the Earth’s ecosystems, oceanography, geographic and polar sciences is vitally important. Our constellation delivers, dawn-to-dusk imaging that facilitates automatic pattern-of-life monitoring and anomaly detection. Fusing that data with our Spectra AI platform enables compelling and actionable scientific observations about our planet. Our constellation delivers, dawn-to-dusk imaging that facilitates automatic pattern-of-life monitoring and anomaly detection. Fusing that data with our Spectra AI platform enables compelling and actionable scientific observations about our planet."

An unrivaled opportunity to meet in-person with industry leaders, SmallSat Symposium 2022 is an essential conference for SmallSat businesses around the world.

Take advantage of 2022’s most convenient and productive SmallSat business event and register today with early bird rates.

Seize the moment and propel your business forward today!

All of the subject-matter expert speakers will be attending this event in person, and here is a view of those who will be presenting their expertise to symposium attendees…

The Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) Space Vehicles Directorate awarded an $8.4 million contract to Tyvak Nano-Satellite Systems, Inc. to support the directorate’s Precise flight experiment projected for launch in 2024.

Tyvak will be providing AFRL a spacecraft capable of maneuvering between LEO and VLEO for conducting sensor payload measurements. The contract award period is November 15, 2021 to November 1, 2024.

Precise will be AFRL’s first prototype experiment awarded under the Space Systems Command’s (SSC) Space Enterprise Consortium Other Transaction Agreement (SpEC-OTA).

Executive Comments

The Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) is the primary scientific research and development center for the Department of the Air Force. AFRL plays an integral role in leading the discovery, development, and integration of affordable warfighting technologies for our air, space, and cyberspace force. With a workforce of more than 11,500 across nine technology areas and 40 other operations across the globe, AFRL provides a diverse portfolio of science and technology ranging from fundamental to advanced research and technology development.

Content is courtesy of Jeanne Dailey, Air Force Research Laboratory Public Affairs

Fleet Space Technologies has secured $26.4 million in investment, valuing the company at $126 million — this represents a major step forward for the company, which is committed to creating the world’s most advanced low-power satellite network, securing planet-wide coverage for millions of compatible Internet of Things (IoT) devices by using its in-house smallsat technology. This funding will underpin significant expansion in Fleet Space’s manufacturing footprint and will expand the company’s highly skilled workforce.

The investment is a clear endorsement of Fleet Space’s vision. The Australian start-up, co-founded by Flavia Tata Nardini and Matt Pearson, has created the most advanced smallsat payload yet delivered to orbit. These smallsat devices generate ten times more throughput per kilo than larger spacecraft and will support radical new efficiencies for hundreds of industries using IoT. This will transform the ability of companies and institutions to manage and control their remote assets across the world and in real time, 24 hours a day, even in remote areas, where cellular connectivity is not available and where operations are critical.

The investment also represents a firm commitment to Australia’s rapidly emerging space industry, which the Federal Government plans to grow to a $12 billion, ranking the sector among the nation’s fastest growing industries. Its expansion in the region will also create 70 jobs, including many highly desirable science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) positions in the first phase of growth.

The International Data Corporation predicts that there will be more than 14 billion connected, low-power devices by 2025. To unlock the full force of efficiencies that lie in the data collected by these devices, there must be a network through which this information is gathered and analyzed. Only with this information can improvements in products and the way they are used be truly realized.

Fleet Space technology provides this function to businesses big and small through a smallsat, satellite-based network. The existing network is made up of six smallsats that were launched to orbit via SpaceX, an Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) rocket and two Rocket Lab launches.

Fleet Space’s latest Centauri 4 smallsat has been integrated with digital beamforming technology which uses an array of multiple antennas along with cutting edge Digital Signal Processing. This beamforming technology provides a substantial increase in throughput of customer IoT data and can service a higher number of customer portals at once. Integrating this digital beamforming into a nanosatellite which is not much bigger than a loaf of bread, is a world first. Beamforming can also dramatically improve data reliability and security by reducing the impact of interference.

These smallsats are combined with ground-based networks, affording industries a cost effective way to benefit from the information of their IoT enabled devices where cellular networks are unavailable..

Through a growing constellation of smallsats and proprietary network gateways which harness the LoRaWAN communication protocol, this technology will free organizations of billions of dollars of lost value by leveraging IoT. The $26.4 million investment will increase the size of Fleet Space’s constellation and meet unprecedented demand from more than three million compatible devices registered to join the Fleet Space network.

Fleet Space Technologies has secured $26.4 million in investment, valuing the company at $126 million — this represents a major step forward for the company, which is committed to creating the world’s most advanced low-power satellite network, securing planet-wide coverage for millions of compatible Internet of Things (IoT) devices by using its in-house smallsat technology. This funding will underpin significant expansion in Fleet Space’s manufacturing footprint and will expand the company’s highly skilled workforce.

The investment is a clear endorsement of Fleet Space’s vision. The Australian start-up, co-founded by Flavia Tata Nardini and Matt Pearson, has created the most advanced smallsat payload yet delivered to orbit. These smallsat devices generate ten times more throughput per kilo than larger spacecraft and will support radical new efficiencies for hundreds of industries using IoT. This will transform the ability of companies and institutions to manage and control their remote assets across the world and in real time, 24 hours a day, even in remote areas, where cellular connectivity is not available and where operations are critical.

The investment also represents a firm commitment to Australia’s rapidly emerging space industry, which the Federal Government plans to grow to a $12 billion, ranking the sector among the nation’s fastest growing industries. Its expansion in the region will also create 70 jobs, including many highly desirable science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) positions in the first phase of growth.

The International Data Corporation predicts that there will be more than 14 billion connected, low-power devices by 2025. To unlock the full force of efficiencies that lie in the data collected by these devices, there must be a network through which this information is gathered and analyzed. Only with this information can improvements in products and the way they are used be truly realized.

Fleet Space technology provides this function to businesses big and small through a smallsat, satellite-based network. The existing network is made up of six smallsats that were launched to orbit via SpaceX, an Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) rocket and two Rocket Lab launches.

Fleet Space’s latest Centauri 4 smallsat has been integrated with digital beamforming technology which uses an array of multiple antennas along with cutting edge Digital Signal Processing. This beamforming technology provides a substantial increase in throughput of customer IoT data and can service a higher number of customer portals at once. Integrating this digital beamforming into a nanosatellite which is not much bigger than a loaf of bread, is a world first. Beamforming can also dramatically improve data reliability and security by reducing the impact of interference.

These smallsats are combined with ground-based networks, affording industries a cost effective way to benefit from the information of their IoT enabled devices where cellular networks are unavailable..

Through a growing constellation of smallsats and proprietary network gateways which harness the LoRaWAN communication protocol, this technology will free organizations of billions of dollars of lost value by leveraging IoT. The $26.4 million investment will increase the size of Fleet Space’s constellation and meet unprecedented demand from more than three million compatible devices registered to join the Fleet Space network.

Astroscale Holdings Inc. (“Astroscale”) has revealed a universal docking device the company hopes will become a standard fitment on all, future, LEO satellites.

There are an unprecedented number of satellites due to launch over the next decade, the majority into LEO, (250 to 2000 km above Earth). The U.S. Federal Communications Commission has approved 16,447 satellites within constellations to date and has applications pending for an additional 64,816 satellites. The potential for high-velocity, high impact collisions is likely to increase unless disposal of satellites becomes part of everyday space operations.

Astroscale’s Docking Plate can be compared to a car ‘tow hook’ — a standardized interface that enables future servicing. Docking plates are designed to be discrete during satellite operations but robust and reliable if required. They’re customizable for different satellite designs and will enable both robotic or magnetic capture mechanisms to securely attach a servicer to a satellite.

The End-of-Life Services by Astroscale-demonstration (ELSA-d), currently undergoing testing in LEO, is the first spacecraft servicer of its kind to demonstrate the technology and commercial viability of removing defunct satellites. The ELSA-d mission uses the first prototype of the new docking mechanism, preparing the way for this first commercially available Astroscale Docking Plate for all satellite operators in LEO.

Astroscale’s universal docking technology will keep orbital highways clear and safe by enabling future debris removal and will also support the development of a dynamic, on-orbit ecosystem, powered by the emerging on-orbit services and manufacturing market.

Key features include:

• Discrete: designed to be lightweight, compact and minimally intrusive
• Low-cost: a price that can be integrated into your satellite development costs
• Reliable: components are mechanically secured to be failsafe with no structural adhesive degradation issues
• Robust: undergone qualification testing for the space environment
• Durable: designed for an in-space lifetime of over 15 years

Technical features

• Fiducial markers and retroreflectors: act as docking aids to guide navigation
• Knurled reinforced rim: enables robotic grappling technology. The plate is compatible with a variety of capture mechanisms including magnetic and robotic
• Simple 3 bolt solution: makes it easy to install and can be assembled from the outside
• Truss legs with 3 size options: customizable to suit any satellite design
• Flush mount option: can be integrated into an existing structure

“Over the last 6 decades more than 12,000 satellites have been launched, and this number could more than quadruple in a single decade,” said Nobu Okada, Founder and CEO of Astroscale. “This phenomenal growth shows how important space has become — to our economies, our way of life and to our fight against the climate change crisis. We urge the space community to demonstrate real commitment to protect the space environment by preparing satellites with a Docking Plate for future removal.”

“The Astroscale Docking Plate is designed to be lightweight and easy to fit onto low Earth orbit satellites,” said John Auburn, Managing Director of Astroscale Ltd. “As a low-cost solution it enables satellites to be captured and removed from space, keeping our orbital highways clear. We all value satellite communications supporting our global connectivity and economy, and monitoring our environment on Earth. By preparing our spacecraft today we will ensure space is sustainable tomorrow, for future generations.”