BAE Systems recently formed a new Digital Intelligence business, bringing together many world-class digital, data and cyber capabilities from across the Company to deliver a greater digital advantage to its customers and partners.

The creation of the new business, comprising almost 5,000 people in 16 countries around the world, reflects a growing requirement from customers to gather, process and manage complex data. Digital Intelligence will deliver a greater range of digital capabilities alongside leading cyber, intelligence and security expertise to an extensive portfolio of government, defence and commercial customers around the globe. The business will focus on helping customers from across the Company to operate successfully, securely and efficiently in the digital world.

Digital Intelligence incorporates recent strategic acquisitions by BAE Systems, which further enhance the Company’s capabilities in digital, data analytics and space, positioning it to accelerate growth in an evolving market. Acquisitions include: In-Space Missions, a UK company which designs, builds and operates satellites and satellite systems; PPM, a developer and manufacturer of high-end electronics; and data consultancy and digital services company, Techmodal.

David Armstrong, Group Managing Director, BAE Systems’ Digital Intelligence business, said, “We have some of the very best digital capabilities in the market. By bringing them together into one business, we will bring a greater range of capabilities to our customers and capitalize on market opportunities. We will also be able to offer exciting career development opportunities to the most talented people operating in this sector.”

Existing projects under the new business

The business will specialize in securely collecting, connecting and understanding complex data, so that customers can make can make near-real time decisions in the most demanding multi domain environments. Existing projects include:

• Developing communication systems which enable military land, air and maritime platforms to communicate with each other to share real-time mission imagery while on operations;
• Transforming national Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) technology to prevent crime – the resulting data set involves over 50m ANPR reads per day, with feeds from 11,000 cameras;
• Delivering satellite and communications technology, which is embedded within the operational infrastructure of major broadcasters globally;
• Helping the Royal Navy predict failures on warships before they happen and providing detailed analysis of how to diagnose issues;
• The 2020 In-Space Missions launch of the world’s first commercial satellite ‘rideshare’ service, Faraday;
• Veritas, the product which helps the British Army accurately plan and forecast requirements for equipment and material – significantly improving inventory and fleet management and delivering multi-million-pound savings;
• Working with more than 200 financial institutions worldwide to help protect them against financial crime, fraud and cyber crime;
• Developing a simulation modelling toolkit for passenger and vehicle security screening, which is used to provide the UK’s Department for Transport with a detailed understanding of the impact of different security screening operations at major air and sea ports;
• Helping the Royal Navy transform how it gains insight from vast amounts of disparate data, enabling better decision making; and
• Creating a mixed vendor ‘rainbow team’ in Australia to address integrated cloud and data capabilities in a way that will enable global collaboration within multiple geographies for our customers.

QuadSAT has performed an antenna validation campaign as part of its ongoing work with LEO satellite operator, OneWeb. QuadSAT performed in-situ verification of 10 antennas at the KSAT Svalbard Ground Station, the world´s largest and northernmost station ideally located at 78´North, in Norway, as part of OneWeb’s ground segment rollout.

The tests focused on the measurements of antenna radiation diagrams and the verification of the North offset in antenna pointing using the drone as the source. QuadSAT executed several measurements, including azimuth, elevation, and raster cuts to provide accurate data for processing. Data was aggregated through QuadSAT’s own software to deliver accurate results.

QuadSAT improves accessibility to high-quality testing solutions for the ground segment. The system ensures repeatability, control over the drone during measurements, ease of operation and data delivery in a uniform format. This in-depth testing provides quality assurance and improves reliability throughout the SATCOM industry, allowing the industry to deliver the networks required for the connectivity of the future.

Joakim Espeland, CEO of QuadSAT, said, “RF management is crucial when maintaining complex ground segment networks and OneWeb is keen to ensure that it delivers the best service possible to its customers. Our product enables in-depth testing and validation of antennas to take place in-situ, providing OneWeb with accurate data for its antennas within their own environment. This intensive validation campaign endorses the capabilities of OneWeb’s sophisticated ground segment.”

Daniel Costenbader, Ground Systems Engineer of OneWeb, said, “As the rollout of our ground segment progresses, we are using innovative methods to ensure that our networks are robust and accurate. By validating our antennas in-situ, we can review and verify the technology in its own environment. The product and expertise provided by QuadSAT has provided us with sophisticated and detailed results from the validation campaign.”

QuadSAT is a key disruptor within interference management as its drone-based system provides users with flexible and accurate antenna testing and calibration. A broad range of testing missions can be undertaken, depending on user requirements, and antennas can be tested regardless of location.

OneWeb is a global communications network powered by a constellation of 650 LEO satellites. OneWeb enables high-speed, low latency connectivity for governments, businesses, and communities globally. Its satellites, network of gateways, and range of User Terminals provide fast, high bandwidth, low latency communication services.

SpaceX is targeting Thursday, March 3rd, for a Falcon 9 launch of 47 Starlink satellites to LEO from Launch Complex 39A (LC-39A) at Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

The instantaneous launch window is at 9:35 a.m., EST, or 14:35 UTC, and a backup opportunity is available on Friday, March 4th, at 9:10 a.m. EST, or 14:10 UTC.

The first stage booster supporting this mission previously launched GPS III-3, Turksat-5A, Transporter 2, and seven Starlink missions.

Following stage separation, SpaceX will land Falcon 9’s first stage on the Just Read the Instructions droneship that will be stationed in the Atlantic Ocean.

Watch the live launch webcast starting about 15 minutes before liftoff at this direct link…

Fleet Space Technologies has announced that the Australian Government has committed $20 million to the development of the Space Manufacturing Hub in Adelaide, South Australia. This adds to funds already committed by The Government of South Australia (A$20 million) and a consortium of leading space, aerospace and advanced air mobility companies including Fleet, Q-CTRL, AtSpace Pty Ltd and Alauda Aeronautics, the manufacturer of the world’s first, electric, flying racing cars. That total value of the project is A$66 million.

This state-of-the-art facility will enable the further growth of Fleet Space Technologies in line with Australia’s ambitions to create one of the world’s leading space industries. In total 221 jobs are expected to be created in the sector across Fleet Space Technologies and its partners. A further 1,104 indirect jobs can also be created in the supply chain and associated businesses.

The Space Manufacturing Hub is set to be one of the most advanced facilities of its kind in the world and will create a common user facility that will support Australia’s rapidly growing space industry and its overall space ecosystem. This forms a key strategic pillar of the space National Manufacturing priority by playing a critical next step in supporting Australia’s space industry to scale and compete globally. The Space Manufacturing Hub will provide the required facilities to design, manufacture, test and launch critical components for space-going vehicles and satellites. This will include highly innovative approaches pioneered by Fleet, including the development of ‘Alpha’, an entirely new constellation of small satellites using the latest additive manufacturing and 3D printing technology. This will drive down costs and democratize a technology that enables global connectivity across multiple sectors and user-cases.

The Hyper Factory by Fleet Space will harness the power of local robotics and automation capabilities and will enable the development and manufacture of vehicles for Moon to Mars missions including lunar rovers. Overall, this will play a major role in providing Australian businesses with connections to the global space economy.

Building Australia’s Space Industry

The Fleet Space’s Alpha smallsat constellation will be designed, engineered and manufactured from the Hyper Factory and will integrate beamforming antennas and electronics.

The Australian Space Park in which Fleet Space Technology will build the Hyper Factory will be the first of its kind in the southern hemisphere. Four companies, Fleet Space Technologies, Q-CTRL, ATSpace and Alauda Aeronautics, will co-locate in a purpose-built facility with a focus on collaboration and production of small satellites and their payloads, rockets, electric vertical take-off and landing vehicles (eVTOL), and supporting component and technical systems.

Adelaide Airport has been identified by the industry consortium as an ideal location for the Australian Space Park due to its proximity to traditional aerospace companies and the central business district and innovation precinct, Lot Fourteen, which is home to a growing community of space companies. The State Government is in discussions with Adelaide Airport as a potential location for the Australian Space Park.

As the centerpiece of the nation’s space endeavors, the state is presently targeting an annual growth rate in the space sector of 5.8 per cent over the next decade.

The rapid growth of Fleet Space Technologies and its space tech cohorts indicates that Australia is fast becoming a global leader in space technology. Australia was one of the first countries to launch a satellite into space from its home soil, and subsequently its leaders have consistently voiced a requirement for the nation to continue growing its presence and capability in this critical sector. The nation itself relies heavily on space technology to power the everyday lives of its people – from communication services to Earth observation for navigation purposes and weather forecasting.

“The addition of this very significant investment from the Australian Government to the funds already pledged by the South Australian Government is affirmation of our nation’s commitment to the development of a rapidly growing industry and innovation in sovereign technological capabilities in space manufacturing. Fleet Space Technologies is proud to lead the Austrian space sector. This industry is creating jobs, technological capability and lasting economic impact for Australia. The Space Hub in Adelaide will position South Australia as a true global centre of excellence in the development of space technologies,” said Flavia Tata Nardini, CEO and Co-Founder, Fleet Space Technologies

Australia already boasts commercial rocket launches and a burgeoning space-centric software industry, positioning the nation as a capable, strategic and globally engaged leader in the field. Homegrown Australian technology is also supporting the wider space industry. Fleet Space will join the Seven Sisters’ Australian space industry consortium in support of NASA’s Artemis program to land the first woman and next man on the Moon by 2024 and create a sustainable human presence for later crewed Martian exploration.

Fleet Space Technologies is Australia’s leading space company and operates from a state-of-the-art HQ in Adelaide, South Australia, a region rapidly emerging as a global center of excellence in space and advanced aerospace technologies. The company has designed, built and launched the country’s only commercial satellites and has six satellites already on-orbit as it works toward a mission building a constellation of 140 smallsats in LEO.

CesiumAstro Inc. (“Cesium” or “Company”) has secured $60 million in an oversubscribed Series B funding round, co-led by Airbus Ventures and Forever Ventures, with strategic participation from L3Harris Technologies (NYSE: LHX) — returning investors include Kleiner Perkins, Lavrock Ventures, Franklin Templeton Blackhorse Fund, and HEICO (NYSE: HEI).

CesiumAstro has raised nearly $90 million in capital since the firm’s founding in 2017. With this latest financing, Cesium will accelerate the growth of its core research, development, and rapid manufacturing capabilities, and expand its facilities both domestically and abroad.

Cesium’s products are designed to address a wide set of applications, including satellite and drone communications, missile defense and in-flight connectivity (IFC). At the heart of these products is the company’s ability to deliver the full stack of Active Electronically Steered Arrays (AESAs): Cesium offers a modular ecosystem of hardware and software with RF and antenna front-ends that cover critical space frequency allocations, along with a common reconfigurable digital back-end to address mission needs for high-throughput communication, under even the tightest budgetary and schedule constraints.

Encompassing more than 80 engineers, scientists, and business professionals with in-house rapid prototyping and environmental test capability, the Company has grown a full suite of capabilities across development, production, and deployment of high-reliability systems. The company is set to deploy several additional assets into space later this year, with targeted launch dates to be announced in the coming months.

“We are honored to have strong support from our new and existing investors. With their backing, we are now set to scale the Company and realize the full potential of our proprietary technology,” said Shey Sabripour, Founder and CEO of CesiumAstro. “This investment is a key endorsement of our ability to deliver advanced communication systems to both our commercial and defense customers and fully secures our growth trajectory.”

“Teaming with CesiumAstro reflects our strategy of partnering across industry to rapidly develop advanced multi-domain solutions that address our customers’ critical needs,” said Christopher E. Kubasik, Vice Chair and Chief Executive Officer, L3Harris. “Incorporating CesiumAstro’s technologies will enhance our existing resilient space and communications solutions, while we collaborate with their agile technical team to help develop entirely new approaches that drive our next-generation innovations.”

Headquartered in Austin, Texas, with offices in Broomfield, Colorado, CesiumAstro builds high-throughput, plug-and-play active phased array communication payloads for airborne and in-orbit platforms. Cesium’s full-stack, multi-mission hardware and software products enable a range of commercial and defense objectives.

SkyLabs has signed a new Collaboration Agreement with Deimos Elecnor to provide On-Board Computer (OBC) and Remote Terminal Unit (RTU) equipment for DEIMOS’ standalone AOCS (Attitude and Orbit Control System) product for smallsats.

A modular AOCS for small satellites is being developed by Deimos to address the need for the rapid procurement of agile and high stability attitude control systems for platforms that are particularly suited for LEO and Earth Observation (EO) missions.

SkyLabs solution has been recognized by Deimos as the one that can enable Deimos to develop leading-edge AOCS product and, on top of that, offers high configurability and customization to address a wide variety of smallsat missions and a range of actuator and sensor solutions. In particular, SkyLabs’ solution for AOCS product is based on a NANOhpm-obc and picoRTU system, which is combination than can tackle the most demanding AOCS needs.

NANOhpm-obc is high performance OBC, one of the first solutions with RISC-V fault tolerant processor within to answer the most demanding LEO applications with very high-performance needs.

The picoRTU system is based on a distributed intelligence thanks to the PicoSkyFT IP solution that enables higher levels of subsystem autonomy, showcases the use of modern design techniques, facilitating higher modularity and interoperability of satellite equipment, and thereby enabling scalability of actuator and sensor interfaces according to mission needs. By entering collaboration agreement with Deimos, SkyLabs became a provider of the OBC and RTU solutions for the AOCS and beyond.

Dejan Gačnik, CTO of SkyLabs and responsible for overall cooperation with DEIMOS, said, ‘This cooperation agreement proves once again that SkyLabs is providing the leading-edge satellite solutions for the small satellites market, and thus enabling our customers to build innovative, dependable and cost-efficient systems. SkyLabs is going to supply DEIMOS picoRTU and NANOhpm-obc as critical equipment of the their highly innovative and modular AOCS. Both critical elements have been developed jointly under ESA General Support and Technology Programme, as the results of systematically well identified market needs years ago and condensate knowhow resulting from several R&D activities.‘

Dr. Murray Kerr, DEIMOS’ head of Flight Engineering and responsible for the SAT4EOCE project, said, ‘Our AOCS product is highly innovative, in both its provision of very high pointing stability and agility, and its low-price point. SkyLabs is just the partner we need to make our AOCS both modular and reliable. We hope to build a strong and enduring cooperation with SkyLabs in the commercial market.‘

“Cooperation with DEIMOS is another important milestone for SkyLabs, as we have been recognized as trustworthy supplier also in the domain of small-scale satellites. I am confident that this is just a beginning of our important and strategic cooperation with DEIMOS in the segment of small satellites and even beyond,” said Dr. Tomaž Rotovnik, CEO of SkyLabs.

Two emerging Australian space startups — AICRAFT and Antaris Space — have signed of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to test new Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (AI/ML) models in space, with the goal of developing and space-qualifying new computational capabilities for satellite-based applications.

Under the MoU, the two startups, who are both members of the SmartSAT CRC-backed Aurora Space Cluster, will include an AICRAFT space-computing module as a part of the payload for Antaris’ three-year demonstrator mission launching to LEO in Q3 2022. This will provide an opportunity for Antaris Space and its collaborators to test out the module, and demonstrate the ability for on-orbit, autonomous satellite navigation and control.

AICRAFT will also be able to test various AI/ML models for Earth Observation (EO) data processing and communications management in the space environment. The objective will be to demonstrate five- to ten-times the processing speed compared with current state-of-the-art on-orbit ‘Space Edge’ processing solutions and to do so for a comparable form factor and power consumption level. AICRAFT’S module will be the only locally developed device aboard Antaris’ Tech Demonstrator (TD) satellite.

Speaking at the signing of the MOU, co-founder of Antaris Inc, Shankar Sivaprakasam, said, “We are excited about working with AICRAFT to space qualify their edge computing module and add it to the pool of resources for customers using the Antaris Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) platform for next-gen satellite systems. Our software-defined satellite platform is a means to broaden the space ecosystem by creating a trusted marketplace of qualified space-rated software and hardware components, a key goal for us.”

“We are thrilled to start our collaboration with Antaris and demonstrate our innovative AI edge computing module on orbit“, said Dr. Tony Scoleri, co-founder and CEO of AICRAFT. “This will include testing the execution of a large variety of AI models and input data formats (imagery, signals, Lidar point clouds) and we would like to thank Shankar and the whole Antaris founding team for the opportunity to accelerate our company’s entry into the global space marketplace. A special thank you also to Dr. Tim Parsons, Aurora Space Cluster Chair, and the entire SmartSat CRC team, for helping to bring Antaris and AICRAFT together and supporting Australian space start-ups.”

Commenting on the partnership announcement, Aurora Space Cluster Board Chair, Dr. Tim Parsons, said “This collaboration between Antaris and AICRAFT is exactly what the Aurora Space Cluster aimed to achieve w,ithin the Australian space start-up community – providing a framework for start-ups to grow together in commercial collaborations with one another, to win business, commercialize leap-frog R&D, lift TRL to space-qualified, and build world-class commercial capabilities.”

Antaris Space, a subsidiary of Antaris Inc., is a Sydney, NSW-based company offering a software-defined satellite platform to ease the design and build of satellites, the integration of payloads, and their operation and management on-orbit – all from a Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) platform.

AICRAFT is an Adelaide, South Australia-based company offering scalable, high-performance, low-power edge computing sensors and systems with embedded artificial intelligence (AI) models.

The Aurora Space Cluster connects over 70 early and growth-stage start-up and scale-up companies with mentors, supporting partners, corporates and aerospace primes to create opportunities for commercial and R&D collaboration and growth. A member-focused organisation, Aurora is itself a start-up, created by a diverse founding board with support from its parent, SmartSat CRC.

Two emerging Australian space startups — AICRAFT and Antaris Space — have signed of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to test new Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (AI/ML) models in space, with the goal of developing and space-qualifying new computational capabilities for satellite-based applications.

Under the MoU, the two startups, who are both members of the SmartSAT CRC-backed Aurora Space Cluster, will include an AICRAFT space-computing module as a part of the payload for Antaris’ three-year demonstrator mission launching to LEO in Q3 2022. This will provide an opportunity for Antaris Space and its collaborators to test out the module, and demonstrate the ability for on-orbit, autonomous satellite navigation and control.

AICRAFT will also be able to test various AI/ML models for Earth Observation (EO) data processing and communications management in the space environment. The objective will be to demonstrate five- to ten-times the processing speed compared with current state-of-the-art on-orbit ‘Space Edge’ processing solutions and to do so for a comparable form factor and power consumption level. AICRAFT’S module will be the only locally developed device aboard Antaris’ Tech Demonstrator (TD) satellite.

Speaking at the signing of the MOU, co-founder of Antaris Inc, Shankar Sivaprakasam, said, “We are excited about working with AICRAFT to space qualify their edge computing module and add it to the pool of resources for customers using the Antaris Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) platform for next-gen satellite systems. Our software-defined satellite platform is a means to broaden the space ecosystem by creating a trusted marketplace of qualified space-rated software and hardware components, a key goal for us.”

“We are thrilled to start our collaboration with Antaris and demonstrate our innovative AI edge computing module on orbit“, said Dr. Tony Scoleri, co-founder and CEO of AICRAFT. “This will include testing the execution of a large variety of AI models and input data formats (imagery, signals, Lidar point clouds) and we would like to thank Shankar and the whole Antaris founding team for the opportunity to accelerate our company’s entry into the global space marketplace. A special thank you also to Dr. Tim Parsons, Aurora Space Cluster Chair, and the entire SmartSat CRC team, for helping to bring Antaris and AICRAFT together and supporting Australian space start-ups.”

Commenting on the partnership announcement, Aurora Space Cluster Board Chair, Dr. Tim Parsons, said “This collaboration between Antaris and AICRAFT is exactly what the Aurora Space Cluster aimed to achieve w,ithin the Australian space start-up community – providing a framework for start-ups to grow together in commercial collaborations with one another, to win business, commercialize leap-frog R&D, lift TRL to space-qualified, and build world-class commercial capabilities.”

Antaris Space, a subsidiary of Antaris Inc., is a Sydney, NSW-based company offering a software-defined satellite platform to ease the design and build of satellites, the integration of payloads, and their operation and management on-orbit – all from a Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) platform.

AICRAFT is an Adelaide, South Australia-based company offering scalable, high-performance, low-power edge computing sensors and systems with embedded artificial intelligence (AI) models.

The Aurora Space Cluster connects over 70 early and growth-stage start-up and scale-up companies with mentors, supporting partners, corporates and aerospace primes to create opportunities for commercial and R&D collaboration and growth. A member-focused organisation, Aurora is itself a start-up, created by a diverse founding board with support from its parent, SmartSat CRC.

SkyLabs has signed a new Collaboration Agreement with Deimos Elecnor to provide On-Board Computer (OBC) and Remote Terminal Unit (RTU) equipment for DEIMOS’ standalone AOCS (Attitude and Orbit Control System) product for smallsats.

A modular AOCS for small satellites is being developed by Deimos to address the need for the rapid procurement of agile and high stability attitude control systems for platforms that are particularly suited for LEO and Earth Observation (EO) missions.

SkyLabs solution has been recognized by Deimos as the one that can enable Deimos to develop leading-edge AOCS product and, on top of that, offers high configurability and customization to address a wide variety of smallsat missions and a range of actuator and sensor solutions. In particular, SkyLabs’ solution for AOCS product is based on a NANOhpm-obc and picoRTU system, which is combination than can tackle the most demanding AOCS needs.

NANOhpm-obc is high performance OBC, one of the first solutions with RISC-V fault tolerant processor within to answer the most demanding LEO applications with very high-performance needs.

The picoRTU system is based on a distributed intelligence thanks to the PicoSkyFT IP solution that enables higher levels of subsystem autonomy, showcases the use of modern design techniques, facilitating higher modularity and interoperability of satellite equipment, and thereby enabling scalability of actuator and sensor interfaces according to mission needs. By entering collaboration agreement with Deimos, SkyLabs became a provider of the OBC and RTU solutions for the AOCS and beyond.

Dejan Gačnik, CTO of SkyLabs and responsible for overall cooperation with DEIMOS, said, ‘This cooperation agreement proves once again that SkyLabs is providing the leading-edge satellite solutions for the small satellites market, and thus enabling our customers to build innovative, dependable and cost-efficient systems. SkyLabs is going to supply DEIMOS picoRTU and NANOhpm-obc as critical equipment of the their highly innovative and modular AOCS. Both critical elements have been developed jointly under ESA General Support and Technology Programme, as the results of systematically well identified market needs years ago and condensate knowhow resulting from several R&D activities.‘

Dr. Murray Kerr, DEIMOS’ head of Flight Engineering and responsible for the SAT4EOCE project, said, ‘Our AOCS product is highly innovative, in both its provision of very high pointing stability and agility, and its low-price point. SkyLabs is just the partner we need to make our AOCS both modular and reliable. We hope to build a strong and enduring cooperation with SkyLabs in the commercial market.‘

“Cooperation with DEIMOS is another important milestone for SkyLabs, as we have been recognized as trustworthy supplier also in the domain of small-scale satellites. I am confident that this is just a beginning of our important and strategic cooperation with DEIMOS in the segment of small satellites and even beyond,” said Dr. Tomaž Rotovnik, CEO of SkyLabs.