Archives for May 2022

Satellogic Inc. (NASDAQ: SATL) has signed a new Multiple Launch Agreement (“MLA”) with SpaceX and has reserved launch capacity for the company’s next 68 satellites.

This new MLA follows the current MLA covering 2022 launches and confirms that SpaceX continues to be Satellogic’s preferred vendor for rideshare missions, meeting the capacity demands of Satellogic’s constellation roadmap and providing shorter periods between satellite development and deployment.

Satellogic builds their own spacecraft, manages their constellation and productizes the EO data it collects to better serve their customers in every industry. This vertical integration ultimately reduces the cost of deriving insights from EO, enabling Satellogic to offer actionable data at a price point that a broader range of organizations can afford.

Similarly, SpaceX, which has a focus on decreasing the cost of space access, manufactures their own advanced rockets and spacecraft, allowing for more affordable options and greater innovation. SpaceX’s frequent launch schedule will help Satellogic accomplish its goals to significantly grow its constellation.

Satellogic recently announced the launch of five additional spacecraft. They were delivered to SSO on SpaceX’s Transporter-4 mission onboard the Falcon 9, a reusable, two-stage rocket. Satellogic currently operates 22 high-resolution satellites, and with the launches covered on this new MLA, is on track to become the first company to be able to remap the entire surface of the planet in high-resolution and with high frequency.

Satellogic has plans to launch additional satellites each quarter, aiming to ultimately grow its constellation to over 200 satellites by 2025 in order to provide daily sub-meter resolution imagery of the entire surface of the Earth and up to 40 revisits of points of interest per day.

“Following our previous launch successes with SpaceX, we are pleased to have signed this MLA to continue our work together in 2023 and beyond,” said Emiliano Kargieman, CEO and Co-Founder of Satellogic. “This announcement ensures that we will be able to continue to launch our satellites as they are produced and that we remain on track to collect every square meter of the Earth’s surface every week in 2023, providing our customers with the most up-to-date, reliable high-resolution data source on a global scale. Expanding our capacity is crucial to making Earth Observation data affordable and accessible for everyone.”

Founded in 2010 by Emiliano Kargieman and Gerardo Richarte, Satellogic (NASDAQ: SATL) is the first vertically integrated geospatial company, driving real outcomes with planetary-scale insights. Satellogic is creating and continuously enhancing the first scalable, fully automated Earth Observation (“EO”) platform with the ability to remap the entire planet at both high-frequency and high-resolution, providing accessible and affordable solutions for customers. Satellogic’s mission is to democratize access to geospatial data through its information platform of high-resolution images and analytics to help solve the world’s most pressing problems including climate change, energy supply, and food security. Using its patented Earth imaging technology, Satellogic unlocks the power of EO to deliver high-quality, planetary insights at the lowest cost in the industry. With more than a decade of experience in space, Satellogic has proven technology and a strong track record of delivering satellites to orbit and high-resolution data to customers at the right price point.

AST SpaceMobile, Inc. (NASDAQ: ASTS) has received an experimental license from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) supporting its U.S.-based testing of the BlueWalker 3 satellite.

The license covers BlueWalker 3 space-to-ground testing in the United States using 3GPP (3rd Generation Partnership Project), low-band, cellular frequencies and Q/V-band frequencies, subject to certain restrictions.

The authorization comes as the company prepares for the planned summer 2022 launch of BlueWalker 3, its test satellite with an aperture of 693 square feet that is designed to communicate directly with cell phones via 3GPP standard frequencies.

“We appreciate the diligent support of the FCC in providing the experimental license for our upcoming satellite launch,” said AST SpaceMobile Founder, Chairman and CEO, Abel Avellan. “Together with other testing around the world, this license will enable us to conduct some of our most important testing here, at home, in the United States.”

AST SpaceMobile continues to pursue additional authorizations with the FCC related to its planned constellation of BlueBird satellites.

AST SpaceMobile’s mission is to eliminate the connectivity gaps faced by today’s five billion mobile subscribers moving in and out of coverage zones, and bring cellular broadband to approximately half of the world’s population who remain unconnected. Partners in this effort are leading global wireless infrastructure companies, including Rakuten Mobile, Vodafone and American Tower.

AST SpaceMobile is building the first and only global cellular broadband network in space to operate directly with standard, unmodified mobile devices based on our extensive IP and patent portfolio. Our engineers and space scientists are on a mission to eliminate the connectivity gaps faced by today’s five billion mobile subscribers and finally bring broadband to the billions who remain unconnected. For more information, follow AST SpaceMobile on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube. Watch this video for an overview of the SpaceMobile mission.

Vaya Space, Inc. has announced that Brent David Willis has joined their company as Chief Executive Officer, replacing CEO Grant Begley, who will continue with the firm as a member of the Board of Directors.

Selected as CEO Innovator of the Year in 2021 by the Golden Bridge Business Awards, one of the preeminent global business programs, Brent has had a career of developing breakthrough strategy and leading industry transformations. In addition to serving in the U.S. Military, he has had a long track record of success as a senior executive in many multi-billion-dollar multinational companies, including leading the development of the of the strategy that created the world’s largest beer company Anheuser-Busch InBev.

Vaya Space’s patented 3D printed hybrid engines deliver greater than 25% lower cost and are fueled with recycled plastics, using more than 2 million plastic bottles per launch. Vaya demonstrated their smallsat launch sector efficacy with their successful launch earlier this year and are taking orders now for future planned launches.

“Getting back to my Aerospace roots where I started my career is incredibly exciting and joining a purpose-driven company like Vaya is humbling,” said Brent David Willis. “Vaya has competitive-advantaged technology that will not only disrupt the market with safe and sustainable access to space, but will also help humankind. We have the right technology, the right team, the right motivation, and are at the right time and place in history to lead in this very attractive industry.”

NASA’s first US. born Hispanic Astronaut and Shuttle Commander, and current Vaya Space Chairman, Sid Gutierrez, said, “We are so excited to have Brent join our leadership team. Brent is a mission-oriented and values-centric leader that fits in perfectly with our culture. We are confident that his experience in developing transformative strategies in major multinational companies will translate to Vaya Space becoming the leader in the Space Industry.”

Navy Captain, Top Gun pilot and the former CEO of Vaya Space, Grant Begley, said, “It has been one of my life’s great privileges over the past few years to have led Vaya Space, and I am very pleased and confident to be handing over the reins to Brent. I am proud of all we have done at Vaya including receiving our most recent patent for Vaya’s Star-3D printed rocket fuel, and am equally proud of the impact that I know the new discoveries at Vaya Space will have on the world.”

Vaya Space is a private, hybrid rocket company based on the Space Coast of Florida with subsidiary operations in Brazil. Vaya Space has developed breakthrough and patented technologies that transform access to space. Vaya Space was selected as a GrowFL company to watch for growth and innovation in 2022. Following its successful launch and most recent patent awarded in early 2022, Vaya Space is positioned to lead the burgeoning small satellite launch market within the broader $385 billion-dollar space industry. Vaya is a sustainability focused and environmentally conscious enterprise, that produces hybrid rocket engines using recycled plastics as fuel. Vaya Space’s unique Star-3D printed engines generate >800 kN of thrust, capable of placing more than 1,000 kg of payloads into low earth orbit. Vaya delivers safer launches at a greater than 25% lower cost, utilizing more than 2 million recycled plastic bottles per launch. The Company is currently taking orders for upcoming additional planned launches.

The HANBIT-TLV will carry onboard the payload SISNAV, an inertial navigation system being developed by DCTA and other institutions.

INNOSPACE, a South Korean space startup for small launch vehicles, signed an agreement with the Brazilian Department of Aerospace Science and Technology (“DCTA”) to launch SISNAV, an inertial navigation system project supported by Finep and AEB.

INNOSPACE is currently developing HANBIT, a small satellite launcher powered by its hybrid rocket engines, and the first test flight of HANBIT-TLV is scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2022 at the Alcântara Launch Center in Brazil, which is an equatorial launch site. It will be the first suborbital test flight to validate the first stage engine of HANBIT-Nano, which is a 2-stage small satellite launcher capable of carrying a 50kg payload.

With this agreement, INNOSPACE expects to be able to verify the launch vehicle’s performance capability and obtain recognition in the aerospace sector at the same time by launching the payload despite a test flight. HANBIT-TLV is a 15-ton thrust single stage hybrid rocket with a height of 16.3m, 1-meter-diameter, and weight of 9.2-ton.

The HANBIT-TLV will carry onboard the payload SISNAV, an inertial navigation system being developed by DCTA and other institutions. They will verify that SISNAV operates well in specific environments such as vibration, shock, and high temperature that occur in the entire process from takeoff and during the transatmospheric flight.

“This agreement is meaningful in that INNOSPACE and DCTA have been committed to mutual technical and operational development and continued partnership. We hope that INNOSPACE will enter the small satellite launch service market with the successful first test launch of HANBIT-TLV in the fourth quarter in Brazil,” said Soo Jong Kim, CEO of INNOSPACE.