Archives for October 2022

Rivada Space Networks GmbH, a global network company launching a constellation of 600 Low-Earth-Orbit satellites (LEO), has signed a partnership agreement with SpeQtral, an emerging leader in quantum-secure communications systems. Rivada Space’s constellation will enable secure, global connectivity for governments and enterprises

The world is increasingly data-driven, cloud-based and cybersecurity conscious, creating an ever-growing demand to upgrade the networks that transport data around the globe. With the geopolitical and cybersecurity threats of recent months, Rivada Space is increasingly looking to the new Low-Earth-Orbit (LEO) constellations and a fundamentally different network architecture to provide connectivity that meets today’s demands for security, latency, throughput, reach and mobility. 

Quantum-secure communications systems and specifically Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) technology are important elements in the development of forthcoming highly secure, satellite-enabled connectivity networks.  QKD uses quantum entanglement to distribute encryption keys to secure communications networks. SpeQtral’s QKD technology platform enables the creation and distribution of computationally unhackable encryption keys, by leveraging the laws of physics instead of computational algorithms.  

Rivada Space Networks (RSN) is partnering with SpeQtral to demonstrate the technical compatibility of adding a QKD encryption layer to enhance the security of communications over Low-Earth-Orbit (LEO) satellite constellations.  In 2024, RSN will start the launch of its 300 satellite laser-connected constellation with four precursor satellites and SpeQtral will launch its QKD satellite, SpeQtral-1.  This will allow RSN and SpeQtral to jointly establish quantum-secure data links over the RSN precursor satellites and validate both the space and ground station terminals required for QKD-enabled encrypted traffic on the Rivada Space Networks constellation. 

Chune Yang Lum, Co-founder and CEO of SpeQtral, said, “We are delighted to work with international partners to employ SpeQtral-1 for the demonstration of ultra-secure communications, executing on our vision to realise global QKD.   We have had strong synergies with our partners thus far and are excited to bring our technology one step closer to enabling telecommunication network providers to incorporate a valued-added quantum security feature to their offering”. 

Severin Meister, CEO of Rivada Space Networks GmbH added, “Recent events in Ukraine have demonstrated that we are increasingly reliant on the commercial satellite sector and in particular new satellite constellations to provide high-performance, resilient communications infrastructure. Security is a key attribute of Rivada’s unique gateway-less architecture, and we believe leveraging quantum technology will enable us to deploy the most secure communications network in the world.  Meister continued: “Trialing this innovative new technology here in Germany is extremely important for us as we recently joined the EU’s multi-stakeholder Secure Connectivity Programme, and we are excited to add quantum encryption capability to the provision of an independent and secure communications infrastructure for Europe”. 

Sateliot has received the endorsement of the European Space Agency (ESA) through the Future Preparation Generic Program line of the ARTES program on the standard powered by Sateliot, Gatehouse (an exclusive Sateliot partner) and 3GPP contributors to connect IoT standard devices from its LEO constellation.

This statement is a strong industry endorsement of the company’s project to launch their satellite constellation. In addition, this technology will make it possible to extend 5G NB-IoT connectivity to any area of the planet where there is currently no terrestrial coverage, without operators having to make changes to their hardware and at a low cost.

This milestone thus endorses a process that began just over a year ago when 3GPP included the scenario that Sateliot pursues, which contemplates low-orbit smallsat networks to provide IoT services, in its portfolio. 3GPP is the body that periodically brings together the main players in the telecommunications sector to define the different wireless communication standards.

The importance of this technology is based on the premise that operators will be able to interoperate. They will be able to connect with the smallsat network using a roaming service when they need 5G coverage to offer connectivity and follow, for example, the cargo of a moving ship, the trajectory of a mountain biker or alert emergency services in the case of an accident.

This approval has also received a broad consensus from the main operators, companies and institutions throughout the value chain (satellite operators, mobile operators, network providers, device manufacturers…), including companies such as Vodafone, Deutsche Telekom, China Mobile, Sony, Nokia, Ericsson, Eutelsat and Siemens.

For Jaume Sanpera, founder and CEO of Sateliot, this news is “an important recognition of our work, long and complex at a technical level, and also comes at a crucial time for our company, immersed in the preparation of the launch of its first constellation of satellites and in the run-up to the opening of the B series, from which we expect to raise 100 million euros.”

“Tests have been conducted that have demonstrated the successful operation of a set of NTN NB-IoT protocols compliant with the recent 3GPP Release 17 NTN NB-IoT standard developed by Sateliot,” said Xavier Lobao, Head of Future Telecommunication Projects Division of ESA, responsible for the programme that supported the testing.

Sateliot is the first satellite telecommunications operator to provide global and continuous connectivity to all the elements that will make up the Internet of Things (IoT) universe under the 5G protocol. Thanks to a constellation of state-of-the-art nanosatellites, located at low altitude and acting as mobile towers from space, Sateliot is the perfect complement to large telecommunications companies by providing them with the necessary infrastructure to extend their coverage where terrestrial technologies do not reach. More information on our website, Twitter and LinkedIn.

Beyond Gravity has been selected to supply equipment for Loft Orbital’s Longbow spacecraft based on the Airbus Arrow platform — the physical equipment is referred to as the Power Control & Distribution Unit (PCDU).

The PCDU provides mission critical power supply capabilities and on-orbit configurability for “The Hub” that carries all payloads of a Loft Orbital’s satellite and provides an independent electrical, computing and communication environment. Beyond Gravity will deliver PCDU flight units for more than 15 Loft Orbital satellites.

“Our partnership with Loft Orbital and this order is underlining Beyond Gravity’s strong standing in the global commercial New Space market. The PCDU enables Loft Orbital to be fully product-based, leading to standardization, shorter lead times and high cost-efficiency,” said Anders Linder, head of the Satellites Division at Beyond Gravity. “I am grateful to our partners at Loft Orbital for selecting Beyond Gravity and excited to be working with them to support their future missions.”

“When looking for partners to fulfill our technical, quality and price-performance needs, Beyond Gravity allowed us to put in a high degree of customization, meeting our stringent system-level requirements, whilst still leveraging their existing experience and translating that to a balanced New Space solution. Of equal importance is the right way to communicate and collaborate, which has been another positive experience for both teams,” said Pieter van Duijn, Loft Orbital’s CTO.

“Our collaboration with Beyond Gravity demonstrates Loft Orbital’s strategy to rely on the strong and competitive European ecosystem of space systems suppliers,” said Emmanuelle Meric, General Manager France of Loft Orbital. “We look forward to strengthening our partnerships with leading space companies such as Beyond Gravity.”

Beyond Gravity Beyond Gravity, headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland, combines agility, speed, and innovation with decades of experience and proven quality. Approximately 1700 employees at 12 locations in six countries (Switzerland, Sweden, Austria, Germany, USA and Finland) design and manufacture products for satellites and launch vehicles with the goal of advancing humanity and enabling exploration of the world and beyond. Beyond Gravity is the preferred supplier of structures for all types of launch vehicles and a leader in selected satellite products and constellations in the New Space sector. In 2021, the company generated revenues of approximately CHF 319 million.

Loft Orbital Loft Orbital is the pioneer in providing space infrastructure as a service. Loft mission is to be the fastest, simplest, and most reliable path to orbit for any payload. The company flies customer payloads onboard quarterly scheduled satellite missions, and handles the entire mission as a service. Loft customers can thus focus on what matters most to them: their payload and the data it collects. To make it possible, Loft Orbital has developed the software and hardware products that make Loft satellite missions truly plug and play, eliminating years of complex design and engineering. With qualified, commodity satellite buses procured in advance and available off-the-shelf, Loft delivers payloads to orbit in months not years. Loft Orbital will add a third satellite to orbit in November and has contracted more than 20 satellites to be flown by 2025.

DARPA has selected 11 teams for Phase 1 of the Space-Based Adaptive Communications Node program, known as Space-BACN, that aims to create a low-cost, reconfigurable optical communications terminal that adapts to most optical intersatellite link standards, translating between diverse satellite constellations.

Space-BACN would create an “internet” of LEO satellites, enabling seamless communication between military/government and commercial/civil satellite constellations that currently are unable to talk with each other.

The agency selected teams from academia and large and small commercial companies, including multiple performers awarded first-time contracts with the Department of Defense.

“We intentionally made making a proposal to our Space-BACN solicitations as easy as possible, because we wanted to tap into both established defense companies and the large pool of innovative small tech companies, many of which don’t have the time or resources to figure out complicated government contracting processes,” said Greg Kuperman, Space-BACN program manager in DARPA’s Strategic Technology Office. “We used other transactions and were very pleased with diversity of organizations that responded and quality of proposals. After a successful Phase 0 where we got to see the teams sprint to put together an initial architecture design for Space-BACN, I’m excited to get to work in Phase 1 building the actual system.”

In the first technical area, the following performers aim to develop a flexible, low size, weight, power and cost (SWaP-C) optical aperture that couples into single-mode fiber:

CACI, Inc.
MBRYONICS
Mynaric

The following teams selected in the second technical area aim to develop a reconfigurable optical modem that supports up to 100 Gbps on a single wavelength:

II-VI Aerospace and Defense
Arizona State University
Intel Federal, LLC 

The performer teams listed above will also participate in a collaborative working group to define the interface between their respective system components.

In a third technical area, the agency selected five teams to identify critical command and control elements required to support cross-constellation optical intersatellite link communications and develop the schema necessary to interface between Space-BACN and commercial partner constellations:

Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX)
Telesat
SpaceLink
Viasat
Kuiper Government Solutions (KGS) LLC, an Amazon subsidiary

Phase 1 of Space- BACN spans 14 months and will conclude with a preliminary design review for the first two technical areas, as well as a fully defined interface between system components. The third technical area will develop the schema for cross-constellation command and control, and will conduct a connectivity demo in a simulated environment to test the schema for a baseline scenario.

At the completion of Phase 1, selected performers in the first two technical areas will participate in an 18-month Phase 2 to develop engineering design units of the optical terminal components, while performers in the third technical area will continue to evolve the schema to function in more challenging and dynamic scenarios.

HawkEye 360 Inc. was awarded a contract from the NRO’s Commercial Systems Program Office (CSPO) — this contract will assess, mature, integrate, and operationalize commercial RF intelligence into the NRO’s integrated overhead architecture to support warfighters, the intelligence community, and policymakers. The program represents a partnership between the NRO and HawkEye 360 to explore near- and long-term, high-impact capabilities that commercial RF can deliver.

HawkEye 360 will initially model and simulate current and future RF-sensing capabilities, engage in live end-to-end demonstrations, conduct accuracy and quality assessments, and demonstrate overhead delivery of RF data to government fixed, transportable, and mobile ground stations around the world. The outcome is to deliver trusted and resilient results that provide high mission impact to the NRO and its mission partners.

This effort is part of the NRO’s Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) Framework for Strategic Commercial Enhancements to assess and operationalize commercial space capabilities into the NRO’s architecture. The contract’s initial Phase I award and Phase II extension cover up to a three-year period. Under the contract, the customer will assess current and future capabilities and explore establishing a multi-year service level agreement to support the NRO’s evolving mission requirements.

HawkEye 360 operates a growing constellation of satellites which detects, characterizes, and geolocates radio frequency signals from a broad range of emitters used for communication, navigation, and security. By processing and analyzing this RF data, the company delivers actionable insights and a unique knowledge for operations across a range of sectors, including environmental protection and national security. The company is funded to develop and operate 20 clusters that will provide an average global revisit rate of 12-20 minutes.

“Leveraging nearly four years of on-orbit operational experience, HawkEye 360 appreciates the opportunity to continue its work with the NRO to integrate commercial RF innovations into its evolving architecture,” said Alex Fox, Chief Growth Officer for HawkEye 360. “We look forward to continuing our partnership with the NRO to deliver commercial RF capabilities and support the agency’s mission to advance U.S. national security and the security of our allies.”

HawkEye 360 Inc. recently announced that two new signals are available as part of the company’s RFGeo signal mapping product: VHF and UHF Flex.

RFGeo data and analytics provide a new geospatial data layer that enables RF awareness, using the unique data generated by HawkEye 360’s satellite constellation to detect and geolocate RF signals of interest.

Leveraging overhead collected UHF and VHF geolocated signal data, analysts can increase the efficiency of their workflows by rapidly discovering emitters of interest. RFGeo leverages the power of HawkEye 360’s growing constellation of satellites to detect and geolocate RF signals across Earth’s surface. The antennas on HawkEye 360’s satellites can cover areas spanning millions of square kilometers, enabling large-scale monitoring of RF activity over a wide RF spectrum.

VHF Flex and UHF Flex are being used in RF-based multi-INT workflows to gain situational awareness into a broad range of activities, including early-warning radars, military exercises, line-of-sight radio communications, and indicators of interference.

UHF Flex and VHF Flex differ from other signals in the firm’s catalog by allowing customers to select from a broader frequency range, enabling more collections, characterizations, geolocations, and insights into RF activity.

The two signals join a growing catalog of signals that include VHF Marine Communications, UHF Emergency Position-Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB), UHF Push-to-talk radios, GPS Interference, L-Band Mobile Satellite Communications (such as Thuraya and Inmarsat devices), X- and S-Band Maritime as well as Land-based Radars. All signals within the RFGeo product can be purchased by interested parties through a historical archive, new collections, or regional awareness subscription, if applicable.

A video regarding HawkEye 360’s broad range of signals RFGeo is available for viewing via this direct link…

“VHF and UHF Flex represent our ongoing commitment to expand our products and services to address the rapidly evolving needs of our clients for RF Intelligence,” said Alex Fox, HawkEye 360 Chief Growth Officer. “The new UHF and VHF signals will help our clients better understand activity in their area of interest without the need to specify a specific waveform. This is the next chapter of increasingly powerful capabilities we are introducing over the next six months. I am excited about the work our team is doing with our clients to deliver high-impact solutions and value.”

Anuvu, a provider of high-speed satellite connectivity and entertainment solutions for worldwide mobility markets, will showcase their new, Dual-Panel Ka-Band Inflight Connectivity Antenna System (DPSAA) to airlines attending the Airline Passenger Experience Association Expo in Long Beach, California.

The antenna is a key component of Anuvu’s Airconnect, Ka-, multi-orbit connectivity platform that is designed specifically for both GEO and LEO networks, providing the best possible performance on each network.

Based on proven antenna technology, the dual-panel antenna delivers class-leading performance on today’s GEO networks, optimizing for fast handoffs and ultra-high data rates. Building on QEST’s latest-generation, responsive, motion-control system, the dual-panel antenna maximizes data flow even when GEO and LEO satellites are low on the horizon. Anuvu’s customers can select the GEO satellite connectivity option that provides the most efficient inflight connectivity performance today, while maintaining full forward compatibility with current and future NGSO networks.

The DPSAA is the latest innovation from a family of antenna products designed by QEST to withstand the harsh environment on the aircraft fuselage. Leveraging existing designs that have more than 60 million hours of operational excellence, this latest antenna offers not only world-class reliability but also incorporates innovative technology designed to out-perform all other antenna platforms.

After many years in which Electrically Steerable Antennae (ESA’s) have consistently failed to mature, Anuvu’s DPSAA solution meets the market target of a high-performance antenna with low power requirements and lower costs compared to an ESA solution.

“We are thrilled to be able to showcase our latest hybrid-network, multi-orbit innovation with our longtime partner QEST,” said Mike Pigott, Anuvu EVP Connectivity. “QEST continues to innovate in satellite communications through the development of antenna systems based on their decades of experience. Anuvu remains committed to designing and developing the best solutions to enable our aviation customers to obtain superior connectivity services today and well into the future. Our open-architecture design doesn’t lock customers into specific system components, enabling customers to maximize the value of their investment over time while receiving the best service in the market.”

“We at QEST are excited to see an innovative and forward-looking company like Anuvu introduce this dual-panel antenna design to address an immediate need in the market as airlines consider how new LEO networks can enhance their connectivity options,” said Stefan Bihler, Executive Manager and Chief Commercial Officer at QEST.

Additionally, Anuvu has completed the sale of the firm’s stake in Wireless Maritime Services, LLC (“WMS”) to CCP Capital Strategies LLC (“CCP”), a private equity investment firm.

WMS provides maritime cellular networks enabling secure, high-performance connectivity at sea. WMS’ existing management team will continue to lead the business, which will now operate as an independent platform. The company was formed in 2005 and is headquartered in Miramar, Florida.

“This transaction is an important milestone for WMS, and we’re excited to partner with CCP to continue to deliver and innovate our best-in-class wireless offerings,” said Pramod Arora, WMS President and CEO. “Our focus will remain on our customers, employees and partners as we commence this new and exciting phase for WMS.”

“We’ve been close to the WMS story since 2006 when the company pioneered the maritime cellular market and we’re thrilled to partner with this team as the business transitions to be an independent platform,” said CCP Managing Partner, David Collier.  “WMS’ market leadership positions it well to address a rapidly expanding opportunity for specialized wireless connectivity solutions.” 

“The sale of WMS is part of our overall strategic plan to focus our portfolio,” said Josh Marks, Anuvu CEO. “The proceeds from this transaction will allow us to invest in future growth opportunities and continue to deliver best-in-class connectivity solutions for our clients. We deeply appreciate the contributions of WMS employees and wish them continued success in this new venture. We believe this transaction represents a significant positive outcome for all the parties.”

Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Phase Four is going to expand their Maxwell, turn-key, plasma propulsion line and offer satellite manufacturers an industry-first, high performance engine using an inexpensive, domestically sourced, iodine-based propellant — Max-V leverages the Maxwell Block 2 engine’s innovative architecture and builds on the radio-frequency thruster’s propellant agnostic capabilities.

Phase Four’s Maxwell Block 1 engine gained flight heritage in early 2021. Maxwell Block 2 engine deliveries began earlier this year. With double digit commercial flight units delivered, the company is now focusing on its Max-V development effort.

Maxwell’s new, chassis-style, design enables rapid on-ramping of improvements in the core areas of the thruster, power electronics and propellant subsystems. This architecture is streamlining the Max-V development process as is the company’s significant experience with iodine-based propellants through its recent U.S. Air Force AFWERX award.

Max-V is anticipated to be available for order in the second half of 2023. The system is designed to operate from 200 Watts to 1.5 kiloWatts, and achieve 50 mN thrust, over 1,200 s Isp and deliver over 100 kNs total impulse. Max-V’s iodine-based propellant will cost under $400 per kilogram and be incorporated in the purchase price. Max-V’s form factor is similar to Phase Four’s current Maxwell Block 2 engine. The system will ship fully fueled, ready for installation and will require no ground fueling operations prior to launch.

“Legacy electric propulsion systems are tied to noble gases like xenon and krypton,” said Phase Four CEO, Beau Jarvis. “These noble gases, while high performing, are largely sourced outside of the United States in China, Russia and Ukraine. The US has no real control over this supply chain, which is subject to high price volatility and recent severe supply issues. We’ve always said that Phase Four delivers game changing propulsion systems, and Max-V will do just that. We are building a product that will dramatically lower costs and extend operational lifetimes of small satellites in low Earth orbit and provide significantly higher total impulse for missions beyond LEO.

Phase Four board member, former NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine said, “This year we’ve seen xenon prices spike to over $30,000 per kilogram. This is cost prohibitive for both commercial and government satellite constellations in low Earth orbit. The US is the world’s third largest iodine producer, and my home state of Oklahoma leads the way in domestic production. With Max-V, we can ensure a fully domestic supply chain and readily accessible low cost propellant.”

“Maxwell’s new modular chassis architecture enables us to introduce improved capabilities within the same form factor,” said Phase Four CTO, Umair Siddiqui. “Using an iodine-based propellant instead of a noble gas propellant stored at very high pressure provides a number of benefits to our customers. Iodine stores as a solid without high pressure valves or vessels, which means we can deliver fully fueled engines directly to our customers.” Siddiqui continued, “Iodine also stores about three times more densely than xenon, which means our propulsion systems will offer much higher total impulse in the same unit volume as legacy electric propulsion systems.”

Phase Four is a disruptive provider of next generation electric propulsion (EP) solutions for small satellites. The company was founded in 2015 to address the demands of the rapid proliferation of satellite constellations and to accelerate the advancement of its radio-frequency thruster (RFT). The Phase Four RFT represents a revolutionary new architecture that realizes lower cost, mass-manufacturability, miniaturized power electronics, and propellant agnosticism over incumbent technologies, without compromising performance. In 2021 Phase Four’s Maxwell turn-key propulsion system achieved flight heritage and is now being regularly utilized by small satellite operators. Learn more at www.phasefour.io.

Sierra Space, a commercial Colorado space company creating and building future space transportation and infrastructure for low-Earth orbit (LEO) commercialization, now includes the creation of Sierra Space Ventures, offering space innovators new opportunities.

Sierra Space Ventures will allow Sierra Space to partner with pioneering, growing companies for the purpose of innovating their disruptive products on the Sierra Space platform in space. Investments made by Ventures will focus on companies working to enable the next breakthroughs in human health, computing systems, telecommunications and clean energy that can be further accelerated through access to Sierra Space’s research facilities in low-Earth orbit (LEO). Sierra Space’s additional announcement includes naming Matthew Mejía to the new position of Chief Strategy & Development Officer.

“As a fully integrated space technology and business platform in space, our company has a unique ability to advance the commercial space economy,” said Sierra Space CEO Tom Vice.

“Sierra Space Ventures is the ideal complement to the pioneering work we do every day that will benefit humanity for decades and centuries to come. Through Ventures, we will help enable the next breakthroughs in human health, computing systems, telecommunications, clean energy, and unlock space as a new destination to explore and learn.”

“Sierra Space has a critical role in advancing humanity’s presence in space, and we hope to enable broader access to the vast potential space has to offer,” said Mejía. “Through Sierra Space Ventures, we can offer prospective innovators access to our space transportation and destination infrastructure to launch their own research in LEO and help position them for success as they mature their capabilities and continue their capital strategies.”

Mejía, who joined Sierra Space earlier this year and oversees strategy, corporate development, and mergers and acquisitions, brings more than 20 years of aerospace and defense experience in finance, management consulting, and investment banking. He previously held the position of Managing Partner and Co-Owner of Renaissance Strategic Advisors, a major consultancies supporting premier firms in aerospace, defense, space and intelligence. Mejía also served as Chief Financial Officer and Executive Vice President of Strategy and Investor Relations at Aerion Supersonic.