Archives for May 2023

With the market for smallsats predicted to grow consistently throughout this decade, the critical target for all suppliers remains to increase the performance and resilience of products whilst reducing their size, weight and power consumption (SWAP).

Inertial products being promoted by the Silicon Sensing team at this year’s Space-Comm are clear evidence of the level of progress the company has already made across all these parameters.

Each of the company’s non-ITAR MEMS (micro electro-mechanical systems) inertial products offers an effective alternative to equivalent, but far heavier and less robust, fiber optic or dynamically tuned gyro-based devices. Each offers ultra-reliable, sustained performance in this most severe operational environment.

On display on the stand at Space-Comm will be:

• The DMU41, a 9 degrees of freedom (DoF) inertial measurement unit (IMU). This is the highest performing silicon IMU available on the market today. Extremely compact, with low power consumption, it is ideal for small satellite positioning and navigation – as well as for installation in satellite launch vehicles.

• The CRH03 is a stand-alone gyro delivering precise inertial sensing performance that is extremely stable over time and temperature. Small, lightweight and rugged, with low power consumption and proven performance, CRH03 is also suited to satellite navigation and positioning tasks as well as to installation in inertial navigation units. CRH03 is available in both a housed and OEM configuration.   

• The PinPoint® gyro is only the size of your smallest fingernail (approx. 5mm x 6mm) gyro and yet delivers on performance, reliability and price. Available in both flat and orthogonal mounts, this gyro is applicable to many applications and is already proven in satellite balancing roles.

“As space becomes a more crowded environment – for example, with the approval and launch of new proliferated LEO satellite constellations – the systems and sensors used to control and balance these satellites must be able to maintain full functionality in what is an increasingly hectic, even hostile, environment – whilst delivering on SWAP. Our latest inertial systems and sensors set new standards in terms of their ruggedness, capability, size and cost. These are unprecedented times in the space sector as year by year we develop technologies that further extend frontiers and expand what is possible. We look forward to discussing new opportunities with the market at this year’s Space-Comm.”
— David Somerville, General Manager, Silicon Sensing

About Silicon Sensing Systems
Silicon Sensing Systems Ltd. is the market leader in silicon MEMS gyroscopes, accelerometers, and inertial measurement systems, specializing in high performance, reliability, and affordability. The company has delivered over 25 million MEMS sensors to thousands of customers worldwide and has a heritage in inertial sensing that can be traced back over 100 years. All today’s inertial sensors and systems are based on in-house, patented designs which are manufactured in Silicon Sensing’s state of the art MEMS foundry.

Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA)’s Research and Development (R&D) Center published four research papers on space during 2022 in several international scientific conferences, peer-reviewed journals and periodicals.

The papers are titled: ‘Adaptive Technique for LoRa Communication with LEO Nanosatellite’, ‘Design and Performance Analysis of LoRa Internet of Things (IoT) Terminal for Multi-vendor Satellite Constellation’, ‘Evaluating Direct Link IoT-LoRa Communication Via LEO Nanosatellite: DEWA-SAT1’, and ‘Link Margin Assessment for DEWA-SAT1 Based on LoRa Communication’.

H.E. Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD & CEO of DEWA, praised the efforts of the researchers at the R&D Center who have succeeded in a short period of time to strengthen DEWA’s global leadership by innovating advanced technologies, developing niche use cases applied to electricity and water production, as well as transmission and distribution systems. This improves the management of the power grid and water transmission and distribution networks.

The research papers help deliver Emirati research projects to international academia. This raises performance indicators in scientific research in the UAE and enriches the scientific community in Dubai, the UAE and the world. Al Tayer noted that DEWA’s nanosatellite DEWA-SAT1 was designed and developed at the Center, which have made DEWA the world’s first utility to use smallsats to enhance the maintenance and planning of electricity and water networks.

The Center has also developed and built DEWA’s independent Ground Station, which can track and communicate with DEWA’s LEO satellites.

“Through the Centre, we seek to contribute effectively to achieving the wise leadership vision to build a distinguished and sustainable space sector, making the UAE a major global destination in space science and projects. This enhances the country’s competitiveness at various levels, supports the process of sustainable development and the transition to the green economy, in addition to building human resources and highly qualified Emirati calibre in the fields of space and future shaping.”
— H.E. Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD & CEO of DEWA

“Space research is one of the Centre’s research areas, including solar power, smart grid integration, energy efficiency and water. It also focuses on the Fourth Industrial Revolution applications. Space research aims to support DEWA with high efficiency, low-cost remote sensing and operations using satellites, and ground station capabilities.”
— Waleed Bin Salman, Executive Vice President of Business Development and Excellence at DEWA.

On Saturday, May 20, at 6:16 a.m. PT, a SpaceX Falcon 9 launched five Iridium spare satellites and 16 OneWeb satellites for the firm’s LEO constellation (which included a OneWeb technology demo smallsat named JoeySat) to orbit from Space Launch Complex 4E (SLC-4E) at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California.

This was the 11th launch of this booster, which previously supported the launch of Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich, DART, Transporter-7, and seven Starlink missions.

The company’s Of Course I Still Love you droneship was the target for the mission’s first stage that successfully completed its 193rd landing.

This launch brings the total number of spare Iridium^® satellites on orbit to 14.  In total, 81 next-generation Iridium satellites were built, and 80 of them have now been deployed. The Iridium constellation remains unique in the industry, featuring 66 operational crosslinked satellites, enabling truly global, weather-resilient connectivity everywhere on Earth.

The satellites lifted off at 06:16 am PDT (13:16 UTC) on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base (VSFB) in California. Shortly after deployment, each of the satellites successfully contacted engineers at Iridium’s Satellite Network Operations Center (SNOC), in Virginia. 

Completed in February 2019, the upgraded Iridium constellation has proven to be an engine of innovation for the company and its partners. Recently, the company took a lead role in the burgeoning satellite direct-to-device movement, teaming up with Qualcomm Technologies Inc., to enable satellite SOS and two-way messaging in premium Android smartphones.

The Iridium Certus^® service, launched in 2019, established a new standard for weather-resilient broadband connectivity with services and equipment that scale in size, weight and power requirements based on the needs of the end-user.  It has proven to be ideal for ships, vehicles, aircraft, and particularly UAVs, USVs and other uncrewed autonomous systems. 

Maritime safety has been enhanced with Iridium’s Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS), and pilots all over the world depend on safety and cockpit solutions installed in their aircraft.

In all, Iridium and its partners have certified more than 175 new, purpose-built products for aviation, maritime, land-mobile, IoT and related industries over the past four years. These newly launched satellites will help ensure Iridium’s critical services continue well into the next decade, supporting many millions of end users.

“The completion of our upgraded constellation was a major milestone in the history of Iridium.  We committed to our partners and our customers that they could depend on us and expect the highest quality of service and reliability anywhere on the planet, and that’s what we’ve delivered. With all the new products and services enabled by our network, the launch of these spares shows our commitment to maintaining the gold standard of satellite network services.”
— Matt Desch, CEO, Iridium

OneWeb has confirmed the successful deployment of 16 satellites that will provide increased resilience and redundancy to the OneWeb constellation as the company progresses toward global services. Included in this key batch is JoeySat, a satellite that will test an innovative beam-hopping capability which will allow satellites to switch between different places on Earth and adjust the strength of the communications signals based on customer needs or demands.

Liftoff occurred on 20 May at 6:16 PT (local) from Space Launch Complex 4 East (SLC-4E) at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. OneWeb’s satellites separated successfully from the vehicle and were dispensed in eight phases over a period of 1 hour and 26 minutes, and signal acquisition on all 16 satellites has been confirmed. The launch marked OneWeb’s fourth successful launch with SpaceX.

With 634 satellites now on-orbit, OneWeb is on track to deliver global coverage this year and is already in the process of scaling services for customers around the world. With the addition of the satellites deployed from this launch, OneWeb will increase the resiliency and redundancy in the constellation as it expands services to its growing base of enterprise and government customers.

The 16th satellite launched today is nicknamed JoeySat. Developed through the European Space Agency and UKSA Sunrise Partnership program, JoeySat carries an innovative payload design which will demonstrate digital regenerative processing, electronically steered multi-beam arrays, and digital beamforming and beam-hopping technologies. These capabilities, planned for OneWeb’s Gen 2 constellation, will offer more flexibility and capacity to customers, optimizing resources to manage real-time surges in commercial demand or to enable rapid responses to emergencies such as natural disasters.

This new digital payload is developed in the UK by our Sunrise program partner, Satixfy UK.

JoeySat is also an integral component of the End-to-End system validations, testing innovative features including 5G Pilot Tests, which will be performed in collaboration with University of Surrey UK, Celestia UK and Satixfy UK. The aim is to create an interoperable network integrating space and ground assets by which OneWeb will be able to seamlessly manage backhaul to support 5G connectivity.

Also on board JoeySat is a Radiation Monitor, developed by partners Oledcomm and Advacam, which will measure and monitor the radiation environment in LEO, and provide critical information to OneWeb and the scientific community for future missions.

“We are excited to see the successful completion of our 19th launch, which would not have been possible without our committed team and our enormously skilled launch partners. We have made tremendous progress in scaling our services, and today’s launch is a testament to our commitment to continue improving our service to our customers. Never ones to rest on our laurels, we also view this launch as proof positive of our drive to innovate, as we test new technologies that will usher in the future of our connectivity capabilities and services. We now look ahead to scaling our services as well as making important advancements in the future of connectivity.”
— Neil Masterson, Chief Executive Officer of OneWeb,

SpinLaunch, a pioneering space company enabling rapid and sustainable low-cost access to space, has announced that aerospace-industry veteran Matthew Mejía has joined the company as Chief Financial Officer and Chief Strategy Officer. Mejía comes to SpinLaunch with more than 20 years’ experience in aerospace finance, investment banking, consulting, and executive leadership, as well as a successful record of raising and deploying billions of capital in the aerospace industry.

As CFO & CSO, Mejía will play a critical role in accelerating SpinLaunch’s commercial and strategic growth by driving the company’s financing and business development initiatives. He will also lead the advancement and execution of the company’s go-to-market strategy delivering an integrated suite of launch, satellite, and service offerings.

“Matthew is a proven CFO and Strategy Officer with a long track record of raising significant capital and commercializing disruptive space solutions. His passion for the industry and combination of financial and market experience will bring significant value to our company,” said Jonathan Yaney, Founder and CEO, SpinLaunch. “His strategic guidance will be instrumental as we continue to expand our technology capabilities and bring massive disruption to the market.”

SpinLaunch, founded by Yaney in 2014, is revolutionizing access to space by building a ground-based, electric-powered mass accelerator launch system that can deliver a substantially less expensive and environmentally sustainable method to place constellations of small satellites into Low Earth Orbit (LEO). In the last year, SpinLaunch also created a new product line of small satellite buses in the 20 kg-200 kg size class that complements its low-cost and high-cadence approach to space and meets upcoming LEO constellation needs.

“SpinLaunch understands that to truly realize and unlock the trillion-dollar space economy, we must ensure accessing and operating in space becomes far more affordable, frequent, and ultimately, sustainable,” said Matthew Mejía, CFO and CSO, SpinLaunch. “No other company is disrupting the entire space ecosystem with that vision, and I am thrilled to join Jonathan and his team to build on the incredible innovation that has captivated the industry.”

Mejía’s experience spans aerospace and defense, finance, management consulting and investment banking, including senior leadership positions at Sierra Space, Aerion Supersonic, and Renaissance Strategic Advisors. Through his expertise, he has gained a keen knowledge of the aerospace and defense markets and, importantly, the capital markets interested in investing in the future of space.

Space Flight Laboratory (SFL) has announced that HawkEye 360 has initiated manufacturing of the 12th and 13th Clusters of the company’s radio frequency (RF) geolocating, smallsat constellation — the six satellites are being built on SFL’s 30 kg DEFIANT platform at the HawkEye 360 facility in Virginia under the SFL Flex Production program.

In April of 2023, the organizations celebrated the launch and deployment of Cluster 7, the first three satellites integrated in-house by HawkEye 360 as part of the production plan created by SFL. Flex Production gives SFL clients the option of having satellites built at SFL’s Toronto headquarters or setting up in-house production capabilities at their own facilities, with guidance from SFL.

HawkEye 360 selected SFL for these missions due robust and accurate formation flying by multiple satellites for successful RF geolocation. SFL is an acknowledged leader in developing and implementing high-performance attitude and formation control systems that make it possible for relatively low-cost smallsats to fly in stable formations while in orbit.

HawkEye 360’s constellation detects and geolocates RF signals for maritime situational awareness, emergency response, national security, and spectrum analysis applications. Each new cluster expands HawkEye 360’s global revisit and collection capacity.

SFL’s 25-year heritage includes 65 operational successes, with an additional 27 under development or awaiting launch. Customized payloads include a wide range of applications related to Earth observation, atmospheric monitoring, ship tracking, communication, radio frequency (RF) geolocation, technology demonstration, space astronomy, solar physics, space plasma, and other scientific research.

Throughout its history, SFL has developed small satellites, microsatellites, and nanosatellites that have achieved more than 240+ cumulative years of operation in orbit. These microspace missions have included SFL’s trusted attitude control and, in some cases, formation-flying capabilities. Other core SFL-developed components include modular (scalable) power systems, onboard radios, flight computers, and control software.

“HawkEye 360 has emerged as a worldwide leader in NewSpace, and SFL is proud to be their microspace satellite technology provider. Our Flex Production program enables any NewSpace organization to mass produce satellites at a price point that works for them.”
— Dr. Robert E. Zee, SFL Director

“Clusters 12 and 13 continue our long-standing relationship with Space Flight Laboratory. Dr. Zee and his team have been excellent technology partners, providing us the means to build reliable satellite buses with proven heritage. We’ve enjoyed being early customers for their FLEX program.”
— Rob Rainhart, COO, HawkEye 360

About Space Flight Laboratory
SFL generates bigger returns from smaller, lower cost satellites. Small satellites built by SFL consistently push the performance envelope and disrupt the traditional cost paradigm. Satellites are built with advanced power systems, stringent attitude control and high-volume data capacity that are striking relative to the budget. SFL arranges launches globally and maintains a mission control center accessing ground stations worldwide. The pioneering and barrier-breaking work of SFL is a key enabler to tomorrow’s cost-aggressive satellites and constellations.

Momentus Inc. (NASDAQ: MNTS) has deployed the Qosmosys Zeus-1 payload from the company’s Vigoride-5 Orbital Service Vehicle and is now providing comprehensive hosted payload support services for Caltech’s Space-based, Solar Power Project payload.

The Qosmosys Zeus-1 payload was deployed to orbit on May 10, 2023. Effective May 15, 2023, Momentus is providing on-orbit support to Caltech, including providing data, communication, commanding and telemetry, and resources for optimal picture taking and solar cell lighting. Momentus will also be performing thrusting maneuvers so Caltech can measure the behavior of their experiments. Caltech’s Space Solar Power Demonstrator project onboard Momentus’ Vigoride-5 spacecraft comprises three separate experiments.

The experiments include:

• DOLCE (Deployable on-Orbit ultraLight Composite Experiment): A structure measuring 6 feet by 6 feet that demonstrates the architecture, packaging scheme and deployment mechanisms of the modular spacecraft that would eventually make up a kilometer-scale constellation forming a power station.

• ALBA: A collection of 32 different types of photovoltaic (PV) cells, to enable an assessment of the types of cells that are the most effective in the punishing environment of space.

• MAPLE (Microwave Array for Power-transfer Low-orbit Experiment): An array of flexible lightweight microwave power transmitters with precise timing control focusing the power selectively on two different receivers to demonstrate wireless power transmission at distance in space.

“We thank Caltech and Qosmosys for entrusting us with their important payloads. With the Zeus-1 payload from Qosmosys safely in its orbit, our team is now dedicated to providing support for Caltech as they test technology that aims to collect solar power in space to use on Earth. Our contract has our team supporting this payload for six months and we look forward to seeing what Caltech learns from their experiments.”
— Krishnan Anand, Vice President of Program Management, Momentus

About Momentus
Momentus is a U.S. commercial space company that offers in-space infrastructure services, including in-space transportation, hosted payloads and in-orbit services. Momentus believes it can make new ways of operating in space possible with its planned in-space transfer and service vehicles that will be powered by an innovative water plasma-based propulsion system.

Bayanat and Al Yah Satellite Communications Company PJSC (Yahsat) have developed a comprehensive Space Program that is aimed at building national satellite remote sensing and Earth Observation (EO) capabilities within the UAE to commercially address business opportunities in the local and global EO market.

The program forms part of the two companies’ partnership with ICEYE, a SAR satellite manufacturer. The expansion of Bayanat’s capabilities into the space sector positions the company to drive its growth strategy and become a prominent player in the industry.

SAR is an active sensing system that illuminates the Earth’s surface and measures the reflected signal to generate high-resolution images. Unlike traditional optical imaging satellites, SAR can capture images day and night, regardless of weather conditions or solar illumination. Compared to other New Space SAR satellite services, ICEYE’s radar antenna covers much larger geographical areas or, at the other end of the scale, provides higher resolution images of smaller areas.

Bayanat’s program aims to develop a constellation of at least five, SAR, LEO satellites to provide a consistent data stream for end-to-end solutions for SAR applications. It will cover the entire value chain by leveraging the available synergies in Yahsat’s upstream and midstream capabilities, including its leading satellite infrastructure as well as the wide spectrum of its rapidly growing satellite-enabled innovative solutions, and Bayanat’s downstream capabilities such as advanced AI and data analytics and will significantly enhance Bayanat’s commercial offerings by providing valuable geospatial insights to various industries in a timely and accurate manner.

The program is a steppingstone toward realizing a broader space-ecosystem in the UAE, including the development of in-country satellite manufacturing capabilities. It will deliver a range of strategic benefits for the nation, including access to sovereign SAR data acquisition, enhancing data privacy, and further building the nation’s resident capabilities for space exploration. In addition, the program will fuel collaboration between vital strategic players in the UAE’s space ecosystem, strengthen UAE’s position in space technology and open new possibilities for Bayanat, Yahsat and the country’s future space exploration endeavors.

“The launch of the first LEO satellite scheduled for Q1 2024 will significantly enhance Bayanat’s existing offerings to provide more comprehensive and high-quality services to clients both locally and internationally. The partnership between Bayanat and Iceye, in collaboration with Yahsat, will drive the development of a sovereign EO ecosystem which will enable us to provide cutting-edge solutions, whilst contributing to skill development, scientific advancements, and sustained economic growth. We are excited to be at the forefront of this dynamic and rapidly evolving field and looking forward to developing a commercial space program in the UAE.”
— Hasan AlHosani, CEO of Bayanat

“As part of Yahsat’s active role in empowering the space economy sector in line with the UAE’s Space Strategy 2030, we are pleased to collaborate with Bayanat on this ambitious program. Yahsat is committed to join forces with various commercial and government-related entities to strengthen the UAE’s leadership in the space sector in MENA region, supported by Yahsat’s world-class infrastructure and suite of innovative solutions. We are also advancing new segments such as earth observation, in-country manufacturing and building the national capacities in the space sector.”
— Ali Al Hashemi, Group CEO of Yahsat

“ICEYE is the leading New Space company in the world today with the proven ability to design, build and supply new-era SAR Earth observation satellites for customers. We’re honored to contribute to Bayanat’s space programme in meeting the sophisticated imagery requirements from their most demanding customers in the UAE. Until the launch next year, we will be providing access to our satellites already in orbit, so Bayanat can start utilizing radar satellite imagery for the benefit of the public and private sector customers in the UAE.”
— Rafal Modrzewski, CEO and Co-Founder of ICEYE

About Bayant
Bayanat, an ADX listed public company with majority shareholding by G42, provides comprehensive world-class AI-powered geospatial solutions to a growing number of sectors such as Government Services, Environment, Energy & Resources, Smart Cities and Transportation. It’s offering includes topographic, hydrographic, and aeronautical products and charts, as well as spatial data surveying, analysis, management, modelling, visualization, and cartography services. Bayanat’s solutions harness vast amounts of premium and unique data from a range of sources including Satellites, High Altitude Pseudo Satellites (HAPS) and Earth Observation powered by AI to drive geospatial intelligence (gIQ).

HEX20 is collaborating with Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics (LASP – USA), National Central University Center for Astronautical Physics and Engineering (NCU CAPE – Taiwan), Laboratoire Atmosphères, Milieux, Observations Spatiales (LATMOS – France), and SKYROOT Aerospace – India to launch the COSPAR satellite, a remarkable achievement in space technology that will pave the way for new research opportunities. This collaborative effort has been made possible with the coordination and support of the Committee on Space Research (COSPAR).

The COSPAR satellite aims to study various aspects of Earth’s atmosphere, including atmospheric dynamics and chemistry, as well as the effects of space weather on our planet. The satellite will also provide valuable data to support weather forecasting and climate modelling. With this project, the collaborating teams hope to contribute to the advancement of scientific knowledge and exploration.

"The expertise and resources of HEX20, LASP, NCU CAPE, LATMOS and SKYROOT have combined to make this project a reality. We are proud to be working together to contribute to the advancement of scientific knowledge and exploration. The COSPAR Satellite is a remarkable achievement that will benefit researchers and scientists worldwide. This joint effort is a testament to the power of collaboration and demonstrates what can be achieved when experts from different fields work together."
— Lloyd Lopez, HEX20 CEO

”In 2021, we initiated a Task Group to develop a constellation of small satellites for space science missions dealing with the ionosphere, radiation belts or the Earth atmosphere, possibly extending in the future to solar system planetary missions. The aim for COSPAR is to act as a honest broker, to coordinate the programs and then distribute science data received from various payloads developed by partnering entities world-wide. I am extremely happy to see the first step of this ambitious venture materializing, through this joint project with HEX20, LASP, NCU CAPE, LATMOS and Skyroot.”
— Jean-Claude Worms, COSPAR Executive Director

“Space is emerging as one of the fastest growing commercial sectors in Australia with unique advantages such as Australia’s physical location in the southern hemisphere, a strong platform for research training, and strong technical expertise.”
— Abdul Ekram, Austrade’s Trade and Investment Commissioner to India

About HEX20: HEX20 provides turnkey satellite mission solutions designed and delivered according to customer requirements. The modular and scalable buses can support missions for commercial and defence applications. Hex20 is currently working with its partners to build up sovereign capability within South Australia.

About LASP: LASP (Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics) is a research institution located at the University of Colorado Boulder, focused on advancing space science and technology through innovative research and education.

About NCU CAPE: NCU CAPE (National Central University Center for Astronautical Physics and Engineering) is a leading research center in Taiwan, dedicated to advancing the field of space science and technology. They conduct cutting-edge research, provide education and training, and collaborate with international partners to explore the frontiers of space.

About LATMOS: LATMOS (Laboratoire Atmosphères, Milieux, Observations Spatiales) is a leading research center in France, focused on understanding the Earth's atmosphere and its interactions with space. Their research covers a range of topics, including climate change, air quality, and planetary science, and they work in collaboration with partners across the globe.

About Skyroot Aerospace: Skyroot Aerospace is an Indian space technology company that designs and manufactures rocket engines and launch vehicles. They aim to make access to space affordable and sustainable by developing innovative technologies and solutions.

About COSPAR: The Committee on Space Research (COSPAR) is an international scientific organization dedicated to promoting and coordinating space research among nations. They facilitate international cooperation in space research, exchange information and ideas, and organize scientific meetings and conferences to advance the understanding of the Earth and the universe.