HawkEye 360 Inc. will be opening the firm’s new Vibration Testing Facility within the company’s 19,000-square-foot advanced R&D, engineering, and manufacturing facility.

This new capability will be essential for vibration testing of satellite clusters, ensuring they meet the highest durability and performance standards.

The Vibe Facility, equipped with cutting-edge technology, can simulate the intense conditions satellites encounter during launch and space operations. This addition includes an electrodynamic shaker system featuring an H-series shaker with an ST series slip-table and magnesium head expander.

This renovation adds 450 square feet of lab space, which houses the shaker table and our existing large thermal chamber from Thermotron. This allows us to perform comprehensive environmental testing at unit and spacecraft levels.

The Cluster 11 satellites will be the first to undergo vibration testing in the new Vibe Facility. This milestone marks a significant step in HawkEye 360’s ongoing efforts to enhance the quality and resilience of our satellite constellations by establishing a turnkey, end-to-end production facility where we can better control costs, production time, scalability, and quality.

“The new Vibration Testing Facility significantly enhances our testing capabilities. It allows us to conduct comprehensive vibration tests to ensure our satellites can withstand the rigors of space launch and operation,” said Tyler Lewandowski, Director of Satellite Assembly, Integration, and Test. “By streamlining the assembly, integration, and testing processes in one location, we can deliver mission-critical data to our customers more efficiently and effectively.”

Solstar Space (Solstar) has been selected by AFWERX for an SBIR Phase I contract in the amount of $74,752 to address pressing challenges for the Department of the Air Force (DAF) to connect spacecraft in LEO and beyond.

The contract supports research to support further development of Solstar’s space-rated WiFi Access Points and client WiFi Network Cards. The solutions will be engineered to support Rendezvous, Proximity Operations, and Docking (RPOD) to support In-Space Servicing, Assembly, and Manufacturing (ISAM), scientific and medical experiment data, and other applications.

Solstar WiFi access points and client cards will be engineered to meet the requirements of spaceflight missions for today and the future including:

• Radiation and temperature tolerance
• Compatibility with the lunar surface environment
• High-power radio frequency (RF)
• Elimination of cable runs
• Future-proof design for extended operation
• Software defined and support for all IEEE 802.11 standards with API based remote management and updates

“While WiFi has been demonstrated aboard the International Space Station using one-off non-radiation-tolerant units, today there isn’t a commercially available space-grade WiFi solution. The usefulness of WiFi in space has been proven via improvised solutions with limited capability and applicability. Solstar’s design will provide full WiFi capabilities and features and supports any WiFi-enabled device or application. As the requirements for WiFi connected capabilities continue to evolve and increase in LEO, cislunar, and lunar surface applications, reliable, secure WiFi solutions will be essential to fulfilling important mission objectives,” said Brian Barnett, Founder and CEO, Solstar Space. “Solstar Space WiFi will serve a wide range of space missions including LEO space stations and service spacecraft, lunar gateways, transfer vehicles, landers, and modules, and lunar surface habitats, vehicles, spacesuits, and IoT mesh networks and wireless bridges.”

Barnett continued, “Solstar WiFi access points and client cards will meet the requirements of a broad range of space missions including LEO space stations and service spacecraft, lunar gateways, transfer vehicles, landers, and modules, and lunar surface habitats, vehicles, spacesuits, and IoT mesh networks and wireless bridges. The need for space WiFi is virtually unlimited and growing.”

Open Cosmos has gained a €60 million contract to deploy an Earth Observation (EO) constellation consisting of seven satellites that will supply daily high-resolution and very-high-resolution imagery for Greece.

This flagship project forms part of the Hellenic Government‘s procurement of an advanced satellite constellation, demonstrating its commitment to delivering economic and environmental benefits for Greece and European citizens at large. The data collected from this constellation will be instrumental in improving public services such as the land registry, combating sea pollution, and increasing agricultural efficiency.

The seven satellites in the Greek constellation will gather data from a multi-sensor instrument suite in LEO, including very-high resolution optical multispectral and hyperspectral cameras, Internet-of-Things (IoT) and Automatic Identification System (AIS) receivers, complemented by on-board AI to maximize efficiency. The program will be delivered in partnership with the European Space Agency and complement existing systems such as EU Copernicus, while being fully compatible with the Atlantic constellation.

The satellites will be built and operated by Open Cosmos Aegean, a new manufacturing center that will enhance sovereign capabilities in satellite technologies and attract further investment to the country. By overseeing regional sales and complementing other European operations, it will play a crucial role in future European and international programs.

Open Cosmos was founded in 2015 with a mission to address global sustainability challenges by making actionable information from space available to everyone. Part of this vision is the OpenConstellation, a mutualized constellation, set to become the largest shared infrastructure in space. Greece is set to join in this global partnership of nations and companies in the private sector, exchanging valuable data in respect of disaster responses and environmental monitoring.

The Minister of Digital Governance, Mr. Dimitris Papastergiou, said, “Greece is making significant steps in Space. By investing in both capacity-buying and capacity-building space programs, our aim is to stimulate local high-tech space industries, foster job creation, retain our skilled engineers and space experts in the country and attract additional talent. The development of cutting-edge satellite technology will cultivate a sustainable economic framework that integrates advanced science and technology sectors, bolstering long-term economic resilience in the country.”

Rafel Jorda Siquier, Founder and CEO of Open Cosmos, said, “It is an honor to be chosen for such a crucial program for Greece and incredibly proud of the team’s achievement in securing this contract. We faced competition from some of the world’s leading players in the industry, and to win is a true testament to the hard work of everyone at Open Cosmos and the strength of our advanced satellite technology. Delivering this contract will position us at the forefront of satellite data providers, opening up further collaborations and growing the OpenConstellation.”

Simonetta Cheli, director of the Earth Observation programs at ESA, said, “The assignment of the development of the Greek Constellation to Open Cosmos is a proof of the Agency’s continuous commitment in supporting National initiatives from the ESA Member States, in close coordination with the National Authorities and on compressed timescales. ESA has the unique ability to maximise the cross-benefit of all such initiatives by providing a unified framework for observations exchange among and for the benefit of Member States.”

Dr. Maria Kalama, Director of Open Cosmos Aegean, said, “We have created a vibrant ecosystem of suppliers and service providers around us, in every country we are present, and Greece will be no exception. We would like to thank all partners for their contribution to securing this contract, and in particular our main collaborators in Greece, Nova ICT, EMTECH-Space, the Libre Space Foundation, Planetek Hellas, Adamant Composites and Priority consultants.”

Intelsat has been selected by Japan Airlines to provide multi-orbit, inflight connectivity (IFC) service on more than 20 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft to be delivered in the coming years.

The airline will become one of the first in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region to offer reliable, multi-orbit service using Intelsat’s new electronically steered array (ESA) antenna (pictured below, courtesy of Intelsat).

The new service will be installed by Boeing in the factory, making JAL one of the first airlines to take delivery of a Boeing aircraft with ESA inflight service ready for immediate passenger use. The first linefit aircraft is expected to be delivered in 2026.

The Intelsat ESA is less than seven centimeters tall and interoperates on both Intelsat’s family of geo-stationary satellites and its partner’s constellation of LEO satellites.

In addition to JAL’s Boeing 737s and 767s flying with 2Ku service, JAL’s subsidiary airline, J-AIR Co., Ltd.. is currently installing Intelsat’s 2Ku system on the carrier’s fleet of Embraer E190 aircraft. As recently announced, J-AIR will complete installation of the 2Ku system on 14 E190s in the coming months. When completed, J-AIR will be the first regional airline in Japan to offer inflight entertainment and connectivity services.

“Japan Airlines’ passengers will soon benefit from multi-orbit connectivity that will provide the same fast and dependable internet access they enjoy at home, thanks to wide coverage and low latency,” said Dave Bijur, Senior Vice President for Commercial Aviation. “JAL was Intelsat’s first non-U.S. commercial aviation customer, and we look forward to continuing to support JAL’s market-leading inflight connectivity service in Japan where their guests enjoy free service.”

“Intelsat has been a trusted partner of JAL since 2013,” said Junko Sakihara, Deputy SVP, Customer Experience Division at Japan Airlines. “We are proud to have been among the first airlines in the world to offer free service for all passengers flying on our domestic routes starting in 2017 and look forward to the greater speed and reliability benefits the new multi-orbit service will bring to our customers.” 

Rivada Space Networks has announced new partners in the Asia Pacific (APAC) region — the company has now lined up more than $9 billion of business across the globe for the company’s LEO network.

As the first unified global communications network, Rivada’s Outernet is transformative. A global low-latency, point-to-point network of 600 LEO satellites, the constellation combines inter-satellite laser links with advanced onboard processing and routing to create a ubiquitous optical mesh network in space. This “orbital network,” in which data stays in space from origin to destination, creates an ultra-secure, private satellite network with pole-to-pole coverage, offering end-to-end latencies much lower than terrestrial fiber over long distances. By routing traffic on a physically separated network, it provides a layer of defense for any enterprise or government organization that needs to securely share data across Asia and beyond.

For Enterprise and Government customers, the key attributes of the outernet are ideal for a variety of applications, for example, to give banks and global companies secured networks with distributed offices, provide significantly more bandwidth for oil & gas exploration than is available today, enable seamless connectivity for shipping and fleet management, or provide 5G satellite backhaul connectivity network expansion for cellular operators. Connectivity providers in Asia can offer a competitive advantage by expanding these markets, enabling new opportunities through secure, multi-gigabit bi-directional performance, combined with worldwide reach.

• KT SAT – Korea
  KT SAT, Korea’s national satellite communications provider will deploy Rivada’s outernet to provide ultra-secure connectivity to Enterprise, Government and Maritime companies looking for scalable and resilient solutions for their expanding networks. And with Asia’s subsea cables increasingly becoming a focal point of geopolitical tensions, the region now, more than ever, needs resilient infrastructure, which is fast, secure, and reliable.

• Connecto Network Systems Inc. (CNSI) – Philippines
  Connecto Network Systems Inc. will work with Rivada to improve connectivity for enterprise and government customers across the Philippines, ensuring seamless coverage, even in remote provinces. Connecto is spearheading the transformation of communities into smart cities, harnessing cutting-edge technologies to boost operational efficiency, facilitate public access to information and elevate the quality of government services.

• NiAT – Brunei
  NiAT is a key provider of connectivity services for the Oil & Gas sector in Brunei. The company is experiencing an increased demand for high bandwidth connectivity from its customer base and sees Rivada’s Outernet as the ideal solution to provide enterprise-grade, secure bandwidth combined with the high availability and guaranteed Service-Level-Agreements which underpins business for premium customers.

• AT Communications – Japan
  AT Communications provides national agencies with secure communications infrastructure for their sites across Japan and supports telcos with international connectivity. AT Communications will harness the Outernet’s seamless connectivity to ramp up performance, improve security, and increase customer efficiency. Rivada’s Outernet is particularly well suited for the low latency and secure connectivity required by national and local government and defense sectors.

• Teleport Access Services – Taiwan
  TAS will deploy Rivada’s Outernet to enhance the connectivity infrastructure in Taiwan, providing coverage of remote and underserved areas and ushering in a new era of secure communications and technological innovation. For telecoms services providers, government agencies and media companies, the deployment of LEO satellite services in Taiwan will drive positive change and empower communities through enhanced connectivity.

Declan Ganley, CEO of Rivada Space Networks, said, “We are seeing a huge uptake in our business in Asia, underlining the growing appetite for our unique space-based network. The outernet’s ability to meet the requirements of Asia’s connectivity providers in terms of security, latency, capacity, and coverage is a game-changer for the region. Our completely new type of LEO constellation will provide the whole of Asia with a transformative next-generation infrastructure for secure, resilient communications and network expansion.”

Rivada’s Vice President of Sales for Asia Pacific, Donald Chew, said, “The Outernet is what data communications has been waiting for – a next-generation data infrastructure providing unrivaled secure and resilient connectivity and fueling new opportunities for network expansion.”

ISS National Lab Plays Key Role in Advancing Startup’s Sensor Technology

Using satellite-based hyperspectral sensors that can capture images of Earth beyond the visible light we can see with our eyes, startup Orbital Sidekick provides valuable global monitoring services to customers around the world.

So far, the company has launched five commercial satellites, two of which were placed into orbit in March, and the company has plans to launch a sixth later this year. Co-founder and CEO Dan Katz attributes much of the company’s success to leveraging the International Space Station (ISS) National Laboratory to test its new sensor technology.

Hyperspectral imaging can reveal the presence of specific chemicals and materials in an area, providing important insights into things like pipeline leaks, crop health, wildfire risk, and materials for mining. To test its new hyperspectral sensor technology, Orbital Sidekick launched its sensor to the ISS, where it was installed on the Nanoracks External Platform (NREP) mounted to the exterior of the orbiting laboratory.

An article in the latest issue of Upward, official magazine of the ISS National Lab, tells the story of Orbital Sidekick and what’s possible through research and technology development on the space station.

Following its ISS National Lab-sponsored investigation, Orbital Sidekick raised nearly $50 million in investment dollars and signed more than a dozen large energy companies for pipeline monitoring services. The company plans to expand its satellite constellation to include 14 satellites, allowing Orbital Sidekick to monitor millions of miles of pipeline around the globe on a weekly basis.

Katz commented on the value of the company’s ISS research in Upward and said, “It allowed us to focus our resources on what’s really driving value for our company, which is our intelligence platform, analytics engine, and product development for our end user—that’s what’s important for our commercialization effort. The mission was wildly successful and really set the table for everything we’re doing today with our commercial satellites.”

Sidus Space, Inc. (NASDAQ: SIDU) announced that the Department of Defense (DoD) Mentor-Protégé Program (MPP) relationship with L3Harris Technologies (NYSE:LHX) has been extended for an additional year.

The DoD Mentor-Protégé Program was designed to foster partnerships between established defense contractors and smaller, emerging businesses, to help them expand their footprint in the defense industry.

“We had a successful year in the program with L3Harris, and are eager to deepen our partnership, focused on supporting government customers,” said Carol Craig, Founder and CEO of Sidus Space. “The L3Harris Space and Airborne Systems segment and Sidus Space are both located on Florida’s Space Coast which we see as advantageous for further strengthening our relationship.”

The Sidus-L3Harris MPP agreement was extended through March 31, 2025.