editorial

Aitech has developed the S-A1760 Venus, a powerful and the smallest radiation-characterized space AI GPGPU. The new, small form factor (SFF) system is rated for space flight and smallsat constellations used in Near Earth Orbit (NEO) and Low Earth Orbit (LEO) applications.

The COTS-based system is validated for use in these short duration and NEO/LEO environments through the Series 300 level qualification standard that identifies the rad-tolerant needs of space components and systems not used in deep space or long-haul applications.

Based on Aitech’s popular A176 Cyclone GPGPU system, the S-A1760 Venus also uses the NVIDIA Jetson TX2i system-on-module (SoM) that features the Pascal architecture with 256 CUDA cores and reaches 1 TFLOPS of processing. This compact, rugged, space-rated system is ideal for high performance, small footprint environments and is, according to the company, the most advanced solution for on-board edge computing such as AI, deep learning and video and signal processing for the next generation of short duration spaceflight, NEO and LEO satellites applications.

The new AI supercomputer includes a robust set of I/O interfaces including Gigabit Ethernet, UART Serial, USB 2.0, CANbus and discretes as well as DVI/HDMI output. Video capture includes an HD-SDI input with a dedicated H.264 encoder and eight RS-170A (NTSC)/PAL composite channels available simultaneously.

The S-A1760 Venus is a truly SFF SWaP (Size, Weight and Power) optimized system and meets MIL-STD-810H requirements for bench handling and conforms to VITA 47 for shock and vibration.

Dan Mor, Director, Video and GPGPU Product Line at Aitech, noted, “With the growing need for advanced imaging and data processing throughout space-rated applications, transitioning our powerful GPGPU-based AI supercomputers to this industry was a logical choice. By validating these space-rated, COTS-based systems with a clearly defined and recognized qualification level, we’re helping lead the charge in the development of commercial space applications and small sat cluster innovations.”

Axelspace Corporation and JX Press Corporation will jointly conduct a demonstration experiment for a next generation news service using satellite data — as the first step, Axelspace and JX Press delivered satellite images of the large-scale landslide in Japan caused by the heavy rain on July 3, 2021.

Axelspace has been constructing an Earth Observation (EO) platform named “AxelGlobe.” The company successfully launched four satellites in March of 2021, making it possible to monitor any location in the world every two to three days. This service officially started on June 10.

JX Press is a virtual news agency built to create a more prosperous and safer society through the power of data intelligence. The agency provides products such as “FASTALERT,” which uses AI to detect valuable risk information at ultra-high speed from various channels of big data including social media, and then distribute that information to news organizations, government agencies, infrastructure companies, and so on.

Pursuing the shared mission of creating a safer society by clarifying “what is happening now” using big data, Axelspace and JX Press decided to provide a trial service for FASTALERT customers. In this trial service, JX Press will detect locations of disasters and other incidents in FASTALERT and Axelspace will quickly capture images of the locations via AxelGlobe. This will enable the media, government agencies and infrastructure companies to use the images more easily and quickly for news reporting and disaster recovery, while keeping track of the emergencies in a multi-faceted and wide-ranging manner.

The demonstration will end in January of 2022. During this period of time, Axelspace and JX Press will take images in AxelGlobe at irregular intervals and provide them free of charge to FASTALERT contract customers, as well as on JX Press’s free bulletin news platform “NewsDigest.”

The first demo images

(Left image) Before the disaster, captured on April 9, 2021. (Right image) After the disaster, captured on July 12, 2021

As the first step, Axelspace and JX Press are releasing preliminary satellite images of the scene before and after the large-scale landslide caused by the torrential rains in Atami City, Shizuoka Prefecture, on July 3, 2021.

Through this collaboration, Axelspace will contribute to clarifying the full extent of the damage more quickly by taking images and providing them to JX Press directly after such large-scale disasters. The trial image products will be provided free of charge to the media by JX Press for press use only.

Nanoracks has appointed Marshall Smith, the former Deputy Associate Administrator (DAA) for NASA’s Systems Engineering and Integration (SE&I), Human Exploration and Operations (HEO), as the firm’s Senior Vice President of Commercial Space Stations.

Nanoracks recently announced a new office in Huntsville, Alabama, which Smith will lead. He will also coordinate and direct the Nanoracks Outpost Program, which is focused on the continued use of upper stages past their primary mission, as well as the Nanoracks crewed free flyer efforts, both within the US Government and with international partners.

Smith brings to the company decades of leadership in designing and developing complex, in- space systems. As the DAA for HEO SE&I, he led the development of NASA’s human spaceflight strategy and exploration architecture plans for LEO, cislunar, and Mars. His recent roles also include Director of Human Lunar Programs, in which he led NASA’s initiative to return to the Moon including directing the development and formulation of the Gateway and the Human Landing System Programs.

He also brings significant knowledge and experience of integrating large, complex programs. As the Director of Cross-Program Systems Integration and the Exploration Systems Development Chief Engineer, he formulated and led the systems engineering process for NASA’s next deep space transportation systems and addressed technical issues that span across multiple large programs.

“We are fortunate to have someone of Marshall’s experience and reputation to drive our efforts to assure a new generation of commercial space stations,” said Jeffrey Manber, Chief Executive Officer of Nanoracks. “I’ve gotten to know Marshall very well over the last several years and have come to appreciate his understanding of how to evolve the NASA legacy into the commercial sector.” continued Manber, “Put simply, Marshall gets it. He understands that the innovation and cost efficiencies of the private sector are key to furthering American leadership in space.”

Smith said, “I believe that Nanoracks will be one of the leaders in securing continued American presence in low-Earth orbit and developing new markets at the Moon and Mars. I was impressed to learn how much Nanoracks has quietly accomplished in advancing the use of in- space platforms and look forward to moving both Nanoracks and the new Huntsville office forward to ensure a vibrant future for commercial space stations and platforms.” Smith will also be working closely with the Voyager Space Holdings team to use the full capabilities of Voyager. “I share the vision of everyone at Voyager. There is a need for a vertically integrated NewSpace company with entrepreneurial spirit that will drive the future of our space programs by scaling up successful, smaller, space companies. Being part of this new team is something that truly excites me.”

GeoOptics Inc. has announced a major upgrade to their CICERO constellation of satellites that will form a unified Earth observatory allowing governments, industry, and individual stakeholders to monitor and prepare for the many impacts of climate change.

The first CICERO-2 launches will achieve several key milestones in smallsat EO, including:

Global Precipitation Watch
Monitoring heavy precipitation using Polarimetric radio occultation (RO), an advanced remote sensing technique pioneered by GeoOptics’ collaborators at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) and the Spanish PAZ mission.

Advanced GNSS Reflectometry (GNSS-R)
Measuring many phenomena near Earth’s surface, including ocean winds, flooding, land cover (snow, ice, vegetation), soil moisture, and topography by means of reflected Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) signals. NASA’s recent CYGNSS mission demonstrated the broad utility of the GNSS-R technique. GeoOptics is working with JPL to deploy an advanced operational version, offering dramatically enhanced performance in a small, low-cost package. This collaboration is funded jointly by GeoOptics, the U.S. Air Force and NASA.

Triple RO
Profiling of atmospheric temperature, pressure, density, and other key properties by means of GNSS–RO. First proposed by company founder Tom Yunck while he was at JPL, GNSS-RO offers unrivaled measurement precision and is an essential contributor to global weather forecasting. The CICERO-2 satellites will yield three times the data volume of their predecessors and many times the volume of any other commercial GNSS-RO satellites.

For GeoOptics strategic partner Climavision, a weather data provider, these innovations will enable customers to manage significant risks in a time of global change. “With these new developments in remote sensing technologies from GeoOptics, we’ll be able to further enhance our climate and weather prediction capabilities,” said Chris Goode, CEO and Co-Founder of Climavision. “Through the combination of advanced RO profiles, GNSS-R data about surface conditions and our proprietary gap-filling radar network data, we’ll help customers in weather sensitive industries see weather like never before and give them the tools and data to make informed critical decisions.”

GeoOptics will later extend the system to a range of new applications, including precise mapping of Earth’s gravitational field, which has been named a top NASA Earth science priority for the next decade. This measurement shows the imprint of climate-related movement of water and other key changes in the earth. With internal investment and nearly $4 million from NASA, GeoOptics has devised a unique system architecture for daily gravity mapping with clusters of small satellites. This patented technique promises to improve gravity sensing 20-fold over current methods at a fraction of the cost.

Under the umbrella of the National Oceanographic Partnership Program (NOPP), GeoOptics is also designing a radar instrument to observe ocean vector winds, topography, soil moisture, and a variety of other surface properties with patented multi-satellite radar techniques. NOPP is seeking to sponsor a trial flight of GeoOptics’ Cellular Ocean Altimetry/Scatterometry Technology (COAST) within the next two years.

“In today’s environment, in which precision Earth sensing is becoming ever more critical, GeoOptics is deploying a flexible observatory made up of dozens of small satellites. The real time services will satisfy a broad range of needs for government and civil users around the world,” said Alex Saltman, Chief Executive Officer of GeoOptics.

Tom Yunck, GeoOptics’ Chief Technology Officer, said, “These advanced remote sensing applications – from basic RO to advanced radar and gravity mapping – exploit shared micro technologies that fit in the palm of one’s hand. Each new function builds naturally upon the previous, yielding prodigious observing capacity in a low-cost system of great simplicity and reliability.”

“CICERO-2 is designed to help provide high priority NOAA climate and weather monitoring observations, as ranked by the NOAA Space Platform Requirements Working Group (SPRWG),” said Conrad C. Lautenbacher (Vice Admiral, USN ret.), Executive Chairman of GeoOptics and former NOAA Administrator. “It can also play a key role in supporting crucial Defense Department satellite weather data requirements.”

In February of 2021, the NOAA selected GeoOptics to provide the first commercial satellite data to be included in their operational forecasts. In 2020, GeoOptics was selected by NOAA to lead an end-to-end design study for their next-generation low-orbiting weather satellite system, planned to come online later this decade, building in part on RO and GNSS-R technologies.

Rocket Lab has successfully launched a research and development satellite to orbit for the United States Space Force (USSF) — this mission was Rocket Lab’s fourth launch for the year and their 21st Electron mission, overall.

The mission, named ‘It’s a Little Chile Up Here’ in a nod to the beloved green chile of New Mexico where the Space Test Program is based, launched from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1 on New Zealand’s Mahia Peninsula at 06:00 UTC / 18:00 NZT on July 29th. A single Air Force Research Laboratory-sponsored demonstration satellite called Monolith, built by Space Dynamics Laboratory, was deployed to LEO by the Electron launch vehicle in Rocket Lab’s second mission for the USSF.

Monolith will demonstrate the use of a deployable sensor, where the sensor’s mass is a substantial fraction of the total mass of the spacecraft, changing the spacecraft’s dynamic properties and testing ability to maintain spacecraft attitude control. Analysis from the use of a deployable sensor aims to enable the use of smaller satellite buses when building future deployable sensors such as weather satellites, thereby reducing the cost, complexity, and development timelines.

Monolith is an Air Force Research Lab program designed to explore the application of small satellites if 6U (2x3x1) or 12U (2x3x2) bus sizes can be configured such that a large deployable sensor can be installed in one of the 2x3x1 side faces for DoD programs.

The mission was procured by the Department of Defense (DoD) Space Test Program (STP) and the Rocket Systems Launch Program (RSLP), both based at Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico.; in partnership with the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) as part of the Rapid Agile Launch Initiative (RALI). The mission is being managed by the Launch Enterprise’s Small Launch and Targets Division, which is part of the USSF’s launch organization of choice.

“Our continuing partnership with Rocket Lab USA demonstrates SMC’s dedication to grow our Nation’s space capabilities both in Government, and the private sector,” said Col. Timothy Sejba, the Space & Missile Systems Center (SMC) program executive officer for Space Development. “This mission proves the functionality of innovative space launch for the Government by working with an agile company that is working diligently to meet the needs of the DoD.”

“Congratulations to all the teams behind Monolith. We’re proud to have safely delivered another mission to orbit for the United States Space Force,” said Rocket Lab founder and CEO Peter Beck. “Programs like the Rapid Agile Launch Initiative are shining a light on the crucial role small launch can play in supporting fast-paced innovation in orbit to support innovation and space capabilities.”

Aitech has announced that their mission-critical, space rated, flight computers will enable communications technologies onboard the second production block of smallsats being developed by Astranis.

Astranis has started building four, geostationary communication smallsats as the company gears up to produce dozens and, later ,hundreds of them simultaneously. The company is building satellites at around 400 kilograms, making them one of the smallest geostationary communications spacecraft offered commercially.

This next production block of satellites includes an upgraded payload that drives higher throughput and various bus improvements to extend satellite lifetime. Astranis develops proprietary core technology, such as the software-defined radio (SDR) and procures mission-critical components from highly accomplished aerospace partners, like Aitech, which also provided flight computers for the first satellites that Astranis developed.

Aitech has spent more than 30 years developing rugged, reliable and space-rated electronics systems and components for use in a variety of government, commercial and private space programs. The company continues to develop cost-effective, COTS-based and custom integrated systems, depending on radiation and mission requirements, giving the company the ability to offer an extensive array of space solutions with the backing of several decades worth of engineering experience.

In addition to the Astranis smallsat program, Aitech provides other space-rated integrated systems for missions in virtually every orbit. Most notably, the company’s rocket motor controller (RMC) unit is on the Virgin Galactic VSS that successfully carried Virgin Galactic founder, Richard Branson, on the Unity 22 90-minute suborbital flight, further demonstrating the success of the SpaceShipTwo spaceplane.

Anthony Lai, Business and R&D Director for Space at Aitech, said, “Providing mission-critical systems for small sats throughout NEO and LEO orbits is just one aspect of Aitech’ space innovations. We’re also bringing GPGPU processing to in-orbit applications that will help facilitate artificial intelligence-based advancements throughout a number of space applications.”

KSF Space Foundation was initially established to generate cost-efficient satellites and provided access to LEO with no harmful influence on the environment through the firm’s flying solutions.

Now, however, KSF is playing a crucial role in education, especially aerospace engineering. Recently, KSF Space launched its most cost effective cubesat for universities and other research institutes. KSF is collaborating with different academic institutes and providing great opportunities to students and researchers and has also launched the NEP certification as well as adding two significant collaborations in Kuwait and Maldives.

In June of this year, KSF Space Foundation awarded more than 30 students Nanosatellite Engineering Professional Certification (NEP). These candidates, from the Maldives, the USA and Kuwait, all participated in various satellite programs. Students were awarded this certificate due to their stellar performance in accomplishing KSF projects. The award means that the students have all of the required knowledge and expertise to become satellite engineers. The certification opens the door to numerous career opportunities for these students.

Professional engineers of the KSF Space Foundation established the world’s first and foremost curriculum program — NEP — that targets startup companies, universities and every space industry across the globe to educate engineers, students and teachers for the building and progress of their smallsats.

NEP certification verifies the upcoming job opportunities in the satellite industry and, according to the company, NEP certification will be an obligatory prerequisite for the numerous, upcoming jobs.

The following opportunities will be afforded those who possess an NEP certification:
Collaborate and interact with other NEP specialists worldwide, thus enhancing your proficiency achievement and expansion chances.
Possess more knowledge about smallsat engineering and their applications than other NEP experts.

NEP certification has been launched this year and identifies space engineering abilities and it is an excellent add-on for every aerospace engineer.

KSF Space Foundation is also working with different academic institutes and providing numerous opportunities for the students to learn and enhance satellite and aerospace engineering expertise. Recently, the organization made two of its most essential collaborations with academic institutes from Kuwait and Maldives.

Kuwait was the foremost association in North Africa (NA) and Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) to launch a cubesat in June to space in collaboration with KSF Space Foundation, with their smallsat designed to quantify ultraviolet radiation and climate change.

The Kuwait College of Science and Technology (KCST) will be ahead of every academic institute in NA and GCC to conduct such experiments. KCST students have joined this program whose purpose is to transmit fundamental and essential proficiencies to construct smallsats, augment global understanding and collaboration, accelerate eagerness, boost a cooperative network of teachers, students, and alumni, and inspire ground-breaking space development to improve the quality of life on earth.

KSF Space Foundation is also collaborating with the Maldives’ Institute for Global Success (IGS). The main aim of the collaboration is to assist the Maldives in establishing its initial, university-built satellite. In addition, KSF Space Foundation will help IGS develop their space program, unlock new prospects and bring hope for Maldivian youth interested in developing their careers through this partnership.The partnership will also help the aptitudes and the proficiencies of Maldivians, developing a new engineers, scientists and leaders.

“The purpose of the project is to better understand the reaction of climate change and measuring ultra violet radiation in space. The expected results could prove valuable information for human and science,” said Dr. Kayyali, the Chairman of KSF Space.

NEP is the world’s first curriculum program designed for aerospace and satellite professionals.

China successfully launched a new remote-sensing satellite group from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in southwest China’s Sichuan Province at 8:19 a.m. on Monday, July 19 (Beijing Time).

The satellites were sent into orbit by a Long March-2C carrier rocket. This is the 10th group belonging to the Yaogan-30 family and will survey the electromagnetic environment and verify relevant technologies by adopting multi-satellite network mode.

Also aboard was Tianqi-15, a satellite belonging to the Tianqi constellation, which will serve the Internet of Things (IoT) data collection.

The Long March-2C carrier rocket, developed by the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology, measures 43 meters in length and has a takeoff mass of 242 tons. The rocket is capable of sending two tons of payloads to SSO at an altitude of 500 km.

Monday’s launch was the 380th mission of the Long March rocket series that also marked the conclusion of the launch of the Yaogan-30 family. The Long March-2C has sent all 10 groups of Yaogan-30 satellites into orbit since September of 2017, with a 100 percent launch success rate.

The U.S. Space Force will launch an experimental research and development satellite named Monolith — an Air Force Research Laboratory-sponsored demonstration satellite — to LEO from New Zealand’s Mahia Peninsula on July 29, using Long Beach, California-based, Rocket Lab USA’s Electron launch vehicle — the two-hour launch window opens at 6:00 p.m., New Zealand Time (2:00 a.m. Eastern, 11:00 p.m. Pacific, July 28).

The mission was procured by the Department of Defense’s Space Test Program (STP) and the Rocket Systems Launch Program (RSLP), both part of the USSF’s Space and Missile Systems Center at Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico.

This launch, in partnership with the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) as part of the Rapid Agile Launch Initiative (RALI), is named ‘It’s a Little Chile Up Here’ in a nod to the beloved green chile of New Mexico where the Space Test Program is based. This mission is being managed by SMC Launch Enterprise’s RSLP, which is part of the USSF’s launch service of choice.

The launch will be livestreamed starting approximately at T-20 minutes before liftoff at this direct link…

Images and footage of the ‘It’s a little Chile Up Here’ mission will be available shortly after a successful launch at this direct link…

This Rocket Lab launch is a follow-on effort to an earlier mission under the same agreement and one of several planned launches in 2021 that will demonstrate the ability of the emerging small launch industry to provide responsive and affordable space access for the USSF and the DoD.

Monolith is an Air Force Research Lab program designed to explore the application of small satellites for DoD programs. The demonstration will determine if the 6U (2x3x1) or 12U (2x3x2) bus sizes can be configured such that a large deployable sensor can be installed in one of the 2x3x1 side faces. Analysis from the use of a deployable sensor aims to enable the use of smaller satellite buses when building future deployable sensors such as weather satellites, thereby reducing the cost, complexity, and development timelines, where the sensor’s mass is a substantial fraction of the total mass of the spacecraft, changing the spacecraft’s dynamic properties and testing our ability to maintain spacecraft attitude control.

The satellite will explore and demonstrate the use of a deployable sensor, where the sensor’s mass is a substantial fraction of the total mass of the spacecraft, changing the spacecraft’s dynamic properties and testing ability to maintain spacecraft attitude control.

Analysis from the use of a deployable sensor will enable the U.S. to use a smaller bus when building future deployable sensors such as weather satellites, thereby reducing the cost, complexity, and development timelines. The satellite will also provide a platform to test future space protection capabilities.

“Our USSF looks forward to this upcoming mission with Rocket Lab USA from their New Zealand launch site. This STP-27RM launch demonstrates SMC’s continuous drive for innovation, flexibility and responsiveness,” said Lt. Col. Justin Beltz, chief of SMC Launch Enterprise’s Small Launch and Targets Division.

The mission is being managed by the Launch Enterprise’s Small Launch and Targets Division, which is part of the USSF’s launch organization of choice. This will be Rocket Lab’s fourth launch for the year and the company’s 21st Electron launch overall.

Originally slated for lift-off from Launch Complex 2 (LC-2) at the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport on NASA’s Wallops Island, Virginia, the mission has been transferred to Launch Complex 1 (LC-1) in New Zealand while NASA continues certification processes for autonomous flight termination system software for launches from LC-2.

The mission follows on from a previous Rocket Lab launch under the same agreement, the STP-27RD mission launched by Electron in May 2019. That mission, named ‘’That’s a Funny Looking Cactus,’ saw Electron deploy three research and development satellites for the Space Test Program.

“We’re excited to have another Electron on the pad for the Space Test Program,” said Rocket Lab CEO and founder, Peter Beck. “We’re proud to once again demonstrate the flexible and resilient space access required by our government partners. The Space Test Program has a long history of developing advanced space and launch capabilities that we’ve all come to rely on, from global positioning systems, satellite communications, meteorological satellites, and space domain awareness capabilities. We’re proud to support the continuation of that innovation through rapid and agile launch on Electron.”