editorial

Findus Venture GMBH (“Findus Venture”) and Spire Global, Inc. (“Spire” or the “Company”) will collaborate on their launch of the ADLER-2 satellite in Q4 2022 in a bid to tackle the growing problem of space debris.

This new satellite aims to further enhance orbital debris monitoring in low earth orbit, and expand novel atmospheric sensing capabilities to study clouds and aerosols in the atmosphere. ADLER-2 will be a multi-payload satellite that uses Spire’s LEMUR 6U smallsat platform and will carry three customer payloads:

• An enhanced version of an orbital debris tracking radar developed by Spire on behalf of Findus Venture

• An Austrian Particle Impact Detector piezo-sensor developed by the Austrian Space Forum (OeWF), designed to detect debris particle impacts

• The GRASP-Airphoton Multi-Angle Polarimeter (GAPMAP), a wide field-of-view imaging instrument optimised for cubesat technology and designed for accurate and comprehensive measurements of the microphysical properties of aerosol particles and clouds in the atmosphere.

These new observations will perform air quality measurements around the globe and will support estimates of climate change patterns on Earth.

This is the second satellite collaboration between Spire and Findus Venture, following the ADLER-1 mission, which is set to launch into space in December 2021. ADLER-2 is expected to help increase the debris detection rate thanks to use of a debris detection radar with a larger antenna and increased detection range, and also to double the number of observations logged.

Spire will build, launch and operate the satellite, leveraging its radio frequency CubeSat design and manufacturing capability with its satellite tasking, collection, processing, data dissemination, and command and control infrastructure. Spire will also provide the orbital debris radar to Findus, integrate the other sensors, and enable access to all of them via an easy-to-use application programming interface (API).

This agreement between Findus Venture and Spire is based on a flexible subscription model with a monthly payment plan. This model benefits Spire’s customers by reducing high upfront expenditures, enabling predictable service charges distribution, and allowing an easier extension of the service provision beyond the lifecycle of the hardware.

Christian Federspiel, CEO, Findus Venture, said, “It is essential to understand space debris in order to build and operate satellite-based commercial services with service-level agreements. The intention of the ADLER-x series of satellites is to contribute to a deeper knowledge of space debris.”

Theresa Condor, Executive Vice President and General Manager of Spire Space Services, said, “The rapid and substantial growth of space-based activity in recent decades presents us with many opportunities but also significant challenges. Space debris, and the increased risk of collisions between objects, is something we need to manage carefully and as a first step we need to improve our understanding of what is happening and when. The ADLER-2 will join the ADLER-1 in helping us better detect debris and understand what we need to do to solve this challenge. Our business subscription model, evidenced by this second successful partnership with Findus Venture, also means we can work faster and more efficiently, at a lower upfront cost for our clients.”

Spire is a global provider of space-based data and analytics that offers unique datasets and powerful insights about Earth from the ultimate vantage point so organizations can make decisions with confidence, accuracy, and speed. Spire uses a multi-purpose satellite constellation to source hard to acquire, valuable data and enriches it with predictive solutions. Spire then provides this data as a subscription to organizations around the world so they can improve business operations, decrease their environmental footprint, deploy resources for growth and competitive advantage, and mitigate risk. Spire gives commercial and government organizations the competitive advantage they seek to innovate and solve some of the world’s toughest problems with insights from space. Spire has offices in San Francisco, California, Boulder, Colorado, Washington DC, Glasgow, Luxembourg, and Singapore. On March 1, 2021, Spire Global, Inc. and NavSight Holdings, Inc. announced they had entered into a definitive merger agreement for a business combination that would result in Spire becoming a publicly listed company.

The next Arianespace mission is planned from Vostochny Cosmodrome with Soyuz on April 26 and is scheduled to deliver 36 satellites into orbit.

By operating this fifth flight on behalf of OneWeb, Arianespace will bring the total fleet to 182 satellites in LEO. Arianespace is proud to share in the fulfillment of its customer’s ultimate ambition: providing internet access for everyone, everywhere.

Flight ST31, the third commercial mission performed by Arianespace and its Starsem affiliate from the Vostochny Cosmodrome, will put 36 of OneWeb’s satellites into a near-polar orbit at an altitude of 450 kilometers.

The mission will have a total duration of three hours and 51 minutes and will include nine separations of four satellites that will raise themselves to their operational orbit. This sixth launch to the benefit of OneWeb will bring up to speed Arianespace’s operations this year and will raise from 146 to 182 the number of satellites deployed for the global telecommunications operator.

OneWeb’s constellation will deliver high-speed, low-latency connectivity services to a wide range of customer sectors including aviation, maritime, backhaul services, as well as governments, emergency response services and more. Central to its purpose, OneWeb seeks to bring connectivity to every place where fiber cannot reach, and thereby bridge the digital divide.

Once deployed, the OneWeb constellation will enable user terminals that are capable of offering 3G, LTE, 5G and Wi-Fi coverage, providing high-speed access globally – by air, sea and land.

OneWeb Satellites, a joint venture between OneWeb and Airbus Defence and Space, is the constellation’s prime contractor. The satellites were built thanks to its leading-edge satellite manufacturing process that can build up to two satellites a day on a series production line dedicated to the assembly, integration, and testing of the satellites.

Telesat intends to use the net proceeds from the Offering to fund additional investment into one or more unrestricted subsidiaries for the development of Telesat Lightspeed, Telesat’s Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite network, and …

Telesat Canada (“Telesat”) today announced the pricing of an offering (the “Offering”) of US$500 million aggregate principal amount of 5.625 percent senior secured notes due 2026 (the “Senior Secured Notes”) by Telesat and Telesat LLC. The Senior Secured Notes will be secured by a first priority lien on the collateral that secures Telesat’s existing credit agreement and existing 4.875 percent senior secured notes due 2027. The Senior Secured Notes are expected to be issued on or around April 27, 2021, subject to customary closing conditions.

Telesat intends to use the net proceeds from the Offering to fund additional investment into one or more unrestricted subsidiaries for the development of Telesat Lightspeed, Telesat’s Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite network, for the payment of fees and expenses related to the Offering, and if the funding needs of Telesat Lightspeed are less than currently anticipated, for general corporate purposes.

The Senior Secured Notes are being offered only to qualified institutional buyers in reliance on Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and, outside the United States, only to non-U.S. investors pursuant to Regulation S under the Securities Act. The Senior Secured Notes will not be registered under the Securities Act or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act or other applicable securities laws.

Accion Systems has announced that two TILE 2 in-space propulsion system units will launch onboard an Astro Digital smallsat aboard the June 2021 SpaceX Falcon 9 rideshare launch.

Astro Digital’s Tenzing satellite is a rideshare satellite, hosting several payloads. Also included are two TILE 2 ion electrospray propulsion systems that will test on-orbit maneuvers in LEO and will test proximity operations maneuvers supported by Starfish Space software.

The TILE propulsion system is uniquely superior to conventional electric propulsion, pioneering ionic liquid electrospray for commercial and government propulsion activities. The TILE 2 is the smallest system available, with unparalleled system SWaP (size, weight and power), that combines the use of a safe, inert liquid propellant and a simple mechanical design with few moving parts to create a propulsion system that is low-cost, compact, low pressure, and has less than 50% of the power draw of other propulsion technologies.

As part of the mission, Accion Systems and Starfish Space will complete an on-orbit proximity operations demonstration. The team will combine Starfish’s CEPHALOPOD software and Accion’s TILE 2 thrusters, both already a part of the Tenzing mission, to work together to perform the first ever demonstration of rendezvous and proximity operations trajectories using low-thrust electric propulsion.

Starfish Space is commercializing their CEPHALOPOD software package, which opens up new opportunities for satellite rendezvous, proximity operations and docking (RPOD) missions. CEPHALOPOD is autonomous RPOD software that can use electric propulsion, enabling small RPOD spacecraft. This on-board guidance, navigation, and control capability gives small servicing vehicles eight times more maneuvering capability, which results in greater mission longevity and versatility.

“Propulsive and RPOD technologies are critical to enabling the future of space missions,” said Chris Biddy, CEO of Astro Digital. “We are thrilled to support Accion Systems and Starfish Space with this important demonstration.”

“Efficient proximity operations will enable a new set of activities in orbit,” said Austin Link, Co-Founder of Starfish Space. “Partnering with Accion on this test is key to validating our respective technical developments and showing they can work together.”

“Precision proximity operations are critical for maintaining large constellations, refueling and repairing satellites in orbit, and countless other new space missions from in-space manufacturing to space touris,.” said Peter Kant, CEO of Accion Systems. “Combining Accion’s precise, modular thrusters with Starfish’s autonomy software will bring needed innovation to in-space navigation.”

United Launch Alliance (ULA) has announced that Amazon has secured Atlas V for nine launches supporting deployment of their ambitious Project Kuiper initiative that will increase global broadband access through a constellation of 3,236 advanced satellites in LEO.  

The Atlas V missions will launch from Space Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. Atlas V has long been the nation’s reliable workhorse for space launch and has been a key enabler to many critical missions for national security space, NASA and commercial customers including, GPS, SBIRS and MUOS constellations, as well as Mars Curiosity, InSight and Mars 2020 missions.

Amazon has committed more than $10 billion to deliver on its mission for Project Kuiper, which aims to make high-speed, low-latency broadband more affordable and accessible for unserved and underserved communities around the world. The project will serve individual households, as well as schools, hospitals, businesses, government agencies, and other organizations operating in places without reliable broadband. 

With more than a century of combined heritage, ULA is the nation’s most experienced and reliable launch service provider. ULA has successfully delivered more than 140 missions to orbit that aid meteorologists in tracking severe weather, unlock the mysteries of our solar system, provide critical capabilities for troops in the field, deliver cutting-edge commercial services and enable GPS navigation.

“Project Kuiper will help bridge the digital divide across the United States and around the world, and we could not be more pleased to be working with Amazon to support the initiative,” said Tory Bruno, ULA’s president and CEO. “ULA is focused on serving our customer’s missions and providing reliable, innovative launch solutions. We look forward to launching these important missions.”

“We’re determined to make affordable broadband a reality for customers and communities around the world,” said Jeff Bezos, Amazon founder and CEO. “ULA is a fantastic partner that’s successfully launched dozens of missions for commercial and government customers, and we’re grateful for their support of Kuiper.”

“We’ve designed our satellites and dispenser system to accommodate multiple launch vehicles – this gives us the flexibility to use many different rockets and providers to launch our satellite system,” said Rajeev Badyal, VP of technology for Project Kuiper. “Atlas V is a capable, reliable rocket, and we’re proud to be working with ULA to support these important first launches.”

“ULA takes great pride in serving our customers as their best value launch partner – from providing high confidence schedule certainty to flexible and responsive manifesting to transparent engineering collaboration on customer-specific mission design needs – we truly become one integrated team with our customers, fully dedicated to their success,” said Chris Ellerhorst, ULA director of Strategy, Business Development and Sales. “We are thrilled that Amazon has put their trust in us.”

BlackSky has announced a planned business combination with Osprey Technology Acquisition Corp. (NYSE: SFTW) the their BlackSky 7 satellite completed the commissioning process and has now entered full commercial operations, all within two weeks of the satellite’s launch.

This latest satellite was launched at 22:30 UTC on March 22, 2021, and delivered first insights and began limited commercial operations less than 24 hours later. Furthermore, the company revealed two additional BlackSky satellites have been shipped to a launch facility in New Zealand for the firm’s next planned launch mission with Rocket Lab named “Running out of Toes” that is scheduled for May 2021.

BlackSky’s enhanced commissioning capabilities showcase advanced levels of automation and asynchronous system evaluations that allow rapid integration of new satellites into its constellation. These features streamline the company’s ability to rapidly grow the space sensor network and extend capacity to deliver real-time intelligence with average one-hour, dawn-to-dusk imaging revisit rates and average 90-minute delivery times.

BlackSky previously announced launch plans with Rocket Lab to deploy eight additional satellites during 2021. The company expects to have 14 satellites on-orbit by the close of the year. The company seeks to build its constellation to 30 high-resolution multi-spectral satellites that are capable of monitoring the most important locations on Earth every 30 minutes, day or night.

“With our latest launch, our customers are witnessing how we have built the infrastructure for delivering on-demand geospatial intelligence capacity,” said Brian E. O’Toole, CEO of BlackSky. “These investments in our delivery infrastructure enable customers to access real-time situational awareness, and ensure they have access to first-to-know insights about the things that matter most to them.” 

SpaceLink and Gilmour Space have executed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to explore opportunities to incorporate the SpaceLink relay network for communications on Gilmour’s next generation, smallsat platform and to also integrate Gilmour-built satellites into the SpaceLink network. 

The SpaceLink relay service provides secure, continuous, high-capacity communications between LEO spacecraft and the ground. Based on today’s technology advances, it provides unprecedented capacity for tasking, data download, and a variety of other communications requirements, and helps close the business case for operators of small satellites, EO companies, commercial space stations, and satellite servicers and tugs.

Gilmour Space is developing new launch vehicles powered by lower-cost and safer hybrid propulsion technologies and is introducing a specialized ‘G-class’ satellite bus for next-generation space systems. The company’s Eris orbital rocket is making it easier for smallsat operators to find affordable and reliable launches into LEO beginning in 2022.

The MOU provides for the companies to ensure the compatibility of SpaceLink communications terminals with the Gilmour space platform and to share technical and business information to support Gilmour’s implementation of SpaceLink’s communications services and extend the communications capabilities to Gilmour’s customers. The goal of the agreement is to negotiate a definitive contract, and explore further contracts for launch services later this year.

“We see the signing of this MOU as a strong endorsement of the business plans of both SpaceLink and Gilmour Space,” said Ben Greene, Chairman and CEO of Electro Optic Systems, the key strategic investor in SpaceLink. “SpaceLink looks forward to working with Gilmour Space on a definitive contract later this year.”

“We are very excited to be working closely with another leading space and defence company to enhance our small satellite and launch capabilities,” said Adam Gilmour, CEO of Gilmour Space. “The SpaceLink relay service has the potential to bring real time, high-capacity communications capability to our satellite customers.”

GomSpace must have done something right for Unseen Labs in France to ‘reup’ their contract to continue the development and delivery of nanosatellite platforms to Unseen Labs in France.

The contract is worth 35.5 MSEK ($4.2 Million US) and is a continuation of the already successful collaboration between the two companies. The contract is expected to be fulfilled during 2021.

Astranis has announced a $250 million Series C financing round, valuing the company at $1.4 billion.

The financing was led by funds managed by BlackRock, with significant participation from new investors Baillie Gifford, Fidelity Management & Research Company LLC, Koch Strategic Platforms, Monashee Investment Management, and Uncorrelated Ventures.

Existing investors Andreessen Horowitz, Venrock, Fifty Years, ACE Early Stage Partners, Harpoon Ventures, Indicator Fund, Industry Ventures, Jaan Tallinn, Jeff Dean, Jerry Yang’s AME Cloud, Jude Gomila, Refactor Capital, Rising Tide Fund, SOMA Capital, and others also participated in the round. BofA Securities, Inc. acted as sole placement agent on this transaction.

Astranis states the company is solving one of the largest challenges facing the modern world, that being the reduction of the cost of internet access to get the next four billion people online.

The new funding will be used to significantly expand production of Astranis’s smallsat platform, built to satisfy the significant global demand for affordable broadband. Additionally, Astranis will accelerate new technology research and development to support its next-generation platforms. That includes the company’s proprietary, Software-Defined Radio (SDR) technology that increases satellite performance and flexibility and allows manufacturing at scale, lowering the price point to end-consumers.

Astranis’s satellites can be deployed at a low cost and be built in months, not years. That’s in contrast to traditional satellites that require hundreds of millions of dollars of capital and five or more years to get new capacity online.

The smaller size of Astranis’s satellites — just 350 kg, or about 20 times less than traditional satellites — and their deployment into Geostationary Orbit (GEO) allows Astranis to start providing coverage with just a single MicroGEO satellite and bring capacity online quickly, focusing beams of broadband connectivity right where it’s needed.

Astranis has projects in work around the globe to deploy satellites to bring connectivity to some of the world’s most underserved areas.

“We are solving one of the biggest problems facing the world today,” said Astranis co-founder and CEO John Gedmark. “Four billion people do not have reliable access to broadband internet. Getting connectivity to those who need it the most changes lives in a profound way. It empowers people to take control of their health, education, and economic situation. We’re talking about something that is now absolutely part of the base of the hierarchy of needs.”