editorial

Lynk Global Inc. has filed for a commercial operator’s license with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). Commercial service is expected to begin around the world starting next year upon FCC approval.

The startup’s patented technology will eventually allow anyone with an existing cell phone to stay connected, anywhere in the world, at all times. Most importantly, Lynk’s system requires no changes to the phone. The existing phone in your pocket will work.

Lynk’s initial commercial license application intentionally uses the FCC’s new streamlined process for up to 10 smallsats to accelerate the license. Previous applications suggest this streamlined process will take 10-12 months, allowing Lynk to start their global service next year. This is the first step in Lynk’s plans for a larger constellation that will grow to several thousand satellites to begin continuous global service in 2025. Ultimately, Lynk’s full constellation will reach 5,000 satellites to provide broadband speeds to your phone.

Using a low-risk development approach, Lynk will integrate some of the most advanced space sustainability methods today to prevent and mitigate orbital debris and is actively advocating within industry and government to develop stronger orbital debris mitigation approaches for tomorrow.

In February 2020, with the help of NASA and mobile network operators (MNO), Lynk sent the world’s first text message from a satellite in orbit to a standard mobile phone on the ground. Lynk has also signed contracts with the U.S. Air Force and the U.K. Space Agency to support development of the Lynk system.T o date, Lynk has signed dozens of testing agreements with MNOs.

Charles Miller, CEO of Lynk, said, “Lynk is introducing a brand-new, never-been-done-before service—satellite-direct-to-standard-phones. As an American company, we are fortunate to have the FCC, whose process is trusted by officials around the world, to license our satellites. We believe that being good corporate citizens means at every point in the process you must be rigorous—whether it is eliminating harmful interference or minimizing orbital debris. Because using cellular frequencies from space has never been done before, we believe that being licensed by the FCC will help regulators worldwide embrace this groundbreaking technology.”

Miller continued, “There is a huge amount of interest in Lynk’s service … we actually have too many testing partners at this time. To manage this demand and ensure the highest quality testing protocols and commercial service, we are implementing a “Flagship Carrier”program. Under this program, we will be limiting initial commercial services to, at most, a dozen mobile network operators globally.”In partnership with mobile network operators, Lynk will provide a global service for the 5.2 billion existing cell phone users globally. Further, many of the 2.5 billion people currently without phones will be connected to global society and economy, materially improving their lives. Lynk will provide an instantaneous backup emergency communications layer everywhere on Earth.

SpaceX is targeting Wednesday, May 26, for the next Falcon 9 launch of 60 Starlink satellites from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.

The instantaneous window is at 2:59 p.m. EDT, or 18:59 UTC, and a backup opportunity is available on Thursday, May 27, at 2:38 p.m. EDT, or 18:38 UTC.

Falcon 9’s first stage booster previously supported the Sentinel-6A mission. Following stage separation, SpaceX will land Falcon 9’s first stage on the “Just Read the Instructions” droneship, which will be located in the Atlantic Ocean.

One half of Falcon 9’s fairing previously supported four Starlink missions and the other half previously supported a Starlink mission and the Transporter-1 mission.

You can watch the launch webcast live starting about 15 minutes before liftoff.

To see if Starlink is available in your area, visit starlink.com.ce

is targeting Wednesday, May 26, for the next Falcon 9 launch of 60 Starlink satellites from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.

The instantaneous window is at 2:59 p.m. EDT, or 18:59 UTC, and a backup opportunity is available on Thursday, May 27, at 2:38 p.m. EDT, or 18:38 UTC.

Falcon 9’s first stage booster previously supported the Sentinel-6A mission. Following stage separation, SpaceX will land Falcon 9’s first stage on the “Just Read the Instructions” droneship, which will be located in the Atlantic Ocean.

One half of Falcon 9’s fairing previously supported four Starlink missions and the other half previously supported a Starlink mission and the Transporter-1 mission.

You can watch the launch webcast live starting about 15 minutes before liftoff.

To see if Starlink is available in your area, visit starlink.com.

Astroscale UK has announced a funding award from partners OneWeb to mature their technology and capability toward a commercial service offering by 2024.

This latest £2.5 million award forms part of a larger, beam-hopping, satellite program, totaling more than £32 million, granted from the UK Space Agency, via the European Space Agency’s Sunrise Program to partners that include OneWeb, SatixFy, Celestia UK and Astroscale UK. 

OneWeb is leading the way in providing satellite services with space sustainability at the heart of their mission goals. Astroscale’s Sunrise-funded program, known as ELSA-M, will develop the technology to remove multiple, retired satellites in a single mission.

John Auburn, Managing Director of Astroscale UK and Group Chief Commercial Officer,said, “This ambitious project with OneWeb is the next step towards maturing our technologies and refining our UK capabilities to develop a full-service Active Debris Removal offering by 2024. This multi-client strategy will drive down service costs and incentivise large satellite constellation partners to accelerate the speed at which they remove space junk.”

Astroscale’s ELSA-d demonstration mission is currently in LEO, preparing for a series of complex rendezvous and close proximity debris capture and release maneuvers this summer. Much of the innovative, autonomous technology undergoing testing during ELSA-d this year will continue to evolve, at pace, during this new Sunrise ELSA-M program, including the on-board algorithms, sensors and software.

Dr. Jason Forshaw, Head of Future Business, Europe, explained, “We’d like to thank OneWeb, UKSA, and ESA for their efforts in supporting the development of this project.  This funding will help us evolve key rendezvous and proximity operations (RPO) technologies and capabilities beyond ELSA-d towards an end-of-life servicing offering for a range of constellation customers.  Our ELSA-M service will have the capability to undertake multiple sequential debris removals expanding the reusability of the servicer. In parallel to this project, we’re developing our next generation docking plate (DP), which is fitted to clients before launch, and is designed to enable a servicer to grapple the client.  We are encouraging constellation customers to fit DPs to ‘future proof’ their satellites in case of need for removal due to failure, or at end of life, or to provide future in-orbit servicing. OneWeb has pioneered the market for future debris removal by committing to fit all new OneWeb satellites with a compatible docking plate.”

John Auburn concludes, “We’re delighted to partner with the Sunrise team to support the UK government’s space sustainability leadership goals, and keen to rapidly advance the UK’s commercial growth in providing in-orbit servicing over the next few years.” 

Mynaric and Cloud Constellation have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to use Mynaric’s laser communication products to connect Cloud Constellation’s LEO satellites via highly secure, high-performing Optical Inter-Satellite Links (OISLs).

Cloud Constellation is developing an LEO constellation known as SpaceBelt to provide Data-Security-as-a-Service (DSaaS) and further secure cloud storage and management services, while leveraging laser communications technology to move data securely between the satellites. OISLs are a cornerstone of the SpaceBelt architecture and a requirement for high-speed, reliable communications to transfer cloud-stored data in space to anywhere on the globe.

The MoU outlines the next steps of the planned partnership between both companies, which would include, in a first phase, Mynaric delivering all OISL terminals required for the first ten satellites of the SpaceBelt constellation to be built by its selected prime of choice LeoStella. Mynaric’s CONDOR product is a perfect fit for SpaceBelt’s requirements, given its high performance, delivery schedule and full compliance with the Space Development Agency’s (SDA) OISL Standard, which is of critical importance to Cloud Constellation’s plans to serve the U.S. Government and other security-sensitive commercial enterprise customers. Further selection criterion was Mynaric’s industrialized approach toward the production of OISL terminals.

Cloud Constellation Corporation’s SpaceBelt is a patented, high-speed global cloud storage network of space-based data centers, each seamlessly interconnected together to provide exclusive and secure cloud infrastructure to service providers, enterprises and governments around the world.

“Mynaric is excited to support Cloud Constellation and work with its satellite prime contractor, LeoStella. SpaceBelt provides a truly unique satellite service to its diverse customer set. We are confident that the use of Mynaric’s CONDOR terminals within the SpaceBelt network architecture enhances the overall value proposition of this service offering. It is great to see Mynaric’s laser products contribute to yet another powerful use case that will benefit security-sensitive customers in the U.S. Government and beyond,” said Tina Ghataore, CCO Mynaric.

Mynaric (Frankfurt Stock Exchange: M0Y, ISIN: DE000A0JCY11) produces the optical fiber for the skies and, as a pioneer of laser communication, enables extremely fast and secure wireless data transmission between aircraft, drones and satellites. Globally, the need for fast, secure and ubiquitous network connectivity is advancing inexorably. Data networks such as the internet are now largely based on infrastructure on the ground which cannot be expanded arbitrarily for legal, economic or logistical reasons. The future, therefore, calls for an expansion of the existing network infrastructure into air and space. Mynaric pioneers this growth market with an industrialized approach to wireless laser communication products.

Kleos Space S.A (ASX: KSS, Frankfurt: KS1, Kleos or Company), a space-powered Radio Frequency Reconnaissance Data-as-a-Service (DaaS) company, has signed a contract with Innovative Solutions in Space B.V. (ISISPACE) to build and support the firm’s third satellite cluster of four satellites, the Polar Patrol Mission (KSF2), scheduled to launch at the end of 2021 onboard a SpaceX Falcon 9.

Specializing in smallsat solutions, the Netherlands-based ISISPACE has more than 15 years of experience in the design, manufacture, and operation of smallsats and is currently also preparing Kleos’ second satellite cluster, the Polar Vigilance Mission (KSF1) for dispatch to the launch site week commencing May 31.

Under the contract, ISISPACE will provide a turn-key solution including design, development, production, testing, launch integration services and early orbit phase support. The Polar Patrol Mission creates an opportunity for higher value subscriptions, increasing revenues by adding more frequent cover over commercial areas of interest and additional data products to the Kleos inventory.

Kleos will pay the approximate 2.45 million euros contract in milestone-based installments, with satellite delivery scheduled for Q4FY21. The contract includes an optional addendum for a further three satellite clusters (12 further satellites in total) that will facilitate constellation growth with volume purchasing advantages. Funding methods for subsequent clusters will be determined by the directors and will be through a combination of revenue, equity or borrowings, depending on capital market conditions prevailing at the time.

Launching into a 500-600 km Sun Synchronous Orbit (SSO), Kleos’ third satellite cluster doubles the company’s coverage over both poles, complementing the Scouting Mission and Polar Vigilance Mission satellites, thereby enhancing global coverage. Data derived from the Scouting Mission satellites is expected to commence to early adopter customers shortly.

Kleos’ Polar Vigilance satellites are on track for a mid-2021 launch onboard a SpaceX Falcon 9, following the recent successful completion of key development milestones with ISISPACE. Kleos’ satellites collect data that is used to detect and geolocate radio frequency transmissions, enhancing the detection of illegal activity, including piracy, drug and people smuggling, border security challenges and illegal fishing. Its global activity-based data is sold as-a-service to governments and commercial entities, complementing existing commercial datasets to improve their intelligence, surveillance,and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities.

Kleos Space CEO Andy Bowyer said, “ISISPACE has proven to be an ideal development partner for Kleos,with our second satellite cluster nearing completion ahead of a mid-year launch. Targeting a constellation of up to 20 satellite clusters, each new satellite cluster will increase sensing and intelligence gathering capabilities generating higher value data products for subscribers.”

Jeroen Rotteveel, CEO of ISISPACE, said, “We are proud to continue our partnership with Kleos, using our extensive nanosatellite experience to build and design their third satellite cluster within a relatively short timeframe. Asa strategic partner, we look forward to supporting them as they continue to build and launch their small satellite constellation.”

Mynaric and Cloud Constellation have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to use Mynaric’s laser communication products to connect Cloud Constellation’s LEO satellites via highly secure, high-performing Optical Inter-Satellite Links (OISLs).

Cloud Constellation is developing an LEO constellation known as SpaceBelt to provide Data-Security-as-a-Service (DSaaS) and further secure cloud storage and management services, while leveraging laser communications technology to move data securely between the satellites. OISLs are a cornerstone of the SpaceBelt architecture and a requirement for high-speed, reliable communications to transfer cloud-stored data in space to anywhere on the globe.

The MoU outlines the next steps of the planned partnership between both companies, which would include, in a first phase, Mynaric delivering all OISL terminals required for the first ten satellites of the SpaceBelt constellation to be built by its selected prime of choice LeoStella. Mynaric’s CONDOR product is a perfect fit for SpaceBelt’s requirements, given its high performance, delivery schedule and full compliance with the Space Development Agency’s (SDA) OISL Standard, which is of critical importance to Cloud Constellation’s plans to serve the U.S. Government and other security-sensitive commercial enterprise customers. Further selection criterion was Mynaric’s industrialized approach toward the production of OISL terminals.

Cloud Constellation Corporation’s SpaceBelt is a patented, high-speed global cloud storage network of space-based data centers, each seamlessly interconnected together to provide exclusive and secure cloud infrastructure to service providers, enterprises and governments around the world.

“Mynaric is excited to support Cloud Constellation and work with its satellite prime contractor, LeoStella. SpaceBelt provides a truly unique satellite service to its diverse customer set. We are confident that the use of Mynaric’s CONDOR terminals within the SpaceBelt network architecture enhances the overall value proposition of this service offering. It is great to see Mynaric’s laser products contribute to yet another powerful use case that will benefit security-sensitive customers in the U.S. Government and beyond,” said Tina Ghataore, CCO Mynaric.

Mynaric (Frankfurt Stock Exchange: M0Y, ISIN: DE000A0JCY11) produces the optical fiber for the skies and, as a pioneer of laser communication, enables extremely fast and secure wireless data transmission between aircraft, drones and satellites. Globally, the need for fast, secure and ubiquitous network connectivity is advancing inexorably. Data networks such as the internet are now largely based on infrastructure on the ground which cannot be expanded arbitrarily for legal, economic or logistical reasons. The future, therefore, calls for an expansion of the existing network infrastructure into air and space. Mynaric pioneers this growth market with an industrialized approach to wireless laser communication products.

Alba Orbital has closed their Seed round to accelerate their mission to image everywhere on Earth every 15 minutes. The round was led by Metaplanet Holdings and included Y Combinator, Liquid2, Soma Ventures, Uncommon Denominator, Zillionize and a number of angel investors.

To date, Alba Orbital has launched six satellites, more than all the other Y Combinator companies combined, with another nine integrated and ready to launch in a few months. Alba is the first Y Combinator company from Scotland and was named by Tech crunch as one of their favorite companies in the recent W21 batch.

Tom Walkinshaw, the Founder and CEO of Alba Orbital, said, “We are thrilled to have closed our first external investment round, which was so popular we could have filled two or three times over. We are excited to kick on and start building out our fleet at scale, starting with our 11 satellite constellation for night time imagery.“

James Park, Alba Orbital Angel investor and Fitbit Founder/CEO said, “Alba is building something really amazing and I’m excited to be able to share some insights learned in shipping 120M+ consumer electronics devices and helping Alba apply that to satellite production.”

Rauno Miljand, Managing Partner of Metaplanet Holdings (fund of Skype Co-Founder Jaan Tallinn) said, “We were impressed by Alba’s pitch at Y Combinator demo day and their current performance. We are excited to be onboard as they build out the satellite fleet and tackle the challenge of providing near constant satellite image of the Earth.”

Vaya Space will create a Brazilian subsidiary as part of their strategic plan to expand operations into South America. Vaya Space anticipates creating 200 direct jobs in Brazil over the next two years and plans an initial manufacturing footprint of approximately 10,000 square meters.

The final location for Vaya Space manufacturing operations within Brazil remains in negotiation, with several areas vying for consideration. Previously, a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed with the Investment and Trade Promotion Agency (INDI) for the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. Vaya Space is also considering locations in the aerospace cluster located within the state of São Paulo, in the city of São José dos Campos, which according to a 2020 ranking by the Financial Times Magazine, is the third best city in the world for aerospace sector strategic investment.

Jack Blood, Vaya Space Vice President, commented on the favorable business climate that exists in Brazil, government policy to facilitate commercial space efforts, and the opportunity for public-private partnering and said, “The US-Brazil Technological Safeguards Agreement (TSA) protects sensitive space technology exports to Brazil for launch from the Alcântara Launch Center. This ensures compliance with US export control requirements, and allows us to take advantage of the excellent location of this spaceport, which can support a wide range of launch azimuths, from equatorial to polar,” stated Blood. “The Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MCTI) under the leadership of Marcos Pontes has been a strong advocate of bringing commercial launch business to Brazil. Other considerations included the ability to generate turn-key solutions with the National Institute for Space Research (INPE), which has robust capabilities to support development of small satellite technologies, particularly earth observation and space and atmospheric sciences; along with Brazilian Space Agency (AEB) alignment with FAA best practices. Taken as a whole, all these factors create an excellent environment in Brazil for commercial space operations, and for Brazil to assume a leadership role of the space industry in South America.”

Vaya Space President Rob Fabian summarized, “We are excited about standing-up our Brazilian subsidiary. We look forward to partnering with Brazilian companies; developing local, regional, and global supply chains, supporting a strong and diversified customer base, and contributing to the creation of a vibrant commercial space economy.”

Vaya Space is a hybrid rocket propulsion and SmallSat launch company leveraging advances in additive manufacturing to redefine the cost, performance, and safety of space access. With a build, integrate, and launch-ready cycle of less than 30 days, Vaya Space is capable of launching payloads greater than 1,000 kg into Low Earth Orbit (LEO), and payloads greater than 600 kg into Sun Synchronous Orbit (SSO). Positioned to serve the global market, Vaya Space is now accepting launch reservations for 2023.

Launcher has acquired the M 4K AM system from AMCM, an EOS Group company, to advance its high performance orbital launch vehicle strategy.

The AMCM M 4K system enables Launcher to produce the world’s largest, single-part, 3D printed copper alloy combustor at Launcher’s headquarters and production facility in Hawthorne, California. Launcher will additively manufacture the entire 10 ton-force, E-2 rocket engine to deliver smallsats to LEO.

Launcher has been an AMCM partner since 2017 and that collaboration has resulted in the development of the AMCM M 4K, which has an unprecedented part construction volume (45x45x100 cm) and supports copper alloy, the most advanced material for liquid rocket engine combustion chamber production.

Martin Bullemer, Managing Director of AMCM, remarked, “The major advantages of metal AM in the production of liquid rocket engines is lower cost to manufacture and allow for complexity in design – a common barrier-of-entry with conventional manufacturing technologies.”

He went on to add that development times are dramatically lessened and design flexibility is expanded. The result of these benefits is improved propulsion systems that use less propellant, carry larger payloads and enable new ideas and applications to take flight.

Additive manufacturing is revolutionizing the space industry and innovative companies, such as Launcher, are taking advantage of this advanced 3D printing technology. Most companies building 3D printed liquid rocket engines have been forced to design smaller engines or produce multi-part combustion chambers to fit within the limited construction volume constraints of commercial 3D printers. With Launcher’s commitment to the industry’s highest propulsion performance benchmarks, it needed to 3D print its E-2 engine combustion chamber as a single part, enabling optimal cooling channel design, fewer parts, simpler processes, and lower overall production costs.

In addition, while most companies developing 3D printed liquid rocket engine rely on Inconel alloy as their combustion chamber material, copper alloy is the best material for liquid rocket engine combustion chambers due to its optimal thermal conductivity properties, which enable more effective regenerative cooling. Informed by NASA research on 3D printed copper, Launcher requested copper alloy support in 2017 for the AMCM M 4K machine from AMCM and EOS.

As part of the collaboration between AMCM and Launcher, Launcher’s first rocket engines were built on site at AMCM in Starnberg, Germany in October 2019. Following Launcher’s test fire test in October 2020 at NASA’s Stennis Space Center, Launcher purchased an AMCM M 4K as part of the company’s expansion in Hawthorne, California.

“AMCM’s flexibility and openness to customer requirements, both in machine building and process implementation, is remarkable,” said Max Haot, Founder and CEO of Launcher. “We look forward to continuing our partnership with AMCM as Launcher advances its mission to build and operate the market’s most efficient rockets delivering satellites to orbit.”

The next Arianespace mission is planned from Vostochny Cosmodrome with Soyuz on May 27 to deliver 36 satellites into orbit. By operating this seventh flight on behalf of OneWeb, Arianespace will bring the total fleet to 218 satellites in Low Earth Orbit (LEO).

Flight ST32, the fourth commercial mission performed by Arianespace and their Starsem affiliate from the Vostochny Cosmodrome, will push the satellites into a near-polar orbit at an altitude of 450 kilometers.

This mission will have a total duration of three hours and 51 minutes and will include nine separations of four satellites, which will raise themselves to their operational orbit. This seventh launch to the benefit of OneWeb will bring up to speed Arianespace’s operations this year, and will raise from 183 to 218 the number of satellites deployed for the global telecommunications operator.

OneWeb’s mission is to bring internet everywhere to everyone by creating a global connectivity platform through a next generation satellite constellation in LEO. 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.