On Friday SpaceX plans to launch to Low Earth Orbit Starlink Group 9-5, a batch of satellites for the Starlink mega-constellation from Vandenber SFB’s Space Launch Complex 4E, California at 1:00 AM – 5:23 AM PDT.

The forecast calls for a temperature of 57°F, few clouds, 19% cloud cover and a wind speed of 5mph.

The expense of the mission is $52 million.

Space Launch Complex 4E has witnessed the launch of 155 rockets, including 155 orbital launch attempts, while Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA, has been the site for 767 rocket launches.

The second ASDS barge, Of Course I Still Love You (OCISLY), services launches in the Pacific Ocean and will be the site of the booster recovery of the Falcon 9 booster.

Ovzon recently received an initial limited order for Ovzon SATCOM-as-a-Service using the newly operationalized Ovzon 3 satellite from partner Swedish Space Corporation (SSC) — the service was delivered within 24 hours of being requested.

Ovzon’s SATCOM-as-a-Service is known for supporting critical missions with high performance, mobility and resiliency. The delivery highlights the continued confidence of SSC in Ovzon’s capabilities to provide advanced SATCOM services to Swedish government agencies. This order relates to a different end-customer than the order received from SSC in December 2023.

“We are very pleased to receive another order from SSC. With the Ovzon 3 satellite now in commercial service, we are committed to providing Swedish and other nations progressive governments and organizations with unmatched guaranteed communication solutions via satellite,” said Ovzon’s CEO, Per Norén.

Planet Labs PBC (NYSE: PL), a leading provider of daily data and insights about Earth, has signed a new contract with the NATO Communications and Information Agency (NCIA). NCIA’s Alliance Persistent Surveillance from Space (APSS) program will use Planet’s SkySat high-resolution satellite data to support NATO missions.

Planet’s tasking capabilities will empower NATO decision makers by providing imagery for use with detailed tracking and analysis of foreign military capabilities and activities, monitoring of military infrastructure, detecting movements, assessing threats effectively, filling missing intelligence gaps and helping provide an unclassified common operating picture between allies.

Founded in February 2023, APSS is a multi-year, multinational initiative that aims to use space to collect data on any location at any given time, increase space-based intelligence sharing, improve NATO’s overall intelligence through space-based assets, and increase the speed, usability and management efficiency at which space-based data is collected, aggregated and delivered. APSS also enhances how NATO engages with future technologies including cloud solutions and AI analytical tools that will be key to better manage the growing amounts of space data available.

This contract highlights Planet’s continued business growth in the government sector this year, following a recently announced contract expansion with a U.S.-allied International Government Agency and a pilot contract signed with an International Ministry of Defense Customer.

“In a time of heightened global conflict, this ability to supply NATO is more critical than ever to reinforce multinational alliances and advance peace around the world through transparency and accountability from space,” said Will Marshall, co-founder and CEO of Planet. “We look forward to working with the APSS team as it continues to adopt new space technology to advance global security.”

“Space is critical for NATO, from supporting the navigation and tracking of forces, detecting missile launches, maintaining situational awareness, to ensuring effective command and control,” said Laryssa Patten, Head of Space Technology Adoption and Resilience at NCIA. “Planet’s sub-daily tasking brings new capabilities which enable monitoring of large areas of NATO interest, bolstering our technological advantage, and fulfilling our mission of preserving peace and security for nearly one billion people.”

A UK satellite to support military operations has been successfully launched. Named Tyche, the satellite is UK Space Command’s first satellite which can capture daytime images and videos of the Earth’s surface. The satellite will strengthen the UK’s Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities.   

As the conflict in Ukraine has shown, the use of space is crucial to military operations. Tyche is the first satellite to be launched under the UK Ministry of Defence’s space-based ISR program, which will deliver a constellation of satellites and supporting ground systems by 2031.  

These satellites will support military operations as well as contribute to other government tasks, including natural disaster monitoring, the development of mapping information, environmental monitoring and tracking the impact of climate change around the world.   

Designed and built in the UK through a £22 million contract awarded by Defence Equipment & Support to Surrey Satellites Technology Limited (SSTL), Tyche is the first satellite to be fully owned by the Ministry of Defence.

SSTL received the first signals from Tyche – which is comparable in size to a washing machine – a few hours after lift-off, confirming the successful launch.

Operating in LEOover a five-year lifespan, Tyche will provide timely space-based imagery in support of the UK Armed Forces.  The design and build of the 150-kilogram satellite has supported around 100 high-skilled roles at SSTL since 2022.  

Tyche was launched from Vandenberg Space Force Base, California, by SpaceX, on their re-usable Falcon 9 rocket, as part of the Transporter 11 mission.

Minister for Defence Procurement and Industry, Maria Eagle, said.  “Tyche will provide essential intelligence for military operations as well as supporting wider tasks across government. Tyche also shows the UK’s commitment to support innovation in science and technology, stimulating growth across the sector and supporting highly skilled jobs in the UK.”  

UK Space Commander, Major General Paul Tedman, said,   “This is a fabulous day for UK space. The successful launch of Tyche has shown that UK Space Command, and its essential partners across defence and industry, can rapidly take a concept through to the delivery of a satellite capability on orbit. Tyche represents the first of a future constellation of Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance satellites that we’ll launch over the coming years. I’d like to take this opportunity to congratulate everybody involved with Tyche and thank them for their support.”  

Paul Russell, DE&S Space Team Leader, said, “Working closely with UK Space Command, Dstl and industry to understand how to deliver in a new, complex and critical environment has been an exciting journey. To see Tyche – the first of a new generation of UK military capabilities – delivered into orbit is an incredibly proud moment and a tribute to everyone’s commitment to this key project.” 

On Friday, August 16, Hydrosat, a climate technology company focused on leveraging thermal imagery to measure water stress in agriculture and combat the effects of climate change, successfully launched VanZyl-1 — the company’s first proprietary satellite.

According to the company, this marks a groundbreaking achievement in global thermal imaging. VanZyl-1, equipped with a cutting-edge, thermal infrared camera, was carried on Loft Orbital’s YAM-7 spacecraft and launched via SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California via the Transporter-11 rideshare mission.

This VanZyl-1 mission represents a significant advancement in delivering high-resolution thermal imaging technology across the entire planet. For the first time, Hydrosat’s proprietary commercial satellite will provide detailed thermal imagery and insights covering both land and water, offering an invaluable tool for growers, government agencies, and researchers. 

The data collected from VanZyl-1 will play a crucial role in enhancing agricultural and climate models – transforming how we understand and manage resources and enabling more precise and timely decision-making to address critical global issues. 

Multiple spacecraft and components designed by Blue Canyon Technologies were successfully launched on the recent SpaceX Transporter-11 rideshare mission.

Ridesharing is a cost-effective way for the company’s diverse customers to launch their crucial missions. Onboard this latest launch, Blue Canyon Technologies provided:

• Two 6U CubeSats

• A custom microsatellite for weather monitoring

• Seven high-performance FleXcore attitude control systems

• Two XACT attitude control systems

• Twelve flight sets of reaction wheels, four coarse sun sensors, six torque rods and
  a nano star tracker

Overall, the launch included more than 100, high-performance, Blue Canyon Technologies components, as well as the company’s 50th CubeSat, to orbit.

Blue Canyon’s vertically integrated structure and diverse product portfolio have allowed us to meet each customer’s unique mission requirements.

HawkEye 360 Inc. has announced that the company’s Cluster 10 satellites have successfully deployed to orbit after launching aboard SpaceX’s Transporter-11 Rideshare mission via launch integrator Exolaunch and HawkEye 360’s operations team has established communication with the satellites.

This trio of satellites will increase the company’s constellation to 31, significantly augmenting global RF monitoring capabilities. Cluster 10 will reinforce HawkEye 360’s capacity for frequent revisits to areas of strategic interest. Once operational, these satellites will enhance data collection, providing more comprehensive coverage and timely information across vital regions. Cluster 10 will advance HawkEye 360’s mission of delivering precise and actionable RF insights, ensuring expanded coverage and improved monitoring.

“Our team’s dedication and commitment to technological advancement have been the driving force behind reaching this significant milestone of 30 satellites built and launched,” said Rob Rainhart, President of HawkEye 360. “The successful launch and contact with Cluster 10 demonstrate our continuous efforts in engineering and operations, enabling us to enhance our global RF monitoring capabilities and provide more precise, actionable insights.”

Umbra has successfully launched a new pair of SAR satellites — Umbra-09 and Umbra-10 — aboard the Transporter-11 Rideshare mission with SpaceX on August 16, 2024.

Umbra launched their first mission that included two-satellite tandem operations, Umbra-07 and Umbra-08, aboard the Transporter-9 mission on November 9, 2023. Umbra will continue deploying its constellation to satisfy global commercial demand for high-resolution, densely spaced monostatic and multi-static imagery.

Umbra satellites capture seven times more images over high-demand areas and in higher resolution than any commercial competitor. The company has won several contracts with government and commercial organizations, such as the commercial satellite imagery provider, Maxar.

Umbra recently expanded its business by launching a Mission Solutions line, leveraging its vertical integration and remote sensing expertise to develop custom satellite solutions for governments and large multinational corporations.

Since its establishment in 2015, Umbra has become a leader in remote sensing. Umbra’s innovative SAR imaging and patented satellite technology solutions offer all-weather, day-and-night monitoring, setting new standards for reliability, precision, and intelligence gathering.

“Umbra already delivers the largest volume of high-resolution SAR imagery in the concentrated areas of highest demand,” said Todd Master, Chief Operating Officer of Umbra. “These additional satellites will unlock even more imagery over high-demand areas for our customers, and our paired operations offer the ability to generate incredible data products uniquely enabled by Umbra.”  

Umbra is a vertically integrated space technology company providing satellite technology solutions and intelligence data as a service to commercial and government customers. Our cutting-edge products help customers solve complex business, environmental, and security challenges. Umbra is founded, funded, built and operated in the USA with headquarters in Santa Barbara, California, and has a presence in Austin, Texas, and Washington, D.C.