PLD Space has achieved a new milestone with their official presentation in Madrid of the company’s MIURA 1 rocket that has been exhibited fully assembled for the first time in the capital’s National Museum of Natural Science — this suborbital vehicle is a key step in launch vehicle development, a pathfinder for MIURA 5 development.

From the start, the objective of PLD Space has been to become the European Microlauncher Company, a reference within the sector through the use of reusable rockets dedicated to the launch of smallsats. This vision has been maintained through the different stages of the project and is now being achieved, as Raúl Torres, CEO and Cofounder, has demonstrated during the official inauguration of MIURA 1. He said, “We have always being clear that we wanted to take advantage of the business opportunities in the space sector and contribute to its democratization, paving the way for new players in this increasingly thriving industry that will play a key role in the coming years.”

Raúl Verdú, COO and Co-founder of PLD Space, has underlined the support shown by numerous investors, in both public and private institutions, that have come together to make a “Made-in-Spain” space project a reality. “The support of institutions such as CDTI, ENISA, and the IVF, has been key; they have co-financed the last 10 years of development along with our private investors. We are proud to have financed the first private space launch service enterprise within our country.”

Ezequiel Sánchez, Executive President of PLD Space, highlighted the “strategic advantage for Spain to become the fourteenth country with access to space, as this select group of nations will play a crucial geostrategic role for Europe”. He has also underlined the effect it will have on Spain from an industrial perspective, because “our business model integrated throughout the value chain will allow us to have an autonomy that will be crucial in order to address the future of science and national industry”. “This without a team of passionate people would not have been possible. It is clear that we have grown with the right team. And now, we have the right team.”

MIURA 1 will return to the PLD Space base at Teruel Airport to carry out combined qualification testing at stage level, including full-mission duration hot test of the complete stage. After these tests, the stage will be shipped to the launch base to perform a combined test with all the ground segment and ground infrastructure, before launch.

MIURA 1 launch is expected for the second half of 2022, which it will be the first launch mission of a European rocket in history, designed to reach a maximum altitude of 150 km and with the capacity to carry a payload of up to 100 kg.

PLD Space is also working on its first MIURA 5 reusable orbital rocket, which is expected to be ready to carry out its first mission in July of 2024 and which will mark the start of the firm’s commercial satellite launches.

The first launch vehicle to fly will be MIURA 5 block 1.0, a fully expendable version that will comprise the first two launches. After those flights, the company will introduce a reusable version for the subsequent flights, paving the way for a commercial reusable booster in Europe. This stage will implement all lesson learned from ESA´s Future Launchers Preparatory Program (FLPP) contracts, called Liquid Propulsion Stage Recovery (LPSR) 1 and LPSR2.

PLD Space is a pioneering Spanish company in the aerospace sector and a reference within Europe in the development of reusable rockets, with a recognized prestige in the sector and a solid project that has become a reality through its launch vehicles: the MIURA 1 suborbital and MIURA 5 orbital rockets, which will place Spain among the few countries with the capacity to successfully send small satellites to space. With a decade of history, PLD Space plans to launch its MIURA 1 prototype in the second half of 2022 and tackle its first real space transport mission with MIURA 5 in 2024. The firm, based in Elche (Alicante) and with technical facilities in Teruel, Huelva and French Guiana, has already achieved more than €36 million of investment to drive forward its project in the space sector.

According to Rocket Lab, a ground sensor reading is the cause for the firm’s delay of their “Love At First Insight” launch of the BlackSky EO smallsats. This halt in the proceedings occurred 90 minutes prior to liftoff. A new launch date of November 16 has been set by the company.

Rocket Lab is targeting no earlier than 4:25 a.m., Thursday, November 11, UTC, for the launch of ‘Love At First Insight’, a dedicated launch for geospatial intelligence company BlackSky — this will be Rocket Lab’s fifth launch of 2021.

The launch will occur from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1 Pad A on New Zealand’s Mahia Peninsula.

A two-hour, ten-minute window, has been allocated for launch. This window shifts slightly earlier each day of the launch window. Below are the launch window opening times…

Launch Window Time Zone Conversion:

• UTC: 04:25 (11 November)
• NZT: 17:25 (11 November)
• ET: 23:25 (10 November)
• PT: 20:25 (10 November)

If there is a need to stand down from launch for any reason, the company has back-up launch days available through November 24.

About The Mission

The ‘Love At First Insight’ mission will be Rocket Lab’s 22nd Electron launch overall and fifth mission of 2021.

Rocket Lab will launch two Earth imaging satellites for BlackSky. The firm combines satellite images with their own software to predict trends and deliver insights to industries including transportation, infrastructure, land use, defense, supply chain management, and humanitarian aid.

While this mission’s primary objective is to deploy the BlackSky satellites, Rocket Lab will also attempt to recover Electron after launch in efforts to make Electron the world’s first, reusable, small rocket. The company will attempt a controlled, ocean splashdown and recovery of Electron’s first stage for the third time (following previously successful ocean recoveries on our 16th and 20th missions).

However with this mission, for the first time, Rocket Lab will station a helicopter in the recovery zone approximately 200 nautical miles offshore to track and visually observe the first stage as it returns to Earth in preparation for future attempts to capture it mid-air with a helicopter. The helicopter will not attempt a mid-air capture for this mission but will test communications and tracking to refine the concept of operations (CONOPS) for future Electron aerial captures.

More information about this mission and the satellites onboard can be found at this direct linfolink…

A live webcast will be available approximately 15-20 minutes prior to the target T-0 time at www.rocketlabusa.com/live-stream.

Rocket Lab is targeting no earlier than 4:25 a.m., Thursday, November 11, UTC, for the launch of ‘Love At First Insight’, a dedicated launch for geospatial intelligence company BlackSky — this will be Rocket Lab’s fifth launch of 2021.

The launch will occur from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1 Pad A on New Zealand’s Mahia Peninsula.

A two-hour, ten-minute window, has been allocated for launch. This window shifts slightly earlier each day of the launch window. Below are the launch window opening times…

Launch Window Time Zone Conversion:

• UTC: 04:25 (11 November)
• NZT: 17:25 (11 November)
• ET: 23:25 (10 November)
• PT: 20:25 (10 November)

If there is a need to stand down from launch for any reason, the company has back-up launch days available through November 24.

About The Mission

The ‘Love At First Insight’ mission will be Rocket Lab’s 22nd Electron launch overall and fifth mission of 2021.

Rocket Lab will launch two Earth imaging satellites for BlackSky. The firm combines satellite images with their own software to predict trends and deliver insights to industries including transportation, infrastructure, land use, defense, supply chain management, and humanitarian aid.

While this mission’s primary objective is to deploy the BlackSky satellites, Rocket Lab will also attempt to recover Electron after launch in efforts to make Electron the world’s first, reusable, small rocket. The company will attempt a controlled, ocean splashdown and recovery of Electron’s first stage for the third time (following previously successful ocean recoveries on our 16th and 20th missions).

However with this mission, for the first time, Rocket Lab will station a helicopter in the recovery zone approximately 200 nautical miles offshore to track and visually observe the first stage as it returns to Earth in preparation for future attempts to capture it mid-air with a helicopter. The helicopter will not attempt a mid-air capture for this mission but will test communications and tracking to refine the concept of operations (CONOPS) for future Electron aerial captures.

More information about this mission and the satellites onboard can be found at this direct linfolink…

A live webcast will be available approximately 15-20 minutes prior to the target T-0 time at www.rocketlabusa.com/live-stream.

HawkEye 360 Inc. has closed $145 million in new funding, priming the company to achieve transformational growth in its data and analytical services product line.

This Series D round was led by New York-based global private equity and venture capital firm Insight Partners and Seraphim Space Investment Trust (LSE:SSIT). Additional funding was provided by the Strategic Development Fund (SDF), the investment arm of UAE’s Tawazun Holding. Joining the round were new investors Jacobs, Gula Tech Adventures, 116 Street Ventures, and New North Ventures, as well as existing investors Advance, Razor’s Edge, NightDragon, SVB Capital, Shield Capital, Adage Capital, and others. This brings the total amount of capital raised to date to $302 million.

HawkEye 360 is delivering a source of global knowledge based on RF geospatial intelligence to those working to make the world a safer place. The company will use the funding to expand their satellite constellation and complementary infrastructure, accelerating the growth of the company’s services to customers in the humanitarian, environmental, commercial and national security sectors.

Increasingly, the lifeblood of the modern digital economy is carried by the electromagnetic spectrum. Many types of objects emit radio frequencies for vital functions such as communication, navigation and security.

The HawkEye 360 constellation detects, characterizes and precisely geolocates these RF signals from a broad range of emitters, including VHF marine radios, UHF push-to-talk radios, maritime and land-based radar systems, L-band satellite devices and emergency beacons. By processing and analyzing this RF data, the company delivers actionable insights and a unique knowledge for operations across a broad range of sectors.

In the years ahead, the company will expand on its proven capabilities to deliver persistent RF data and analytics. This next phase of growth, backed by the latest funding round, will feature faster revisit rates, greater signal collection and enhanced analytics to address a large set of mission needs for clients.

“HawkEye 360 is pleased to be welcoming phenomenal new partners to our world class investment family, all of whom share our vision of using revolutionary commercial RF-monitoring capabilities to produce positive impacts for humanity and the environment,” said HawkEye 360 CEO, John Serafini. “As a new, well-backed space data and analytics company with a unique dual-use technology, we are ideally situated not only to create great value for the defense, intelligence and national security communities, but also to change the paradigm for organizations confronting complex challenges like illegal fishing, poaching, maritime smuggling and environmental degradation.”

“HawkEye 360 stands out as the clear leader in commercial RF data and analytics,” said Nick Sinai, Managing Director at Insight Partners. “We are excited to partner with HawkEye 360 as the company continues to scale up and to expand its geospatial intelligence technology capabilities for both government and commercial markets.” Nick Sinai will join HawkEye 360’s board.

“We seek to invest into the emerging category leaders building a digital platform in the sky,” said Mark Boggett, CEO of Seraphim Space (Manager) LLP, Seraphim Investment Trust’s investment manager. “We can say with conviction that HawkEye 360 is the undisputed global champion in radio frequency analysis, a market we believe will grow to billions of dollars over the next few years. We’ve carefully built our relationship with HawkEye 360 since 2017, culminating with them participating in the AWS Space Accelerator managed by Seraphim. Our subsequent $25 million investment, as co-lead alongside Insight Ventures, in the D Series reflects the potential we believe this breakthrough technology will have across the environmental and security sectors. We are convinced that HawkEye 360 has both the technology advantage together with the commercial and governmental relationships to transform, reshape and develop the industry on a global scale at speed.”

PJT Partners served as exclusive financial advisor and placement agent to HawkEye 360 in connection with the Series D capital raise. WilmerHale acted as legal counsel for HawkEye 360 in connection with the transaction.

Jeff Bezos and his Project Kuiper team will launch the first test satellites later in 2022, ahead of his planned 3,236 LEO broadband constellation.

Project Kuiper will use rocket company ABL Systems to launch the two satellites (named KuiperSat-1 and KuiperSat-2) and not Bezos’s own Blue Origin rockets. The launches will take place from Cape Canaveral in Florida.

Amazon filed for a license to cover the launch with the FCC on November 1st in a highly-detailed 47-page filing.

In a blog, Rajeev Badyal, Kuiper’s VP/Technology, stated, “This morning, we filed an experimental license application with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to launch, deploy, and operate two prototype satellites for Project Kuiper. These satellites – KuiperSat-1 and KuiperSat-2 – are an important step in the development process. They allow us to test the communications and networking technology that will be used in our final satellite design, and help us validate launch operations and mission management procedures that will be used when deploying our full constellation.

“We’ve invented lots of new technology to meet our cost and performance targets for Project Kuiper. All of the systems are testing well in simulated and lab settings, and we’ll soon be ready to see how they perform in space,” he added. “There is no substitute for on-orbit testing, and we expect to learn a lot given the complexity and risk of operating in such a challenging environment. We can’t wait to get started.”

BT and OneWeb have agreed terms for a new Distribution Partner Agreement, with OneWeb to provide Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite communication services across BT Group.

This builds on an initial Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed in July and means BT is testing how LEO satellite technology integrates with its existing terrestrial capabilities to meet the communications needs of customers. On successful completion, BT will commence the first live trials with customers from early in 2022. The partnership will span a growing range of connectivity solutions around the world as well as specific opportunities for the UK market.

Business Secretary, Kwasi Kwarteng, said, “I am thrilled to see the UK at the forefront of this emerging technology thanks to the Government’s investment in OneWeb – a crucial part of our plans to cement our status as a global science and technology superpower.”

Digital Secretary, Nadine Dorries, said, “The agreement between OneWeb and BT will help bring fast and reliable global connectivity, from the Highlands to the Himalayas. I’m delighted these two British companies have joined forces to research the technological benefits of working together, and I look forward to exploring how this could play a role in our mission to put hard-to-reach areas in the digital fast lane.”

Philip Jansen, Chief Executive of BT Group, said, “Space is an emerging and enormous digital opportunity, and this is an important step towards harnessing its potential for BT’s customers across the globe. We will put OneWeb’s technology through its paces in our UK labs with the goal of delivering live trials in early 2022. Delivered securely and at scale, satellite solutions will be an important part of our plans to expand connectivity throughout the UK and globally, and to further diversify the range of services we can offer our customers.”

OneWeb’s Chief Executive Officer, Neil Masterson, said, “BT has taken the lead in the recognition of LEO satellite’s advantage. We are delighted as this agreement with BT Group represents an important strategic partnership for OneWeb as we continue to make progress towards our operational launch. We are excited to be playing such a key role in improving the resilience of the overall telecom infrastructure in the UK. OneWeb’s connectivity platform will help bridge the last digital divides across the country and enhance the nation’s digital infrastructure.”

OneWeb is expected to deliver global coverage by June 2022 through a constellation of 648 LEO satellites and is poised to deliver services from the North Pole to the 50th parallel, covering the entire UK, later in 2021. The new partnership supports BT’s wider network ambition, set out in July this year, to deliver digital solutions across the entire UK by 2028, through a combination of an expanded network and ‘on demand’, requestable solutions anywhere beyond. In building a converged, software-defined network, BT will leverage and integrate both terrestrial and non-terrestrial technologies to deliver on the goal of seamless, ubiquitous connectivity.

This agreement marks a clear path toward the first LEO solutions being available for customers within a year. As the next step, BT will test capabilities in its Bristol lab to demonstrate how they integrate with existing services. Current capacity levels within OneWeb satellites mean initial trials will focus on its role as a supplementary, low latency backhaul solution to sites where additional capacity or a back-up solution is required, and to deliver improved resilience for business customers. On successful completion, BT will begin early adopter trials for UK and international customers, expected early in 2022. As OneWeb grows their capacity, the list of future use cases could also widen, opening up the opportunity to explore the use of satellite for IoT backhaul and Fixed Wireless Access in rural areas.

The work with OneWeb shows the capabilities being developed by UK businesses in the pioneering area of space technology and follows the UK Government’s recently published National Space Strategy, which recognizes the enormous strategic opportunities on offer. BT, which boasts a heritage of nearly 60 years in space and satellite communication innovation, continues to explore a diverse range of partners across all its services, including space, to ensure the latest and best connectivity solutions are available for customers.

LEO broadband satellite operator OneWeb and communications, defence and security specialist Leonardo DRS have created a new partnership. The pair will now jointly offer a LEO service to the US Department of Defense.

Supported by a global network of gateways and user terminals, OneWeb’s global connectivity platform will provide high-bandwidth and low-latency connectivity to expand Leonardo DRS’s information and technology solution systems, products and technologies to support military and government markets. The partnership will enable expanded connectivity to offer versatile, agile, and capable US government mission support throughout the US.

“OneWeb and Leonardo DRS’s partnership will benefit DoD naval and maritime systems, ground combat mission command and network computing, global satellite communications and network infrastructure, avionics systems, and intelligence and security solutions. Using the power of OneWeb’s network, Leonardo DRS can augment its existing delivery of end-to-end Information and Communications Technology (ICT) solutions that are reliable, resilient, and secure by adding low latency service,” said a press statement.

“Leonardo DRS has been providing broadband services and enterprise IT solutions for close to 20 years. The company specialises in providing mission-critical solutions that meet complex communications requirements. These offerings include multi-domain information systems, network operations, cybersecurity operations, and resilient global telecommunications that integrate secure and reliable backhaul terrestrial networks and cutting-edge satellite service. The company’s key offering, the Leonardo DRS ICT Ecosystem, provides fully integrated, turn-key information technology and global communication solutions tailored to customers’ current and future requirements, so they can focus on their missions,” the statement added.

Leonardo DRS (DRS stands for ‘Diagnostic Retrieval Systems’) is headquartered in Arlington, Virginia, but acquired by Italy-based Finnmeccanica (now called Leonardo) in 2008.

SES, with Isotropic Systems, has tested a new, versatile antenna which the pair say will be a “game changer” as far as multi-satellite (and multi-orbit) connectivity is concerned.

The antenna has proven to successfully connect with SES’s satellites in their geostationary orbit as well as simultaneously connecting with an O3b satellite in MEO.

Currently, users are reliant on legacy ground antennas which only connect to a single network at a time. This industry breakthrough enables satellite end-users to combine the best attributes of all available networks achieving superior network uptime and application performance. Isotropic’s deep tech solution multiplies the performance of single antenna solutions to transform the global appeal of satellite connectivity, ensuring critical defense communications infrastructure and delivering multiple broadband access that are highly reliable, says an announcement.

SES and Isotropic give some examples:

• NATO and other international forces will finally be able to converge the most advanced military and secure commercial satellites, ensuring total mission assurance around the world.

• In the sky, aircraft pilots will be able to connect to the optimal satellites for navigation and ground communications, while passengers in the cabin can connect to entirely separate satellites in different orbits to access live television, super-fast broadband, and enhanced entertainment options with streaming and gaming.

• On the ground, the entire land transport sector will achieve ubiquitous, super-fast, always-on internet access, allowing people to work as if they were in the office even if they are riding on a train or bus, while remote locations can finally access high-speed broadband.

• At sea, ships can be tracked across the oceans, accelerating digital transformation for the shipping industry and super-fast internet will transform the experience for cruise ship passengers.

“We have removed the major bottleneck holding back the expansion of the satellite sector for both commercial and defense communications. Users can finally connect to as many satellites as they want, when they want, wherever they want and that’s a game-changer for enterprise, aero, maritime, government and defense,” said John Finney, founder and CEO of Isotropic Systems. “This test proves space is now open, as we mesh networks together in a way that is unparalleled, without compromise. We have delivered on our vision to combine the full performance of multiple antennas into one multi-link, solid state, software defined terminal without any restrictions.”

“The success of these multi-orbit antenna trials opens the door to a new level of multi-orbit service delivery, as we integrate our geostationary satellites with our second-generation low-latency, high-throughput O3b mPOWER system to provide seamless services for our customers,” said Steve Collar, CEO of SES. “Isotropic’s unique architecture enables our customers to be connected to multiple simultaneous beams from both GEO and MEO satellites, enabling us to deliver industry-defining performance and orbital resilience services. It is a game changer for resilient, secure, global networks built on SES’s state-of-the-art fleet.”

Mike Rudd, Head of Telecommunications Strategy at the UK Space Agency, said, “This is a significant breakthrough that will put UK technology developed by Isotropic Systems at the heart of meeting the unprecedented demand for global connectivity. It’s a great example of the innovation found within the UK’s growing space sector and has been made possible by our leading investments in telecommunications research through the European Space Agency.”

On Wednesday, October 27, 2021, China successfully launched an optical remote sensing satellite from a low-cost small, solid-fuel carrier rocket named Kuaizhou-1A (KZ-1A).

The satellite was launched from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in the northwestern Gansu Province, according to the state-run Xinhua news agency.

The Jilin-1 Gaofen 02F satellite was launched by a Kuaizhou-1A (KZ-1A) carrier rocket at 2:19 p.m. (Beijing Time) and entered the planned orbit. This is an optical remote sensing satellite that can provide high-resolution images and high-speed data transmission.

Kuaizhou-1A, Chinese for ‘fast ship‘, is a low-cost, small, solid-fuel carrier rocket requires only a short preparation period. Developed by the China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation, the rocket is designed to launch smallsats weighing under 300 kg, the report said.

Since the first commercial mission in 2017, KZ-1A rockets have sent 21 satellites into space.

Analytical Space (the “Company”) has closed a $17.8 million Series A equity funding round, enabling the firm to accelerate the development of the initial operating capability of the world’s first hybrid optical/RF data relay network.

In addition, the Company is officially rebranding to Hedron, effective immediately. Hedron represents a shortening of the polyhedron shape, a reference to the Company’s network topology and core optical communications technology design.

The round was led by Fine Structure Venture, joined by Lockheed Martin Ventures, Republic Labs, Lime Street, and Explorer 1 as well as existing investors: The Engine, Flybridge, Yard Ventures, NKM Capital, and Space Angels. These funds enable Hedron to expand its U.S. operations to support the company’s growing pipeline of government and commercial business.

The initial Network Operating Demonstration, scheduled to begin deployment in 2022, will serve as an operational service demonstration for Hedron’s resilient, low-latency connectivity service for satellites. Hedron will launch a series of data-relay backbone nodes, configured in multiple orbital planes, to provide near-constant connectivity to customer satellites, helping to deliver actionable insights about the Earth’s surface. The network will assist disaster response efforts, intelligence gathering, commercial applications, and climate monitoring. In addition, the network provides a capability to increase scientific return on NASA space missions as it is well-suited for supporting the future commercial architecture that is currently being created to replace the Tracking Data Relay Satellite System (TDRSS), which NASA plans to retire by the end of the decade.

Over the past three years, Hedron has successfully integrated and launched two technical demonstration satellites and proven out critical networking technologies that will enable customer connection to the network. In parallel with these efforts, Hedron has successfully demonstrated compatibility in a laboratory setting with leading remote sensing satellite operators in preparation for this initial network deployment.

Following the completion of this funding round and rebrand, Hedron will build upon these technical accomplishments by deploying additional orbital planes of data relay satellites, to provide broader network coverage for critical earth observation assets. These deployments will enable Hedron to rapidly scale the availability of data relay services for key government and commercial partners.

Fine Structure Ventures’ Senior Managing Director, Jennifer Uhrig, said, “We are excited to join Hedron as it strives to build a next-generation data network in space. The demand for satellite-generated data is growing rapidly and Hedron’s vision and technology will address the need to reduce latency and cost. We believe Hedron’s network has the potential to be a key driver of richer business and consumer applications here on Earth.”

“The availability of real-time space data will advance the art of the possible for customers and industry partners,” said Chris Moran, Vice President and General Manager of Lockheed Martin Ventures. “We invest in companies whose innovative technologies have the potential to benefit our core business and customers and Hedron’s planned data relay network which has the ability to provide critical insights to users meets this criteria.”

“It is an honor to be working with financing partners who have a track record of backing world-changing companies and we look forward to exploring potential commercial opportunities with them,” said Dan Nevius, CEO, and co-founder of Hedron. “Since our founding, our goal at Hedron has been to provide low latency access to space-borne data, paving the way for new sensor technologies and time-sensitive applications. Today, we are one step closer to reaching this goal. These additional resources will allow us to move even faster toward the deployment of our global data relay network, starting with our Network Operating Demonstration that will prove our novel network architecture and underlying technology while showcasing new applications with our remote sensing satellite operator and end-user partners.”

Hedron (formerly Analytical Space) is an on-orbit communications company on a mission to provide a more dynamic communications infrastructure that provides real-time access to the critical information that is collected on space platforms. The real-time connectivity enabled by the Hedron network creates a rapid commanding and data downlink capability that allows for data to be used for time-sensitive tactical applications (e.g., wildfires, disaster response, national security, etc.). Enabling this type of active intelligence provides a significant new tool in the world’s ability to understand and address major global challenges.

The launch of SES-17 has been delayed. Arianespace stated that investigations are ongoing in order to identify a new launch date from the Kourou spaceport.

The Ariane 5 launch vehicle and spacecraft SES-17 and fellow passenger SYRACUSE 4A are in stable and safe conditions on the launch pad, according to Arianespace. SYRACUSE-4A is a military satellite for the French defence ministry. Arianespace said that the flight, when it is rescheduled, will break previous records in terms of highest height, largest cumulative mass and heaviest payload ever carried on Ariane 5 missions.

The launch was due to take place at the Guiana Space Centre on the night of 22nd October (local time). Both satellites were built by Thales Alenia Space.

Eutelsat, in the company’s latest blog written prior to the announced departure of Rodolphe Belmer, stated that Ultra-high Definition (UHD) provides many advantages for content-makers and broadcasters and is important to the satellite industry.

One extremely important benefit in the need for UHD is in viewer retention, stated the blog. “While SDTV used to be the primary home entertainment, that quickly changed when HDTV hit the market. By 2016, only 37 per cent of US households were still watching in SD, which caused advertisers to reconsider their broadcasting choices.”

“Today,” said Eutelsat, “we’re beginning to see the same trend. According to Statista, HD TVs have been steadily losing global market share to UHD TVs since 2017. While high-resolution TV sets (4K or higher) held a 45.5 per cent market share in 2018, they accounted for over half of all TV sales worldwide in 2019. Indeed, in a recent study by Gfk, UHD TVs accounted for 75% per cent of the overall TV market in Germany.”

Broadcasters who do not want to lose viewers and protect their retention rate should seriously consider adopting UHD sooner, rather than later. This will help them avoid becoming irrelevant in much the same way as the switch from SD to HD, adds Eutelsat.

“According to a recent webinar with IABM & Christiano Benzi, UHD sets are well deployed in the market – but are not yet popular among broadcasters. Despite almost 50 per cent of TV sets in Europe and over 50 per cent in the US being UHD compatible, most channels are still broadcast in SD and HD formats. There is a clear reluctance on behalf of most broadcasters who see the investment to be too costly. However, this is sure to change – as more sets become enabled, consumer demand for quality rises. As observed with HD vs SD viewing, viewers naturally gravitate towards better quality and soon avoid other channels that cannot match their standards,” writes Eutelsat.

Indeed, Eutelsat is firmly of the view that UHD viewing as the standard is simply a matter of time.

“As most broadcasters are avoiding UHD, becoming an early adopter is an excellent opportunity for broadcasters seeking a key differentiator for their channels. This will make them more appealing to viewers and advertisers alike,” suggested Eutelsat, and continued, “As far back as 2012, advertisers have begun a mass exodus from lower-quality broadcasting. Advertisers in North America are already advertising on HD channels more than SD. The same is expected to happen with UHD. Eutelsat research has shown that early adoption of HD in developing markets has directly led to an increase in revenue for broadcasters who invest in them. The early migration in developing markets towards HD increased viewership, making broadcasters who invest in HD more attractive to advertisers.

“It’s no secret that quality attracts viewers and advertisers alike. In fact, better quality has been associated with an 18% higher retention rate, with higher quality channel advertising also outperforming the same adverts on lower-quality channels. This likely indicates that advertisers will eventually migrate to UHD for greater returns than stay on HD channels. Similar to how advertisers abandoned SD for HD. UHD is an opportunity for broadcasters to get ahead of the curve and become early adopters,” added the Eutelsat blog.

An Omnibus hearing on October 20th at the Intelsat bankruptcy court, under judge Keith Phillips, which itself had to postpone adjudicating on many of the matters scheduled to be heard, was told by the judge that Intelsat’s planned confirmation of its exit plan would likely have to be delayed.

Bankruptcy Judge Keith Phillips in Richmond, Virginia, said during a virtual hearing on Wednesday that he has “serious concerns about whether this can be accomplished in four days,” implying that the extensive evidence and testimony flowing around the case might take considerably longer that four days in front of the court.

The immediate suggestion from lawyers for Intelsat and other interested parties said they would discuss the judge’s suggested postponement of the hearing from the current November 8th start date to December 2nd. Intelsat needs approval of the plan, which is a key stage to the satellite operator wrapping up its bankruptcy, which has been ongoing since May 2020. Intelsat is looking to reduce its debt-burden of more than $15 billion to nearer $7 billion.

Rocket Lab USA, Inc. will attempt a controlled, ocean splashdown and recovery of the first stage of an Electron rocket during the company’s next launch in November.

The mission will be Rocket Lab’s third ocean recovery of an Electron stage; however, it will be the first time a helicopter will be stationed in the recovery zone around 200 nautical miles offshore to track and visually observe a descending stage in preparation for future aerial capture attempts. The helicopter will not attempt a mid-air capture for this mission but will test communications and tracking to refine the concept of operations (CONOPS) for future Electron aerial capture.

The ‘Love At First Insight’ mission is scheduled to lift-off from Launch Complex 1 in New Zealand during a 14-day launch window that opens on November 11, 2021, UTC. The mission’s primary objective is to deploy two Earth Observation (EO) satellites for global monitoring company BlackSky, with the secondary objective to splash down and recover Electron’s first stage to further validate Rocket Lab’s recovery operations and hardware.

Rocket Lab will be tracking the stage’s descent from space and as it approaches 19,000 ft (5.7 km) from the ocean surface, a helicopter will be dispatched to conduct reconnaissance of the returning booster. The ‘Love At First Insight’ mission will also include new recovery hardware developments to Electron including an advanced parachute to be deployed from the first stage at a higher-altitude, allowing for a slower drift back to Earth to test communications and tracking for future aerial recovery.

Electron also features improvements to the first stage heat shield which protects the rocket’s nine Rutherford engines while they endure up to 2200 °C heat and incredible pressure on the descent back to Earth. A team of Rocket Lab engineers and technicians will again be stationed at sea with their purpose-built Ocean Recovery and Capture Apparatus (ORCA) to retrieve the stage from the ocean and return it to Rocket Lab’s production complex in New Zealand for analysis and inspection.

“As one of only two companies to recover an orbital-class booster from space, we’ve proven it’s possible to make Electron the world’s first orbital-class reusable small launch vehicle,” said Peter Beck, Rocket Lab founder and CEO. “We’ve perfected Electron’s controlled descent, demonstrated flawless parachute deployment, and successfully plucked stages from the ocean. Now we’re gearing up for the next stage – preparing to use a helicopter to catch a rocket as it descends to Earth from space. It’s ambitious, but with each recovery mission we’ve iterated and refined the hardware and processes to make the impossible ordinary. I’m excited to take what we learn from this launch and put it into practice with aerial capture missions in future.”

The ‘Love At First Insight’ mission follows two previous ocean splashdown recovery missions; the ‘Return to Sender’ mission in November 2020, and the ‘Running Out of Toes’ mission in May 2021. A live stream of the launch and real-time updates of recovery operations for ‘Love At First Insight’ will be available on Rocket Lab’s social media channels and website.

Approximately two and a half minutes after lift-off, the nine Rutherford engines on Electron’s first stage will shut down and Electron’s first and second stages will separate. Electron’s second stage will continue with the customer’s payload to space, where the Kick Stage will separate and deploy the satellites. Following stage separation, Electron’s first stage will begin its descent. A cold-gas reaction control system will position the stage on an ideal angle to re-enter the atmosphere.

While descending, Electron’s first stage is expected to experience intense heat and pressure while traveling up to eight times the speed of sound before significantly decelerating to enable a drogue parachute to be deployed. At approximately seven and a half minutes into the mission, Electron’s drogue parachute will be deployed at around 43,000 ft (13 km) altitude. This drogue parachute both increases the booster’s drag and stabilizes its descent as it approaches the ocean.

Earlier and higher than on previous flights, the large main parachute will be deployed less than a minute after the drogue, at an altitude of 19,000 ft (5.7 km) to further slow the stage and enable a controlled splashdown. A key objective of this mission is to increase the drift-time of Electron’s first stage to test communications and tracking for future aerial recovery efforts.

Upon receiving the all-clear from the recovery team stationed at sea, a nearby helicopter will be deployed to sight the returning stage and observe its descent to record data that will help refine Electron aerial capture CONOPS. Once in the ocean, Rocket Lab engineers will attempt to retrieve the stage onboard their vessel with their purpose-built Ocean Recovery and Capture Apparatus (ORCA), a specialised cradle and winch system manufactured to Electron specifications and dimensions, before transporting the stage back to Rocket Lab’s production complex for analysis and inspection.

The ‘Love At First Insight’ mission is the latest in a multi-launch agreement signed earlier this year for BlackSky between Rocket Lab and Spaceflight Inc., which is providing integration and mission management services for BlackSky. This mission will deploy the eighth and ninth satellites of BlackSky’s planned constellation as part of that rapid-launch agreement, with another four Gen-2 smallsats across the two additional Electron dedicated missions to follow.

University students can now get ready to fly their satellite by applying to the European Space Agency now.

The European Space Agency (ESA) is encouraging CubeSat student teams, who are working on one, two or three-unit CubeSats with educational scope, to apply for the fourth edition of the Fly Your Satellite! program.

This opportunity is open to University teams, composed of bachelor, master and PhD students from eligible states, who are close to integrating their satellite*.

Selected teams will have the unique opportunity of turning their spacecraft system into an operating CubeSat launched to space by receiving direct professional support from ESA, dedicated training sessions, and access to dedicated state-of-the-art facilities.

The ESA encourages students to join the list of other Fly Your Satellite! teams who have had the chance to learn from their participation in this unique hands-on spacecraft program and apply working methods from professional space programs to your own space project.

*Note: New opportunities are expected to open in spring 2022 for CubeSat student teams who would like to benefit from the support in the consolidation of their design, or to get access to the CubeSat Support Facility.

Proposal Submission Deadline: February 6, 2022, 23:59 CET

A shortlist of teams will be invited to the Selection Workshop expected to take place in March 2022, at ESA-ESTEC in Noordwijk, the Netherlands.