Cailabs and Astrolight entered into an agreement to launch a satellite mission hosting Astrolight’s space-to-Earth laser communication terminal ATLAS-1. The mutual objective of the mission is to establish laser communication downlinks and thereby demonstrate pointing, acquisition and tracking capabilities at gigabit per second data rates between ATLAS-1, manufactured by Astrolight, and Cailabs optical ground station (OGS).

This mission will increase the technology readiness level of both Astrolight and Cailabs systems and pave the way for further commercialization of both products. ATLAS-1 is a demonstrator version of Astrolight’s ATLAS product line. Future versions of ATLAS will achieve even higher downlink speeds of over 10 Gbps. ATLAS design is optimized for Earth observation satellites with specific attention to small size and low power consumption.

Cailabs is a manufacturer of turnkey and multimission-OGS. Having a space-to-Earth laser communication terminal (LCT) for testing optical ground stations represents an additional means of validation for the company and its customers.

“It is a great example of two companies joining forces in order to achieve a common goal — implement an optical communication system that will overcome the bottleneck of space-to-Earth data downlink”, explains Laurynas Maciulis, co-founder and CEO of Astrolight.

“We look forward to demonstrating reliable and stable pointing, acquisition and tracking between ATLAS-1 and Cailabs OGS over as many passes as possible. This is a fundamental prerequisite for developing a commercial data downlink solution that will be useful to our customers. Space-to-Earth optical communication is challenging and most of the missions so far have failed just in this first step”, he continues.

“We are delighted to be working with Astrolight on this ambitious project. Few players today offer high data rate laser communication terminals with a small SWaP (Size, Weight and Power) for nanosatellites. Cailabs is pleased to collaborate with an emerging European actor in this field”, concludes Pu Jian, Chief Product Officer and Deputy CEO at Cailabs.

OQ Technology has been awarded a 1.1 million euros contract to design, build, integrate, test and demo three, advanced smallsats that will feature multiple payloads, providing space-based, 5G, narrowband Internet-of-Things (IoT) communications services, an optical communications link as well as hyperspectral EO data to support precision agriculture as part of the ERMIS mission.

ERMIS [Hellenic Cubesat Demonstration Mission] is a pathfinder demonstration of key space connectivity capabilities linked to Greece’s 200M€ national small satellite project using a constellation of small satellites.

OQ Technology Hellas is a subcontractor and a key member of the ERMIS consortium that is led by the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA). Other members of the consortium include the University of Patras, the University of the Aegean and the National Observatory of Athens.

ERMIS-1 and ERMIS-2 cubesats built by OQ Hellas will host the payloads of OQ Technology Luxembourg to demonstrate 5G internet-of-things non-terrestrial network (5G-IoT-NTN) connectivity and additionally incorporate Inter-Satellite Link (ISL) to enhance its coverage.

The importance of 5G technology in satellite IoT rests in its ability to provide high-speed, reliable, and low-latency connectivity to a wide range of devices, including those in remote and difficult to reach locations. In satellite IoT, 5G technology enables the integration of satellite networks with terrestrial networks, creating a seamless and unified network that can support a wide range of applications, including smart agriculture, pipeline monitoring, transportation tracking, and much more. Moreover, 5G technology enables satellite IoT devices to operate in challenging environments, such as harsh weather conditions, remote locations, or disaster areas, where traditional communication networks may not be available.

Demonstrating and testing ISL for 5G IoT NTN will enable OQ Technology to offer enhanced coverage and faster speeds in delivering data to its customers reliably and seamlessly. The two smallsats will join OQ Technology growing 5G NB-IoT fleet. The technology is based on 3GPP Release 17 standardized 5G connectivity.

ERMIS-3, co-built by OQ Hellas with NKUA, will host payloads from the other members of the consortium to demo optical communications link and hyperspectral EO data to support precision agriculture.

The initiative underpins efforts – led by ESA on behalf of the Greek Ministry of Digital Governance – to expand the nascent space industry in Greece, enabling the digital transformation of society while creating jobs and generating prosperity, as part of the nation’s EU-funded Recovery and Resilience Facility. The ERMIS 4.8 million euros project is funded by the European Union – NextGenerationEU and by the Greek Ministry of Digital Governance.

“We are very pleased that Greece’s first small satellite constellation will be using game changing technologies in telecommunications, IoT/5G, hyperspectral imaging. A key and important aspect of our project is the cooperative nature of academia and industry leaders such as OQ. Working with a world innovator such as OQ will push national and European leadership in 5G/IoT and foster growth, new jobs and unique space applications which come with the use of 5G/IoT.” — Vaios Lappas, Department Head, Aerospace Science & Technology, University of Athens

“OQ Technology group companies are collaborating together on an European but also global level to leverage the capabilities and opportunities in these markets but also build new partnerships and skills – We work with global satellite manufacturers, nevertheless to accelerate our satellite 5G constellation deployment it is essential also to have the capability to deploy the ERMIS platforms carrying 5G NB-IoT payloads in the near future – We are very grateful to the European Space Agency (ESA) for granting our consortium the ERMIS opportunity, we are thankful to our trusted Greek consortium partners who made this proposal a success and we look forward to working together to bring ERMIS satellites to orbit soon.” — Omar Qaise, Founder and CEO, OQ Technology Group

Fleet Space has appointed Dr. Matteo Genna as the firm’s new, Chief Technology Officer (CTO).

Matteo has been building space and near-space systems for almost 30 years. After gaining his Ph.D. in Physics from University of California, Berkeley, he joined Palo Alto-based SSL (now part of Maxar), where he led teams designing and building high-power, GEO communication satellites, LEO imaging satellites and interplanetary spacecraft and systems. Prior to joining Fleet, he headed the Remote Sensing business unit at World View Enterprises, building High Altitude Platforms Systems (HAPS) that are designed to image and measure the Earth from the stratosphere.

Matteo’s three decades’ technical and commercial experience in satellite systems will be crucial to Fleet’s long-term growth strategy for the ExoSphere product, which is already operational with more than 30 customers around the world. Following a hugely successful C Series funding round, which raised A$50 million, Fleet’s next growth phase is focused on the North American market, where ExoSphere is currently deployed on nickel exploration projects in Michigan, Minnesota and Ontario, Canada.

Matteo will be based in Tucson, Arizona, adding to Fleet’s existing presence in North America, centered on the company’s HQ in Houston, Texas. The company’s first international office outside Australia, this was established following Fleet’s oversubscribed Series B funding round ($26.4 million) in November 2021.

“I am very excited and proud to be part of the Fleet team. Building space systems that positively impact our lives on Earth is a lifelong passion and it’s clear that in ExoSphere, Fleet has something very special – a genuinely transformative technology that addresses some of humanity’s most profound and urgent challenges. Fleet Space is not only at the forefront of satellite-enabled services, but it also boasts a highly dynamic team with big bold ambitions and clever minds that are determined to make it happen. I’m eager to leverage my experience and expertise gained over nearly 30 years in the industry to drive the development of groundbreaking solutions that will shape the future of our planet. With the exceptionally talented team at Fleet Space, we will continue to push the boundaries of what is possible and deliver exceptional value to our customers.” — Dr. Matteo Genna, Chief Technology Officer, Fleet Space

KSAT is expanding the KSATlite network with the addition of a new ground station in Jeju, South Korea.

Equipped with three standardized KSATlite ground systems, the newly established ground station in South Korea solidifies KSAT’s commitment to expand its presence in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region. The new ground station represents an expansion of coverage and increased capacity on the KSATlite network in line with KSAT’s ambition to provide reliable and efficient satellite communication solutions to customers worldwide.

The strategic location of the South Korean ground station enhances KSATlite’s capabilities to support a wide range of satellite missions with real time requirements, including EO and telecommunication. With robust tracking and control systems and standardized solutions, the network offers the ideal solution for smallsat operators to maximize their mission’s potential, capturing and transmitting data with seamless efficiency.

KSAT´s expansion into South Korea with the KSATlite antennas exemplifies the company’s dedication to meeting the growing demand of the global satellite industry. By establishing a presence in key locations worldwide, the KSATlite network provides customers with enhanced flexibility, reliability, and coverage optimized for constellation operators.

This expansion of the KSAT lite network is a result of the collaboration with Contec as the site owner in Jeju and local partner in South Korea.

Rocket Lab USA, Inc. (Nasdaq: RKLB) has announced that the company’s next Electron mission will deploy seven satellites to space and will include an attempt to recover the rocket’s booster after launch.

The ‘Baby Come Back’ mission, Rocket Lab’s 39th Electron launch, is scheduled to deploy from Pad A at Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1 in Mahia, New Zealand during a launch window that opens on July 14, 2023, UTC.

Rocket Lab is also planning to conduct a marine recovery of Electron’s first stage as part of this mission. Rocket Lab’s recovery team will retrieve Electron using a customized vessel and transport the stage back to Rocket Lab’s production complex for analysis. Data from this recovered stage will inform Rocket Lab’s ongoing recovery and reuse program.

The ‘Baby Come Back’ mission is a rideshare mission and will carry satellites for multiple customers.

Payloads aboard the ‘Baby Come Back’ mission include…

• NASA
  NASA’s Starling mission is a four CubeSat mission designed to test technologies to enable future “swarm” missions. Spacecraft swarms refer to multiple spacecraft autonomously coordinating their activities to achieve certain goals. Starling will demonstrate technologies for in-space network communications, onboard relative navigation between spacecraft, autonomous maneuver planning and execution, and distributed spacecraft autonomy — an experiment for small spacecraft to autonomously react to observations, paving the way for future science missions.

• Space Flight Laboratory (SFL)
  Space Flight Laboratory (SFL) selected Rocket Lab to launch Telesat’s LEO 3 demonstration satellite that will provide continuity for customer and ecosystem vendor testing campaigns following the decommissioning of Telesat’s Phase 1 LEO satellite.

• Spire Global
  Spire will launch two 3U satellites carrying Global Navigation Satellite System Radio Occultation (GNSS-RO) payloads to replenish its fully deployed constellation of more than 100 multipurpose satellites. Spire’s satellites observe the Earth in real time using radio frequency technology. The data acquired by Spire’s GNSS-RO payloads provide global weather intelligence that can be assimilated into weather models to improve the accuracy of forecasts. Spire is the largest producer of GNSS-RO weather data, collecting over 20,000 RO profiles a day.

“This mission demonstrates Rocket Lab’s ability to provide responsive space capabilities on accelerated timelines by making access to space possible for customers when they run into roadblocks. Electron is the world’s most reliable small launch vehicle and is demonstrating it can deliver customer’s payloads on their schedule.” — Peter Beck, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Rocket Lab

Mynaric (NASDAQ: MYNA) (FRA: M0YN), a provider of industrialized, cost-effective and scalable laser communications products, announced that it has been selected by Raytheon Technologies to supply optical communications terminals for the Space Development Agency (SDA) Tranche 1 Tracking Layer program. Raytheon Technologies was awarded the seven-vehicle mission satellite constellation in February 2023. Each satellite will feature three optical communications terminals, and a Ka-band, multi-beam payload for communications. Mynaric will supply 21 CONDOR Mk3 terminals to Raytheon for the program with the product deliveries expected in 2024. 

“This critical mission demands the very best in technology to ensure our nation’s security. Mynaric’s solution will enable us to achieve unparallel levels of data transmission and enhance our capabilities to protect and defend,” said Dave Broadbent, president of Space & C2 at Raytheon Intelligence & Space.  

The Tranche 1 Tracking Layer will detect, identify, and track hypersonic weapons and other advanced missiles from their earliest stages of launch through interception. Once fully deployed, the low-Earth orbit constellation of networked satellites will become the fifth plane of satellites providing missile warning and tracking for the U.S. Department of Defense. The program is a key element of the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture. 

“Our entire team is proud to support Raytheon Technologies and the SDA on this critical national defense program,” said Tina Ghataore, Chief Commercial Officer for Mynaric. “We have signaled to the market that our team works collaboratively with our customers to deliver industry-leading products that meet the SDA standards and requirements for interoperability.” 

Mynaric will also supply optical communications terminals to the 14 satellites developed by Northrop Grumman for the Tranche 1 Tracking Layer program. 

Mynaric’s CONDOR family of optical communications terminals is specifically designed for mass deployment as part of government and commercial satellite constellations. It has previously been selected by Northrop Grumman for the SDA’s Tranche 1 Transport Layer program, by Loft Federal for SDA’s Experimental Testbed NExT, by Telesat for the DARPA Blackjack program and others. In addition, Mynaric was named a key development partner for Phase 1 of DARPA’s Space-BACN program, was selected by the European Space Agency (ESA) to investigate optical technologies for next generation high-throughput optical inter-satellite links and was selected by the German government for multiple projects to develop quantum communication capabilities.