The W-Cube smallsat is the first satellite that ESA has ordered from Finland and is part of ESA’s ARTES project, which is coordinated by Joanneum Research in Austria. Reaktor Space Lab (RSL) developed and manufactured W-Cube’s satellite platform. VTT designed, manufactured and tested the radio beacon system of W-Cube together with Germany’s Fraunhofer IAF. The satellite signal is measured at both the main measuring station in Graz as well as a corresponding station at VTT in Espoo, Finland.

The satellite is now modelling, for the first time ever, how a 75 GHz signal can penetrate the Earth’s atmosphere. This opens possibilities for the use of the high millimeter wave frequency range in communications satellites in the future.

A new frequency range and additional capacity will be needed already in the next few years when the number of data communication satellites increases and big flocks of satellites such as Starlink operated by SpaceX are deployed.

The penetration through the atmospheric layers by the signal needs to be understood before the frequency range can be used. W-Cube’s dual frequency radio beacon system sends a 75 GHz signal through the Earth’s atmosphere to the measuring ground stations.

The data from the measurements helps in modelling how weather phenomena in space and in the atmosphere affect the signal propagation and polarization. In addition, W-Cube broadcasts a 37.5 GHz signal, making it possible to compare the information on measurements with previous models with a low frequency range. To save battery power, the beacon signals are only switched on when they can be detected by measuring stations in Europe. At other times, the satellite charges its batteries via the craft’s solar panels. The satellite orbits the Earth approximately once every 1.5 hours and is visible to the Earth station (from horizon to horizon) for about 10 minutes at a time.

“Today’s lower frequency ranges are divided into narrow bands over which satellites and terrestrial radio links compete. Meanwhile, no bands in the high frequency range have been shared yet among the various applications. A free wide bandwidth enables rapid transfer of information and connections in, for example, the 5G and 6G networks and in remote areas such as Northern Finland. The European Space Agency ESA has a mission to offer these connections and in this way to invest in European competitiveness”, says VTT’s Senior Scientist, Jussi Säily. “We also hope that this will help Finland get into more sizeable satellite programs. The project is of great significance in the development of both skills and knowledge, as well as testing facilities. A testing environment for satellites has taken shape in Otaniemi through collaboration involving VTT, Aalto University and commercial actors. Ensuring the spaceworthiness of the satellite has challenging terrestrial testing in environments including exposure to vacuum, heat, and vibration”.,

W-Cube was launched into space on June 30, 2021, from Cape Canaveral, Florida, on a SpaceX Falcon 9 launch vehicle as one of the satellites on the Transporter 2 mission with 88 additional satellites. W-Cube was placed into orbit on July22, 2021, and the first contact between the satellite and the RSL ground station was established July 22 to 23.

“This was followed by a deployment process in which we made sure that all of the systems were working as planned after the stress of the launch into space. That phase reached its climax today with the broadcast and reception of the 75 GHz signal. After reaching this milestone, the propagation of the signal in the atmosphere under different conditions and at different times of the year will be monitored for at least two years”, said Jarkko Antila, CEO of Reaktor Space Lab.

HawkEye 360 is the latest company to join the Space Data Association (SDA), an international non-profit association of satellite operators.

Formed in 2009, the SDA works to support the efficient and reliable sharing of crucial data to enhance safety of flight via sharing of operational data and promotion of best practices across the industry. Members include some of the world’s major satellite communications companies.

HawkEye 360 is a Radio Frequency (RF) data analytics company that was founded in 2015. The company operates a first-of-its-kind commercial satellite constellation to identify, process and geolocate a broad set of RF signals. HawkEye 360 extracts and analyses this data using proprietary algorithms to solve challenges and identify critical insight. Its customers include a range of commercial, government and international entities

The SDA enables operators to pool their orbital data in a secure and controlled manner through its Space Data Center (SDC). With HawkEye 360 joining the SDA, the SDC now covers 275 GEO satellites and 506 LEO satellites.

Pascal Wauthier, Chairman, Space Data Association, said, “We are pleased to welcome HawkEye 360 as the latest member of the SDA. With the number of objects in space continuing to rise, it is vital that more data is shared amongst operators to preserve flight safety and reduce threats of impact. This can only be achieved by more operators working together to share operational data that contributes to enhanced safety.”

Lorin Metzger, Director of Space, HawkEye 360, added, “It is the responsibility of all space-based operators to ensure the future of space safety. HawkEye is committed to contributing data and insights which can improve space situational awareness for all operators. We look forward to working with the SDA to achieve its mission.”

For more information about joining the Space Data Association, please visit https://www.space-data.org/sda/why-join-2/

Rocket Lab USA, Inc. (Nasdaq: RKLB) (“Rocket Lab” or the “Company”) is now constructing a new production facility that is capable of supplying as many as 2,000 reaction wheels per year to fulfill the growing demand from satellite constellation customers.

The new production facility, which joins Rocket Lab’s existing 380,000 sq/ft manufacturing footprint, comes as Rocket Lab signs deals to supply reaction wheels for a number of undisclosed satellite constellations. The production line incorporates advanced metal machining centers optimized for unattended operation, automated production tools, and automated environmental testing workstations. More than 16 new roles are expected to support the new production facility and the growing Space Systems operations at Rocket Lab by the end of the year.

The new production facility is the latest expansion of Rocket Lab’s Space Systems business, which was strengthened in 2020 by the acquisition of Toronto-based Sinclair Interplanetary, a provider of high-quality, flight-proven satellite hardware including reaction wheels and star trackers. Sinclair Interplanetary pioneered high-reliability reaction wheels for small satellites and there are close to 200 wheels currently operating on-orbit.

Rocket Lab satellite components, including reaction wheels and star trackers, are now used in more than 200 satellites globally including BlackSky and Kepler Communications constellations. Since acquiring Sinclair Interplanetary, Rocket Lab has added 2,700 sq/ft of production facilities to the Sinclair Interplanetary facilities in Toronto, Canada, and has expanded the team to support higher production volume and enable R&D for new satellite hardware and products.

Rocket Lab founder and Chief Executive Officer, Peter Beck, said the new production facility leverages Sinclair Interplanetary’s heritage and marries it with Rocket Lab’s extensive experience with high-rate manufacture of aerospace components for the Electron launch vehicle to make what the Company considers best-in-class satellite hardware available to customers at scale. He said, “For the longest time, spacecraft and satellite components have been built individually by highly specialized engineers with a high price tag and long wait times to match. With the rise in constellations, the demand for high-quality components and spacecraft produced at scale continues to grow and we’re addressing the bottleneck head on. Halfway through 2021, we had already surpassed the total number of satellite components produced by Sinclair annually and we’re continuing to accelerate production to meet the needs of our customers.”

SpaceFund has announced their new, SpaceFund Labs idea incubator. The goal of this new division of SpaceFund is to capture and turn exciting ideas into funded businesses by creating a unique incubation plan for each idea that is accepted into the program.

The economic frontier of space requires vision, but also serious and sober business planning. In its central role as a venture capital firm in a field that is literally taking off, SpaceFund is often presented with ideas that aren’t quite ready for prime time but hold great promise as potential enterprises. SpaceFund Labs is designed to take these very early-stage concepts and build successful businesses around them, including team formation, financial planning, corporate setup, legal consultation, and more.

In coming weeks the incubator will be bringing on top performers in a variety of industries as new advisors. This distinguished team of cross-disciplinary experts will help with vetting, ideation and company formation. SpaceFund’s venture capital investment division will then assess each company for viability and when appropriate, lead the new company’s first investment round.

“SpaceFund Labs is about discovering and nurturing the most brilliant ideas in AI, biotech, fintech, materials science, quantum mechanics and more to enhance humanity’s future in space,” said Meagan Crawford, co-founder and managing partner of SpaceFund. “SpaceFund Labs will take the best ideas that apply to space and turn them into profitable businesses. Sometimes we see holes in the marketplace that no one else is trying to capture. It’s our job, even our responsibility to our investors, to go out and capture that value by creating stellar teams and solid businesses that can get it done.”

“We provide both the real-world knowledge of the most experienced minds in the space industry and the critical experience-based coaching of VCs and financial experts,” said Rick Tumlinson, SpaceFund’s founder. “The SpaceFund brand stands behind the best.”

For more information or to submit ideas for consideration, please visit this direct link…

Virgin Orbit has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) establishing a new collaboration with the Southwest Research Institute (SwRI), an independent, non-profit research and development organization.

Under the terms of the agreement, Virgin Orbit and SwRI will explore multiple specialized mission opportunities using the LauncherOne system coupled with SwRI’s deep expertise in space mission development. Additionally, the two organizations will explore potential opportunities for joint manufacturing of SwRI’s space platforms and delivery of space services to Virgin Orbit’s customers.

Virgin Orbit is developing partnerships to offer customers turnkey bundled services. Virgin Orbit and SwRI are particularly interested in collaborating on stewardship programs that would leverage space data to inform critical decisions around weather and for environmental monitoring purposes.

As part of the agreement, Virgin Orbit will assess the possibility of manufacturing SwRI Space Vehicle platforms at the company’s manufacturing hub in Long Beach, California. Virgin Orbit and SwRI will also evaluate opportunities to jointly develop and launch missions to space, including the deployment of satellite constellations, to provide comprehensive space service offerings to customers.

This past June, Virgin Orbit completed its second successful flight to space, Tubular Bells: Part One, which delivered several payloads for the U.S. Department of Defense Space Test Program to a precise target orbit.

“As the Virgin Orbit team works to build on our recent successes, we’re excited to join forces with organizations like SwRI to propel forward our mission of opening space for good. We’re especially looking forward to combining our uniquely responsive air launch capabilities with SwRI’s broad spacecraft expertise to provide turnkey solutions for our most pressing environmental challenges,” said Virgin Orbit CEO Dan Hart.

The Space Development Agency (SDA) is seeking responses to their Request for Proposal (RFP) to help build the Tranche 1 Transport Layer (T1TL).

T1TL is a mesh network of more than 100 optically interconnected satellites that provide a resilient, low-latency, high-volume data transport communication system.

T1TL will provide global communications access and deliver persistent regional encrypted connectivity in support of Warfighter missions around the globe by serving as the backbone for Combined Joint All Domain Command and Control (CJADC2) built on low-latency data transport and sensor-to-shooter connectivity.

T1TL will consist of six near-polar orbital planes of SVs in a 1000 km altitude proliferated LEO constellation, linked together to form a global space mesh network. SDA expects to make multiple awards from this solicitation.

Proposals are due by October 1, 2021 at Noon EDT.

More pertinent information is available at this direct infolink…

Rogue Space Systems Corporation and Firefly Aerospace have signed a Launch Service Agreement (LSA).

The agreement confirms that Rogue has secured the entire payload mass capacity aboard a Firefly Alpha rocket, scheduled for liftoff from Cape Canaveral in the fall of 2023.

In addition to being the anchor customer, Rogue Space will sign, manage, integrate, and deploy multiple customer payloads on the flight with their Fred OTV (Orbital Transport Vehicle) spacecraft. The agreement enables Rogue Space to offer their customers a cost-effective transport program for both dedicated and rideshare missions that require drop-offs at varying altitudes and inclinations in LEO and beyond.

This first agreement with Firefly sets the foundation for several programs Rogue plans to announce in the coming weeks and months ahead. The intention is to build additional launch capacity with Firefly and other launch providers with the goal of setting a cadence of launches targeting smallsat operators that wish to leverage the value-added capabilities of Rogue’s various Orbital Robots (Orbots) programs. Rogue is looking to begin seeding its Orbot services constellation into LEO beginning in 2022.

“This partnership with Firefly is an exciting milestone for Rogue Space and will enable us to offer our small satellite customers, and the wider space community, reliable and cost-effective launch services, with the added support and capabilities of our Orbots,” said Jeromy Grimmett, CEO of Rogue Space. “As we drop off our customers, we will have our Orbots available for observation, and in some cases, robotic assistance, to help ensure their deployment is successful, and their satellite comes online. Rogue’s mission is to increase the reliability and mission success of our customers, and the space community at large.”

“Firefly is proud to be selected as the launch provider for the first mission of Rogue’s Fred OTV,” said Eric Salwan, acting Chief Revenue Officer at Firefly Aerospace. “This innovative OTV will accelerate the development of space economy. We look forward to many successful missions with Rogue.”

The German Aerospace Society (DGLR) has awarded the prestigious Eugen-Sänger medal to Professor Klaus Schilling (Würzburg) for his outstanding achievements in the development of smallsats.

Advances in miniaturization technology have continuously decreased satellite mass and volume. Smallats already account for the majority of satellites launched into orbit. The shorter construction periods accelerate technology innovations and enable new applications.

“It is crucial that the disadvantages of miniaturization, such as increased sensitivity to harsh space radiation, are to be compensated by intelligent software,” said Professor Schilling.

On the microcomputers on board smallsats, algorithms for rapid fault detection, identification and recovery ensure reliable operation. Building on his experience in the space industry at Airbus, Schilling developed the University Würzburg’s Experimental satellites, or UWE, together with international students at University Würzburg. In 17 years of R&D, his team realized numerous technology breakthroughs for smallsats and proved them… on-orbit.

Today, the UWE satellites are considered a pioneering achievement: in 2005, UWE-1 was the first German pico-satellite with a mass of less than one kilogram. As a consulting professor at Stanford University from 2002 to 2006, he had in the initial period of cubesats in close cooperation with Professor Bob Twiggs, who defined this standard.

While the internet in space was initially in focus of Schilling’s research at University Würzburg, research emphasis for self-organizing, multi-satellite formations followed and crucial technologies were realized step by step until 2020, when the NetSat mission was launched. He was the founder of the private research institute Zentrum für Telematik as well as the company S4- Smart Small Satellite Systems GmbH. Both take advantage of the elaborated technology know how and close the chain to advanced smallsat products for New Space, in particular small and efficient attitude control systems.

Smallsats are already an economic reality and Schilling’s research is focusing on distributed, multi-satellite networks, performing complex joint observations, such as computed tomography, to characterize the interior of clouds for improved climate predictions.

“From the very beginning, Professor Schilling had recognized and promoted the importance of interdisciplinary technological cross-fertilization between computer science, automation, software development and robotics. His satellites impressively reflect this interaction of different components,” said DGLR President, Professor Rolf Henke.

Schilling is very pleased about the medal, which is considered the most important German award in the space sector: “This recognition is a great incentive for our team to continue intensive activities on sophisticated space technology. The medal recognizes contributions, that were only possible through the cooperation in interdisciplinary teams. My special thanks therefore go to the competent international teams that I had the privilege of coordinating.”

The award is named after the rocket scientist Eugen Sänger (1905-1964). In the 55 years of its existence, it has only been awarded 26 times to international space pioneers. Previous recipients were the rocket pioneer Wernher von Braun (1973), the founder of Germany’s largest space company OHB, Manfred Fuchs (1991), and also the astronauts Ernst Messerschmidt and Thomas Reiter (2017).

Spirent Federal Systems is collaborating with Xona Space Systems to develop simulation and test capabilities for Xona signals produced by smallsats operating in LEO. Xona is currently developing a smallsat constellation for a dedicated positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT) service.

Xona’s patent-pending approach using smallsats in LEO is intended to improve global PNT resilience and accuracy by both enhancing GNSS and operating as an independent system. Xona’s high-power signals use advanced signal structure and security techniques, improving jamming and spoofing resistance as well as multi-path mitigation.

The space and defense sectors also benefit from Spirent Federal’s expertise in generating high fidelity RF signals using quadrature (I/Q) data. Spirent test tools allow the full customization of I/Q data. Customers can generate unique I/Q data corresponding to experimental modulation schemes and use Spirent Federal’s signal generation capabilities to create the corresponding RF.

Such rapid prototyping allows for quick turnaround times and shorter iteration cycles. Alternatively, scenarios created using Spirent Federal’s proprietary SimGEN software can be saved as I/Q data which can be processed by software-implemented receivers.

“We do all we can to protect, toughen, and augment PNT and are eager to work with emerging companies like Xona who are developing a next-gen navigation and timing architecture,” said Jennifer Smith, Senior Director of Business Development at Spirent Federal. “Our simulators provide critical support to developers and integrators by enabling testing and validation before the product deploys.”

“Building a new generation of satellite navigation and timing services goes far beyond just the satellites,” said Brian Manning, CEO of Xona Space Systems. “It requires building an entire ecosystem from ground stations to chipset manufacturers to end users and systems integrators. Having reliable and trusted simulation capabilities is critical to support all of these areas, which is why we are thrilled to be working with Spirent to provide a robust solution to our partners.”