2021 Keynotes and Headliners

Fresh and creative business insights for the satellite industry is invaluable. However, in order to take advantage of these innovative ideas to form your strategic business plans, a rapid response to significant and germane ideas is required.

A critical factor in navigating these tricky waters is the art of listening to clients, colleagues and thought leaders who have already introduced successful and novel technologies to the industry and to adroitly absorb the presented, applicable knowledge.

Selected from organizations that are apt at building innovative satellite solutions, more than 100 speakers at Satellite Innovation 2021 are able to provide unique insight as well as pragmatic strategies.

Register day to join industry leaders that are focused on next-generation satellite technology and business.

Note: In-person and virtual attendance options are readily available.

Additional, Original Perspectives

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Libre Space Foundation‘s QUBIK mission is scheduled to launch on the September 2nd on Firefly Aerospace’s inaugural flight of their Alpha launch vehicle, scheduled to occur on September 2.

This mission will be supporting Libre Space Foundation’s QUBIK Mission as well as several other technical and non-technical payloads from around the world.

Launching from the Vandenberg Space Force Base, USA, the launch window is:

• September 03, 2021 – 01:00-05:00 UTC
• September 02, 2021 – 18:00-22:00 PDT, local time

The times are subject to change.

The Dedicated Research and Education Accelerator Mission (DREAM) provided a unique opportunity to schools, institutions, labs, non-profits and startups to gain access to space. Firefly Aerospace is hosting academic and educational payloads, free of charge, on this inaugural Alpha launch.

The QUBIK mission is comprised of two components, the QUBIK-1 and QUBIK-2 smallsats, measuring 5x5x5 cm, and the PocketQube dispenser, called PICOBUS. The PICOBUS deployer is the first, open-source, PocketQube deployer.

The QUBIK PocketQubes (pictured above, photo courtesy of Libre Space) are to be short-lived, with only ~3 weeks of predicted orbit lifespan. This short timeframe will suffice for a series of amateur radio experiments on Identifying and Tracking satellites early on, upon deployment.

The experiments will be conducted with the help of SatNOGS, the world’s largest open-source network of satellite ground stations. This is a network of 400+ stations in more than 50 countries around the world.

Libre Space Foundation (LSF) is a non-profit organization involved in designing and developing open-source, space-related technologies. LSF was founded in 2015 and focuses on supporting knowledge, scientific research and works toward making space accessible to everyone interested. True to the vision “for an Open and Accessible Outer Space for all,” the projects that LSF supports and maintains are opensource and available to everyone. Libre Space Foundation maintains collaborations with space agencies, university institutions, space organizations, libraries and companies that help make space an open environment for all humanity.

D-Orbit has signed an agreement with HyImpulse Technologies that’s aimed at a joint launch and deployment mission that will leverage HyImpulse’s SL1 launcher and D-Orbit’s ION Satellite Carrier.

SL1 is a three-stage, hybrid rocket designed to transport to LEO satellites of up to 500 kg. ION Satellite Carrier (ION) is D-Orbit’s proprietary orbital transportation vehicle designed to ferry a batch of satellites across orbits and release each satellite into a customized orbital slot, while at the same time operating multiple hosted payloads during a single mission.

This partnership will offer, for the first time, a combination of a launcher and orbital transportation vehicle that maximizes the mass of SL1’s payload to SSO and leverages ION Satellite Carrier to deploy satellites into orbits with distinct values of parameters like altitude, inclination and local time of the ascending node (LTAN).

The scope of the contract includes a study of a late payload integration that will enable third parties to board the launch vehicle as late as possible for use cases such as preserving pharmaceutical and biological payloads, apply last-minute changes to the manifest, and replace payloads that are suffering development delay with others that are ready-for-fly. The joint mission is targeted to launch in 2025.

“This contract marks the start of an alliance that will provide the first all-European rideshare launch service that enables smaller satellite operators to reach orbits previously out of reach for this category of spacecraft,” said Matteo Bartolini, D-Orbit’s Launch Manager. “By partnering with the launcher at mission design level, we can optimize the mass and other mission resources, significantly pushing the envelope of what we can do in terms of in-orbit transportation. This first partnership represents a major step in that direction, and we are proud of the fact that the entire operation will be done here in Europe with European resources.”

“We are excited to work together with D-Orbit and explore opportunities for future joint missions. By using our Small Launcher SL1 and D-Orbit’s ION Satellite Carrier, we are confident to satisfy all requirements of our customers. D-Orbit and HyImpulse both are great examples of innovative European NewSpace companies and together we offer new and disruptive solutions to the growing market,” said Dr. Mario Kobald, CEO of HyImpulse.

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…