News

Firefly Aerospace, Inc. has signed a multi-launch agreement (MLA) with L3Harris Technologies [NYSE:LHX] for three dedicated launches using Firefly’s Alpha vehicle in 2026.

This agreement further positions Firefly as a leader in small-lift launch services, as the company ramps up production of their Alpha vehicle to support the growing needs of government and commercial customers.

Firefly will provide rapid launch capabilities for L3Harris to achieve direct access to LEO at a lower cost and support the responsive space needs of the U.S. Government (USG). The three missions will launch from Firefly’s SLC-2 launch site at Vandenberg Space Force Base.

With the capability to launch more than 1,000 kg. to LEO, Firefly’s Alpha vehicle provides affordable, responsive, and reliable launch services for small satellites and spacecraft. Firefly is ramping up Alpha production at its rocket manufacturing and test site in Briggs, Texas, to support multiple government and commercial launches, while also doubling the size of its facilities to support the ongoing development of its medium launch vehicle that will first launch in 2025.

“Firefly is honored to support the ongoing mission needs of L3Harris as they continue to deliver satellite systems that advance our national security. Firefly’s team, facilities, and manufacturing capabilities are positioned to rapidly respond to industry demand for our small- and medium-lift launch services, ensuring mission success for each customer.” — Bill Weber, CEO, Firefly Aerospace

etherWhere has partnered with Xona Space Systems to develop a receiver capable of tracking Xona’s high-performance, multi-frequency PULSAR signals.

etherWhere’s PULSAR + dual-band GNSS receiver will be a one chip, low power solution that integrates all four GNSS constellations while receiving and processing the Xona PULSAR signal simultaneously. The single chip solution with single digit mW power consumption is intended to further enable IoT, asset tracking, mobile, precise timing, and secure geolocation applications.

etherWhere’s Hybrid Constellation solution, a mix of traditional GNSS receivers and LEO satellite receivers, integrated onto a single low power silicon, is the most comprehensive offering for applications requiring low power, redundancy, and security with anti-jamming and anti-spoofing technology.  etherWhere’s next generation small form factor GNSS products are adding support for Xona PULSAR signals.

Xona Space Systems is developing PULSAR, a nexgen position, navigation, and timing (PNT) service to address growing user demands for higher performance from satellite navigation technologies. PULSAR is provided by a constellation of small but powerful LEO satellites 20 times closer to Earth than existing GPS. This novel and patented architecture enables unprecedented benefits including enhanced multipath mitigation and higher accuracy, as well as stronger interference and spoofing protection. PULSAR can be easily integrated into a variety of solutions, including traditional GNSS receivers, to reduce customer engineering investment and enable quick time to market.

“We’re thrilled to work jointly with Xona Space Systems to provide unprecedented PNT performance to the end user with mass market user equipment. Integrating Xona PULSAR into our new products will empower users with PNT performance in the smallest form factor and lowest cost they’ve never witnessed before. There is tremendous value in what our PULSAR + dual-band GNSS receivers can achieve.” — Michael Raam, CEO, etherWhere CEO. “”

“We are thrilled to welcome etherWhere to the PULSAR ecosystem,” said . “etherWhere is on the cutting edge of developing high-performance PNT user equipment at very low power – Xona PULSAR will elevate the performance of their receivers to deliver even more value to their customers.” — Bryan Chan, Vice President of Business Development and Strategy, Xona

Umbra has engaged in a strategic partnership with European Space Imaging (EUSI), a leading provider of Very High Resolution (VHR) optical satellite imagery — this partnership will allow customers to purchase Umbra’s industry-leading Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) data directly through EUSI.

This collaboration offers a significant benefit to remote sensing data users across Europe and North Africa, as they can now acquire the world’s highest resolution, space-based, optical and SAR imagery – 30 and 25 cm. resolutions, respectively – from a single, local source. EUSI now has the unique position on the market to coordinate SAR and optical tasking to guarantee acquisitions independently from the weather and ensure the continuity of monitoring requests.

Under the partnership agreement, EUSI will gain the ability to oversee global tasking and delivery of SAR imagery for its customers using Umbra’s advanced satellite constellation and tasking platform. Umbra currently operates six satellites, with plans to launch more throughout 2023 and 2024. Renowned for their agility, the satellites can efficiently collect data in various modes and deliver single and multi-look SAR imagery with resolutions ranging from an industry-leading unrivaled 16-cm resolution in the ground plane up to 1-m for wider-area monitoring.

The introduction of SAR products into EUSI’s portfolio will unlock a myriad of opportunities across diverse sectors, including emergency response, maritime and defense and intelligence. SAR imagery is particularly valuable in these areas due to its ability to capture imagery at night and penetrate clouds, enabling users to gather critical information even in adverse weather conditions. Umbra’s highest resolution commercially available SAR data, flexible tasking, competitive pricing, and straightforward licensing further enhance the appeal to EUSI’s customers.

“Through our partnership with Umbra, EUSI solidifies its commitment to providing our customers with the most advanced and comprehensive geospatial solutions available. The integration of SAR data into our offerings will enhance our ability to deliver unparalleled insights and empower organizations across Europe to make informed decisions with confidence.” — Adrian Zevenbergen, CEO, European Space Imaging

“EUSI is one of the most respected and trusted brands in Earth observation, and their choice to bring us into their portfolio speaks volumes,” said . “EUSI are relentlessly focused on what’s best for their customers, which is how they’ve built decades-long relationships with the largest users of Earth observation data across the markets they serve. It’s an honor to be working closely with them, and another huge vote of confidence not only in our technology but in our whole service offering.” — Joe Morrison, VP of Commercial Experience, Umbra

Fleet Space Technologies (“Fleet”) has engaged in a collaboration with Thor Energy Plc (“Thor”) that will redefine their mineral exploration approach through cutting-edge, space-enabled technology.

This partnership will leverage EXOSPHERE BY FLEET® technology and Thor’s expertise to further the understanding of the Alford East Copper-REE Project in South Australia, underpinning more precise drilling to realize the site’s potential faster and with less impact.

The collaboration has also seen Fleet Space Technologies take an equity stake in Thor Energy, signifying both parties’ long-term commitment to the project. This latest major commitment for Fleet follows the successful completion of the company’s institutional Series C fundraising round and the signing of landmark contracts with the world’s largest and most innovative exploration companies including Rio Tinto and Barrick Gold.

Fleet’s state-of-the-art technology, paired with Thor’s expertise, will pave the way for more precise and efficient drilling campaigns. The Alford East Project will serve as the first step in a long-term, transformative partnership, combining space technology with mineral exploration.

The collaboration will drive ANT surveys using EXOSPHERE BY FLEET® technology initially over the northern part of the Alford East Project. This low-impact exploration technique harnesses natural environmental vibrations to analyse the Earth’s composition at significant depths.

The integration of this data with Thor’s existing 3D geological model will lead to a comprehensive understanding of structural and lithological controls on mineralization, facilitating the identification of high-potential drill targets.

Data is collecting using portable Geodes devices which capture subtle vibrations from both natural and human sources. The data collected is then promptly processed and efficiently transmitted through Fleet’s network of low earth orbit satellites.

The collaboration between Thor and Fleet will empower the accurate delineation of low velocity, weathered troughs housing oxide copper-REE mineralization. This partnership will also pioneer the targeting higher-grade oxide copper-gold mineralization by employing Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) methodologies.

Fleet Space Technologies will earn an equity interest in Thor through a strategic share subscription. This underlines the commitment to jointly accelerate mineral exploration and leverage technology to redefine industry standards.

The Alford East Copper-REE Project, located on the Yorke Peninsula, SA, is a significant area of focus for Thor Energy. The collaboration with Fleet Space Technologies promises to revolutionize exploration methodologies, resulting in more informed decision-making and streamlined drilling campaigns.

“This partnership signals Fleet Space Technology and Thor Energy’s shared commitment to innovation. The satellite enabled exploration approach made possible by Fleet’s Exosphere technology is driving greater efficiency and accuracy across the industry. We are delighted that Fleet has signalled its intent for a long-term collaboration at Alford East by taking a stake in Thor Energy that see us become partners in innovation as we work together to redefine exploration practices for the better.” — Nicole Galloway Warland, Managing Director, Thor Energy

“This partnership between Thor Energy and Fleet Space Technologies is further testament to what is possible when we fuse world-class exploration expertise with cutting-edge space technology. This has been an extraordinary period of growth for Fleet Space Technologies. We are proud to work with an increasing number of the world’s most progressive exploration companies to deliver faster, more accurate and ultimately less impactful exploration practices. By taking an equity stake in Thor Energy we signal our long-term commitment to redefining how minerals are found at their Alford East Project and beyond.” — Federico Tata-Nardini, Chief Financial Officer and Financial Strategy and Investment Officer, Fleet Space Technologies

UCAnFly, a CubeSat project from the University of Cadiz, Spain, is marking significant strides toward its own production and launch.

Part of the third edition of Fly Your Satellite!, an ESA Education program, UCAnFly is one-unit (1U, 10x10x10cm) CubeSat, with a mission to allow on-orbit validation of a magnetic measurement subsystem, MELISA-II, based on chip-scale magnetoresistive sensors with dedicated low-frequency noise reduction techniques.

The team was able to make noteworthy progresses in the past months, such as passing the Delta Critical Design Review, an important milestone that attests to the satellite’s robust design and engineering. The project has also undertaken the manufacturing and testing of the Qualification Model (QM), and in February 2023, the payload qualification model of UCAnFly has successfully passed the Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) test campaign in ESTEC (Netherlands), verifying that EMC radiated emissions and susceptibility of the payload are compatible with the requirements of the UCAnFly platform.

Subsequently, in May of 2023 at the CubeSat Support Facility in ESEC (Belgium), the payload environmental qualification has been completed, showcasing UCAnFly readiness to endure the extreme environment of space.

Furthermore, the project’s groundwork has focused on securing a laminar flow bench, integrated within the university laboratory to ensure a controlled environment with adequate cleanliness levels. This facility has been used to inspect and begin tests of the component-off-the-shelf units that compose the satellite.

The team is currently working toward the preparation of interface tests and FlatSat test campaign, with its interlinked subsystems spread out across a table, before the CubeSat is ready for integration.

Ten Lockheed Martin-built (NYSE: LMT) satellites were successfully deployed into LEO in support of the Space Development Agency’s (SDA) Tranche 0 Transport Layer (T0TL) mission.

SDA’s T0TL is a proliferated LEO constellation that will demonstrate low-latency communication and provide a resilient network of integrated capabilities.

The smallsats launched aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California and, soon after liftoff, SDA confirmed the separation of all 10 of the Lockheed Martin-built satellites from the launch vehicle.

Each satellite incorporates a Terran Orbital bus and payload processors. Terran Orbital developed the ten satellite buses for Lockheed Martin in support of this mission and were built on the company’s Zuma Platform, a smallsat class spacecraft that leverages the MKII Avionics platform, typical to the Trestles platform.

The smallsats are also equipped with SmartSat, Lockheed Martin’s software platform that makes it easier to dynamically add and quickly change missions in orbit through simple app uploads. The satellites also host Link 16 radios to introduce a terrestrial-proven network in space. Link-16 will enable sensor-to-shooter targeting by connecting systems that include fighter aircraft and Integrated Air and Missile Defense (IAMD) networks.

Lockheed Martin is currently building 42 satellites for SDA’s Tranche 1 Transport Layer (T1TL) and was recently awarded an agreement to build 36 of SDA’s 72 Beta variant satellites for its Tranche 2 Transport Layer (T2TL) constellation. The T1TL and T2TL Beta satellites will be assembled, integrated, and tested in Lockheed Martin’s new small satellite (smallsat) processing facility that is designed for the high-volume delivery of complete satellites.

“Lockheed Martin is proud to be part of SDA’s mission to rapidly bring a threat-driven, resilient set of integrated space capabilities to life. We look forward to contributing more of our expertise to this mission to strengthening deterrence and deliver advanced military capabilities in space.” — Joe Rickers, Vice President for Protected Communications, Lockheed Martin

Tomorrow.io and the firm’s two, pathfinder radar satellites — Tomorrow-R1 and Tomorrow-R2 — have successfully characterized precipitation intensity from space. This achievement places Tomorrow.io alongside NASA and JAXA as the only entities to have ever taken such measurements from orbit.

Following the successful launches of Tomorrow-R1 and Tomorrow-R2 satellites in April and June, respectively, the company has completed initial testing of both satellites and their radar payloads are fully operational. With the initial calibration complete, both satellites are entering their longer-term calibration and validation phase, paving the way for the high-fidelity, global precipitation measurements to be ingested into Tomorrow.io’s weather intelligence platform.

For the first time, Tomorrow.io demonstrated its ability in making near, real-time, radar-based forecasting financially viable for every point on Earth, closing a decades-old gap in life-saving weather forecasting. Currently, five billion people live outside radar coverage with no radar-coverage over the oceans.

As a commercially developed and privately funded enterprise, Tomorrow.io offers a revolutionary price-to-performance ratio enabled by private innovation. In contrast to government missions that have been limited by costs and single satellites, Tomorrow.io is building the de facto GPS network for weather, closing the decades-old gap in weather sensing from space.

Tomorrow.io has already been awarded more than $20 million in contracts from the Department of Defense (DoD) and is partnering on a Collaborative R&D Agreement with NOAA.

From farmers predicting crop yields to governments preparing for natural disasters, the benefits of the data provided by Tomorrow.io’s satellite constellation has the potential to be felt worldwide by every person, business and government on Earth.

“The precipitation measurements have already proven the overall system performance, providing significantly more insight into weather than existing satellite-based cloud-top imaging systems. With initial measurements completed, we are now in the process of growing the overall constellation to enable a revolution in weather forecast accuracy globally.” — John Springmann, Senior Vice President, Space & Sensors, Tomorrow.io

Spire Global, Inc. (NYSE: SPIR) has been invited by the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA), and has agreed to participate, in Phase 4 of MagQuest, a prize challenge to advance how Earth’s magnetic field is measured, with multi-million-dollar prize awards.

MagQuest is a multi-phase open innovation challenge designed to accelerate new ideas to increase the efficiency, reliability, and sustainability of geomagnetic data. During this phase of the challenge, Spire will design, develop and launch a satellite that will provide a novel approach to geomagnetic data collection for the World Magnetic Model (WMM).

The satellite will carry a first-of-its-kind diamond quantum magnetometer system developed by SBQuantum. Spire will demonstrate operations of the satellite system and provide data to NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information and NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center for assessment.

The WMM is used every day around the world and is embedded in thousands of systems. More than a billion smartphone users depend on the WMM for mobile navigation apps, and drivers rely on it to align the compasses in their cars.

Phase 4 of the challenge is set to conclude in September of 2026. There may be an opportunity for additional funding at the end of the challenge to sustain operations and data provisions beyond the three-year period. The results of MagQuest will inform NGA’s acquisition strategy for a WMM global magnetic field data collection capability, with an expected data procurement that can provide operational capacity by 2027.

“The MagQuest challenge is a prime example of how satellite technology plays a crucial role in powering technology and systems that each and every one of us use on a near-daily basis,” said . “We’re proud to leverage Spire’s expertise in satellite technology and existing infrastructure for manufacturing, ground stations, and data processing with SBQuantum’s magnetometer technology to provide a novel and more accurate solution to collect geomagnetic data.” — Chuck Cash, Vice President of Federal Sales, Spire

The U.S. Space Force (USSF) is exploring the ability of commercial providers to rapidly deliver both launch and on-orbit operations infrastructure. The USSF’s Space Systems Command‘s (SSC) Space Safari Program Office is partnering with the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) on the next Tactically Responsive Space (TacRS) mission, called VICTUS HAZE, to identify and build-out commercial capabilities to further enable the TacRS program. TacRS focuses on all aspects of the national security imperative to deliver on-orbit capabilities to the joint force with speed and agility.

VICTUS HAZE is related to VICTUS NOX and is a current, Space Safari TacRS mission that is expected to launch later this year. VICTUS NOX is leading the Department of Defense’s ability to launch and establish on-orbit operations in days rather than the months and years it typically takes.

The VICTUS NOX mission informed the VICTUS HAZE goals, which focus on end-to-end execution using commercial capabilities. Space Safari is leveraging commercial solutions that are quickly modifiable and will further reduce timelines, normalize the TacRS Concept of Operations, and increase the range of orbits that can be reached on short notice.

The program includes the logistics, ground segment, launch service, on-orbit operations, and spacecraft bus; which is the main body and structural component of a satellite or spacecraft that holds the payload and all scientific instruments.

DIU remains partnered with SSC on several projects, including; Modularity for Space Systems, Readily Accessible Propellant in Diverse Orbits, Hybrid Space Architecture, and Responsive Launch, among others. However, this is the first partnership between the Space Safari Office and DIU.

Established in January of 2021, Space Safari is an acquisition program office responsible for responding to high-priority, urgent space needs by rapidly acquiring, integrating, and executing missions supporting USSPACECOM requirements and other combatant commander needs. By working with DIU, Space Safari has expanded its reach by accessing the joint force’s end users as well as DIU’s network of commercial and industry partners.

DIU posted its Commercial Solution Opening (CSO) for TacRS in August of 2023 and plans to award contracts Fall of 2023.

“It is critical that we tap into and leverage commercially developed capabilities – ones that we can rapidly field to execute the VICTUS HAZE mission and then be able to count on for future TacRS operational needs. Our partnership with DIU provides the right ecosystem, expertise, and mission focus to execute the VICTUS HAZE mission and establish a robust partnership with commercial providers.” — Maj. Jason Altenhofen, Deputy for the Space Safari Program Office, SSC

“The number and complexity of adversary threats in space is constantly growing. To rapidly respond to those threats, we need to deliver the most advanced TacRS capabilities the U.S. has to offer. VICTUS HAZE will help provide the advantage we need to assess the threats and continue our ability to freely maneuver in space.” — Lt. Col. MacKenzie Birchenough, Materiel Leader for Space Safari, SSC

“We started a Small Responsive Launch program in 2017 with SSC to leverage low-cost, high-cadence launch to quickly put small payloads into low Earth orbit, and to deliver a payload to a specific address,. TacRS is taking this to the next level, tapping into the ability for the commercial space industry to provide risk reduction for dynamic space systems to conduct their missions while demonstrating a contingency response capable of inspecting and characterizing a threat on urgent operational timelines.” — Steven Butow, Director of the Space Portfolio, DIU

“Facing the challenge of rapidly connecting space vehicles, specialized payloads, launch services, and ground systems – DIU is perfectly suited to support the acquisition of these transformational technologies and ensure warfighter needs are met.” — U.S. Space Force Maj. David “Merlin” Ryan, Program Manager, TacRS, SSC