Satellite executives spar over direct-to-device evolution
Original Publication Date: 2023-03-14 02:12
Executives are divided over how quickly this market could grow. Regulatory challenges, potential spectrum interference, customer demand are big question marks. Iridium recently announced a partnership with chipmaker Qualcomm to bring two-way messaging. Lynk Global is looking to develop constellations from scratch that would repurpose spectrum.
NASA planning to spend up to $1 billion on space station deorbit module
Original Publication Date: 2023-03-13 21:25
NASA released additional details March 13 about its fiscal year 2024 budget proposal. An outline of the proposal, published by the White House March 9, requested $27.2 billion. One of the biggest new initiatives in the budget is the ISS deorbit tug. It would be used to perform the final lowering of the station’s orbit.
L3 Harris wins $765.5 million contract to develop GeoXO imager
Original Publication Date: 2023-03-13 21:08
L3Harris Technologies wins $765.5 million NASA contract to develop imager. GXI will gather high-resolution visible and infrared imagery for monitoring weather, oceans. $19.6 billion budget for six GeoXO satellites, operations and support over 30 years approved.
Space Force pauses GPS satellite orders due to excess inventory
Original Publication Date: 2023-03-13 20:43
U.S. Space Force has purchased more GPS satellites than it’s been able to launch. Four GPS 3 satellites are awaiting launch. Lockheed Martin last month delivered the 10th and final GPS 3 satellite. GPS 3 is a modernized version of the U.S. Military’s Global Positioning System satellites.
Space firms regain access to Silicon Valley Bank accounts
Original Publication Date: 2023-03-13 19:19
U.S. Government moves to protect all deposits placed with the Silicon Valley Bank. Rocket Lab and Astra Space were among the most high-profile space firms exposed. Dozens of private space companies were also affected by the bank's collapse. SVB’s subsidiary in the United Kingdom is being sold to London-headquartered bank HSBC.
Getting real about space business models
Original Publication Date: 2023-03-13 17:08
Stan Crow is an astronautical engineer with 35 years of experience in space, technology, and business roles. He now advises businesses and investors globally. Many space systems struggle because they are trying to target a part of the market with too small a payload delivered relative to launch costs.
U.S. Space Force budget hits $30 billion in 2024 proposal
Original Publication Date: 2023-03-13 14:40
Biden's $842 billion budget request includes $30 billion for the U.S. Space Force. Most of the increase is for the development and procurement of missile-warning satellites. Space Force budgets have steadily risen since the service was established three years ago. The 2024 budget begins a transition to a more diversified satellite architecture.
UPDATE 2: Rocket Lab’s new launch date for sending the Capella Space smallsats to orbit – SatNews
Original Publication Date: 2023-03-13 00:00
Rocket Lab has set a new no earlier than launch date for the upcoming mission from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 2 in Virginia for Capella Space. Stronger Together will carry two 100-kg class satellites for Capella Space, a leading provider of commercial Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) imagery. Unfavorable weather conditions required Rocket Lab to cancel the March 11th launch of the Capella Space SAR smallsats.
Magellan Aerospace awarded SDA smallsat contract by Canadian government – SatNews
Original Publication Date: 2023-03-13 00:00
Magellan Aerospace Corporation (“Magellan”) has received a contract from the Government of Canada to design, build, launch, and operate the Redwing smallsat. When launched in 2026, Redwing will perform space object tracking to characterize an increasingly congested orbital environment.
AFRL selects ThinKom for nexgen gateway solution – SatNews
Original Publication Date: 2023-03-13 00:00
ThinKom has been selected by the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory to deliver a modular and scalable phased-array antenna solution to support ground segment operations. The ThinKom gateway array delivers a fully customizable solution, allowing for multi-beam, multi-orbit, multi-frequency services in a compact, low-power, resilient design.
Aalyria’s Spacetime to orchestrate network for Rivada Space Networks’ LEO Satellite Constellation – SatNews
Original Publication Date: 2023-03-14 00:00
Aalyria and Rivada Space Networks (RSN) have entered into an agreement to use Aalyria’s Spacetime platform to orchestrate the network for Rivada’s planned LEO constellation. Aalyria launched late last year after acquiring key networking and communications technology developed over decades within Alphabet, the parent company of Google.
L3Harris selected by NASA to develop NOAA GeoXO Imager – SatNews
Original Publication Date: 2023-03-14 00:00
L3Harris Technologies Inc. Has been selected by NASA to develop the imager for NOAA’s Geostationary Extended Observations (GeoXO) satellite program. The GeoXO Imager (GXI) is the primary instrument for the GeoXO mission. The instrument will provide real-time, high-resolution visible and infrared imagery for monitoring the Western Hemisphere’s weather, ocean, and environment.
Neumann Drive® propulsion system now integrated onto Australia’s Skykraft satellite – SatNews
Original Publication Date: 2023-03-14 00:00
Neumann Space has successfully completed integrating its world leading propulsion system, called the Neumann Drive®, onto Skykraft’s Australian designed and manufactured satellite. This marks the first time the Neumann Drive® has been integrated onto a satellite. The satellite is now undergoing final testing before being shipped to the U.S. For a scheduled launch in mid-2023.
SpaceX ready for Tuesday CRS mission to the ISS – SatNews
Original Publication Date: 2023-03-13 00:00
SpaceX is targeting Tuesday, March 14 for Falcon 9’s launch of Dragon’s 27th Commercial Resupply Services (CRS-27) mission to the International Space Station. The instantaneous launch window is at 8:30 p.m. ET (00:30 UTC on March 15) and a backup launch opportunity is available on Wednesday, March 15 at 8:08 p.m.
Study Finds Ocean Currents May Affect Rotation of Europa’s Icy Crust
Jupiter’s moon Europa has an internal ocean under its icy outer shell. New computer modeling suggests the water may actually be pushing the ice shell along. Cracks and ridges could result from the icy shell slowly stretching and collapsing over time as it is pushed and tugged by the ocean currents.
Russian Proton-M launches Olymp-K-2 military satellite
Original Publication Date: 2023-03-12 23:52
Olymp-K satellites are Russian geostationary satellites built for Russian military and intelligence use. The satellites are believed to serve two purposes. The first purpose is to conduct signals intelligence (SIGINT) and the second is to provide secure communications lines for governmental use.