French rocket startup, HyPrSpace, andPrecious Payload, a satellite launch provider, have teamed up to simplify the process for payload developers to reserve launches using HyPrSpace’s Orbital Baguette-1 (OB-1) rockets. These rockets can deliver 250 kg to LEO, with the maiden launch set for 2026. HyPrSpace caters to the needs of smallsats and satellite constellations with dedicated launches and rideshare opportunities.
The OB-1, (pronounced like the Star Wars character Obiwan), promises launches at half the cost of traditional micro-launchers. Its hybrid propulsion system employs a patented innovation, significantly reducing R&D and industrialization costs. Its architecture requires fewer components and has simpler geometry than traditional systems, eliminating the need for turbopumps. HyPrSpace was founded in 2019 by a team of space engineers who created its Orbital Baguette-1 (OB-1) micro-launcher and innovative hybrid propulsion technology, to provide cheaper, safer, and greener space access.
“HyPrSpace’s hybrid engines represent the next generation in space propulsion technology. We believe their approach, which can be scaled to serve a family of launch vehicles and space tugs, and have a potential to lower barriers to space access and enhance in-space mobility,” said Andrew Maximov, CEO and founder of Precious Payload.
Precious Payload is a space tech company that developed Launch.ctrl, a marketplace for satellite operators to book a launch and the necessary services to take their payloads from the ground to space. This process revolutionizes the way space access is bought and sold, with a wide range of launch providers listed on their platform.
HyPrSpace’s hybrid engines are non-explosive, posing less of a fire hazard compared to liquid propulsion. Embracing a greener approach, HyPrSpace’s technology can use various types of solid fuels, including recycled and plant-based HDPE, a type of plastic, commonly found in items like soap bottles, milk containers, and plastic bags.
Sylvain Bataillard, Co-Founder & COO of HyPrSpace, said, “The OB-1 is our leap towards a future of cheaper, safer, and more efficient space access. After two successful engine tests in 2022, we’ve scheduled full-stage configuration ground testing this year, supported by the General Directorate of Armament (DGA), which brings us a step closer to achieving our goal.”
HyPrSpace’s recent collaboration with the French Ministry of Armed Forces’ DGA, which grants access to the DGA Missile Testing site in Gironde, validates the way for further innovation and testing. This strategic alliance strengthens HyPrSpace’s potential to ‘disrupt the launch market’. This unique opportunity enables the company to plan its debut suborbital test launch in 2025.
Benchmark Space Systems has raised $33 million in Series B funding and has moved the firm’s headquarters to facilities that feature state-of-the-art testing systems plus 4x manufacturing capacity.
The funding round will enable the company to intensify new innovations and accelerate the strategic transition from R&D to production to meet growing demand for non-toxic propulsion systems.
Benchmark’s new HQ enables the company to scale manufacturing and cut production times with unprecedented in-house capabilities that include quality, performance and testing for new mission profiles.
The 40,000 square foot, Vermont-based facility features full end-to-end delivery capability from engineering through test and integration, including hot fire chambers, vibration tables, thermal vacuum chambers and lean production flow lines housed in ISO 7 clean-room environments. The advanced systems and expanded space will enable enhanced onsite team collaboration, predictable quality and visibility across all phases of program delivery for Benchmark’s complete product line of 1 milli-newton to 500 newton chemical and electric thrusters and propulsion systems.
This new facility enables a key objective for Benchmark to vertically integrate quality control, production, test and integration under one roof as a key enabler to scaling its delivery quality and on-time performance for the company’s mission partners.
The company is on the verge of delivering the first key shipments of all three product lines from the new facility to government and commercial customers this quarter. Benchmark’s operations leadership team estimates production will reach up to one-thousand thrusters per year on the new manufacturing lines.
Delivering on lead times at a consistent and high quality level is critical to support satellite operator manufacturing goals. The company estimates the new facility will improve lead times more than 30%, as the company dramatically cuts testing and production timeframes with new end-to-end, internal test and manufacturing capabilities.
The company is laser focused on providing non-toxic chemical, electric and hybrid propulsion systems capable of enabling in-space mobility and the emerging space economy. Benchmark is currently fulfilling contracts for dozens of its new Xantusmetal plasma thrusters (MPTs), with some on the verge of playing a key role in upcoming in-space servicing, assembly, and manufacturing (ISAM) satellite docking demonstration missions.
Benchmark combines the electric metal plasma thrusters with its high-test peroxide (HTP)-powered chemical propulsion systems to provide satellite and mission operators with go-fast and precision mobility capabilities in a non-toxic hybrid solution capable of enabling everything from station keeping and pointing of mesh networks to collision avoidance maneuvers. The company is producing hundreds of its 2N Lynx bi-propellant (HTP + fuel) thrusters this year to meet increasing demand for low Earth orbit (LEO) and cislunar missions.
Benchmark continues to innovate and collaborate in the assessment and thoughtful development of new propellants to meet both technical and geopolitical requirements, especially in support of government operations. The accessibility of HTP and the team’s proven ability to rapidly integrate and deploy new high-thrust, long burn duration engines are playing key roles in enabling the emerging space economy.
“Many of our mission partners are scaling to build dozens or hundreds of satellites per year. With this move we will be able to leverage multiple dedicated assembly lines and develop a mature supply chain to consistently produce quality systems at scale, including our Xantus metal plasma thruster and Halcyon Avant and Starling Ardent chemical propulsion systems.” — Ryan McDevitt, CEO, Benchmark
“Benchmark has become a trusted and proven propulsion partner and innovator across the space industry, and our new headquarters operation, with in-house production and testing capabilities, enables us to build on that trust and deliver on our commitment to meet growing demand. We’ve eliminated the need to ship thrusters and teams to specialized test and manufacturing facilities throughout the country for weeks at a time. As a result, we have greatly simplified and streamlined our operating and production model, which allows us to boost our agility and ability to support customers with even faster speeds to market for tailored and rapid deployment thrusters and propulsion systems.” — Wesley Grove, Chief Operations Officer, Benchmark
“Benchmark has transitioned to a new level of production and space mobility capabilities that allows our teams to serve more of the propulsion market with confidence that our standardized, specialized, and new thruster lines will be ready to go when our customers need them,” said . “With a pareto of market demand, and this operational transition in-phase, we can now inventory common subsystems and maintain our lead time advantage, as well as expand our mission planning services with hardware-in-loop and digital twin simulations. The result is our consistent ability to ensure our propulsion systems deliver the quality and performance necessary for highly critical and tailored operations in space.” — Chris Carella, Chief Commercial Officer, Benchmark
Maui’s fires continue to rage with a report of six dead and landmark areas reduced to ash. Maxar satelllite images compare photos of the same neighborhood on June 25 and the burnt remains of the same area on August 9.
The island’s famous banyan tree, one of the largest in the U.S., sent from India in 1873 reveals no vegetation on the tree when compared to earlier images.
The Lahaina Heritage Museum, has been reported to have burned so badly that the roof has collapsed and only its walls remain.
The Baldwin Home Museum, built in the 1830s is listed as the oldest home on the island has burned.
The Wo Hing Temple Museum has also been destroyed. The two-story structure was built in 1912 to be a temple and social hall for the island’s Chinese immigrant community.
Photo of a Rocket Lab Electron launch, courtesy of the company.
Rocket Lab USA, Inc. (Nasdaq: RKLB) has signed another block buy deal for five Electron launches with BlackSky (NYSE: BSKY), a leading provider of real-time, geospatial intelligence and global monitoring services.
Rocket Lab has launched six Electron missions for BlackSky since 2019, becoming the primary launch provider for BlackSky’s constellation. With these five new launches added to the manifest, BlackSky has contracted more Electron launches than any other single, commercial customer. The launches are expected to begin in 2024 from Rocket Lab’s Launch Complex 1 in Mahia, New Zealand.
Photo of Rocket Lab’s Launch Complex 1 in New Zealand, courtesy of the company.
BlackSky’s nexgen Gen-3 satellites are designed to produce images with up to 35 centimeter resolution. Increased resolution and enhanced spectral diversity extend BlackSky’s ability to provide real-time insights to its customers in a broad set of conditions, including nighttime, low light and challenging weather.
The new BlackSky launches join a busy Electron manifest in 2024 that featured missions for commercial constellation operators Capella Space, Kinéis, Hawkeye 360, and Synspective, as well as a variety of government missions.
“After four years of launching for BlackSky, we’re delighted to continue our partnership with more dedicated launches on Electron,. Building and maintaining a constellation requires precision deployment to unique orbits and a dependable launch schedule. We’re proud to deliver this dependable and tailored capability launch after launch, year after year.” — Peter Beck, Founder and CEO, Rocket Lab
The 20,000-square-foot, low bay clean room, located on the company’s Waterton campus, will feature six, scalable, parallel assembly lines and is configurable to host different classifications of missions concurrently. Built with flow and throughput in mind, the center is tailored to accommodate all stages of smallsat development, including spacecraft-level functional and performance testing.
The facility hosts dedicated testing capabilities, including thermal cycle and electromagnetic chambers, scaled to efficiently build and test satellites ranging in size from CubeSats to smallsats. The tailored fit reduces waste and optimizes energy and space, supporting the delivery of 180 satellites or more per year.
Lockheed Martin is currently developing more than 50 satellites for the SDA’s Transport Layer, which will provide military users with low-latency communication links through a resilient network of integrated capabilities from LEO. Lockheed Martin’s 10, Tranche 0 Transport Layer satellites are expected to launch this year, while its 42, Tranche 1 satellites will soon move into processing in the new factory to support a 2024 launch.
“Lockheed Martin is committed to providing advanced satellites of different sizes and capabilities to meet our customers’ needs and support their strategy to achieve greater orbital diversity,” said . “This new facility is one of many investments our company has made to lower costs and to deliver scalable solutions with increased speed and agility, to provide 21st Century Security solutions for our customers.” — Johnathon Caldwell, Vice President and General Manager, Military Space, Lockheed Martin
Lockheed Martin completes CDR for the SDA’s Tranche 1 Transport Layer Satellites
Lockheed Martin’s Tranche 0 Transport Layer satellites are seen in one of the company’s processing facilities.
Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) and the Space Development Agency (SDA) have also successfully completed the Critical Design Review (CDR) for SDA’s Tranche 1 Transport Layer (T1TL) program. The integrated system review validated that Lockheed Martin’s T1TL ground and space designs meet all mission requirements and can proceed to production.
The initial warfighting capability of the SDA’s Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture (PWSA), T1TL consists of 126 space vehicles divided into six orbital planes. Lockheed Martin is building 42 of those space vehicles for the transport layer constellation, which will provide assured, resilient, low-latency military data and connectivity worldwide to a full range of warfighter platforms using Link-16 waveforms and laser optical intersatellite links.
During the CDR, which took place eight months after a successful preliminary design review, Lockheed Martin and SDA worked closely to thoroughly validate the company’s T1TL satellite and ground designs, to include supplier designs. The CDR included various design validation tests and a successful system optical communications terminal interoperability test, in addition to many other analyses.
For additional risk mitigation, Lockheed Martin 3D-printed a full-size replica of the Tranche 1 satellite vehicle testbed during the CDR to optimize assembly, integration and testing.
With the completion of CDR, Lockheed Martin now begins the integration and testing phase of the program, which will use the company’s new, 20,000-square-foot small satellite processing facility that is designed for high-rate delivery, hosts dedicated test chambers, and can simultaneously accommodate multiple classes of missions. T1TL will be the first program to be hosted by the new facility, which helps transform our business operations to meet our customer’s needs with speed and agility.
SDA also contracted Lockheed Martin to build 10, Tranche 0 Transport Layer (T0TL) satellites, which are ready for launch this summer. SDA’s T0TL constellation serves as the first step toward building an interoperable, connected secure mesh network to support Joint All-Domain Operations.
“Between SDA’s critical support and engagement and Lockheed Martin’s lessons learned from our work on Transport Layer Tranche 0, we were able to achieve a precise review with successful results” said . “The strength of our relationships and thoroughness of the review positions Lockheed Martin to deliver the T1TL satellites on time for SDA’s 2024 launch.” — Chris Winslett, Lockheed Martin’s Director for the SDA Transport Layer programs
With operational smallsat constellations scaling fast, and regulatory controls for sustainability quickly emerging, Benchmark Space Systems has announced the commercial launch of the first-ever, driver assist, control system capable of managing highly precise, satellite maneuvers and travel through increasingly congested space.
The category-defining, propulsion solution, called SmartAIM™ (Smart Advanced In-Space Mobility), features an onboard software control solution embedded in Benchmark’s non-toxic chemical, electric and hybrid propulsion systems. Having a more intelligent and integrated mobility solution extends the guidance, navigation, and control (GNC) capability of any spacecraft to offer unprecedented tiers of autonomous flight – ranging from assisted ‘cruise control’ for station keeping and payload pointing to full-blown maneuver planning and execution for collision avoidance.
SmartAIM™ is now available in Benchmark’s common control system across product lines and will reduce operational costs and lead times associated with mission planning and system integration.
Benchmark also announced a strategic partnership with Kayhan Space to integrate the company’s Pathfinder spaceflight safety service with the SmartAIM™ platform. Pathfinder’s capabilities for optimized maneuver planning and autonomous space traffic coordination provide a unique and complementary offering when paired with Benchmark’s SmartAIM™ propulsion solution. This alliance will ultimately drive the full value of SmartAIM™ for collision avoidance and sustainable space operations. Benchmark plans to add Kayhan and other SSA companies to its extensive network of partners with complementary technology and services.
Benchmark has designed, developed, and thoroughly tested its SmartAIM™ intelligent propulsion offering, in part with funding and R&D support from the Air Force Research Lab (AFRL), and expects the first SmartAIM™-assisted flights to launch in 2024. The cooperative effort among Benchmark’s commercial and government partners has focused on eliminating the laborious, iterative manual satellite control functions, which have become cost prohibitive and unmanageable for many operators as their constellations dramatically scale.
Benchmark’s SmartAIM™ intelligent guidance, navigation and control solution runs on multiple streams of real-time data, from onboard sensors and data relays, that provide vivid situational awareness. The low-latency information feeds and onboard processing include the state of the propulsion system and satellite, where it’s been, where it’s headed, and efficient travel routes around potential issues or threats nearby or on the horizon.
The company expects the first SmartAIM™ systems to launch next year, beginning with collision avoidance and station keeping capabilities in space. The company’s technology roadmap includes next-generation features, which include advanced operator-assist and autopilot functions, in the late 2024 through 2025 timeframe.
Established propulsion providers are at an advantage when developing GNC capabilities. The integration goes beyond hypotheticals and is designed with the detailed specificities of existing avionics and propulsion systems for maximum optimization. By working in unison with additional effectors like momentum wheels, torque rods, and ACS thrusters – the GNC framework is designed for optimizing each maneuver, whether that be for power conditions, fuel preservation, or speed.
The company is laser focused on providing non-toxic chemical, electric and hybrid propulsion systems capable of enabling in-space mobility and the emerging space economy. Benchmark is currently fulfilling contracts for dozens of its new Xantus electric metal plasma thrusters (MPTs), with some on the verge of playing a key role in upcoming in-space servicing, assembly, and manufacturing (ISAM) satellite docking demonstration missions.
The company is also producing hundreds of its 2N Lynx bi-propellant (HTP + fuel) thrusters this year to meet increasing demand for LEO and cislunar missions. The intelligent maneuver control enabled by SmartAIM™ is being considered by a growing number of missions and operators deploying Benchmark thrusters and propulsion systems.
“The Low Earth Orbit ecosystem is not sustainable without driver assist technologies like SmartAIM™. Benchmark is in full production mode on propulsion systems for several government and commercial missions. Operators are not just looking to Benchmark to provide propulsion hardware, but a full life cycle partnership and innovative bundled mobility solutions to maneuver safely and confidently through space. Large constellations aren’t technically or economically feasible in today’s busy orbits if they’re being controlled with traditional manual and multi-step procedures. SmartAIM™ makes watching over constellations of dozens to hundreds of satellites far more manageable and sustainable. The operational equivalent of falling asleep at the wheel could lead to a Kessler scenario that wipes out a trillion-dollar global infrastructure.” — Chris Carella, Chief Commercial Officer for Benchmark Space Systems
“The game-changing benefits of having SmartAIM™ tightly integrated with Benchmark’s propulsion systems, the host spacecraft resources, and additional effectors, aids in scalability, performance efficiency and sustainability, and operator peace of mind. Operators can lean on Benchmark’s unrivaled propulsion expertise and not get bogged down with the technical details needed for scalable mobility operations in space. The efficiency of the driver-assist and autopilot modes enable operators to get a lot more mileage out of their propulsion systems – driving up mission sustainability while reducing overhead.” — Jeff Gibson, Head of Engineering, Benchmark
“The Kayhan Space mission is all about empowering satellite operators with the information and streamlined autonomous capabilities they need to safely and efficiently navigate through an increasingly congested space environment. We are thrilled to partner with Benchmark Space Systems and integrate with their SmartAIM™ intelligent propulsion solution to maximize safe and sustainable space operations.” — Siamak Hesar, Co-Founder and CEO, Kayhan Space
SpaceX was successful with the Falcon 9 launch of 22 Starlink satellites today, Sunday, August 6 at 10:41 p.m. ET (02:41 UTC on August 7) to low-Earth orbit from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Base in Florida.
This is the fourth flight for the first stage booster supporting this mission, which previously launched Crew-6, SES O3b mPOWER, and one Starlink mission. To date SpaceX has launched 4,881 Starlink spacecraft.
A successful stage separation, resulted in the first stage landing on the A Shortfall of Gravitas droneship, stationed in the Atlantic Ocean.
SpaceX is targeting Sunday, August 6 at 10:41 p.m. ET (02:41 UTC on August 7) for a Falcon 9 launch of 22 Starlink satellites to low-Earth orbit from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Base in Florida. If needed, there are two additional launch opportunities at 11:31 p.m. ET (03:31 UTC) and 12:22 a.m. ET on August 7 (04:22 UTC). Up to five backup opportunities are also available on Monday, August 7 starting at 8:35 p.m. ET (00:35 UTC August 8) until 11:57 p.m. ET (03:57 UTC).
This is the fourth flight for the first stage booster supporting this mission, which previously launched Crew-6, SES O3b mPOWER, and one Starlink mission. Following stage separation, the first stage will land on the A Shortfall of Gravitas droneship, which will be stationed in the Atlantic Ocean.
A live webcast of this mission will begin about five minutes prior to liftoff.
UPDATE: On Thursday, August 3 SpaceX‘s Falcon 9 launched the Intelsat G-37 mission to a geosynchronous transfer orbit from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.For the 213th time the booster landed successfully on the drone ship ‘Just Read the Instructions’.
The satellite has four deployable antenna reflectors for both C-band and Ku-band transmissions to serve television and telecommunication networks and the U.S. Government in North America.
The Ku-band payload offers mobile communication services and is jointly owned by Intelsat and JSAT International. The spacecraft built by Maxar is the last in a series of satellites to refresh Intelsat’s Galaxy fleet of satellites that operate over North America.
SpaceX’s next launch, Falcon 9 Block 5 Starlink is tentatively scheduled for Sunday, August 6, 2023 5:22 PM PDT SLC-40, Cape Canaveral SFS, Florida.
SpaceX is targeting Thursday, August 3 for Falcon 9’s launch of the Intelsat G-37 mission to a geosynchronous transfer orbit from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. The two-hour launch window opens at 12:15 a.m. ET (04:15 UTC). If needed, a backup opportunity is available Friday, August 4 with the same window.
The first stage booster supporting this mission previously launched Crew-5, GPS III-6, Inmarsat I6-F2, CRS-28, and one Starlink mission. Following stage separation, the first stage will land on the Just Read the Instructions droneship, which will be stationed in the Atlantic Ocean.
A live webcast of this mission will begin about 15 minutes prior to liftoff.
The launch of Galaxy 37/Horizons-4 (G-37/H-4) advances Intelsat’s comprehensive Galaxy fleet refresh plan. The G-37 C-band payload will provide North American capacity for television media and telecommunication network customers. The H-4 Ku-band payload will provide continuity for our mobility, network and U.S. government customers and will be owned jointly by Intelsat and JSAT International, the U.S.-owned subsidiary of SKY Perfect JSAT Corp.
iRocket has exclusive use of the High Thrust Research Facility at Edwards Air Force Base which can test up to ten million pounds of thrust. AFRL Courtesy Photo
Use of Edwards AFB test facility is powerful endorsement of iRocket’s success in transforming how launch vehicles are powered with clean, sustainable propellant and 24-hour reuse
Innovative Rocket Technologies Inc. (iRocket) has signed a cooperative research and development agreement (CRADA) with The Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) West to develop engines and stage technology for their next-generation fully reusable Shockwave launch vehicle. Members from AFRL’s Rocket Propulsion Division at Edwards AFB, California, and iRocket, a privately-owned corporation, agreed on the collaborative effort in June 2023.
“Collaborating with iRocket via a Cooperative Research & Development Agreement includes use of a key facility, equipment, and AFRL expertise to enable both sides to develop, build, test and transition U.S. rocket engines at a fast pace,” said Dr. Shawn Phillips, Chief of the Rocket Propulsion Division at AFRL. “iRocket will have the opportunity to further advance and demonstrate their high thrust technology. AFRL is very supportive of development efforts for rapid access to space to support Air Force and Space Force needs for 100% reusable rockets.”
iRocket is working to mature technology for their proprietary reusable landing engine technology, which uses liquid oxygen and liquid methane as propellants. AFRL locations and resources will be used to establish a capable testing site to support this objective. iRocket will be conducting propulsion, stage, and potentially grasshopper testing at Test Site 1-56, the High Thrust Research Facility, located at the Air Force Research Laboratory at Edwards Air Force Base. The High Thrust Research Facility is one of only four stands in the United States capable of 10 million pounds of thrust.
“This collaborative agreement with AFRL is an important endorsement of the progress iRocket is making to transform how launch vehicles are powered,” said Blake Larson, former president of Northrop Grumman Space Systems and member of the iRocket board of directors. “The Edwards Air Force Base test facility enables iRocket to demonstrate and advance its capability to serve both national security and commercial space missions.”
The Air Force is also providing additional resources to support iRocket, including Subject Matter Expert (SME) support, test setup components, and site facility support. iRocket is currently supporting the United States Space Force on a TACFI contract to support its rapid responsive launch capabilities.
iRocket announced the TACFI contract award from the U.S. Space Force Space Systems Command (SSC) on June 28, 2023. The test site at Edwards Air Force Base will be used for thefull-duration static fire test under the SSC contract, which includes a 120-180 second demonstration of 37,000 lbs. of sea level thrust.
“We are thrilled to work with AFRL Rocket lab, The High Thrust Research Facility at site 1-56 will be home to iRocket’s testing team to test our next-gen reusable engines and evaluation of grasshopper testing for our Shockwave vehicle”, said iRocket CEO Asad Malik.
“With this partnership, we have the opportunity to further our RDT&E efforts to advance responsive space capabilities of interest to the Department of Defense (DoD)” said Julie Carlile, Deputy Chief of the Rocket Propulsion Division.
This agreement is expected to create hundreds of new high-paying engineering jobs at the High Thrust Research Facility at Edwards, AFB, with multiplier effects for the regional economy in LA County and the California desert. iRocket plans to help transport thousands of state-of-the-art satellites to Low Earth Orbit (LEO), helping to shape the future of autonomous vehicles, Telemedicine, 5G High-Speed Internet, The Internet of Things (IoT), and online education.
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