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HawkEye 360’s 7th satellite cluster starts operations in record time

HawkEye 360 Inc. has announced that the company’s Cluster 7 satellites have begun operation.

This latest satellite trio achieved initial operating capability in record time after successfully launching into orbit on April 15, 2023. A new 300 MHz whip antenna provides better coverage in the 270MHz – 330 MHz range, fueling more robust data collection.

The company’s rapidly growing constellation can collect data up to 24 times per day – as often as once every hour – over a region of interest, allowing HawkEye 360 to offer the most timely, actionable, and broadest commercial RF data and coverage on the market.

HawkEye 360 operates a growing constellation of 21 satellites that detect, characterize and geolocate radio frequency signals from a broad range of emitters used for communication, navigation and security. HawkEye 360 has geolocated more than 200 million RF signals, providing situational awareness to an array of activities, including early-warning radar activity, military activities, illegal fishing, illegal mining, and indicators of GPS interference.

HawkEye 360 will continue expanding the constellation to address clients’ increasing demands for RF Intelligence, aiming for a total of 60 satellites (20 clusters of three) in 2025. HawkEye 360 anticipates the launch of two additional clusters in Q4 2023.

“With the introduction of our seventh satellite cluster, HawkEye 360 showcases the profound impact that commercial space can have on national defense and global security while enabling us to uncover unprecedented insights into human activities and behavior,” said . “Our invaluable collaborations with the U.S. government and allied nations across the globe play a pivotal role in cultivating a safer planet, including safeguarding the Middle East and Indo-Pacific regions.”
— Rob Rainhart, COO, HawkEye 360

“As geopolitical tensions continue to increase around the world, Cluster 7 is extending and improving data collection in the 30MHz – 18 GHz frequency range to meet growing demand. With this latest satellite cluster operating in a polar orbit, HawkEye 360 will further enhance the global RF situational awareness we provide to our clients.”
— Alex Fox, Chief Growth Officer, HawkEye 360

Sidus Space to launch LizzieSat™ via SpaceX

Sidus Space (NASDAQ: SIDU) will launch hyperspectral and multispectral imaging as well as Edge Artificial Intelligence (AI) incorporated into the company’s LizzieSat™ satellite via SpaceX Transporter missions starting in 2024.

Raptor Photonics’ OWL (left) + Hawk (right) HD cameras

LizzieSat’s hyperspectral and multispectral imaging capability will be provided by the Owl 1280 and Hawk 1920 HD cameras made by Raptor Photonics. Sidus is building its space-based infrastructure of multi-mission satellites with hyperspectral, multispectral and other sensors to provide monitoring services and solutions to multiple sectors and industries.

Sidus’ sub-5m ground sampling distance (GSD) multispectral SWIR, coupled with sub-10m hyperspectral imagery capabilities provides the Company with a competitive advantage in serving the $55.6 billion smallsat market. Additionally, the Company’s robust ground coverage and Edge AI accelerates the receipt of actionable data sent to the ground by parsing key identifying information before transmission.

Sidus’ satellites are expected to circle the Earth every 95 minutes, with communication gaps less than 10 minutes on each orbit. This gap can be closed completely as additional ground stations are secured. This provides customers with satellite access near-real-time data transmission.

The Company plans to monetize its imagery both through previously negotiated contracts and through its agreement with Skywatch and others to sell imagery on their storefront. This hyperspectral and multispectral capability is also key to the Sidus’ strategy to generate recurring revenue streams from new customers as Sidus builds its LizzieSat constellation.

Sidus plans to launch its first LizzieSat on the SpaceX Transporter mission scheduled for later this year and has contracted with SpaceX to launch on four additional flights, with two currently scheduled for 2024 and two more scheduled for 2025, allowing the Company to establish a regular launch cadence for its customers. The Company plans to begin offering hyperspectral and multispectral imaging from its LizzieSats scheduled for launch on SpaceX’s transporter mission in the first quarter of next year.

“LizzieSat’s hyperspectral and multispectral imaging capability will provide potential data solutions for a variety of market verticals within the estimated $1 trillion space economy anticipated by 2040. Key industries that will benefit and provide markets for this imaging include agriculture, climate change, renewables, mining, and oil and gas. We look forward to further development of our LizzieSat constellation as we seek to develop and provide access to space-based data on-demand for any problem set or business need.”
— Carol Craig, Founder & CEO of Sidus Space

The Satellite Applications Catapult + Open Cosmos sign agreement for an OpenConstellation satellite

The Satellite Applications Catapult and Open Cosmos have signed an agreement to build and launch a key demo satellite to join the Open Cosmos OpenConstellation — the satellite will be launched as early as Q1 of 2024

The satellite will host a miniaturized Earth Observation (EO) payload, with integrated onboard processing capabilities able to acquire, process, compress, store and forward medium-resolution hyperspectral imagery for Atlantic coastal and maritime areas. The mission will demonstrate a concept of operations for a constellation performing pole-to-pole observation of the Atlantic Ocean involving systematic acquisition of images from pre-defined land and maritime targets, and on-board image processing.

The OpenConstellation is a global shared satellite infrastructure built and managed by Open Cosmos to provide diverse, frequent and reliable data of our changing planet. Countries, institutions and companies are contributing satellites to create the world’s biggest, mutualized constellation. Open Cosmos is already delivering satellites to the OpenConstellation, which have been contributed by leading space organisations in the UK, Spain and Portugal, and with Satellite Applications Catapult being a key UK partner. The constellation will provide key insights to address the climate emergency and monitor a sustainable use of natural resources.

This satellite will also demonstrate, on-orbit, some of the capabilities and solutions that a future constellation to monitor the Atlantic will deploy at scale. This constellation is an ambitious project to use data collected from satellites to deal with the challenges in the Atlantic Ocean from ocean pollution to illegal fishing. Data and imagery gathered from this satellite and others in the constellation will be used for marine ecosystem research and climate change monitoring, based on fast coverage and frequent revisits of areas of interest. Scientific organisations, commercial businesses and national and international governments will all be able to access this essential data.

The satellite is part of the Catapult’s In-Orbit Demonstration (IOD) program that is funded by Innovate UK and the UK Space Agency. The IOD program offers partners a fast-track, low-cost opportunity to test their service or technology on a CubeSat mission launched into LEO, accelerating the time to market for innovative products and services from space.

Open Cosmos had previously been selected as the satellite platform provider for IOD. Today’s announcement confirms that Open Cosmos will also provide the payload, ground segment, operations systems and data processing and distribution for the mission.

“We are delighted to have the Satellite Applications Catapult joining the OpenConstellation. This satellite will be instrumental in better understanding global environmental challenges – especially the ones affecting the Atlantic Ocean and coastal areas. Our mission is to make space more accessible and I am sure that together with the Catapult we can help a lot more organisations to have access to this critical information.”
— Rafel Jordá Siquier, CEO, Open Cosmos

“Open Cosmos continues to innovate and make exceptional progress as one of our leading small satellite companies. It’s testament to their success that they have not only been selected to provide the platform for this mission, but the payload as well, and that is down to the strength of their idea and their long-term goals for the OpenConstellation project. The IOD programme was designed for exactly this kind of mission and for companies leading the evolution of the sector like Open Cosmos.”
— Stuart Martin, CEO of the Satellite Applications Catapult

MDA selected by L3Harris for SDA’s Tranche 1 Tracking Layer constellation

MDA Ltd. (TSX:MDA) has been awarded a contract from L3Harris Technologies (NYSE:LHX) as part of the Space Development Agency’s (SDA) Tranche 1 Tracking Layer program.

MDA will design and build 14 flight sets of Ka-b,and steerable antennas and control electronics for L3Harris as part of SDA’s LEO constellation. The antennas and control electronics will be designed, built, assembled and tested at MDA’s state-of-the-art high-volume, satellite production facility in Montreal.

MDA technology has been integrated into more than 350 satellite missions to date, with more than 2,000 antenna subsystems and 3,000 electronic subsystems on approximately 850 satellites currently in orbit.

“We are very pleased to work with L3Harris on this important space security program as the need for space-based capability increases. This award from one of the largest U.S. defence industry primes is a strong endorsement of MDA’s best-in-class design and manufacturing capabilities and another example of our strategy in action as we expand MDA’s share of the growing global LEO constellation market.”
— Mike Greenley, CEO, MDA

ESA’s Partnership Project’s first Triton-X satellite enroute to inaugural flight

The first satellite developed under the Triton-X multi-mission platform program for low Earth orbit is on its way to be integrated onto the launcher for its inaugural flight. Developed under an ESA Partnership Project with LuxSpace, the small satellite, called Triton-X Genesis, will demonstrate the performances of newly developed and highly innovative elements including: the avionics architecture that embeds a high-performance on-board computer; a telecommunications system that will enable the ability to command, control and monitor the satellite; and a star tracker that provides high pointing accuracy of the satellite.

The satellite was built in less than 10 months using generic off-the-shelf building blocks, high-performance field programmable gate arrays and micro-controllers.

Triton-X is a new competitive and multi-mission European micro-satellite platform product line. It is designed to give low-cost and fast-track access to space for commercial and institutional applications in low Earth orbit.

Tailored to be compatible with the new generation small launchers, rideshare and hosted payload mission architectures, Triton-X Genesis is due to be launched on board a SpaceX Falcon 9 in October.

The Triton-X platform can accommodate payloads up to 90 kg for a wide range of applications including telecommunications, Earth observation, situational awareness and in-orbit demonstration and validation.

Triton-X is LuxSpace’s ultimate platform for micro- to mini- LEO smallsat systems. Designed as “multi-purpose” cost-effective products, the scalable and powerful Triton-X platforms are easily adaptable to various typologies of LEO missions and payloads, also in small and/or hybrid constellations.

Six ESA member states have subscribed to Triton-X Partnership Project. The program is led by LuxSpace in Luxembourg together with six industrial partners and 10 suppliers in Belgium, the Czech Republic, Germany, Portugal, Switzerland, and across Europe.

Triton-X is a new competitive and multi-mission European small satellite platform product line currently under development as part of ESA’s program of Advanced Research in Telecommunications Systems (ARTES). It is designed to give low-cost and fast-track access to space for both commercial and institutional applications in low Earth orbit.

UPDATE: SpaceX Dragon delivering replenishments to ISS + smallsats for deployment

On Monday, June 5th., at 11:47 a.m., ET, a SpaceX Falcon 9 launched Dragon’s 28th Commercial Resupply Services mission (CRS-28) to the International Space Station (ISS) from Launch Complex 39A (LC-39A) at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida — this is the fourth flight for this Dragon capsule.

Following stage separation, Falcon 9’s first stage landed on the Just a Shortfall of Gravitas droneship in the Atlantic Ocean, being the 198th successful 1st stage landing for the company.

Dragon will autonomously dock with the space station on Tuesday, June 6th, at approximately 5:50 a.m. ET (9:50 UTC). to deliver 7,000+ pounds of supplies to the ISS.

The SpaceX Dragon will deliver a pair of IROSAs (International Space Station Roll Out Solar Arrays) that, once installed, will expand the energy-production capabilities of the microgravity complex.

The spacecraft will also deliver the following:

Thunderstorm Watch
What Happens Above Thunderstorms (Thor-Davis), an investigation from ESA (European Space Agency), will observe thunderstorms from the space station. This vantage point will allow researchers to see the electrical activity from above, particularly the inception, frequency, and altitude of recently discovered blue discharges. Scientists plan to estimate the energy of these phenomena to determine their effect on the atmosphere. A better understanding of lightning and electrical activity in Earth’s atmosphere could improve atmospheric models and provide a better understanding of Earth’s climate and weather.

Helping Plants Chill in Space
Plants exposed to environmental stress, including spaceflight, undergo changes to adapt, but those changes may not be passed on to the next generation. Plant Habitat-03 (PH-03) will assess whether plants grown in space can transfer such adaptations to the next generation and, if so, whether a change continues through subsequent generations or stabilizes.The investigation will create a second generation of plants using seeds previously produced in space and returned to Earth. Results could provide insight into how to grow multiple generations of plants to provide food and other services on future space missions. This investigation also could support development of strategies for adapting crops and other economically important plants to marginal and reclaimed habitats on Earth.

Testing a Telomere Technique
Telomeres, genetic structures that protect our chromosomes, shorten with age and wear. But research has shown that telomeres lengthen in space. Genes in Space-10 will test a technique for measuring telomere length in microgravity, where methods typically employed on Earth are difficult to use due to gravity. The experiment will explore whether telomere lengthening in space is caused by proliferation of stem cells –undifferentiated cells that give rise to specific body components and that typically have long telomeres. Understanding the mechanism behind telomere lengthening could reveal possible effects on astronaut health during long-duration missions. Results also could lay the groundwork for a variety of related research to benefit future space travel and people on the ground. Genes in Space is a national contest for students in grades seven through 12 to design biotechnology experiments for space. The program is sponsored by miniPCR, Math for America, Boeing, New England Biolabs Ltd., and the International Space Station National Laboratory.

Thawing Ice, Solar Storms, and Attitude Recovery
Mission 26 for the station’s Nanoracks CubeSat Deployer (NRCSD) includes Educational Space Science and Engineering CubeSat Experiment Mission (ESSENCE), sponsored by the International Space Station National Laboratory and developed by universities in Canada and Australia. It carries a wide-angle camera to monitor thawing of ice and permafrost in the Canadian Arctic, which could provide a better understanding of the effects on Earth’s climate and support better local infrastructure planning. The satellite also carries a solar energetic proton detector to collect data on periods of solar activity that emit highly energized radioactive protons that can damage the structure and electronic components of spacecraft. Understanding these effects could help make future CubeSats more resistant to radiation. In addition, the investigation demonstrates a novel method to recover control of a satellite’s attitude, or orientation, if a control mechanism fails. ESSENCE is part of the Canadian CubeSat Project, led by CSA (Canadian Space Agency).

Watching Cosmic Weathering
Iris, sponsored by the International Space Station National Laboratory, observes weathering of geological samples exposed to direct solar and background cosmic radiation and determines whether changes are visually detectable. The investigation also demonstrates experimental sun sensors, torque rods (which provide attitude control and detumbling for satellites), and a battery heater. A collaboration between graduate, undergraduate, and middle school students in Canada, the project provides hands-on experience that promotes interest in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics studies and careers. Results also could provide insight into weathering processes on planetary bodies and, when combined with data from asteroid sampling missions, improve understanding of the origins of asteroids. Iris is part of the Canadian CubeSat Project, led by CSA.

Momentus to deliver 9 IoT sats to orbit for Apogeo Space

Momentus Inc. (NASDAQ: MNTS) has signed an agreement with Apogeo Space to provide orbital transportation services for nine satellites that are part of Apogeo’s planned, 100-satellite, Internet of Things (IoT) constellation.

Apogeo Space aims to build a constellation of smallsats that are capable of providing connectivity to IoT devices across the globe. The delivery with Momentus represents the second batch of nine satellites and another key step toward the creation of the 100-satellite network. The constellation is scheduled to enter service by the second half of 2023.

“We are thrilled to start this collaboration with Momentus, which will allow us to launch an additional nine picosats shortly and permit us to anticipate our road map of the deployment of a global telecommunication service for the Internet of Things. Since our first deployment of satellites, data can be retrieved from IoT devices anywhere in the world. We anticipate full coverage will be achieved by 2027 with almost 100 satellites with successive launches approximately every three months.”
— Guido Parissenti, CEO Co-Founder, Apogeo

“IoT satellites are a model of using space to benefit life on Earth,” said . “Use of the Momentus Orbital Service Vehicle is an efficient and effective way to support the deployment of large satellite constellations like Apogeo’s. We look forward to supporting them as they work toward full deployment of their constellation.”
— Chris Kinman, Chief Commercial Officer, Momentus

LeoStella manufactures + delivers their 20th smallsat

LeoStella has delivered their third satellite to Loft Orbital Solutions which also happens to be the 20th satellite manufactured by the company since formation in 2019.

This latest satellite was modeled on LeoStella’s LS-100 bus platform and delivered to Loft Orbital who extended their production agreement with LeoStella to secure additional satellites in support of their mission to provide a reliable path to orbit for any payload for customers.

LeoStella satellites have a cumulative on-orbit heritage of more than 31 years, reinforcing the firm’s reputation for providing high-mission availability to commercial and government customers.

The standardization of LeoStella’s smallsat bus enables the company to reduce production costs and timelines to deliver spacecraft efficiently and economically. LeoStella’s satellite buses are known for their ability to support multiple types of payloads without any added time required for mission-specific configurations.

“LeoStella is a trusted and proven satellite-bus provider. LeoStella’s commercial-off-the-shelf satellite buses help streamline our production timeline. Coupled with our technologies, we’re able to provide our customers with a fast and simple path to orbit.”
— Pierre-Damien Vaujour, CEO of Loft Orbital

“We’re proud of our ongoing relationship with Loft Orbital and their strategy of partnering with best-in-class bus providers. Our team manufactured and delivered another spacecraft in less than 13 months from the time of contract extension. Our production line’s efficiency and commitment to on-time delivery are significant for Loft Orbital in meeting their customers’ needs.”
— Tim Kienberger, CEO of LeoStella

World’s 1st hacking testbed in space to launch on the SpaceX CRS-28 mission on June 5th

SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket, with the company’s Dragon spacecraft atop, stands ready for liftoff at NASA Kennedy Space Center’s Launch Complex 39A in Florida on June 4, 2023, ahead of the company’s 28th resupply services mission to the International Space Station. Liftoff is scheduled for 12:12 p.m. EDT. Photo credit: NASA

Six cubesats are set to launch on SpaceX’s 28th Commercial Resupply Services (CRS) mission to the International Space Station (ISS), where they will be deployed — among these smallsats, the Aerospace Corporation will launch Moonlighter, the world’s first and only hacking sandbox in space.

A hacking sandbox is a form of cyber security technology that allows hackers to perform tests that could identify methods for preventing the hacking of satellite systems in space. Through this project, which is sponsored by the ISS National Laboratory and supported by Nanoracks, Aerospace will introduce the nation’s top cyber professionals to Moonlighter and its ability to fill gaps in cyber security testing in space.

Developed in partnership with U.S. Space Systems Command and the Air Force Research Laboratory, Moonlighter, a mid-size 3U smallsat, will enable real-time cyber security testing on-orbit for the first time. Moonlighter will allow cyber security professionals and some of the world’s best hackers to do space-based cyber experiments that are repeatable, realistic, and secure.

Moonlighter is a 3U cubesat developed to enable real-time cyber security testing on-orbit.
Image is courtesy of The Aerospace Corporation

Moonlighter will be part of Hack-A-Sat 4, an annual challenge supported by the Aerospace Corporation, the U.S. Air Force, and the U.S. Space Force, where finalists will get the chance to hack the CubeSat in orbit during DEF CON, a convention for hackers held in August. With a growing space-based economy and increasing competition in the space environment, Myrick said Moonlighter is a critical tool for strengthening cyber security in space.

In addition to Moonlighter, five student-developed CubeSats are also launching on SpaceX CRS-28. These CubeSats are part of the Canadian CubeSat Project, which was created to increase student engagement in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) and prepare the future space industry workforce.

SpaceX CRS-28 is targeted for launch no earlier than June 5 at 12:35 p.m. EDT. This mission will include multiple ISS National Lab-sponsored payloads.

“We wanted to build something new from the ground up to fill gaps in cyber activities in space, where the vehicles to do cyber security testing in orbit have not existed,” said . “When we say it’s a sandbox, Moonlighter is like a playground where we provide the space and the tools for professional hackers to perform cyber exercises and test out new technology. We hope this will lead to more cyber-resilient architectures for future space missions.”
— Aaron Myrick, project leader for Aerospace

Northrop Grumman’s rapid preparation in the Pacific Region for next-gen relay ground stations

Relay Ground Station-Asia (RGS-A) will be deployed in Guam and connect legacy and next-generation missile-warning and tracking satellites. Artist Rendering (Credit: Northrop Grumman)

Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC) recently completed a successful preliminary design review (PDR) of Relay Ground Station-Asia (RGS-A) for the U.S. Naval Information Warfare Center (NIWC) Pacific.

Aaron Dann, vice president, strategic force programs, Northrop Grumman said, “The preliminary design review exceeded our customers’ expectations and is the next step in delivering much-needed new capabilities to the Pacific region. Our advanced technologies will deliver what is needed to support missile-warning and missile-tracking satellites that protect our nation and its allies.”

The U.S. Space Force is working to transform the existing missile-warning system with the Future Operationally Resilient Ground Evolution (FORGE) system. A cornerstone of the FORGE architecture includes developing relay ground stations capable of supporting existing and new satellite constellations with the ability to handle changes in bandwidth and availability.

At Northrop Grumman, we’re on the forefront of national security and space exploration.

Northrop Grumman was awarded a $99.6 million five-year contract from NIWC Pacific last year to design, develop, integrate, test and deliver the relay ground station. The majority of the work will take place at Northrop Grumman’s campus in Boulder, Colorado.

NIWC Pacific will develop six antennas for RGS-A to enable the Space Systems Command (SSC) next generation Space-Based Infrared System (SBIRS) ground system which keeps legacy satellites in geosynchronous orbit. RGS-A will be deployed to Guam and is on schedule to be installed by late 2025.