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Sidus Space selects L3Harris for mission critical ops software for the LizzieSat™ constellation

Sidus Space, Inc. (NASDAQ:SIDU), a Space-as-a-Service satellite company that is focused on commercial satellite design, manufacture, launch, and data collection, has selected L3Harris Technologies (NYSE:LHX) InControl™ and OnTime™ software for command and control (C&C) and mission planning for the company’s LizzieSat™ (LS) constellation.

InControl will provide satellite command and control software for on-orbit, factory test and ground system monitor and control. InControl supports the full range of command and control system requirements, including telemetry processing, data display and analysis, constellation monitoring and control, onboard system management and ground equipment monitoring and control. It is designed to support a fleet of satellites, treating each satellite and ground station as its own mission.

OnTime is modular space mission planning software framework designed to plan, simulate and track mission success from inception to execution with user-specified levels of detail and plug and play capability with external tools. It is designed to aid mission planners by coordinating daily activities through a single user interface.

L3Harris will work with the Sidus team on full implementation of the two products at Sidus Space’s Cape Canaveral facility in the coming weeks in preparation for the LizzieSAT-1 International Space Station (ISS) Space Station Integrated Kinetic Launcher for Orbital Payload Systems (SSIKLOPS) deployed mission planned for Q4 2022.

LS are partially 3D manufactured LEO, multi-mission smallsats that are focused on rapid, cost-effective development and testing of upcoming innovative spacecraft technologies for multiple customers. LS is a 100 kg. (220-pound) satellite with space to rapidly integrate customer sensors and technologies.

“During our selection process we evaluated and received demonstrations of several existing and in development platforms,” John Curry, Chief Mission Operations Officer said. “The team determined that InControl provides the best solution for our Ground Operations, Training, Assembly, Integration & Test currently, while OnTime provides robust support for our mission planning, and both will scale easily as we deploy and manage our 100+ satellite constellation,” he said. “With our Space as a Service business model we must offer our diverse customer portfolio cost-effective, individualized operation of each satellite. With InControl’s ability to support each satellite and ground station as its own mission, we will be able to deliver on that commitment,” Curry noted. “The flexibility and scalability paired with the robust capabilities allow greater autonomy and allow for us to customize operations, expanding, when necessary, with less hardware and less complexity than other solutions which significantly reduces our overall operational cost.”

Sidus Space (NASDAQ: SIDU), located in Cape Canaveral, Florida, operates from a 35,000-square-foot manufacturing, assembly, integration, and testing facility focused on commercial satellite design, manufacture, launch, and data collection. The company’s rich heritage includes the design and manufacture of many flight and ground component parts and systems for various space-related customers and programs. Sidus Space has a broad range of Space-As-a-Service offerings including space-rated hardware manufacturing, design engineering, satellite manufacturing and platform development, launch and support services, data analytics services and satellite constellation management. Sidus Space has a mission of Bringing Space Down to Earth™ and a vision of enabling space flight heritage status for new technologies while delivering data and predictive analytics to domestic and global customers. Any corporation, industry, or vertical can start their journey off-planet with Sidus Space’s rapidly scalable, low-cost satellite services, space-based solutions, and testing alternatives. More than just a “Satellite-as-a-Service” provider, Sidus Space is a trusted Mission Partner–from concept to Low Earth Orbit and beyond. Sidus is ISO 9001:2015, AS9100 Rev. D certified, and ITAR registered.

Open Cosmos signs contract with ESA to develop the smallsat NanoMagSat constellation concept

Artistic rendition of the Open Cosmos NanoMagSat constellation on-orbit. Image is courtesy of the company.

Open Cosmos has announced their latest contract with the European Space Agency (ESA) on the NanoMagSat mission concept.

The NanoMagSat mission concept consist of a smallsat constellation to monitor the Earth’s magnetic field and ionospheric environment with an innovative revisiting time strategy and combination of instruments (one self-calibrated absolute scalar/vector magnetometer combined with star trackers on an optical bench, one high frequency vector magnetometer, a multi-needle Langmuir probe and two, dual frequency, GNSS receivers for recovery of Total Electron Content and ionospheric radio-occultation data).

The mission concept is proposed by a consortium from European entities. Open Cosmos, is responsible for the satellite and mission concept aspects. The French technology research institute CEA-Leti is focused on overseeing the payload and developing the magnetometers; University of Oslo is providing the Langmuir probes; and Spanish engineering companies Comet Ingenieria and Prosix Engineering are providing the deployable boom and optical bench. The Université Paris Cité’s IPGP, is the scientific lead of the mission.

NanoMagSat was selected as an ESA Scout candidate for an initial feasibility consolidation phase in 2020. The aim of this new activity is to de-risk all critical technical elements with the aim to propose NanoMagSat as a mission candidate in potential future calls of SCOUTs. These critical elements include a deployable boom, electronic components of the magnetometers and Langmuir probes, as well as the development of a satellite with a low electromagnetic signature. All these are key to ensuring that the payload matches the requirements to detect the targeted signals and meet the mission’s goals.

The activity will develop new technologies for expanding the roles smallsats can play in such missions: For instance, the boom needs state-of-the-art mechanical engineering to provide long arm deployment, compact packing, and very specific materials to maximise magnetic cleanliness. Similarly, all elements of the small satellite platform also need to be optimised for this.

Once these elements are de-risked, this will help Open Cosmos and the consortium to propose a mission concept aiming to cost less than €30 million and to be developed within three years, a fraction of the cost that such important complementary scientific missions have been in the past.

The current ESA Swarm satellites have been monitoring Earth’s magnetic field and ionospheric environment since 2013. They have helped researchers make a large number of scientific discoveries in regards to the dynamics driving their evolution, solar storms, the way the magnetic field organises the magnetosphere and ionosphere, the geology of what’s beneath Antarctica’s ice sheets, and even the migratory patterns of animals.

The consortium proposes a novel approach using a new constellation concept and low-cost small satellites to increase the temporal resolution at which the various components of Earth’s magnetic field can be recovered, as well as using a well-chosen payload to initiate new ways of sounding the ionospheric environment.

The innovative orbital strategy of combining a satellite in polar orbit together with two orbits inclined at 60° would provide an improved temporal revisit (the time it takes to return to and acquire data from the same location at the same time) of a little more than one month for latitudes within 60°N/S. It is also designed to work in conjunction with Swarm, should Swarm still be in operation at the time of launch. The approach is fully scalable with additional satellites that could be added to further increase this performance.

The Earth’s magnetic field protects our planet from damaging incoming energetic charged particles such as those coming from the Sun. The Earth’s magnetic field also organizes the way the near outer space (the magnetosphere) and the ionized upper layers of the atmosphere (the ionosphere) respond to solar activity.

This response can produce strong magnetic signals that can affect ground technology such as power transmission networks or, potentially, internet networks. It can also create radiation hazards affecting satellites in near outer space, and multiple ionospheric perturbations that can severely perturb radio transmissions, radars and GNSS systems – a group of hazards collectively known as space weather hazards.

Monitoring Earth’s magnetic field and ionospheric environment is key for investigating these phenomena, understanding their evolution and unraveling the underlying mechanisms, so we can better prepare for them in the future. It is also essential to aid accurate navigation, reveal properties of the shallow and deep Earth, and provide key information for geophysical surveying of minerals.

Florian Deconinck, Vice President of Institutional Partnerships & Future Missions at Open Cosmos, said, “This contract is a landmark for Open Cosmos and for the NanoMagSat mission concept. It is a concrete step towards making this mission concept feasible which if implemented would complement and expand on the results from renown missions like Oersted, CHAMP or Swarm. More generally it illustrates how ESA, the industry and academia can work together to show the potential of future micro-satellite constellation missions to significantly contribute towards big scientific challenges.”

Gauthier Hulot, PI of the project, Deputy Director for Science and Space at IPGP, Université Paris Cité, said, “It is crucial that monitoring of Earth’s magnetic field and ionospheric environment currently achieved by the ESA Swarm mission is maintained and improved beyond this very successful mission. This contract is a major step towards ensuring NanoMagSat can be launched soon enough to achieve this and demonstrate the possibility of permanently maintaining such observations with the help of low-cost scalable small satellite constellations.”

Open Cosmos designs, manufactures and operates satellites to solve the world’s biggest challenges. Open Cosmos is the perfect partner for those who want to monitor changes on Earth at a global scale, those who want to provide telecommunications services based on satellite constellations and those who want to test innovative space technologies in orbit. For more information visit www.open-cosmos.com, our Twitter and LinkedIn.

Launch Task Orders From Space Systems Command Go To United Launch Alliance + SpaceX

Space Systems Command (SSC) ordered eight National Security Space (NSS) launch services under the National Security Space Launch (NSSL) Phase 2 Launch Service Procurement contract today; five to United Launch Alliance (ULA) for GPS III-7, USSF-23, USSF-43, WGS-11+, and USSF-16 using the Vulcan Centaur launch vehicle, and three to Space Exploration Technologies Corp (SpaceX) for USSF-124, USSF-62, and one SDA-Tranche 1 mission using the Falcon 9 launch vehicle.

The distribution of missions between ULA and SpaceX is determined by the competitively awarded Phase 2 Contract launch service distribution requirements, which approximates a 60/40 split. These missions are planned to launch over the next two years and focus on a multitude of mission areas.

USSF-124 is a mission being conducted with SSC partners at Missile Defense Agency. It will be launched onboard a Falcon 9 rocket from the eastern range into LEO. The USSF-62 mission, to be launched onboard a Falcon 9 rocket from the western range into a polar orbit, includes the first Weather System Follow-on (WSF) satellite. The GPS III-7 mission is the seventh of ten projected GPS III missions, planned for launch onboard a Vulcan Centaur rocket from the eastern range into MEO.

USSF-16, USSF-23 and USSF-43 are classified missions to be launched onboard Vulcan Centaurs from the eastern range. The Wideband Global SatCom (WGS-11) mission is the last mission in the series and will be launched onboard a Vulcan Centaur from the eastern range into a geosynchronous transfer orbit. The SDA mission is the first of six missions launched by the Space Development Agency (SDA) for the Tranche 1 Transport Layer. It will be launched onboard a Falcon 9 rocket from the western range into a polar orbit.

“This action represents the crucial role the Space Force plays in putting vital space capability successfully into orbit to meet the emerging threat,” said Brig. Gen. Stephen Purdy, SSC Program Executive Officer, Assured Access to Space. “Now, more than ever, we must do everything in our power to ensure each National Security Space launch is successful; it’s the best way to stay ahead of our adversaries in the near term. We launch the nation’s “eyes and ears,” secure communications, GPS, and Space Awareness that provide our warfighters and national decision-makers with the vital information they need to protect our nation and allies.”

“We work closely with our launch service providers and mission partners to ensure launch capability exists to get our critical payloads to orbit on-time and without failure,” said Col. Chad Melone, Chief Launch Procurement and Integration Division, SSC. “ULA and SpaceX have highly capable launch systems and we have full confidence that they will meet our needs for the eight missions we ordered today.”

Space Systems Command (SSC) is the U.S. Space Force field command responsible for rapidly developing, acquiring, equipping, fielding and sustaining lethal and resilient space capabilities. SSC mission capability areas include launch acquisition and operations, communications and positioning, navigation and timing (PNT), space sensing, battle management command, control and communications (BMC3), and space domain awareness & combat power. SSC is headquartered at Los Angeles Air Force Base in El Segundo, Calif.

SDA Awards Million$$$ For Ground Control + Ops To General Dynamics Mission Systems + Iridium

General Dynamics Mission Systems (NYSE: GD), and Iridium Communications Inc. (NASDAQ: IRDM) have been awarded a contract by the Space Development Agency in the amount of $324,516,613, including a base amount of $162,954,122 and $161,562,491 in options, to establish the ground Operations and Integration (O&I) segment for Tranche 1 of the National Defense Space Architecture (NDSA).

Together, General Dynamics Mission Systems and Iridium will build ground entry points and operations centers for the NDSA as well as provide network operations and systems integration services for the SDA’s next tranche of proliferated LEO satellites.

The core operations and integration functions include enterprise management, network management, mission management, payload data management, and constellation monitoring that spans the ground, link, space, and user segments of the architecture. Working with partners at KSAT USA (KSAT Inc.), Raytheon and EMERGENT, the General Dynamics Mission Systems-Iridium team will develop, equip, staff, operate and maintain state-of-the-art, commercial-like operations centers, acquire and operate ground entry points, and lead ground-to-space integration efforts.

Photo of the Iridium ground Station, courtesy of Ivar Stakvik.

“We are incredibly proud to bring our long heritage of mission-critical space and ground communications and networking expertise to the Space Development Agency,” said Chris Brady, president, General Dynamics Mission Systems. “Together with our partners, we’re excited to build the foundation for the SDA’s initial warfighting capability and backbone of Joint All-Domain Command and Control.”

“Iridium, General Dynamics Mission Systems and the U.S. government have a long and successful history of working together and partnering on this project is a natural evolution of our relationship,” said Matt Desch, CEO, Iridium. “Iridium’s 25 years of experience operating in LEO makes us uniquely qualified for this opportunity, and we’re honored to take on this tremendous responsibility in support of this next generation network.”

Million€€ Investment In OneWeb + Astroscale’s Space Debris Removal Services

OneWeb, together with Astroscale Ltd.*, will seek to safeguard the UK’s satellite economy with new spacecraft technology, thanks in part to a new investment of €14.8 million. The mission to demonstrate Astroscale’s ELSA-M servicer will launch toward the end of 2024, with plans to deliver a debris removal service to satellite operators thereafter.

Astroscale’s ELSA-M engaged in a satellite rendezvous operation.

The announcement builds upon Sunrise, a partnership program launched in 2019 between the European Space Agency (ESA) and OneWeb to support the advancement of next generation technologies. This ranges from artificial intelligence (AI) for operating the satellites to new payloads, user terminal technology and supporting research in active debris removal.

This latest funding agreement will be in support of Astroscale Ltd. and the company’s UK partners. This will enable the complete design of the ELSA-M servicer, from conception and design to manufacturing and satellite pre-integration phase. Once complete, the servicer will be capable of capturing and removing multiple satellites in a single mission, once they reach the end of their operational lifecycle in LEO. A number of partnerships are being pursued to identify solutions for responsible management of space debris.

Massimiliano Ladovaz, Chief Technology Officer at OneWeb, said, “Responsible space is central to our mission at OneWeb and we are committed to sustainable practices in all the environments in which we operate. The development of the ELSA-M servicer prototype is another significant milestone towards a responsible approach to space, ensuring that our satellites can be de-orbited and that the low Earth orbit environment is protected as a natural and shared resource.”

John Auburn, Managing Director at Astroscale Ltd., said, “We’re putting our telecommunications services at risk unless we start cleaning up space. Astroscale’s ELSA-M servicer is designed to build on our ELSA-d demonstration mission to clean up orbital debris. This spacecraft will demonstrate our innovative rendezvous, capture and de-orbit capabilities with a full-size constellation client. We plan to launch our commercial service for satellite operators, such as OneWeb and others, soon after the in-orbit demonstration, with a vision to make debris removal part of routine operations by 2030. We are very grateful to the UK Space Agency for their continued support to develop this innovative technology, leading to our commercial services that will contribute to a sustainable economy in space.”

Elodie Viau, Director of Telecommunications and Integrated Applications at E.S.A., said, “It is vital to ensure the responsible use of space to protect today’s interconnected world, because our digital economy and society rely on the ability to communicate. I am proud of ESA’s track record in fostering innovation in the space industry in Europe, bringing to fruition new ways of ensuring the sustainable use of space, and of the role that ESA’s Partnership Projects play as a trusted partner for investors, operators and industry.”

UK Science Minister, George Freeman, said, “With thousands of satellites already in orbit and thousands more being launched every year, addressing the issue of space debris and finding new ways to remove defunct spacecraft and other types of space junk is of ever-increasing importance – to both reduce the cost of debris damage for satellite operators and ensure space is safe and sustainable. That’s why, the UK government has made space sustainability a key theme of our National Space Strategy and it is fantastic to see leading roles for UK companies Astroscale and OneWeb in this European Space Agency project, helping us continue to show UK technology leadership in this important area.”

Paul Bate, Chief Executive of the UK Space Agency, said, “Space debris threatens the satellites we depend on every day for vital services, such as navigation, banking and communications. That’s why the UK is taking action, by funding new commercial technologies to remove debris from space and working with international partners to lead efforts to promote sustainability. This latest phase of the Sunrise programme partnership between the European Space Agency, Astroscale Ltd. and OneWeb will develop an innovative spacecraft Servicer to remove multiple defunct satellites, putting the UK at the forefront of efforts to clear up space.”

Spaceflight launches five customer payloads aboard SpaceX’s Transporter-5 mission and debuts the firm’s latest OTV — Sherpa-AC

Spaceflight’s Sherpa-AC OTV.

Spaceflight Inc. has contacted its Sherpa-AC vehicle and confirmed the vehicle is operating nominally. This is the debut launch of Sherpa-AC, the latest variation in the company’s Sherpa orbital transfer vehicle (OTV) portfolio.

The Transporter 5 rideshare mission on board a SpaceX Falcon 9 lifted off from Cape Canaveral on May 25 headed to SSO, 525 km. Spaceflight successfully delivered all five customer payloads, including two hosted payloads on the Sherpa OTV, to their desired orbital destinations.

The Transporter 5 mission lifts off, carrying Spaceflight’s Sherpa-AC orbital transfer vehicle. Photo credit: SpaceX.

The Transporter 5 mission marks Spaceflight’s 51st launch, its sixth in 2022, and the first launch of the Sherpa-AC OTV model. Sherpa-AC, named for its “Attitude Control” capabilities, augments Spaceflight’s base free-flying Sherpa with key functionality including a flight computer, attitude knowledge and control, and more, making it ideal for servicing hosted payloads on orbit.

The Sherpa-AC is one of two variations Spaceflight plans to debut in 2022 as part of its Sherpa OTV program. Sherpa-LTC, Spaceflight’s first chemical propulsion OTV, is scheduled to launch later this year. Spaceflight’s Sherpa-ES, a bipropellant, high delta-V OTV, will launch aboard the much-anticipated lunar slingshot mission, GEO Pathfinder in 2023.

Earlier, Spaceflight celebrated its milestone 50th launch aboard the Rocket Lab’s “There and Back Again” mission. Following this mission, Spaceflight has successfully provided launch, integration and mission management services for 553 spacecraft across a global network of launch vehicles.

Organizations on Spaceflight’s Transporter 5 mission include Xona Space’s Huginn mission, NearSpace Launch Inc.’s TROOP-3, MIT Lincoln Laboratory’s Agile Micro Sat, and Missile Defense Agency’s CNCE Block 2.

​​“This mission is an important milestone for our company and will enable us to further validate our technology on orbit and continue to accomplish our company goals,” said Brian Manning, CEO of Xona. “The capabilities of the Sherpa and Spaceflight’s team have been key to enabling us to make very rapid progress through this critical development phase.”

“The success of this mission is another significant achievement for Spaceflight and our Sherpa OTV program,” said Curt Blake, CEO and president of Spaceflight. “Designing and delivering OTVs that serve our customers’ growing needs for in-space transportation in LEO, GEO and beyond, supporting hosted applications, or building space infrastructure is key to our vision to offer the most comprehensive launch solutions. We’re excited to continue expanding our offerings of in-space transportation services and execute more groundbreaking missions with our state-of-the-art OTVs.”

Author: Jodi Sorensen

Spaceflight offers a comprehensive suite of launch services and Sherpa® orbital transfer vehicles. The company provides launch flexibility to ensure customers’ smallsats get to orbit exactly when and where they want, through a combination of long-standing relationships with a diverse portfolio of launch partners, innovative satellite integration capabilities, including flight and ground support hardware, licensing and logistics management, and extensive mission management expertise. Based in Seattle, Spaceflight has successfully launched hundreds of satellites and is a part of the Mitsui & Co., Ltd. portfolio, operating as an independent, U.S.-based company.

ICEYE Launches 5 New SAR Smallsats Via The SpaceX Transporter-5 Mission

ICEYE has successfully launched five new SAR satellites — all spacecraft were launched on SpaceX’s Falcon 9 smallsat rideshare mission via EXOLAUNCH from Cape Canaveral, Florida.

Launch of the SpaceX Transporeter-5 mission from Cape Canaveral. Image is courtesy of SpaceX.

Communication has successfully been established with each spacecraft. ICEYE and ICEYE US have now deployed 21 satellites since 2018, including commercial and dedicated customer missions.

ICEYE’s satellite constellation is designed to provide customers with reliable and frequent imagery enabling the rapid detection and tracking of changes on the Earth’s surface, regardless of time of day or weather conditions. This capability is vital for government and commercial uses in various sectors, including insurance, natural catastrophe response and recovery, national security, defense, humanitarian relief and climate change monitoring.

The launch also included the second and third satellites built, licensed and operated by ICEYE US. ICEYE US, a subsidiary of ICEYE, established a satellite manufacturing facility early last year at its headquarters in Irvine, California. The newly launched ICEYE US satellites are licensed by NOAA and will be operated and controlled exclusively from the company’s 24/7 Mission Operations Center in Irvine.

Later this year, ICEYE plans on adding up to five additional satellites to its constellation including more satellites manufactured by ICEYE US.

Two of the satellites launched are provided directly to the Brazilian Air Force. The Air Force will operate the satellites in support of environmental and national security objectives. Due to Brazil’s cloudy weather, SAR satellites that can image the Earth during the night or through clouds have an important advantage in gathering actionable insights.

“The ICEYE team has launched 21 small radar imaging satellites in a few short years, which is a remarkable feat to accomplish,” said Rafal Modrzewski, CEO and Co-founder of ICEYE. “The world needs these sources of objective truth data now more than ever. With this launch, we’ll have increased performance and capacity to further support our customers and our growth across current and emerging vertical markets.”

“Expanding our fleet of US built satellites is a critical step that expands our capability to support our customers across the U.S. Government,” said Jerry Welsh, CEO of ICEYE US. “We are seeing a shift in the U.S. and international government sector that is now looking to fully leverage and integrate commercial remote sensing technologies into their collection architectures.”

SpaceX Transporter-5 Rideshare Mission Successfully Launches From Cape Canaveral SFS

On Wednesday, May 25th, a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched the Transporter-5 mission to LEO from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.

The 57 minute launch window opened at 2:35 p.m., ET, or 18:35 UTC. The Falcon 9 flew along Florida’s eastern coast over the ocean and may have been visible from the ground.

Main engine plumes as the Falcon 9 climbs to space.

Falcon 9’s first stage booster previously launched Crew-1, Crew-2, SXM-8, CRS-23, IXPE, one Starlink mission, and the Transporter-4 mission. After stage separation, the Falcon 9’s 1st stage returned to Earth and landed squarely on Landing Zone 1 (LZ-1) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.

SpaceX’s Falcon 9’s 1st stage successfully lands on Landing Zone 1 at Cape Canaveral SFS.

Transporter-5 is SpaceX’s fifth dedicated, smallsat, rideshare mission. On this flight are 59 spacecraft, including cubesats, microsats, non-deploying hosted payloads, and orbital transfer vehicles (OTVs).

All imagery is courtesy of SpaceX.

The Omnispace Spark-2™ Smallsat Successfully Launched Into Orbit Via The Transporter-5 SpaceX Mission

Omnispace and Thales Alenia Space successfully launched and delivered the Omnispace Spark-2™ satellite into orbit.

This marks the completion of the deployment phase of the “Omnispace Spark™” program, the initial phase in the company’s development and delivery of the world’s first 5G capable satellite network.

Omnispace Spark-1, launched in April of 2022, and Omnispace Spark-2 will now be used to advance and validate the development and implementation of Omnispace’s global, non-terrestrial network (NTN). As prime contractor, Thales Alenia Space designed and built the Omnispace Spark satellites with the help of industry partners: NanoAvionics, ANYWAVES and Syrlinks. Omnispace Spark-2 was delivered into orbit by Exolaunch aboard a SpaceX Transporter mission.

The new-generation NGSO satellite constellation in LEO will operate in 3GPP band n256, which has been standardized for NTN operation, making direct-to enterprise and government IoT as well as consumer device connectivity possible worldwide.

“Thales Alenia Space, along with this incredible team of innovators, was instrumental in making Omnispace Spark possible, and we are thankful for their expertise and execution. With deployment of the Omnispace Spark program now complete, we look forward to testing and advancing delivery of the first global, mobile network with direct-to-device connectivity from our satellites in space,” said Ram Viswanathan, president and CEO of Omnispace LLC. “Ubiquitous mobile connectivity will empower consumer, enterprise, and government users worldwide — creating economic opportunity like never before.”

“The success of the Omnispace Spark program is due to an impressive team effort between Thales Alenia Space and innovative startups,” said Hervé Derrey, president and CEO of Thales Alenia Space. “We’re very proud to support Omnispace in the deployment of the first global 5G network via satellite, which will open the door for new opportunities for mobile network operators, industry and end-users.”

“Being part of the Omnispace Spark Program and working closely with all companies involved has been a tremendous experience, crowned by the two successful launches,” said Vytenis J. Buzas, founder and CEO of NanoAvionics. “NanoAvionics’ strong relationship with prime contractor Thales Alenia Space allowed us to bring our modular and cost effective nanosatellite buses to the project as well as launch support and in-orbit operations.”

“The launch of Omnispace Spark-2 marks the next step in building the universal 5G network desired by Omnispace. Our payload antennas will be used to enable a direct connection, no matter where in the world the user is, meeting our commitment to enable disruptive technologies for the benefit of all humanity,” said Nicolas Capet, ANYWAVES CEO.

“At Syrlinks all the team follows with a great interest the successive launches of the Omnispace Spark satellites, onboarding Syrlinks Radio frequency payload solution. For such IoT (Internet Of Things) satellite service, any additional satellite placed in orbit is key to enlarge this innovative service coverage and penetration. It’s a new step toward the final objective of having a multiple-satellite constellation,” said Eric Pinson, director of Space activity at Syrlinks.

5G mobile connectivity from a single global network will help transform industries and serve as the communications infrastructure to support the digital economies of the 21st century. The network will empower mobile network operators, their customers and partners to fuel innovation, power industries, and connect billions of users. Follow the launch journey and learn more at Omnispace.com.

Omnispace is redefining mobile connectivity for the 21st century. By leveraging 5G technologies, the company is combining the global footprint of a non-geostationary satellite constellation with the mobile networks of the world’s leading telecom companies to bring an interoperable “one network” connectivity to users and IoT devices anywhere on the globe.

Strategic Plan For The Israeli Civilian Space Agency Forwarded By The Israel Space Agency

The Israel Space Agency within the Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology has presented the strategic plan for advancing the civilian space industry in Israel to the Minister, Orit Farkash-Hacohen. The plan, in a detailed manner, sets out the vision, objectives and targets as well as the activities that are required to achieve them.

The space industry throughout the world has been undergoing dramatic change in recent years, with space being opened up to private entrepreneurs and investors, so that it has become a growing and developing market. The strategic plan is introduced against the backdrop of this dramatic change.

The plan was devised at the request of Minister Orit Farkash Hacohen, who charged the Israel Space Agency to perform the strategic work of mapping the area of opportunities that are opening up for the State of Israel as a result of this dramatic change last December, and to consequently prepare a strategic plan for the development of the civilian space industry in the State of Israel.

The plan determines that the space industry can constitute a force multiplier and leverage for significant economic growth, for strengthening components of science and technology, and also for enhancing Israel’s international status. The plan contains measurable targets for the development of the Israeli space industry together with a long list of actions, for which the budgetary scale in the next five years is estimated at around NIS 600 million.

Artistic rendition of Israel’s Shalom satellite.

The Key Elements of the Strategic Plan for Space

The objective of the plan is to enhance the strength and independence of the State of Israel by positioning it as one of the world’s leaders in the space industry, as leverage for economic growth as part of the Israeli high-tech industry; to give a boost to science and technology; and to enhance Israel’s international status. To reach this goal, the plan defines four main objectives: (1) to strengthen and develop the civilian space industry in Israel, as a sustainable growth engine; (2) to strengthen and support scientific research in space; (3) to advance and develop the human capital that is required to further strength and growth in the space industry; (4) to enhance Israel’s international status in the field of space.

To enable the advancement of the plan, measurable targets will be set for developing the Israeli space industry. Among the targets for the coming decade are…

  • Doubling the number of space companies (from 60, at the present time, to at least 120)
  • Quadrupling the number of people employed in the space industry, from 2,500 to 10,000
  • Quadrupling the scope of annual sales made by the space industry, from $1 to $4 billion
  • Increasing the number of space researchers in the academic world, from 120 to 160 (an increase of 33%)
  • Increasing the number of high school graduates who have actually been involved in the space industry, from 200 to 4,000
  • Establishing international partnerships in the space industry, and increasing the Israeli presence in key multi- and international organizations

Among the activities that will be included in the plan:

  • Setting up a space-based National Data Center, which will allow the integration of the use of the deliverables from space within the activities of the government and additional entities, while supporting the space industry and space research.
  • Expanding the TEVEL program (“tevel” means universe in Hebrew and is also an acronym for “Students Build Satellites”), and transforming it into an international program that is connected with the IDF and with the academic world – a key tool for attracting high school students to get involved in technological professions in general, and for giving them a sense of capability regarding the space industry in particular.
  • The SHALOM satellite – a commercial and scientific satellite – a joint project between the Israel Space Agency and the Italian Space Agency, whose main tasks are: environmental monitoring, atmosphere, land and oceans, and precise agriculture. Its deliverables will allow the development of various applications by commercial entities, the deepening of the research in the field of remote sensing and additional technological developments.
  • Facilitating access to space for Israeli entrepreneurs, through the annual launch of an Israeli satellite to LEO, for the purposes of demonstrating and proving technological capabilities.
Students from Givat Shmuel building a smallsat at the TEVEL project.

Orit Farkash-Hacohen, the Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, said, “The civilian space industry is undergoing a global revolution. There is huge economic and commercial potential for the Israeli economy and for the Israeli high-tech industry. The plan that I have charged the Israel Space Agency to prepare, to advance this industry, will continue to develop the space industry in Israel in accordance with the future trends, and it will harness the extensive information and assets that Israel has in the space industry, from the defense industry, for civilian uses. Already at the present time, we can see more and more start-ups and research studies in this field, and it is our job to significantly increase their number.”

Hilla Haddad-Chmelnik, Director-General of the Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology, said, “We are standing at a critical point in time, when space is being transformed from the domain of governments to the domain of the private market, and this presents a huge opportunity for the State of Israel. Strategic investment in the space industry is critical for the civilian strength of the State of Israel, both from the economic aspect as well as from international aspects. This is a growing market, and the State of Israel has the ability to capture 1% of the global market share – this will bring about massive profits for the Israeli companies that are engaged in the industry, and for the State of Israel as a whole. In the strategic plan, we have chosen to focus on four aspects: the significant strengthening of the civilian space industry; state aspects of the space industry, the strengthening of space research; and the fields of education and the community, which will drive greater interest among students in the worlds of science and technology in general.”