Tag: Satellite

Rocket Lab Launches South Korean Disaster-Monitoring Satellite After Delay

SPACE reports, “Rocket Lab launched a South Korean disaster-monitoring satellite from New Zealand on Thursday (Jan. 29), about six weeks later than originally planned. A 59-foot-tall (18-meter-tall) Electron rocket launched the ‘Bridging the Swarm’ mission from Rocket Lab’s New Zealand site on Thursday at 8:21 p.m. EST (0121 GMT and 2:21 p.m. local New Zealand time on Jan. 30).”
Full Story (SPACE)

Video

Rocket Lab launches the “Bridging the Swarm” mission from New Zealand. (Launch occurs at the 52:02 mark)
Space Affairs; YouTube

DIU Expands Vendor Pool for ‘Hybrid Space Architecture’ Program

Breaking Defense reports, “The Pentagon’s Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) has added 13 more companies to its pool of contractors developing an ambitious multi-agency effort to create a multi-orbit, public-private satellite communications (SATCOM) network largely impervious to jamming — with the goal of launching a pilot in 2026. The move, announced Monday by DIU, brings the total number of companies, ranging from software startups to big defense primes, participating in the ‘Hybrid Space Architecture’ program to 25.”
Full Story (Breaking Defense)

Sierra Space Marks Third Testing Milestone on Resilient GPS (R-GPS) Technology for USSF

Inside GNSS reports, “Sierra Space, a leading commercial space company and defense tech prime  announced today another successful demonstration of the company’s Resilient GPS (R-GPS) technology for the U.S. Space Force (USSF). In this third milestone, Sierra Space demonstrated an early integration of the R-GPS satellite technology through FlatSat flight software and hardware subsystem testing, in addition to successful communication with ground software.”
Full Story (Inside GNSS)

Intelsat’s IS-33e Satellite a ‘Total Loss’ After Breaking Up in Orbit

Via Satellite reports, “Intelsat confirmed on Monday the Intelsat-33e satellite is a “total loss” after a recent anomaly. Intelsat first reported a service outage on the satellite on Oct. 19. U.S. Space Forces-Space (S4S) on Saturday confirmed the satellite broke up in orbit. S4S is currently tracking 20 pieces of debris while conducting ongoing analysis and reported no immediate threats.”
Full Story (Via Satellite)

Terran Orbital Announces Satellite Production Increase

Space News reports that on Thursday, satellite manufacturer Terran Orbital “plans to accelerate production at its factory in California, promising deliveries in 30 to 60 days” beginning next year. Terran Orbital Cofounder, Chairman, and CEO Marc Bell said the company is marketing this effort as a “responsive space initiative” to shorten production timelines. Bell said the 30-60 day service “will be available in late 2024.” The company will “rely on increased automation and robotics systems to speed up production, said Bell.”
Full Story (Space News)

Amazon Switches to Atlas V Rocket for First Project Kuiper Satellite Launch

Bloomberg reports Amazon “said it plans to launch the first two test satellites for its Project Kuiper constellation this fall on United Launch Alliance’s Atlas V rocket, rather than its next-generation Vulcan, as previously planned.” The change “comes amid repeated delays of the debut launch of Vulcan, which has been in development for much of the last decade.” Space News reports spokesman James Watkins said the target launch date is September 26.
Full Story (Bloomberg); More Info (Space News)

NASA Says Falling Satellite Poses Low Risk

The AP reports an old NASA satellite – dubbed “Rhessi” – will fall to Earth Wednesday night, “but experts tracking the spacecraft say chances are low it will pose any danger.” While most of the 660-pound satellite “should burn up upon return…some parts are expected to survive.” However, NASA “said Tuesday that the reentry location is not being disclosed, given lingering uncertainty over when and where it might go down.” Still, the space agency “said in a statement the risk of anyone on Earth being harmed by plunging satellite pieces is ‘low’ – about 1-in-2,467.”
Full Story (Associated Press)

FCC Passes New Satellite Deorbiting Rule

CNN reports the Federal Communications Commission passed a new rule which forces unused satellites to be deorbited after five years of their mission ending. FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel said, “Twenty-five years is a long time. There is no reason to wait that long anymore, especially in low-Earth orbit.” Rosenworcel said over half of the satellites sent into orbit are now considered space junk. A released FCC document from earlier in September said, “At risk is more than the $279 billion-a-year satellite and launch industries and the jobs that depend on them. Left unchecked, orbital debris could block all of these benefits and reduce opportunities across nearly every sector of our economy.”
Full Story (CNN)