Author Topic: B2Space  (Read 7312 times)

Offline Tywin

B2Space
« on: 08/11/2017 12:28 am »
A new company the smallsat launcher  8) and other with a balloon solution  ??? :o

 http://www.parabolicarc.com/2017/08/10/b2space-developing-balloonbased-launch-system/

http://b2-space.com/

The innovation in space is just on fire  ;)
The knowledge is power...Everything is connected...
The Turtle continues at a steady pace ...

Online catdlr

  • Member
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 11167
  • Enthusiast since the Redstones
  • Marina del Rey, California, USA
  • Liked: 8779
  • Likes Given: 7815
Re: B2Space
« Reply #1 on: 08/11/2017 12:33 am »
B2Space

B2Space Media
Published on Feb 8, 2017



Tony De La Rosa, ...I'm no Feline Dealer!! I move mountains.  but I'm better known for "I think it's highly sexual." Japanese to English Translation.

Offline Asteroza

  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2836
  • Liked: 1084
  • Likes Given: 33
Re: B2Space
« Reply #2 on: 08/18/2017 08:24 am »
The innovation in space is just on fire  ;)

Sure that isn't just a lot of hot air? ::)


Offline chipguy

  • Member
  • Posts: 92
  • Ottawa Canada
  • Liked: 97
  • Likes Given: 30
Re: B2Space
« Reply #3 on: 08/18/2017 05:03 pm »

The innovation in space is just on fire  ;)

Too bad the only businesses making money from this "innovation in space" are those selling PowerPoint and CGI software to these start-ups.

Offline jongoff

  • Recovering Rocket Plumber/Space Entrepreneur
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 6807
  • Lafayette/Broomfield, CO
  • Liked: 3987
  • Likes Given: 1681
Re: B2Space
« Reply #4 on: 08/18/2017 07:07 pm »
With Rocketlabs and Virgin as close as they seem to be to operations, and how well funded the second tier competitors (GO, Vector, Astra/Ventions) are, it amazes me that anyone can still raise money for yet another expendable smallsat launcher. Do people really think that five years from now, the soonest this could realistically be flying, that there won't be several competitors already in the marketplace? It'd be one thing if they were doing something that could give them a serious competitive edge, like say partial or full reuse... but for yet another flavor of expendable SLV?

I'm repressing the urge to shout something about getting off my lawn.

~Jon

Offline Space Ghost 1962

  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2780
  • Whatcha gonna do when the Ghost zaps you?
  • Liked: 2925
  • Likes Given: 2247
Re: B2Space
« Reply #5 on: 08/18/2017 08:00 pm »
With Rocketlabs and Virgin as close as they seem to be to operations, and how well funded the second tier competitors (GO, Vector, Astra/Ventions) are, it amazes me that anyone can still raise money for yet another expendable smallsat launcher. Do people really think that five years from now, the soonest this could realistically be flying, that there won't be several competitors already in the marketplace? It'd be one thing if they were doing something that could give them a serious competitive edge, like say partial or full reuse... but for yet another flavor of expendable SLV?

Recently have been on Sand Hill road with major VC. There were dozen's of "launch vehicle wanna be's" that were impossible to avoid in the lobbies coming and going.

One partner remarked at the "sameness" of the pitches.

My read of it all is there is a certain "jockey for position" aspect to it. There are unexplored territories of the industry that are being used to tempt VC's, who by and large don't have the experience/trust/skill/oversight to handle them.

(I've attempted sometimes to comment on some of these, but it's really hard to as emotions run high with their advocates, some of which appear to be "two bit investors" who should never have been allowed in the door. One VC is attempting to dilute/lock them out because they are fed up with them.)

Quote
Do people really think that five years from now, the soonest this could realistically be flying, that there won't be several competitors already in the marketplace? It'd be one thing if they were doing something that could give them a serious competitive edge, like say partial or full reuse... but for yet another flavor of expendable SLV?

Suggest the microlaunch potential market is one intriguing some of them. RL isn't quite in that category (launch facilities, vehicle scale) "top down" with "all up", and Vector is attempting it "bottom up bootstrap" from Garvey's "bolt together hand me downs".

Another aspect I've seen is how to disrupt all of the current aerospace model, because its too tedious. Some involves massively reducing labor and the cost of being logjammed by a resource (think of DIVH sitting on its Vandenberg pad for 9+ months, but more widely).

In order to access the benefit, all of them depart from traditional models with own "secret sauce", which is the excuse for doing a grand vehicle vision. That's because existing vendors are too inflexible to risk otherwise.

(Both SX and ULA are "heads down", SX due to arrogance, ULA because its fighting for its life and very resentful.)

There are other things afoot too. Some of which are being "match made" as teams are assembling.

Last time I counted more than 30 across the globe. Some w/wo government involvement. Some with good/bad investors/consultants/partners. Space is a shiny thing to some I guess.



It's both fun and weird. Fun in that space is "fundable fashion" at the moment. Weird in that all of them know me from "dot com" startups that I did when space was unfashionable. The irony is both the space side and the finance side can't remember/keep straight the past, so they combine them at time in peculiar collages at times.
« Last Edit: 08/18/2017 09:18 pm by Space Ghost 1962 »

Offline TrevorMonty

Re: B2Space
« Reply #6 on: 08/18/2017 09:25 pm »
Excellent podcast from VC who is heavily involved in smallsat industry. Privy to a lot these startups, alot of time wasters, some that have good idea but team or business plan is not good enough. A few excellent businesses in stealth mode.

http://www.thespaceshow.com/show/13-aug-2017/broadcast-2964-dylan-taylor

Main stream investors now getting into market, as Space Ghost points out there are a lot of bad investments waiting for them that don't do their homework.

In regards to LV it comes down to price, reliability and schedule, at present schedule is most important, no satellite makes money sitting on ground.

Following are my observations and assumptions. These LEO cubesat constellations will be looking at refresh rates of <3yrs.  Each new version be cheaper, more capable and hopefully pay for itself quicker. Higher production rate lower build cost allowing for quicker refresh rate. The same principles apply to their LVs, lower launch price, higher refresh rate, higher launch rate.
.

Offline Dao Angkan

  • Full Member
  • **
  • Posts: 233
  • Liked: 77
  • Likes Given: 44
Re: B2Space
« Reply #7 on: 08/19/2017 01:44 am »
After the £10m grant from UKSA for UK small sat launch.

Small and Micro-Satellites Could Soon Launch from Snowdonia

Quote
B2Space and Snowdonia Aerospace Centre could create 93+ new jobs for the area by 2020 and wider opportunities for supply chain if project successful

Satellites may soon be launching from Llanbedr in a move that would put Snowdonia at the forefront of the UK’s space capabilities and the creation of specialist jobs for the area.

The proposed Vertical Small Satellite Launch Project is a collaboration between Snowdonia Aerospace Centre (SAC) and operators B2Space. Supported by QinetiQ and the Welsh Government, it aims to establish domestic launch capabilities for the small and micro satellite market.

As many as 3,000 microsatellites are predicted to require a launch between 2017 and 2022. The number of microsatellite operators is rapidly growing meaning that more small launch vehicles are being developed to meet the demand of a market already estimated to be worth $2.22Billion in 2016 – and $5.31Billion by 2021.

Valentin Canales, co-founder and Technical Director of B2Space said:

“There is compelling evidence that the industry needs small launch vehicles. We want to be the first company to provide consistent and reliable low-cost access for small satellites. Many more companies could soon be able to afford to launch satellites in to space at a much-reduced rate through our project. There are several reasons why they might want to, for example, tracking changes in the environment or the coastline, provide communications to remote areas or support natural disasters management. Providing low cost space access could mean that we use space in a way that hasn’t been considered before.”

The partnership is bidding for grants of up to £10M to develop low cost space access from the UK, having already passed the first stage, and presented to a panel of industry experts from the UK Space Agency last month.

The venture would provide an affordable and flexible launching system for satellites under 150kg in to Low Earth Orbit.

The system comprises of a stratospheric balloon with a self-operative platform from which the launcher is deployed. A three-stage rocket will then deliver the satellites precisely to the required orbits.

Mr Canales continued:

“Wales is already a centre of excellence for aerospace manufacturing and has the physical and intellectual infrastructure to support the growing space market.

“We expect to subcontract the structural components, as well as equipment and mechanisms, which will bring many opportunities to the wider supply chain.

“Current market estimations expect to achieve thirty launches per year by 2022, giving a yearly spend of around £60M a year in Wales and for the UK supply chain.”


B2Space has clear plans for growing the workforce to meet the demand of running operations. Mr Canales continued:

“By 2022, based on 30 launches per year, we expect the projected workforce to be in the region of 93. This is the number of direct jobs we anticipate will be created by B2Space but the number of indirect jobs created could be up to 10 times higher, for example jobs created by suppliers, new companies, housing in the area, catering and so on.”

The Snowdonia Aerospace Centre considers the development of a dedicated, low cost satellite launch operation in a safe environment to be a strategic asset and a catalyst for innovation and technology development. The project would also mark a significant step forward in the creation of high value long-term sustainable jobs in the Enterprise Zone.

John Idris Jones, Chair of Snowdonia Enterprise Zone, said:

    “There is significant growth in this emerging market and this is an opportunity to grow UK capability in the region. The project has the potential to attract technology, research, and investment from around the world. The development means lots of opportunities for the north Wales supply chain and provide a real boost to the wider Wales Space sector. The benefits are important in terms of job creation, linking to our academic institutions and potential economic impact. We also see strong cross border synergies with the Northern Powerhouse initiative. We are delighted that B2Space have chosen the Enterprise Zone at Llanbedr as their operating base.”

Lee Paul, CEO at Snowdonia Aerospace Centre added:

    “Our partnership with B2Space will provide a low cost, sustainable offering by customising individual customer requirements. This is in contrast to the current market in which users and manufacturers are restricted by bigger providers working as part of a larger rocket launch operations outside the UK.”

The B2Space system itself is an improvement on an original concept first proposed in the 1950s, the “rockoon”. Now with new developments in micro-electronics, advanced materials, new propellants and an innovative design approach, this concept is now viable.

Initially the assembly, testing and development of the system would be undertaken from facilities at SAC, where B2Space will move its offices.  Within three years, manufacturing of system components would be brought in house.

B2Space, which is currently Bristol-based at the moment, is also committed to relocating the business to Llanbedr if the bid is successful.

The project comes hot on the heels of Snowdonia’s bid to become the UK’s first commercial Spaceport. Bids for £10m funding to enable Llanbedr Airfield to commence Spaceport operations and develop spaceflight capabilities were submitted to the UK Space Agency 28 April.

Offline john smith 19

  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 10350
  • Everyplaceelse
  • Liked: 2430
  • Likes Given: 13605
Re: B2Space
« Reply #8 on: 08/21/2017 09:01 am »
Recently have been on Sand Hill road with major VC. There were dozen's of "launch vehicle wanna be's" that were impossible to avoid in the lobbies coming and going.

One partner remarked at the "sameness" of the pitches.
Why do I get the feeling it's like being a big dairy farm when they empty out the slurry tanks?  :(
Quote from: Space Ghost 1962
My read of it all is there is a certain "jockey for position" aspect to it. There are unexplored territories of the industry that are being used to tempt VC's, who by and large don't have the experience/trust/skill/oversight to handle them.
Serious question. Are there industries that (some) VC's actually have deep knowledge to the extent they can just read the proposal and file it straight in the circular filing cabinet?

The (perhaps unfair) impression I get of VC's is "Who cares if it'll work. We know people we can off load our share to at X times what they're asking for our investment"  :(

Quote from: Space Ghost 1962
(Both SX and ULA are "heads down", SX due to arrogance, ULA because its fighting for its life and very resentful.)
Not quite the common view of SX.  ;) but intriguing. The Greeks taught that those who harbor "False pride" or hubris are due a visit from the goddess Nemesis, who brings judgement, and retributions. Something all companies should keep in mind.  :(

As to ULA. They played the USAF like a Stradivarius with that 36 core block buy (would ATK have made a play for them otherwise?) Should they be surprised that people considered it had very little to do with their technology. They've enjoyed a very cozy relationship with the USAF for decades. Yes they have a long track record of success to justify it but it comes at an eye watering launch price (plus the annual "assured access" payment which to some outsiders looks, regrettably  like a shake down payment) 
Quote from: Space Ghost 1962
There are other things afoot too. Some of which are being "match made" as teams are assembling.

Last time I counted more than 30 across the globe. Some w/wo government involvement. Some with good/bad investors/consultants/partners. Space is a shiny thing to some I guess.

It's both fun and weird. Fun in that space is "fundable fashion" at the moment. Weird in that all of them know me from "dot com" startups that I did when space was unfashionable. The irony is both the space side and the finance side can't remember/keep straight the past, so they combine them at time in peculiar collages at times.
Even the space side is not new.

All that talk of "constellations" and no one recalls Iridium, Orbcomm or Globaslstar, or what happened to them, or more accurately what happened to the investors money.  :(
MCT ITS BFR SS. The worlds first Methane fueled FFSC engined CFRP SS structure A380 sized aerospaceplane tail sitter capable of Earth & Mars atmospheric flight.First flight to Mars by end of 2022 TBC. T&C apply. Trust nothing. Run your own #s "Extraordinary claims require extraordinary proof" R. Simberg."Competitve" means cheaper ¬cheap SCramjet proposed 1956. First +ve thrust 2004. US R&D spend to date > $10Bn. #deployed designs. Zero.

Offline Space Ghost 1962

  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2780
  • Whatcha gonna do when the Ghost zaps you?
  • Liked: 2925
  • Likes Given: 2247
Re: B2Space
« Reply #9 on: 08/23/2017 10:59 pm »
Recently have been on Sand Hill road with major VC. There were dozen's of "launch vehicle wanna be's" that were impossible to avoid in the lobbies coming and going.

One partner remarked at the "sameness" of the pitches.
Why do I get the feeling it's like being a big dairy farm when they empty out the slurry tanks?  :(
Stanford University, nearby and pivotal, is called "the Farm" (they even have a "Stanford Barn").

Definitely lots of BS around here. Sometimes they even make a billion or so out of it, before the rest it is sold to catches on ...

Not unlike the view in China that if a merchant wins by cheating, it's considered good because of being able to outsmart a rube.

Quote
Quote from: Space Ghost 1962
My read of it all is there is a certain "jockey for position" aspect to it. There are unexplored territories of the industry that are being used to tempt VC's, who by and large don't have the experience/trust/skill/oversight to handle them.
Serious question. Are there industries that (some) VC's actually have deep knowledge to the extent they can just read the proposal and file it straight in the circular filing cabinet?

I was paid for over a year to sit at a desk and prequalify pitches and plans. Each day there was a pile over a yard tall, I'd take one, read it, write an assessment email, then toss the rejects into a recycling bin (bigger than the pile),  holding on to the handful on the desk that passed for the day. After a week, those selected marched in for a half hour meeting with myself and a partner's assistant (many were late or no shows). Over a month you might clear 5-6 for an actual meeting.

For that meeting, I'd in advance call up subject matter experts relevant to the field, as well as potential co-investors who had invested in the sector before. (Most have some experience in space, mostly bad, ... they tend to invest in groups, like lemmings.) The weakness is in choosing appropriate experts, it's kind of like peer review is to a scientific paper.

Quote
The (perhaps unfair) impression I get of VC's is "Who cares if it'll work. We know people we can off load our share to at X times what they're asking for our investment"  :(

That's more for consumer plays, mostly because you can't tell how well market acceptance goes. At least with space you can qualify via a handful of customers that there's an actual benefit to your stuff.

Quote
Quote from: Space Ghost 1962
(Both SX and ULA are "heads down", SX due to arrogance, ULA because its fighting for its life and very resentful.)
Not quite the common view of SX.  ;) but intriguing. The Greeks taught that those who harbor "False pride" or hubris are due a visit from the goddess Nemesis, who brings judgement, and retributions. Something all companies should keep in mind.  :(

It's more like lack of bandwidth, too much to do, and too many people demanding their attention. If you visit the lobby in Hawthorne, it's hip deep all the time in people trying to get face time.

Quote
As to ULA. They played the USAF like a Stradivarius with that 36 core block buy (would ATK have made a play for them otherwise?) Should they be surprised that people considered it had very little to do with their technology. They've enjoyed a very cozy relationship with the USAF for decades. Yes they have a long track record of success to justify it but it comes at an eye watering launch price (plus the annual "assured access" payment which to some outsiders looks, regrettably  like a shake down payment) 

Why would you expect otherwise? They serve a vital function, they do it well, and they keep a low profile. It's a perfect "kept business" (as in "kept woman").

They are the very model of accommodation to American launch need. Which as they see it is a very compact business, unlike Musk's ambitions.

Quote
Quote from: Space Ghost 1962
There are other things afoot too. Some of which are being "match made" as teams are assembling.

Last time I counted more than 30 across the globe. Some w/wo government involvement. Some with good/bad investors/consultants/partners. Space is a shiny thing to some I guess.

It's both fun and weird. Fun in that space is "fundable fashion" at the moment. Weird in that all of them know me from "dot com" startups that I did when space was unfashionable. The irony is both the space side and the finance side can't remember/keep straight the past, so they combine them at time in peculiar collages at times.
Even the space side is not new.

All that talk of "constellations" and no one recalls Iridium, Orbcomm or Globalstar, or what happened to them, or more accurately what happened to the investors money.  :(
Yeah.

GlobalStar was Bernie Schwartz's nightmare, that he spent trying to bring Loral back from certain death.

Teledesic and Iridium killed a moronic Motorola (which Google acquired the corpse and is reanimating it). One of the biggest financial holes in the ground.

Orbcomm and Inmarsat have healthy businesses, and the NG constellation should make Iridium business expansion quite formidable for the next decade.

The nature of the market served was everything.

Online catdlr

  • Member
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 11167
  • Enthusiast since the Redstones
  • Marina del Rey, California, USA
  • Liked: 8779
  • Likes Given: 7815
Re: B2Space
« Reply #10 on: 10/10/2017 11:46 pm »
B2Space

B2Space LTD
Published on Oct 10, 2017


B2Space Colibri project, our first project born to provide a reliable, flexible and low-cost access to space for small and microsatellites, facilitating the access to space and the development of new technologies.



Tony De La Rosa, ...I'm no Feline Dealer!! I move mountains.  but I'm better known for "I think it's highly sexual." Japanese to English Translation.

Offline DeimosDream

  • Full Member
  • *
  • Posts: 128
  • Atlanta
  • Liked: 106
  • Likes Given: 47
Re: B2Space
« Reply #11 on: 04/22/2023 03:50 am »
With Virgin Orbit, the most 'successful' air-launch company of the decade going bankrupt lets take a look back at B2Space's Colibri project.

To start with, this obviously didn't happen:
Quote
“By 2022, based on 30 launches per year, we expect the projected workforce to be in the region of 93. This is the number of direct jobs we anticipate will be created by B2Space but the number of indirect jobs created could be up to 10 times higher, for example jobs created by suppliers, new companies, housing in the area, catering and so on.”

Still, they've managed to make some progress over the past 5 years:

> In 2019 they began operation at the Shetland Space Centre with ballon test flights. https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-north-east-orkney-shetland-48910756

> In 2021 they conducted rocket engine component/subscale testing.

> In 2022 the announced 'nearly £4 million' in funding, progress on predictive software for balloon trajectories, plans to scale up from 26 to 100 employees, and reaffirmed they had plans to reach orbit in 2024. https://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/news/20585258.newport-firm-b2space-plans-rocket-balloon-satellite-launches/

They haven't died yet, but they don't appear sufficiently funded to ever get past sub-scale / proof-of-concept testing either. I suppose we'll see where they are in another 5 years, but my guess is 'not-orbit'.

Online catdlr

  • Member
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 11167
  • Enthusiast since the Redstones
  • Marina del Rey, California, USA
  • Liked: 8779
  • Likes Given: 7815
Re: B2Space
« Reply #12 on: 10/04/2023 05:56 am »
B2Space High-Altitude Balloon Launch

Quote
Started streaming 24 minutes ago
Join us in the 3rd Edition of the B2Space Blue Jay programme, where 4 universities designed and developed 4 CubeSats, which will be launched to the stratosphere using our zero pressure balloons.

Our team of experts at B2Space have carefully planned and are about to execute this high-altitude balloon launch from Leon, Spain, pushing the boundaries of exploration and innovation.

« Last Edit: 10/04/2023 05:57 am by catdlr »
Tony De La Rosa, ...I'm no Feline Dealer!! I move mountains.  but I'm better known for "I think it's highly sexual." Japanese to English Translation.

Online catdlr

  • Member
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 11167
  • Enthusiast since the Redstones
  • Marina del Rey, California, USA
  • Liked: 8779
  • Likes Given: 7815
Re: B2Space
« Reply #13 on: 10/05/2023 08:51 pm »
lue Jay Programme 2023 - Launch Highlights

Quote
Oct 5, 2023
We are engaging with universities worldwide to provide students with unique opportunities: to learn, design, develop and ultimately fly and test their experiments in the stratosphere. This year we collaborated with UAX, University of Seville, University de las Palmas de Gran Canaria and Divya Kurapati.

The objective of the program is that the students will work towards:
– Designing a CubeSat to perform a mission of their choice (earth observation, environment control, communications...)
– Build the satellite and perform ground tests of the equipment.
– Fly their CubeSat to the edge of Space, in a Stratospheric flight at around 30 km of altitude performed by B2Space, in a special event with international teams.

Tony De La Rosa, ...I'm no Feline Dealer!! I move mountains.  but I'm better known for "I think it's highly sexual." Japanese to English Translation.

Tags:
 

Advertisement NovaTech
Advertisement Northrop Grumman
Advertisement
Advertisement Margaritaville Beach Resort South Padre Island
Advertisement Brady Kenniston
Advertisement NextSpaceflight
Advertisement Nathan Barker Photography
0