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#20
by
Mammutti
on 21 May, 2020 19:09
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SatRevolution signed a contract with Momentus to deploy LabSat, a three-unit cubesat packed with scientific payloads from Wrocław University of Science and Technology and three other Polish academic institutions.
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LabSat will be enclosed in Momentus’ Vigoride orbit transfer vehicle for the December SpaceX Falcon 9 rideshare mission. At the conclusion of the Falcon 9 flight, Vigoride will transport the cubesat to a higher altitude, a move designed in part to make LabSat easier for SatRevolution to spot after the launch, according to Momentus’ May 20 news release.
https://spacenews.com/momentus-three-contracts/
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#21
by
Elthiryel
on 22 May, 2020 10:34
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https://spacenews.com/d-orbit-preps-for-in-orbit-transportation-business-with-upcoming-arianespace-and-spacex-launches/Italian space company D-Orbit will launch its first cubesat deployer in June on an Arianespace Vega, paving the way for an upgraded deployer in December on a SpaceX Falcon 9 capable of in-space maneuvers, a company official said May 21.
Bruno Carvalho, D-Orbit’s vice president of business development, said the company hopes to launch one of its InOrbit Now (ION) propulsive cubesat deployers every two to three months after proving out the system and lining up customers.
D-Orbit’s first ION deployer will release into a single orbit 12 Doves for Earth-observation company Planet, Carvalho said by email. The next ION will be bigger, featuring a “very capable propulsion system” that can move satellites to different orbits and altitudes, he said.
There is no mention of the specific satellites that will be launched in December inside the ION deployer.
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#22
by
gongora
on 11 Jun, 2020 05:04
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[Space News] Exolaunch arranges rides for Loft Orbital satellitesGerman launch services provider Exolaunch announced an agreement to launch two Loft Orbital microsatellites on SpaceX Falcon 9 rideshare missions.
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Exolaunch is preparing to launch Loft Orbital’s YAM-3 satellite, built by LeoStella, a Seattle-based joint venture of Thales Alenia Space and Spaceflight Industries, on a Falcon 9 flight scheduled for December 2020. YAM-3 includes an internet-of-things payload, an onboard autonomy demonstration, a position and queuing demonstration and blockchain applications.
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#23
by
FutureSpaceTourist
on 12 Jun, 2020 11:03
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Loft Orbital awards launch contract to Exolaunch to deliver YAM-3 microsatellite into orbit on Falcon 9
Exolaunch and Loft Orbital signed a contract to deliver the YAM-3 microsatellite to a sun-synchronous orbit. The launch will take place aboard Falcon 9 as part of SpaceX’s SmallSat Rideshare Program.
Berlin, Germany June 10th, 2020 – Exolaunch, the leading rideshare launch and deployment solutions provider, has announced a Launch Services Agreement with Loft Orbital, a San Francisco-based company, to deliver Loft Orbital’s YAM microsatellite into sun-synchronous orbit on Falcon 9. Under the contract, Exolaunch will deliver mission management, deployment and integration services to Loft Orbital, who operates microsatellites and flies customers’ payloads as a service. The launch is targeted for December 2020 and is part of SpaceX’s SmallSat Rideshare Program.
The YAM-3 microsatellite will carry various payloads for Loft Orbital’s customers, including an Internet of Things payload, an onboard autonomy demonstration, a positioning and queuing demonstration and blockchain applications. Using a unique aggregation approach, Loft Orbital offers its customers end-to-end services and delivery of missions to orbit on a standardized satellite bus. Its customers provide payloads, sensors or experiments while also saving time and avoiding the complexity and costs of building their own spacecraft.
“YAM-3 will be deployed from a Falcon 9 ESPA port with CarboNIX, Exolaunch’s shock-free lightweight separation system for microsatellites. This launch will mark the first cooperation between Loft Orbital and Exolaunch. In addition to the upcoming Falcon 9 mission, Exolaunch is set to arrange the launch and provide deployment services for Loft Orbital’s next microsatellite in 2021.
“We are thrilled to be partnering with Exolaunch for YAM-3’s launch. We’ve been extremely impressed with the Exolaunch team and the CarboNIX technology, and we’re looking forward to a long-term partnership with their team,” said Pierre-Damien Vaujour, Co-CEO at Loft Orbital. “Remaining satellite bus, payload and launch vehicle agnostic is a core part of Loft Orbital’s value proposition, and YAM-3 is a prime example of the schedule benefits resulting from that strategy.”
Earlier this spring, Exolaunch procured launch capacity from SpaceX to launch multiple small satellites aboard Falcon 9 as part of SpaceX’s SmallSat Rideshare Program. Exolaunch will provide comprehensive rideshare mission management, deployment and integration services for the customers joining this launch. Exolaunch has numerous customers who already signed up for this mission, and the company now begins to release more information on its manifest.
“Loft Orbital’s unique service of aggregating multiple payloads on their satellites addresses the industry’s acute demand for reduced complexity and costs,” said Jeanne Medvedeva, Commercial Director at Exolaunch. “We are proud to deploy the YAM-3 microsatellite into orbit with Falcon 9 and provide comprehensive mission support for the launch, and we look forward to supporting additional YAM launches in the future.”
To date, Exolaunch has successfully arranged launch campaigns for nearly one hundred small satellites. The company’s expertise in rideshare launches – in combination with its brand new multi-port adapters, flight-proven sequencers and CarboNIX shock-free separation systems – allows smallsat developers to benefit from top-tier mission management under SpaceX's SmallSat Rideshare Program.
https://www.exolaunch.com/news-block-8.html
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#24
by
gongora
on 13 Jun, 2020 01:54
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GNOMES-2 is on this flight. It lists the flight as going from Vandenberg. I wonder if SpaceX has even decided which coast they're going to fly it from yet.
Launch vehicle and launch site:Falcon 9, Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, U.S.A.
Proposed launch date:December 2020
All GNOMES have an on-board propulsion system for station-keeping, altitude adjustment, phasing, and acceleration of de-orbit operations. GNOMES-2 will operate at its launch vehicle injection altitude, and after system validation (a period of less than 18 months), PlanetiQ plans to change the altitude and inclination of GNOMES-2 to operate at a maximum of 650 km SSO.
Physical description of the spacecraft: GNOMES-2 is a microsatellite, with a launch mass of approximately 40 kg and reentry mass of 36 kg. The stowed configuration of the satellite fits within a 600 x 700 x 800 mm3 volume envelope. After separation from the launch vehicle by PSC’s 8-inch Lightband, the GNOMES-2 solar panel and science antennas deploy.
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#25
by
Steven Pietrobon
on 13 Jun, 2020 02:08
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Isn't GNOMES 2 flying with SAOCOM 1B?
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#26
by
gongora
on 13 Jun, 2020 02:22
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Isn't GNOMES 2 flying with SAOCOM 1B?
Wasn't that GNOMES 1 with SAOCOM 1B?
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#27
by
AndrewRG10
on 13 Jun, 2020 02:23
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Isn't GNOMES 2 flying with SAOCOM 1B?
From what I'm seeing on the launch manifest wikipedia it's GNOMES-1 is the one flying on Saocom 1b.
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#28
by
gongora
on 05 Jul, 2020 04:11
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#29
by
gongora
on 11 Jul, 2020 23:58
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#30
by
gongora
on 15 Jul, 2020 13:43
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It appears there's more than one new space tug on the launch. (Also if this is Spaceflight's SXRS-3 mission, then I guess they have another one between Starlink v1.0 L9 and SSO-1)
SPACEFLIGHT INC. UNVEILS NEXT-GEN ORBITAL TRANSFER VEHICLE TO FLY ABOARD NEXT SPACEX RIDESHARE MISSION
By Jodi Sorensen JULY 15, 2020
Sherpa-FX to deliver 16 customer spacecraft and several hosted payloads to demonstrate tracking technologies for space traffic management
SEATTLE – July 15, 2020 — Spaceflight Inc., the leading satellite rideshare and mission management provider, announced today that it will be flying its next generation orbital transfer vehicle, Sherpa-FX, on a fully dedicated rideshare mission with SpaceX. The mission, called SXRS-3 by Spaceflight, is scheduled to launch on a Falcon 9 no earlier than December 2020. Spaceflight has contracted 16 spacecraft for this mission from organizations including iQPS, Loft Orbital, HawkEye 360, NASA’s Small Spacecraft Technology program, Astrocast, and the University of South Florida Institute of Applied Engineering.
In addition to the customer spacecraft, Sherpa-FX will transport multiple hosted payloads including one for Celestis Inc., as well as several that will demonstrate technologies designed to identify and track spacecraft once deployed. By demonstrating these tracking systems on orbit, Spaceflight customers will have access to flight-proven technologies that can mitigate space congestion and provide the foundation of effective and responsible space traffic management. Technologies onboard Sherpa-FX include payloads by NearSpace Launch, Keplerian Technologies and their hardware partner Tiger Innovations, and Space Domain Awareness Inc. These innovative payloads will provide spacecraft developers an independent capability to identify and track their spacecraft without drawing on the host spacecraft resources.
...
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#31
by
FutureSpaceTourist
on 16 Jul, 2020 15:07
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HAWKEYE 360 COMPLETES MILESTONE IN PREPARATION TO LAUNCH SECOND CLUSTER
July 16, 2020in Constellation, Featured 1, Press Release
Successful testing of new satellites paves the way for faster, more robust data collection and intelligence
Herndon, Virginia (July 16, 2020) — HawkEye 360 Inc., the first commercial company to use formation flying satellites to create a new class of radio frequency (RF) data and data analytics, today announced it has successfully completed environmental testing of its second cluster of three satellites. This significant milestone for HawkEye Cluster 2 clears the way to prepare for launch, which is scheduled for late 2020. HawkEye Cluster 2 will join the company’s first cluster of satellites that were launched in December 2018, doubling the size of HawkEye 360’s constellation. This is the first cluster in a series of next generation satellites that will improve revisit rates and bring increasingly robust RF data insights to US and international customers to inform their decision-making processes.
HawkEye 360 has five more clusters of satellites fully financed and under development for launch in 2021 and early 2022. This growing constellation identifies and precisely geolocates a broad set of RF signals from emitters such as VHF marine radios, UHF push-to-talk radios, maritime radar systems, AIS beacons, L-band satellite devices, emergency beacons and more. HawkEye 360 processes and analyzes this data using proprietary algorithms and machine-learning tools to deliver actionable insights to customers.
HawkEye Cluster 2 features significant advancements:
Improved Capability: The satellites contain a new and improved software-defined radio (SDR) that can tune to a wide range of frequencies and gather higher-resolution signal data to deliver quality results to customers.
Greater Accuracy: With powerful updated on-board computing, the satellites can process data at a faster rate, leading to increased geolocations with an even greater degree of accuracy, so customers receive the best possible RF geospatial intelligence.
Simultaneous Collection: The satellites can simultaneously collect multiple signals over a single region for enhanced analytics that help customers make more informed decisions.
“HawkEye 360’s investment to advance the field of space-based RF geoanalytics isn’t just about defense and intelligence missions, but it’s also about protecting our global commons by identifying and tracking illicit activities such as illegal fishing, human trafficking, and animal poaching,” said HawkEye 360’s Chief Executive, Officer John Serafini. “In just 18 months, our first cluster has tracked 20 million geolocations and signals of interest to feed growing demand from civil service and defense clients around the world. The successful environmental testing of our HawkEye Cluster 2 satellites brings us one step closer to our goal of a fully operational constellation that will transform invisible signals into insights that make the world a safer place.”
HawkEye 360 built the RF payloads, which UTIAS Space Flight Laboratory (SFL) integrated into the satellite bus. SFL conducted the environmental testing efforts, which included vibration, thermal vacuum, and electromagnetic interference testing. These tests simulate the environment the satellites will encounter in space. The next step is to prepare the satellites for launch integration.
“Each new cluster increases HawkEye 360’s capacity to collect more data that we can then process, analyze and deliver as relevant and robust data insights,” said HawkEye 360’s Chief Operating Officer, Rob Rainhart. “The highly advanced HawkEye Cluster 2 satellites can capture multiple signal layers at once to create a more accurate and detailed visual of activity and then bring that data down in a shorter period of time for our customers’ benefit.”
For more information on the HawkEye Cluster 2 satellites and enhanced capabilities, please visit https://www.he360.com/technology/constellation/.
https://www.he360.com/hawkeye-360-completes-milestone-in-preparation-to-launch-second-cluster/
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#32
by
gongora
on 16 Jul, 2020 18:05
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It appears there's more than one new space tug on the launch. (Also if this is Spaceflight's SXRS-3 mission, then I guess they have another one between Starlink v1.0 L9 and SSO-1)
SPACEFLIGHT INC. UNVEILS NEXT-GEN ORBITAL TRANSFER VEHICLE TO FLY ABOARD NEXT SPACEX RIDESHARE MISSION
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I'm trying to figure out if this thing will fit on one of the 24" ports, looks pretty close. The Hawkeye sats are about 300x450mm.
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#33
by
gongora
on 20 Jul, 2020 02:16
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iQPS from Japan. First satellite launched in 2019, second satellite launching on the SpaceX SSO-1 flight (brokered by Spaceflight Inc.).
https://i-qps.net/
https://i-qps.net/news/316
The second iQPS small SAR satellite “IZANAMI” to launch on Spaceflight’s SXRS-3 rideshare mission no earlier than December 2020
iQPS Inc., led by its CEO Shunsuke Onishi, with the mission to “expand the possibilities in space and make our earth a better place,” announces the launch of the second small SAR satellite called IZANAMI, which is developed with the space cluster of more than 20 local companies in Northern part of Kyushu.
Under a rideshare launch contract with Spaceflight Inc., the leading satellite rideshare and mission management provider, IZANAMI is scheduled to launch from a SpaceX Falcon 9 no earlier than December 2020. The mission, called SXRS-3 by Spaceflight, is a fully dedicated rideshare mission. Additional information about IZANAMI and its launch will be provided as it becomes available.
iQPS Inc. is aiming to establish a near real-time data provision service by 2025 with 36-satellite constellation which can observe almost any point in the world in approximately 10 minutes, and conduct fixed-point observations at particular areas once every 10 minutes. The first satellite IZANAGI and the second IZANAMI have a mission as the prototype to demonstrate various experimental devices and technology in space for the future iQPS constellation.
“In December 2019, iQPS successfully launched IZANAGI from Satish Dawn Space Centre and established contact with ground stations on the following day.” says Shunsuke Onishi, CEO of iQPS Inc. “The continuous healthy operation of IZANAGI is providing us an accumulation of knowledge to improve IZANAMI and to develop the following satellites faster and with more confidence. And now we, with all iQPS members including the Northern Kyushu space cluster, are excited for the upcoming launch of our 2nd satellite. We look forward to our launch with Spaceflight aboard the Falcon 9.”
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#34
by
scr00chy
on 22 Jul, 2020 23:25
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I see both this post and Salo's aunch schedule shows this mission as launching from Florida instead of VAFB. It makes sense but does anyone know where it was confirmed?
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#35
by
gongora
on 22 Jul, 2020 23:32
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I see both this post and Salo's aunch schedule shows this mission as launching from Florida instead of VAFB. It makes sense but does anyone know where it was confirmed?
I've seen some FCC documentation for payloads say Florida, and some say California or Florida. I'm not sure it's 100% confirmed, but it's really looking like Florida is the location.
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#36
by
wannamoonbase
on 23 Jul, 2020 01:00
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Perhaps it is contingent on how SAOCOM 1B works out.
File plans for both and if allowed fly out of FL.
We have not heard any planning for Starship to fly out of CA. So maybe SpaceX is looking for ways to reduce/eliminate costs in CA with an eye to the future.
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#37
by
gongora
on 24 Jul, 2020 21:23
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I see both this post and Salo's aunch schedule shows this mission as launching from Florida instead of VAFB. It makes sense but does anyone know where it was confirmed?
I've seen some FCC documentation for payloads say Florida, and some say California or Florida. I'm not sure it's 100% confirmed, but it's really looking like Florida is the location.
The latest FCC filing I've run across:
The Aurorasat-1 cubesat will be launched as a secondary payload aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 launch vehicle from the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in December 2020.
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#38
by
gongora
on 29 Jul, 2020 20:39
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In case anyone has gotten misconceptions from Spaceflight's marketing, the Sherpa on this flight is not any sort of tug that deploys payloads to different orbits. It has no propulsion, attitude control, or power generation. It simply separates from the launch vehicle, then releases its payloads over the next few hours. Mission duration is not expected to exceed six hours.
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#39
by
TorenAltair
on 30 Jul, 2020 04:17
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