Welcome to your weekly newsletter from satsearch

In these emails, we share trending stories from the industry, along with insights from our work operating the global marketplace for space. Let's dive in and take a look at some of the developments that caught our eye last week.
 

Capella Space announces third generation of satellites

Capella Space has unveiled the new capabilities of its next generation of satellites. This new generation is referred to as 'Acadia' and the aim is to expand the company's existing constellation in order to provide enhanced features for the overall quality and delivery of imagery to customers.

Capella’s Acadia satellites will reportedly increase the quality of satellite imagery and the bandwidth required for resolution, as well as reduce order-to-delivery time and latency for inter-satellite communications. Find out more here.

Capella is the first commercial Earth Observation (EO) satellite operator to enable an Inter-Satellite Data Relay System (IDRS), which also allows customers to task a spacecraft in under 15 minutes for an emergency or for tip and cue operations. The first batch of Acadia satellites is set for launch in early 2023.

Satellite-based EO solutions are bringing new benefits and capabilities to several industries. And as Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) satellite operators, such as Capella Space, are developing next-generation technologies, industries are expected to demand more enhanced geospatial solutions in the future.

Similarly in the communication sector satellites are bridging the digital gap in remote regions. Our next story focuses on the latest developments in satellite connectivity for such areas.
 

AXESS Networks selects SpaceBridge to provide satellite connectivity in Ecuador

AXESS Networks and SpaceBridge have partnered to provide internet access and distribution via satellite on Santa Cruz Island in the Galapagos, Ecuador.

In this project, AXESS Network will utilize SpaceBridge's SBM-90X broadband high-speed modem. The modem was chosen for this mission as it has shown a strong performance record of Single Channel per Carrier (SCPC) for the implementation of dedicated bandwidth. Find out more here.

The project aims to reduce the digital gap on the island as well as enhance connectivity for its population. SpaceBridge also provided the infrastructure to build a Point-To-Point (PTP) SCPC link with the SBM-90X modem which is designed to grow to 1.4 Gbps of aggregated throughput.

The satellite communication industry has enhanced operational productivity in several markets, particularly commercial and defense. Recently, government agencies have encouraged the integration of satellite services as part of their national broadband plans; which are helping to provide connectivity to remote areas where terrestrial connectivity is unreachable.

Simultaneously, various Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite businesses are expected to increase high-speed connectivity demand in the commercial and defense markets. Our next story provides a brief outlook of one of the most prominent LEO satellite operators and its developments in defense.

SpaceX to provide Starlink internet services to military units in Europe and Africa

SpaceX has been awarded a USD1.9 million, one-year contract by the US Air Force Special Operations Command to provide Starlink internet services in Europe and Africa.

The contract covers hardware and services in support of military airlift units based at Ramstein Air Base in Germany. It also includes satellite terminals and internet services, both for fixed sites and for mobile users who need to connect devices to the internet while on the move or in remote regions. The expected throughput to be delivered by the Starlink high-performance terminal is up to 500 megabits per second download speed, with low latency connectivity. Find out more here.

According to the contract document, OneWeb, Telesat, and Amazon are also expected to provide LEO service to the European Command (EUCOM) and Africa Command (AFRICOM) areas of responsibility in the next few years. One of the reasons the military is focused on such Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite connectivity is due to the fact that LEO constellations can be much more resilient to signal jamming, while also providing the low latency required to support tactical missions.

SpaceX is currently the most prominent commercial player to have proven capabilities to provide Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite services in Europe and Africa, therefore several government agencies are expecting SpaceX to participate in such military connectivity projects.
 

Other news and updates from the space industry:

ASTERRA files patent for new Lithium Mineral Location Technology. In this technology, ASTERRA’s artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) algorithms extract the signal of lithium concentration underground from satellite-based PolSAR data and can pinpoint locations containing high lithium. For more information on the technology click here.

The Republic of Moldova has successfully deployed its first satellite from the International Space Station (ISS) with the support of the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) under the KiboCUBE programme. Read more about the satellite here.

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has selected 11 companies for an inter-satellite laser communications project. Read more about the project here.

OneWeb and Intelsat have signed a global distribution agreement to offer a multi-orbit in-flight connectivity (IFC) service. For more information on the partnership click here.

Maxar Technologies has been selected by L3Harris Technologies for the design and production of 14 spacecraft platforms and associated support for its Tranche 1 Tracking Layer contract with the Space Development Agency (SDA). Read more about this collaboration here.

Member news

Stories from organizations participating in the satsearch membership program:

[ICYMI] EOSOL Group has completed the Critical Design Review (CDR) of the (sub)mmVAST Antenna for ESA. EOSOL is the prime contractor and is working in collaboration with Radiometer Physics GmbH a Rohde & Schwarz Company, Space Structures GmbH and Universidad Politécnica de Madrid. Find out more here.

The Ping'an - 3 satellite (Taijing 1 - 01 satellite) and Taijing 1 - 02 satellite, developed based on satsearch member MinoSpace's MN50 platform, were successfully launched on August 9, 2022, on the Ceres-1 rocket from Galactic Energy Space at Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center. For more information click here.

NPC Spacemind has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Commercial Space Technologies Ltd. (CST) for the provision of CubeSat deployers for future missions. Read more about the MoU here.

Job opportunities in the space industry

A list of job vacancies from companies participating in the satsearch membership program:

• EnduroSat is hiring multiple candidates for engineering and management positions. Click here for more information on the positions.
• Redwire Space is hiring candidates for multiple positions. For more information on the job positions please click here.

• Bradford Space
• AAC Clyde Space
• American Elements
• TY-Space Technology Ltd.
• OX Origin
• Advanced Technology Institute (ATI)
• Arralis
• TRAD Tests & Radiations