PASADENA, Calif. (NASA PR) — NASA’s Perseverance Mars rover successfully collected its first pair of rock samples, and scientists already are gaining new insights into the region. After collecting its first sample, named “Montdenier,” Sept. 6, the team collected a second, “Montagnac,” from the same rock Sept. 8.

Analysis of the rocks from which the Montdenier and Montagnac samples were taken and from the rover’s previous sampling attempt may help the science team piece together the timeline of the area’s past, which was marked by volcanic activity and periods of persistent water.

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla. (NASA PR) — NASA has selected Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX) of Hawthorne, California, to provide launch services for the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite-U (GOES-U) mission. GOES-U will provide advanced imagery and atmospheric measurements of Earth’s weather, oceans, and environment, as well as real-time mapping of total lightning activity and improved monitoring of solar activity and space weather. The total cost for NASA to launch GOES-U is […]

• Hughes and OneWeb agree to deliver LEO satellite services as part of Hughes multi-transport solution portfolio; demonstrate successful multi-orbit connectivity across GEO and LEO satellites

WASHINGTON, 9 September  2021 (OneWeb PR) — Hughes Network Systems, LLC (HUGHES), an innovator in satellite and multi-transport technologies and networks for 50 years, and OneWeb, the low Earth orbit satellite communications company, today announced that they have signed a distribution agreement in the U.S. focused on enterprise services. In India, the parties have entered into an MOU for a strategic agreement to distribute services to large enterprises, small and medium businesses, government, telcos and ISPs in the rural and remote parts of the country.

Services will be offered by Hughes Network Systems, LLC, and Hughes Communications India Private Ltd., respectively. Hughes and OneWeb intend to work together to broaden distribution globally, with Hughes to offer OneWeb’s low-latency, high-speed connectivity for markets such as enterprise, government, commercial aviation and maritime, cellular backhaul, and community Wi-Fi hotspots.

• The partnership with Cobham SATCOM will enable Yahsat to enhance data services for its next-generation satellite, Thuraya 4-NGS
• The partnership enables Thuraya 4-NGS’ advanced 4G and 5G capabilities
• The value of the global satellite data services market currently exceeds US$5 billion, and is projected to reach more than $19 billion by 2027
• The agreement will strengthen Thuraya satellites’ competitiveness in the global market, driven by Cobham SATCOM’s wide distribution network

ABU DHABI, UAE, 9 September 2021 (Yahsat PR) – Al Yah Satellite Communications Company PJSC (“Yahsat” or, together with its subsidiaries, “the Group”) listed on the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (“ADX”) under (SYMBOL: YAHSAT) (ISIN: AEA007501017), the UAE’s flagship satellite solutions provider, today announced that it has selected Cobham SATCOM, the world’s leading provider of satellite communications solutions to the land, aeronautical and maritime industries, to deliver a comprehensive mobile broadband system, including ground infrastructure and products, to operate as part of its next-generation Thuraya 4-NGS system.

KOCKELSCHEUER, Luxembourg (Kleos Space PR) — Kleos Space S.A (ASX: KSS, Frankfurt: KS1), a space-powered Radio Frequency Reconnaissance data-as-a-service (DaaS) company, is investing for future growth, moving its Luxembourg headquarters to a new bespoke facility to incorporate the company’s key functions under the one roof from 1 November 2021.

Located in the newly-built ParcLuxite Business Park in Kockelscheuer, Luxembourg, Kleos’ new headquarters will be home to the company’s engineering and operations facilities, housing environmental test chambers and a dedicated clean room space for the assembly, integration and test of sensitive space hardware as well as its mission control centre. It enables Kleos to scale its global geolocation data-as-a-service, and further support its additional engineering teams in the UK and the US.

Leader in optical wireless communications joins forces with key supplier to many lunar missions ranging from NASA LADEE, Google Lunar X Prize (Beresheet), and NASA Artemis programs with point-to-multipoint capabilities to advance innovation in space.

DENVER (BridgeComm PR) — BridgeComm, Inc., a leader in optical wireless communications (OWC) solutions and services, today announced it has entered into a strategic new teaming agreement with Space Micro, Inc., a trusted provider of affordable and highly reliable precision-engineered and manufactured communications, electro-optic and digital systems for satellites and spacecraft. A collaborative and mutually beneficial partnership, BridgeComm and Space Micro will focus on the design, development and testing of U.S. Government and commercial optical wireless communications (OWC) programs and equipment and more.

• BlackSky’s Common Stock to Commence Trading on NYSE Under the Ticker “BKSY”
• Gross Proceeds to BlackSky totaled $283 million, combining funds held in Osprey’s Trust and concurrent PIPE financing

HERNDON, Va. and NEW YORK, September 9, 2021 (BlackSky/Osprey Technology Acquisition PR) – BlackSky Holdings, Inc. (“BlackSky”), a leading technology platform providing real-time geospatial intelligence and global monitoring, today announced it has completed its previously announced business combination with Osprey Technology Acquisition Corp. (“Osprey”) to take BlackSky public. The combined company has been renamed “BlackSky Technology Inc.” and its shares will commence trading on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) on September 10, 2021, under the ticker symbol “BKSY” for BlackSky common stock and “BKSY.W” for BlackSky warrants.

Upon closing, the combined company received approximately $283 million in gross proceeds, comprised of approximately $103 million in cash held in trust by Osprey and the proceeds of a $180 million PIPE. Osprey’s shareholders approved the transaction at a shareholder meeting on September 8, 2021.

SIERRA COUNTY, NM (Spaceport America PR) — Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) and UP Aerospace partnered for a launch from Spaceport America on August 11. For the first time, LANL, through the Stockpile Responsiveness Program, partnered with a private company to perform a suborbital flight experiment involving a Los Alamos-developed diagnostic and communication payload. The ReDX-1 flight test strengthens security mission, offers nex-gen training.

by Douglas Messier
Managing Editor

NASA would received an additional $4.4 billion to perform repairs and upgrades on its aging infrastructure, conduct climate change research and development (R&D) and improve cybersecurity under an infrastructure spending bill now under consideration by the House of Representatives.

The funding does not include any money to fund a second human lander for NASA’s Artemis program that would likely have gone to the National Team led by Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin. The space agency awarded a single source contract to Elon Musk’s SpaceX.

The new production facility comes as Rocket Lab secures contracts to supply major satellite constellations with reaction wheels

LONG BEACH, Calif., September 1, 2021 (Rocket Lab PR) – Rocket Lab USA, Inc. (Nasdaq: RKLB) (“Rocket Lab” or the “Company”), global leader in launch and space systems, today announced that construction is underway on a new production facility capable of supplying up to 2,000 reaction wheels per year to fulfil growing demand from satellite constellation customers.

by Josef Aschbacher
Director General
European Space Agency

There is no need to point out the importance of commercialisation in the space sector. It has been implemented and visibly demonstrated in all corners of the world. The commercialisation of space has entered a new dimension with the digital sector massively investing in the space sector, giving it the attention, credibility, funding and even celebrity the American space industry needed to grow colossally and at a very quick pace. Its success set off a ripple effect overseas, encouraging similar investments in space industries in Japan, China, India, UAE, to name a few. Around the globe, countries have been further encouraged to heavily invest in space after being woken up to the great economic, societal and strategic benefit potential the sector promises.

Certainly, the US has led the way more than a decade ago, but today basically every country puts a huge emphasis on putting the commercial sector into the driving seat for “NewSpace” projects, however you may wish to define NewSpace.

• 30-year experienced senior Royal Air Force officer chooses OneWeb
• Specialist in deployable IT infrastructure, military operations, and cyber security
• Extensive experience of satellite-services in defence operations

London, UK – 8 September, 2021: OneWeb, the low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite communications company, announced today the appointment of Air Vice-Marshal (AVM) Chris Moore CBE as Vice President, International Government and Trade Engagement, to its Government and Regulatory Affairs Team.

From 2017-2021, Chris was the Ministry of Defence (MOD’s) Director of Operations for Defence’s core IT services, leading a 1000-strong organisation responsible for integrating one of the most complicated IT estates in Europe, including corporate IT, military technology, satellite and cloud services, cryptographic distribution, defensive cyber operations and electro-magnetic spectrum management in order to generate competitive military advantage across the full range of global environments.