This year’s Small Satellite Conference in Logan, Utah was the largest and best attended in history. But, is it about to get a lot larger as the space industry grows around the world? And what underrepresented country could boost attendee numbers the most? Let’s take a look.

Greetings from the 37th Small Satellite Conference in Logan, Utah! Momentus and LeoStella have unveiled new satellite buses, NearSpace Launch and SEOPS have partnered to develop a new space tug, Pale Blue and Flight Works won contracts, Interstellar Technologies will use gas from cow manure to power its new launch vehicle, and much more.

The satellite is flying a historic pathfinding mission to the Moon in support of NASA’s Artemis program

BOCA Raton, Fla., (Terran Orbital Corporation PR) – Terran Orbital Corporation (NYSE: LLAP), a global leader in satellite solutions, primarily serving the United States and Allied aerospace and defense industries, is humbled to share in the Mission of the Year Award presented to the CAPSTONE mission team at the Small Satellite Conference. Competition entrants were chosen for their ability to demonstrate a significant improvement in the capability of satellites, spacecraft structural design, scientific instrument development, and communications capabilities. The contest was informed by the public and administered by the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics Small Spacecraft Technical Committee. CAPSTONE topped ten other highly technical satellites to win the award.

Some updates from the Small Satellite conference in Logan, Utah.

LeoLabs

LeoLabs is in the midst of rapidly expanding its space radar systems to more locations around the world while tracking ever smaller objects in orbit as concern about space debris increases.

by Douglas Messier
Managing Editor

NASA engineers have devised a plan to adapt technologies in order to increase the amount of samples the space agency can return from the moon and the lunar Gateway during its Artemis program.

Modular platform designed to offer smart, sustainable, fast HTP-based traffic management solution to missions running electric propulsion or free-flying satellites in busy revenue-generating orbits  

BURLINGTON, Vt., August 9, 2022 (Benchmark Space Systems PR) – With the most popular, revenue-generating orbits increasingly congested, Benchmark Space Systems today unveiled a breakthrough Collision Avoidance (ColA) Kit, featuring its heritage propulsion technology in a condensed package, that is easily and affordably deployed aboard electric propulsion (EP) and non-propulsive microsatellites and OTVs to help them quickly steer clear of approaching spacecraft and orbital debris.

Benchmark’s COLA Kit will leverage innovations in space domain awareness and traffic management data technologies through strategic partnerships and collaborations driven by a passion for a more cooperative and sustainable space economy.

by Douglas Messier
Managing Editor

I’ve been making the rounds in the Utah State University Fieldhouse here in Logan talking with the various companies with booths at Small Satellite 2022 conference. Here is the first of several updates.

The window for Firefly Aerospace’s second attempt to launch its Alpha booster opens on Sept. 11. That flight will be out of Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. The rocket is already on the launch pad at Vandenberg undergoing pre-flight tests.

by Douglas MessierManaging Editor NASA is looking for a new way to launch the four remaining CubeSats in its Time-Resolved Observations of Precipitation structure and storm Intensity with a Constellation of Smallsats (TROPICS) constellation in the wake of Astra’s decision to abandon its failure plagued Rocket 3.3. The first pair of TROPICS satellites were destroyed on June 12 when the second stage of a Rocket 3.3 failed. Astra announced last […]

• Pale Blue Inc. (“Pale Blue”) will exhibit at the Small Satellite Conference 2022 (August 6 – 11 at Utah State University)
• Dr. Asakawa (CEO) will speak at the technical presentation, held on Wednesday, August 10th
• Pale Blue (booth number 49) will showcase water-based hybrid thruster for small satellites planned for the world-first space demonstration

LOGAN, Utah — Pale Blue will showcase a 100kg-satellite mockup equipped with the water resistojet for the first time. Furthermore, this exhibit will feature the world’s first Multiple Water Propulsion Systems, which is scheduled to be demonstrated in space for the first time by JAXA’s Innovative Satellite Technology Demonstration-3 by March 2023, and the Water Resistojet for small satellites that features high thrust.

Hi everyone. In Utah all week for the first in-person Small Satellite Conference in two years. Lots of cool things going on in the whole smallsat industry. I’ll be reporting on the news and developments. Check here for updates and also follow www.twitter.com/spacecom.