Epsilon3’s Post

🚀 Exciting news from Impulse Space! We are thrilled to announce two major advancements in our mission to revolutionize in-space transportation: 1️⃣ GEO Rideshare Program: Our new program, featuring the high-performance Helios kick stage, aims to drastically reduce the cost of transporting small satellites to Geostationary Earth Orbit (GEO) and other high-energy orbits. The first mission is set for 2027, offering payload ports starting at 300 kg. 2️⃣ Upgraded Mira Design: Our original orbital transfer vehicle, Mira, has received significant upgrades to enhance its capabilities in GEO and beyond. With improved radiation hardening, advanced avionics, and a robust power supply, Mira is now equipped for precise deployment and hosting on arrival in orbit. These initiatives will provide reliable, cost-effective, and timely access to GEO, enabling a wide range of new applications from payload hosting to constellation deployment. “As access to GEO continues opening up, we’re seeing demand shift from static to dynamic operations for assets in these high-energy orbits,” said CEO and founder Thomas Mueller. “Mira has demonstrated success with rapid, responsive repositioning thanks to its powerful engines, and we’re confident our updated design will meet the evolving GEO needs of our customers in commercial, scientific, and defense sectors.” Stay tuned for more updates as we continue to innovate and expand access to space! https://lnkd.in/gtJnEMws

Space missions are getting more complex − lessons from Amazon and FedEx can inform satellite and spacecraft management in orbit

“This year’s space list reflects the growing importance—and increasing challenge—of tracking and managing all the satellites, spacecraft, and junk that’s floating around in low-Earth orbit and beyond. In early January 2024, the tracking site Orbiting Now listed 8,377 active satellites in various Earth orbits, with more than 2,234 launched last year, (over 1,900 of them joining Starlink’s super-constellation). “Space situational awareness” (SSA) is one of the hottest subsectors of the industry, and it is shifting to nongovernment players. One of the largest is Slingshot Aerospace, which operates a global array of optical sensors that continuously collect and analyze data on space traffic for commercial and government customers. Orbion Space Technology specializes in small plasma thrusters that help satellites ease into precision orbits, make evasive maneuvers, and safely reenter and burn out in Earth’s atmosphere at the end of their life cycle. Michigan-based Kall Morris Inc, meanwhile, is testing its next-generation software and a gecko-inspired grappling tool for intercepting and securing treacherous space junk”.

Join the Space Surveillance and Tracking for #SpacecraftOperations online workshop on 22 May The new ESA #ZeroDebris design and operation requirements introduce many new and challenging aspects to be addressed in early #MissionDesign. The requirements are part of ESA’s comprehensive Zero Debris approach, the Agency’s bold goal to significantly limit the production of debris in Earth and Lunar orbits by 2030 for all future missions, programmes and activities (https://lnkd.in/eD_ChXpP). For spacecraft operated in the protected LEO or GEO regions, the orbit determination accuracy has to be estimated and is required to stay within specified limits. To support mission designers in such an assessment, #ESA and OKAPI:Orbits have upgraded the DRAMA software with additional functionalities to assess spacecraft trackability in view of a space surveillance network. The workshop aims to start a discussion on the accuracy of the estimated (default) parameters and identify the commercial and institutional services. #EventInShort 💡Space Surveillance and Tracking for Spacecraft Operations - connecting the dots between modelling, design and practice 📅 Wednesday 22 May, 15:00-18:00 CEST  📍 Virtual meeting (link shared with registered participants)  The workshop is free of charge and all international SST service providers and sensor operators are welcome to participate. Register here! 👉 https://lnkd.in/eNVzMzxC

Aerojet Rocketdyne advances space maneuver with new propulsion tech. by Clarence Oxford - Los Angeles CA (SPX) From the early days of space exploration, objects in orbit have followed the predictable trajectories described by Johannes Kepler's laws. These paths, while historically reliable, no longer meet the strategic demands of today's complex and contested Space Area of Operations (AOR). The need for agility and unpredictability in satellite movements has become paramount as space becomes a more contested domain. During the 2023 Space Symposium in Colorado Springs, Colorado, then Deputy Commander of U.S. Space Command, Lt. Gen. John Shaw, highlighted the critical nature of maneuverability in space. He stressed that space should be managed as dynamically as any terrestrial domain, with capabilities for rapid movement and evasion to achieve strategic surprise and operational superiority. "Dynamic Space Operations, or DSO, are fundamentally about enabling on-orbit maneuverability," said Tom Wehr, director of business development for launch and space exploration at Aerojet Rocketdyne, an L3Harris Technologies company. Wehr emphasized that the ability to change orbits on demand disrupts adversarial targeting and complicates their military planning. For instance, satellites in fixed, predictable orbits allow adversaries to anticipate surveillance times and alter their activities to evade detection. The capability to maneuver satellites could therefore enhance the effectiveness of space surveillance, allowing for adaptive responses to threats and opportunities in real-time. Moreover, in scenarios where space becomes a battleground, having maneuverable assets can be a game-changer, allowing forces to maintain the upper hand. To address these evolving challenges, Aerojet Rocketdyne has been at the forefront of developing advanced propulsion technologies that enable greater flexibility and endurance for spacecraft. These innovations include: + Electric satellite thrusters with 10 times the efficiency of conventional chemical propulsion systems. + A long-life version of the company's high-thrust RL10 upper stage rocket engine, capable of multiple of in-space restarts, an industry workhorse that has sent probes across the Solar System and beyond. + High-performance propellants that are more efficient and environmentally friendly than hydrazine and other chemical fuels typically used for in-space propulsion. https://lnkd.in/dJ6CAmp9

🌍🚀 In a recent briefing paper, the World Economic Forum emphasized key principles for improving Space Situational Awareness and ensuring safer space operations. Recommendations include full transparency, enhanced data sharing from spacecraft operators, and stronger collaboration between governments and private sector players. The paper also calls for global engagement and continued adherence to the United Nations’ Guidelines for the Long-term Sustainability of Outer Space Activities. 🌌 https://lnkd.in/ea8bprt3 #SpaceSafety #Sustainability #SpaceInsider #GlobalCollaboration

The number of active satellites orbiting Earth has now surpassed 10,000, marking a significant milestone in space technology and exploration. This increase is largely driven by the rapid deployment of satellites by commercial entities like SpaceX, which has launched thousands of Starlink satellites to create a global broadband network. The surge in satellite numbers is also due to advancements in satellite technology, which have made it more affordable and feasible to launch smaller, more efficient satellites into space. While this growth presents numerous opportunities for global communication, weather monitoring, and scientific research, it also raises concerns about space congestion and the increased risk of collisions. The issue of space debris becomes more pressing as the number of satellites in orbit continues to rise, making the need for sustainable space management practices more critical than ever. For more details, you can read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/dh3jX6dH #SpaceExploration #Satellites #SpaceTechnology #SpaceDebris #GlobalCommunication #SustainabilityInSpace

"Orbital refueling Ports" - "ORP." Orbital refueling ports - are game-changing advancements in space infrastructure that will transform the future of space travel. These ports can serve as vital hubs where satellites and spacecraft can replenish fuel, enabling extended missions, reduced launch costs, and increased operational flexibility. Establishing orbital refueling capabilities will make space travel more sustainable and efficient, extending the lifespan of satellites and interplanetary probes and facilitating ambitious projects like crewed missions to Mars. #OrbitalRefueling #SpaceSustainability

While this is a significant milestone, things are only going to get a lot more crowded in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) in the coming years.