Page 96 - SAMENA Trends - February 2020

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Astrocast Inks Sixth Cubesat Launch Deal With Spaceflight

Rideshare launch provider Spaceflight to have experienced partners deploying (L-band) data from IoT devices around
will send 10 additional nanosatellites into our constellation,” said Kjell Karlsen, CFO the world. The constellation, however,
orbit for Internet of Things (IoT) network of Astrocast. “Spaceflight has proven to be will target mobile networks operating in
developer Astrocast in late 2021, the a reliable partner from our very first launch. remote regions. The constellation will
companies announced Feb. 6. The new We couldn’t ask for a better launch and provide 256 bit encryption with multi-level
contract represents Astrocast’s sixth mission management service.” Astrocast security. Airbus helped Astrocast develop
launch order from Spaceflight, which is is currently engaged in a partnership with a low-cost Application-Specific Integrated
now slated to launch 30 of the 100 planned the European Space Agency (ESA), Airbus, Circuit (ASIC) and data-protocol that
satellites all in late 2021. “Access to space and Thuraya to develop an advanced provides the most power efficient satellite
is the number one challenge for this nanosatellite IoT network powered by a modem for IoT applications.
industry. Astrocast is at an accelerated constellation of 100 cubesats designed
phase in company growth where it is critical to transmit and receive low bandwidth

SpaceX Tests Falcon 9 Rocket for Next Starlink Satellite Fleet Launch

SpaceX successfully fired up the Falcon rolls out just the rocket’s first stage, fires could begin carrying astronauts to the
9 rocket booster that will launch the it up, and rolls it back so they can attach space station — a task they completed last
company’s next batch of Starlink satellites the payload. SpaceX has followed that year. With one successful uncrewed test
in a test that sets the stage for the liftoff. method since 2016, when a Falcon 9 rocket flight, and a demonstration of the Crew
That Falcon 9 rocket is expected to send exploded on the launchpad, destroying its Dragon’s launch escape system, the only
60 Starlink internet satellites into space satellite payload, during preparations for a hurdles SpaceX has left to complete before
no earlier than Sunday (Feb. 16). Liftoff static fire test. However, with the Starlink that coveted crewed mission are a few more
is set for Sunday at 10:25 a.m. EST (1525 launches, the company has decided to fire parachute tests and paperwork. According
GMT). The company originally planned for up the rockets with the payload sitting on to SpaceX, the Crew Dragon vehicle has
a launch on Saturday (Feb. 15), but poor top. This isn’t a new practice for this launch, arrived at the launch site. If all goes as
weather at the rocket’s recovery zone but is something the company is doing planned we could see SpaceX launch
prompted the 24-hour schedule slip. The with most of its Starlink launches. Since people to the International Space Station in
company conducted a so-called static- SpaceX owns the payload, it assumes the the next few months. This marks the fourth
fire test on Friday (Feb. 14) at 9 a.m. EST risk if there were an anomaly. Plus, it cuts time a SpaceX booster will fly four times.
(1400 GMT) of a Falcon 9 rocket at Space down on processing time, allowing the But before it can launch, SpaceX put the
Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral company to test fire one day and launch the vehicle through a routine launch rehearsal,
Air Force Station in Florida, the company next. This practice was something SpaceX called a static-fire test. This is a standard
said on Twitter. The upcoming launch will did in the past, but stopped after the loss part of prelaunch procedures and one of
mark the third Starlink flight this year. The of the AMOS 6 satellite in 2016. That the last major milestones before liftoff.
veteran Falcon 9 rocket rolled out of its explosion was attributed to issues with the During the test, teams loaded the Falcon’s
hangar on February 13 and went vertical composite overwrapped pressure vessels super-chilled propellants — kerosene and
on the launch pad in advance of the (COPVs) in the rocket’s upper stage. The liquid oxygen — into the rocket and then
planned test-firing of its nine first stage COPVs are responsible for keeping the briefly ignited the first stage’s nine Merlin
engines on Friday morning. The two-stage rocket pressurized during flight as its fuel 1D engines. The engines briefly fired at
rocket featured in the upcoming launch is depleted since then, the company has 12 p.m. EST (1700 GMT), generating more
includes a thrice-flown first-stage booster, redesigned the COPVs and began using than 1 million pounds of thrust while the
having previously lofted two commercial them when they started flying the Block booster remained firmly on the ground.
Dragon resupply missions (CRS-17 in 5 version of Falcon 9 in May 2018. In a “Static fire of Falcon 9 complete ahead
May 2019 and CRS-18 that July) as well prelaunch news conference prior to that of launching 60 satellites — due to poor
as a hefty telecommunications satellite in inaugural launch, SpaceX CEO and founder, weather in the recovery area tomorrow,
December. This test was slightly different Elon Musk, described the COPVs as “the now targeting launch on Sunday, February
from typical hold down tests that SpaceX most advanced pressure vessel developed 16 at 10:25 a.m. EST, 15:25 UTC,” SpaceX
performs prior to each launch in recent by humanity.” NASA required SpaceX to tweeted shortly after the test.
years. SpaceX test fired this Falcon 9 with fly the newly redesigned pressure vessels
a payload attached. Typically, the company at least seven times before the company

96 FEBRUARY 2020