Page 68 - SAMENA Trends - November-December 2021

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Virgin Orbit Adds Spire Satellite to Next Launch

Virgin Orbit will fly a Spire cubesat in university payload. SatRevolution is orbit on its second launch in January,
addition to several other payloads on flying its STORK-3 imaging satellite and followed by another successful launch in
its next LauncherOne launch, scheduled SteamSat-2, a satellite that will test water- June. Virgin Orbit is also nearing conclusion
for no earlier than Dec. 22. Virgin Orbit fueled thrusters developed by British of its merger with NextGen Acquisition
announced Dec. 9 that Spire’s ADLER-1 company SteamJet Space Systems. In the Corp. II, a special purpose acquisition
three-unit cubesat had been added to statement about adding the Spire satellite, company (SPAC). The merger, announced
the manifest for that upcoming launch, Virgin Orbit said the launch is scheduled Aug. 23, would turn Virgin Orbit into a
called “Above the Clouds” by Virgin Orbit. for some time between mid-December publicly traded company on the Nasdaq
The satellite, whose name is derived from and mid-January. According to a notice and raise up to $483 million to fund the
Austrian Debris Detection Low Earth (orbit) to mariners published by the U.S. Coast company’s expansion. The two companies
Reconnoiter, was developed in partnership Guard Dec. 8, the company is planning a announced Dec. 8 that the Securities
with the Austrian Space Forum and Findus launch between 5 and 8 p.m. Eastern Dec. and Exchange Commission had declared
Venture GmbH. It will collect data on the 22, with backup dates of Dec. 23 and Jan. effective the registration statement for the
environment of “micro” space debris in 8–10. The launch will be the fourth flight of merger, a key step to completing the deal.
low Earth orbit using a short-range radar LauncherOne. An inaugural launch in May Shareholders of NextGen are scheduled
provided by Spire. In the statement, Dan 2020 failed to reach orbit when the rocket’s to vote on the merger Dec. 28, with the
Hart, chief executive of Virgin Orbit, said first-stage engine shut down several companies completing the deal “as soon
only 20 days elapsed between initial seconds into flight. The company reached as practicable” after the vote.
discussions and the agreement to add
the satellite, and from there 36 hours
to get Federal Aviation Administration
authorization to add the satellite to the
mission and integrate it onto the vehicle.
“Spire’s recent addition to Above the
Clouds is a great example of the flexibility
of LauncherOne’s capabilities, the agility
of both our teams, and the flexibility and
support of the FAA in enabling rapid and
responsive deployment of satellites to
low Earth orbit,” Hart said. Virgin Orbit
announced the mission in November.
At the time the two customers were
the Defense Department’s Space Test
Program (STP) and Polish satellite
manufacturer SatRevolution. STP is
flying several smallsats from government
agencies to test communications and
navigation technologies, as well as a

FCC Approves LEO Satellite Application from French Firm Kineis

The US Federal Communications IoT devices, as well as enhancements to through a constellation of satellites
Commission (FCC) has granted a petition maritime domain awareness through the that will be authorized by France. The
from French satellite company Kineis monitoring of maritime communication. US regulator has granted Kineis market
to offer satellite services in the US Kineis petitioned the FCC for access access in the 399.9MHz-400.05MHz
market. As detailed in the company’s to the US market using frequencies for and 401MHz-403MHz uplink bands, and
application, the proposed constellation non-voice, non-geostationary (NVNG) the 400.15MHz-401MHz downlink band,
of 25 small Low Earth Orbit (LEO) mobile-satellite service (MSS) and earth subject to certain conditions.
satellites would provide connectivity for exploration satellite service (EESS)

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