NewSpace News: Issue #105

March 2014

Planet Labs has successfully deployed Flock-1, its first constellation of 28 nanosats, from the ISS. The satellites were launched in several installments from the Japanese Kibo module through NanoRack's Smallsat Deployment Program. Skybox Imaging is also working towards its constellation, and they have signed a contract with Space Systems Loral to build 13 satellites in the next 2 years and a contract with Orbital to launch 6 of those into orbit in late 2015. Press Releases by NASA, Loral, and Orbital, and Image by Planet Labs

New Earth-imaging capabilities are also being developed outside of Silicon Valley. Axelspace from Japan has recently released its images of Arctic ice from its WNISAT-1, which was launched in November 2013. The Canadian company Urthecast has successfully performed initial functional tests on the two cameras that were installed on the ISS. They have also announced agreements with six new data distributors and now have a total annual commitment of $26 million. Press Releases by Axelspace and Urthecast

The United States Air Force has announced that the first Falcon 9 v1.1 launch will count towards the three launches needed for certification. SpaceX has also been working towards making its first stage reusable, and they have announced that the Falcon 9 for Commercial Resupply Misssion (CRS) 3 will sport landing legs. Press Release by USAF, Article by NASASpaceFlight.com, and Image by SpaceX

Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC) has completed Milestone 4a for NASA's commercial crew contract. In this milestone, they have reviewed the flight-profile data from previous tests. So far, SNC has completed 8 out of 13 milestones and is scheduled to complete the remaining 5 before the August 2014 deadline. Press Release by SNC

Boeing has recently completed a hardware design review and software safety review with NASA. It completed a critical design review for the launch vehicle adapter which will connect the CST-100 spacecraft with the Atlas V rocket. So far, Boeing has completed 15 out of 20 milestones it has set with NASA for the commercial crew program. Press Release by Boeing

Google Lunar XPRIZE has selected 5 teams to compete for a total of $6 million in the Milestone Prizes. These prizes were added to the original GLXP to recognize the technical achievements of the competitors and to help teams overcome financial hurdles of development. Press Release by GLXP

Astrobotic has signed a contract with Astroscale to deliver a lunar time capsule, which contains a popular Japanese sports drink Pocari Sweat. To safely land this cargo, Astrobotic has been testing its sensor and software systems using Masten Space System's Xombie rocket. Masten has also been improving its systems, and they posted a picture of the 1/3 scale version of XaeroB. Press Release by Astroboic and GLXP, and Tweet by Masten

Space Frontier Foundation has announced Jeff Feige as the new Chairman of the Board, replacing SFF Co-Founder Bob Werb. Jeff Feige is currently the CEO of space and pressure suit provider Orbital Outfitters, and he has supported the SFF over the years in different roles, such as conference management. Press Release by SFF

The race to small payloads launch service is heating up. Generation Orbit (GO) has completed the system requirements review for its GOLauncher 2, and they have also signed an investment banking agreement with the Inman Company. Meanwhile, Swiss Space Systems (S3) has announced its partnership with two Russian companies, RKK Energia and JSC Kuznetzov, which will provide propulsion systems for S3's rocket and suborbital shuttle, respectively. Press Releases by GO and S3

The potential dangers of space debris has gained public recognition, partly due to the movie Gravity (which won 7 Oscars). Saber Astronautics has recently passed NASA flight tests for DragEN conductive space tether, which uses Earth's magnetic fields to deorbit satellites. The Japan Space Exploration Agency (JAXA) is a step ahead with the launch of Space Tethered Autonomous Robotic Satellite-2 (STARS-2), which will test the ability to generate electricity using a 300m tether as it passes through Earth's magnetic field. Article by The Guardian, Press Release by Saber Astronautics, and Article by Washington Post

MarsOne has completed a crowdfunding campaign and raised $313,744. The organization was also featured in the media recently due to a ruling by Islamic scholars, who declared that a one-way trip to Mars is equivalent to suicide, and severe consequences can await in the afterlife. Info on Indiegogo and Article on Huffington Post

SpaceX President & COO Gwynne Shotwell, Doug Plata of the Lunar COTS Petition, and Author/Astronaut Trainer Erik Seedhouse share their respective NewSpace initiatives with Dr. David Livingston on The Space Show.

Space Tech Conference 2014 takes place as part of Space Tech Expo 2014, the West Coast's premier B2B event for spacecraft, satellite, launch vehicle and space-related technologies during April 1-3, at the Long Beach Convention Center. The Space Tech Expo exhibition and conference brings together global decision-makers involved in the design, build and testing of spacecraft, satellite, launch vehicle and space-related technologies. In its third year, the conference and exhibit hall is expected to feature over 150 companies and organizations showcasing their latest products, technologies and innovations, and 2,000-plus attendees. For more information please visit www.spacetechexpo.com. Aerospace Electrical Systems Expo, the only tradeshow and summit dedicated to on-board electrical power for aviation and spacecraft will be co-located with Space Tech Expo for the first time in 2014.