space technology | Business Upturn

TNO and FSO instruments collaborate to commercialize Satellite Laser Communication

Tushar Aggarwal — Sun, 17 Mar 2024 17:52:09 +0000

TNO, a renowned research institute, has embarked on a groundbreaking collaboration with commercial entity FSO Instruments, signaling a major step forward in the commercialization of optical space technology. This collaboration aims to transform TNO’s satellite laser communication technology into viable commercial products, marking a significant development in the field.

The agreement between TNO and FSO Instruments spans twenty years, granting FSO Instruments the global rights to industrialize and commercialize TNO’s innovative optical technology. This technology promises enhanced broadband connectivity, offering faster and more secure communication compared to traditional radio frequencies.

By leveraging TNO’s expertise in developing optical instruments for space applications, particularly in astronomy and Earth observation, this collaboration is poised to propel the Netherlands and Europe into a stronger position in the global market. With the exponential growth in data consumption, the demand for laser communication technology is expected to soar, making this collaboration timely and strategic.

FSO Instruments, a joint venture between technology firms Demcon and VDL Groep, specializes in developing high-quality instruments for laser satellite communications. This technology enables the shaping and transmission of laser beams over long distances, facilitating connectivity between ground stations, satellites, aircraft, and unmanned aerial vehicles. The technology promises data transmission speeds up to a thousand times faster than current radio frequency-based communications, highlighting its potential to revolutionize global communication systems.

This collaboration signifies a significant shift towards the commercialization of cutting-edge space technology, with potential applications ranging from enhancing satellite communication networks to improving connectivity for various aerospace platforms. As the demand for high-speed, secure, and reliable data transmission continues to grow, this partnership is well-positioned to drive innovation and shape the future of global communication systems.

Comsat Architects partners with Ubotica Technologies to pioneer AI-Powered satellite Communication and Earth Observation

Tushar Aggarwal — Thu, 14 Mar 2024 10:36:52 +0000

Comsat Architects, a prominent space communications company based in Northeast Ohio, has announced a strategic partnership with Ubotica Technologies, a trailblazer in autonomous AI-powered satellite technology. Together, the two companies aim to integrate Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies into the combination of communication and Earth observation on small satellites in low Earth orbits, paving the way for Live Earth Intelligence.

Comsat Architects is known for its services in space communication analysis, advanced software, and aerospace technologies, serving both civil and commercial sectors. Their expertise lies in enabling space communications in Earth and lunar environments for NASA and commercial ventures. The company specializes in developing full-stack applications for space data management, visualization, and analytics, with a focus on space connectivity for spacecraft in LEO orbit and the infusion of AI/ML technologies into various aspects of data delivery.

One of the exciting areas of focus for the partnership is the combination of Earth Observation with communications to unlock Live Earth Intelligence, providing continuously updated insights about Earth’s changing conditions. Traditional Earth Observation methods face a critical limitation, as images are captured and sent to Earth for processing, which can take days. Ubotica revolutionizes this process by integrating onboard image processing and AI inference intelligence directly on the satellite, enabling real-time insights. By integrating this technology with communications, these insights can reach users on Earth within seconds, facilitating actionable decision-making.

Comsat Architects will play a pivotal role in developing Ubotica’s SPACE:AI onboard platform, focusing on the development of autonomous communications networks and routing algorithms for constellations of small satellites.

Kul Bhasin, Ph.D., CEO of Comsat Architects, expressed excitement about the partnership, stating, “This collaboration signifies a major milestone in harnessing the combined expertise of Comsat Architects and Ubotica to advance AI technologies in space systems. We are thrilled to collaborate with Ubotica, exploring AI applications as we engage in the commercial space economy.”

Comsat Architects and Ubotica plan to explore cloud detection technology on satellite image data, with sample use cases including situational awareness, early detection, and Earth system monitoring.

ISRO ‘Internally’ working on complex Chandrayaan-4 Moon sample return mission

Tushar Aggarwal — Sun, 18 Feb 2024 05:19:38 +0000

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has revealed that it has started internal conceptual work on the Chandrayaan-4 lunar probe, which will aim to achieve the highly complex task of collecting and bringing Moon soil samples back to Earth.

The disclosure came from ISRO Chairman S Somanath following the successful launch of the GSLV-F14 rocket carrying the INSAT-3DS meteorological satellite on Saturday. Somanath stated that after the soon-to-launch Chandrayaan-3 mission, ISRO intends to pursue more ambitious Chandrayaan-4, 5, 6 and 7 missions in the coming years.

‘We are working on what the Chandrayaan-4 spacecraft should contain. The first question is what Chandrayaan-4 should be having as the payload,’ said Somanath. “The plan is to do something different.”

He revealed that ISRO has decided at least Chandrayaan-4 should retrieve samples from the lunar surface and bring them to Earth for analysis. This will be done robotically in order to reduce mission complexity and costs.

Somanath observed that launching a mission to collect extraterrestrial samples and safely return them to Earth involves very intricate operations, far more than standard orbital or surface missions.

“Going to the Moon, collecting samples, taking off from there and coming back to Earth is double the work we have done last time,” he remarked.

After landing on the Moon, Chandrayaan-4 will need to launch a specific ascent vehicle from the lunar surface that can then travel back to Earth and safely land here while protecting the precious Moon samples it carries.

‘Our rockets today are not fully capable to do this,’ Somanath noted. “So we are trying a novel design, which I will not reveal now, it will be secret.”

According to the Secretary of the Department of Space, ISRO scientists aim to develop cutting-edge technologies tailored to meet the highly demanding goals of Chandrayaan-4. The project will move forward after the Government approves the mission plan and allocates funding.

‘There is going to be high-end technology which we are developing to do this mission. We will soon come back after government approvals, after we detail the way forward and the money required,’ Somanath stated.

The Chandrayaan-3 lunar lander mission scheduled to launch in mid-2023 comes over a decade after Chandrayaan-2 in 2019. The previous mission successfully orbited the Moon but failed to soft-land its Vikram lander with the Pragyan rover onboard. If all goes well, Chandrayaan-3 will demonstrate ISRO’s capability to safely land spacecraft on the lunar surface.

Building on those key learnings, Chandrayaan-4 aims to take a giant leap by securing pristine samples from Moon’s hitherto unexplored geology and delivering them back to labs on Earth. This could help unravel further mysteries about lunar formation and evolution.

As ISRO gears up to pursue more complex deep space endeavors, the Chandrayaan series could position India as a rising spacefaring nation that contributes vital scientific discoveries about Earth’s natural satellite in the international arena.

ISRO opens the doors of its research facility for Space startups

News Desk — Sun, 19 Sep 2021 09:24:03 +0000

In order to acknowledge the importance of start-ups in space technology, the Department of Space has signed a framework MoU with Agnikul Cosmos, a space technology start-up, for granting access to the facilities and expertise of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). Their combined efforts will help in developing and testing systems and sub-systems of space launch vehicles.

Department of Space, today, September 17, 2021 entered into a Framework MoU with M/s Agnikul Cosmos Pvt. Ltd., Chennai for access to ISRO facilities and expertise. https://t.co/GoPzK7oddP pic.twitter.com/vuaVDNEPdE

— ISRO (@isro) September 17, 2021

Under the agreement, the Agnikul Cosmos, which is based in the National Centre for Combustion R&D of IIT-Madras, Chennai, will be able to undertake multiple tests and access facilities at various ISRO centres for testing and qualification of their single-piece, 3D printed, semi-cryogenic engine and other systems.

“Humbled to sign this MoU with the Department of Space which will formally enable us to go forward with our testing plans at ISRO. With this level of government support, low earth orbit does look close,” Agnikul said in a statement after signing the MoU.

Earlier this year, Agnikul raised $11 million in Series A funding from institutional and angel investors. Not only this, but it has also partnered with EOS India, a 3D printing technology company. This partnership signed last month will expand their synergy in 3D printing for rockets and sub-systems.

The start-up plans to set up an EOS M400-4 printer at its facility and would take technical support of EOS in advancing 3D printing of rocket engines, allowing it to own the entire rocket engine making process in-house. To make it successful, EOS would facilitate and support Agnikul by providing training, process know-how, and best practices for taking hardware that has worked successfully.

Last week, ISRO had also signed a similar framework MoU with a Hyderabad-based start-up named Skyroot Aerospace.