SAN FRANCISCO – NearSpace Launch, an Indiana firm recognized for robotically assembling ThinSats, is unveiling a brand new Black Field for autonomous satellite tv for pc monitoring and knowledge relay.
“Operators wish to hold related to their satellite tv for pc to get essential well being and security knowledge,” Matthew Voss, NSL chief working officer, advised SpaceNews. “Even over the polar areas or the ocean, you’ll be able to all the time connect with your satellites.”
Curiosity in Black Packing containers is rising. Launch aggregators assist dozens of cubesats and microsatellites journey as secondary payloads on rocket rideshare missions. As soon as in orbit, it’s generally troublesome to establish particular person satellites, significantly if onboard batteries or radios fail.
Universities, NASA, the Protection Division and firms have bought and flown greater than 180 NSL EyeStar radios to transmit knowledge between satellites and the bottom by way of the Globalstar and Iridium communications constellations.
New Black Field
NSL’s new Black Field augments the EyeStar radio with GPS monitoring plus sensors to maintain tabs on satellite tv for pc well being and security. The newest self-powered Black Field is available in 4 sizes. And it relays knowledge by way of Iridium Subsequent satellites.
“The Black Field is so small we will connect it to the skin of an ESPA ring,” Voss stated. “We’ve even connected it to cubesats for a number of universities.”
With funding from the U.S. Air Pressure Small Enterprise Innovation Analysis (SBIR) program, NSL developed software program that turns GPS knowledge collected by the Black Field into ephemeris and two-line ingredient knowledge. The Black Field transmits the situation knowledge to the U.S. House Command’s 18th House Protection squadron.
NSL plans to launch the brand new Black Field with GPS and sensors in June as a part of the Prepare-Fast on Orbit Payload F2 mission.
Below House Pressure SBIR contracts, NSL is also built-in the Black Field with deorbit expertise and house climate sensors.
EyeStar Demonstrations
In 2022, NSL confirmed its EyeStar radio might transmit knowledge by way of Globalstar and Iridium satellites.
NSL launched the Globalstar Experiment and Danger Discount Satellite tv for pc in January 2022 on a Virgin Galactic LauncherOne. In March 2022, NSL’s S4 Crossover flew on the Astra Rocket 3. A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carried NSL’s Prepare Fast On Orbit Payload 3 to orbit in Might. The S4 Crossover and TROOP-3 radios despatched knowledge by way of Iridium satellites.
“We have been in a position to show that the radios might even work when a satellite tv for pc is in a tumble,” Voss stated. “You continue to get your essential knowledge down.”
To maintain up with demand for satellites and elements, moved into a brand new facility in Upland, Indiana, in 2022.
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