Military/Aerospace Electronics

Safran Electronics & Defense and Terran Orbital have signed a Memorandum of Agreement to study the production of a new electric propulsion system – based on Safran’s PPSX00 plasma thruster – for LEO satellites. The aim, they say, is to make spacecraft more resilient and maneuverable at faster delivery rates and lower costs, for both governmental and commercial customers. And ...

Leonardo is bidding to make engineering roles more accessible to diverse job applicants across the UK, through a collaboration with STEM Returners. Following a successful pilot programme, the company is scaling up the inititative to hire 25 “returners” before October. Open to all, it presents a chance to move into a career with Leonardo in engineering roles spanning systems, software, ...

The UK government is providing £2.1 million of funding, through the UK Space Agency (UKSA), to boost UK-based involvement in space technologies such as harnessing solar power for reusable spacecraft and new propulsion systems. The initial nine projects involve work at Lancaster University, the Surrey Space Centre at the University of Surrey, Swansea University, University of Strathclyde, Durham University (two ...

Intelsat, the satellite comms and inflight connectivity specialist, has begun monitoring air pollution above America on behalf of NASA. Specifically, the company has powered up the first space-based instrument to monitor major air pollutants across North America and send data back to earth as part of the first phase of in-orbit testing, it reports. The UV-visible spectrometer, operated by Intelsat ...

As preparation for a commercial launch, Skyrora has 3D printed a new model of its orbital rocket engine ready for landmark tests. The Edinburgh-based rocket company – which has developed its own eco-friendly fuel, Ecosene, made of waste plastics – has begun a series of full-duration tests to qualify the updated design of its 70kN engine. The engines were created ...

Kuva Space, a Finnish Earth observation company, has won a five-year contract worth €5m to be the sole provider of hyperspectral data services for the European Commission’s Copernicus Contributing Missions program. Its microsatellites, using an embedded hyperspectral camera, will help develop commercial services for Copernicus users, related to global issues like food security, carbon capture, and geopolitical security. With an ...

Durham University is working with Viasat to better understand atmospheric turbulence in free-space optical (FSO) communications. The resulting forecasting tool will be used, the organisations say, to optimise Viasat’s ground station design and support operational decision-making such as network switching between ground stations based on atmospheric conditions. Specifically – for the first phases of the project, using a £200k investment ...

Spire Global, the space analytics company with offices in Glasgow, has successfully launched two satellites carrying optical inter-satellite link (OISL) payloads that will reduce data latency and strengthen communication security. The 6U satellites, pictured, are equipped with optical communications terminals (OCT) to send information between themselves securely and reduce the latency of data acquired, says Spire. As well as link ...

Smiths Interconnect has created an EMI flange for its high-speed NXS connectors, intended for use in satellites. It interfaces between the PCB mounted receptacle and the enclosure panel or bulkhead to minimises the risk of electrical interference flowing from external sources into the enclosure, and vise versa. The EMI receptacle has a gold plated aluminium body that is assembled into ...

GITAI, the Japanese and US space robotics startup, has highlighted the successful demonstration of its Lunar Manipulator and Rover in a simulated regolith chamber. The company’s inchworm-type robotic arm equipped with a tool changer function and its Lunar Robotic Rover were tested in the chamber. The robots executed all planned tasks, as shown in the video below. Tasks included sampling ...