Military/Aerospace Electronics

CesiumAstro, a space comms specialist based in Austin, Texas, has bought the UK startup TXMission, which develops software-defined radios and modems for satellites, ground stations and HAPS (high-altitude platform systems). It says TXMission’s portfolio – communications waveforms and hardware products – will complement its own product lines. Specifically, the Quest and Connect software-defined radios built for the satellite and ground ...

The UK’s Satellite Applications Catapult is funding research into a future Space-Based Solar Power (SBSP) system. The aim is help create a fully renewable baseload energy technology. The total project value will be £620k, which is funded by a £465k grant from the UK Space Agency and a further contribution from the Satellite Applications Catapult itself of £155k. It will ...

Microchip has introduced a rad-tolerant 3A LDO (low drop-out regulator) for LEO (low-earth orbit) and other space appliations. MIC69303RT is available for prototype sampling in both plastic and hermetic ceramic packaging. The regulator is based on an existing COTS (commercial off-the-shelf) devices and operates from between 1.65 to 5.5V and can deliver as low as 500mV, with drop-outs as low ...

Magnetic components which can be either an inductor or a transformer depending on inductance ranges, make up Exxelia’s Chameleon Concept Magnetics (CCM) family. The components are available from New Yorker Electronics and have been introduced alongside the existing SESI and TT families to withstand harsh environments, particularly in aerospace and space applications. There are five sizes available, the CCM4, CCM5, ...

Nasa has hosted the signing of a new agreement between the U.S. and Japan on future space cooperation. Described as building on a long history of collaboration in space exploration between the U.S. and Japan, it’s full title is: “The Framework Agreement Between the Government of Japan and the Government of the United States of America for Cooperation in Space ...

Capella Space, the synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellite imagery specialists, has raised $60m in funding from the United States Innovative Technology Fund (USIT). The San Francisco headquartered company says it will use the capital to expand its imaging capacity and develop new data products around its SAR imagery and analytics capabilities. For example, it has three new analytics offerings for ...

The European Investment Bank (EIB), which is the financing institution of the European Union, has loaned €300 million to SES to fund software-defined satellites enabling service reconfiguration and instant in-orbit adjustment. SES is satellite telecommunications provider and the seven-year term loan will back “investments related to the design, procurement and launch” of three satellites to deliver broadcast and broadband services ...

Rocket Factory Augsburg (RFA) has chosen the SaxaVord Spaceport on the Shetland Islands to be the location for its first launch. The two organisations have announced a multi-year launch operations partnership. Under the terms of the deal, RFA will have exclusive access to Launch Pad Fredo for orbital launches. It also includes “investments in the double-digit million pound range”, said ...

The Japanese space agency, JAXA, along with the Kyushu Institute of Technology (Kyutech), are to begin development of nanosatellite for observing cosmic background radiation, in a mission to explore the history of star formations. Using a 6U-sized (10cm x 20cm x 30cm) nanosatellite with high-precision attitude control, the work will be done under the JAXA Small Satellite-Rush Program, part of ...

Virgin Orbit’s attempt at the first European satellite launch from Spaceport Cornwall ended in failure but the UK Space Agency has put a brave face on the significance of the mission, as Virgin Orbit works promises to word work tirelessly to understand the faults involved. Following the amended Boeing 747, Cosmic Girl, reaching the designated drop zone, the two-stage rocket, ...