Nigeria's NigeriaSat-2 and NX earth observation satellites are undergoing tests at the Science and Technology Facilities Council’s (STFC’s) Rutherford Appleton Laboratory.

NigeriaSat-2 and NX are being built for Nigeria's National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) and will form part of the Disaster Monitoring Constellation (DMC) when they are launched next year.

NigeriaSat-2 was designed and built by Surrey Satellite Technology Limited (SSTL), and is based on their latest SSTL-300 earth observation satellite platform will deliver a high-resolution (2.5 metre) imaging system onboard a highly agile platform.

NX, which is based on the SSTL-100 platform was built by Nigerian engineers as part of their training and development scheme at SSTL in Guildford, UK. It will provide 22-metre imaging, enhancing the capability that is currently provided by NigeriaSat-1, which was launched in 2003. These latest satellites will provide not only continuity to Nigeria’s current space capability, but significantly advance the country’s space assets.

Continue reading "Nigerian satellites tested at RAL"

Gaileo is turning out to be a hot topic at this year's Paris Air Show. On the 15th June ESA and Arianespace signed a contract for the launch of the first four operational Galileo satellites on two Soyuz launch vehicles from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana. Also this week, ESA and the OHB/SSTL consortium signed a contract for sourcing long-lead items for Galileo satellites.

The Galileo In-Orbit Validation (IOV) Launch Services Contract covers the launch of the first four operational Galileo satellites using two Soyuz launch vehicles that will lift off from the Guiana Space Centre (Centre Spatial Guyanais – CSG), Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana.

This new development follows the successful launch of the GIOVE-A satellite which was built by SSTL and the GIOVE-B satellite which was to be built by the European Satellite Navigation Industries satellite consortium and ultimately completed by Astrium. Both satellites have provided a great deal of data, for example helping with with clock characterisation, Galileo signal testing and in understanding the radiation that future Galileo satellites such as the new IOV satellites can expect in Medium Earth orbit (MEO).

The signature of the IOV Launch Services Contract in Paris marks an important milestone for the Galileo programme as it progresses towards the operational deployment of the satellites of the Galileo satellite navigation system. The four IOV satellites will be placed in a circular orbit at an altitude of MEO of 23 600 km by the end of 2010. Development of the Galileo system is being carried out under a joint ESA/European Union programme.

The launch vehicle chosen to carry the four Galileo IOV satellites into orbit is the Soyuz ST-B with a Fregat MT upper stage, which has been adapted for the deployment needs of the Galileo programme. The Soyuz at CSG Programme is an ESA Programme with co-funding of Arianespace and the European Union.

Galileo operational constellation
Meanwhile, ESA and the bidder consortium led by OHB-System AG and Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd. (SSTL) have signed a contract for sourcing long-lead items for satellites for the future European Galileo navigation system in Paris the same week. The EUR 10 million contract is carried out under a program initiated and funded by the European Union.

Through this contract, OHB and SSTL are able to place orders for satellite technologies which require considerable lead times for development and sourcing ahead of the award of the actual contract for the construction of the satellites. The Galileo System customers, the European Union and the ESA, are thus ensuring that the schedule for implementation of Galileo can be maintained.

OHB and SSTL are one of two consortia bidding for the development and con-struction of 28 satellites for Galileo. By allowing two consortia to build spacecraft for this significant undertaking, ESA is ensuring that the full operational capa-bility can be put in place as soon as possible and at best value to the EU. The system is to be fully operational by 2013 following full contract signature later in 2009.

It is 38 years since the UK government abandoned its successful satellite launcher programme, Black Arrow. It could be argued that the cancellation of Black Arrow marked the end of the UK's chances of becoming a major space power. The UK had been at the forefront of rocketry since World War II but swiftly fell behind during the 60s and 70s (watch a video below).



All future British satellite launches had to rely on foreign rockets. Had the Black Arrow not been abandoned, British (and European) spacecraft manufacturers may now be launching their spacecraft with an evolution of this rocket.

The cost of launches is one of the remaining constraints on lowering the cost of space missions. Small satellite pioneer SSTL has made good use of the highly reliable Soyuz launch vehicles, or Dnepr rockets launched from Kazakstan or Russia for its missions. However, there is a reason why there launch vehicles are tried and tested - the Soyuz has been in use for over 40 years! Whilst the Soyuz offers a highly competitive launch compared to its larger European couterpart, SSTL has always belived that there is space in the industry for a more modern and cost effective technology more in keeping with its spacecraft and completing and offering that can change the economics of space.

The activities of its former shareholder US-based SpaceX in developing low cost launch vehicles have always been of great interest, for example the succesful launch of the Falcon 1. SSTL is now talking to compatriot Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Galactic about developing a British space rocket to rekindle native space capability in the UK and lower the cost of future small satellite missions by at least $5m.

SSTL's Dr Adam Baker is convinced all the expertise in composite structures, guidance and avionics, propulsion and engineering exists in the UK to make it happen. The benefits to the UK's engineering and technology sector in developing and manufacturing these technologies are clear and SSTL are hoping to get the backing of Minister of State for Science and Innovation, Lord Drayson for a government-backed study that would consider the feasibility and business case of a low cost commercial British launch vehicle.

Virgin Galactic wants to pursue other uses for the White Knight (see White Knight two video below) craft beyond space tourism, and it says the idea of using it as a platform to release a British satellite launcher is an appealing one.

In the spirit of Obama’s new reign, international partners will be enlisted to provide International Space Station (ISS) cargo re-supply, and eventually alternate means for sending crews to the ISS.

The International Space Station is also held up as an outstanding example of what can be accomplished through international cooperation. Though the US has spent billions of dollars to build the station, the microgravity research it was intended to facilitate has fallen victim to funding cuts. Barack Obama says he will ensure that NASA and other federal agencies fully utilize the ISS to conduct research that can help address global challenges such as public health and energy independence and can develop technologies that can provide economic benefits to Earth. Obama says he will also enable research on the ISS to support long-term human exploration and planetary research needs.

Partners and cooperation
Barack Obama will enlist other Federal agencies, industry and academia to develop innovative scientific and technological research projects on the ISS.

The ISS has been a model for international cooperation to achieve peaceful objectives in space, helping develop positive relations with Russia during the 1990s. America must take the next step and use the ISS as a strategic tool in diplomatic relations with non traditional partners.

Human exploration
Obama will use the ISS for fundamental biological and physical research to understand the effects of long-term space travel on human health and to test emerging technologies to enable such travel.

Retaining options for extended operations
Barack Obama will consider options to extend ISS operations beyond 2016. After investing so much in developing the ISS, it would be a shame not to utilize it to the fullest possible extent.