What I read this week...
Rocket Lab signs record deal for 10 Electron launches with Synspective, NASA selects a contractor for the ISS deorbit vehicle, and NASA uses augmented reality technology to build the Roman Space Teles
This week's newsletter is brought to you by saphira.ai: solutions to simplify safety and reliability compliance.
TLDR
Rocket Lab has secured its largest contract to date, signing a deal with Synspective for 10 dedicated Electron launches. This agreement will enable the Japanese Earth observation company to deploy its StriX constellation of synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellites over the next few years. These satellites are designed to enhance global monitoring capabilities for urban development, disaster response, and resource management.
NASA has chosen SpaceX to develop a new vehicle specifically designed for the safe deorbiting of the International Space Station (ISS) at the end of its operational life. The Deorbit Vehicle will ensure a controlled re-entry and disposal of the ISS, addressing concerns about long-term sustainability and safety. The ISS is projected to retire around 2030, making this development crucial for minimizing space debris.
NASA is utilizing augmented reality (AR) technology in the construction of the Roman Space Telescope. By employing AR tools, engineers can visualize components in 3D, streamlining the complex assembly process and ensuring precision. This approach aims to reduce assembly errors and enhance efficiency, aiding the telescope's mission to explore dark energy, exoplanets, and the infrared universe.
Technical Deep Dive
"Minimum-Time Control for the Test Mass Release Phase of Drag-Free Spacecraft" presents an innovative method to enhance the precision and efficiency of releasing test masses (TM) in drag-free spacecraft. This method addresses challenges in nonlinear dynamics and limited electrostatic control forces during the TM release phase by proposing a configuration that includes:
Optimal Trajectory Planning: Utilizing Pontryagin’s minimum principle to derive an analytical solution for the optimal release trajectory.
Closed-Loop Control Design: Implementing a feedback control system to track the optimal trajectory and compensate for disturbances.
Minimum-Time Capture: Ensuring the capture time to stabilize the TM is significantly reduced compared to traditional methods.
Key Components of the Method:
Analytical Solution: Deriving the optimal control trajectory based on Pontryagin’s minimum principle and linearized TM dynamics.
Trajectory Tracking: Designing a feedback controller to follow the planned trajectory, ensuring precise and rapid TM capture.
Simulation Validation: Conducting numerical simulations that confirm the proposed method significantly reduces capture time while maintaining control accuracy.
The research demonstrates that the proposed method halves the capture time compared to traditional PID controllers, making it crucial for missions requiring high precision and reliability, such as gravitational wave detection and satellite formation flying.
Deal Flow
SpaceX is conducting a tender offer that values the company at a record $210 billion. This significant valuation highlights SpaceX's growing influence and potential in the aerospace sector (Business Times)
Eutelsat Group has invested in Seraphim Space's second venture capital fund. This strategic move aims to bolster Eutelsat's position in the rapidly evolving space tech industry (SatellitePro ME)
Fetcherr, a dynamic pricing startup for airlines, has secured $90 million in funding. The investment will support Fetcherr's efforts to revolutionize airline pricing models and improve revenue management (TechCrunch)
CesiumAstro has raised $65 million to accelerate research and development and expand manufacturing capabilities. This funding will enhance CesiumAstro's ability to deliver advanced communication solutions for space applications (SatNow)
Spaceium, a startup developing automated space stations for refueling and repairing spacecraft in orbit, has launched with backing from Y Combinator. This innovative approach could significantly extend the operational lifespan of satellites and other spacecraft (Y Combinator)
Skynopy has raised $3.1 million to build a low Earth orbit (LEO) connectivity network. The funding will help Skynopy develop infrastructure to enhance global communication capabilities (Payload Space)
About Saphira.ai
Saphira is a Y Combinator-backed software tool to define and monitor hardware throughout development. Engineers use it to organize design information that otherwise gets buried in piles of documents, pre-emptively understand when subsystem changes break end-to-end safety scenarios and ultimately deliver safer, higher-quality hardware more quickly. Learn more here.
On Socials
