Monthly Archives: February 2022

Northrop Grumman subsidiary SpaceLogistics has selected SpaceX to launch its first Mission Robotic Vehicle (MRV) better described as the companys next-generation satellite-servicing spacecraft.

As far as SpaceXs Falcon 9 rocket is concerned, MRV-1 is just another geostationary satellite for it to deliver to a transfer orbit around 35,800 kilometers (~22,200 mi) above Earths surface as early as spring 2024. As of now, SpaceX Falcon rockets have launched more than 35 satellites to geostationary transfer orbits (GTO) and have at least 18 more geostationary launch contracts on its manifest 19 including MRV-1. MRV-1 is no ordinary geostationary communications satellite, however.

MRV isnt a communications satellite at all, in fact. Instead, designed to be the second generation of Northrop Grummans satellite life-extension spacecraft, MRV aims to build upon the successes of the companys first two Mission Extension Vehicles (MEVs). The first (MEV-1) became the first spacecraft in history to dock with another spacecraft in geostationary orbit (GEO) in February 2020. The second, MEV-2, successfully launched and docked with a different geostationary communications satellite in 2021. Both MEVs did exactly what they were supposed to, effectively giving their host satellites Intelsat 10-02 and 901, both more than 15 years old at least five more years of operational life.

While SpaceLogistics accomplishments are thus extremely impressive, the general MEV concept and parts of its execution have some flaws. First, the service offered appears to be extremely expensive, costing Intelsat the first and only customer, thus far at least $13 million per year for the five years MEV-1 will be servicing Intelsat-901. No other MEV contracts have been confirmed, which is not a major surprise. Assuming zero upfront costs for prospective customers, $65 million for an extra five years of operations represents a substantial fraction of the price of some simpler replacement satellites, many of which are now designed to operate for at least 15 years.

Put simply, at the secretive price point SpaceLogistics is offering, MEVs are a mostly ambiguous financial proposition for the geostationary satellite communications industry, which tends to operate on razor-thin margins. Though SpaceLogistics hasnt said as much, MRV seems to be a response to the issue of affordability. Instead of building one large, expensive MEV that can only service a single GEO satellite, MRV aims to operate more like a multipurpose space tug.

To complement MRV, Northrop Grumman is also developing Mission Extension Pods (MEPs) smaller spacecraft designed to still add at least 5-6 years of life to an aging GEO satellite. MRVs each about 3 tons (~7000 lb) will theoretically be able to carry several MEPs (400 kg/900 lb apiece) into geostationary orbit and install the pods on several different satellites. Additionally, it appears that SpaceLogistics will sell the pods outright, presumably precluding the need for expensive recurring service contracts like those Intelsat signed for MEV life extension.

According to Northrop Grumman, MEPs will actually propel themselves into GEO before being recaptured and installed by MRV requiring two rendezvous and docking maneuvers per satellite instead of one. Its entirely unclear why that added complexity is preferable over the obvious alternative, in which MRV would launch with a number of MEPs, carry them to GEO, and install them when needed.

Nonetheless, assuming Northrop Grumman plans to offer MEP life-extension pods for less than it charged for MEVs, its not hard to imagine the service becoming a no-brainer for communications providers with satellites that are close to running out of propellant. If the cost of several extra years of operational life is lower than the cost of an equivalent fraction of the lifespan of a new replacement satellite, its difficult to imagine how satellite operators could afford not to take advantage of life extension.

Northrop Grumman says its already sold one MEP to launch with MRV-1 on Falcon 9 to Australian telecom provider Optus and has a full manifest for MEPs through mid-2026.

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SpaceX to launch next-generation satellite-servicing vehicle for Northrop Grumman - Teslarati

A stunning drone video from SpaceX shows the company taking apart the fully stacked Starship it plans to launch into orbit later this year.

The waterside view on Twitter, posted Saturday (Feb. 19), shows the giant Starship rocket on a crane next to the Super Heavy booster that will attempt the company's first orbital flight.

That flight can only take place, however, pending a positive result of a long-awaited Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) review of Starship's facility near Boca Chica, Texas. The already delayed review has been pushed back again to at least March 28, as the FAA cited the need for more consultations and more time to look at the public submissions associated with the environmental assessment.

Destacking of the huge system took place on Feb. 14; SpaceX periodically has placed Starship atop Super Heavy for fit checks and other procedures. The fully stacked rocket is the tallest yet built.

Related: SpaceX's Starship will reach orbit this year on road to Mars

Starship already has a large contract from NASA to send astronauts to the moon for the Artemis program, and a few days ago was tagged to potentially send one of the three newly announced Polaris Program flights into space. (The Polaris Program is a private space program paid for by billionaire Jared Isaacman, the commander of the all-civilian Inspiration4 that launched in 2021.)

On Feb. 10, SpaceX CEO Elon Musk delivered a major update on the Starship program to once again position it within Musk's longstanding wishes to build a Mars settlement. He told viewers he is "highly confident" Starship will achieve orbit this year and that the system will be able to go to Mars in the coming years.

"The sales pitch for going to Mars is that it's going to be cramped, dangerous, difficult, very hard work. You might die," Musk said in his speech. "That's the sales pitch. I hope you like it."

Follow Elizabeth Howell on Twitter@howellspace. Follow us on Twitter@Spacedotcomor Facebook.

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Fly around SpaceX's giant Starship rocket in this stunning drone video - Space.com

Police in Texas arrested a woman accused of spray-painting anti-SpaceX graffiti on a mural paid for by Elon Musk's foundation, The Texas Observer first reported.

Bekah Hinojosa, a resident of Brownsville and member of environmental group Another Gulf Is Possible, told The Observer that four police officers knocked on her door, handcuffed her in her house, and drove her to the local police station.

Hinojosa sent Insider a copy of a press release which she and her attorney, Mike Siegel, published.

The arrest was over Hinojosa allegedly spray-painting the words "gentrified" and "stop SpaceX" beneath a new mural in downtown Brownsville, South Texas, according to the press release.

Brownsville is located 20 miles west of SpaceX's launch facilities on the Gulf Coast and is known for being one of the poorest areas in the US. Some residents, including Hinojosa, told Insider last year they were concerned about SpaceX displacing locals, raising prices, and ruining nature reserves in the area.

Hinojosa didn't answer The Observer's questions about whether she graffitied the mural, under the advice of her attorney, per the report.

The mural was paid for by the Musk Foundation and painted by Los Angeles-based artist Teddy Kelly, who was given $20,000 to paint the wall, ValleyCentral reported when it was revealed in September.

The officers told Hinojosa that she couldn't change out of her pajamas before she was taken to the police station, and was threatened with a charge of resisting arrest, she told The Observer.

Hinojosa was kept in a jail cell for more than 24 hours and interviewed by police, according to the press release.

"I'm out of jail & back at home!!" Hinojosa tweeted on Thursday. She told The Observer she was released on a personal recognizance bond.

"I was singled out and publicly attacked by Brownsville Mayor Trey Mendez because I am outspoken about the destructive impacts SpaceX is causing to our environment and community," Hinojosa said in the press release.

Brownsville Mayor Trey Mendez posted a mugshot of Hinojosa on Facebook, saying she was "arrested and charged with a Class B misdemeanor stemming from the graffiti at the BTX mural in our historic downtown." Mendez said in the post that the incident was caught on CCTV cameras.

Texas law states that some Class B misdemeanors, such as graffiti, require a citation and not an arrest, The Observer reported.

Siegel said in the press release that he was calling on the City of Brownsville to dismiss the charges against Hinojosa, and investigate Mendez for "abuse of power."

"This is clear retaliation motivated by Rebekah's 1st Amendment protected conduct to challenge the environmental impact of SpaceX," adding that Mendez was "violating federal law."

Brownsville Police Department and Mendez didn't immediately respond to Insider's request for comment.

In an interview with Insider last year, Hinojosa said SpaceX was "littering" the ecosystems which were " the community's lifeblood."

The Brownsville Police Department declined to comment to The Observer and Mendez didn't respond to its request for comment before publication.

Are you a resident of Brownsville? What do you think of SpaceX being in the area? How has it impacted you? Get in touch with this reporter via email (kduffy@insider.com) or Twitter DM (kate__duffy).

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Woman arrested over claim she painted 'stop SpaceX' on mural in Texas - Business Insider

After three successful human suborbital flights in 2021, Blue Origin is set to boost its launches in 2022. The company hinted that it will look to double the number of people it flew into space last year.

14 humans had brief suborbital flights on Blue Origins New Shepard spacecraft last year. In a presentation at the 24th Annual FAA Commercial Space Transportation Conference, Blue Origin said that it saw robust demand for suborbital flights.

The market is robust. Its very robust. The challenge for Blue at this point is that were actually supply-limited. No business ever wants to be supply-limited when theres robust demand. Its incumbent on us to go build new vehicles, get them ready and safely go fly, and also safely get our launch cadence up, Bob Smith, chief executive of Blue Origin said.

The Jeff Bezos-founded company has been in direct competition with SpaceX, which has been dominating the private commercial space-travel market with its Falcon-9 and Crew Dragon spacecraft launching not just private citizens but astronauts to and from the International Space Station.

A mural of Jeff Bezos and his brother ahead of their maiden space flight last year. (Photo: Reuters)

Blue Origin in 2021 began its commercial service by launching Jeff Bezos on a nearly 10-minute-long flight to space onboard the New Shepard spacecraft. In a bid to increase the number of flights, the company is also looking at introducing a new vehicle to launch more frequently than before.

According to SpaceNews, the company expects to bring in the new vehicle this year and quoted Smith as saying, Thats the one that we have to be thoughtful about because thats the place where spaceflight has gotten into trouble, he said. Weve spent a lot of time thinking through how methodically, to check out a reusable launch system.

Yes, there has been a demand for commercial travel, which at the moment is reserved for the millionaires and billionaires of the world. While Blue Origin has sold a flight to a Chinese cryptocurrency entrepreneur in the latter half of 2022, SpaceX recently announced plans to launch private astronauts on a five-day mission to space.

SpaceX' Polaris Dawn mission will see four astronauts launch into space on a five-day trip to conduct scientific studies onboard Crew Dragon spacecraft. (Photo: SpaceX)

Lin had won the auction conducted by Blue Origin last year for a seat on the first crewed flight. However, he could not go at the time after winning the auction for his $28 million bid. Since then, several executives, celebrities, entrepreneurs have flown on New Shepard rockets enjoying the brief moments of zero gravity while looking at the planet from outside.

Virgin Galactic, another private spaceflight service led by Richard Branson, is also looking to ramp up flights to space this year. Company officials have said that they remain on schedule to begin commercial human suborbital missions before the end of the year. Virgin Galactic flew Branson and others on the first flight last year.

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Blue Origin to increase space tourism flights this year; SpaceX, Virgin Galactic on similar course - India Today

Together these two companies will be launching the worlds highest resolution thermal imaging satellite in early 2023.

UK space firm, Satellite Vu, has signed a launch deal with Elon Musks aerospace company, SpaceX, to launch the worlds highest resolution thermal imaging satellite in early 2023.

Satellite Vu will be part of a rideshare launch on one of SpaceXs Transporter missions aboard Falcon 9, which have proven to be the most reliable rockets to launch satellites into orbit in recent years.

The mission will launch the first of Satellite Vus seven UK built satellites into a Low Earth Orbit. Satellite Vu has been well funded, so far raising 15 million in Series A investment and receiving two grants from the UK Space Agency and a third grant from the European Space Agency (ESA).

The satellites can collect thermal data, both day and night, of the built and natural environment at any location on the planet. The full constellation will have the ability to measure the heat signature of any building multiple times a day, enabling Satellite Vu to provide near real time insights about building heat loss, giving an accurate image of where to implement energy optimization investments, offering substantial cost saving benefits to both public and private sector.

Surrey Satellite Technology Limited (SSTL) are building the satellites which have been designed with a 3.5m resolution mid-wave infrared imager with video capability and a sensitivity of less than 2 degrees Celsius. The satellite video generation capability adds unique advantages over traditional imagery, allowing for the detection of highly dynamic features and the building of 3D profiles, useful for a range of applications such as alleviating the effect of heat islands in inner cities, monitoring the pollution of waterways from industrial processes, reducing the cost of heating buildings and ensuring buildings are energy efficient, and assessing the activity status of solar farms.

Anthony Baker, Founder and CEO of Satellite Vu, said, We are delighted to have agreed to launch with SpaceX which will see the first of our innovative satellites launched into space. It is a really exciting time for the UK space sector and our satellites will make a real difference to the fight against climate change.

The world is struggling to lower their carbon emissions in order to meet climate targets, but through the data provided by these satellites, governments and businesses will be able to monitor their energy wastage and take action in order to make a tangible impact as we drive towards our collective climate goals.

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Satellite Vu And SpaceX's Falcon 9 Goes Green Will Launch The World's Highest Resolution Thermal Imaging Satellite SatNews - SatNews Publishers