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BUSINESS | POLITICS | PERSPECTIVE DECEMBER 18, 2017

INSIDE

■ Space Policy Directive 1 ■ fl ies again ■ 5 bold predictions for 2018

VISIT SPACENEWS.COM FOR THE LATEST IN SPACE NEWS INNOVATION THROUGH INSIGNT CONTENTS 12.18.17

DEPARTMENTS

3 QUICK TAKES

6 NEWS ’s New Shepard flies again Trump establishes lunar goal

22 COMMENTARY John Casani An argument for space fission reactors

24 ON NATIONAL SECURITY Clouds of uncertainty over miltary space programs

26 COMMENTARY Rep. Brian Babin and Rep. Ami Ber We agree, Mr. President,. America should FEATURE return to the moon

27 COMMENTARY Rebecca Cowen- 9 Hirsch We honor the 10 Paving a clear “Path” to winners of the first interoperable SATCOM annual SpaceNews awards. 32 FOUST FORWARD Third time’s the charm?

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2 | SPACENEWS 12.18.17 QUICK TAKES

SIGNIFICANT DIGITS

£200KThe British government is taking steps to make the country a haven for space startups. Earlier this month, the U.K. Space Agency announced it would provide £200,000 ($268,000) to kickstart four new space technol- ogy business incubators. The new incubators will bring the total num- ber of U.K. space startup clusters to 15. The largest, in Harwell, currently hosts 80 companies, with a goal of growing to 200 companies by 2030.

An illustration of the lander and “micro-rover” ispace is developing for lunar missions. A $90 million funding $1,000Satellite operator SES, in a recent round announced Dec. 13 will support work on two demonstration missions launching by the end of 2020. meeting with FCC officials, said its C-band customers have little incen- tive to register their dishes since registration is a voluntary pro- cess that can cost more than $1,000 MOON VENTURE RAISES $90M per site. The FCC wants a more ac- A Japanese company planning a series of robotic missions to the moon announced Dec. curate database of C-band users to 13 that it has raised more than $90 million in one of the largest Series A funding rounds inform its decisions on allowing ter- for any emerging space venture. Tokyo-based ispace said the $90.2 million round, featuring restrial use of part of C-band satellite a consortium of Japanese funds and companies, will be used to develop a pair of missions spectrum, but SES and other opera- launching by the end of 2020 to orbit and land on the moon, precursors for a more regular tors argue that the existing database covers only a small fraction of actual series of lunar lander missions in following years. C-band antennas in use. The company will use the funds for two demonstration missions: a lunar orbiter launching in late 2019 and a lunar lander in 2020. It hopes to then fly a regular series of commercial lunar lander missions carrying payloads for customers. The company is also responsible for Team Hakuto, one of the finalists in the . It has completed a rover that will fly to the moon on the lander being developed by Team Indus.

500Inflight-connectivity provider Gogo crested the 500 mark for planes equipped with its 2Ku satellite an- tenna. More than 400 of those in- stallations took place this year. Gogo says it has cut average install times HELP WANTED in half to around 30 hours, and has An advisory group for the new will soon be seeking nominations for more than 2,000 2Ku contracts. More members. NASA announced Dec. 12 that the charter for the Users’ Advisory Group, which NASA will than 550 of those contracts came in operate on behalf of the council, had been approved. The group will consist of 15 to 30 people and this year. include both representatives of non-federal aerospace organizations and subject matter experts.

ISPACE Nominations for the group will open this month.

SPACENEWS.COM | 3 4 propellant, usedforattitude control, inthree orfour months. willlikely exhaustitsremaining supplyof hydrazine more accurate chemicalcompositiondata. In theneworbit, resolution imagesof selectedareas of thesurface andcollect surface. Scientistswillusethoseclose passestocollecthigh- spring, takingittoaltitudesaslow as30kilometersabovethe spacecraft willmoveintoanellipticalorbitaround inthe by flyingcloserthanevertothedwarfplanetCeres. NASA’s spacecraft willwrapupitsmissionnext year CLOSE ENCOUNTER Cape CanaveralAirForce Station assoon2020. company willlaunchfrom apadat neighboring manufacture NewGlennrockets, whichthe will usethe70,000-square-meter to factory gates of theKennedy SpaceCenter. Thecompany part of itsnewfacilitylocated justoutsidethe certificate of occupancyMondayfor temporary inFlorida. factory Blue Originisstartingtomoveintoitsnew OCCUPATION TO THE WELCOME QUICK TAKES |

SPACENEWS 12.18.17 The companyreceived a

The

tracking andcommandof theMEV. The FCC’s approvals involvedtheuseof frequencies fortelemetry, from theFCC torelocate Intelsat-901 andthenundockfrom it. orbit.Thecompanystillneedsapprovalssatellite ingeostationary “rendezvous, proximity operations, anddocking”withtheIntelsat-901 approval forOrbitalATK’s MissionExtensionVehicle toperform (MEV) its firstsatellitelifeextensionmission. Orbital ATK approvalsfromtheFCC for hasreceivedpreliminary VEHICLE PRELIMINARY GO-AHEAD MISSIONEXTENSION GIVES FCC

The FCC lastweekgave

BLUE ORIGIN VIA TWITTER/ORBITAL ATK/NASA QUICK TAKES

A FIRST-CLASS STAMP OF APPROVAL The U.S. Postal Service will release a Sally Ride stamp next year. A preliminary design of the stamp unveiled Dec. 13 features a painting of Ride, the first American woman in space, with a shuttle launching in the background. The post office will also issue a four-stamp set next year for science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education, with engineering represented by a diagram of an spacecraft.

ULTIMATE ROAD TRIP says the first flight of the will carry a very unusual payload: his Tesla Roadster sports car. In tweets Dec. 1 , Musk said the launch, now scheduled for January, will feature “my midnight cherry Tesla Roadster playing Space Oddity. Destination is Mars orbit.” After some confusion about whether Musk was joking, a company official, speaking on background, later confirmed the payload was real, but offered no additional details about it. Musk claimed earlier this year the test flight of the long-delayed heavy-lift rocket would carry FAILURE PINNED the “silliest thing we can imagine.” TWITTER VIA

MUSK ON BAD ALGORITHM Russian officials said a programming error is to blame for last month’s failed Soyuz launch. The Nov. 28 launch failed when the rocket’s upper stage apparently fired in the wrong direction, causing it and its satellite SERVICE/ELON payload to reenter over the North Atlantic Ocean. A statement

POSTAL said that “a hidden problem in the algorithm” caused the failure, which had gone undetected in past flights of the Fregat stage. Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin criticized the report for not assigning blame for

ROSCOSMOS/U.S. the failure.

SPACENEWS.COM | 5 NEWS SUBORBITAL

Blue Origin flies next-generation New Shepard vehicle

the earlier module that flew five successful test flights from November 2015 through October 2016. It was also the first flight of an upgraded crew capsule, dubbed “Crew Capsule 2.0,” that includes windows the company says are the largest ever flown on a spacecraft. The capsule, Blue Origin said, carried 12 commercial, research and education payloads. Images released by the company show it also carried an instrumented test dummy identified as Mannequin Skywalker. “He had a good ride,” tweeted company founder .

OUT OF THE BLUE In a return to the secrecy that veiled earlier phases of New Shepard’s development, Blue Origin did not provide any information about the flight until well after it ended. Last year, the company started providing advance notice of Blue Origin quietly carried out a successful test flights and, later, live webcasts. test flight of a new version of its New Shepard The only advance word about this flight suborbital vehicle Dec. 12 and waited 11 hours came in the form of a Federal Aviation Ad- to share the news. ministration airspace restriction, known as a “Today’s flight of New Shepard was a tre- Notice to Airmen (NOTAM), published Dec. 9, mendous success,” Blue Origin CEO Bob Smith which closed airspace around the test site for said in a statement released late that night along several hours a day from Dec. 11 through 14. with photos and a video of the flight. “It marks Blue Origin said it was planning “spaceflight the inaugural flight of our next-generation operations” there and would cancel the NOTAM Crew Capsule as we continue step-by-step after the operations were complete. progress in our test flight program.” During the day Dec. 12 there were rumors The New Shepard crew cap- sule after landing. The cap- The vehicle lifted off from the company’s test of a flight, but no official word from the com- sule carried a dozen payloads site in West Texas at 11:59 a.m. Eastern, reach- pany. The FAA’s Office of Commercial Space and an instrumented test ing a peak altitude of nearly 100 kilometers and Transportation, later in the day, listed the flight dummy, visible in one of the capsule’s large windows. a top speed during ascent of Mach 2.94. The on its list of launches it licensed, and the FAA propulsion module made a powered vertical also removed the NOTAM from its website. landing while the crew capsule descended The flight was the first New Shepard launch under parachutes, touching down 10 minutes to be carried out under a full-fledged launch and 6 seconds after liftoff. license from the FAA, issued to Blue Origin in The Mission 7 flight was the first to use a new August. Previous launches took place under an propulsion module, after Blue Origin retired experimental permit, which allows for suborbital

flight testing but does not allow the vehicles to ORIGIN

JEFF FOUST be used to carry payloads for hire. SN BLUE

6 | SPACENEWS 12.18.17 NEWS SPACE POLICY DIRECTIVE 1

Trump formally establishes lunar landing goal, but without details

.S. President Donald Trump signed attended by several members of Congress, an order Dec. 11 formally directing other government and industry officials, and President Trump announces the signing of Space Policy NASA to send humans back to the current and former . “It marks an Directive 1 flanked by U.S. moon, but provided no information important step in returning American astro- lawmakers, cabinet officials U on schedules or budgets for such an initiative. nauts to the moon for the first time since 1972 and various space dignitaries including Apollo astronauts In a brief White House ceremony, Trump for long-term exploration and use.” Harrison “Jack” Schmitt signed what the administration is calling “This time, we will not only plant our flag and Buzz Aldrin, Coalition Space Policy Directive 1, which enacts a rec- and leave our footprint, we will establish a for Deep Space Exploration Executive Director Mary ommendation made at the National Space foundation for an eventual mission to Mars,” Lynne Dittmar (front row, Council meeting in October to make a return Trump added. second from right) and Mark to the moon a step towards eventual human Vice President Mike Pence, who also spoke Albrecht (front row, far right), the National Space Council’s missions to Mars. at the ceremony, hailed the policy as an early executive secretary from “The directive I’m signing today will refocus success for the National Space Council, which 1989-1992. America’s space program on human explora- unanimously approved that recommendation GEMIGNANI tion and discovery,” Trump said at the event, at its first meeting Oct. 5. “Today’s action by President Trump makes

NASA/AUBREY JEFF FOUST that recommendation official national policy,”

SPACENEWS.COM | 7 NEWS SPACE POLICY DIRECTIVE 1

he said. “As everyone here knows, estab- lishing a renewed American presence on the moon is vital to achieve our strategic objectives and the objectives outlined by our National Space Council.” Neither Trump nor Pence, however, offered additional details beyond that policy statement. That included no information on a timeline for a human return to the moon, or estimated costs or other budget information for the initiative. NASA, in a statement issued after the cere- mony, said that the policy directs the agency to “lead an innovative and sustainable program of exploration with commercial and international partners to enable human expansion across the solar system and to bring back to new knowledge and opportunities.” Work on the support the president and vice president’s vi- Ivanka Trump handles a sample from initiative, it stated, would be reflected in the sion and commitment to return America to the the moon that Apollo 17 Harrison “Jack” Schmitt, left, collect- agency’s fiscal year 2019 budget proposal, to moon,” Lockheed Martin said in a statement. “A ed during his 1972 mission. Trump’s be released in February. lunar mission with today’s technology would father has directed NASA to return “NASA looks forward to supporting the further our understanding of the moon’s history to the moon, but his order provides no timetable or funding for the un- president’s directive strategically aligning our and resources. And it will build a strong foun- dertaking. work to return humans to the moon, travel to dation that will not only accelerate the U.S. to Mars and opening the deeper solar system Mars and beyond, it will foster a thriving new beyond,” NASA Acting Administrator Robert space economy that will create jobs and drive Lightfoot said in the statement. innovation here on Earth.” Other government and industry officials Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.), chairman of the expressed general support for the new policy Senate Commerce Committee, noted that the despite — or perhaps because of — the lack of statement aligned with provisions of a NASA details about how it will be carried out. authorization bill enacted in March setting Mars “After 45 years, it is time to return humans as a long-term goal for human exploration. “I to the region of the Moon even as we look applaud the president for his engagement on toward Mars,” said Mary Lynne Dittmar, pres- sending a manned mission to the moon and, ident and chief executive of the Coalition for as underscored in the bipartisan reauthoriza- Deep Space Exploration, an industry group. tion of NASA signed into law earlier this year, Dittmar was among the guests at the White eventually to Mars,” he said. House ceremony. Among those in attendance at the event Eric Stallmer, president of the Commercial was Harrison “Jack” Schmitt, the Apollo 17 Spaceflight Federation and another attendee astronaut who landed on the moon exactly of the event, said he supported both the overall 45 years ago on the last human lunar landing policy as well as the administration’s willingness to date. “Today, we pledge that he will not be to consider commercial roles for the effort. the last,” Trump said in his remarks, adding “They would like our input” on how to that humans will be landing elsewhere as well. achieve that policy, Stallmer said in an inter- “What do you think, Jack? We’ll find some view after the event. “The White House and other places out there? There are a couple of GEMIGNANI the National Space Council want to work with other places, right?” Trump asked. industry on this.” “Yes, we should,” Schmitt responded. “Learn

Individual companies also weighed in. “We from the moon.” SN NASA/AUBREY

8 | SPACENEWS 12.18.17 SpaceNews established these awards to honor the well-known champions and the unsung heroes shaping the global space industry. We endeavored to celebrate headline-grabbing breakthroughs as well as outside-the-limelight innovations.

The winners were chosen by the SpaceNews editorial team after an open nomination process that concluded with a reader poll that collected thousands of votes for the people and organizations recognized in the pages ahead.

SPACENEWS.COM | 9 THE SPACENEWS AWARDS FOR EXCELLENCE & INNOVATION

COMPANY OF THE YEAR SPACEX

For several years, SpaceX offered a number of promises to the space industry: frequent launches, reusable , and a new heavy- lift vehicle. And, for much of that time, SpaceX struggled to deliver, thanks to delays, technical problems, and two high-profile launch failures. However, 2017 was the year SpaceX really started to carry through. The company entered the year still recovering from its last mishap, the September 2016 pad explosion. The company returned to flight in January, launching the first 10 Iridium Next from California. A month later SpaceX brought ’s Launch Complex 39A, last used at the end of the shuttle program, back to life SpaceX will need the momentum it built up launching rockets while repairing in 2017 for its even bigger plans in 2018. The the company’s Cape Canaveral pad damaged company is planning to increase its launch in last year’s explosion. rate by up to 50 percent in 2018, which will be Bring 39A online allowed SpaceX to finally hit assisted by the recent completion of repairs to its stride. By the middle of December, SpaceX had its Cape Canaveral launch pad. The long-de- carried out a record-high 17 launches in 2017. layed Falcon Heavy rocket is slated to launch (One more launch, of a fourth batch of Iridium as soon as January, and SpaceX has two criti- satellites, is scheduled to take place before the cal test flights of its commercial crew vehicle end of the year.) This year’s pace included two scheduled for later in 2018. launches two days apart on opposite coasts, and SpaceX still has ambitions for Mars, which three launches within two weeks. company founder and CEO Elon Musk up- SpaceX also turned reusability from an dated in a September conference address that experiment — one that, initially, resulted in a attracted worldwide attention. Musk said the series of failed — into a regular part of first launches of SpaceX’s planned BFR rocket its operations. With successful demonstrations to Mars could take place in 2022, a timeline he of “flight-proven” first stages in 2017, SpaceX admitted was “aspirational.” However, SpaceX has been able to convince even relatively con- demonstrated in 2017 what was previously servative customers, like NASA and Iridium, to considered aspirational, like high flight rates fly on reused boosters to save money or time. and reusability, can be achieved, eventually.

2017 |

10 | SPACENEWS 12.18.17 THE SPACENEWS AWARDS FOR EXCELLENCE & INNOVATION

CORPORATE LEADER OF THE YEAR GWYNNE SHOTWELL

SpaceX is indelibly linked to its founder, Elon Musk, who has crafted a vision for the company of establishing humanity as a mul- tiplanetary species. He has attracted rock-star levels of publicity that are unprecedented in the space industry. When Musk spoke at the Inter- national Astronautical Congress in Australia in September, organizers had to take significant crowd control measures, recalling the chaos of when he spoke at the same conference a year earlier in Mexico. However, Musk is a busy man. In addition to SpaceX he also runs electric car company Tesla, has a startup called Neuralink that is developing brain-computer interfaces and another startup, The Boring Company, that wants to relieve “We need that launch cadence. That’s the fuel traffic jams with tunnels. Needless to say, he for SpaceX’s development.” can’t devote all his time to SpaceX. She’s helped ensure that SpaceX has plenty What helps keep SpaceX focused on carry- of fuel this year. The company has had a record ing out its growing manifest of launches and year with nearly 20 launches, and Shotwell said various development projects is the company’s in a November interview that she wants to in- president, Gwynne Shotwell. While she is not crease that launch rate by 50 percent in 2018, as famous as Musk, her leadership has been eventually reaching 30 to 40 launches a year. essential to SpaceX’s success. Joining SpaceX Those launches are supporting the develop- in 2002 as vice president of business develop- ment of the Falcon Heavy, the crewed version ment (and one of its first employees), she has of Dragon and, most recently, the company’s been overseeing the company’s growth into a proposed BFR vehicle. major force in the space industry. But while she’s focused on Spacex’s opera- “When I started I was the seventh employee at tions, she shares Musk’s vision of humans going SpaceX, and we have almost 7,000 people now,” to Mars. “What is all this leading to?” she asked she said in a November conference speech. in that November speech after recounting the She’s sought to find the right mix of employees recent company successes and near-term plans. who work on the development of new vehicles “These are all stepping stones along the path as well as those who handle the operations of of us developing a space transportation system existing ones, like the Falcon 9 and Dragon. capable of taking humans to other planets.”

2017 |

SPACENEWS.COM | 11 THE SPACENEWS AWARDS FOR EXCELLENCE & INNOVATION

GOVERNMENT LEADER OF THE YEAR MILITARY U.S. AIR FORCE GEN. JOHN HYTEN

It is hard to think of any recent government civilian or uniformed leader who has shaped the debate about military space more than Gen. John E. Hyten. When Hyten was a colonel in the U.S. Air Force 20 years ago, he raised eyebrows with his prediction that there would be a war in space. “It just seemed obvious to me,” the now four-star commanding general of U.S. Strategic Command said recently. He also presciently warned that emerging competitors like China were preparing for the day when military conflict moved into space. “So our job was going to be like fighting war in any other domain: deter that conflict and if it does happen…figure out how to fight it and win.” mission. By this time next year, STRATCOM will Hyten was a “space warfighter” before the have air, land, maritime and space components. term was even part of the military lexicon. Although Hyten is no longer directly over- Hyten led from seeing military space operations, he intends 2014 to 2016, and served as its vice commander to play a key role shaping future requirements from 2012 to 2014. He now runs the nation’s for new satellite constellations. nuclear enterprise at STRATCOM but still keeps He worries that the Pentagon is being a close eye on space. complacent about U.S. space dominance and To give space forces greater visibility and not preparing for a future when space will be status, Hyten reorganized STRATCOM and contested. created a Joint Force Space Component Com- Hyten recently issued a stark warning: “Our mand led by Air Force Space Command chief adversaries are building capabilities to change Gen. John Raymond. Hyten called this a major the balance of power in the world. We can’t development in evolution of space as a military allow that to happen.”

2017 |

12 | SPACENEWS 12.18.17 XXXX and ministerof theeconomy, hasbecome the bourg-based satellite operator SES inthe1980s. sector,” dating backtotheformation of Luxem- attracting ground-breaking companies inthis in “our government’s three-decade history of Schneider hailed thedeal asthe latest milestone pate inSpire’s $75million Series Cfundinground. turn, theLuxembourg Future Fund would partici- will eventually hostasmany as250employees. In its European headquartersinthecountry, which In November, than just lunarandasteroid miningcompanies. they extract,similar toaU.S. law passedin2015. ating passed legislation that grants companies oper- Luxembourg. States, tries andPlanetaryResources from theUnited lured companies includingDeepSpace Indus- resources companies tothecountry. That has ises of afriendly legal regime —toattract space 2016, offering 200million euros —andprom- established its SpaceResources.lu initiative in in any country. sources industry among government officials biggest proponent of theemerging spacere- coalition government asdeputy primeminister der, who represents hispartyinLuxembourg’s asteroid miningventures.But Étienne Schnei- Party would seemtobeanunlikely championof A memberoftheLuxembourg Socialist Workers’ However, thoseefforts have Under Schneider’s leadership, thecountry from and ispace the Spire announced In July, country from Japan, Luxembourg’s rights SCHNEIDER to ÉTIENNE to set CIVIL YEAR THE OF LEADER GOVERNMENT it would establish space attracted more 2017 up offices in parliament resources |

&INNOVATION EXCELLENCE AWARDS FOR SPACENEWS THE Luxembourgish.” the official languageof space will one day be with the the conference. But he’s playing along game mad when Ilaunched thisinitiative,” hesaidat country thought that Ihadbecome completely without some controversy. “Some people inthis tives,” hesaid. growing number of commercial spaceinitia- is ready andeager tosupport andnurture the invest inmore spacecompanies. “Luxembourg vate partnership with venture capital fundsto national spaceagencythat will actasapublic-pri- he saidthecountry wasworking toestablisha NewSpace Europe conference inLuxembourg, Luxembourg. In The focus on spaceresources hasnotbeen There’s more tocome from Schneider and initiative. a speech “There is in November at the abig chance that SPACENEWS.COM | 13

THE SPACENEWS AWARDS FOR EXCELLENCE & INNOVATION

GOVERNMENT AGENCY OF THE YEAR 45TH SPACE WING

The 45th Space Wing at Patrick Air Force Base, Florida, spent a chunk of 2017 in the crosshairs of massive Atlantic hurricanes. But the wing has not let storms derail its plans. As Hurricane Irma pounded the Florida coast in September, the SpaceX Falcon 9 launch vehi- cle was scheduled for its first flight with the Air Force X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle. While the wing continued to make storm preparations, the Falcon 9 successfully lifted off from the Kennedy Space Center’s Launch Complex 39A. “This phenomenal team makes the impossi- ble possible,” says Wing Commander Brig. Gen. Wayne Monteith. The 45th Space Wing racked up more than two dozen launches and landings in 2017, placing over launch sites. $6.5 billion of national security and commercial The unit has been lauded for its efficiency and satellites in orbit and making Cape Canaveral the its tight management of resources. A notable case busiest spaceport in the world. study has been the Falcon Flight, an organization Monteith is rallying his troops as he embarks within the 5th Space Launch Squadron, 45th Launch on what he calls a “Drive to 48.” That’s 48 launches Group of the 45th Space Wing. a year by 2021, an average of roughly one a week. expertise for legacy Atlas and Delta government This surge in East Coast launch operations is missions was consolidated into the 5th Space projected as Blue Origin begins to fly along with Launch Squadron and that team is supporting the SpaceX, , Orbital ATK and first SpaceX GPS-3 mission scheduled in May. The others. The “Drive to 48” has led to multiple im- Falcon team has been instrumental in the certi- provements for the space industry, the most im- fication of two SpaceX launch pads, evaluating portant being the first use of autonomous flight more than 40 design reviews, 30 activation tests, safety systems for launches and landings. and 13 ground systems per launch pad. The wing oversaw the first landing of the X-37B Once regarded as part of the problem, the 45th , opening a gateway for the vehicle to Space Wing is looking more and more like part of land within easy reach of its refurbishment and the solution.

2017 |

14 | SPACENEWS 12.18.17 We are enabling a new reach into deep space and inspiring the next generation of explorers

to reach for the stars.

rocket.com

Wait till you see what we do next. 16 |SPACENEWS 12.18.17 &INNOVATION EXCELLENCE AWARDS FOR SPACENEWS THE U.S. government customers through the U.S. vides geospatial imagery andinformation to a singlecontract: EnhancedView, which pro- Still, the company remained heavily reliant on tional government andcommercial customers. and information with awider pool of interna- fying its businesstoshare geospatial imagery intelligence agencies wasalogical progression. italGlobe with its strong ties toU.S. defense and headquarters inSanFrancisco. Purchasing Dig- ages the company’s global operations from its established SSLMDA Holdings Inc., which man- as its president andchief executive in2016and Lance, theformer Harris Corp. chief executive, Plan, MDA appointed American government market. As partof its U.S. Access and looking for a foothold in the lucrative U.S. expanding Space Systems Loral in2012,thefirmhasbeen easy toseehow thepuzzlepieces fit together. company merger with DigitalGlobe tocreate ajoint revealed plansin February for a $2.4billion After MacDonald Dettwiler andAssociates while DigitalGlobe isknown for electro-optical perts: percent of MaxarTechnologies’ business. EnhancedView, 45 percent of DigitalGlobe’s National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency. About Since Canada’s MDA bought satellite builder Plus, bothfirmsare geospatial-imagery ex- DigitalGlobe, meanwhile, hasbeendiversi- MDA called is its known TECHNOLOGIES presence which Maxar for will synthetic Technologies, it in account revenue wastied to the citizen Howard MAXAR United aperture 2017 for | about States YEAR THE OF DEAL radar was 15

geospatial-data analysis. systems, spacerobotics, Earthimagingand in spacecraftmanufacturing, satellite ground gies possessessome impressive capabilities around theworld, it’s clearMaxarTechnolo- employees intheUnited States, Canadaand look once its fully assembled,but with 6,500 next-generation Earth-imaging constellation. is building WorldView-Legion, DigitalGlobe’s leading manufacturer, more pieces have fallen into place.MDA SSL,a around theworld. process anddistribute thoseimageryproducts operates many of theground stations that collect, olution Earth-observation satellites andMDA imaging. DigitalGlobe boasts afleetof high-res- Since theproposed merger wasannounced, It’s too soon tosee how the entire puzzle will

XXXX THE SPACENEWS AWARDS FOR EXCELLENCE & INNOVATION

BREAKTHROUGH OF THE YEAR PLANET COMPLETES MISSION 1

When Planet announced plans in 2013 to build the world’s largest constellation of Earth-observ- ing satellites capable of providing daily global imagery, it was hard to believe the tiny startup (or anyone for that matter) could accomplish that. Sure, cubesats were small and inexpensive, but they didn’t produce high-quality images and had few reliable rides into orbit. Planet saw that firsthand when it lost 26 satellites in a 2014 launch failure and eight more in 2015. Still, there was always something about the Planet team that made their claims impossible to dismiss. Maybe it was their engineering expertise and Silicon Valley-style ingenuity. After all, these were the same people who pushed commercial- off-the-shelf to the limit by sending smartphone been embraced by farmers, environmentalists, technology into space when they worked at the intelligence analysts, human rights activists, hedge NASA Ames Research Center. Plus, instead of fund managers and anyone else who wants to following industry norms, they adopted an ap- see changes happening on the ground. Planet’s proach, now widely known as agile aerospace, breakthrough is its ability to offer customers daily that includes rapid prototyping, on-orbit testing images of Earth’s entire landmass, a goal it refers and mass production. to as “Mission 1.” Meanwhile, Planet kept growing organically For an encore, Planet is building a platform that and through smart acquisitions: it bought Black- employs machine learning and object-recogni- Bridge and its RapidEye Earth-observing satellites tion software to help customers find answers to in 2015 and, earlier this year, purchased Google’s their questions. How many ships are moving in Terra Bella and its SkySat high-resolution imag- and out of Shanghai’s ports on a daily basis? How ing fleet. In 2017 alone, Planet has launched 146 many buildings are under construction in Texas? satellites on three continents. The company plans to create an index of physical With its current constellation, Planet is gath- changes comparable to Google’s internet index. ering 1.4 million images per day covering 300 It’s another audacious goal and Planet has plenty million square kilometers. Planet’s dataset has of competition, but we’d be foolish to dismiss it.

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SPACENEWS.COM | 17 THE SPACENEWS AWARDS FOR EXCELLENCE & INNOVATION

STARTUP OF THE YEAR KYMETA CORPORATION

Kymeta might not seem like your typical startup, but it was only five years ago that the company spun off from Intellectual Ventures, an intellectual property juggernaut often de- rided as a patent troll. With $12 million in early funding from Bill Gates and others, Kymeta set out to use metamaterials to build a better antenna for mobile applications. This year, Kymeta delivered on that promise, finally shipping its eagerly awaited product: a flat, lightweight antenna terminal with no moving parts. Customers ranging from railroads to farm- ers started using Kymeta’s mTenna flat-panel antennas this year to support high-throughput communications on the go. The U.S. Federal Kymeta also completed a new connected Emergency Management Agency deployed car trial this year, taking a Toyota RAV4 on a Kymeta’s antennas in Puerto Rico this fall after two-week road trip across the to Hurricane Maria destroyed cellphone towers demonstrate KĀLO, a bundled service combin- across the island. ing Kymeta’s mTennas and KyWay terminal Kymeta’s product shipment cemented its with Intelsat’s satellite capacity that provided position as the frontrunner of a new breed of mobile internet access along every stretch of flat-panel antennas that promise to open new the crosscountry route. markets, boost the capability of high-throughput Kymeta anticipates expanding the rollout satellites and enable low-Earth-orbiting mega- of its antennas in 2018. Borrowing assembly constellations to achieve their full potential. lines from LCD television manufacturer Sharp, The Redmond, -based compa- Kymeta is in the process of mass-producing ny’s antennas use electronic steering instead antennas the satellite industry will use to con- of mechanical systems to track satellites and nect the world’s planes, trains and automobiles, enabling continuous service while switching not to mention plenty of ships, tractors and between beams. construction equipment.

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18 | SPACENEWS 12.18.17 THE SPACENEWS AWARDS FOR EXCELLENCE & INNOVATION

TURNAROUND OF THE YEAR INTERNATIONAL LAUNCH SERVICES

The year got off to an all-too-familiar start for International Launch Services. The U.S.-based commercial arm of Russian rocket maker Khru- nichev hadn’t launched a single satellite in six months thanks to a close call during -M’s launch of a commercial satellite the previous June. The rocket’s second-stage engine clocked out early during the misssion, forcing the vehicle’s Briz-M upper stage to extend its burn to safely de- liver Intelsat-31 to its destination. Given Proton’s recent spotty track record, Khrunichev couldn’t shrug this one off. Launches were suspended while investigators dug into Proton’s close call with an intensity normally reserved for rocket explosions. In January, just as Proton was about to be cleared to return to flight, Khrunichev encountered a bigger dual mission carrying 5 West B and Orbital problem: a factory had used the wrong solder for a ATK’s satellite-servicing Mission Extension Vehicle-1. batch of engines, including the ones already installed Still, ILS delivered this year’s customers safely on Protons assembled for upcoming missions. to orbit while undertaking the introduction of two Fixing the materials mixup consumed nearly new well-timed products: a two-stage Proton Me- half of 2017, pushing Proton’s return to flight to dium on tap for 2018 and a 5-meter payload fairing June. Despite the late start, ILS completed all three envisioned for 2020. commercial missions on this year’s manifest. Proton Medium is designed to haul roughly With the late September launch of AsiaSat-9 — five tons to geostationary transfer orbit at prices ILS’s final mission of 2017 — Proton has 12 con- ILS President Kirk Pysher said will allow the rocket secutive successes, passing the 1 in 10 failure rate to compete head-to-head with SpaceX’s Falcon insurers had crafted rates around. At 15 consecutive 9. The 5-meter payload fairing, meanwhile, will successes, ILS expects more underwriters to return accomodate bigger satellites as well as clusters of to Proton as the rocket rebuilds trust. smallsats megaconstellation customers want to Cheaper insurance should only help ILS grow catapult into orbit all at once. its manifest, which withered as a result of Proton’s ILS is also planning a Proton Light intended for failure-a-year performance between 2010 and 2015. three-ton payloads, but that project is on hold until While the Russian government plans to use Proton Medium is complete. Proton five or six times next year, ILS itself currently ILS isn’t out of the woods, but after a pivotal has just one launch sold for 2018: a late-in-the-year 2017 the company is heading in the right direction.

2017 |

SPACENEWS.COM | 19 THE SPACENEWS AWARDS FOR EXCELLENCE & INNOVATION

UNSUNG HERO OF THE YEAR JASON CRUSAN

NASA’s exploration budget is dominated by big programs: the Space Launch System, the spacecraft and their associated ground systems. They attract the dominant share of public atten- tion — as well as the angst when they encounter delays and other difficulties. However, within NASA’s Human Exploration and Operations Mission Directorate is a relatively small office addressing the question of what additional capabilities will be needed, beyond SLS and Orion, to enable human exploration of the moon and Mars. The Advanced Exploration Systems division, led since its establishment in 2012 by Jason Crusan, is working on a variety of projects to develop ca- pabilities needed for future exploration. One of the division’s best-known efforts is Next recently, a call for proposals for the development Space Technologies for Exploration Partnerships, of technologies to make use of resources on the or NextSTEP. This started as a series of partner- moon and Mars. ships with industry to study the development of Crusan’s division oversees other projects associ- habitation modules that could be used either for ated with developing key exploration technologies NASA missions, like the Deep Space Gateway, and capabilities, often working cooperatively with or for commercial applications like future space companies and universities. One example is the stations. A second phase of that effort involves six Lunar Cargo Transportation and Landing by Soft companies studying or building ground prototypes Touchdown, or CATALYST, program, providing of their modules. technical support to companies developing com- NextSTEP has grown beyond habitation module mercial lunar landers. That effort is likely to take studies, though. The program recently awarded on new prominence with President Trump’s Dec. studies to several companies on a power and pro- 12 directive ordering NASA’s pulsion module that would form the core of the program back to the moon. Deep Space Gateway, incorporating electric pro- Advanced Exploration Systems may have a low pulsion technology that may also have commer- profile compared to programs like SLS and Orion, cial applications. Other NextSTEP efforts include but the projects it is carrying out under Crusan’s development of 3-D printer prototypes that could leadership may be critical to making those larger be key for future exploration missions and, most programs a long-term success.

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20 | SPACENEWS 12.18.17 THE SPACENEWS AWARDS FOR EXCELLENCE & INNOVATION

2017 WINNERS & FINALISTS

» Company of the Year: SpaceX » Deal of the Year: Maxar Technologies Runner up: Planet Runner up: Planet buys Terra Bella Finalists: ; Maxar Technologies; Finalists: Speedcast buys UtilSat; Teledyne buys Nanoracks e2V; Virgin Group lands $1 billion Saudi investment

» Corporate Leader of the Year: » Breakthrough of the Year: Gwynne Shotwell, SpaceX Planet completes Mission 1 Runner up: Jeffrey Manber, Nanoracks Runner up: SpaceX’s reusable Falcon 9 booster Finalists: Rick Ambrose, Lockheed Martin; Jason Finalists: Spectrolab’s XTJ Prime solar cell; Andrews, Andrews Space; Kirk Pysher, ILS Lockheed Martin’s SPIDER flat optical instrument; Sodern’s Auriga miniaturized star trackers; Space » Government Leader of the System Loral’s Ultra High Density Satellite Year (Military): Gen. John Hyten Runner up: Brig. Gen. Wayne Monteith, 45th » Startup of the Year: Kymeta Space Wing Runner up: Sky and Space Global Finalists: Robert Cardillo, National Geospatial- Finalists: LeoLabs; Made In Space; Intelligence Agency; Gordon Roesler and the DARPA Robotic Servicing of Geosynchronous » Turnaround of the Year: Satellites team International Launch Services Runner up: Orbital ATK » Government Leader of the Year Finalists: Alaska Aerospace Corp.; Spacecom; (Civil): Étienne Schneider SpaceX Runner up: George Nield, FAA’s Office of Commercial Space Transportation » Unsung Hero of the Year: Finalists: Jean-Yves Le Gall, CNES; Catherine Jason Crusan, NASA Mealing-Jones, U.K. Space Agency Runner up: Frank “Ceppi” Cepollina, NASA Finalists: R. Gilbert “Gil” Moore, Utah State » Government Agency of the Year: University; , SpaceX; Guy Perez, OHB; 45th Space Wing Eric Rehder, Boeing Spectrolab Runner up: Indian Space Research Organisation Finalists: FAA’s Office of Commercial Space Transportation, NOAA’s National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service

A special thanks to Cobham for sponsoring this year’s SpaceNews Awards for Excellence & Innovation

SPACENEWS.COM | 21 COMMENTARY John Casani

An argument for space fission reactors It’s time for NASA to rebalance its power portfolio

merica’s space program has long levels NASA will not have enough Pu-238 power levels below 500 watts (the break- held a special place in the public’s to pursue future outer planet flagship-class even point might be between 500 and 1,500 imagination, but NASA missions missions such as exploring the surface of watts), it will compete on a recurring cost- A are limited by budget constraints. Titan or melting through the surface ice on per-kilowatt basis at even lower power levels. NASA must use its funding wisely to im- Europa and powering a submarine in the A small fission system would not only plement balanced, cost-efficient programs ocean below. Clearly, it is risky for NASA allow NASA to reconsider several-hun- to develop enabling technologies, such as to bank solely on Pu-238-supported space dred-watt Cassini-like missions, but would technologies to power future NASA missions. nuclear power without a backup. also finally enable science missions that need Speaking as the former project manager kilowatts of power. A 10-kilowatt-electric of three successful missions — Voyager, Beyond RTGs (kWe) reactor could enable ambitious nu- Galileo, and Cassini — and the canceled NASA does not need to be content with clear electric propulsion missions to orbit -Icy Moons Orbiter, I have a simply trying to maintain radioisotope and explore the outermost planets and unique perspective to share. power capability, or to settle for less Kuiper belt objects. Space nuclear power has long been rec- power for deep space exploration than Historically, the biggest obstacle to space ognized as an enabling technology for space was available for past missions. NASA fission power has been the perceived devel- science and exploration. Many of NASA’s can develop a balanced power portfolio opment cost, largely because development greatest achievements have relied on ra- that includes space fission power, which of advanced nuclear technology and new dioisotope nuclear power: Viking, Voyager, offers essentially unlimited power for test facilities can be very expensive and Galileo, Cassini, New Horizons, Curiosity. space exploration. take many years. NASA’s Kilopower project However, in 1988, the United States stopped While space fission won’t compete on addresses these concerns by showing that making the plutonium-238 we need as a a mass basis with radioisotope systems at a simple space reactor can be developed heat source in radioisotope thermoelectric generators (RTGs). With existing supplies likely to run out soon, NASA is planning to restart Pu-238 production with a sizable investment (about $100 million per year) that is expected to yield hundreds of grams over the next several years. Unfortunately, that is a very small amount compared to 24 kilograms of Pu-238 flown on Voyager or the 33 kilograms on Cassini. While NASA’s goal is a production rate of 1.5 kilograms per year, there are several major obstacles — both technical and po- litical — that will not be easy to overcome, even with additional investment in Pu-238 production infrastructure. This, in turn, makes NASA reluctant to consider future CENTER Voyager- and Cassini-like missions. Whatever production rate is achieved, ev- RESEARCH

ery gram of Pu-238 will have significant value, GLENN

but even at the most optimistic production A NASA technician works on a 10-kilowatt Stirling Power Conversion Unit at Glenn Research Center. NASA

22 | SPACENEWS 12.18.17 for a few hundred million dollars and that more than a hundred watts, a kilogram also be completed in steps, and build upon facilities already exist to support the early per year of Pu-238 would be sufficient for current solar electric propulsion efforts. development. The key difference between the smaller missions that benefit the most The primary reason to invest in space other programs (including the ill-fated Pro- from the mass and packaging advantages fission power is the unique capability it metheus) and Kilopower is that Kilopower of small RTGs as well as for spacecraft that would bring to NASA, with benefits well is demonstrating low cost by live testing of require Pu-238 for thermal management. beyond the deep space missions it will actual fission reactors — something that Fission technology can also improve enable. NASA will need space reactors to hasn’t been done in the U.S. since the 1960s. propulsion systems. Second-generation establish a robust power environment on Critics had said it was impossible to perform fission power systems could enable ambi- the moon and Mars, where solar power is an affordable, simple nuclear-powered test tious exploration of the outer solar system limited by day and night cycles, latitude, in today’s regulatory environment — but with 10- to 100-kW nuclear electric pro- seasons, dust storms, buildup, degradation, the Demonstration Using Flattop Fission pulsion systems. Subsequent generations etc. Ultimately, incremental advances could experiment, conducted by Los Alamos could then focus on propulsion for human lead to higher power, lower specific-mass National Laboratory in partnership with spaceflight missions, where fission might nuclear electric propulsion reactors that NASA in 2012, showed that it is possible. have the greatest impact. would revolutionize human travel through- NASA is making a substantial investment out the solar system. Get KRUSTY in nuclear thermal propulsion, which offers If the U.S. is serious about continuing to The Kilowatt Reactor Using Stirling Tech- up to double the capability of chemical be a leader in space exploration, NASA must nology (KRUSTY) experiment, scheduled rockets and which would greatly enhance rebalance its power portfolio by adequately for completion in early 2018, will show human exploration. While NASA should be funding a simple system that establishes that a flight-like space reactor can be lauded for its bold vision, the leaps required fission power in space. This simple system designed, fabricated, and tested for only in nuclear development and testing are will allow the continuation of Voyager- and a few tens of millions of dollars. The re- reminiscent of previously failed programs Cassini-class missions at the outermost maining work to bring the entire system that took too large a step. Even if ultimately planets and open up subsurface missions to flight status is significant but mostly successful, nuclear thermal propulsion at Europa, Enceladus, and Titan. NASA can nonnuclear (i.e. the remaining technical benefits may not justify the price tag (tens then use the expertise, technology, and in- challenges exist in the power conversion of billions of dollars), especially if there is frastructure outflow from that development system and spacecraft integration; an continued progress towards lower cost, to achieve more ambitious capabilities, actual flight reactor could look and op- higher capability launch vehicles. such as higher power surface reactors for erate essentially the same as KRUSTY). Multi-megawatt nuclear electric pro- human missions and, eventually, nuclear If KRUSTY is successful, the cost to pulsion systems can provide an order of thermal propulsion and/or nuclear electric bring a 1-kWe reactor to flight status should magnitude improvement over chemical propulsion space reactor programs. be relatively low: a few hundred million systems, thus providing far more po- Americans have not lost enthusiasm dollars, or well within the budget NASA is tential than nuclear thermal propulsion. for exploring the solar system and beyond. willing to spend on a limited amount of Multi-megawatt nuclear electric propulsion Now is the time to create the tools that will radioisotope power. systems also have the advantage that the power that dream. SN This is not to say that radioisotope power reactor technology can be developed via should be abandoned. It will always be several incremental, achievable steps, of JOHN CASANI IS A RETIRED JET PROPULSION essential for space exploration, and a sig- which Kilopower is the first. The balance LABORATORY EMPLOYEE WHO SERVED AS nificant investment in Pu-238 production of nuclear electric propulsion system PROJECT MANAGER FOR THE VOYAGER, is well warranted. If space reactors were development provides additional major GALILEO AND CASSINI MISSIONS, ALL OF WHICH used for missions that require significantly challenges — but they are nonnuclear, can USED RTG POWER SYSTEMS.

SPACENEWS.COM | 23 ON NATIONAL SECURITY Sandra Erwin

and wideband communications systems. Cloud of uncertainty If history is any guide, satellite procure- ments would be stretched out a few more years to free up funds for aviation. over military space Adding more uncertainty is last week’s enactment of the National Defense Autho- programs rization Act for 2018, which reorganizes the Pentagon’s space responsibilities. The law shifts space-related organizational, PARTISAN FIGHTS OVER FEDERAL SPENDING, TAX CUTS, training and equipping powers from the SPELL TROUBLE FOR MILITARY AND SPACE BUDGETS Air Force secretary and Air Force chief of staff to the Air Force Space Command. The current head of Space Command, Gen. John “Jay” Raymond, said the re- organization will help set the conditions for the United States to get ahead of its he U.S. military’s ambitious space to start ramping up can’t happen with- enemies. The devil here will be in the agenda faces big unknowns. out a budget deal,” budget analyst Todd details. The deputy secretary of defense Budgets top the list. Other Harrison of the Center for Strategic and has been assigned to lead the implemen- T looming issues are political and International Studies told me last week. tation of this law. organizational. The next-generation satellite programs The NDAA also directed the Penta- Despite a commitment by the U.S. Air that the Air Force has been trying to push gon to study the possibility of deploying Force to increase military space budgets forward are not scheduled to start pro- a space-based missile defense system, by 20 percent, larger fiscal pressures may duction any time soon but they still need a complex and costly technology that derail those plans. The GOP-dominated funding to continue development and the U.S. military has not pursued since Congress and the Trump White House testing. “Absolutely there will be pressure the Reagan administration’s Star Wars promised a big boost in military spend- on space programs,” he said. initiative. The technological, fiscal and ing but so far that vision looks more like Harrison recalled that when he spoke political implications of a space-based a mirage. with Air Force Secretary Heather Wilson missile defense are significant. Arms con- Congress last week managed to keep in October, he asked her about the ser- trol experts have warned such a system the government open with temporary vice’s acquisition priorities. “She named a would be destabilizing. funding until Dec. 22 while lawmakers bunch of aircraft programs. There were no The NDAA suggests the Pentagon should figure out the next steps. A bipartisan space progrxams in that list of priorities,” aim for a “boost phase” interceptor which is budget agreement will be needed to de- he said. “If push comes to shove and they the hardest to do from space, said Harrison. termine the final defense funding level don’t get all the resources they’re looking “You’ll need a massive constellation of but there are still many unresolved issues. for, I think the Air Force is going to focus satellites to do that. If you run the num- If the GOP tax reform bill gets passed, on air power.” bers, it’s probably over 1,000 satellites to analysts predict the government will be The Air Force “must-fund” items include be able to intercept ballistic missiles one cash-strapped in the coming years even the F-35A fighter jet, the B-21 bomber, the at a time,” he said. “If a country launched more so than it is now — a scenario that KC-46A tanker, the T-X trainer aircraft, two missiles from the same place at the makes it unlikely that the nation can af- a new intercontinental ballistic missile same time you would need to double the ford to spend more on the military or on and a new nuclear-armed air-launched size of your constellation.” costly space ventures. cruise missile. Congressional interest in a space- Budget uncertainty could hurt space In space, it’s no so clear. The Air Force based missile defense, like Trump’s mil- programs even more so than other military laid out plans to begin new programs for itary buildup talk, illustrate today’s reality: priorities because space projects compete several satellite constellations, including Everyone has big lofty ambitions that for funding with aviation procurements. a new missile-warning system, a mod- are not supported by strategy, policy or “All those space programs that were going ernized GPS, protected communications budgets. SN

24 | SPACENEWS 12.18.17

COMMENTARY U.S. Reps. Brian Babin and Ami Bera

We agree, Mr. President – America should return to the moon

President Trump’s new space policy heard testimony on private lunar explora- return to the moon could lead to signifi- directive calling for American astronauts tion. The commercial sector is developing cant advancements in science, medicine, to return to the moon is welcome and new lunar landers and next-generation and technology that will enhance our encouraging news. The United States is launch vehicles to return to lunar orbit. lives here on Earth. We believe the next entering a new era of space exploration. The private sector has always been a generation of astronauts, scientists, and In the past, NASA and the federal govern- partner in space exploration. From Mc- engineers possess the passion and tal- ment have led the way, but it is time we Donnell Aircraft Corporation building ent to re-establish America’s presence recognize the future of space travel will the Mercury and Gemini capsules to on the moon and Mars. These next few be a collaborative effort between NASA, years are key. the private sector, and the international The revival of the National Space Coun- community. As the chair and ranking cil under Vice President Mike Pence is a member on the House of Representatives Decades after Apollo welcome step. The council’s goals are to space subcommittee, we agree that the 17 left the moon, some reenergize American activity in space and first step in this new era is crucial: America may ask: Why go back? to create a plan that will support human must return to the moon. missions to the moon and beyond. As Decades after Apollo 17 left the moon, What more can we lawmakers, we must oversee their efforts. some may ask: Why go back? What more learn? Congress has an obligation to ensure can we learn? With public and private that America continues to lead the way interest in space growing, we have a in space exploration. Only by working unique opportunity to ignite a passion Grumman building the Lunar Excursion together, Democrats and Republicans, for scientific research and discovery, Module for Apollo, government and the private sector and public sector, can we spur innovation in the private sector, private sector have worked hand-in-hand achieve our goals. and use the moon as a stepping stone since the very beginning of the space We commend the president for making to reach Mars. age. Going forward, a vibrant commercial America’s return to the moon a prior- Americans have benefited greatly space economy will drive down costs and ity. Reaching beyond our horizons has from space exploration and scientific increase competition along with inno- been a hallmark of the American spirit research. Medical advancements in drug vation. But there is also a need for the and space exploration has always gone treatment and vaccines can be traced government to maintain its own space hand-in-hand with scientific discovery. back to research done in space. Tech- exploration capabilities for strategic pur- Space exploration will facilitate economic nology used to filter and purify water on poses. By leveraging logistical services, growth and stimulate innovation. As John the International has been NASA could free up more resources for F. Kennedy once said, “man and his quest commercialized. Returning to the moon scientific research and development. for knowledge and progress is determined, will allow scientists to complete unfinished Returning to the moon would enable and cannot be deterred. The exploration lunar studies, including understanding further scientific study and future explo- of space will go ahead, whether we join the ice located at the lunar poles and ration. The moon’s resources could even in it or not. We mean to be a part of it; we the impacts of living in low gravity with supply and fuel missions deeper into our mean to lead it.” America must return to intense solar radiation. This information solar system. Lunar missions would also the moon. SN could be critical to understanding future allow NASA to test capabilities within the space exploration to Mars. vicinity of Earth before embarking on U.S. REP. BRIAN BABIN (R-TEXAS) IS THE The commercial space industry has missions to Mars and other destinations. CHAIRMAN OF THE HOUSE SCIENCE SPACE expressed interest in the moon as well. It is clear we are approaching a re- SUBCOMMITTEE. REP. AMI BERA (D-CALIF.) IS This September, our space subcommittee naissance of space exploration. America’s THE SUBCOMMITTEE’S RANKING MEMBER.

26 | SPACENEWS 12.18.17 COMMENTARY Rebecca Cowen-Hirsch

Paving a clear “Path” to interoperable SATCOM It’s time to allow trusted commercial operators to help government benefit from improved satellite operations

hese are times when the only thing we can predict is unpre- dictability. From geopolitical Tthreats to natural disasters – events emerge swiftly and unexpectedly, anywhere around the globe. This event-driven reality provides an even more insistent imperative that U.S. government and military users must stand ready to deploy “anytime, anywhere.” They

must have access to resilient, robust and U.S. soldiers set up a tactical satellite communications system in Afghanistan. secure satellite communications (SATCOM) wherever they are, at a moment’s notice, across the full spectrum of engagement. capabilities. And yet, even in the U.S., COMSATCOM. And, of course, this must be tempered approximately 73 percent of all SATCOM For federal users, however, the path to with real expectations of cost-effective- is provided by commercial providers, as optimal SATCOM has been muddled by ness and enhanced combat readiness reported by the Army’s own Wideband piecemeal and antiquated military pro- delivered with agility. Consolidated SATCOM System Expert curement practices, further complicated There is a path to this state of SATCOM just last year. Other allied and coalition by budget and cultural impediments. and, in fact, it exists. But, as with a lost hiker nations have similar or even greater per- The “debris” of the government acqui- in the woods, the path is not quite clear centages of COMSATCOM use. So it is not sition system means that multiple U.S. to federal agency procurement officials surprising that governments have become Department of Defense (DoD) branches or acquisition authorities. Following this increasingly reliant on COMSATCOM to are responsible for multiple parts of the analogy, for the hiker, fallen branches and support ongoing critical military opera- package, turning to private industry gen- other debris can block or hide the path, tions and responses to catastrophes. With erally on an “as needed” basis. The Navy or a storm may wash away parts of it. Or military and defense operations in the supplies narrowband space segment, or perhaps, the painted markings on trees Middle East and elsewhere in the world, Mobile User Objective System (MUOS). The designating the trail suddenly stop ap- there remains a state of highly mobile, Air Force supplies the wideband “space” GILCHREST pearing, and hikers find themselves lost. asymmetrical engagement. Coupled part, i.e., the Wideband Global Satcom

RUSSELL Historically, the government has with the ever-advancing technological (WGS) – originally as a Wideband Gapfiller

SGT. perceived commercial SATCOM (COM- innovation in the SATCOM industry, Satellite system. The Army provides the SATCOM) as a gap filler, or simply a surge we continue to see a surge in the use “land” part, i.e., both military-owned and ARMY/

U.S. service to fill in for unavailable military of, and even greater dependence upon, commercial terminals for units, while

SPACENEWS.COM | 27 COMMENTARY Rebecca Cowen-Hirsch

the Defense Information Systems terminals to ensure connectivity is fully and innovation of COMSATCOM. A Agency is the storefront for commercial mission capable regardless of how chal- Commercial Working Group has formed SATCOM. In each case, despite the maturity lenging the situational or geographic to gather perspectives and input from of commercial communications, there conditions, or priority of the mission. industry leaders about the best ways to remains a disconnect where the focus is This speaks to the urgency for a more move forward. Our top executives work on use of spectrum: leasing MHz versus agile, unified strategy to ensure the avail- with their government counterparts to looking at the more relevant effects that ability of reliable, resilient and seamless develop a “blueprint” to take the best of SATCOM enables and leveraging SATCOM state-of-the-art SATCOM capabilities, what industry has to offer – space, air as a Service as a force multiplier, critical which are fully interoperable with agen- and ground layer communication capa- infrastructure and thus an operational cy-owned systems. Taking an entirely bilities and ongoing innovations – and imperative. integrated architecture approach that seamlessly integrate these capabilities The fragmentation and overlap in considers military SATCOM (MILSATCOM) into the future DoD architecture. space acquisition management and and COMSATCOM as a holistic capability Furthermore, the Fiscal Year 2018 Na- oversight have contributed to program and that allows for rapid and cost-effec- tional Defense Authorization Act, which delays and cancellations, cost increases tive innovation relevant to government’s has been passed by both the House and and inefficient operations, with the ter- ever-changing needs, this strategy would the Senate and sent to the president’s desk minal segment lagging far behind. Most inspire “order-of-magnitude” improve- for signature, marks the first step toward a of those programs began before some of ments in SATCOM capabilities. crucial space reorganization and leader- today’s concepts of operations – such as Fortunately, while still obscured, the ship shift presenting a clear opportunity airborne Intelligence, Surveillance and path for the government is getting clearer, for COMSATCOM to become an integral Reconnaissance (ISR) – were even en- as events over the past year and beyond part of the SATCOM architecture. visioned. As a result, there are programs have demonstrated. When we look at these developments like MUOS where only the legacy UHF as a collective whole, we can see that capability is accessible. And even the Moving forward government leadership clearly recognizes wideband workhorse for the U.S. govern- We have witnessed 2017 bringing sig- that the desired integrated architecture ment and its allies, the WGS system with nificant developments as the commercial depends upon the reach, resilience and its nine satellites on orbit, cannot flexibly sector and government leaders have technology modernization of COMSAT- meet all operational requirements. What’s worked together to create a more protected COM, as an essential element of mission more, in some geographies, there is of- and resilient space environment that will assurance. Importantly, this is supported ten competing demand for WGS access improve capabilities for our servicemen by evolving policies and a strategy that for military mission-specific priorities. and women. Throughout this collabora- drives satellite communication acquisition Bottom line, this all brings a burden tion, greater support has emerged for the away from a piecemeal and antiquated to the end user, who is not getting the development of an integrated SATCOM procurement model. needed mission-critical capability quickly architecture and strategy in the interest of and effectively. rapid and cost-effective innovation and Path found: SATCOM as a At the “pointy end of the spear” or in greater resilience and frequency diversity. Service the foxhole, users do not care about which The official launch in January 2017 All of these positive dynamics come branch of the military “owns” which part of a wideband Analysis of Alternatives together enabling government to opt of the communication architecture, or (AoA) stands as a promising example of for newer business models, such as whether the actual technology is sup- this trend. Through the AoA, leadership SATCOM as a Service, a readily avail- plied by a government or commercial intends to build the next generation of able capability that comprehensively provider. They only want results, in the infrastructure for the future wideband addresses the aforementioned needs form of maximum capability, flexibility communication system to replace the for interoperability, efficiency, ease of and resilience. Simplicity is required, and dated WGS program. Currently under- use and responsiveness to the DoD re- SATCOM needs to be readily accessible way, it provides an opportunity to de- quirements. Mobile government users wherever they go, with smaller, easy-to- fine, arguably for the first time, a new are increasingly adopting this managed use equipment and multiband, multimode approach that harnesses the scale, scope service model, seeking access to rapid,

28 | SPACENEWS 12.18.17 reliable, worldwide SATCOM wideband platforms, users acquire UHF tactical capability. This contrasts with historicaly functionality that is extremely suitable leased satellite services, which require for beyond-line-of-sight, push-to-talk setting up fixed systems, one-by-one, networks, through which users in various every time a new network is required. To coverage areas share access to transmit do that, government contractors must a signal that can be heard by everyone set up their own hubs at ground stations else in the network (just like a telephone throughout the world, wire together conference call). The service is also de- their own network and create their own signed for point-to-point data commu- systems. SATCOM as a Service is an end- nications between terminals in theater. to-end model that provides wideband/ L-TAC is made possible by narrow fixed satellite services globally without beams, with satellites supporting about The Pentagon is evaluating alternatives to procur- the time and expense of building and ing additional Wideband Global Satcom satellites. 200 such beams. With this, L-TAC extends maintaining a private network. capability over the satellites when UHF From a user’s perspective, SATCOM as requirements of users. and capacity is absent. The result: low-risk, a Service establishes a mobile wideband its partners are deploying Wideband resilient and easy-to-use connectivity experience that is no different from mov- Streaming L-band (WiSL), an innovative which is accessible regardless of the local ing around the globe with a cellphone, connectivity service suited to specific infrastructure, weather or terrain. without stopping to worry about where government needs, further augmenting the cellphone towers are, who installed MILSATCOM resources and enhancing Unified SATCOM architecture them and who wired everything together. operations. It is a capability utilizing So, like the hiker in the woods who nav- SATCOM as a Service allows users to travel Inmarsat’s reliable, worldwide L-band igates past the debris to discover a distinct, anywhere in the world with one-touch space and ground network, with higher well-laid path, the government-industry access. They never have to make a new throughputs from miniature form factor partnership brings much promise to steer investment whenever they set up a new antennas to meet high-demand ISR and agencies to a state of ready and respon- SATCOM network – and it relieves the Process, Exploitation, Dissemination (PED) sive deployment of the most efficient, burden to manage these networks from needs. WiSL is now flying on aircrafts, affordable, capable and interoperable end users, allowing them to fully focus rapidly transforming from an idea to a new SATCOM. Through this path forward, on their mission. capability: During recent demonstrations government users will greatly benefit SATCOM as a Service is a cost-efficient in multiple user scenarios, it delivered from a completely integrated SATCOM model in which users only pay to access data rates as high as 10Mbps x 10Mbps, architecture in which trusted commercial the capability they need. A subscription or via micro antennas as small as a 13 cen- operators lead real innovation, empow- managed service, it delivers guaranteed timeters. Using high-order modulation, ering the DoD to consider MILSATCOM data rates to satisfy mission needs at a the demonstrations revealed efficiencies and COMSATCOM as a holistic capability moment’s notice, worldwide. With solid up to 4.5 bits per hertz for cost-efficient to best support military missions. service-level agreements and committed bandwidth utilization. The path exists and is available – now. information rates, users get what they ask In addition, L-band Tactical Satellite And it is our duty to work together as in- for and only use it when they must, and (L-TAC) stands as another example of dustry and government leaders to forge the quality of the acquired service is as- technology innovation built to mobile ahead on it in the interest of achieving sured. In other words, no more guessing users requirements. It is a highly resilient, critical objectives and supporting the men games or overleasing and underleasing. “UHF-like” tactical narrowband satellite and women who have dedicated their capability for robust, low-cost, beyond- lives to these critical missions. Rapid augmentation in line-of-sight mobile communications narrowband when UHF is not available for existing REBECCA M. COWEN-HIRSCH IS SENIOR VICE

Industry brings new advancements radios. Via tactical radios, which are PRESIDENT FOR GOVERNMENT STRATEGY AND FORCE in critical technologies, such as narrow- either portable or installed in vehicles, POLICY OF THE WASHINGTON-BASED U.S. AIR

U.S. band to support the high-throughput helicopters, ships and other mobile GOVERNMENT BUSINESS UNIT AT INMARSAT.

SPACENEWS.COM | 29 CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS Dylan Taylor

5 bold predictions for an epic 2018 2017 WAS A GOOD YEAR FOR SPACE VENTURES. NEXT YEAR LOOKS EVEN BETTER

his year will be remembered the $1 billion that Saudi Arabia’s sovereign 4. Industry convergence for many milestones, not the wealth fund agreed to invest in Virgin I predict 2018 will be the year where we least of which will be SpaceX’s Group’s orbital and suborbital space will have full industry convergence be- Tand Blue Origin’s continued ventures. I would anticipate the broader tween telecommunications, Internet of demonstration of reusable first-stage space industry to raise in excess of $5 Things applications and Earth observation. rockets. As we wrap up an extraordinary billion in 2018 from all sources. Glimpses of real-time information ac- year for the space industry, there is rea- cessed via billions of connected devices son to believe 2018 will be even better. 3. Blockbuster IPO with persistent high-speed bandwidth Here are five (admittedly bold) pre- Of late, there have been no significant will be realized in late 2018. Its impact dictions for the year to come: initial public offerings of stock by com- to the global economy will be significant mercial space companies. I expect this and attract even more capital to space. 1. finally takes flight 5. Commercial space shines With last week’s successful test flight With the still-likely confirmation of Rep. of Blue Origin’s New Shepard resuable Jim Bridenstine (R-Okla.) as NASA ad- rocket, it grows more likely that Jeff Bezos’ ministrator, I predict commercial space suborbital vehicle carries its first crews partnerships will be further leveraged by above the Karman line early next year. the U.S. government. With close to doing the Given a steady-state NASA budget same, I predict more new astronauts will coupled with ambitious policy goals to be minted in 2018 than any other year in return humans to the moon, commercial the first six decades of spaceflight. Space space partnerships will emerge as the tourism will finally become a mainstream best approach for the U.S. space agency topic and a profitable business. to achieve its objectives. 2018 should be the most significant year 2. More capital flows to space in the history of the industry since 1969. Although 2017 was a landmark year, Reusable rocket will be commonplace, with angel and venture capital invest- we will mint in excess to a hundred new ments in space exceeding $2 billion for astronauts, and billions more in capital the first time, I believe 2018 will be even will flow to the industry. better. In particular, I expect interna- to change in 2018. Likely candidates Assuming this all happens, we should tional capital to become more active in include Planet, Spire and Rocket Lab. be well positioned for an even more the space industry. Theoretically, SpaceX could also be a significant 2019 as humanity celebrates Japan and the countries in the Middle candidate, but that is less likely given how the 50th anniversary of the first Apollo East (the United Arab Emirates, in par- successful they have been in attracting moon landing in July. Buckle up. This ticular) are the most likely candidates for capital from the private markets. is going to be a great ride. SN taking the lead on international capital. A successful IPO will be instrumental These investments will be on top of the in attracting additional capital to the DYLAN TAYLOR IS AN ANGEL INVESTOR $90 million Tokyo-based lunar robotic industry, as well as encouraging even AND PATRON CHAIR OF THE COMMERCIAL

company iSpace raised this month, or more new company formations. SPACEFLIGHT FEDERATION. SHUTTERSTOCK

30 | SPACENEWS 12.18.17 ON THE HORIZON

JANUARY APRIL DATE EVENT PLACE DATE EVENT PLACE

SciTech Forum Space 2.0 Silicon Valley, Kissimmee, FL 8-12 scitech.aiaa.org 3-5 infocastinc.com/event/space-2-0/ CA

CABSAT 2018 Earth and Space 2018 Dubai, UAE Cleveland, OH 14-16 cabsat.com 9-12 earthspaceconf.mst.edu

Space Traffic Management Conference Daytona Beach, Space Symposium Colorado 15-19 commons.erau.edu/stm FL 16-19 spacesymposium.org Springs, CO

Pacific Telecommunications Conference 21-24 Honolulu, HI ptc.org MAY Space Forum 15-16 Luxembourg FEBRUARY www.spaceforum.com City Space Tech Expo 2018 SmallSat Symposium Silicon Valley, 22-24 Pasadena, CA 5-7 smallsatshow.com CA www.spacetechexpo.com

AFA Air Warfare Symposium International Space Development Orlando, FL 21-23 afa.org/airwarfare/home 24-27 Conference Los Angeles, CA isdc.nss.org/2018/

MARCH JUNE Satellite 2018 Washington, 12-15 Satellite & Space Missions Conference 2018.satshow.com D.C. Rome, Italy 15-16 satellite.conferenceseries.com Space Week Paris, 28-29 paris-space-week.com AUGUST Small Satellite Conference Logan, UT 4-9 satellite.conferenceseries.com

SPACENEWS.COM | 31 FOUST FORWARD Jeff Foust

The timing of the announcement, some sug- gested, was intended as a signal to the White Third time’s the House Office of Management and Budget as it finalizes that budget proposal, given that it pro- posed cutting funding for exploration programs charm? in its 2018 budget. The directive is the third time in less than three FOR THE THIRD TIME IN THREE DECADES, A U.S. decades that a president has formally called for a human return to the moon. The two Presidents PRESIDENT HAS FORMALLY CALLED FOR A HUMAN Bush made similar declarations, 14 and a half years RETURN TO THE MOON apart, only to see them falter, one undone when it was saddled with a $500 billion price tag and the other failing to survive a change in administrations. This third proposal, arriving as if on cue nearly 14 THE TIMING OF THE ANNOUNCEMENT was a years after the second President Bush announced surprise. Its content, however, was not. the Vision for Space Exploration, will have to be The fact that President Trump would be signing different. There’s no sign Congress is willing to what the White House called Space Policy Directive significantly increase NASA’s budget to pay for a 1 was announced just the day before the Dec. 11 conventional, NASA-led approach, or for raiding ceremony. That date made sense in one aspect: it funding from other agency programs. was the 45th anniversary of the landing of Apollo The directive offers a hint of what might work, 17 lunar module, the last human mission to the though. The new paragraph added to the space moon to date. policy directs NASA to lead “an innovative and The president made clear he wanted to change sustainable program of exploration with com- that. “It marks an important step in returning Amer- mercial and international partners.” ican astronauts to the moon for the first time since International interest in lunar exploration has 1972 for long-term exploration and use,” Trump been growing in recent years, such as the cam- said of his directive. paigning by the ’s leader, The administration, though, had been sig- Jan Woerner, for his “Moon Village” proposal. Ja- naling for months that it wanted to go back to pan’s government recently endorsed cooperating the moon. The directive was a recommendation on NASA’s proposed Deep Space Gateway as a way unanimously approved at the National Space to send Japanese astronauts to the moon. Council’s first meeting in October, and officials The commercial sector has demonstrated in- such as Vice President Pence had been dropping creasing capability for supporting a human return to hints for months before that about putting the the moon, and willingness in doing so. Blue Origin, moon back on the path to Mars. for example, has proposed building a lander system But neither the directive nor comments at the for delivering cargo to the lunar surface to support brief signing ceremony — it lasted less than 10 human missions there. minutes — offered details about just how the United Even SpaceX, which has long been focused States will send humans back to the moon. The on Mars, has a new interest in the moon. “If you directive simply replaces one paragraph of the 2010 want to get the public really fired up, I think we’ve National Space Policy developed by the Obama got to have a base on the moon,” Elon Musk said administration, with no details about timelines or this summer. budgets. Neither Trump nor Pence set deadlines, Translating that commercial and international or made funding promises, in their remarks. support into a sustainable program to send humans NASA, in a statement issued after the ceremony, back to the moon will be a key challenge for NASA, said that implementation of the policy “will be re- the National Space Council and the White House. flected in NASA’s Fiscal Year 2019 budget request” If they fail this third time around, a future pres- to be released early next year, and left it at that. ident may not bother with a fourth attempt. SN

32 | SPACENEWS 12.18.17 YOUR BRAND. OUR AUDIENCE.

Contact Us Today Paige McCullough Kamal Flucker 571-278-4090 571-402-5706 [email protected] [email protected] Arianespace capped GO GALILEO! off the year with its 11th mission on December 12, when an flawlessly placed on orbit four more spacecraft of the Galileo constellation. This campaign for ESA and the European Commission was the 82nd successful flight in a row for the heavy lift launch vehicle from the Guiana Space Center. The Global Navigation Satellite System, which Europe entrusted to Arianespace for delivery, now numbers 22 satellites, and will make life better on Earth with its precision guidance services.