SpaceLink Signs On for Next-Gen Mynaric Laser Terminal

SpaceLink has signed on as the second customer for Mynaric’s recently announced next-generation optical communications terminal, the CONDOR Mk 3. Mynaric and SpaceLink announced Thursday that they have agreed upon delivery and pricing for the first batch of the terminals by late 2022. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

This follows after SpaceLink placed an initial order for Mynaric optical terminals for its Medium-Earth Orbit (MEO) satellites, valued at up to $28 million, earlier this year.

Mynaric CEO Bulent Altan said the smaller Mk3 terminal has already received a strong reception. Mynaric also has an unnamed customer for the Mk 3.

SpaceLink CEO Dave Bettinger said the smaller advanced user terminal product will support the Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) end of SpaceLink’s LEO-MEO relay links in its space data relay system.

“The impressive design and performance of Mynaric optical terminals meet SpaceLink’s requirements for our relay service,” Bettinger said.

ESA Awards D-Orbit UK Contract for Debris Removal Demonstration

The European Space Agency (ESA) has awarded the U.K. branch of D-Orbit a contract to develop debris removal technology, the company announced Wednesday. The ESA contract is worth $2.6 million (2.2 million euros) as part of ESA’s Space Safety Programme (S2P).

D-Orbit will development and perform an in-orbit demonstration of a “Deorbit Kit” — equipment that can enable any space vehicle to perform a propulsive decommissioning maneuver. D-Orbit will lead a consortium that also includes Airbus Defence and Space, ArianeGroup, GMV Innovating Solutions, and Optimal Structural Solutions.

The consortium will develop the multi-purpose kit, which will be installed initially on a Vega rocket payload adapter called Vespa. The kit will be installed before the launch to perform a propulsive direct reentry maneuver over a designated area shortly after the rocket has deployed its payload.

“The work performed in this activity will define a foundational capability that can be adapted in the future for active debris removal mission concepts, such as on-orbit installation of de-orbit kits on satellites already in space,” said Simon Reid, COO of the U.K. branch of D-Orbit.

TriSept Rolling Out Cyber Solution for Rideshare Customers

Launch integrator TriSept Corporation has developed a satellite software solution to provide security controls for commercial and government spacecraft, the company announced Tuesday. This is the first cybersecurity solution TriSept has debuted.

The TriSept Secure Embedded Linux (TSEL) operating system is based on Linux and offers automated mechanisms and updates that deliver detailed audit data, near-real-time security analysis and patch updates along with “zero trust” verification layers. TSEL is scheduled to earn full flight heritage in the spring of 2022 aboard a Lunasonde Earth-scanning radar satellite scheduled for launch on a Rocket Lab Electron launch vehicle.

Steve Bjornaas, TriSept’s director of Software Development told Via Satellite that cybersecurity is a major talking point among TriSept’s customers and the solution was designed to let them secure their satellites at an affordable price point.

“We work really closely with our customers from conception to the actual mission,” Bjornaas said. “We’ve seen a big need for cybersecurity aboard satellites. It’s a can that has been kicked down the road for a long time that is becoming a major problem. It’s a big talking point among our customers, so we developed a secure software solution to help these customers secure their satellites at an affordable price point.” VS