As the volume of orbital debris continues to grow, the need for precise and reliable prediction methods has never been more critical to ensure safety and operational integrity of our space assets. Traditional models often fall short in accounting for the complex dynamics of space environments. However, by integrating the principles of physics directly into neural network architectures, Sierra Space has developed a solution that the company says will not only enhances prediction accuracy but also significantly reduces computational overhead.
Leveraging the power of physics-informed neural networks (PINNs) and a collaboration with NVIDIA, Sierra Space says it is now able to predict the future locations of orbital debris.
PINNs represent a revolutionary approach to modeling and predicting the behavior of orbital debris. Sierra Space PINNs are trained to understand and predict the trajectories of debris by incorporating data from various sources, including satellite observations and historical tracking information.
NVIDIA’s GPUs enable the processing of vast amounts of data simultaneously, significantly reducing the time required for model training and inference. This capability is crucial for real-time applications where timely predictions can make the difference between a safe maneuver and a potential collision.
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A launch window has been announced for an upcoming Electron mission to deploy the latest satellite in Synspective’s growing Earth observation constellation.
The “Owl The Way Up” mission is scheduled to launch from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1 in New Zealand during a launch window that opens on December 18th in that country. The mission will deploy a single StriX satellite to orbit for Synspective.
Synspective's small SAR satellites, StriX, are equipped with a synthetic aperture radar (SAR) sensor, which can observe the Earth's surface in any weather condition day or night.
Rocket Lab first launched for Synspective in December 2020 and has been the sole launch provider for Synspective’s constellation to date.
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Spaceflight company Orbex is narrowing its operational focus to developing small and medium sized space rockets after switching its launch operations to SaxaVord Spaceport in Shetland.
The company has decided to pause construction of its own spaceport in Sutherland and will instead launch its first rockets from SaxaVord. The decision enables the company to direct more funding to the development of a new, medium-sized launch vehicle called Proxima. Orbex will retain its lease to build and operate its own spaceport at Sutherland in order to give it flexibility to increase launch capacity in the future. This will be kept under continuous review.
Orbex is planning to increase the size of its manufacturing capability in Forres to ensure it can meet demand for its smaller vehicle, known as Prime. It will now also use the site to develop a new medium launch vehicle, which will enable Orbex to send more and larger satellites into orbit.
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A definitive agreement has been reached between Neo Space Group and Airbus Defense and Space (Airbus) to acquire the latter company's UP42 business, a next-generation earth observation digital platform. UP42, launched by Airbus in 2019 in Berlin, Germany, is a pioneer in streamlining access to, and deriving insights from geospatial data via a cloud-based platform.
Neo Space Group (NSG) is a Public Investment Fund-owned company and Saudi Arabia's leading commercial space services provider. UP42 is expected to be part of NSG's growing Geospatial division. UP42's earth observation digital platform provides customers access to data and analytics from more than 80 of the world's leading geospatial companies, making it easy to source and manage diverse data from multiple providers through one seamless interface.
NSG was launched in May of this year, when Public Investment Fund (PIF) announced its establishment, with the mission to become a global leader in the satellite and space sector.
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Among the passengers launching on December 21 on the SpaceX Bandwagon-2 mission is the first satellite built by Spacecoin as it embarks on a program to build the first decentralized, space-based Internet service.
CTC-0 will take off from Vandenberg Space Force Base aboard a Falcon 9 rocket. It will conduct a pilot test with partners in Africa and South Asia. Additional satellites are expected to be launched in 2025 to conduct pilot tests across various frequency bands, secure more partners to drive market adoption and expansion, and prepare for a Q4 launch to start providing service to potentially billions of unconnected people.
The company estimates that nearly 37% of the global population today has no internet connectivity. By establishing universal internet access, the company hopes to "Connect the Unconnected", and provide direct-to-mobile internet connectivity to global regions that lack reliable internet access.
And those are some of the top stories appearing this week on The Journal of Space Commerce.
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