Technology Safeguard Agreement | Orbital Debris Fine Issued by the FCC | Space News - November 2023
AUSTRALIAN SPACE NEWS.
Neumann Space ready for launch
Supported by the Australian Space Agency’s Moon to Mars initiative, nanosatellite SpIRIT is led by the University of Melbourne and is due to launch at the end of this month.
On SpIRIT will be Neumann Space’s metal-based propulsion technology. Using only solar power, the propulsion system converts a metallic rod into plasma, which is then ejected at high-speed to create thrust for the satellite.
Fleet Space hitches a ride with Firefly Aerospace
Firefly Aerospace has signed an agreement with Fleet Space Technologies, to deliver and operate Seismic Payload for Interplanetary Discovery, Exploration, and Research or SPIDER to the far side of the Moon. Fleet Space will join payloads from NASA and the European Space Agency, with SPIDER flying on Blue Ghost lander as part of Firefly’s second lunar mission in 2026.
ELA hires former Apple Business Development Manager
Equatorial Launch Australia (ELA), owner and operator of the Arnhem Space Centre (ASC), has appointed an ex-Apple executive to the role of Head of Business Development. Travis Marshall is a Royal Australian Air Force Navigator/Intelligence Officer and has been based in Singapore as Senior Business Development Manager of Education with Apple for the past six years.
This newly created role will be pivotal in developing customised launch contracts including launch, engine testing, payload and mission management along with mission planning and consultation for Defence.
Minister for Industry and Science drops by Southern Launch
Minister for Industry and Science Ed Husic MP, and Head of the Australian Space Agency Enrico Palermo joined Southern Launch to learn more about the exciting opportunities ahead for Australia with the recent signing of the Technology Safeguards Agreement.
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Australia and the US have worked closely together to negotiate the Technology Safeguards Agreement (TSA) framework. In 2024, the TSA will allow US companies to carry out space launch activities in Australia. What the TSA does is protect US technology, including rockets and satellites while unlocking major opportunities for joint commercial partnerships and investment.
The agreement signing occurred as part of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s visit to the United States in October 2023.
The TSA will help Australia’s domestic launch sector and spaceports to grow. Australia is expecting US space launches on Australian soil to create new high-skilled tech jobs and supply chains. It does not restrict Australian companies from making home-grown launch and satellite technology and competing in a growing global market.
GLOBAL SPACE NEWS
ESA to start commercial cargo program
On November 6, the European Space Agency announced it will start a competition to develop commercial vehicles to transport cargo to and from the International Space Station by 2028, a step towards developing a crewed vehicle. While ESA officials did not explicitly state it, the effort is clearly inspired by NASA’s Commercial-of-the-shelf program, which offered funding to companies to support development of cargo capabilities.
Financial support was also guaranteed for 27 Ariane 6 rockets and a set of 17 Vega C rockets. Each rocket is guaranteed funding of up to 340 million euros a year for each Ariane 6 and 21 million euros a year for the Vega C.
JAXA and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries plan on building a reusable heavy lift vehicle
The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) is working on plans for a new, large and reusable launch vehicle. This new reusable launch vehicle will form the core of its future space transportation plans. The launcher will be designed jointly by JAXA and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI). The move is sanctioned by Japan’s basic plan on space policy, revised in June of this year with the new reusable heavy lift vehicle to follow the new H3 rocket.
India crucial test in crewed space mission completed
In October, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) completed a key test in its crewed space mission Gaganyaan. In-flight Abort Demonstration of Crew Escape System (CES)” at Mach 1.2 with the newly developed Test Vehicle followed by Crew Module separation & safe recovery. A Total of 10 parachutes with pyro systems was tested with Parachute deployment Initiation at 17 km altitude.
Venezuela to put an astronaut on the Chinese Moon mission
The first Venezuelan man or woman could land on the moon on a Chinese spacecraft. Announced by Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro after a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing in September. President Maduro also indicated training for their astronaut could start soon, as China is intending to land its own Takionauts on the Moon before 2030 eventually establishing a base at the lunar south pole by 2040.
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Space debris investigation results
US Satellite television company Dish Network has been fined USD$150,000 for failing to properly dispose of one of its satellites. This is the first time the FCC regulators have issued such a penalty.
The FCC’s investigation into Dish centered on a satellite - EchoStar-7 - launched in 2002 into geostationary orbit (36,000km). EchoStar-7 had an approved decommissioning plan for 2012 where the satellite would be moved to 300 kilometers beyond operational geostationary orbit - essentially placing it into what is known as a graveyard orbit.
The issue arose when Dish did not leave enough fuel onboard to complete the final maneuver to the graveyard orbit with EchoStar-7 dead in orbit only 122km above its operational orbit (not the required 300km).
Dead satellites pose a risk of colliding with active satellites or other pieces of debris, further exacerbating the risk of in-space collisions. Up until now, the satellite industry has been able to self-regulate its compliance with the FCC’s debris mitigation recommendations.
The FCC fine for Dish means the industry is no longer self-regulating and may be issued a penalty for the incorrect disposal of dead satellites
“...it is important for the Commission to ensure that satellite licensees meet post-mission disposal requirements in a manner compliant with their authorizations.”
