Latest news with #LowEarthOrbit
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Cold War-era fighter jets F-4 Phantoms could launch satellites for US firm
The skies above the Kennedy Space Center have long echoed with the roar of privately flown F-104 Starfighters. Now, a new chapter is unfolding, one that promises to reshape access to space. Starfighters International, a company with a long history in research and test flights, is working on the acquisition of retired F-4 Phantoms from South Korea. The War Zone reported that these iconic Cold War fighters could play a crucial role in ambitious space launch operations. The company aims to give small satellite operators quick access to low Earth orbit (LEO) and also provide suborbital opportunities. Due to persistent tensions with North Korea, South Korea's Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF) began operating F-4 Phantoms in the late 1960s. After 55 years of distinguished service, the ROKAF formally retired its last operational F-4s on June 7, 2024. Reportedly, the sleek F-104 Starfighter excels at high-speed stratospheric climbs, but it has limitations. For larger payloads requiring significant thrust to reach Low Earth Orbit, the F-4 Phantom may present an effective answer. The market for getting to space is booming, with small satellites leading the charge. Take CubeSats, for example – these shoebox-sized satellites are simpler and cheaper to create and get into space. CubeSats are designed for a wide array of users, enabling them to pursue scientific research, test novel technologies, and build commercial services. Currently, these smaller payloads are often beholden to the schedules of larger launches, tying customers to timelines that can span years. Simply put, these smaller satellites usually catch a ride on rockets already carrying larger payloads. This new approach offers a revolutionary alternative. The use of F-4 Phantoms could potentially offer smaller customers quick, on-demand launches from optimal locations. This capability aligns perfectly with two major strategic goals: NASA's ongoing efforts to commercialize Low Earth Orbit (shifting towards purchasing services from private companies rather than solely operating its own infrastructure). A second factor is the escalating U.S. military requirement for agile and responsive space access. Currently, satellite technology is becoming smaller and evolving at a faster pace. This trend is also making space a more contested domain. While many launched space concepts have failed, Starfighters International stands out due to its long history. The company's extensive operational experience with high-performance military fighter aircraft and 'deep roots in the spaceflight community' give them a unique and credible position. Starfighters International currently employs its F-104 Starfighters for suborbital payload launches. These missions are specifically designed for customers requiring access to a microgravity environment for experimentation, providing valuable minutes of weightlessness. The F-104s serve as the first stage for their Starlaunch 1 rocket, carrying it to altitude before release. Looking ahead, the company plans to utilize the acquired F-4 Phantoms to carry the Starlaunch 2 rocket. This larger rocket is intended to provide access to Low Earth Orbit (LEO), and specifically to handle heavier payloads than what the F-104-based system can currently manage. 'A single rocket can carry one payload or over a dozen smaller ones,' the report stated. Of course, acquiring capable military hardware is no simple feat. But Starfighters International has a plan. Should sourcing become an issue, other nations like Greece and Turkey, which are winding down their Phantom operations, could provide avenues for acquisition.
India Today
2 days ago
- Science
- India Today
Isro performed 10 manoeuvres to save satellites on collision course
The Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) successfully performed 10 Collision Avoidance Manoeuvres (CAMs) in 2024 to protect its satellites from potential collisions with other objects in space, according to the newly released Indian Space Situational Assessment Report (ISSAR) for report highlights that the number of CAMs required in 2024 was lower than in the previous reduction is attributed to Isro's adoption of improved close approach analysis techniques, which included a larger conjunction screening volume and the use of more accurate ephemerides (precise orbital data). These advancements allowed Isro to address collision risks by making timely adjustments to routine orbit maintenance manoeuvres, thereby reducing the need for exclusive Isro's meticulous approach to satellite safety involved subjecting all manoeuvre plans—including CAMs—to thorough close approach risk analysis. This ensured that any potential post-manoeuvre close approaches with neighboring space objects were identified and 2024, 89 manoeuvre plans for Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites were revised to avoid such risks, while two manoeuvre plans for Geostationary Earth Orbit (GEO) satellites were similarly report also details Isro's approach for deep-space missions. For the Chandrayaan-2 Orbiter (CH2O), 14 orbit maintenance manoeuvres were carried out, with plans adjusted on eight occasions to mitigate collision on one occasion, a scheduled orbit maintenance manoeuvre was advanced to avoid a close conjunction with Nasa's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO), highlighting the complexity and international nature of space traffic enhanced space situational awareness and collision risk mitigation strategies are increasingly vital as the number of satellites and space debris in Earth's orbit continues to efforts not only safeguard India's valuable space assets but also contribute to the global effort to maintain the safety and sustainability of outer space Watch
Broadcast Pro
5 days ago
- Business
- Broadcast Pro
SES signs multi-launch agreement with Impulse Space
Selected missions will lift off aboard a medium-class rocket to LEO, where Impulses high-energy Helios kick stage will then carry each SES satellite to higher orbits within hours. Impulse Space, a leader in in-space mobility, has signed a multi-launch agreement with satellite operator SES to utilise its Helios kick stage system to reduce the time required for SES satellites to reach their final orbital destinations. The partnership will enable SES to move its payloads directly from Low Earth Orbit (LEO) to high-energy orbits, such as Geostationary Orbit (GEO) or Medium Earth Orbit (MEO), within hours rather than months. The first mission under this agreement is slated for 2027 and will see a 4-ton-class SES satellite launched via a medium-lift rocket into LEO before being swiftly transferred by Helios to GEO in under eight hours. This mission will mark the first commercial deployment dedicated solely to Helios, showcasing its full performance capabilities. The deal also leaves room for additional missions, allowing SES greater flexibility and speed in deploying satellites on demand. Traditionally, satellite operators targeting MEO or GEO have been limited to either costly and scarce heavy-lift rockets or extended, slow transfers using electric propulsion systems. Helios presents a new optionusing chemical propulsion to transport satellites directly and rapidly to their target orbits, transforming the traditional satellite deployment model. Commenting on the launch agreement, Adel Al-Saleh, CEO of SES, said: 'At SES, we are firm believers that co-development and collaboration with our partners will help the space industry to evolve and quicken the pace of innovation. Today, were not only partnering with Impulse to bring our satellites faster to orbit, but this will also allow us to extend their lifetime and accelerate service delivery to our customers. Were proud to become Helios first dedicated commercial mission.' Helios responsive capabilities and powerful engine enable mission operators to designand pricesatellites based on their specific operational orbit. This paradigm shift can simplify mission planning and decrease satellite mass, resulting in lower overall mission costs, while improving operational timelines. Tom Mueller, founder and CEO of Impulse Space, added: 'We believe MEO and GEO play a critical role in the space economy, but operators today face the challenges of slow, expensive, and inflexible access to these essential orbits. Helios changes thatits built to move large payloads to high-energy orbits quickly and reliably. SES has a long history of embracing innovation and pushing our industry forward, and were proud theyve chosen Helios to support the next phase of their deployment strategy.' This marks the first commercial contract for a dedicated Helios missionwhere a single, 4-ton-class payload will fully leverage the vehicles performance capabilities for direct transport to GEO.
Times of Oman
23-05-2025
- Science
- Times of Oman
We have declared 2025 as Gaganyaan year: ISRO chief V Narayanan
Kolkata: Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) chief V Narayanan highlighted the importance of 2025, which has been declared the "Gaganyaan" year. The ISRO chief said that 7200 tests have been completed as of now, and 3000 tests are pending. The Gaganyaan Programme, approved in December 2018, envisages human spaceflight to Low Earth Orbit (LEO) and establishing technologies required for a long-term Indian human space exploration endeavour. V Narayanan was speaking at an event in Kolkata on Thursday. "This year is a very important year for us. We have declared it Gaganyaan year. Before sending the humans, we have planned three uncrewed missions and the first uncrewed mission is planned this year... Till date, more than 7200 tests have been completed and about 3000 tests are pending, work is going on 24 hours", V Narayanan said. V Narayanan expressed his happiness over the completion of SpaDeX mission. He asserted that ISRO "accounted for ten kilos of fuel to do this mission." He further informed that a number of missions are planned in 2025 which includes a NASA-ISRO synthetic aperture radar satellite, which will be launched by India's own launch vehicle. "Today, we are happy to report that the SpaDeX mission has been successfully completed. We accounted ten kilos of fuel to do this mission, but we did it with only half the fuel and the rest of the fuel is available, and in the coming months, you will hear that a lot of experiments are planned... This year, a number of important missions are planned and there is going to be a NASA-ISRO synthetic aperture radar satellite and it will be launched by our own launch vehicle and we are going to have a commercial mission and a communication satellite for commercial aspects, which we are going to launch", he added. According to ISRO's official website, the SpaDex mission is a cost-effective technology demonstrator mission that uses two small spacecraft launched by PSLV to demonstrate in-space docking. The ISRO chief said that by December 2025, the first uncrewed mission to be called as "Vyommitra", followed by two uncrewed missions, will be launched by ISRO. In contrast, the organisation targets the first human space flight by the first quarter of 2027. "By December this year, there will be the first uncrewed mission, followed by two uncrewed missions, and we are targeting the first human space flight by the first quarter of 2027. In fact, almost every month this year, a launch is scheduled. The first uncrewed mission with a robot called 'Vyommitra' will be launched by the end of this year", V Narayanan told reporters.
Business Wire
22-05-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
SES Signs Multi-Launch Agreement for Helios Transport Services with Impulse Space
REDONDO BEACH, Calif. & LUXEMBOURG--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Impulse Space, the in-space mobility leader, and SES, a global content and connectivity provider, today announced a multi-launch agreement to use Impulse's Helios kick stage to shorten the time required for the selected SES's satellites to reach their final orbital position, whether on geostationary (GEO) or Medium Earth Orbit (MEO), by transporting the satellites from Low Earth Orbit (LEO) directly to high-energy orbits in hours. The first mission, currently planned for 2027, will feature a dedicated deployment from a medium-lift launcher in LEO, followed by Helios transferring the 4-ton-class payload directly to GEO within eight hours of launch. The agreement provides opportunity for additional missions, allowing SES to rapidly and responsively launch satellites to their selected orbit on demand. Traditionally, satellite operators wanting to launch their satellites to MEO or GEO orbits have had to choose between costly and low-supply heavy-lift rocket launches or slow, multi-month transfers using electric propulsion. Impulse's kick stage, Helios, is designed to rapidly deliver payloads from LEO directly to these high-energy orbits in hours, transforming industry dynamics. 'At SES, we are firm believers that co-development and collaboration with our partners will help the space industry to evolve and quicken the pace of innovation,' said Adel Al-Saleh, CEO of SES. 'Today, we're not only partnering with Impulse to bring our satellites faster to orbit, but this will also allow us to extend their lifetime and accelerate service delivery to our customers. We're proud to become Helios' first dedicated commercial mission.' Helios' responsive capabilities and powerful engine enable mission operators to design—and price—satellites based on their specific operational orbit. This paradigm shift can simplify mission planning and decrease satellite mass, resulting in lower overall mission costs, while improving operational timelines. 'We believe MEO and GEO play a critical role in the space economy, but operators today face the challenges of slow, expensive, and inflexible access to these essential orbits,' said Tom Mueller, founder and CEO of Impulse Space. 'Helios changes that—it's built to move large payloads to high-energy orbits quickly and reliably. SES has a long history of embracing innovation and pushing our industry forward, and we're proud they've chosen Helios to support the next phase of their deployment strategy.' This marks the first commercial contract for a dedicated Helios mission—where a single, 4-ton-class payload will fully leverage the vehicle's performance capabilities for direct transport to GEO. About Impulse Space Impulse Space, the in-space mobility company, is accelerating our future beyond Earth beginning with its fleet of cost-effective, high-performance space vehicles: Helios and Mira. The Helios kick stage unlocks high-energy orbits with its powerful Deneb engine, rapidly transporting payloads from LEO to MEO, GEO, heliocentric, lunar, and other planetary orbits. The flight-proven Mira enables precise maneuverability and rapid responsiveness for hosting, deployment, and rendezvous and proximity operations (RPO) across any orbit. Founded by Tom Mueller and led by a team of industry pioneers, Impulse Space is transforming in-space mobility by reliably and rapidly getting customers where they want to go. And they're just getting started. For more information, visit About SES SES has a bold vision to deliver amazing experiences everywhere on Earth by distributing the highest quality video content and providing seamless data connectivity services around the world. As a provider of global content and connectivity solutions, SES owns and operates a geosynchronous orbit fleet and medium earth orbit (GEO-MEO) constellation of satellites, offering a combination of global coverage and high performance services. By using its intelligent, cloud-enabled network, SES delivers high-quality connectivity solutions anywhere on land, at sea or in the air, and is a trusted partner to telecommunications companies, mobile network operators, governments, connectivity and cloud service providers, broadcasters, video platform operators and content owners around the world. The company is headquartered in Luxembourg and listed on Paris and Luxembourg stock exchanges (Ticker: SESG). Further information is available at:
