Tag: SAST
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Commercial, Industrial, Standard Military and Space: What These Component Labels Mean, and Where CAST and SAST Parts Lists Fit In
A supplier describes a chip as “space grade.” A procurement specialist wants to know whether it appears on an approved-parts list. At a program review, an engineer asks a different question: Can the device meet mission requirements in this particular circuit position? These questions may sound repetitive, but they are not asking the same thing.…
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How China Is Expanding Space Product Manufacturing Capacity: Inside the Smart Factory Upgrade at the Shanghai Institute of Spaceflight Control Technology
China’s satellite manufacturing capacity is expanding at an unprecedented pace, driven by the rapid development of commercial spaceflight and large-scale constellation deployment. But how are Chinese space manufacturers increasing output while maintaining the stringent quality standards required for orbital missions? A look inside this upgraded smart factory reveals how digital twins, AI-powered inspection, flexible production…
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Who Is Powering China’s GW Constellation? A Look at the Five Leading Satellite Institutes and Companies Behind It
Advances in phased-array radar and synthetic aperture radar (SAR) technologies are not only enhancing Earth observation capabilities but are also becoming a cornerstone of low-Earth-orbit (LEO) broadband communications satellites. A satellite’s phased-array antenna is essentially a phased-array radar operating in communication frequencies. Key radar technologies such as rapid beam steering, parallel subarray operation, and grating…
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Airbus Sends Sentinel-2C Satellite to French Guiana for Launch Preparations
Airbus has commenced the journey of the Sentinel-2C satellite, the third in the Copernicus Sentinel-2 series, from its production site in Friedrichshafen to Bremen on July 2, before embarking on a maritime voyage to the European spaceport in French Guiana. The satellite container was loaded onto Canopée, a sail-assisted cargo ship designed for transporting Ariane…
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China Completes Launch Pad on Hainan Island, Boosting Space Access and Satellite Constellation Plans
China has achieved a significant milestone in its space endeavors with the completion of the first launch pad at the Hainan Commercial Launch Site on December 29. The newly-completed launch pad is poised to enhance China’s access to space, providing crucial support for national constellation projects and commercial launch initiatives. This development addresses a key…
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China launches four ‘technology experiment satellites’
A Chinese Long March 2D rocket lifted off Wednesday with four technology experiment satellites, according to Chinese state media. Credit: Xinhua A Chinese Long March 2D rocket carried four “technology experiment satellites” into orbit Wednesday from the Xichang space center in southwestern China, according to the country’s state-run media. Few details about the satellites were…