{"id":17970,"date":"2019-08-05T21:01:59","date_gmt":"2019-08-05T13:01:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp-productionenv-bjg9h2g2bgg5b8aa.southeastasia-01.azurewebsites.net\/news\/good-news-bad-news-for-spaceflight-satellite-rideshare-market-is-heating-up\/"},"modified":"2019-08-05T21:01:59","modified_gmt":"2019-08-05T13:01:59","slug":"good-news-bad-news-for-spaceflight-satellite-rideshare-market-is-heating-up","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/news\/good-news-bad-news-for-spaceflight-satellite-rideshare-market-is-heating-up\/","title":{"rendered":"Good news, bad news for Spaceflight: Satellite rideshare market is heating up"},"content":{"rendered":"<figure id=\"attachment_513801\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-513801\" style=\"width: 630px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full-width wp-image-513801\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.geekwire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/190805-smallsat-630x420.png\" alt=\"SpaceX small-satellite deployment\" width=\"630\" height=\"420\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.geekwire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/190805-smallsat-630x420.png 630w, https:\/\/cdn.geekwire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/190805-smallsat-768x512.png 768w, https:\/\/cdn.geekwire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/190805-smallsat-1260x839.png 1260w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 630px) 100vw, 630px\"><figcaption data-nosnippet=\"\" id=\"caption-attachment-513801\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">An artist\u2019s conception shows a future SpaceX rocket deploying a satellite carrier in orbit. (SpaceX Illustration)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Seattle-based Spaceflight has made a name for itself by putting together bunches of small satellites for launch on someone else\u2019s rockets, but now the owners of some of those rockets are aiming to take the business for themselves.<\/p>\n<p>The promise and the perils of the dedicated-rideshare launch business came into the spotlight today in Logan, Utah, at the annual AIAA \/ Utah State University Conference on Small Satellites, better known as SmallSat.<\/p>\n<p>On the plus side, Spaceflight announced that it\u2019s getting ready for the second of several rideshare launches from New Zealand on Rocket Lab\u2019s Electron rocket. The mission, dubbed \u201cLook Ma, No Hands,\u201d is due to put three satellites into orbit for Spaceflight\u2019s customers during a launch opportunity that opens Aug. 16.<\/p>\n<p>One of the payloads is BlackSky\u2019s Global-4 satellite \u2013 the fourth piece of an Earth observation constellation being assembled by a sibling subsidiary that, like Spaceflight, exists under the wing of Seattle\u2019s Spaceflight Industries.<\/p>\n<p>The other payload arranged by Spaceflight is a pair of nanosatellites that will test new spacecraft technologies including propulsion, power, communications and drag capabilities. The CubeSats, code-named \u201cPearl White,\u201d have been built and will be operated by Tiger Innovations with oversight from the U.S. Air Force Space Command.<\/p>\n<p>Those three satellites will share the Electron with satellites that will be part of a maritime surveillance constellation for the French company Unseenlabs.<\/p>\n<p><iframe id=\"twitter-widget-0\" scrolling=\"no\" frameborder=\"0\" allowtransparency=\"true\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" class=\"\" style=\"position: absolute; visibility: hidden; width: 0px; height: 0px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;\" title=\"X Post\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/embed\/Tweet.html?creatorScreenName=b0yle&amp;dnt=true&amp;embedId=twitter-widget-0&amp;features=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%3D%3D&amp;frame=false&amp;hideCard=false&amp;hideThread=false&amp;id=1158422828305113088&amp;lang=en&amp;origin=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.geekwire.com%2F2019%2Fgood-news-bad-news-seattles-spaceflight-satellite-rideshare-market-heats%2F&amp;sessionId=955407fb1b1bd2d99157f575f7ed76ea68ed0964&amp;siteScreenName=geekwire&amp;theme=light&amp;widgetsVersion=6a3ad42b224df%3A1778106238597&amp;width=550px\" data-tweet-id=\"1158422828305113088\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\" data-twitter-extracted-i1782800188431752527=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">While we&#8217;re at @SmallSat, the team at Launch Complex 1 is gearing up for our next mission. The launch window for our 8th mission, &#8216;Look Ma, No Hands&#8217;, opens on 16 August UTC. Let&#8217;s go to orbit again! https:\/\/t.co\/olXThrj4jR pic.twitter.com\/In2N1Pc4bA<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Rocket Lab (@RocketLab) August 5, 2019<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><script async=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>Spaceflight CEO Curt Blake said he\u2019s looking forward to offering customers \u201ca regular cadence of launches with Rocket Lab,\u201d and referred to other launch providers as well. \u201cHaving multiple launches across different launch vehicles gives our customers the flexibility they need to mitigate risk from potential delays,\u201d Blake said in today\u2019s news release.<\/p>\n<p>In addition to Rocket Lab, Spaceflight\u2019s partners include SpaceX, the European Arianespace consortium and Northrop Grumman as well as the Indian Space Research Organization and India\u2019s state-owned Antrix Corp.<\/p>\n<p>SpaceX\u2019s Falcon 9 has been involved in some of Spaceflight\u2019s most memorable missions, including last December\u2019s 64-satellite launch and February\u2019s landmark launch of an Israeli lunar lander and a geostationary telecom satellite.<\/p>\n<p>However, SpaceX signaled today that it will be taking future rideshare business for itself, without Spaceflight serving as the middleman.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSpaceX is expanding its launch services to directly address the needs of small satellite operators through regularly scheduled, dedicated Falcon 9 rideshare missions,\u201d the company said in a tweet.<\/p>\n<p><iframe id=\"twitter-widget-1\" scrolling=\"no\" frameborder=\"0\" allowtransparency=\"true\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" class=\"\" style=\"position: absolute; visibility: hidden; width: 0px; height: 0px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;\" title=\"X Post\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/embed\/Tweet.html?creatorScreenName=b0yle&amp;dnt=true&amp;embedId=twitter-widget-1&amp;features=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%3D%3D&amp;frame=false&amp;hideCard=false&amp;hideThread=false&amp;id=1158437647280271363&amp;lang=en&amp;origin=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.geekwire.com%2F2019%2Fgood-news-bad-news-seattles-spaceflight-satellite-rideshare-market-heats%2F&amp;sessionId=955407fb1b1bd2d99157f575f7ed76ea68ed0964&amp;siteScreenName=geekwire&amp;theme=light&amp;widgetsVersion=6a3ad42b224df%3A1778106238597&amp;width=550px\" data-tweet-id=\"1158437647280271363\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\" data-twitter-extracted-i1782800188431752527=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">SpaceX is expanding its launch services to directly address the needs of small satellite operators through regularly scheduled, dedicated Falcon 9 rideshare missions \u2192 https:\/\/t.co\/jqQxEdt4xp pic.twitter.com\/3gzOPxdVkW<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 SpaceX (@SpaceX) August 5, 2019<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><script async=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>The SmallSat Rideshare Program will offer launches to sun-synchronous orbit \u2013 one of Spaceflight\u2019s sweet spots \u2013 for as low as $2.25 million per mission for up to 150 kilograms (330 pounds) of payload, SpaceX said on its website. The first three such missions are set for the 2020-2021 time frame, for early 2022 and early 2023.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cUnlike traditional rideshare opportunities, these missions will not be dependent on a primary,\u201d SpaceX said. \u201cThese missions will be pre-scheduled and will not be held up by delays with co-passengers.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>If payload developers have to miss a launch due to development or production challenges, SpaceX said it would let them put the money they\u2019ve paid for that launch toward a future mission. \u201cRebooking fees may apply,\u201d the company added.<\/p>\n<p>Spaceflight\u2019s 64-satellite mission, known as the SmallSat Express or SSO-A, illustrated how herding together lots of co-passengers can present a challenge. The SmallSat Express was originally set for 2017, but had to be rescheduled not only due to payload issues but also due to SpaceX\u2019s shifting launch schedule.<\/p>\n<p>SpaceX appears to be banking on regular supply and demand for payload traffic, just as bus operators and airlines bank on enough business to keep their vehicles sufficiently full on a regular schedule. Much of the baseline demand may well come from SpaceX\u2019s own Starlink deployment effort, which aims to put thousands of broadband satellites in low Earth orbit.<\/p>\n<p>In an interview with GeekWire last year, Blake said bus service is an apt analogy for the Falcon 9\u2019s role in Spaceflight\u2019s rideshare business, while Rocket Lab\u2019s smaller Electron rocket is more like a taxi.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIf a lot of people want to go from Kirkland to downtown Seattle [and] they all want to go at 7:30 in the morning so they can get to work, the bus is a great solution to that. If you want to go somewhere at a time when not everybody wants to go, or if you want to go someplace that not many people want to go to \u2026 then you\u2019re better off going in a taxi,\u201d Blake said at the time.<\/p>\n<p>In a statement emailed to GeekWire after SpaceX\u2019s announcement, Spaceflight suggested that it would be putting more of its passengers on taxis rather than buses. \u201cBased on Spaceflight\u2019s experience, providing rideshare services on small- and medium-sized launch vehicles is becoming a better fit for its customers\u2019 needs,\u201d the company said.<\/p>\n<p>Meanwhile, Arianespace said it would be getting into the rideshare business starting in early 2022. Its \u201cGO-1\u201d service will use next-generation Ariane 64 heavy-lift rockets to put assortments of small satellites into geosynchronous equatorial orbit, or GEO.<\/p>\n<p><iframe id=\"twitter-widget-2\" scrolling=\"no\" frameborder=\"0\" allowtransparency=\"true\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" class=\"\" style=\"position: absolute; visibility: hidden; width: 0px; height: 0px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;\" title=\"X Post\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/embed\/Tweet.html?creatorScreenName=b0yle&amp;dnt=true&amp;embedId=twitter-widget-2&amp;features=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%3D%3D&amp;frame=false&amp;hideCard=false&amp;hideThread=false&amp;id=1158444083045646336&amp;lang=en&amp;origin=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.geekwire.com%2F2019%2Fgood-news-bad-news-seattles-spaceflight-satellite-rideshare-market-heats%2F&amp;sessionId=955407fb1b1bd2d99157f575f7ed76ea68ed0964&amp;siteScreenName=geekwire&amp;theme=light&amp;widgetsVersion=6a3ad42b224df%3A1778106238597&amp;width=550px\" data-tweet-id=\"1158444083045646336\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\" data-twitter-extracted-i1782800188431752527=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">#Arianespace\u2019s \u201cGO-1\u201d mission will provide small satellites with a direct flight to geostationary orbit. Read the press release: https:\/\/t.co\/Oshv8pKRy9 pic.twitter.com\/r3NqUMpanW<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Arianespace (@Arianespace) August 5, 2019<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><script async=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>Slots on a launch from Arianespace\u2019s launch pad in French Guiana could be purchased as late as six months before liftoff, Arianespace said.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cUntil now, there has been no convenient, predictable, affordable path to GEO for small satellites. But with the Ariane 64 coming online and the GO-1 mission, we\u2019ve engineered a solution that will pave the way for a smallsat revolution in geostationary orbit,\u201d Arianespace CEO St\u00e9phane Isra\u00ebl said in today\u2019s news release.<\/p>\n<p>Isra\u00ebl made it sound as if GO-1 would puts the Ariane 64 into use as the analog of a big airport shuttle, hanging around to pick up passengers and then lifting them into high orbit when the slots fill up.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhile most of such launches depend on a lead customer who could delay the flight, the GO-1 mission will follow a specific schedule \u2013 offering to each customer and to each satellite a \u2018place of honor\u2019 aboard this flight, which will lift off once the targeted payload capacity is booked,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>An artist\u2019s conception shows a future SpaceX rocket deploying a satellite carrier in orbit. (SpaceX Illustration) Seattle-based Spaceflight has made a name for itself by putting together bunches of small satellites for launch on someone else\u2019s rockets, but now the owners of some of those rockets are aiming to take the business for themselves. The [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[498,2128,544,442,508,2340,2341,316],"class_list":["post-17970","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news","tag-arianespace","tag-blacksky-global","tag-rocket-lab","tag-satellites","tag-smallsat","tag-spaceflight","tag-spaceflight-industries","tag-spacex"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17970"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=17970"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17970\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=17970"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=17970"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=17970"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}