Aerospace and Defense Review : News

After multiple delays and nuisances, Boeing and SpaceX were finally able to get back on track with their respective missions for unmanned flights to the International Space Station. For the U.S. government, the success of these private companies is even more critical than for the companies themselves, as it would finally end their dependence on the Russian Soyuz Capsule for launch. As the deadline set by the Trump administration to relaunch Man on Moon comes closer, private companies have begun speeding up their tests and missions to keep the promises made to NASA and the U.S. government. After multiple delays and nuisances, Boeing and SpaceX were finally able to get back on track with their respective missions for unmanned flights to the International Space Station . For the U.S. government, the success of these private companies is even more critical than for the companies themselves, as it would finally end their dependence on the Russian Soyuz Capsule for launch. Boeing's unpiloted CST - 100 Starliner Capsule has been scheduled for launch to the International Space Station on December 17, 2019. The mission, titled Orbital Flight Test (OFT) , will see the Starliner Capsule launch from the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station on an Atlas V rocket and dock with the International Space Station for a week before making a parachute assisted landing at the White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico. Earlier in July 2018, Boeing had reported an anomaly with one of the pad abort engines on the Starliner Capsule, putting it way behind schedule. The launch, which was then scheduled for March 2019, was delayed further due to a conflict of launch schedule with the Atlas V. Although NASA believes these delays have allowed more time for testing and safety reviews, the mission has been long overdue and is still behind schedule in comparison to the progress made by Elon Musk owned SpaceX. Before sending it on its first mission, Boeing will test the Starliner Capsule's in-flight abort system, scheduled for November 4, 2019. This test will determine the capsule's ability to return the astronauts to safety in the case of an emergency on the launch pad or during the spacecraft's ascent. At the same time, SpaceX is also preparing for its first in-flight abort test of the Crew Dragon Spacecraft , commissioned by NASA to fly astronauts to and from the International Space Station. According to SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, the Crew Dragon Spacecraft should be ready for its in-flight abort test by late November or early December. Unlike Boeing's Starliner, which is yet to reach orbit, SpaceX has been successful in launching its Crew Dragon spacecraft to the International Space Station on its first uncrewed mission earlier in March. ...Read more

The SDA was set up in March 2019, under the office of the Undersecretary of Defense for Research and Engineering Mike Griffin, who had argued that a separate agency was necessary to help bring lower-cost commercial space technology into the military systems. The recently set up Space Development Agency (SDA) under The Pentagon proposed a USD 11 billion budget for five years. The SDA intends to use this funding to plan, design, and deploy large constellations of satellites for military use between 2021 to 2025. The majority of the funding will be used towards building 250 satellites or larger communications networks that would support a missile defense constellation and other capabilities provided by satellites in low orbits. The proposed budget also explains how SDA intends to coordinate space projects across the U.S. military, preempting criticism that the agency plans to seize space programs from the Air Force and other organizations. The massive proposed budget can be split into two stages according to the SDA; USD 582 million in baseline funding towards studies and roadmaps, and USD 10.6 billion for research, development, prototyping, testing, and deployment of satellite constellations , which the SDA calls 'layers'. As per the draft, the majority of the funding would flow in during the fiscal years 2024 and 2025. The total split across five years in the budget is proposed at USD 259 million in 2021, USD 1.08 billion in 2022, USD 1.92 billion in 2023, USD 3.67 billion in 2024, and USD 3.68 billion in 2025. The SDA was set up in March 2019, under the office of the Undersecretary of Defense for Research and Engineering Mike Griffin, who had argued that a separate agency was necessary to help bring lower-cost commercial space technology into the military systems. For the 2020 budget, The Pentagon had requested nearly USD 150 million to get SDA off the ground; USD 44.7 million for personnel, USD 20 million for space research and development , and USD 85 million for space technology prototyping. Although the Senate Appropriations Committee had approved the request, the House appropriators were less supportive and voiced concerns that SDA will duplicate existing Air Force programs. As a result, the House Appropriations Committee cut the personnel funding request to USD 26.8 million, and the prototyping technology request to USD 35 million, fully funding only the Research and Development request of USD 20 million. With the Congress yet to pass a full-year budget, SDA still doesn’t know how much money it will receive in 2020. ...Read more

Currently, Relativity Space is building the world's first autonomous rocket factory and launch services for satellites. The company was founded in 2015 to become the first company in the world to launch an entirely 3D printed rocket to orbit and enter commercial service by early 2021. Los Angeles based Relativity Space raised USD 140 million in a Series C funding round led by Bond and Tribe Capital. The Series C round included participation from Lee Fixel, Michael Ovitz, Spencer Rascoff, Republic Labs, and Jared Leto, and current investors Playground Global, Y Combinator, Social Capital, and Mark Cuban. Currently, Relativity Space is building the world's first autonomous rocket factory and launch services for satellites. The company was founded in 2015 to become the first company in the world to launch an entirely 3D printed rocket to orbit and enter commercial service by early 2021. Since closing Series B funding in March 2018, the company has achieved critical milestones across product development, government partnerships, and business momentum. "Relativity was founded with the long term vision of 3D printing the first rocket made on Mars and expanding the possibilities for human experience in our lifetime. With the close of our Series C funding, we are now one step closer to that vision by being fully funded to launch Terran 1 to orbit as the world's first entirely 3D printed rocket," said Tim Ellis, Co-founder, and CEO of Relativity Space. "Bond and Tribe are unrivaled partners in leading this funding round, and we are excited to build this important future together with our entire team." Known for reinventing common trends, the company revolutionized both rocket and manufacturing value chain soon after its launch. The Stargate factory, currently under development, will be the first and only aerospace factory to integrate machine learning, software, and robotics with metal 3D printing technology . This will enable the company to build and launch rockets within days instead of years. Relativity's Terran 1, developed under 60 days with a payload capacity of 1250 kg, has now been upgraded to a 3-meter payload firing and two times more volume than before. "We are excited to complete the development of Terran 1, providing an entirely new value chain for our customers. As we build Terran 1, we will continue to expand the Stargate factory, achieving another milestone towards our long term vision," said Jordan Noone, Cofounder more and CTO of Relativity Space. The company developed its Stargate factory to expand print production by four times. They have also invested in the development of several next-generation Stargate 3D printers with optimized controls and software, which improve scalability and adaptability towards evolving customer needs. Check This Out: Social Media:  Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Linkedin        CIOReview  |  Crunchbase CIOReview  |  Review   ...Read more