Isotropic Systems has had a series of announcements in pursuit of a better standard of compatibility across communications. With ST Engineering iDirect, Teledyne, and Spacebridge collaborations already under their belt, they plan to simplify communication flexibility even further in mission-critical fields. Brian Billman, Chief Marketing Officer explains Isotropic Systems’ approach.

The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) is in the final stages of calibrating its science instruments, having already completed its million-mile journey to the second Lagrange (L2) point where it will orbit for the next 5 to 10 years. Launched on December 25, 2021, aboard an Arianespace Ariane5 rocket, JWST has deployed its sunshield and mirror, cooled, and aligned its telescope, and tested its ability to track a nearby object. Just weeks from now, JWST will be transmitting images and spectra that will alter our understanding of the universe.

The combined market cap of the top five Prime contractors in the US is close to US$500 billion which provides some idea of just how big their environmental footprint is. All five companies—Lockheed Martin, Raytheon Technologies, Boeing, Northrop Grumman, and General Dynamics—currently have environmental stewardship and social responsibility woven into their business practices. What’s more, they provide the world with a detailed overview of their accomplishments and long-term goals on a yearly basis in the form of an annual Sustainability or Environmental, Social, Governance (ESG) report. We share some of the highlights from the 2021 reports and invite you to take a close look at them on our website.

Stratasys, one of the world’s largest 3-D printing companies, is providing baseline material qualification data for Antero 840CN03 filament materials. These materials offer the strength as well as the heat and chemical resistance necessary for additively manufactured parts such as those fabricated for the Orion Crew Module space capsule designed and built by Lockheed Martin. Foster Ferguson, Director of Aerospace for Stratasys, explains how this project impacts future satellite and spacecraft manufacturing efforts.

ST Engineering iDirect is a seasoned developer of communications technology who was present at MilSatCom 2021 to engage with defense agencies in the interest of providing the best in secure communications. We spoke to, Dave Davis, the company’s Global Government Technical Director about how they plan to respond to the evolving requirements of cyber-integrated warfare and keep communications reliable.

Military organizations invested heavily in technology and supporting software to manage weapons platforms and in-house IT infrastructure; however, data collection, analytics and execution have so far fallen behind the digital curve. It is this digital thread for data-driven equipment, logistics, and support that will develop and drive change in 2022—with serviced equipment support up by 10 percent, a four-fold increase in naval digitization, and sustainment of unmanned systems that are set to grow in usage by one-third.

Several key elements are driving C4ISR capabilities forward in today’s ever evolving and increasingly complex battlespace. They include spectrum and platform availability, the use of secure frequencies, and increased reliance on unmanned platforms.

Despite popular opinion around the space projects being somewhat lacklustre given the weight of environmental concerns on Earth, there exists a healthy potential for supporting a greener planet with off-world resources, specifically the Moon’s Helium-3 reserves. Such futuristic concepts seem far beyond our time, but some developers are already working on establishing these realities today.

Kacific (www.kacific.com) provides high-quality broadband access to the Pacific and Southeast Asia at a cost that is affordable for customers in remote rural and suburban areas. Recognized as the Satellite Project of the Year at the Global Carrier Awards 2021, Kacific’s COVID-19 Response project enabled the installation of more than 200 terminals in Timor-Leste, Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu, the Solomon Islands, the Philippines, and Tonga. We reached out to CEO Christian Patouraux to learn more about how delivering reliable connectivity to underserved areas helps people and saves lives.

Kea Aerospace offers a more sensible alternative in perpetual, solar-powered High Altitude Pseudo-Satellite (HAPS) craft. From Christchurch, New Zealand, they support the Oceanic space ecosystem with data gathering and imaging technology, delivering for monitoring and disaster prevention business cases with a sustainable operation. Mark Rocket, Chief Executive Officer & Company Director explained more about the company’s disruptive potential.

Astroscale is a leading developer of several space sustainability technologies, including the ELSA-d experiment, which illustrated the successful location and de-orbit of a derelict object in Earth’s orbit. With expansion in mind, the company has recently obtained several grants from Japan and ESA and is now positioned to be a market leader in the deorbiting economy. Chris Blackerby, Chief Operating Officer, explains the company’s progress.

Leanspace is a software-as-a-service platform that aims to lower barriers to entry for new players in the space economy by handling their upfront digital spending while allowing clients ownership of the toolsets that are custom-developed for their use-case. With so many providers promising one-stop-shop solutions, and cynicism from industry commentators, Alvaro Alonso Ruiz, Co-Founder & CCO explains how Leanspace circles the square to grow the NewSpace market.