European Space Agency Seeks Possibility of SpaceX Launching

 In Reuters:

Exclusive: Europe eyes Musk's SpaceX to bridge launch gap left by Russia tensions

By Tim Hepher and Joey Roulette

PARIS, Aug 12 (Reuters) - The European Space Agency (ESA) has begun preliminary technical discussions with Elon Musk's SpaceX that could lead to the temporary use of its launchers after the Ukraine conflict blocked Western access to Russia's Soyuz rockets.

The private American competitor to Europe's Arianespace has emerged as a key contender to plug a temporary gap alongside Japan and India, but final decisions depend on the still unresolved timetable for Europe's delayed Ariane 6 rocket.   ... '

Test of a European Space Brain

Are we extending to the stars?

 First Test of Europe's Space Brain

European Space Agency, in CACM, July 28, 2021

The European Space Agency (ESA) operated a spacecraft successfully using a next-generation mission control system. Current missions are being converted to the European Ground System-Common Core (EGS-CC), which will function as the "brain" of all European spaceflight operations by 2025. Freely available to all European entities, the EGS-CC was used to monitor and control ESA's OPS-SAT Space Lab, a 30-centimeter (12-inch) satellite created to test and validate new mission control techniques and on-board systems. OPS-SAT mission manager Dave Evans said during the test, ESA's European Space Operations Center used the software to send routine commands to the spacecraft and to receive data from the mission. EGOS-CC project manager Klara Widegard said, “This has been a hugely successful validation of this new versatile control system, demonstrating the exciting future of mission control technologies and Europe’s leading position in space.”

Reprogrammable Satellite Launched, is it Hackable?

Had know about this for a while.  'Reprogrammable' Satellite the European Space Agency said.   I also saw a number of the big time security wags were quick to call it 'Hackable'.    Is it?    Have they proven that or is this in the sense that anything is hackable?  The Hubble Space Telescope was just successfully reprogrammed to make it work again.   Was that a 'hack', or just a successful update of the code?  I personally like to say it had the permission of the original designers.  Could have been planned, but not necessarily so.   Can be 'completely repurposed'  they say, but I would guess they are using much of the telecom code. Its not all a hack as they say.  So lets not give the hackers the whole definition, they don't deserve it. 

Reprogrammable satellite launched

ESA / Applications / Telecommunications & Integrated Applications  in ESA

A sophisticated telecommunications satellite that can be completely repurposed while in space has launched.

Developed under an ESA Partnership Project with satellite operator Eutelsat and prime manufacturer Airbus, Eutelsat Quantum has pioneered a new generation of satellites with the European space industry.

The flexible software-defined satellite – which will be used by governments and in mobility and data markets – was launched on board an Ariane 5 on 30 July from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana.

It has since reached geostationary orbit some 36 000 km above Earth, where the spacecraft systems checkout was successfully completed.

Because the satellite can be reprogrammed in orbit, it can respond to changing demands during its lifetime.

Its beams can be redirected to move in almost real time to provide information to passengers on board moving ships, planes, trucks, lorries and other land-based transport. The beams also can be easily adjusted to deliver more data when demand surges.

The satellite can detect and characterize any rogue emissions, enabling it to respond dynamically to accidental interference or intentional jamming.

The satellite will remain in geostationary orbit for its 15-year lifespan, after which it will be safely placed in a graveyard orbit away from Earth to avoid becoming a risk to other satellites.

Eutelsat Quantum is a UK flagship project with most of the satellite developed and manufactured by British industry. Airbus is the prime contractor and was responsible for building the satellite’s innovative payload, while Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd manufactured the new platform. The innovative phase array antenna was developed by Airbus in Spain.  ... ' 

Need for More than Autonomy

Fascinating piece on installing better integration of business process and discovery into devices and systems we build.   Then driving the autonomy with interim findings.   It like building creativity into that process with being better aware of goals and resources.  Can we use this same thing in business? I think we can.

To make Curiosity (et al.) more curious, NASA and ESA smarten up AI in space   ... The future of deep-space exploration? "We can't deal with it without autonomy.”
 By Jacek Krywko    ...