The contract secured by Skyrora, Viasat, and CGI, was awarded under the Commercial Space Transportation Services to demonstrate a space-based launch relay system.
InRange, the space-based launch vehicle telemetry relay system, will benefit launch vehicle providers across the industry globally.
The new system will allow Skyrora to attain constant transmission of telemetry data from launch to payload deployment.
Demonstrating InRange’s connectivity
The collaboration will focus on Skyrora’s suborbital Skylark L launch vehicle to demonstrate the connectivity of InRange over Viasat’s ELERA L-band satellite communication networks.
Initially, Viasat will conduct ground testing of the space-based launch relay system with Skyrora’s launch vehicle system.
CGI will then complete a market study and analysis of ground stations to find out the commercial potential of the solution within the wider launch service provider market.
Volodymyr Levykin, CEO and Founder of Skyrora, said: “This partnership between Skyrora, Viasat, and CGI is a testament to the critical relationships and collaboration between space tech companies that ensures safe access to and activity in space.
“With the development of the InRange telemetry system it is much less likely that the challenges around recording and transmitting the readings of launch vehicles will occur.”
Supporting the UK’s launch capabilities
The project is an extension of Skyrora’s existing contract with the European Space Agency through the Boost! Commercial Space Transportation Services Support Programme.
The contract has provided Skyrora with €3m to support the development of the company’s orbital XL vehicle, a three stage, light class launch vehicle.
Matt Archer, Director of Launch at the UK Space Agency, stated: “To make the UK Europe’s leading provider of small satellite launch by 2030, it’s essential that we continue to support new technologies that will enhance our launch capabilities and provide satellite companies around the world with innovative solutions that will attract them to the UK.”
Advantages of the InRange solution
The launch vehicle telemetry relay system will leverage geostationary satellites, going beyond the utilisation of traditional ground stations which are limited to connecting with a launch vehicle past the horizon line.
This will allow the continuous data transmission between the launch vehicle and the service provider during the flight.
InRange, therefore, will address a key issue for launch vehicle providers.
Gary Lay, Vice President of Viasat’s Strategic Programmes, said: “InRange is ideally suited to providing launch operators around the world with greater flexibility and reliability for their launch telemetry, and this connectivity is critical in the rapidly growing launch sector.
“Launch is a major UK strategic initiative, and we are proud to see InRange becoming an indispensable cog in this launch capability.”
