Similar to the American West in the 1800s when buffalo, beaver, and salmon were nearly hunted to extinction, our foray into the final frontier is basically lawless. Human nature being what it is, the likelihood of our industry going a step too far before we reverse any damage caused is strong. There is the issue of space debris and the threat of the Kessler effect which, although much ballyhooed, is nowhere near to being solved.
Then there’s the threat to Earth’s fragile stratosphere caused by emissions and waste from rockets and satellites. At present, there are no binding global regulations in place to mitigate what a growing number of scientists believe to be potentially life-threatening consequences. SpaceX, which launches the most rockets and satellites, is often cited as the worst offender. According to the US Public Interest Research Group (PIRG), “SpaceX’s rocket fuels produce black carbon, soot, and other pollutants that can trap heat and even threaten our ozone layer. The planned rocket launches to maintain the proposed satellite mega-constellations will release soot in the atmosphere equivalent to seven million diesel dump trucks circling the globe each year.” What’s more, the company’s Starlink aluminum satellites will release alumina into our atmosphere once they are decommissioned every three to five years. Alumina, or aluminum oxide, also depletes the ozone layer.
Of course, SpaceX is not the only offender. There are similar consequences associated with each and every spacecraft. With the space economy predicted to become a US$1 trillion industry by 2030, the problem is destined to intensify, and quickly. Although we do not know definitively how much damage will be wreaked, a study published in 2022 by the Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences at the University of Colorado Boulder claims that if the rate of rocket launches increased by a factor of 10, their emissions could cause temperatures in parts of the stratosphere to rise as much as two degrees Celsius and degrade the ozone over most of North America, all of Europe, and a chunk of Asia.
Satellites have improved daily life on Earth in so many ways and more lifeenhancing innovation will emerge. Space exploration, space-based science, and space-based defense are necessary for civilization to evolve and thrive. No one wants to halt progress, but addressing the harmful by-products of this industry is an absolute must and not something to be postponed. In the words of Benjamin Franklin, “Don’t put off until tomorrow what you can do today.”
In this issue of Satellite Evolution Global, Greg Caicedo, Vice President of Space Domain Awareness and Space Superiority at Kratos explains how the company’s technology protects space assets and adds value beyond traditional radar and optical systems. Roly Rigual, Comtech’s Executive Vice President of Business Development and Sales, talks about emerging industry initiatives and Comtech’s strategy to align with those priorities. We also sit down with Brad Bergan, author of SpaceX: Elon Musk and the Final Frontier, who reveals how and why he put this must-read chronicle together. In addition, Will Mudge, Chief Technology Officer at Speedcast writes about the role of satellite and software-defined networks in disaster response. Rasmus Hasle, R&D Director for Quadsat provides insight into testing antennas in new environments and Paul Kostek, Principal Systems Engineer at Air Direct Solutions, advises on safeguarding space systems against emerging cyber threats.
Crispin Littlehales, Executive Editor
Photo courtesy Kratos
Executive Q&A
Features & Market Reports
Two National Airlines choose a seamless multi-orbit IFC future with SES Open Orbits™
GLOBAL: SES Open Orbits™ has been selected by Thai Airways and Turkish Airlines to equip aircraft across their fleets with cutting-edge in-flight connectivity (IFC) solutions, supporting both linefit and retrofit installations.
These new IFC services are delivered by SES along with one of its key SES Open Orbits™ connectivity service partners, Neo Space Group (NSG), a PIF-owned company and Saudi Arabia’s leading commercial satellite services provider who will bring their Skywaves® solution to the passengers.
SES Open Orbits™, offering seamless connectivity across the skies with internet speeds up to 300 Mbps, will be available on all production airframes. It is the first multiorbit Ka band network in Airbus’ HBCplus Programme and is available on Boeing aircraft through Safran Passenger Innovations AeroConnect terminals.
Thai Airways, the national carrier of Thailand, will become the first airline in Southeast Asia using the SES
Open Orbits™ network to offer Free Wi-Fi streaming to business class and Orchid Plus guests. The installations include Thai Airways future A321NX and B777 aircraft. Turkish Airlines is set to integrate the SES Open Orbits™ network into its inflight connectivity services on its brand new A350 fleet.
Launched earlier this year, SES Open Orbits™ is a fully interoperable Ka-band platform that supports an open architecture network where traffic can be intelligently steered across the satellites of multiple parties for a seamless connected airline passenger experience. All aircraft equipped with the SES Open Orbits™ network are supported by ThinKom’s ThinAir Ka2517 Antenna, which offers all-orbit operation with high beam agility, delivering exceptional network flexibility and consistently high performance. ThinAir Ka2517 seamlessly connects across GEO and NGSO satellite constellations with optimal performance metrics for airlines around the world.
“We are thrilled to partner with leading airlines such as Thai Airways and Turkish Airlines to showcase the power and flexibility of our multi-orbit IFC solutions. Supported by the SES Open Orbits™ network, our tailored connectivity solutions and unparalleled digital services will play a critical role in transforming and enhancing our customers’ passenger experience, setting airlines apart in the highly competitive aviation industry,” said Martijn Blanken, CEO of NSG.
Photo courtesy SES
Marlink to deploy Sealink NextGen hybrid solution on 26 tankers for Transpetro
SOUTH AMERICA: Marlink will supply its Sealink NextGen network solution for Brazil’s biggest crude and product tanker operator, Transpetro.
The hybrid solution includes Marlink’s global VSAT integrated to the high throughput, low latency Starlink solution together with MSS as back-up. The installation will include Marlink’s XChange network management platform to enable software-defined application routing, WiFi and VoIP services as well as secure crew access onboard.
All services will be monitored and managed by Transpetro using a Marlink customer portal with corporate traffic routed to Transpetro HQ using a virtual private network. The installation process is scheduled to start in October on multiple vessels with completion estimated in first quarter of 2025.
Marlink won a public tender process to equip the Transpetro fleet and will provide network solutions and managed services. The integration will enable Transpetro to take advantage of digital possibilities including collaborative workflow and voyage optimisation tools, online training resources and remote maintenance.
The contract win follows continued expansion of
operations by Marlink in South America as it responds to a strong energy market and growing demand for managed, integrated solutions from vessel owners and operators. Marlink is establishing a dedicated Regional Customer Support team in Brazil, to work alongside existing specialist support from local partners. Additional Marlink administrative staff will also be added to the local team to support finance and billing operations. These initiatives are in line with the Marlink strategy to decentralize front line support to be closer to our customers.
“Transpetro recognises that efficient and compliant vessel operations require a new approach to onboard network solutions,” said André Pereira, Telecom and IT Project Manager, Transpetro. “Combining Starlink LEO services for our crew with high quality VSAT solutions provides the platform for our digital fleet strategy.”
Photo courtesy of Transpetro
Space domain awareness
24/7
Space is becoming ever more congested and contested, making space domain awareness (SDA) essential for mission success. Kratos has created a global radio frequency (RF) sensor network managed by a network operations center and supported by the company’s state-of-the-art software platform. The RF SDA network operates in all-weather, day-and-night, and provides precise tracking for close space operations, communication signals linking satellites with Earth, and ground infrastructure. We interviewed Greg Caicedo, Vice President of Space Domain Awareness and Space Superiority at Kratos to find out more about how this technology protects space assets and adds additional value beyond traditional radar and optical systems.
Crispin Littlehales, Executive Editor, Satellite Evolution Group
Question: How does your previous experience come into play in your current role as Vice President of Space Domain Awareness and Space Superiority at Kratos?
Greg Caicedo: I’ve got a good mix of background experience that helps me understand what’s happening in the industry and how it applies to our customers. I spent 20 years in the military working primarily as an acquisition officer for the National Reconnaissance Office, Air Force Space Command, and within the Space and Missile System Center. That experience laid the foundation for my understanding of who our customers are, how they operate, and what their needs are. It was all about helping to bring a capability to support missions and address threats.
I’ve been in industry for just about the same amount of time working in space domain awareness and have experience with intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance. I’ve also worked in operations, business development, and now in execution and delivery.
Question: What sets Kratos apart from competitors when it comes to supporting ground and spacecraft users dependent on satellite communications?
Q&A
Greg Caicedo: Kratos has been around for decades, and the company has significant expertise in both signal processing and the RF domains. Developing those capabilities over time and employing people who have a passion for SATCOM, space, and ground capabilities defines who we are. Kratos has developed specific targeted capabilities for satellite communications, space domain awareness, and command and control space-to-ground capabilities.
Over the years, we’ve developed an ability to have commercial products in advance of where we think the customers are headed. We continue to make investments over time and one of those is in what we call OpenSpace. OpenSpace is a completely software-defined ground
Greg Caicedo, Vice President of Space Domain Awareness and Space Superiority at Kratos
system and an evolutionary approach to a digital and virtualized capability. Instead of needing to deploy a bunch of hardware around the world, you can easily spin up a software capability in the cloud, perform your operations, and then tear it down. That means you don’t have as big a footprint or a security vulnerability that can be attacked by an adversary. This approach has changed the way we do business and in the way our customers do business.
Another example is our global RF sensor network. To date, Kratos has deployed more than 190 sensors at 21 different global sites. This allows us to perform RF SDA as a service, as opposed to having our government and commercial customers deploy those systems themselves. We can do data collection, command and control, and electromagnetic interference (EMI) monitoring. There are several different services supported by that network which enable Kratos to be different from its competitors. We are not limited to selling a purposeful capability or end product, we can actually provide a service as well.
Question: Space Domain Awareness is critical to the protection of space assets as well as enhancing the ability to respond to threats. What do you see as SDA’s biggest challenges and how is Kratos addressing them?
Greg Caicedo: We see our adversaries as being much more aggressive. There’s been a militarization of space that we haven’t seen in the past. We are seeing many more spaceborne threats as well as terrestrial threats. These include jamming as well as other ways to interfere with communications. Not only has our military become very dependent on space, but our entire global economy is also dependent on space. Threats are out there, either active or latent, and in the event that there’s conflict, we need to be prepared to generate a response to those threats.
The proliferation of LEO constellations is underway with Starlink being the most obvious example. However, a number of countries are also launching assets in LEO which
makes LEO much more congested and much more contested. Kratos continues to develop multi mission capabilities that can track threats, be they accidental or intentional, to ensure they aren’t creating an environment where it’s impossible to operate.
SATCOM has traditionally been held at the GEO orbit but now we are seeing much more presence in LEO with the MEO region gaining popularity as well. Kratos is adapting OpenSpace to serve all those environments from a single pane of glass where you can do remote operations for multiple orbits and missions. Not only will users be able to move between orbital regimes, but they will also be able to operate in those regimes simultaneously and leverage different capabilities and the benefits inherent to each one.
Question: How do Kratos RF SDA services interact with legacy systems?
Greg Caicedo: The military is slow to change for good reason but also because the acquisition bureaucracy that is in place takes a long time. As a result, they are still operating on a lot of legacy systems. Kratos is ready to support the new capabilities, and we do that primarily in the commercial world, but we also help the military transition to these new capabilities and show them that they are safe and stable. We have the right solutions for them to be able to operate in that transition phase as we continue to support those legacy systems. That includes services through our global sensor network, including EMI and geolocation, that the military can take advantage of now.
There are adversaries that have jammers to prevent communications from happening. Kratos is able to look for quality of service on those links to make sure that people aren’t accidentally pointing their antenna in the wrong place.
By monitoring and revisiting all the different links, the transponders, and the beams on those satellites, we can tell what’s happening. We can also determine if a commercial operator is providing the best service for its customers and thereby maximize their revenue. For the military, we can ensure that they have clean communication links and can perform operations. Kratos monitors all of that for them and identifies where there is interference and also can show where there are good links that they can shift to and if they’ve got some different options on those links. While that’s primarily on GEO satellites, we’re making the transition to LEO and MEO as well.
RF passive ranging is another service that we offer. Kratos is able to give high accuracy positional data to our GEO customers, which allows them to see where they are in relation to other satellites for safety of flight during proximity operations and to understand where there may be another satellite that’s getting close. We don’t look at debris that’s not operating but if a satellite has a signal, whether a command and control or payload signal, we can use that to do a reverse geolocation.
Kratos also does signal survey and characterization. Because we collect free-to-air signals, we can tell what that signal looks like; what frequency band it’s operating; and what modulation type it is when a carrier or terminal is
Photo courtesy of Kratos
up on a particular area of the transponder. We can also tell where it’s operating within that transponder, how long it’s up, and when it’s down. That information is important to establish a pattern of life and normal operations.
We know when something does go wrong or there is some sort of impact. We can also tell how many carriers are on there, what kind of modems they’re using, and all sorts of other things that are important to those who need to understand how to operate within a particular space. While our primary emphasis is on the GEO belt, we are doing some work within LEO and MEO with plans to increase our capacity in those orbits.
Question: Who are some of Kratos’ customers?
Greg Caicedo: We have a good blend of federal and commercial customers. We work with a number of countries that have their own satellites and are their own satellite owner operators. As a result, we perform a number of different services and sell products for telemetry as well as command and control for space domain awareness. We do a lot of business within Europe and in Asia, as well as in the United States.
We support customers on the defense side. For example, we work with the Space Force in both the acquisition and operational as well as testing communities. Space Systems Command (SSC) and the Air Force Research Lab are also major customers, and we work with the intelligence community.
Question: Can you provide a couple of real-world examples of how Kratos’ SDA services and virtualized ground system are being used?
Greg Caicedo: The first example is about tracking SATCOM activities in Ukraine. We were monitoring some of the satellites in that area and we saw a significant uptick in SATCOM usage several weeks before Russia invaded. Then, by monitoring one of the Russian satellites, we were
able to see along the border that there was a three-fold increased usage in that area. We were able to convey that insight to some of our customers as an indication of where some conflict might take place so that they could be prepared.
The other thing that we’ve seen is a significant amount of jamming of SATCOM that the Ukraine military is using for operations. Specifically, every time a Ukrainian general came on the air for a press conference, we would see the adversaries actively jamming that signal, and the jamming signal happened to originate from a Russian Defense Ministry location. Indeed, the Russians have been very obvious about their jamming activities and doing it outside of international norms.
The next example focuses on Luch/Olymp2, a Russian communication relay satellite. Typically, a communication satellite would just sit in a GEO orbital slot and would not necessarily traverse the GEO belt. We tracked the satellite using our RF passive ranging service and could see It move from one orbital slot to another. We tracked it for about two months as it moved from one slot 2 degrees east to 9 degrees east and then we were able to watch it maneuver closely to one of Intelsat’s commercial satellites. The Russian satellite got so close to the commercial satellite that it was inside what is considered safety of flight. You don’t want to come within 100 kilometres of another satellite, and they were within 10 kilometres for a long period of time. That was obviously a very dangerous proximity operations move that the Russian satellite performed.
This situation clearly demonstrates one of the great advantages of using Kratos’ RF global sensor network. We have the ability to monitor these events 24/7 while electro optical sensors and the telescopes on the ground can’t follow it during certain hours. Electro optical needs to operate with darkness so that it can track the light on the satellite. Clever adversaries can actually maneuver during those blackout periods.
Question: How do you see Kratos evolving over the next 1 to 5 years?
Greg Caicedo: Wayne Gretzky once said that he wants to skate to where the puck is going to be, not to where it is. Kratos is also skating to where the puck is going to be. We do that from an investment standpoint. You can see that from how we approached the development of OpenSpace which targets where the market is moving. As the satellite world develops into these more proliferated LEO constellations, the new high throughput satellites (HTS) are reaching orbit. Kratos is positioned to support those customers in this new space world.
We have already started investing in these multimission, multi-orbit applications. These HTS satellites also have many smaller, more concentrated beams on the globe, so we’ve enhanced our edge capabilities to make it more cost efficient and safer to deploy out to those edge nodes. That’s where I see Kratos being able to really help the market evolve into this new world where we’ve got the ability to support those customers from an RF, a command and control, and a space domain awareness mission area.
Photo courtesy of Kratos
Safeguarding space systems against emerging cyber threats
Satellite communications are now considered critical national infrastructure (CNI) and vital to global security and economic stability. As cyberattacks grow more sophisticated and threat actors become more nefarious in their methods, managing commercial space operations and understanding the security protocols required to defend them has never been more important.
Paul Kostek, IEEE senior member and principal systems engineer at Air Direct Solutions LLC
Areport from the Ethics + Emerging Sciences Group recently confirmed that cyberattacks against CNI in space pose a serious issue. The report called for more proactive security planning to mitigate emerging threats. With the number of registered space objects and satellites increasing annually – an average of 2,600 objects were launched into space between 2022 and 2023 – threat actors are presented with an ever-expanding attack surface.
The Ethics + Emerging Sciences Group urged CNI leaders to review their security systems and to better understand the current cybersecurity threats to low-earth orbit (LEO) satellites to avoid nationwide disruption. This
way, organizations will have a better idea of how to defend these critical assets.
NEW ATTACK METHODS CAUSING NATIONWIDE DISRUPTION
CrowdStrike’s well-documented outage caused disruption across industries such as healthcare, travel and global commerce. It was reported that over 1000 flights were cancelled due to the outage, as well as significant delays with airfreight shipments of fresh and perishable food items, affecting product availability and increasing the likelihood of waste.
This raised concerns about the potential impact if bad actors intentionally set out to cause the same failures to vital services. Consider the recent cyberattack against the NHS, where employees were unable to use Electronic Medical Information Systems (EMIS), causing significant interruption to the management of appointments and patient records, even bringing some pharmacy prescriptions to a halt.
NAVIGATING THE NEW CYBERSECURITY FRONTIER
As the number of satellite constellations increases, so will the number of potential entry points for threat actors. This introduces the possibility of network hijacking. If GPS satellites were taken offline or if their data were corrupted, the effects on commerce, aviation (both commercial and military), and our daily lives would be significant.
The risks grow further as space operations evolve from being government-exclusive to involving commercial operators. While launch vehicles are inspected before being approved for use, payloads are only required to meet physical and environmental standards such as weight, power, and temperature. There are currently no cybersecurity mandates. This leaves them vulnerable to various attack vectors, including electromagnetic interference (EMI), spoofing, jamming, or total loss of control.
Payload designers must take a comprehensive approach to end-to-end design to prevent operational disruption and incorporate cybersecurity from the outset. Given the increasing number of commercial systems in space, addressing cybersecurity post-design is no longer
Paul Kostek, IEEE senior member and principal systems engineer at Air Direct Solutions LLC
Photo courtesy of Air Direct Solutions LLC
viable. Ground stations and Internet of Things (IoT) devices, which are often managed by third-party operators, also present additional entry points to cyber attackers.
In fact, as hacking was not previously considered a significant threat, many older satellites lack the necessary security measures. There was an incident in 1998, where cyber attackers took control of ROSAT, a German X-ray satellite’s imaging sensor, aiming its solar panels directly at the sun rendering the satellite inoperable. However, with the upcoming launch of nine new GPS satellites, costing US$5.5 billion each, cybersecurity is now essential for their protection. Even lower-cost communication satellites must be secure by design from the offset.
In theory, threat actors could damage or disrupt strategic services and crucial data, or even leverage compromised space assets to support ‘hybrid’ attacks against other vital services and organizations. The more nefarious cyberattacks could take control of a compromised ground station or facilities to interfere with a satellite’s command-and-control communication, enabling them to steal valuable information.
SCENARIO MAPPING AND MITIGATION PLANNING
Alongside risk assessments, which are carried out at the beginning of the design process, security protocols must also be defined clearly from the start. This is the best time to map out potential scenarios and establish clear mitigation strategies and also determine whether the risk justifies the cost of protection. Identifying access points and limiting exposure should also be a priority.
Looking ahead, more adept hardware and software security solutions are needed. Cybersecurity must be integrated during the development phase for satellites. Attacks could range from physical collisions intended to destroy vehicles to hijacking a satellite’s control systems to move it out of orbit or jam its signals. Any satellites
lacking strong security mechanisms could potentially be weaponized and used against other satellites to trigger further disruption to vital services. Equally, as satellites become more and more connected, their wider network and protocol software will become a bigger target.
Satellite maintenance presents a security risk as well since physical connections for refueling or software updates can serve as entry points for hostile actors. Encrypted software will be critical to securing these connections.
In each case, it’s important to evaluate satellite replacement and launch costs, alongside the availability of spare satellites or reconfiguration strategies. Security solutions must also align with a satellite’s lifespan –whether it’s a short-term asset (five years or less) or a longterm satellite, like those in the GPS constellation.
FUTURE SPACE CYBERSECURITY – A BLUEPRINT
We must also consider the possibility that conflicts on Earth could extend into space. Military activities would suffer greatly if communications, surveillance, or navigation satellites were blocked. As space becomes more accessible to businesses, universities, and emerging space nations for commercial opportunities, it also opens the door to new forms of criminal activity, creating fresh vulnerabilities.
Prioritizing cybersecurity for all deployed payloads and ground stations is essential. A robust, multilayered security strategy should include encryption to safeguard IP and data transmission between satellites and ground stations, network segmentation via private networks (VPNs) to contain attacks, and regular patch management to address vulnerabilities. Additionally, CNI teams must develop comprehensive incident response (IR) plans to ensure realtime, effective action and communication in the event of a cyber incident.
Photo courtesy of Air Direct Solutions LLC
Restoring connectivity in a crisis - the role of satellite and software-defined networks in disaster response
Natural disasters continue to cause widespread devastation across the world. In 2023, there were 398 notable incidents produced – a staggering US$380 billion worth of economic losses – 22 percent greater than the average for this century. In natural disasters, power and communications are among the first services to fail, just when flooding, high-velocity winds, and storm surges make these services critical to survival and recovery. This has a ripple effect on recovery efforts: first responders need uninterrupted communications to coordinate life-saving operations, and a critical outage can severely hamper their efforts.
Will Mudge, Chief Technology Officer at Speedcast
In the Americas alone, there were 28 separate disasters attributed to climate change last year, and this year brings the threat of further incidents. The 2024 Atlantic Hurricane season in the Americas kicked off in June, with early forecasts from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)’s Climate Prediction Center
suggesting an 85 percent chance of “above-normal” activity. Through the end of the season in November, between 17-25 named storms are expected to develop within the region, with as many as 13 likely to be Category One or above.
One such incident, Hurricane Ernesto, became the fifth named storm and third hurricane of the season. Designated Category One, the storm brought maximum sustained winds of 85 mph and 7-9 inches of rain to Bermuda when it made landfall on August 17. As a result, major power outages and flooding were reported in the area, as well as in nearby Puerto Rico. Hurricane Helene raised the bar at the end of September, coming ashore in Florida as a Category Four storm and tearing a path of destruction up through the American Southeast.
PORTABLE, POWER-PACKED SOLUTIONS
When traditional networks go down, satellite-based communication holds the key to effective disaster recovery. That’s why we are seeing increased use of rapiddeploy connectivity kits in disaster-struck regions.
Created to expedite disaster response efforts, these solutions are extremely portable, with all essential components for connectivity fitting into a compact, airlineapproved case. The design of the case is shock-resistant, dustproof, and watertight, safeguarding the equipment against any harsh conditions encountered in the field.
They enable first responders and aid workers to gain immediate, plug-and-play connectivity for voice and/or video, telemedicine, and Internet-of-Things (IoT)
Will Mudge, Chief Technology Officer at Speedcast
Restoring Connectivity
technologies. Responders can stay connected and collaborate effectively, enhancing coordination efforts to save lives in critical situations. Once up and running, additional connectivity options can be added to the kit to bolster reliability – whether it’s integrating cellular networks or other satellite services. Responders can tailor the setup to their needs depending on the conditions they find. The combination of an antenna, network device, and WiFi in an easy-to-carry case makes these the ideal, “on-thego” solution for first responders or remote workers in government or NGOs, especially in situations where time and remaining infrastructure is limited.
GOING ABOVE AND BEYOND
Beyond quick-deploy solutions for first responders, satellite communications and IT service providers are delivering critical restoration services post-disasters. For example, Speedcast was the first business to restore services for the Pacific Island of Tonga in 2022 after a devastating volcanic eruption that damaged the island’s major international fiber cable as well as domestic cables. Speedcast established critical satellite connectivity via Tonga’s major communications company, delivering highcapacity bandwidth to support the island’s restoration efforts.
The rapid response to the incident, which was supported by local in-region teams and coupled with disaster recovery and remote engineering expertise, enabled a quick restoration of services, including banking, just days after the eruption. This helped to minimize the disruption and financial impact of the disaster.
provided critical support for Tonga’s major communications service provider following a volcanic eruption that devastated connectivity in the remote pacific island
THE ROLE OF SOFTWARE-DEFINED NETWORKS
Software-defined networks (SDNs) have come to play a pivotal role in recovery efforts. The unique ability of Software-Defined Wide Area Networks (SD-WAN) to converge multiple networks – GEO, MEO, and LEO satellite, or fiber, microwave, and cellular – into a single WAN is transformative. By integrating multi-path, multi-orbit communication, SD-WAN delivers the necessary connectivity to help responders make a difference right in the heart of the disaster.
Imagine that a hurricane hits a region and takes out the terrestrial service locals depend on. With SD-WAN integrated into the network, this service can be bypassed in favor of the next optical connectivity path or a preinstalled satellite backup. It happens seamlessly and automatically, restoring connectivity almost immediately.
An SDN-based hybrid service also provides an integrated, cost-effective network solution for first responders. The solution’s intelligent routing and link prioritization capabilities automatically identify the most efficient connectivity paths and optimize network traffic. The streamlined user experience means this task can be carried out quickly – a key benefit in disaster recovery efforts when time is of the essence.
FUTURE INNOVATIONS
SDNs can also support preventative projects such as hurricane preparedness efforts. SDN network set-ups can enable tunneling at scale, for example, because they provide secure endpoints for traffic steering and traversing data securely. This tunneling enables secure links and firewalls, mitigating the need for private links to be set up.
As these technologies continue to expand, we will undoubtedly see new SDN services and solutions come to market that are ideal for disaster response and recovery. This will include greater management of the data going through the network and the more granular control and flexibility of services. First responders will be able to use data in the most appropriate way for their operational needs: for example, to fully control both application layer 7 and Wi-Fi management. With each advance, first responders and disaster recovery experts will gain faster deployment, higher capacity, and greater flexibility to match emergency connectivity to the urgent needs of the moment.
‘Starlink Disaster Simulation’: When traditional networks go down, satellite-based communication – and the use of rapid-deploy connectivity kits – holds the key to effective disaster recovery
Speedcast
Roly Rigual, Executive Vice President of Business Development and Sales, Comtech
Comtech doubles down
Comtech is further enhancing its leadership position in the satellite and space communications sector. In addition to moving its headquarters to Chandler, Arizona to accelerate innovation, the company recently launched a new Digital Common Ground modem product line for DoD and coalition customers with additional mission critical solutions soon to be introduced. We sat down with Roly Rigual, Comtech’s Executive Vice President of Business Development and Sales, to find out more about emerging industry initiatives and Comtech’s strategy to align with those priorities.
Crispin Littlehales, Executive Editor, Satellite Evolution Group
Question: You have a strong background in the satellite industry. Can you tell us a bit about your previous experience and what drew you to your current role with Comtech?
Roly Rigual: I got into this industry in 2005 when I took a sales position at iDirect Government. That’s where I first met John Ratigan, Comtech’s CEO. Back then there were just a handful of people on the iDirect federal sales team and over the course of the next two decades we were able to build iDirect Government into the US$100 million market player it is today. Prior to that, I was a sales engineer and technical leader in the terrestrial world. I worked at Sprint/Alcatel Networks for 12 years deploying a lot of the early frame relay, ATM, and IP networks. I also worked for Nortel Networks and Net2000 Communications. I also served in the Marine Reserve in the 1980s as a ground support electrician.
I was drawn to Comtech for several reasons. The company has strong core technologies, smart people, and a long history. John Ratigan has a tremendous reputation across the industry as an incredible trusted leader. With him at the helm and Comtech’s diverse portfolio of solutions, I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to become part of such a capable,
Photo courtesy of Comtech
experienced team. Our industry is going through a transformation and a bit of turmoil right now and I believe that Comtech is uniquely positioned to come out of this disruptive phase stronger than ever before.
Question: Can you provide a bit of detail regarding your role as Executive Vice President of Business Development and Sales?
Roly Rigual: My main job here is to provide a path for growth for the company and to lead the sales and business development team through a period of transformation for the company. The experience that I’ve gained not only in the satellite industry but also in the terrestrial world is particularly useful at present. Economic factors and large technology disruptions that were affecting the terrestrial world years ago are similar to what’s happening now in the satellite industry. During the advent of the internet, the development and deployment of fiber optic backbones and large data networks, coupled with massive regulatory changes, fostered major transformations in the traditional business models of the existing telecommunications carriers. Today we’re grappling with similar factors with the proliferation of new innovative constellations as well as technological advances on the satellites themselves. Our industry needs to adapt to this new environment and my job is to help Comtech navigate through those waters.
Question: What are some of the broader initiatives in the industry you’re paying attention to at the moment and how does Comtech’s strategy align with those priorities?
Roly Rigual: Comtech is paying close attention to what the Department of Defense (DoD) and the Space Force are doing in relation to their commercial space and hybrid communication strategies. We are well aligned to support these initiatives because our emerging digitization technologies can bridge the gap between bespoke military and government networks and commercial networks. Again, we saw a similar cycle on the terrestrial side
when there were large analog backbone systems and telephone switches. The digitization of the telecommunications industry delivered large cost savings. We’ll see the same thing happening with satellite communications where companies will integrate vertically to save costs and compete with some of the new entrants that are disrupting the status quo. Comtech’s Digital Common Ground Architecture will enable the traditional satellite players to more readily compete in both the commercial and defense arenas. For example, the DoD will be able to execute on their desire to be more agile, to deploy new technology more rapidly, and to have interconnectivity.
Being able to digitize large analog chunks of bandwidth delivers a physical advantage as well. You can eliminate some of the existing large L band infrastructure. This not only saves space, but also saves power and that translates to lower operating costs. There is a lot of cost associated with the current legacy infrastructure. Once these analog signals are digitized, data become IP streams that can be moved around. It is then possible to deploy services more rapidly and with fewer people involved.
Of course, the technology behind digital transformation is just part of the picture. In order to fulfill this vision, we need to move towards standardization instead of these bespoke systems. Comtech supports and participates in standards bodies like DIFI and the WAVE consortium. Our work on next-generation technology and on the standards bodies will go a long way towards aligning our solutions with many of the broader initiatives in the industry like digitalization and virtualization.
For example, today if you want to deliver satellite services and capabilities that cover the globe, you have to pre-position hardware and bandwidth which is both costly and time-consuming. With digital architecture in place, you can quickly spin up services in areas of interest. From a defense standpoint, this means that if something were to happen in the South Pacific or in the Middle East or Europe,
Photo courtesy of Comtech
demodulators could be spun up as a service and bandwidth rapidly delivered where it is needed most. That’s something Comtech believes our customers want. Making that happen will require not only product R&D but also the adoption of standards and Comtech is poised to do just that.
Question: Comtech recently announced the relocation of its headquarters from Melville, NY to Chandler, AZ. What makes this move so important?
Roly Rigual: Chandler, Arizona has been the heart of the company for some time. We have a 150,000 square-foot, state-of-the-art and innovation facility there which, in addition to supporting engineering and manufacturing, will now serve as an office to anchor key satellite operations. We already employ several hundred people in Chandler and have deep roots in the community. The area is robust from an economic standpoint and many of our suppliers, particularly semiconductor manufacturers, are in close proximity. What’s more, we have many customers in the area including the DoD, satellite service providers, humanitarian agencies, emergency response agencies, satellite service providers, cruise lines, and some of the largest cellular carriers in the country.
Question: What are some of Comtech’s new product offerings?
Roly Rigual: Comtech has been working on new technologies and new products to support many of the initiatives that we’ve touched upon. For instance, we recently launched our new Digital Common Ground (DCG) modem product line. Built on the proven success of Comtech’s extensive SATCOM modem portfolio, our DCG modems are designed and built to support commercial and government satellite operations on a single common platform that can be reconfigured rapidly to address changing operational needs. Comtech’s DCG portfolio is also designed to evolve over time to incorporate new capabilities and keep pace with the upgrade cycle of new innovative satellite constellations, significantly reducing overall lifecycle costs for customers while also delivering
industry leading performance and efficiency.
Question: What customer challenges are these products addressing?
Roly Rigual: As I mentioned previously, traditional satellite operators are encountering strong economic challenges from disruptors like SpaceX and others. All of a sudden there are lots of satellites in LEO providing tons of bandwidth and challenging current business models with aggressive pricing enabled by vertically integrated companies. That’s why I believe we are seeing – and will continue to see - industry consolidation as companies prepare to compete with new entrants by capturing some economies of scale through vertical integration. Then too, those proprietary bespoke systems require equipment support from multiple vendors and can be technically complicated and expensive. Comtech’s role is to find ways to enable those operators to further reduce costs by speeding up deployment and improving efficiency. Standardized platforms will make it easier for them not only to deploy their terminals but also to reduce the expenses associated with support.
On the user side, the challenges are similar, yet different. Now that we are in the era of peer adversaries, assured communications become a much bigger factor when it comes to defense. There are global actors who could, if they desired, do a lot of disruption to satellite communications, which we all know are an integral part of the US and its allies’ defense strategy. Cyber security is also vital for critical economic infrastructure such as banking, utilities, commerce and more.
Today, users need multi-orbit resiliency because sometimes the best way to avoid interference is to change satellites and orbits. While that’s easy to say, it is quite complex to execute from a technical perspective and that’s where Comtech fits in. We can provide multiple pieces of the puzzle. We have the digital modem side of our business, and we also have the RF side. Our aim is to link them together to offer our customers efficient solutions and bridge that gap from what they have now to where they’re going in the future.
Photo courtesy Shutterstock
Bergan Author of SpaceX: Elon Musk and the Final Frontier
History in the making
Brad Bergan began work on SpaceX: Elon Musk and the Final Frontier during the dark days of the pandemic. The book, which is richly illustrated with images of rocket launches and landings, is an eloquent overview of the ongoing history of space exploration and commercialization from the early days of the space race to Elon Musk’s phenomenal success with SpaceX. We sat down with Bergan to find out how and why he put this must-read chronicle together.
Crispin Littlehales, Executive Editor, Satellite Evolution Group
Question: You have a fascinating background as a writer and executive editor with your work appearing in or on VICE, the National Book Critics Circle, the World Economic Forum, NBC News Business Insider, and more. You also lived in Ho Chi Minh City and founded Sonder Q. What was that all about?
Brad Bergan: I grew up in Iowa City, where the prestigious Iowa Writers’ Workshop was founded. The thing about that town in 2012 is that everybody and their mother wanted to be a writer. I was just starting out and found it hard to focus there and learn the craft in private, with everyone watching. So, I decided to go somewhere where no one would speak my language, and no one would care if I was learning to write. Plus, I wanted some kind of worldly experience. I thought Vietnam might be a lot of fun and affordable for a young bachelor, so I moved to Ho Chi Minh City, also called Saigon. I made my money teaching English as a second language and also founded a magazine called Sonder Q, which was multilingual and multidisciplinary. We published some poetry, fiction, and nonfiction, but mostly photography, which felt like a common language between the different expats and the natives there. After two years, I had published some fiction in the States, so I figured I should go somewhere more literary. I moved to New York.
Question: What prompted you to author SpaceX: Elon Musk and the Final Frontier?
Brad Bergan: The quick answer is that I was approached by a publisher to write books during the pandemic. The longer version is that we don’t live in the best of all possible worlds, and with world events increasingly suggesting that a lot of the grand institutions that Americans used to trust in might not be around forever, I thought it might be useful to look at the entities doing things that might surpass what’s been done by older, more traditional institutions.
In addition, power in the space industry is switching hands, and I wanted to investigate its impact. Many people like to hate Elon Musk. I understand the impulse because we have a finite economy. If one person has abundance, other people won’t have so much. But compared to the global effects of a fossil fuel corporation, SpaceX appears to me almost like a monument to humanistic endeavors.
Question: While researching the book, were there discoveries that you found particularly interesting?
Brad Bergan: Musk is a very loud and larger-than-life character and there are pros and cons to that. But despite public criticisms, his private aerospace firm, SpaceX, has held fast to its mission of putting humans
Brad
on Mars. Even though some of the early estimates of that happening in the mid-2020s are definitely not accurate, and despite SpaceX’s participation in a return to the Moon as part of the Artemis mission with NASA, the company has proven that it’s highly adaptable, very nimble, and laser-focused on getting to Mars. I was surprised to see that when I went past the short memory time horizon and looked at its entire story. I admire how true the firm has been to its mission statement, especially because going to Mars isn’t an immediately profitable idea. It could have been far greedier.
Another thing that surprised me was that Musk had a pretty difficult childhood. He didn’t have a perfect home environment and was bullied. Think about how boys roughhoused 20 years ago — it was some fun. But 40 to 60 years ago, I imagine it was more serious. And taking a step back, it’s worthwhile to consider how hard that could be for a cerebral boy who likes to read a lot in a place as politically volatile as South Africa.
Question: What surprised me was Canadian Researcher Aaron Boley’s statement about Starlink satellites producing aluminum oxide (alumina) on reentry which contributes to ozone depletion. Couple that with launch pollution and SpaceX looks like a bad actor from an environmental perspective, don’t you think?
Brad Bergan: There are some environmental costs, but other, more acutely felt costs also exist that are far more harmful to the world and its ecosystems. I gave a talk at the New York Skeptics nonprofit club when my first book, Space Race 2.0, came out. Many people asked, “Why is my tax money going to this? It’s too expensive!” I clarified that the lion’s share of our tax dollars isn’t going to SpaceX and space ventures. NASA’s funding is less than one percent of the congressional budget. SpaceX’s is even lower. Compare that to the roughly 13 percent spent on defense. A better place to cut spending might be our role in funding foreign wars.
On pollution, I think there’s an analogous proportional relationship between the congressional budget spent on space travel vs. defense and the environmental effects of
The energy sector, especially the fossil fuel industry, is the biggest polluter. Then there’s agriculture and industrial production of clothing and things like lithium-ion for renewable batteries, waste management, and so on. Pollution caused by space ventures isn’t even close to the level of pollution committed by 20th-century industries. Moreover, what we’re likely to see from those industries in the decades ahead far outweighs any damage that SpaceX might contribute to.
Space junk is an issue for which no one yet has a proven solution. The sheer volume of the objects — moving faster than a speeding bullet — is frightening, especially in lowEarth orbit. It’s good that SpaceX’s recent higher-orbit
space travel vs. industrial production.
Elon Musk and the Final Frontier
SpaceX: Elon Musk and the Final Frontier
spacewalk positions the company as capable of lifting humans deeper into space than we’ve been in decades. It also sets the firm up to thrust satellites and other spacecraft farther out than the increasingly crowded lowEarth orbit.
Question: You have written insightfully on the history of the space race and the United States’ space programs. What was it like working with NASA?
Brad Bergan: Just to clarify, I’ve never worked for or received payment from NASA. But the first time I worked with NASA was in 2016, when I wrote for VICE. It’s always something of a bottomless pit of surrealism when interviewing NASA because, as a kid, I was lucky enough to visit the Kennedy Space Center and see my first shuttle launch with my grandpa. Since then, I’ve been face-to-face with NASA Astronaut Shane Kimbrough, ESA Astronaut Thomas Pesquet, and JAXA Astronaut Akihiko Hoshide. Great people. Regarding crewed missions, I think NASA will continue to play a preeminent role in partnerships with other space companies going forward.
Question: Did you interact directly with SpaceX on this book or were you just privy to what the company released to the media?
Brad Bergan: Everything you’ll find in the book is all public information. I knew someone who worked at SpaceX, but that person was an anonymous contact with whom I would spitball some things to see if they were accurate. For the most part, the real meat of the book takes readers past the short memory span of our social media’s eternal “current moment.” My source was simply reading old literature all the way back to the 1950s and tracing useful narrative threads in space exploration — how and why they came to be, and what led to comparatively threadbare arcs.
Question: Did you get a chance to meet with Elon Musk and if so, what was the most memorable thing about him?
Brad Bergan: Not in person, but in a weird parasocial way of following someone closely on the internet. I feel like I know him a little bit. It’s easy to feel connected to a largerthan-life character, but I’m sure that feeling will change when I meet him.
Question: Throughout the book you mention the risks versus benefits of the space economy that’s now emerging. What are some of the key takeaways our readers should know about?
Brad Bergan: People can imagine the obvious risks. Musk has said that for us to settle on Mars, a lot of people are going to die. Think about the scale of what it will take, not just in terms of numbers, materials, or bodies on a chart of statistically dangerous jobs, but all the life events of so many talented people who will be sacrificed. It’s not the number of human bodies; it’s the loss of people with great minds and full hearts going to space and devoting their lives to developing the psychological wherewithal, the tested ambition, and the enormous skillsets needed to settle Mars. Then, imagine they don’t make it back, or lose a lot of people and experience survivors’ guilt, or worse — they get there and realize all too late that they’ve sacrificed
everything for a dream that just doesn’t work. That gives me pause, but it also feels like the ultimate challenge.
And there’s a more immediate – although boring — risk involving the logistical trajectory to Mars in development right now. What if SpaceX and other private companies develop space hotels and set up shop on the Moon only to make space travel seem like an elites-only club while humanistic and scientific goals take a back seat?
Some useful studies written by astronomers propose adding a profit motive to science missions. This would incentivize corporate funding and systematize a way for scientists to piggyback exploratory goals on company missions targeting the Moon and beyond. For now, I think that’s pragmatic. But in several decades, maybe even a century, the barrier to entry for space will lower even more — and the window to Mars might be larger than we ever dreamed.
Question: If the way is led by Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos, does that mean that these and other billionaires are going to have control over exploration and scientific advancement rather than government agencies?
Brad Bergan: They may have a larger say initially. A private consortium also funds Artemis, and most Moon-based operations will be primarily for-profit. The reason corporate money is stopping at the Moon is so they can expand the global economy into space. Hundreds of quintillions of dollars await us, but the idea that cosmic riches will trickle down to the average global citizen is unsubstantiated by history.
In the future, as other startups gain capabilities and are not just tagging along but operate their own missions, that will force more established firms like SpaceX and Blue Origin to cooperate because if they don’t, they may face difficulties launching rockets from national territories. Elon Musk knows how easily federal agencies like the FAA can hold space travel back, and doing so for punitive reasons isn’t unheard of.
Question: Your book is not only visually exciting, but it also makes the reader think about the future. What kind of impact do you hope this book will have on shaping how we move forward?
Brad Bergan: I wanted to find the best lynchpin with which to build grand narratives to depict the long arc of human space ventures. I hope the book immerses readers in a world of humans so alive they might soon settle new worlds. On a subtler note, I feel a civic duty to help readers understand what humanity is doing at its best outside of the noise of daily events. SpaceX is a household name, but Musk’s firm is a living shrine compared to other large corporations — like fossil fuels or e-commerce and the supply chains fueling modern consumerism. Much of SpaceX’s core technology isn’t even patented, although practical reasons exist for this.
In many ways, the last decade has felt like a free-fall descent into chaos, like a global reading of Brave New World meets Dante’s Inferno. It’s nice to know there’s a flip side to that. There will be a cost, but space ventures are becoming more advanced and robust and promise a brighter future.
Elon Musk and the Final Frontier
Testing antennas in new environments
The satellite industry is undergoing a huge transformation as demand for reliable, highspeed connectivity continues to grow across the globe. A critical component of this transformation is the industry’s ability to carry out rigorous and cost-effective testing of antennas. Consequently, the approach taken to testing is having to evolve in-line with the new satcom landscape. While some antenna tests happen in dedicated test ranges, it’s becoming increasingly important to be able to test in-situ because this provides operators with a more accurate picture of how the antenna will perform, or is performing, in its operational environment.
Rasmus Hasle, R&D Director, Quadsat
In the past, in order to test antennas in-situ, operators would have had to use either on-orbit testing using a live satellite link, fixed RF beacons, or celestial bodies, each of which presents its own challenges and limitations. This made in-field testing neither cost-effective nor efficient. However, the introduction of UAV (unmanned aviation vehicle)-based test and measurement systems in recent years has made in-situ testing a viable and costeffective approach. For successful in-situ test missions using drone-based systems, there are a number of considerations that must be taken into account during the pre-test planning and preparation process.
WHY TEST IN-SITU?
Testing antennas in their operational environment has several advantages over traditional test range evaluations. Firstly, in-field testing eliminates the need to transport large and often cumbersome equipment to specialized test ranges, which can be costly, complex to coordinate, and time consuming. This is particularly beneficial when dealing with large ground station antennas, where moving the hardware is impractical.
Secondly, in-situ testing can help to identify environmental considerations such as weather attenuation and the topography that could cause signal interference and affect antenna performance. Identifying and understanding these factors is crucial for ensuring that antennas are able to perform optimally in their operational settings. This is important for both fixed communication and Communications-on-the-Move (COTM).
Testing antennas in the location where they will function ensures that any potential factors that could prevent an antenna from operating optimally can be identified, understood, and overcome as soon as possible. Testing in-situ allows operators to make the necessary adjustments to ensure that teleports are optimized for their real-life environment, rather than the test range.
PRACTICAL CONSIDERATIONS
Unlike in a controlled test range environment where equipment is already set up and calibrated, conducting in-situ antenna tests requires measurement equipment to be transported to the test site, installed and calibrated in the field. A ground station could well be situated in a remote location which may lack the infrastructure needed for a traditional test setup. Drone-based test equipment is ideal in these scenarios because it’s portable, quick to set up, and does not require any infrastructure to be built for tests to be conducted.
As is the case with any type of antenna testing, whether at a dedicated test range or in-situ, thorough planning is required. When testing in-situ, a comprehensive site survey is required to assess the area surrounding the antenna under test to identify any potential obstacles such as high
Rasmus Hasle, R&D Director, Quadsat
Photo courtesy of Quadsat
buildings, masts, antennas, trees, and changes in terrain altitudes. These issues can then be factored in when determining the drone flight path to ensure that the test mission is safe, effective, and efficient. Drones can also be equipped with autonomous flight modes for safer and more efficient test missions.
Weather is another important consideration when carrying out in-situ testing using a drone-based system. These systems should only be flown when the weather conditions are within the system’s operation limits. It is therefore essential to check weather forecasts and be aware of system limitations. The sturdiness and built quality of the drone are extremely important because a sturdy, high quality drone provides accurate tuning and control, leading to good rejection of disturbances from external factors such as wind.
ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS AND INTERFERENCE
In addition to the practical considerations outlined already, environmental factors and potential sources of interference also need to be considered when carrying out in-situ testing. Environmental factors can have a significant impact on how RF signals are received, causing signal degradation and loss of throughput. Factors such as temperature, humidity, wind, precipitation, as well as topography can affect signal quality and introduce variances.
Unlike test ranges, which are designed to minimize external interference, operational environments can be filled with a variety of interference sources, from nearby cell towers and broadcast stations to industrial equipment and even other teleports. The advantage of testing an antenna in its operational environment is that you can identify potential electromagnetic interference sources and develop a mitigation strategy. This may involve adjusting the antenna’s position or modifying the site’s
layout. If remedial action is not possible and the installation is for a new ground station, the test results may indicate that the location itself is not suitable.
It’s also important to note that while some negative environmental factors are easily identifiable by the naked eye, others are not. Reflectivity is a huge concern because it can’t easily be seen and can significantly impact how RF signals are received. Drones can be used to address this issue because they can be deployed to generate a reflectivity map for a test site by collecting reflectivity data across various azimuth-over-elevation angular pairs. Understanding the origin and consequences of reflectivity allows operators to reduce its impact with actions such as modifying the layout of the ground station or by installing corrective equipment.
TESTING PARAMETERS
It’s essential to have robust testing in place that determines both that the antenna is functioning correctly, and that it is operating optimally in its real-life environment. A wide range of measurements therefore need to be taken during the testing process. Drone-based testing systems have the built-in flexibility to change frequency, amplitude, and polarization of the test signal. This makes them ideal for carrying out the variable measurements needed in these scenarios.
Additionally, the flexibility that drone-based testing and measurement systems affords makes it possible to carry out diagnostic techniques that may not be easily achievable otherwise. In addition to measuring the radiation pattern, drone-based systems can also simulate satellite orbits to verify the tracking performance of antennas as they track and switch between NGSO satellites passing overhead. With this method, the satellite pass can be repeated as desired, so an antenna’s performance can be evaluated at any time without having to wait for an actual satellite to pass.
KEY TO SUCCESS
As the satellite industry continues to evolve, the ability to conduct effective in-situ antenna testing is becoming increasingly important. Drone-based testing technology is a key enabler on this front. It is portable, designed to be rugged for field use, and is also capable of measuring against a wide range of parameters.
By understanding the practical considerations and carrying out effective planning and preparation for testing antennas in in-field environments, antenna manufacturers and operators can ensure that their antennas perform optimally in their intended operational settings. However, maintaining flexibility throughout the test mission is crucial. A flexible approach allows the testing team to respond to any challenges that may arise by adjusting the test plan in real-time as required. By integrating these practices, operators can conduct effective in-situ testing.
With thorough planning, advanced test and measurement tools, and a proactive approach to mitigating challenges, the satellite industry can continue to push the boundaries of communication technology and deliver reliable, high-performance connectivity to customers around the world.
