Secret missions
hat are the first names that spring
to mind when you think of space
exploration? NASA? SpaceX? The
European Space Agency? That’s
completely reasonable, seeing as they are making
tremendous strides forward in this field. However,
space is not restricted, and there are companies and
agencies from a variety of countries that have their
own plans, ideas and visions for the future.
In 2018 the global space economy was estimated
to be worth £319 billion ($414.75 billion), and that
figure is only going to grow. With companies
offering easier and more affordable rides into
space, the number of satellites in low-Earth orbit is
growing by the week, and countries and enterprises
are also realising that it’s an industry that simply
can’t be ignored. No one can be expected to know
all the goings-on from around the world, so here we
present a selection of 11 lesser known, but equally
exciting projects that are looking to make a real
impact in the new decade.
W
A relatively unknown aerospace company from
Daejeon, South Korea, is looking to unleash its
own small launcher, with a maiden spacef light
scheduled for July 2020. This start-up has been
developing a two-stage rocket called Blue Whale 1,
and when operational it will be capable of
transporting a 50-kilogram (110-pound) payload
to a Sun-synchronous orbit.
Perigee Aerospace has claimed that Blue Whale 1
will be the smallest launcher in the world, standing
at just 8.5-metres (28-feet) tall. The Atlas V two-
stage rocket, which is renowned for its launches
in the US, towers over it at 58 metres (190 feet).
This tiny package packs a real punch though, and
it can carry small payloads into low-altitude, high-
inclination orbits, which is ideal for weather, remote-
sensing and imaging satellites.1 Perigee aerospace will
test its blue Whale 1
US-based company SpaceX has begun
launching its Starlink constellation, which
consists of a number of satellites that will
eventually provide worldwide internet access.
Obviously it helps if you have your own rockets
to launch them, and even more so if you have a
billionaire entrepreneur backing you.
There are many other companies who are
looking to pull off a similar endeavour, and
one of these, Sky and Space Global, is currently
waiting for the funds to complete its ‘Internet of
Things’ constellation.2 The ‘Internet of Things’ constellation
Sky and Space Global, an Australian company
with branches in the UK, Poland and Israel,
plans to place 200 CubeSats into low-Earth orbit
to provide low-data-rate communications. The
short-term goal is to raise £8.3 million ($10.8
million) in order to get an initial eight satellites
into orbit. If the finances become available,
Sky and Space Global will be able to launch its
satellites, nicknamed ‘Pearls’, by the end of 2020.
These satellites will provide high-quality voice
and data communications and will be equipped
with autonomous collision-avoidance software.Below:
Financial
instability has
moved the
Pearl launches
to the end
of 2020© Rocket Lab© GOMspaceSky and Space
Global currently
has three prototypes
in orbit around Earth,
which it refers to
as the ‘Three
Diamonds’.