The Space Industry

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The Space Industry by satsearch - sharing stories about the businesses taking us into orbit. We delve into the opinions and expertise of the people behind the commercial space companies of today, who could become the household names of tomorrow. Find out more about the companies and technologies discussed on this show at satsearch.com. read less
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Episodes

Key enablers for next generation satellite communications payload - with Texas Instruments
Nov 21 2023
Key enablers for next generation satellite communications payload - with Texas Instruments
Episode 54 of the Space Industry podcast is a discussion with Adrian Helwig, Analog Field Application Engineer, and Michael Seidl, Systems Engineer from Texas Instruments, about how to develop a high-performing satellite communications payload.The evolution of satellite communications technology has pushed the innovation boundaries of subsystems and payloads. Simultaneously, the applications and supply of electronic components and power systems have also advanced in line with new market demands.NewSpace companies are tapping into these latest technologies in the satellite communications segment and utilizing it to open opportunities in markets such as laser communications. Therefore, in this episode, we will take a deep dive into the rising demand of high-performing satellite communications payloads, as well as the technical systems required to support these high-performance systems.Beamforming / electronically steered antennas, power density, and low board space are key requirements to enable it.RF sampling at high-frequency bands with high instantaneous bandwidth, high-speed ADCs are needed, extremely high quality clocking even more, RF amplifiers replace bulky baluns with even better linearity.High processing needs require efficient power supply as well as power generation capabilities.Advanced security is a key requirement for new missions (e.g. IRIS2 will use quantum key distribution)NewSpace technologies like laser communication, require high-speed data acquisition systems as well as precision pointing systems that require advanced motor control solutionsYou can find out more about Texas Instruments here on their satsearch supplier hub.And if you would like to learn more about the space industry and our work at satsearch building the global marketplace for space, please join our newsletter.[Music from Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/all-good-folks/when-we-get-there License code: Y4KZEAESHXDHNYRA]
Atmospheric re-entry: facilitating the launch and return of materials in space - with Space Forge and Southern Launch
Jun 8 2023
Atmospheric re-entry: facilitating the launch and return of materials in space - with Space Forge and Southern Launch
In Episode 51 of the Space Industry podcast Hywel Curtis speaks with Joshua Western, CEO of Space Forge, and Lloyd Damp, CEO of Southern Launch.Space Forge is a UK-based company aiming to develop reusable on-orbit fabrication capabilities in order to carry out in-space manufacturing procedures, offer microgravity as a service, and return materials to Earth. Southern Launch owns and operates the only rocket launch ranges in Australia approved by the Australian Space Agency for space launches.In the podcast we discuss:How Space Forge aims to reliably and cost-effectively bring materials and equipment back to Earth from spaceWhat will differentiate Space Forge from private space station use and other in-space manufacturing conceptsThe regulatory aspects of operating launch and return facilities for space missionsHow the two companies are partnering to develop a commercial service for the futureWhat sort of applications and business opportunities could be viable in-space manufacturing targetsYou can find out more about Space Forge and Southern Launch here on the company websites.And if you would like to learn more about the space industry and our work at satsearch building the global marketplace for space, please join our newsletter.[Music from Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/all-good-folks/when-we-get-there License code: Y4KZEAESHXDHNYRA]
Powering the latest trends of space electronics - with Texas Instruments
Apr 13 2023
Powering the latest trends of space electronics - with Texas Instruments
Episode 49 is a conversation with Adrian Helwig, Analog Field Application Engineer, and Michael Seidl, Systems Engineer from Texas Instruments, about the trends in space electronics.Texas Instruments is a global semiconductor manufacturing company with expertise in analog and embedded processing chips. The company was founded in 1930 and headquartered in Dallas, Texas. In this episode, we discuss:While power is a very precious good in space satellite applications continue to become even more power-hungry in the future:More intelligence/processing power for telecom and data routing applicationsAI for pre-processing on-board on optical and radar imaging payload to reduce data rates even though resolution goes up  Electrically steered antennas replace classic mechanical antenna pointing system, RF to bits (RF sampling)Small satellites autonomous maneuvering for debris avoidance, etc.Designers must increase total power capabilities / power density and bring efficiency up. Efficiency is very important as any improvement will bring a double benefit: power that is no longer wasted does not have to be produced anymore. Reduced power losses save efforts in cooling. With higher efficiency, there is also greater power density possible. TI’s products enable such higher power density to also enable savings in the board area.The high quality of the voltage rails is increasingly challenging to meet: e.g. Only 0.8V core voltages with tens of Amperes but +/-3% tolerance leaves only mV intolerance; Power distribution network requires a high amount of capacitance which adds cost and board area. highly precise instruments and very high-throughput communication systems require super-low noise levels on the supply voltage. The power tree is fundamentally important for the overall robustness and availability of the satellite. TI provides a high level of radiation hardness (especially against heavy ion impacts which are challenging for power devices) combined with several protection solutions – integrated into the actual power devices but also as discrete functions to complement the actual power supply solution. Tight control of the voltage rails is very important to assure the reliability of the system. For e.g. a 10% transient applied to a downstream device can easily damage it or degrade its longevity. With -SEP and QMLP/QMLV the right level of cost & rad hardness. Fault Detection, Isolation & RecoveryFull portfolio and strong roadmap, including eFuses, all to power density, protection, integration Strong design support capabilities; Stability analysis, pricing, and availability via web store; PMP designs; EVMs; TIDAs… All radiation reports, quality data, materials, etc. are available online.You can find out more about Texas Instruments here on their satsearch supplier hub.And if you would like to learn more about the space industry and our work at satsearch building the global marketplace for space, please join our newsletter.[Music from Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/all-good-folks/when-we-get-there License code: Y4KZEAESHXDHNYRA]