Ad-van-turers (7/13/23)

Good morning. We hope to see some of our DC readers in person at this afternoon’s US Chamber of Commerce event on the use of data in space. Managing editor Jacqueline Feldscher will be moderating a panel on flooding and sea level rise. Please say hello if you’re there!

In today's edition...
🛰️ ViaSat-3 in trouble
🚗 Astronauts’ new whip
📝 The contract report

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ViaSat-3 Reflector Malfunctions

The recently-launched ViaSat-3 Americas satellite has hit a major snag.

Viasat ($VSAT) announced yesterday that an “unexpected event” occurred during the deployment of the satellite’s massive reflector that may degrade the performance of the communications satellite, which was supposed to grow the company’s broadband business in the Americas.

"We're disappointed by the recent developments," said Viasat chief Mark Dankberg. "We're working closely with the reflector's manufacturer to try to resolve the issue."

Underscoring the gravity of the situation, the company is already making contingency plans to mitigate the economic impact, including:

• Redeploying in-orbit Viasat birds to optimize coverage.

• Shuffling the locations of the next two ViaSat-3 satellites to cover the Americas.

As of EOD Wednesday, $VSAT stock was down ~24%.

ViaSat-3: The broadband constellation consists of three massive 6,400 kg Ka-band GEO birds. Falcon Heavy launched the first of the three satellites on April 30. The company was able to make contact with the spacecraft 15 minutes after launch.

The ViaSat-3 reflector was supposed to be deployed via a large boom arm, an offshoot of JWST’s sunshield mid-boom. The reflector is one of the largest ever made, helping the satellite focus signals and increase efficiency.

What’s next? The company promised an update on the satellite and any other mitigation measures it will take during its earnings call on Aug. 9.

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The Artemis Astrovan Arrives

NASA astronauts are going to be riding in ahem style.

A brand new fleet of vans destined to carry Artemis crews to the launch pad ahead of their journeys to the Moon arrived at KSC on Tuesday. The vans, built by CA-based Canoo Technologies Inc., are fully electric, zero-emission vehicles designed to fit four fully garbed-up astronauts ready for flight.

• Some aspects of the design came from the Artemis launch director and a team from NASA’s Astronaut Office.

• Canoo based the overall form factor on its “Lifestyle Vehicle” (LV) design, which is meant to maximize space and efficiency in a relatively small area.

“The collaboration between Canoo and our NASA representatives focused on the crews’ safety and comfort on the way to the pad ahead of their journey to the Moon,” Charlie Blackwell-Thompson, NASA’s Artemis launch director, said in a statement. “I have no doubt everyone who sees these new vehicles will feel the same sense of pride I have for this next endeavor of crewed Artemis missions.”

The new vans join the current generation of “astrovans” used by the agency. Crew Dragon fliers ride to the pad in Tesla Model Xs, and Boeing’s Starliner crew members will take their trip in a modified Airstream.

We’re Headed to Long Beach!

Join Payload with Bank of America, Deloitte, and Velo3D for an evening of networking on August 17th. Food and drinks will be provided.

Don't miss this opportunity to connect with space industry professionals. 🚀

In Other News

• Virgin Galactic is targeting Aug. 10 for its first private astronaut flight.

• Côte d'Ivoire plans to launch its first EO satellite within two years.

• SpaceIL’s second planned trip to the Moon is in jeopardy.

• Amazon deforestation dropped 34% in the first half of the year compared to last year, according to new satellite data.

The View from 1969

NASA’s History Office shared this photo of Apollo 11 astronaut Michael Collins reporting to the Flight Crew Training building 54 years ago this week ahead of their historic mission to land on the Moon.