#Communication Satellite

[trendingreportz]

Satellite Manufacturing Market - Forecast(2024 - 2030)

Satellite Manufacturing Market Overview

The Global Satellite Manufacturing Market is estimated to reach $24.0 billion by 2026, growing at a CAGR of 3.2% during 2021-2026. Satellite are launched into the space to provide various services such as telemetry, remote sensing satellite, automatic identification system, surveillance, communication and others. Major drivers for satellite manufacturing market growth are surge in utilization of satellites for military surveillance and other defense applications. There is a requirement of more data bandwidth and reliable communication infrastructure to the military for meeting the growing demand from UAVs and modern equipment. Surge in satellite based telemetry and geostationary  applications, development of all-electric propulsion systems for use in sun-synchronous orbit satellites along with the growth in R&D space activities are driving the growth of the market.

Report Coverage

The report: “Satellite Manufacturing Market – Forecast (2021-2026)”, by Industry ARC covers an in-depth analysis of the following segments of the Satellite Manufacturing Market. 

By Type– Communication Satellite, Remote Sensing Satellite, Navigation Satellite, Geocentric Orbit type satellites, Global Positioning System, Geostationary Satellites, Drone Satellite, Ground Satellite, Polar Satellite, Nano Satellites, CubeSats, SmallSats

By Size– Large, Medium, Mini, Micro, Nano, Pico, Femto

By Orbit Location– LEO Satellites, Sun-Synchronous Orbit Satellites, GEO Satellites

By Application- Military & Government, Commercial

By Geography - North America (U.S, Canada, Mexico), South America(Brazil, Argentina and others), Europe(Germany, UK, France, Italy, Spain, Russia and Others), APAC(China, Japan India, SK, Australia and Others), and RoW (Middle east and Africa)

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Key Takeaways

The rise in adoption of satellites in Military and Space applications along with increased R&D activities are driving the growth of the market.

Military sector is witnessing a significant growth of the market owing to the requirement of advanced communication systems for completing their missions and tracking the exact position and movement of their solders.

North America is witnessing a significant growth of the market owing to the presence of one of the biggest space research organization “NASA” in which R&D activities are majorly performed along with the new policies organized by the government related to the satellites in the Military and Defense sector. 

Satellite Manufacturing Market Segment Analysis - By Type 

By Type the market is segmented into Communication Satellite, Remote Sensing Satellite, Navigation Satellite, Geocentric Orbit type satellites, Global Positioning System, Geostationary Satellites, Drone Satellite, Ground Satellite, Polar Satellite, Nano Satellites, CubeSats, SmallSats. Communication satellite are dominating the market at 24.5% in 2020 owing to its large use in television, telephone, radio, internet and military applications. Communication satellite uses radio frequencies and microwave frequencies to allow communication between separated geographical points on the Earth. Communication satellites are used in variety of applications such as long-distance telephone transmission, gathering intelligence in military, navigation of ships and aircrafts, weather forecasting and others owing to which it has a demand in the market. These factors have boosted the market growth.

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Satellite Manufacturing Market Segment Analysis - By Application

By Application the market is segmented into Military & Government, Commercial. Military & Government is witnessing a significant growth in the market. Military and Government sector is witnessing a significant growth in the market at 3.9% CAGR through 2026. In Military and government the satellites are used for intelligence gathering, military communications, and navigation purposes. The private and commercial satellites have become a significant provider of satellite services in the military applications. A continuous picture of location and movements of the solders are provided to the commanders through the combination of GPS –derived positioned data and advanced communication along with variety of space and airborne sensors. These factors are driving the growth of the market.

Satellite Manufacturing Market Segment Analysis - By Geography

By Geography the Satellite Manufacturing Market is dominated by North America with a market share 42.6% in 2020. Presence of robust framework for designing and manufacturing of satellites is one of the predominant factors driving the market in this region. The presence of the major key players and most advanced technological developments in this region is also boosting the growth of the market. On December 2919, National Defense Authorization acts was signed by President Trump. This act created a Space Force and is responsible for organizing, training, and equipping space forces command for the U.S military. The presence of one of the biggest space research organization “NASA” has also propelled the manufacturing of satellites with advanced technology which are involved in the R&D activities. These factors are driving the market in North America.

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Satellite Manufacturing Market Drivers

Surge in use of satellites in Military applications:

Surge of satellites in military applications have resulted in the development of small bodyguard satellite and space based laser defenses to protect important space assets. Many of the countries are purchasing satellites to support their own strategic Military activities. In APAC region China is the fastest growing country in civil, military and commercial capabilities. China is planning to launch two BeiDou Satellites into geostationary orbit in 2020. China plans to follow up this mission in late 2020 with Chang’e-5, a mission that aims to return samples from the Moon back to Earth for further study. U.S and other countries are also involved in the planning and launch of the satellites aiming to strengthen their military activities and communication within their armed forces. These factors are driving the market growth.

Technological advancements and growth in internet:

The rising use of internet applications have resulted in the manufacturing of more advanced satellite for communication purposes. The satellite are connected to the ground stations through which they are controlled. The antennas on satellites and ground stations, the landlines that connect ground stations to terrestrial networks, and the user terminals that connect to satellites are all potential intrusion points for cyber-attacks. Cyber-attacks can be used to monitor data traffic patterns. A cyber- attack on space systems can result in data loss, widespread disruptions, and even permanent loss of a satellite. To control all these situations the major key players are manufacturing the satellites with advanced capabilities. Rising internet penetration is propelling the growth of satellites used for communication purposes. These factors are fueling the growth of the market.

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Satellite Manufacturing Market Challenges

Complex Programming and Design related Risks:

Although the satellite are used in communications and many space missions but most of the space related missions fails due the complexity related to the designing and programming of the satellites. The designers relay on numerical modelling of vehicle aerodynamics rather than actual wind tunnel tests. These factors are causing major restrain in the market growth.

Satellite Manufacturing Market Landscape

Satellite Manufacturing Market is dominated by major companies such as Airbus Defense and Space, OHB SE, Boeing Defense, Space and Security, JSC Information Satellite Systems, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, Space Systems, Thales Alenia Space, Capella Space, Ursa Space Systems among others.

Acquisitions/Technology Launches

In January 2020, Capella Space evolved its satellite design “testbed satellite”. It enables on –demand observation from anywhere on Earth. This design is anticipated to deliver the most flexible and frequent high quality images in the market.

[heavensmortuary]

THE DYING. THE DEAD. AND THE UNDEAD SPACE JUNK.

Where Do Old Satellites Go When They Die? from spaceplace.nasa.gov // Zombie Satellites by Antony Johnston on Medium // Point Nemo: Meet Space Agencies’ Spacecraft Cemetery // Long Lost Military Satellite Found By Amateur Radio Operator by Joe Palca and Scott Nueman on NPR // Lincoln Experimental Satellite from Wikipedia Commons // Military Zombie Satellite From 1967 Discovered By Radio Operator Enthusiast by Fabieen Lang on Interesting Engineering // Where Do Old Satellites Go When They Die? from space place.nasa.gov // Long Lost Military Satellites Found By Amateur Radio Operator by Joe Palca and Scott Nueman on NPR // Football 17776: What Football Will Look Like In The Future by Jon Bois // Space Junk by Wang Chung

[joytri]

Who should defend the moon if not poets?

Antoni Slonimski

[stone-cold-groove]

NASA’s Echo 1 communications satellite - 1960.

[nasa]

9 Out-of-This-World Moments for Space Communications & Navigation in 2023

How do astronauts and spacecraft communicate with Earth?

By using relay satellites and giant antennas around the globe! These tools are crucial to NASA’s space communications networks: the Near Space Network and the Deep Space Network, which bring back science and exploration data every day.

It’s been a great year for our space communications and navigation community, who work to maintain the networks and enhance NASA’s capabilities. Keep scrolling to learn more about our top nine moments.

The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying the Dragon spacecraft lifts off from Launch Complex 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Thursday, Nov. 9, 2023, on the company's 29th commercial resupply services mission for the agency to the International Space Station. Liftoff was at 8:28 p.m. EST.

1. In November, we launched a laser communications payload, known as ILLUMA-T, to the International Space Station. Now, ILLUMA-T and the Laser Communications Relay Demonstration (LCRD) are exchanging data and officially complete NASA’s first two-way, end-to-end laser relay system. Laser communications can send more data at once than traditional radio wave systems – think upgrading from dial-up to fiber optic internet. ILLUMA-T and LCRD are chatting at 1.2 gigabits per second (Gbps). At that rate, you could download an average movie in under a minute.

NASA’s InSight lander captured this selfie on Mars on April 24, 2022, the 1,211th Martian day, or sol, of the mission.

2. Data analyzed in 2023 from NASA’s retired InSight Mars lander provided new details about how fast the Red Planet rotates and how much it wobbles. Scientists leveraged InSight’s advanced radio technology, upgrades to the Deep Space Network, and radio signals to determine that Mars’ spin rate is increasing, while making the most precise measurements ever of Mars’ rotation.

TBIRD is demonstrating a direct-to-Earth laser communications link from low Earth orbit to a ground station on Earth.

3. We set a new high record! The TeraByte InfraRed Delivery (TBIRD) payload – also demonstrating laser communications like ILLUMA-T and LCRD – downlinked 4.8 terabytes of data at 200 Gbps in a single 5-minute pass. This is the highest data rate ever achieved by laser communications technology. To put it in perspective a single terabyte is the equivalent of about 500 hours of high-definition video.

A 34-meter (112-foot) wide antenna at Canberra Deep Space Communications Complex near Canberra, Australia.

4. This year we celebrated the Deep Space Network’s 60th anniversary. This international array of antennas located at three complexes in California, Spain, and Australia allow us to communicate with spacecraft at the Moon and beyond. Learn more about the Deep Space Network’s legacy and future advancements.

An illustration of the LunaNet architecture. LunaNet will bring internet-like services to the Moon.

5. We are bringing humans to the Moon with Artemis missions. During expeditions, astronauts exploring the surface are going to need internet-like capabilities to talk to mission control, understand their routes, and ensure overall safety. The space comm and nav group is working with international partners and commercial companies to develop LunaNet, and in 2023, the team released Draft LunaNet Specification Version 5, furthering development.

The High-Rate Delay Tolerant Networking node launched to the International Space Station in November and will act as a high-speed path for data.

6. In addition to laser communications, ILLUMA-T on the International Space Station is also demonstrating high-rate delay/disruption tolerant networking (HDTN). The networking node is showcasing a high-speed data path and a store-and-forward technique. HDTN ensures data reaches its final destination and isn’t lost on its path due to a disruption or delay, which are frequent in the space environment.

The Communications Services Project (CSP) partners with commercial industry to provide networking options for future spaceflight missions.

7. The space comm and nav team is embracing the growing aerospace industry by partnering with commercial companies to provide multiple networking options for science and exploration missions. Throughout 2023, our commercialization groups engaged with over 110 companies through events, one-on-one meetings, forums, conferences, and more. Over the next decade, NASA plans to transition near-Earth services from government assets to commercial infrastructure.

Middle and high school students solve a coding experiment during NASA's Office of STEM Engagement App Development Challenge. 

8. Every year, NASA’s Office of STEM Engagement sponsors the App Development Challenge, wherein middle and high school students must solve a coding challenge. This year, student groups coded an application to visualize the Moon’s South Pole region and display information for navigating the Moon’s surface. Our space communications and navigation experts judged and interviewed students about their projects and the top teams visited NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston!

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket soars upward after liftoff at the pad at 3:27 a.m. EDT on Saturday, Aug. 26, from Kennedy Space Center’s Launch Complex 39A in Florida carrying NASA’s SpaceX Crew-7 crew members to the International Space Station. Aboard SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft are NASA astronaut Jasmin Moghbeli, ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Andreas Mogensen, JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) astronaut Satoshi Furukawa, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Konstantin Borisov.

9. The Near Space Network supported 19 launches in 2023! Launches included Commercial Crew flights to the International Space Station, science mission launches like XRISM and the SuperBIT balloon, and many more. Once in orbit, these satellites use Near Space Network antennas and relays to send their critical data to Earth. In 2023, the Near Space Network provided over 10 million minutes of communications support to missions in space.

Here’s to another year connecting Earth and space.

Make sure to follow us on Tumblr for your regular dose of space!

[theofficialastronomy101]

This image shows the “moonrise” of the satellite as it emerges from behind asteroid Dinkinesh as seen by the Lucy Long-Range Reconnaissance Imager (L’LORRI), one of the most detailed images returned by NASA’s Lucy spacecraft This image was taken at closest approach, from a range of 270 miles (430k).

[silly-creacher]

Wanted to share some things that make me happy:

Accidentally scared a friend while walking by to grab something and they said they thought I was a cat! Creature moment!! :P

Randomly discovering things about my kintype. Like realizing that my fucked up sleep schedule is just because I'm nocturnal. Also, I don't think I'm supposed to be so sensitive to temperature because quiet nights in the winter feel so homey but human body does NOT like that lmao

(speaking of kintype -- might be a shapeshifting alien? who knows)

Met a therian irl! Amazing moment!!

And because thinking about good stuff is healthy... if there's anything that's made you happy lately, reblog/comment! I'd love to hear about it!! :D

[deepseacityunderground]

writing my thesis on touhou satellite fans

[flight-to-mars]

What are you wearing?

[rorybluez]

one of the joys of finishing children of time is a bunch of fans making sure to reply to almost every single "woah! Portia spiders are so intelligent" comment with an "allow me to introduce you to CoT books!!" and promote them with the vigour of a bachelor in marketing degree. You can nearly feel the overly enthusiastic desire to infodump behind their comments (tbh same). Shout-out to those meme spreading fellow spider fans, I salute you.

[verdemoth]

i cant post Tune without also posting Odyssey. do not separate.

Odyssey is an engineer, formerly the director of Mission Control, and before even that e did field work. Now, e’s supposedly retired from all duties, but Odyssey refuses to leave. E wont let the new owners run the team into the ground. (and e’s still holding onto some distant hope of finding es best friend alive, or at least closure)

-> Originally Odyssey was a field researcher alongside es queerplatonic partner Tune in their 20s, until the risks of such work became apparent. E then went on to develop systems to communicate with and coordinate the research team and monitor the Otherworld from safely on the ‘reality’ side of the portal. E established Mission Control, and led it for decades.

-> Tune and Odyssey were very close for a very long time, having met in their school years. They were best friends, partners for life, two halves of a whole. It’s been some years now since Tune’s disappearance, and Odyssey’s mostly come to terms with it, but still feels his absence keenly.

-> Odyssey’s a generally kind individual but not particularly nice. E’s gruff, immensely stubborn, with a mean sarcastic streak. Some coworkers might describe em as cantankerous. But at the end of the day e’s well-intentioned and altruistic.

-> Odyssey is very, VERY bitter about the investors who bought ownership of the team from the original founders a couple years back. E hates them. E’s just WAITING for the chance to prove there’s something unscrupulous happening, e can FEEL it. E hasn’t had results yet but the vibes are rancid.

-> Though formally retired, Odyssey continues to do much of the same work e’s been doing for decades, out of spite and because e trusts few people with the systems e built. E adamantly refuses to cooperate with anyone associated with the company, which is probably directly related to es early ‘retirement’. Odyssey’s not happy about it and won’t do them any favours.

-> Odyssey is only middle aged but e feels so much older. E’s so tired. And so worried. E hopes for the best but is always prepared for the worst.

-> Odyssey’s role as director was succeeded by Maven, who e mentored. Odyssey treats them as a ward and as a friend. E respects and trusts them, but…… When the Storm hit, it was one of Maven’s first missions directing with little input from Odyssey. It was supposed to be that, anyway, before that disaster. Odyssey doesn’t blame them for what happened, but but can’t seem to talk them out of beating themself up over it. Directing the EEG is no longer Odyssey’s job so e tries to step back and let Maven make their own decisions, but they’ve obviously not dealt well with the pressure, and Odyssey can’t leave well enough alone. E has a tendency to step in and take over es old duties at the first sign of trouble in a misguided attempt to shield Maven from the trauma of handling another crisis. E doesn’t mean to imply that they’re not capable, but unfortunately they are not helping Maven’s shattered confidence and fear of making mistakes by taking control from them.

-> Odyssey is legally blind, and though es glasses can help em make out some shapes in the right conditions, in unfamiliar spaces and bad lighting e utilizes a cane to get a feel for es surroundings. While es poor eyesight is likely hereditary, e became an amputee following a severe injury on es last field mission. E opts not to use any prosthetics, finding them uncomfortable and unwieldy. E’s often accompanied by one or both of the spider shaped robots e designed and programmed to assist the exploration team, which have been retired from the field as well since suffering some damage in the Storm. Odyssey is very fond of them.

-> The larger robot, Marie, was named after Odyssey’s cousin Mariner, who also worked for the EEG for a time. The two used to be close, but have had a falling out coinciding with Tune’s presumed death and Mariner’s retirement. Xe pushed for Odyssey to quit as well, but despite xer desperation xe wouldn’t confess why xe was so adamant about it.

-> The loss of Tune hit Odyssey very hard, and e’s become quite reclusive. E tends to stick to es room when not doing other work, and would spend a lot of time alone if not sought out by the other people who are close with em.

-> Spirit, Tune’s sibling, can probably best understand what Odyssey’s going though. The two have always gotten along well, having met through Tune. When Odyssey was injured, they requested Spirit join the team in es place, providing a glowing recommendation to the then owners. E’s always thought highly of Spirit, as a skilled and reliable member of the team (and someone e could trust to keep an eye on Tune where e couldn’t).

-> Spirit’s been different, recently. Odyssey has slowly tried opening up to them to talk about their shared loss, after es initial attempts to distance emself from the team in es grief. But any attempt seems stilted and awkward, so usually Odyssey never gets around to that part, and sticks to shallow small talk and talking At them about other problems. Honestly e just wants their company, and e feels they could use it, too. Odyssey worries for Spirit’s physical wellbeing in the Otherworld, and their mental wellbeing in the wake of losing their sibling. But they’re still capable of looking after themself, so e doesn’t push too hard. E just figures… well. Spirit probably needs the same kind of help e does, and e’s trying to be that for them.

-> If there’s a coworker that Odyssey really Does Not get along with, it’s Curiosity. In the past they’ve had a standard and respectful relationship. But with Tune M.I.A. and the EEG’s new ownership, Odyssey’s being phased out of the team though circumstance and es own actions and e’s feeling quite frustrated. E projects a lot of those frustrations into Curiosity, the new de facto leader of the field team and symbolic of the changes Odyssey rejects. Curiosity, for her part, isn’t keen on sitting around and taking flak from Odyssey.

-> Mostly they try to avoid each other, and that turns out fine. But when they do interact, Odyssey is… difficult about it. E will nitpick any plan of hers to test how it holds up, always double-checks her work, tries to pull rank/seniority regardless of relevance.. all in all, nothing malicious, but instead unreasonably hypercritical. E claims e’s only making sure she’s up to handle whatever the Otherworld throws at them next.

-> Phoenix on the other hand is a long time friend of Odyssey and Tune, having also met them through school before he dropped out. They’ve been a sturdy pillar of support for Odyssey through es grief, and regularly checks up on em to make sure es looking after emself. Though Phoenix, like Curiosity, is ambivalent about the new ownership, he is unlike Curiosity in that he is in good standing with Odyssey and is privy to sooo many rants about it. They talk often. Phoenix is really the only other person Odyssey trusts with maintaining the systems e built.

-> Phoenix and Odyssey had a brief romantic fling as young adults, which Odyssey now finds very amusing. Even moreso because Phoenix is kind of embarrassed about being ‘something of a headstrong dumbass’ at that age, in their own words. It’s one of the few things Odyssey and Curiosity (who also once dated Phoenix) can agree upon. It’s all in good fun.

[icy-saturday]

TW/CW : mention of past injuries /recovering from injury /past traumatic events/ plush injury/ plush recovery

Update on Seven and Icy :)

Just found out that Sevens c section scar wasn’t healing properly so I had to give her another bandage. Her leg is almost done healing though, which is a relief since I may or may not bring her on a walk on Friday if it’s not too hot, the heat tends to stress her often if it’s way too intense but she doesn’t seem to get bothered by my own body heat in bed since she tends to complain about my room being to chilly as well and Icy likes it chilly.

As for the C section scars, unfortunately , she was in a bad place in the past and poor Seven still clutches the area even with the bandage applied. It should take a week or a few to heal as long as she doesn’t try to pick at it.

On the bright side of things, today we found her a cute jacket to wear, we’re looking for clothes for her from donations. Specifically looking for button up shirts with wide open sleeves, same apply to pants. I don’t want to give her too much stress and pain trying to fit into her clothing because of her past injuries. I want to see her happy and pain free.

As of now, Icy, Seven, and I are distracting ourselves by finishing the God forbidden Santa Clause trilogy once and for all :’3. Yes, we’ve been watching holiday movies since August and listening to holiday music all year long. Do we regret these actions? Absolutely flipping not :). We’re starting the Home Alone Franchise after this because that gives us, the self-proclaimed Local Santanauts (yes) some time to discuss which Grinch movie to start with based on the Grinch’s past.

That was my update on my partners and what we’re up to atm. I’ll keep you updated if anything changes.

I’ll actually be making more of these posts but not too frequently. But I would love to cater to the POSIC / Objectum / plushum community as I am a member coming out to my family very slowly (wish me luck I’m getting there)

[briery]

Ariane 5 launch, with on board MSG-1 satellite. (Hi-Res).

[stone-cold-groove]

U.S. Postage stamp commemorating the Echo 1 communications satellite - 1960.

[nasa]

Calling Long-Distance: 10 Stellar Moments in 2022 for Space Communications and Navigation

Just like your phone needs Wi-Fi or data services to text or call – NASA spacecraft need communication services.

Giant antennas on Earth and a fleet of satellites in space enable missions to send data and images back to our home planet and keep us in touch with our astronauts in space. Using this data, scientists and engineers can make discoveries about Earth, the solar system, and beyond. The antennas and satellites make up our space communications networks: the Near Space Network and Deep Space Network.

Check out the top ten moments from our space comm community: 

1. Space communication networks helped the Artemis I mission on its historic journey to the Moon. From the launch pad to the Moon and back, the Near Space Network and Deep Space Network worked hand-in-hand to seamlessly support Artemis I. These networks let mission controllers send commands up to the spacecraft and receive important spacecraft health data, as well as incredible images of the Moon and Earth.

The Pathfinder Technology Demonstration 3 spacecraft with hosted TeraByte InfraRed Delivery (TBIRD) payload communicating with laser links down to Earth. Credit: NASA/Ames Research Center

2. Spacecraft can range in size – from the size of a bus to the size of a cereal box. In May 2022, we launched a record-breaking communication system the size of a tissue box. TBIRD showcases the benefits of a laser communications system, which uses infrared light waves rather than radio waves to communicate more data at once. Just like we have upgraded from 3G to 4G to 5G on our phones, we are upgrading its space communications capabilities by implementing laser comms!

3. The Deep Space Network added a new 34-meter (111-foot) antenna to continue supporting science and exploration missions investigating our solar system and beyond. Deep Space Station 53 went online in February 2022 at our Madrid Deep Space Communications Complex. It is the fourth of six antennas being added to expand the network’s capacity.

4. You’ve probably seen in the news that there are a lot of companies working on space capabilities. The Near Space Network is embracing the aerospace community’s innovative work and seeking out multiple partnerships. In 2022, we met with over 300 companies in hopes of beginning new collaborative efforts and increasing savings.

5. Similar to TBIRD, we're developing laser comms for the International Space Station. The terminal will show the benefits of laser comms while using a new networking technique called High Delay/Disruption Tolerant Networking that routes data four times faster than current systems. This year, engineers tested and proved the capability in a lab.

6. In 2021, we launched the James Webb Space Telescope, a state-of-the-art observatory to take pictures of our universe. This year, the Deep Space Network received the revolutionary first images of our solar system from Webb. The telescope communicates with the network’s massive antennas at three global complexes in Canberra, Australia; Madrid, Spain; and Goldstone, California.

7. Just like we use data services on our phone to communicate, we'll do the same with future rovers and astronauts exploring the Moon. In 2022, the Lunar LTE Studies project, or LunarLiTES, team conducted two weeks of testing in the harsh depths of the Arizona desert, where groundbreaking 4G LTE communications data was captured in an environment similar to the lunar South Pole. We're using this information to determine the best way to use 4G and 5G networking on the Moon.

8. A new Near Space Network antenna site was unveiled in Matjiesfontein, South Africa. NASA and the South African Space Agency celebrated a ground-breaking at the site of a new comms antenna that will support future Artemis Moon missions. Three ground stations located strategically across the globe will provide direct-to-Earth communication and navigation capabilities for lunar missions.

9. Quantum science aims to better understand the world around us through the study of extremely small particles. April 14, 2022, marked the first official World Quantum Day celebration, and we participated alongside other federal agencies and the National Quantum Coordination Office. From atomic clocks to optimizing laser communications, quantum science promises to greatly improve our advances in science, exploration, and technology.

10. We intentionally crashed a spacecraft into an asteroid to test technology that could one day be used to defend Earth from asteroids. The Double Asteroid Redirection Test, or DART, mission successfully collided with the asteroid Dimorphos at a rate of 4 miles per second (6.1 kilometers per second), with real-time video enabled by the Deep Space Network. Alongside communications and navigation support, the global network also supports planetary defense by tracking near-Earth objects.

We look forward to many more special moments connecting Earth to space in the coming year.

Make sure to follow us on Tumblr for your regular dose of space!