Podcast Summary: T-Minus Space Daily Episode: DIU Selects New Companies for the Hybrid Space Architecture Project
Release Date: May 13, 2025
Host: Maria Vermazes, N2K Networks

Overview

In this episode of T-Minus Space Daily, host Maria Vermazes delves into significant developments within the global space industry, focusing on the Defense Innovation Unit’s (DIU) selection of new companies for its Hybrid Space Architecture (HSA) project. The episode also features an insightful interview with Suzanne Hake, US Government General Manager at Maxar, discussing Maxar's innovative Raptor system. Additionally, listeners are updated on key industry financials and strategic partnerships shaping the future of space operations.

Defense Innovation Unit Selects 12 Companies for Hybrid Space Architecture Project

[00:50]
The episode kicks off with major news from the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU), which has selected 12 companies to contribute to its ambitious Hybrid Space Architecture project. This initiative aims to integrate civil, commercial, and military space assets into a cohesive architecture, enhancing network resilience and optimizing data transport through multipath routing.

Key Points:

• Objective: Provide warfighters with asymmetric awareness and improved decision-making at the edge.
• Potential Benefits: Increased network resilience, optimized data transport, and mitigation of adverse effects due to weather or obstructions.
• Selected Companies: Capella, Space Edge, Cortex, Utelsat America Corp., OneWeb Technologies, Fairwinds Technologies, AST Space Mobile, Illumina Computing Group, Lockheed Martin Space, Maplarge SES Government Solutions, Sky Corp., Sky Phi, Ursa Space Systems, and Viasat.

Notable Quote:

"The project is building the technical and programmatic foundation to pilot an operational hybrid commercial and government space architecture by 2026," DIU spokesperson stated at [00:50].

US Space Force Selects Aria Space and Sphinx Defense for Joint Antenna Marketplace Prototype

[03:30]
The US Space Force Space Systems Command has awarded contracts to Aria Space and Sphinx Defense, each valued at approximately $8.1 million and $9.5 million respectively. These contracts focus on developing a secure, cloud-based Joint Antenna Marketplace (JAM) prototype, aimed at connecting satellite operations centers with both commercial and government-owned antennas.

Key Points:

• Purpose: Enhance scheduling flexibility, improve system resiliency, and support scalable space operations.
• Prototype Name: JAM
• Collaboration Goal: Foster pivotal collaboration between government and commercial sectors to support US and allied forces.

Notable Quote:

"This setup aims at ensuring robust support for current and future space operations at speed and scale," stated a representative from Space Systems Command at [03:30].

Crossbow Systems Secures $105 Million in Series B Funding

[04:30]
Crossbow Systems announced a successful Series B funding round, raising $105 million, with Lockheed Martin leading the strategic investment. This partnership accelerates Crossbow's capabilities as an independent supplier of solid rocket motors and related services.

Key Points:

• Investment Lead: Lockheed Martin.
• Strategic Agreement: Facilitates Crossbow’s role in supplying solid rocket motors for Lockheed Martin’s programs.
• Expansion Plans: Launching a new Texas Energetics campus near Austin to enhance advanced manufacturing of solid propellant technology.

AST Space Mobile Reports Q1 Financial Results and Future Plans

[05:40]
AST Space Mobile revealed its financial health for Q1, boasting $874.5 million in cash and restricted cash. The company forecasts regular orbital launches every two months through 2026, with the first Block II Bluebird satellites slated for shipment in Q2 and launch in July.

Key Points:

• Financial Status: Strong cash reserves supporting ongoing and future projects.
• Launch Schedule: Consistent orbital launches planned for 2025 and 2026.
• Partnerships: Collaborations with AT&T, Rakuten, Verizon, Vodafone, and Rivada Space Networks to activate cellular broadband capabilities in the US, Europe, and Japan.

Rivada Space Networks Partners with QCON for African Network Expansion

[06:30]
Rivada Space Networks has entered into a strategic agreement with QCON, a South African satellite internet provider, to enhance network infrastructure across Africa. The partnership aims to deliver Rivada’s outernet services, offering secure, high-performance data networks tailored for industries requiring robust cybersecurity, such as banking.

Key Points:

• Service Offering: Secure, multi-gigabit speeds with global coverage.
• Target Regions: Africa and beyond, focusing on data-intensive and security-sensitive sectors.
• Benefits: Improved network performance and new business opportunities through advanced outplacement technologies.

Interview with Suzanne Hake: Maxar's Raptor System

[10:16]
The highlight of the episode is an in-depth interview with Suzanne Hake, Senior Vice President and General Manager of US Government Business at Maxar. Suzanne discusses Maxar's groundbreaking Raptor system, designed to enable drone navigation in GPS-denied environments through advanced 3D mapping.

Key Points:

• Raptor System Overview: A platform-agnostic software suite that allows autonomous drones to navigate without relying on GPS by utilizing Maxar's high-resolution 3D maps and the drone's onboard camera.
• Applications: Enhances drone operations in modern warfare scenarios where GPS spoofing and jamming are prevalent. Also applicable in commercial sectors such as delivery services and humanitarian missions.
• Maxar's Evolution: Transitioning from foundational imagery to operational and tactical mission solutions, including virtual mission rehearsals and AI-driven site monitoring.

Notable Quotes:

• Suzanne Hake: "Raptor is a software suite that can be deployed onto any platform... it allows you to do navigation in a GPS denied environment.” [11:05]
• Suzanne Hake: "We are thinking about how do we transition to think about more operational and tactical use cases and how do we use our imagery and our data in more mission solutions and outcomes." [13:14]

European Space Agency's Proba 3 Mission: Autonomous Formation Flying

[17:34]
The episode concludes with a feature on the European Space Agency's Proba 3 mission, which successfully demonstrated autonomous formation flying of two spacecraft maintaining millimeter-level precision. The Coronagraph and the Occulter satellites work in harmony to study the Sun's corona without relying on manual controls.

Key Points:

• Mission Achievement: Millimeter precision in autonomous coordination between two satellites 150 meters apart.
• Technologies Used: Combination of wide-angle and narrow-angle cameras, flashing LED lights, fine lateral and longitudinal sensors, laser systems, and shadow position sensors.
• Scientific Impact: Allows continuous observation of solar phenomena, circumventing the limitations of natural solar eclipses.
• Future Implications: Paves the way for future missions involving multiple satellites operating as a unified observatory.

Notable Quote:

"By mastering autonomous formation flying, ESA is paving the way for future missions that could involve multiple satellites working together as one giant observatory," highlighted the mission coordinator at [17:34].

Conclusion

This episode of T-Minus Space Daily provides a comprehensive overview of pivotal developments in the space sector, highlighting strategic partnerships, innovative technologies, and significant financial movements. The detailed discussion on Maxar's Raptor system underscores the evolving nature of space technologies and their applications across military and commercial domains. Additionally, the European Space Agency’s Proba 3 mission showcases the advancements in autonomous satellite operations, setting the stage for more complex and coordinated space endeavors in the future.

For more detailed information and additional resources mentioned in today’s episode, visit space.n2k.com.