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Copernical Team
Keck Institute for Space Studies
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The Keck Institute for Space Studies (KISS) is a joint institute of the California Institute of Technology and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory established in January 2008.
The primary purpose of the KISS is to develop new planetary, Earth, and astrophysics space mission concepts and technology by bringing together a broad spectrum of scientists and engineers for sustained scientific and technical interaction.
This unique organization links the study elements of a think tank with the implementation elements of designing and developing prototypes. The Institute is centered on the intellectual, instrumentation, and research strengths of Caltech and JPL — and augments those strengths by inviting external experts from academia, government, and industry to engage in its programs.
The Institute also provides opportunities for graduate students and postdoctoral fellows to actively participate in cutting edge space mission research and learning. The Institute supports significant outreach to the public and the wider technical/scientific community via open lectures and the Internet.
Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter
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Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) is a multipurpose spacecraft designed to conduct reconnaissance and Exploration of Mars from orbit.
The spacecraft was built under the supervision of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). The mission is managed by the JPL, at California Institute of Technology, La Canada Flintridge, California, for the NASA Science Mission Directorate. It was launched August 12, 2005, and attained Martian orbit on March 10, 2006.
In November 2006, after five months of aerobraking, it entered its final science orbit and began its primary science phase. As MRO entered orbit it joined five other active spacecraft which were either in orbit or on the planet surface: Mars Global Surveyor, Mars Express, Mars Odyssey, and two Mars Exploration Rovers; at the time a record for the most operational spacecraft in the immediate vicinity of Mars.
MRO contains a host of scientific instruments such as cameras, spectrometers, and radar, which are used to analyze the landforms, stratigraphy, minerals, and ice of Mars. It paves the way for future spacecraft by monitoring Mars' daily weather and surface conditions, studying potential landing sites, and hosting a new telecommunications system. MRO's telecommunications system will transfer more data back to Earth than all previous interplanetary missions combined, and MRO will serve as a highly capable relay satellite for future missions.
Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO)
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The Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) is a NASA robotic spacecraft currently (April 2013) orbiting the Moon on a low 50 km polar mapping orbit.
The LRO mission is a precursor to future manned missions to the Moon by NASA. To this end a detailed mapping program will identify safe landing sites, locate potential resources on the Moon, characterize the radiation environment, and demonstrate new technology. The probe will make a 3-D map of the Moon's surface and has provided some of the first images of Apollo equipment left on the Moon. The first images from LRO were published on 2 July 2009, showing a region in the lunar highlands south of Mare Nubium (Sea of Clouds).
Launched on June 2009, in conjunction with the Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite (LCROSS), as the vanguard of NASA's Lunar Precursor Robotic Program, this is the first United States mission to the Moon in over ten years. LRO and LCROSS are the first missions launched as part of the United States's Vision for Space Exploration program.
Constellation Networks Corporation
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Constellation Networks Corporation is proposing global satellite internet services and equipments.
Constellation Networks Corp offer a customized solution to fit customer unique network: satellite internet service, satellite space segment or VSAT equipment.
Selex ES
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Selex ES is providing the space industry with a range of products for Earth observation, science, planetary exploration, navigation and telecommunication programmes.
Selex ES is active in the space market for over forty years with the first equipment deployed in 1960's. Since then Selex ES has developed and produced qualified space optical assemblies, attitude sensors, RF equipment, photovoltaic assemblies, power conditioning and distribution equipment, as well as robotic arms.
Aireon
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Aireon, a subsidiary of Iridium Communications Inc., takes advantage of Iridium's satellite constellation to help ensure globally optimized air traffic control takes flight.
To meet the challenges of space-based air traffic monitoring, Iridium created Aireon, an innovative new company bringing together global commercial aviation companies and air navigation service providers (ANSPs). Aireon will provide the first opportunity for global air traffic monitoring starting as early as 2017.
To enable Aireon services, Iridium will host special ADS-B receiver payloads on its next-generation global satellite communications constellation, Iridium NEXT.
Scheduled for launch between 2015 and 2017, Iridium NEXT's low-latency, 66 cross-linked Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites make it uniquely suited to meet the technical demands of global air traffic monitoring.
Iridium NEXT (constellation)
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Iridium NEXT is a planned satellite constellation, foreseen to replace the Iridium constellation.
Iridium NEXT is a second-generation worldwide network of telecommunications satellites, consisting of 66 satellites and six in-orbit and nine ground spares. These satellites will incorporate features such as data transmission which were not emphasized in the original design. The original plan was to begin launching new satellites in 2014. Satellites will incorporate additional payload such as cameras and sensors in collaboration with some customers and partners. Iridium can also be used to provide a data link to other satellites in space, enabling command and control of other space assets regardless of the position of ground stations and gateways. The constellation will provide L-band data speeds of up to 1.5 Mbit/s and High-speed Ka-Band service of up to 8 Mbit/s. The existing constellation of satellites is expected to remain operational until Iridium NEXT is fully operational.
The Iridium constellation is owned and operated by Iridium Communications Inc.
Masten Space Systems
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Masten Space Systems is an US rocket company that is currently developing a line of reusable spacecraft, and related rocket propulsion hardware.
Masten Space Systems designs, builds, tests and operates reusable launch vehicles.
Masten Space Systems competed in the NASA and Northrop Grumman Lunar Lander Challenge X Prize in 2009, winning the level one second prize and the level two first prize. On November 2, 2009 it was announced that Masten Space Systems had won first place in the level two category, with Armadillo Aerospace coming in second.
Space Operations Inc.
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Space Operations, Inc. (SpaceOps) was established to satisfy a growing world-wide demand for a reliable and affordable spacecraft vehicle with capacity for carrying flight crews and vital cargo into space.
Mission Statement: To provide a crew launch capability, based in the the U.S., at the earliest possible time.
Space Operations was founded in 2011.
TS Space Systems
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TS-Space Systems is a British company providing solar simulator technology to the space industry.