Anywaves’ Collaboration with Loft Orbital on the YAM Missions

Loft Orbital, a pioneering space-as-a-service company, has gained recognition for its innovative approach to satellite missions, offering customers access to space without the need for dedicated satellites. The company’s YAM (Yet Another Mission) series exemplifies this model, showcasing a versatile and scalable solution for deploying various payloads. These missions, including YAM-3, YAM-5, and YAM-6, serve a variety of commercial and scientific purposes, demonstrating the flexibility and cost-efficiency of shared satellite platforms.

We are very proud to announce that Loft Orbital has partnered with Anywaves to ensure reliable and high-performance communication systems for these missions. Anywaves has been selected to supply S-band antennas for the YAM series, playing a crucial role in ensuring robust and efficient communication for the satellites.

In this article, we will introduce the different YAM missions, their characteristics and purposes. We will also present the partnership between Loft Orbital and Anywaves, focusing on the antenna chosen to support the missions. Lastly, we will present the next steps and future launch dates of YAM-7 and YAM-8.

The YAM Series: A Global Constellation

The YAM (Yet Another Mission) series is a strategic initiative by Loft Orbital to create a flexible, multipurpose satellite constellation. Each YAM mission employs a standardized satellite bus that can host a wide variety of payloads, enabling rapid deployment and operational versatility. The primary goal of the YAM series is to democratize access to space by providing a shared platform where different organizations can deploy their payloads without the need for dedicated satellites. This approach significantly reduces costs and time-to-orbit, fostering innovation across the satellite industry. The constellation is designed to support applications ranging from Earth observation and IoT to advanced scientific research and technological demonstrations​.

Loft Orbital YAM 2 and YAM 3 satellites in orbit. Source: Sky-Brokers

YAM-3: Enhancing Multi-Payload Capabilities

Launched in June 2021, YAM-3 was a pivotal mission in Loft Orbital’s YAM series, which focuses on providing flexible and cost-effective satellite deployment solutions. YAM-3 was part of SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rideshare mission and featured a variety of payloads, demonstrating the platform’s versatility.

The YAM-3 satellite bus, developed by LeoStella, a joint venture between Thales Alenia Space and BlackSky, was designed to host multiple payloads simultaneously. The satellite measured approximately 70 x 70 x 90 cm and weighed around 150 kg. It carried a payload for DARPA’s Blackjack program, aimed at demonstrating advanced satellite constellation technologies for military applications. Additionally, it hosted an Internet of Things (IoT) payload for Eutelsat, designed to enhance global IoT connectivity.

Photo of LeoStella’s YAM-3 smallsat. Source: SatNews

Mission Outcomes

YAM-3 successfully demonstrated the effectiveness of Loft Orbital’s shared satellite platform. The DARPA Blackjack payload operated as intended, providing valuable data on satellite constellation capabilities. The Eutelsat IoT payload enhanced connectivity, supporting various IoT applications globally. Anywaves’ S-Band antennas played a crucial role in maintaining reliable communication, enabling the successful operation of these payloads​.

YAM-5: Advancing RF Space Labs

Launched in January 2023, YAM-5 continued to build on the successes of previous YAM missions. This mission featured the RF Space Lab, a reconfigurable radio-frequency payload designed by Loft Orbital for Kinéis, a leading IoT operator. The RF Space Lab facilitates in-orbit validation of various space technologies, providing a flexible testbed for new RF technologies.

The YAM-5 satellite bus, also developed by LeoStella, hosted multiple payloads and was designed for rapid integration and deployment. The satellite measured approximately 70 x 70 x 90 cm and weighed around 150 kg. Anywaves’ S-band antennas ensured robust communication, critical for the real-time data exchange required by the RF Space Lab​​.

Le satellite YAM-5 pendant la phase d’intégration. (Crédit : LORT ORBITAL)

Mission Outcomes

YAM-5 successfully validated various RF technologies in orbit, demonstrating the effectiveness of Loft Orbital’s shared satellite platform for rapid technology testing. The RF Space Lab provided valuable insights into new RF technologies, accelerating their development and deployment. Anywaves’ antennas played a key role in maintaining reliable communication, supporting the mission’s success​​.

YAM-6: Implementing Virtual Mission Capabilities

YAM-6, launched in March 2024, focused on enabling virtual missions through Loft Orbital’s Cockpit software. This innovative approach allows customers to deploy applications directly to the satellite, supported by a comprehensive SDK and APIs. The customer will have access to payloads including a hyperspectral imager, an RGB imager, a software-defined radio and an inter-satellite link for real-tie connectivity.

The satellite bus, developed by LeoStella, measured approximately 70 x 70 x 90 cm and weighed around 150 kg. The mission included various payloads, including AI and machine learning applications, demonstrating the versatility of the YAM platform.

Mission Outcomes

YAM-6 successfully demonstrated the capability of Loft Orbital’s platform to support virtual missions. The deployment of AI and machine learning applications in orbit showcased the flexibility and scalability of the YAM platform. Anywaves’ antennas ensured reliable communication, enabling the successful operation of these advanced payloads​.

Anywaves’ Contribution – S-Band Antenna

Anywaves provided specialized S-band antennas for all three of these missions. These antennas offer high gain and broad beamwidth, ensuring robust communication links between the satellite and ground stations. The S-band frequency range is particularly suitable for IoT and telemetry applications due to its balance between bandwidth and atmospheric penetration.

Technical Specifications and Performance

• Left or Right Hand circular polarization
• Full duplex Telemetry & Telecommand
• Hemispherical coverage
• HPBW > 90°
• Compact sizing: < 1U
• Radome protection against harsh environment: temperature & ESD

These specifications ensure stable and efficient communication, critical for the satellite’s multi-payload operations.

Anywaves’ S-band antennas are designed to meet the stringent requirements of space environments, including thermal extremes, radiation, and vacuum conditions. They offer high gain and broad beamwidth, ensuring consistent communication links. Their lightweight, compact design makes them suitable for integration with various satellite buses, enhancing the versatility and payload capacity of the missions they support.

Next Milestones for Loft Orbital’s YAM Series

YAM-7: Upcoming Mission with Delays

YAM-7 will carry a significant payload from Hydrosat, including the VanZyl-1 thermal infrared sensor. This mission aims to provide high-resolution thermal data for applications in agriculture, wildfire risk assessment, and water stress monitoring. The sensor will deliver daily, field-scale thermal infrared data, addressing a critical gap in the current market dominated by government programs​. The data collected will support Hydrosat’s efforts to deliver critical environmental insights and aid in climate change mitigation​​.

The YAM-7 mission, originally scheduled for launch on July 8, 2024, has been postponed. The delay follows an investigation into a recent anomaly involving SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket during a Starlink mission on July 11, 2024. The incident involved a failure in the upper stage engine, resulting in the Starlink satellites being placed in an incorrect orbit. As a precaution, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and SpaceX are conducting a thorough investigation to identify the root cause and prevent similar issues in future launches. Consequently, the YAM-7 mission is now expected to launch no earlier than August 15, 2024, depending on the investigation’s findings and subsequent clearance for flight​​.

Future Missions: YAM-8 and Beyond

Looking ahead, Loft Orbital is preparing for YAM-8, with a launch planned for later in 2024. This mission will continue to expand the capabilities of the YAM series by deploying multispectral and thermal infrared imaging instruments.

Loft Orbital’s strategy includes a steady cadence of launches, with plans for three to four missions annually. This consistent launch schedule supports their goal of developing a robust constellation capable of hosting a diverse array of payloads. The YAM series is designed to democratize access to space, offering a shared satellite platform that reduces costs and accelerates deployment timelines for both commercial and scientific applications.

As the YAM series progresses, we are very proud that Loft Orbital chooses to keep working closely with partners like Anywaves to integrate advanced technologies and ensure the success of their missions.

Conclusion

Through the YAM series, Loft Orbital has successfully demonstrated a flexible, shared satellite platform that democratizes access to space, allowing various organizations to deploy diverse payloads efficiently. Anywaves’ contribution through their S-band antennas has been pivotal in ensuring reliable communication across these missions, supporting the successful deployment and operation of advanced technologies like IoT, AI, and machine learning.

We now look forward to the launch of the upcoming YAM-7 mission, which promises to further enhance our understanding of environmental challenges through high-resolution thermal data. Anywaves is excited for the opportunity to keep working on future missions with Loft Orbital, as they plan multiple launches annually to support a wide range of commercial and scientific applications.