News
Catch the latest on Bradford Space activities
BRADFORD SPACE ACHIEVES EARLY DELIVERY OF HIGH POWER PCDU ENGINEERING MODEL FOR THE EXPLORATION COMPANY
Luxembourg (July 13, 2023)
Bradford Space, a leading global developer and manufacturer of advanced satellite sub-systems and components, has successful delivered, ahead of schedule, the engineering model of its high power SuperNova power conditioning and distribution unit (PCDU) to The Exploration Company. The 1.2 kilowatt PCDU, part of Bradford Space’s modular avionics stack, will serve as the centerpiece of the electrical power system for the company’s upcoming second demonstrator flight (“Mission Possible”) which is set to launch in 2024.
“We are excited to leverage the flexibility, compact size and lightweight design of our modular avionics solutions to power The Exploration Company’s in-orbit vehicle demonstrator. This early delivery illustrates our firm commitment to delivering high-quality products, on time and at competitive cost” stated Quentin Mannes, Power Products Lead at Bradford Space. The company will deliver two additional flight units before the end of 2023.
The SuperNova PCDU is part of Bradford Space’s modular avionics stack; an extensively configurable, high-reliability, mass- and size-optimized integrated avionics solution. This system combines, as needed, a high-availability onboard computer, a dedicated data handling system, a propulsion controller, and a ranging transponder - all of which can be seamlessly assembled into a single, compact unit. Through its highly modular design, each of these subsystems can be configured to meet the specific requirements of any mission while maintaining a competitive edge in terms of cost, lead time, size, and weight.
About The Exploration Company
The mission of the French-German company is to democratize space exploration for space and non-space industries. To realize this mission, The Exploration Company develops, manufactures, and operates Nyx, a modular and reusable orbital vehicle which can be refueled in orbit. Nyx serves the low Earth orbit (LEO) and lunar destinations and starts with carrying cargo, with the growth potential to fly humans afterwards. The Exploration Company was founded in 2021 by experienced engineers and has raised one of the biggest Seed Series in Europe backed by tier-one investors (Promus Ventures, Cherry, Vsquared).
About Bradford Space
Bradford Space is a leading subsystem supplier to aerospace primes, space agencies and venture-backed space companies around the world with over 2000 products in space. It has nearly 40 years’ experience in developing and manufacturing state-of-the-art in-orbit propulsion subsystems and components. Bradford Space’s expertise spans from avionics, attitude orbit control systems and microgravity workspaces to high performance spacecraft thruster systems in which it became a world-leader for non-toxic propellants.
MoU
IAC2022, Paris - Sep, 2022
Bradford Space and SSC - Swedish Space Corporation are extending its 2021 #MOU bringing in the #robotics capabilities of Redwire Space and strengthen our proposition for future #activedebrisremoval #adr capabilities, supported by Rymdstyrelsen and Luxembourg Space Agency.
Bradford Space is an American Industrial Acquisition Corporation company.
300th thruster tested!
Solna, Sweden - Jun 29,2022
Today, Wednesday 29th of June, ECAPS test team completed hot fire testing of our 300th thruster at our test facility in Grindsjön Sweden.
The 300th thruster was a 1N thruster which will be delivered to one of our many customers of our world class high performance green propulsion for satellite applications.
For more information, please contact: Robert de Try (Site Director, Bradford ECAPS)
Email: robert.detry@bradford-ecaps.com
Orbital Debris Removal Services MoU Signed By Swedish Space + Bradford Space / ECAPS
Dubai, October 27, 2021
ECAPS, a leading manufacturer of non-toxic propulsion systems a Swedish space company that was established in 2000 by the Swedish Space Corporation (SSC) and Volvo Aero, have signed an Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the collaborative offering of orbital debris removal services. Starting in 2024, SSC and Bradford Space will offer orbital debris removal as a commercial service from Esrange Space Center in northern Sweden.
The agreement was just signed at IAC 2021 in Dubai. The new services will address the issue of common orbits becoming increasingly congested as more actors are accessing space, creating a hazard to other spacecraft using these orbits.
A Bradford Space satellite bus, named ‘Square Rocket’, with significant delta-V capability, will be inserted into orbit via launch from the Esrange Space Center to then rendezvous with and de-orbit the debris. The target orbits are high-inclination polar, including SSO. The orbital debris removal service will be provided from the new spaceport facility now being built at Esrange Space Center that will be ready for launch in 2022. The service will showcase Sweden as a leader in debris mitigation and an advocate for a sustainable use of space.
“Bradford Space / ECAPS is very excited to team up with SSC for this venture, which is based on exceptional complementary capabilities from both Swedish entities”, said Patrick van Put, Managing Director for Bradford Space European operations. “We are proud to collaborate with trusted partner Bradford Space / ECAPS to offer another valuable service from one of the world’s most versatile space centers in northern Sweden”, said Henrik Pettersson, Head of Business Development for SSC’s Science and Launch Services.
Bradford’s
Comet production
moves to Luxembourg
Luxembourg, September 7, 2021
SAN FRANCISCO – Bradford Space is updating its Comet electrothermal propulsion technology and transferring production of the small satellite thrusters from the United States to Luxembourg.
“The Luxembourg ecosystem allows more supportive financing of the venture of improving the technology, transferring the technology and building a facility,” said Patrick van Put, Bradford Space managing director.
Bradford Space gained the Comet propulsion technology when it acquired Deep Space Industries in 2019. At the time, New York-based Bradford Space, a firm with roots in Bradford Engineering B.V. of the Netherlands, opted to close the San Jose, California, facility where the propulsion systems were manufactured due to high costs.
Since then, Bradford Space has found a new home for Comet manufacturing in Luxembourg, where the company won the support of the Luxembourg Space Agency and funding through LuxImpulse, a national research and development program.
With that funding, Bradford Space plans to establish a facility in Luxembourg to manufacture an updated version of the thrusters for the global market.
By moving manufacturing to Luxembourg, Bradford Space also gains access to the European market,” van Put told SpaceNews.
Bradford Space is updating Comet technology “to improve the design and to make it more robust with a better lifetime and better performance,” van Put said. Once that work is completed the firm will conduct a design review of the new product before commencing manufacturing.
“We will get into the industrialization phase and be ready to deliver flight systems from Luxembourg in 2023,” van Put said.
Hawkeye 360 is Comet customer. LeoStella, the Spaceflight Industries-Thales Alenia Space joint venture, also installed Comet thrusters on Blacksky Earth-observation satellites.
Based on early success in orbit, one customer that Bradford Space does not have permission to name ordered a set of four Comet propulsion units, van Put said.
While Bradford Space establishes its new facility in Luxembourg, the company is satisfying current orders for Comet thrusters by producing them in the Netherlands “with the help of the Luxembourg team,” van Put said.
The first Comet thruster launched in 2018. Twelve Comet thrusters are currently propelling satellites in orbit, van Put said.
ECAPS is 20
Solna, Sweden - November 28, 2020
ECAPS is celebrating 20 years in High Performance Green Propulsion. What began as a collaboration with SSC, Volvo Aero and the Swedish Government back in the mid 1990’s, was inaugurated as ECAPS company on 28th November 2000. Since then we have been developing and testing Green propellants, engines, systems and technology. Now, 20 years later, we continue to deliver products to our World-wide customers with a class-topping range of high-performance thrusters, and expertise. Now part of Bradford Space group, the company is still based in Solna, Sweden where we started.
Bradford ECAPS tests 200th thruster
Solna, Sweden - September 15, 2020
Wednesday 15th September, Bradford ECAPS will hot fire test our 200th thruster at our test facility in Grindsjön Sweden.
The 200th thruster will be a production 1N thruster which will eventually join the many others which are currently in orbit providing high performance green propulsion for many satellite applications.
Space Propulsion 2020 Conference
Heerle, Netherlands - June 16, 2020
We’re all missing face to face business contact with travel halted and conferences and meetings going virtual. So, at Bradford Space and ECAPS we are looking ahead to events on the horizon. Notably as gold sponsors of Space Propulsion 2020, which is planned for 8-12 February 2021 in Estoril, Portugal. Please see us at Booth 19 and attend our talks:
• 00473 ECAPS HPGP 1N Thruster Development and Implementation – State of the Art and Heritage. Presented by Wilhelm Dingertz
• 00455 Proba-2 Cool Gas Generator Experiment: 10 years in orbit, experiences and lessons learned. Co-authored by Bradford, Presented by Berry Sanders
• 00318 Ongoing Development of Next-Generation Electric Propulsion Fluid Management Systems. Presented by Johan Kuiper
• 00288 Ongoing Satellite Propulsion Activities at Bradford Space. Presented by William van Meerbeeck
Bradford ECAPS Site News
Stockholm, Sweden - June 15, 2020
Bradford ECAPS Celebrates 10 Years in Orbit
On the sunny afternoon of June 15th 2010, a Dnepr rocket sat quietly in a Yasny missile silo. On board was the Prisma spacecraft, a Swedish technology demonstrator mission that was the culmination of five years planning and execution in Solna, Sweden. Prisma was a 190 kg combined satellite and target drone designed to investigate techniques for formation flying and rendezvous in low Earth orbit under autonomous control. The launch went ahead as scheduled at 14:42, releasing Prisma into orbit 16 minutes later.
This launch was significant for Bradford ECAPS as it included the first HPGP rocket engines on a spacecraft. Two 1N HPGP thrusters were fitted to the satellite to provide orbit maintenance throughout the mission.
When Prisma was launched, the 1N HPGP thruster was the highest performance monopropellant thruster in the world. Today, 10 years later, it still is. The technology demonstrated on Prisma continues, as further variants of the original 1N HPGP design are in continuous production and supplied to customers around the world.
SkySat Systems Ready for Launch
The Bradford ECAPS propulsion systems for SkySats 16 – 18 are fueled and ready for lift-off at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station USA onboard the SpaceX Falcon 9 Starlink 8 mission. Three other systems, for SkySats 19 – 21, will be launched later this summer on another SpaceX Falcon 9. For more details on this SkySat Block 3 mission go to Planet’s announcement SkySats 16-21 To Launch On SpaceX Falcon 9 Rideshare Missions.
The SkySat propulsion is a highly compact system originally designed by ECAPS for Skybox Imaging, now Planet. The SkySat spacecraft are powered by four 1N HPGP thrusters and ADN propellant, providing the highest performance in the liquid monopropellant market.
To date, 19 propulsion systems have been delivered to Planet of which 13 have been successfully deployed and are operating in orbit. Earlier successful launches in this series are:
• SkySat 3 – Launched in June 2016 from Satish Dhawan Space Centre, India (Antrix’s PSLV, C-34)
• SkySats 4-7 – Launched in September 2016 from Guiana Space Centre, French Guiana (Arianespace’s Vega, 007)
• SkySats 8-13 – Launched in October 2017 from Vandenberg Air Force Base, USA (Orbital ATK’s Minotaur-C, 010)
• SkySats 14-15 – Launched in December 2018 from Vandenberg Air Force Base, USA (SpaceX’s Falcon 9, 064)
1N HPGP Thrusters
Bradford Space and ECAPS continues manufacturing and delivery of the high performance (HPGP) 1N thruster for our satellite customers’ attitude and orbit control needs. We are happy to have a large number of these thrusters on order, in production and at the customer. These include:
• Preparatory activities for Moog’s first SL-OMV mission out of the United Kingdom with a scheduled delivery of 6 units in Q3, 2020. For more information about this mission, see Small Launch Orbital Manoeuvring Vehicle will Enable UK Launched Small Satellite Missions.
• Procurement and manufacturing begun on 100 thrusters for Boeing.
• Eight 1N HPGP High Throughput systems for the first Astranis micro-GEO mission. Targeting delivery by Q3 and ready for launch Q1, 2021 this program will feature an innovative combined HPGP / EP system.
• Twelve thrusters delivered to VACCO in Q4 2019 and the latest four have been delivered in March 2020 for use on Millennium Space Systems ALTAIR spacecraft.
• Four thrusters delivered to NanoAvionics in early May 2020.
• A double-capacity SkySat-like system is being engineered and built at Bradford Space in the Netherlands for York Space Systems, US, with a scheduled delivery in Q2, 2021.
Other Upcoming Missions Equipped with ECAPS Thrusters
• The Astroscale ELSA-d, launching in October 2020 (TBC), will have eight 1N HPGP thrusters.
• Fueling of the ArgoMoon subsystem, built by VACCO and powered by one ECAPS 100mN thruster with ADN propellant, is scheduled to be “fueled at the factory” at one of the ECAPS facilities in Sweden in Q4, 2020.
• One tailored SkySat system, comprising four ECAPS 1N HPGP thrusters on the Blue Canyon Tetra-3 mission for launch in Q1, 2021
Bradford Space group acquires control of Deep Space Industries, Inc.
San Jose, California, USA - January 2, 2019
Bradford Space, a U.S.-owned space systems manufacturer with locations in the Netherlands and Sweden, announced today that it has acquired control over Deep Space Industries, Inc., often known as DSI. In becoming part of the Bradford group, DSI will become Bradford’s first substantial U.S. presence, providing an outlet and location for activities in the U.S. space market. Founded in 2012 as an ambitious venture to mine the resources of the asteroids, DSI has more recently become known for its production of the Comet™ water-based electrothermal propulsion systems. Four Comet systems are currently on orbit on spacecraft operated by Capella Space and HawkEye 360. Other customers of DSI include LeoStella, a joint venture of Spaceflight and Thales Alenia Space, and the Space Flight Laboratory (SFL), a satellite development group inside the University of Toronto. Said Bradford Director Ian Fichtenbaum, “We appreciate the strong support shown by DSI’s customers for the Comet product. Their ongoing interest gave us the confidence in continuing to develop the product line.”
The addition of the Comet product line is seen as critical to Bradford’s development as a world-leading supplier of non-toxic space propulsion systems and will be a complement to the Bradford ECAPS ‘green’ propulsion systems. ECAPS propulsion systems are already found on fifteen orbiting spacecraft with more planned for launch in 2019, said Bradford & ECAPS Managing director Patrick van Put. ECAPS propulsion systems were found on three spacecraft on the recently launched Spaceflight SSO-A mission, alongside four spacecraft equipped with DSI Comet systems.
In acquiring control of DSI, Bradford has also assumed ownership and continued development of the Xplorer mission bus, a project by DSI to provide a lower-cost basis for deep space missions. Said Ian, “The DSI team provided very innovative solutions to the problem of exploring the solar system at a reasonable cost, and we are eager to see if that can be developed with the help of Bradford technologies. We believe in developing and exploring the riches of the solar system and we want to be among the ones to make it happen”
Going forward, DSI will be rebranded as Bradford Space, Inc., or colloquially as ‘BSI’, in reference to the former name. DSI operations will also continue in San Jose, California in the heart of Silicon Valley, but now under the Bradford name and leadership. For more information about Bradford Space, visit www.bradford-space.com.
ECAPS ‘green’ propulsion set to launch on first U.S. DoD spacecraft with Sierra Nevada Corporation’s STPSat-5
November 15, 2018
Bradford Space’s line of ‘green’ non-toxic ECAPS propulsion will soon be going to space again, now for the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD). STPSat-5, a space technology demonstration mission built by Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC) based on its new SN-50 small satellite bus, will be joining around 70 other small satellites on the upcoming Spaceflight ‘SSO-A’ mission out of Vandenberg Air Force Base, currently scheduled for November 19th. The launch will mark the first time that a U.S. DoD mission will be using the Bradford ECAPS LMP-103S green propellant.
Among other spacecraft on the launch, the STPSat-5 spacecraft will be launching alongside two Planet SkySats which are also equipped with ECAPS thrusters - making a total of three spacecraft on the launch with ECAPS systems. Joining a dozen others, this launch would increase the number of ECAPS-enabled spacecraft in orbit to 15.
The STPSat-5 payloads are provided by Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command (SPAWAR), the U.S. Air Force Academy, the Naval Research Laboratory (NRL), and the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL). As the prime contractor, SNC designed and built the STPSat-5 spacecraft and integrated the government payloads. Bradford is proud to provide the capabilities of the ECAPS system to this user community.
Said Bradford Director Ian Fichtenbaum, “The era of using toxic, expensive and inefficient hydrazine propellant on U.S. government space missions is coming to an end. We’re glad that ECAPS can be a part of that change.”
Also noted by SNC’s senior director of programs in spacecraft systems, within SNC’s Space Systems business area, Joel Nelson. “It’s been great working with ECAPS and providing a green non-toxic propulsion is a big step. We are always looking for ways to make space safer and more efficient, and this is a great example of being able to do that.”
STPSat-5 is the first mission to fly SNC’s versatile SN-50 bus, which has both low-Earth orbit and geosynchronous-Earth orbit capabilities. The vehicle is fully compatible with the standard Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV) Secondary Payload Adapter and is an ideal choice for a variety of operational, technology demonstration, and science missions. The inclusion of ECAPS propulsion on the SN-50 bus is seen as a great benefit, enabling rapid, low-risk pre-launch fueling campaigns and ‘fuel at the factory’ capabilities. The ECAPS propulsion also enables the SN-50 bus to be integrated on a wide variety of small launch vehicles.
The ECAPS HPGP ‘High Performance Green Propulsion’ technology is an emerging choice by spacecraft manufacturers as an enhanced alternative to existing hydrazine-based solutions. The system provides a unique high-density storage, is high-performant and, due to the low-toxicity and low sensitivity of the propellant, easy to transport and handle. These unique assets provide manufacturers and operators potentially profound savings through the elimination of launch-site fueling and enhancing overall spacecraft payload mass. To date, a dozen orbiting spacecraft have used ECAPS propulsion systems, performing dozens of on-orbit maneuvers per month. Several additional ECAPS-equipped spacecraft, including imaging satellites and various U.S. government missions, are slated for launch in the coming year.
Life Sciences Glovebox
installed on the ISS
November 7, 2018
In early November, astronauts installed the newest Bradford glovebox on the International Space Station (ISS). The Life Sciences Glovebox (LSG) will provide with 450 liters the largest work volume currently available on-orbit, and will supplement the Bradford gloveboxes already in the ISS.
The LSG was originally developed and built in the 2000 to 2005 timeframe and at the time it was intended inside a laboratory module of the ISS. When this module was cancelled in the wake of the accident with the space shuttle Colombia, the LSG was put into storage. Two years ago an opportunity was identified to launch the LSG and place the facility in the Japanse Kibo module on the ISS. The LSG was successfully carried to the space station last September by the unmanned HTV-7 cargo supply spacecraft. Since the arrival of the HTV-7 at the space station, astronauts have unpacked the LSG and installed it in its permanent location inside Kibo. Commissioning of the LSG will continue well into November, after which the large facility will be available for the first science experiments.
In addition to the large work volume, the LSG allows two astronauts simultaneous interaction with an experiment inside and improved air handling and filtration systems making it optimal suited for biological and life sciences research. The LSG was designed from the start to feature a large removable front window which can be fully opened to gain access to the work volume.
In addition to featuring unique capabilities, the new LSG will also off-load some of the work performed in the Microgravity Science Glovebox (MSG). MSG was launched in 2002 and received a major upgrade last year with the introduction to a removable front window to replace the original fixed front window. Since 2002 the MSG has already accumulated more than 43,000 hours of operations and it is one of the most intensively used science facilities on the station.
Bradford to be present at IAC
Bremen and ESTEC Open Day
September 25, 2018
HEERLE, NETHERLANDS - From the 1st until 5th of October 2018 Bradford will participate to the 69th International Astronautical Congress (IAC) in Bremen, Germany. The IAC is the annual gathering of key players within the worldwide satellite industry, and also Bradford Space will be present in Bremen. Come and meet us at the NL Space pavillion.
Visit for more information on what The Netherlands space industry has to offer this website.
On Sunday October 7, 2018 Bradford will participate to the annual Open Day at the ESA technical centre ESTEC in Noordwijk, The Netherlands. On this day, the general public has a rare opportunity to access the impressive facilities at ESTEC.
Bradford Space employees will be supporting the ESTEC Open Day by showcasing spaceflight hardware and answering questions from the public.
For more on the ESTEC Open Day, visit the ESA website.
We are looking forward to meet you in Bremen and Noordwijk!
Bradford Acquires Heerle Facility, Partners with ING for Growth
July 6, 2018
HEERLE, NETHERLANDS - In a transaction that closed June 29th, 2018, Bradford Engineering BV acquired ownership of its facilities in Heerle, The Netherlands. The facilities consist of approximately 2000 m^2 of production, engineering, clean rooms and administrative space in a number of buildings.
The Heerle facility, which was originally designed and built for Bradford's use, was not part of an earlier sale of the company. In acquiring the facility, both the business and the property are being reunited under common ownership, which has been AIAC since its acquisition of Bradford in November 2016.
Said Managing Director Patrick van Put "This is a great milestone for Bradford. With ownership of our property, we are ready for growth and expansion".
The transaction was made possible by a partnership with ING bank, which provided a mortgage for the sale. In addition, ING provided substantial credit facilities to fund growth and expansion of Bradford.
Astranis selects Bradford’s high performance ECAPS thrusters for its spacecraft propulsion
June 14, 2018
Astranis (www.astranis.com), the San Francisco-based company building the next generation of telecommunications satellites, announced today the selection of Bradford’s (www.bradford-space.com) high performance green ECAPS propulsion for the Astranis MicroGEO spacecraft. The selection slates the integration of eight ECAPS thrusters aboard each Astranis spacecraft, with an initial order for up to twelve spacecraft. The selection also included Electrical Propulsion (EP) feed systems and a set of 8 CoSine Sun Sensors, all produced by the Bradford Space group, involving both the Netherlands and Swedish locations.
This announcement marks the introduction of the ECAPS (www.ecaps.space) propulsion system to geostationary orbit activities, a domain typically dominated by very large telecommunications satellites needing long duration station-keeping capabilities. Traditionally, these satellites have used hydrazine-based thrusters, which are expensive to handle in the loading and pre-launch phase of a spacecraft’s preparation.
With ECAPS, Astranis will be able to fuel its satellites for launch quickly and at low cost at its own production facility, avoiding expensive handling facilities at the launch site. Further, given the higher performance of ECAPS, the satellites will be able to function longer than they otherwise would have using hydrazine.
Said John Gedmark, CEO and co-Founder of Astranis, “Astranis is delighted to partner with Bradford ECAPS on our GEO spacecraft. The ECAPS technology is mature and ready to be deployed on a large scale. Their team impressed us with their ability to move quickly and their ability to execute, and we are looking forward to working with them.”
Said Ian Fichtenbaum, Director of Bradford ECAPS, “The Astranis plan for small highly capable satellites is an impressive one and we are extremely pleased that ECAPS will be their propulsion system of choice. We are looking forward to working with Astranis to make their platform a highly capable one.”
“Bradford’s ECAPS High Performance Green Propulsion technology is an emerging choice by spacecraft manufacturers as an enhanced alternative to existing hydrazine-based solutions. The system provides a unique high-density storage, is high-performant and, due to the low-toxicity and low sensitivity of the propellant, easy to transport and handle. These unique assets provide manufacturers and operators potentially profound savings through the elimination of launch-site fueling and enhancing overall spacecraft payload mass. To date, a dozen orbiting spacecraft have used ECAPS propulsion systems, performing dozens of on-orbit maneuvers per month. Several additional ECAPS-equipped spacecraft, including imaging satellites and a U.S. government technology satellite, are slated for launch later this year,” said Patrick van Put, Managing Director of Bradford Engineering and Bradford ECAPS. Van Put also notes that the package agreement leverages the unique capabilities of the Dutch and Swedish satellite component builders respectively.
Bradford Gloveboxes Featured in BIS/Spaceflight Magazine
March 28, 2018
The March 2018 issue of the BIS/Spaceflight magazine featured an article on the current and upcoming Bradford glovebox facilities on the ISS.
Bradford glovebox facilities have flown into space already during the shuttle missions of the 1990s. Since 2002 the Microgravity Sciences Glovebox (MSG) is one of the most intensively utilized facilities aboard the International Space Station. In the Summer of 2018 the largest glovebox ever flown, the Life Sciences Glovebox with its 420 liter work volume, will be delivered to the station, enabling new and unique possibilities for on-orbit research.
The BIS/Spaceflight article can be accessed below (courtesy of the British Interplaneary Society).
Bradford Featured in Regional SME Magazine
December 13, 2017
Recently Bradford had the opportunity to present our company in the Dutch book “Roadtrip langs MKB-parels van West-Brabant”. The title loosely translates into English as “Roadtrip along SME-Pearls of West-Brabant”, and Bradford is indeed proud to be one of the nineteen companies selected as a “pearl” in our region.
Another Six ECAPS Space Systems Commissioned Into Service
November 21, 2017
Following the launch of six Planet SkySats on a Minotaur-C rocket from Vandenberg Air Force Base on October 31st, 2017, Bradford ECAPS announces the successful commissioning of all six propulsion systems from ECAPS, including firings of the 1 Newton maneuvering thrusters. This was confirmed through a series of tests and maneuvers conducted by Planet from November 7 to November 16. The successful launch, deployment and commissioning takes the number of successful spacecraft with ECAPS thrusters to 12 and the number of ECAPS thrusters on orbit to 48. The spacecraft constellation will be used to further Planet’s mission to provide geospatial information to its customers.
Said Mathias Persson, Business Director of Bradford ECAPS, the builder of the propulsion subsystems and thrusters “We are very pleased to see the successful commissioning of our subsystems. It is fantastic to see the fruits of all the hard work between our employees and our suppliers and, of course, our partner Planet”.
Said Pete Friedhoff, Propulsion Lead for Planet, “We’ve successfully completed commissioning of the newest six ECAPS systems on SkySat-8 through SkySat-13. The propulsion modules are healthy and performing nominally. I’m extremely pleased with the operational performance of the 11 ECAPS systems across Planet’s SkySat fleet.”
SECAPS’ High Performance Green Propulsion technology is an emerging choice by spacecraft manufacturers as an enhanced alternative to existing hydrazine based solutions. The system provides a unique high-density storage, is high-performant and, due to the low-toxicity and low sensitivity of the propellant, easy to transport and handle. These unique assets provide manufacturers and operators potentially profound savings through the elimination of launch-site fueling and enhancing overall spacecraft payload mass. In addition to further SkySats, ECAPS thrusters are slated to be part of satellite missions in the US and Asia to be launched in the next two years.
Said Ian Fichtenbaum, Director of Bradford ECAPS, “It is a very exciting time for Bradford ECAPS and the ECAPS system. The system allows the total cost of ownership and time to handle spacecraft to potentially fall dramatically, thus opening space operations to a whole new level. We look forward to getting the message out to the community."
Upcoming Launch Represents a Major Milestone for Clean and Non-Toxic Spacecraft Propulsion
October 11, 2017
An upcoming launch of an Orbital ATK Minotaur-C rocket will be carrying six Planet SkySat earth observation satellites, each equipped with ECAPS-built (www.ecaps.space) propulsion systems. This will be the most significant launch to date for ECAPS ‘green’ high performance propulsion systems, which increases payload carrying capability for spacecraft builders while offering a high performance but non-toxic and easy and safe-to-handle solution to their needs. And while several orbiting spacecraft currently use ECAPS, such as the European PRISMA and previous elements of the Planet SkySat constellation, this will be the largest deployment to date of ‘green’ non-toxic spacecraft propulsion.
Most spacecraft to date have typically employed maneuvering thrusters which use hydrazine, a simple and effective but highly toxic and dangerous fuel. Handling and transporting hydrazine has typically been a very costly and dangerous activity, a fact that often makes space missions even more expensive and complicated than they already are. Special hazard suits, handling procedures, facilities and expensive special-purpose transport planes are common. ECAPS, however, uses a propellant blend (LMP-103S) that is so safe that it can be transported on commercial aircraft and be handled with only simple safety measures. In addition, the blend is higher density than hydrazine, a fact that helps ECAPS be more efficient than hydrazine while being cleaner and lower cost. The higher efficiency allows for spacecraft to have longer lives in space or carry larger payloads.
The ECAPS system was developed in Sweden by the company of the same name over the course of most of the last two decades. After incubating within the Swedish government-owned Swedish Space Corporation, ECAPS was acquired earlier this year and merged with Bradford (www.bradford-space.com), a Netherlands-based builder and developer of propulsion subsystems and attitude control systems. Bradford and ECAPS are both owned by AIAC, a privately-held US-based global industrial group.
Said Ian Fichtenbaum, Director of Bradford and AIAC’s space and satellite specialist: “This is truly an international collaboration of European and American companies and technologies coming together to make going to space an ecologically friendly endeavor. We are very happy to be involved in this ground-breaking technology”
The Minotaur launch is scheduled to occur October 31st, 2017 out of Vandenberg Air Force Base, California. Key members of AIAC, ECAPS and Bradford will be in attendance, in addition to teams from Planet and Orbital ATK..
Bradford ECAPS Performs “Green” Propellant Loading
September 26, 2017
Bradford ECAPS has now performed the first US “green” propellant satellite fuelling campaign within the Orbital ATK facilities at Vandenberg Air Force Base (VAFB) in California. During this campaign, six SkySats (Planet Labs Inc.) were fuelled with LMP-103S propellant. The propellant handling, including the loading of the satellites, was regarded as non-hazardous operations by the range safety. Only the dynamic gas pressurisation operations of the propulsion systems were judged as hazardous.
The fuelling operations were completed by a four-man crew within a seven day week from arrival to pressurisation of the last satellite. The crew was a team of personnel from Bradford ECAPS, MOOG and NASA. Only simple personal protective equipment (PPE) for handling of regular chemicals was used during the operations, while traditional propellants require so called SCAPE operations. The propellant was transported by a passenger aircraft from Stockholm Arlanda Airport, Sweden, to Los Angeles International Airport, which would be impossible for a Hydrazine propellant.
The six SkySats are scheduled to be launched from VAFB on an Orbital ATK Minotaur-C rocket on October 31. Bradford ECAPS is the result of a recent acquisition of the Swedish company ECAPS AB by the Bradford Holding Company Ltd., which is the controlling shareholder of Bradford BV in Netherlands.
ECAPS is known for their low-toxic, so called “green”, alternative to existing hydrazine based space propulsion solutions. The High Performance Green Propulsion (HPGP) technology includes the monopropellant LMP-103S and thrusters optimized for this propellant.
The HPGP technology is space proven by the PRISMA mission launched in 2010, followed by the launches of one SkySat from India and four SkySats from French Guyana during 2016.
Bradford Acquires ECAPS
July 7, 2017
Bradford has acquired 100% of the shares of ECAPS AB from SSC (Swedish Space Corporation), resulting in a major expansion into non-toxic spacecraft propulsion systems.
In a definitive agreement reached July 6th, 2017, the shares of ECAPS AB, a Sweden-based developer and manufacturer of non-toxic (aka: green) space propulsion systems, were sold to the Bradford Holding Company Ltd., which is the controlling shareholder of Bradford, a Netherlands-based builder of spacecraft control & components and micro-gravity facilities for the space station. The acquisition represents an expansion of Bradford’s product lines into full propulsions systems. The two companies will continue to operate substantially standalone from each other, while taking advantage of synergies in marketing, engineering and administration.
ECAPS, otherwise known as Ecological Advanced Propulsion Systems, is an emerging choice by spacecraft manufacturers as an alternative to existing hydrazine based solutions. Compared to traditional propulsion, High Performance Green Propulsion (HPGP) provides higher specific impulse and higher propellant density, which results in increased performance. The propellant is based on ADN (Ammonium DiNitrimide) and is considerably less toxic, non- carcinogenic and much simpler to handle than hydrazine. The architecture of HPGP propulsion systems consists of commercial components with extensive flight heritage. The technology enables a simplified transition away from hydrazine, and allows overall reduced mission cost.
Spacecraft that have used ECAPS thrusters include Planet (formerly Terra Bella/Skybox Imaging) SkySats, which are inherited from the former PRISMA successes.
“Current exciting industry trends looking for non-toxic propellant solutions, together with a rapidly growing interest in small satellites, yields a unique strategic fit with Bradford” said Patrick van Put, Technical & Business director of Bradford.
The acquisition of ECAPS represents the first under its current ownership by AIAC and furthers AIAC’s interest in expanding throughout various sectors of the space and satellite industry. “Acquiring ECAPS is a special moment in our development of Bradford and AIAC as a substantial player in the space systems market. We are delighted that have been able to grow with the acquisition of such an exciting set of products for the new space market”, said Ian Fichtenbaum, director of Bradford and the space and satellite specialist for AIAC.
The ECAPS product line will continue to be marketed to the space systems community, now under the label of “Bradford ECAPS”. Senior members of both the Bradford and ECAPS teams will be reaching out to the community, most significantly at the July 10th-12th AIAA/SAE/ASEE Propulsion & Energy conference in Atlanta, Georgia and at the August 5th-10th 31st AIAA/USU Conference on Small Satellites in Logan, Utah.
NASA Completes Assessment on Bradford Reaction Wheels
June 16, 2017
Recently NASA has completed an independent technical evaluation of the Bradford Reaction Wheel Unit (RWU) product as a potential alternative to the existing offerings from US-domestic reaction wheel suppliers.
The assessment covers all NASA programs planning to use reaction wheels as spacecraft attitude control actuators, and concludes that the Bradford reaction wheel product line appears to be an attractive, foreign manufactured, alternative for consideration on some of NASA future missions.
It is a reasonable option for NASA spaceflight programs to carefully evaluate the Bradford reaction wheel for their specific mission-unique spacecraft ACS application. Depending on the specific lifetime and performance requirements, the Bradford wheel could be a viable candidate for consideration by a NASA program, project, or mission.
Two Gloveboxes Featured on NASA Website
June 14, 2017
NASA has featured an extensive article on two of Bradford glovebox facilities currently on – or planned for delivery in the near future to – the International Space Station.
Microgravity Science Glovebox
The Microgravity Science Glovebox (MSG), has been on-orbit since June 2002 and has been one of the most-utilized science investigation facilities on the ISS. Any glovebox intended for space provides an enclosed volume, at a slight underpressure compared to the main cabin, allowing astronauts to perform experiments in a safe and controlled manner. The MSG in particular has a 250 litre work volume, providing various power and data interfaces and thermal control to an experiment. Up to earlier this year, access to the enclosed work volume of the MSG was granted by two 6-inch gloveports in the fixed front window or two relatively large 16-inch ports in the side panels. Last February, the fixed front window of the MSG was removed and replaced with a Removable Front Window (RFW) assembly. The new window allows for easier access to the MSG through the front, rather than smaller access ports on either side of the glovebox. This allows a significantly improved access and utilization of the work volume of the MSG facility.
Life Sciences Glovebox
Originally delivered for one of the cancelled laboratory modules of the ISS, NASA is planning to fly an other Bradford glovebox to the station in early 2018. The Life Sciences Glovebox (LSG) will with a 500-litre work volume the largest glovebox ever flown in space. It is well suited to allow various biological and life sciences related investigations, typically requiring the larger available interior volume. Also the LSG has a removable front window and two gloveports on each of the front and side panels, allowing multiple astronauts to work with an experiment inside at the same time.
The full story can be found here on the NASA website: https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/news/msg_new_window
New Record for Bradford Engineering
March 13, 2017
This past January’s successful launch of the first ten next-generation Iridium NEXT satellites aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket set a new record for Bradford Engineering. Each Iridium NEXT satellite was built with 8 Bradford Cosine Sun Sensors. In all, a total of 80 Bradford-built components were aboard this launch, a record for a single launch.
This launch is only the first of many launches: the full on-orbit constellation will consist of 72 satellites spread over an additional 7 launches. Over that period, a total of 576 Bradford Cosine Sun Sensors will be launched into space, the largest ever production run in Bradford’s history. Noted Bradford’s Chairman, Leonard M. Levie “This is an achievement of high quality, high volume production for commercial space projects. We hope to build on this success.” Bradford Director Ian Fichtenbaum added, “Commercial space projects are always demanding by way of cost and timeliness and we were glad to have met expectations with such a significant order”.
The Iridium NEXT satellites have been designed and built by Thales Alenia Space as prime contractor. Said Patrick van Put, Bradford’s Technical and Business Director”, Bradford was pleased to be part of the exceptional team that accomplished this great project. We hope to be collaborating with this team again”.
Founded in 1984, Bradford (www.bradford-space.com) is a Netherlands-based supplier of Attitude and Orbit Control Systems (AOCS), Propulsion, Avionics and Thermal solutions for spacecraft. Bradford is a member of the AIAC Group portfolio of companies. The AIAC Group consists of a network of 65 facilities in 17 countries, fabricating a variety of products, including insulated wire, precision tubing, castings, forgings, 3D printed parts, spacecraft components, printed circuit boards, fabricated and machined components, portable generators, fire extinguishing equipment, and pharmaceuticals.
Press contacts
Patrick van Put (Managing Director, Bradford and Bradford ECAPS)
Tel: +31 165 305 161
Email: p.vanput@bradford-space.com