11 missions the world doesn't know about
Away from the biggest names, there are some exciting plans in the pipeline from companies and agencies around the world
We bet you didn't know about these secret spacecraft
What are the first names that spring to mind when you think of space exploration? NASA? SpaceX? The European Space Agency? That’s completely reasonable, seeing as they are making tremendous strides forward in this field. However, space is not restricted, and there are companies and agencies from a variety of countries that have their own plans, ideas and visions for the future.
In 2018 the global space economy was estimated to be worth £319 billion ($414.75 billion), and that figure is only going to grow. With companies offering easier and more affordable rides into space, the number of satellites in low-Earth orbit is growing by the week, and countries and enterprises are also realising that it’s an industry that simply can’t be ignored. No one can be expected to know all the goings-on from around the world, so here we present a selection of 11 lesser known, but equally exciting projects that are looking to make a real impact in the new decade.
1 Perigee aerospace will test its blue Whale 1
A relatively unknown aerospace company from Daejeon, South Korea, is looking to unleash its own small launcher, with a maiden spaceflight scheduled for July 2020. This start-up has been developing a two-stage rocket called Blue Whale 1, and when operational it will be capable of transporting a 50-kilogram (110-pound) payload to a Sun-synchronous orbit.
Perigee Aerospace has claimed that Blue Whale 1 will be the smallest launcher in the world, standing at just 8.5-metres (28-feet) tall. The Atlas V twostage rocket, which is renowned for its launches in the US, towers over it at 58 metres (190 feet).
This tiny package packs a real punch though, and it can carry small payloads into low-altitude, highinclination orbits, which is ideal for weather, remotesensing and imaging satellites.
2 The ‘Internet of Things’ constellation
US-based company SpaceX has begun launching its Starlink constellation, which consists of a number of satellites that will eventually provide worldwide internet access. Obviously it helps if you have your own rockets to launch them, and even more so if you have a billionaire entrepreneur backing you.
There are many other companies who are looking to pull off a similar endeavour, and one of these, Sky and Space Global, is currently waiting for the funds to complete its ‘Internet of Things’ constellation.
Sky and Space Global, an Australian company with branches in the UK, Poland and Israel, plans to place 200 CubeSats into low-Earth orbit to provide low-data-rate communications. The short-term goal is to raise £8.3 million ($10.8 million) in order to get an initial eight satellites into orbit. If the finances become available,
Sky and Space Global will be able to launch its satellites, nicknamed ‘Pearls’, by the end of 2020. These satellites will provide high-quality voice and data communications and will be equipped with autonomous collision-avoidance software.