TrustPoint introduces a PNT cubesat into orbit.
On April 15, the Transporter-7 rideshare mission by SpaceX successfully launched a total of 51 satellites using the Falcon 9. The event was broadcasted on SpaceX's website.
A company called TrustPoint Inc. has launched its first satellite on April 15. The satellite was sent into space via a rideshare flight offered by SpaceX Transporter-7. TrustPoint Inc. is currently working on creating a global navigation satellite system that will use cubesats.
TrustPoint, which is situated in Leesburg, Virginia has finally launched after years of hard work showing that a cubesat can have an extremely precise positioning, navigation and timing facility.
To our knowledge, this is the initial PNT microsatellite that has been built with funding originating from commercial sources," stated Patrick Shannon, who is the CEO and co-founder of TrustPoint, in a conversation with SpaceNews.
In 2021, TrustPoint managed to gather $2 million for their venture, which aims to create a widespread system in low-Earth orbit for providing global PNT data. According to Shannon, this system will cost much less than a single GPS block three satellite. The TrustPoint team has been devotedly pursuing the development of their core technologies. They started with conceptualizing their ideas, moved on to building prototypes, conducted tests and are now demonstrating them. The team believes that this mission is the centrepiece of all their hard work.
The initial objective, which is named It's About Time, of TrustPoint is to concentrate on trying out, adjusting, and refining its payload technology. When the process of appointing someone for a particular job is finished, TrustPoint will take charge of the satellite and manage it by conducting various assessments and presentations.
TrustPoint has not disclosed the dimensions of the cube satellite or the identity of the manufacturer of the satellite. In order to carry out the launch, TrustPoint received assistance from Maverick Space Systems, which provides launch services and ridesharing.
TrustPoint is among several startups that are creating technology for positioning, navigation, and timing. They have no intention of taking the place of GPS. Instead, they are filling a need that the U.S. government has identified for added or supplementary technologies.
Shannon stated that they are hurrying up the influence of commercial technologies and innovation cycles on the timing and navigation sector. These sectors are one of the most significant and crucial satellite services globally.
TrustPoint's ability to demonstrate its PNT concept quickly and cost-effectively is attributed to the small satellite manufacturing environment and accessible launch options, according to Chris DeMay, TrustPoint's COO and co-founder. He believes that this feat would not have been possible several years ago due to a lack of resources and timing. However, the current climate is in their favor, and there is a pressing demand for it.
Shannon shared that TrustPoint managed to "commence a legal agreement and provide a spaceship that's prepared for takeoff within less than 10 months."
TrustPoint has been awarded contracts through the Small Business Innovation Research program by both the United States Air Force and the United States Space Force.
DeMay stated that the contracts not only provide financial support, but also enable us to engage in dialogue with the appropriate individuals.
Officials of the American military express worry as interference and jamming of GPS signals become an increasingly prevalent issue.
In March, during his testimony before the Senate Armed Services Committee, Gen. B. Chance Saltzman, who is the chief of space operations of the U.S. Space Force, talked about the danger posed by Chinese jammers for GPS satellites which can interfere with electronic warfare.
DeMay expressed that they are present to aid in resolving the issue.
Debra Werner works as a SpaceNews correspondent in San Francisco. She completed her bachelor's degree in communications at the University of California, Berkeley and went on to pursue a master's degree in Journalism at Northwestern University. Debra has contributed many articles to the SpaceNews publication.
