Backstory

In March 2024, because of number of reasons, I moved from Russia to Kazakhstan.

I didn’t expect that there I can find anyone doing any space activity… But surprisingly for me, I found there number of private space companies, including SpaceLab LLC – #1 Kazakhstan space startup. We found collaboration valuable, and I joined them.

IoVIT

SpaceLab worked on a project named IoVIT, which was an abbreviation for “Internet of Very Important Things”.

The core idea of a project was to create a cheap but extremely reliable infrastructure for state-scale communication network, including low-cost, low power, ecological friendly ground stations, utilizing LoRaWAN protocol, and a constellation of nano-satellites working as advanced relays.

The infrastructure was designed as multipurpose. The network was able to unite multiple types of ground sensors, for ecological, agricultural, disaster monitoring and defense purposes. LoRaWAN RF protocol did not allow high transfer speed, but nobody tried to compete with SpaceX Starlink or broadband internet connections. IoVIT was designed as reliable service (IoT) network, providing price of endpoint terminal less than 5$, 100% reliability and disaster monitoring state update time less than an 30 minutes on a state scale.

Additionally, SpaceLab planned to use their network and satellites as GNSS relay/backbone system, providing independent regional-scale GNSS solution for Central Asia region.

Idea was well-documented, scrupulous calculated and well developed. As an astrodynamicist and space expert, I may confirm that it looked workable and implementable.

Aspire spaceport

In addition, SpaceLab supported the initiative of Kazakhstan government about commercial usage of inherited infrastructure of Baikonur space launch site.

The idea was in modernization and commercial usage of launch sites and launch equipment inherited by Kazakhstan from Soviet space program.

My contribution

Cooperating with SpaceLab, I took the roles of astrodynamics expert, system engineer and a coordination manager.

As an astrodynamics expert, I:

• Performed test and estimation of core project idea, assesed available orbits and select optimal orbital parameters for the IoVIT project satellites. My calculations shaped the orbital mechanics aspects of the project.
• Developed variety of configurations of LEO satellite constellation for IoVIT project. In optimal configuration achieved 0 (zero) seconds mean gap time and constant visibility of at least 5 satellites over any point of Kazakhstan territory.
• Developed algorithms for rough and precise “no-feedback” aiming for IoVIT ground station direct antenna. Used in combination with rough and precision feedback-based aiming algorithms, my software increased cold start duration of ground station from 30 to 10 sec.
• Studied and developed an option of usage of IoVIT satellites as GNSS data translators and providers. Developed a core recommendations for SpaceLab CEO & CTO.
• Assessed achievable orbit inclinations for Aspire spaceport project, find new accessible and perspective SSO inclination.

As a system engineer, I:

• Developed base requirements for IoVIT satellite design, including form-factor and spacecraft dynamics parameters. Through this, I increased expected lifetime of a satellite up to 30%

As a coordination manager, I:

• Found and establish a connections with 5 launch providers and 17 satellite component manufacturers from East Asia, Europe and US
• Lead the team of programmers and engineers working on IoVIT ground station
• Build and support cooperation with Astana Hub service departments

Additionally, as a system engineer and a programmer I participated in SpaceLab side project Valve Sensor.

Degrading of cooperation

Extremely sad to say this, but because of economic struggles, SpaceLab IoVIT project faced lack of money.

Top management of SpaceLab decided to diverse company specialization, applying to industrial electronics, additive manufacturing and disaster detection domains.

By my opinion that was a mistake. My experience dictated me that when space project facing such diversification, that means failure of the project. So, saw now profit and lack of perspectives, I left the project.

I’m still sad about this. By my opinion, IoVIT is a state-important unicorn project. Sad that economical struggles caused by global political instability paused development of this project.

Additional information

As an examples of my work with SpaceLab, I want to present two documents.

First is “Preliminary design of IoVIT LEO constellation” (in Russian):

Second is “Aspire Spaceport” presentation (in English)