Rivada Space Networks is still working with key supplier Terran Orbital (now owned by Lockheed Martin) according to the company.

Rivada says that its launch orders with SpaceX, while not set in terms of specific final launch dates, are still valid and in place. Rivada has an initial 300 satellite contract with Terran Orbital although earlier reports from Terran and Lockheed Martin suggest that the order is no longer included in Terran’s backlog of revenue-based work. There was no additional information released on Terran or discussed during Lockheed’s Q3 results on October 22nd.

Nevertheless, Rivada firmly denies that all work with Terran on its project has been suspended. “Rivada is still working with the Terran Orbital’s team on final details of the constellation, following input from its customer base,” commented Brian Carney, SVP of Corporate Communications at Rivada Networks.

Rivada is largely dependent on Terran supplying 144 satellites and launching them before June 2026, and the balance of a further 144 into orbit a few weeks later by September 2026. The contract value, including the supply of a dozen spares, is $2.4 billion (€2.28bn).

Rivada has recently secured frequency licences from the German radio-regulation authority having lost similar licences issued by Liechtenstein.

The much-publicised challenges for Rivada focus on its ability to raise most of the $2.4 billion to fund the build and subsequent launch of its highly-secure constellation of low Earth orbiting satellites.

Sources close to the company suggest that there’s “good momentum” at the company and string confidence helped buy a very solid business order book of a claimed $13.5 billion and has landing rights over 20 countries.

Other posts by Chris Forrester:

1. AT&T explains AST SpaceMobile strategy
2. ESA introduces Fair Return structure
3. New EU space boss explains strategy
4. Eutelsat suffers from negative bank report
5. MultiChoice, eMedia make peace
6. Eutelsat criticised over “Kremlin links”
7. D2D: Power levels concerns
8. Terran Orbital hit with Class Action
9. Thales Alenia planning to stay solo

Categories: Blogs, Inside Satellite, Satellite

Tags: rivada, Terran Orbital