ViaSat-3, the first of a trio of massive broadband satellites for the California-based operator, has slipped its expected launch date. SpaceX, which is launching the craft on one of its Falcon Heavy rockets, now says that the launch cannot happen before December 27th. The Kennedy Space Centre has published its anticipated launch schedule for December […]
Rivada Space Networks, a European network company launching a unique connectivity constellation for Government and Enterprise communications, has issued its request for proposals for 600 low earth orbit (LEO) satellites, having recently released the RFP for the associated heavy-lift launch services. The company anticipates selecting a prime contractor for the space segment, parts of the […]
Quilty Analytics, in its latest in-depth study, says that the success of SpaceX has prompted more than 100 new launch start-ups entering the fray with most focussing primarily on smaller launch vehicles. But the report cautions that many will not be successful. Quilty says that historically, the business of designing, building, and operating launch vehicles […]
Eutelsat’s latest Hotbird satellite, 13G, is slated to launch on November 2nd from Cape Canaveral. The satellite will join its sister craft Hotbird 13F (pictured) which launched on October 15th. SpaceX says it is targeting to launch the Eutelsat Hotbird 13G mission to a geosynchronous transfer orbit from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral […]
Orbex, a Scottish rocket manufacturer and orbital launch services provider, is to build and operate the first vertical launch site for satellites on the UK mainland. It is funding £20 million for construction. Jacobs Solutions, NASA’s largest services contractor, will look after the physical construction. Orbex, based in Forres, Moray, has signed a lease with […]
Arianespace is looking to have a closer relations ship with Australian space sturt-up Space Machines. The business focuses on Space Tugs (more correctly orbital transfer vehicles/OTV). Arianespace and Space Machines (SMC) signed an agreement on October 31st which created the core basis of their co-operation and which could lead to a closer relationship in particular […]
India’s space agency will launch the next batch of 36 OneWeb satellites in the New Year. A test of India’s giant LVM3-M3 rocket (Launch Vehicle MkIII – Mission 3) engine took place last week and was successful. The rocket’s engine was run for 25 seconds at the Space Agency’s Propulsion Complex The Indian Space Agency […]
Imagine, you are one of the richest individuals on the planet and you have a broadband-by-satellite scheme (Project Kuiper) that could be highly competitive. But – and there are quite a few ‘buts’ – you don’t have the rockets to get them into space… Indeed, Amazon’s executive chairman Jeff Bezos has poured millions into Blue […]
As part of Telstra’s growing satellite telecommunications portfolio and services, it has expanded ground stations in Perth and Merredin, Western Australia with additional antennas to support the revolutionary I-6 F1 satellite from Inmarsat. This builds on a partnership between the two companies in Australia dating back more than thirty years. Launched from the JAXA Tanegashima […]
SpaceX launched 53 Starlink satellites into orbit on Thursday night (October 27th, 9.14pm California time/1.14 am GMT, October 28th) from Vandenberg Space Force Base. It was SpaceX’s 49th launch this year. The Falcon 9’s first stage successfully landed on the ‘Of Course I Still Love You’ floating barge about 9 minutes after launch. It was […]