The two prototype Amazon Kuiper broadband satellites are working as planned in orbit. Amazon states that the demo-spacecraft have demonstrated controlled manoeuvring in orbit using their purpose-built electric propulsion systems. The propulsion system is key to positioning and maintaining the satellites in orbit. “A recent series of test firings provided critical on-orbit data to further […]
Ottawa-based satellite operator Telesat says it is ramping up its investment in its Lightspeed low Earth orbiting fleet and helped by C$2 billion (€1.3bn) of funds coming from Canadian government and provincial sources. Lightspeed, an initial 156-craft fleet and which could be extended by an extra 100 craft, is costed at C$3.5 billion. Telesat says […]
SpaceX will launch two O3b mPOWER satellites for SES on November 12th, the rocket company has confirmed, although subject to weather conditions being favourable. The two satellites are the 5th and 6th are in the expanded O3b/mPower constellation which will eventually comprise 13 craft. However, two are known to have potential problems. The first four […]
Washington, DC-based satellite operator, Lynk Global, has started what it describes as an “initial” direct-to-device service in the Solomon Islands. The service is in partnership with bmobile, which serves the Islands with a population of about 70,000. The first service will be for SMS and Text messages. bmobile subscribers can use their existing mobile phones […]
A combination of commercial launches with its Falcon 9 rocket plus the growing subscription income from its Starlink broadband-by-satellite service will propel SpaceX to sales in 2024 of around $15 billion (€14.07bn) according to a report from Bloomberg. SpaceX’s rocket and broadband business is forecasted achieve sales this year of some $9 billion. The report […]
Eutelsat Communications has been selected by MediaMobil, a telecommunications company improving Internet access to remote locations, to provide maritime connectivity to hundreds of ships and offshore vessels around the globe. MediaMobil will benefit from Eutelsat ADVANCE solution, a global GEO network of unparalleled coverage facilitating long-distance connectivity and an innovative satellite network-as-a-service managed experience. This […]
Government members of the European Space Agency (ESA) have agreed to fund an extra €340 million per year to Arianespace for its planned Ariane 6 rocket currently in development. The cash is needed to pay for the non-activity of Arianespace because its new rocket is extremely late. An inaugural test flight for Ariane 6 is […]
Marlink, the smart network and digital solutions company, has partnered with LEO internet operator, Eutelsat OneWeb, part of Eutelsat Group, to provide digital connectivity solutions to Ponant, a specialist in exploration cruise, within its smart hybrid network. Ponant will deploy the Eutelsat OneWeb service on its polar exploration ship Le Commandant Charcot, the luxury icebreaker, […]
IRIS2 is the proposed European mega-constellation of multi-orbiting satellites. IRIS2 (Infrastructure for Resilience, Interconnectivity and Security by Satellite) is planned to be deployed beginning in 2027. It will be a public-private financed scheme. The ‘private’ element comprises a wide-ranging consortium which includes the likes of SES, Airbus Defense & Space, Eutelsat, Hispasat and Thales Alenia […]
Telesat of Canada – six years since the company was granted FCC permission to access the US market on the basis that 50 per cent of its 117-satellite constellation would be in orbit – is asking for a further delay of four and a half years. The FCC issued its initial Order permitting Telesat to […]