Inmarsat’s latest satellite (I-6 F2) is scheduled to launch on February 17th. SpaceX will handle the task, slated for 10:59pm Florida-time/03:59am UTC via a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. The launch is for Inmarsat’s latest 6th generation communications spacecraft to GEO. From lift off in Florida, the satellite will travel up and east across the Atlantic […]

A meeting of the European Parliament on February 14th saw 604 members vote in favour of financing the IRIS² mega-constellation of low Earth orbiting satellites. Just six members objected. The Parliament approved the plan to invest €2.4 billion (about $2.57 billion) in initial funding. The cash is drawn from Horizon Europe research fund (€430 million), […]

Virgin Orbit says a dislodged fuel filter was responsible for its LauncherOne rocket failure on January 9th. The launch took place from Newquay Spaceport in Cornwall with the rocket suspended from a Virgin Orbit converted Boeing 747, Cosmic Girl. The problem filter meant that the rocket’s second stage overheated and being lost along with the […]

Thailand’s satellite operator Thaicom has budgeted 15 billion Thai Baht (about €413m) for the construction of three new satellites at its 119.5 degrees East orbital slot. Thaicom is using its Space Tech Innovation (STI) subsidiary to manage the procurement. STI acquired the orbital slots at 119.5, 120.0 and 78.5 degrees East at a Thailand auction […]

Singapore-based satellite operator Kavcific Broadband has extended its link with ST Engineering’s iDirect in a partnership to expand services in Southeast Asia as well as Central and Western Asia, and Eastern Africa. ST Engineering iDirect, whose Dialog hub platform was instrumental to Kacific1’s existing successful programme, will “provide a comprehensive next-generation ground infrastructure including systems […]

UK-based tech disruptor Avealto is taking legal action against a subsidiary of Airbus. The company, which is committed to providing a novel, environmentally friendly solution to deliver low cost, high-speed Internet to the world’s poorest communities, has issued a cease and desist letter against Airbus HAPS Connectivity Solutions Ltd – recently renamed Aalto HAPS Ltd […]

UK communications regulator Ofcom has given MangataEdge, part of Mangata Networks, a licence to operate satellite-based frequencies for fixed and mobile communications. Mangata has already announced it will build a factory to build its satellites in Prestwick, Scotland, and which will employ up to 575 jobs. The company raised $33 million (€30.9m) in funding a […]

Saudi Arabia-based Arabsat has formed a joint strategic partnership with Kinéis to launch low Earth orbiting Internet of Things (IoT) services. Arabsat’s CEO, AlHamedi AlAnezi, said that this agreement gives Arabsat the grounds to discuss distribution rights as the regional distributor in the Middle East and North Africa) of Kinéis’ Satellite IoT services. Kinéis is […]

SpaceX conducted another textbook launch during the early hours of February 12th from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. The launch (officially Mission 5-4) broke a number of records, not least the shortest-time ever (5 days) between launches from the same pad. The mission was SpaceX’s 10th launch of the year, a pace of one launch […]

Gwynne Shotwell, president of SpaceX, told delegates at a Federal Aviation Administration conference in Washington DC, that the Starlink broadband satellite “will make money” in 2023. She added that SpaceX’s Falcon launch rocket and Dragon space station spacecraft, and other unspecified work, already makes money for SpaceX. Starlink enjoyed a positive subscriber count during the […]