AST SpaceMobile, the company building the first and only space-based cellular broadband network accessible directly by standard mobile phones, has provided an operational update on the BlueWalker 3 (BW3), Block 1 BlueBird and next-generation BlueBird programmes. “The achievements to date for BlueWalker 3 validate the design roadmap for our BlueBirds, including deploying and flying the […]
Two mPOWER satellites (mPOWER 1 and 2) are ready to launch on December 16th for SES. Launch time, subject to the usual weather constraints, is at 4.21pm Florida time from Cape Canaveral. SpaceX is providing the launch vehicle. The mission will see the two craft placed in mid-Earth orbit at some 8,000 kms altitude and […]
Eutelsat has extended its 15-year support for Télécoms Sans Frontières (TSF) and has now become the NGO’s lead sponsor. TSF is a non-governmental organisation (NGO) focusing on emergency aid telecommunications, and the pair announced a multi-year sponsorship deal that follows on from a previous long-term partnership agreement between the two companies initiated in 2007. Eutelsat’s […]
Japan-based Mitsui OSK Lines (MOL), a major shipping line, has signed up for broadband connectivity with Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite service. MOL joins other maritime operators, such as Norwegian Cruise Lines, to use Starlink. MOL says it will work with satellite service provider Marlink for this trial of Musk’s technology. While only a trial at […]
China has used a mobile sea platform based in the Yellow Sea to launch 14 satellites into orbit. The rocket (named Jielong-3, or ‘Smart Dragon-3’) lifted off on December 9th from the Tai Rui modified barge in the Yellow Sea. The mission carried eight satellites built by Changguang Satellite Technology, which concentrates on remote sensing, […]
A report from Euroconsult forecasts significant growth in the number of satellites launched, and driven by commercial constellations. The market intelligence report anticipates over 2,500 satellites to be launched on average every year – or seven satellites a day totalling 3 tons of mass – over 2022-2031. In terms of satellite numbers, Non-geostationary constellations remain […]
The influential – and tenacious – Reporters Without Frontiers (RSF) organisation succeeded in winning support from France’s Council of State over Eutelsat’s carriage and redistribution of certain Russian channels. The Council of State, the nation’s supreme administrative court, has overruled French broadcasting regulator Arcom which claimed it had no authority to compel Eutelsat from carrying […]
A US bipartisan House Energy & Commerce Committee has introduced potential legislation to update the FCC’s current satellite licensing rules. One aspect will be the prohibition of Chinese businesses, although it is not yet completely clear whether the legislation will cover satellites where ownership – as distinct to components – includes Chinese companies. This could […]
A SpaceX rocket successfully launched 40 OneWeb satellites into orbit on December 8th (at 5.27pm local Florida time). The satellites were deployed shortly after launch and signal acquisition confirmed on all the satellites. The mission was OneWeb’s 15th to date and the constellation operator says puts it firmly back on track to start global coverage […]
SES has allocated 1 gigabyte of satellite bandwidth on its O3b craft to smart network solutions operator Marlink. The service, now available to Marlink’s energy sector customers, makes it possible for them to digitalise rig operations, connect crew, and provide applications such as video-conferencing, workflow tools and Enterprise Resource Planning, in combination with data collection […]