The Satellite 2024 conference in Washington opened with its regular panel of satellite manufacturing executives. They admitted that demand for their geostationary craft had dropped. Chris Johnson, CEO at Maxar Space, agreed that demand for geostationary satellites had certainly declined but was far from dead: “It is evolving,” he told delegates, and estimated that the […]

Eutelsat’s latest satellite, the Airbus Space-built 36D telecommunications craft, is on its way to Florida ready for a month-end launch on a SpaceX rocket. A giant Airbus ‘Beluga’ aircraft flew the 5-tonne all-electric satellite from Toulouse, via a refuelling stop on Terceira Island in the Azores, and then onward to Florida. Eutelsat 36D is an […]

Airbus last week announced its financials for 2023, but one major segment stood out which was a massive €600 million ‘write down’ in costs set against its development of its OneSat software defined satellite. The craft has suffered delays, cost increases and a consequential damaging reassessment of its market prospects. Airbus has reported that it […]

AALTO HAPS, a subsidiary of Airbus, aims to deploy its Zephyr aircraft that can stay aloft for days at a time from four or five bases around the world, starting with the operational hub in Laikipia County in Kenya early next year, according to the company’s CEO. However, this plan is subject to regulatory approvals […]

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 […]

Intelsat reports that its In-Flight Communications (IFC) service, already available via Airbus Airspace Link, will shortly be available to all Airbus aircraft and airlines. Intelsat will be the largest IFC service provider to Airbus. Starting with aircraft deliveries targeting the first half of 2026, airlines may select Airbus’ Ku-band ESA terminal, which is designed for […]

Eutelsat’s latest two satellites, its Hotbirds 13F and 13G, have officially been declared open for business at 13 degrees East, Eutelsat’s flagship video orbital slot. “The satellites are reinforcing and enhancing the broadcast quality of around nine hundred television channels into more than 160 million homes across Europe, Northern Africa and the Middle East. These […]

The British Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) ship Argus has been confirmed as the first military vessel to deploy low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite internet for her 400-strong crew, from global LEO communications network OneWeb and its distribution partner, Airbus. The maritime terminal will provide reliable, low latency, high-speed broadband connectivity to the RFA support ship […]

Thaicom, the Asian satellite and space tech company, has announced the selection of Airbus, a specialist in defence and security, for building its new generation software-defined high throughput satellite at 119.5 Degrees East. Thaicom’s subsidiary, Space Tech Innovation Limited (STI), has signed a contract with Airbus Space Systems to design and manufacture its new satellite, […]

Abu Dhabi-based Yahsat is buying two telecommunications satellites from Airbus Defence & Space. The two satellites, named Al Yah 4 and Al Yah 5, are scheduled for launch in 2027 and 2028 and will be replacement craft for Al Yah 1 and 2. Airbus has already started work on the pair. Yahsat says the total […]