Advanced Television

spacex

Starlink: 1,000 aircraft connected and triple launches

SpaceX’s Starlink broadband-by-satellite system says it is now connecting more than 1,000 aircraft with its equipment. SpaceX is also planning multiple rocket launches this weekend (starting July 27th) and thus to help catch-up on the launch times missed because of an Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) ruling to suspend SpaceX flights because of a July 11th […]

July 26, 2024By Chris Forrester

SpaceX vs AST SpaceMobile 

During Q4, AST SpaceMobile is due to launch five of its massive ‘Block 1 BlueBird’ 5G-ready satellites into orbit. These satellites will deliver 5G signals.  In Q1 2025, AST has stated it will start launching its Block 2 BlueBird versions, which it says will be “ten times more powerful” and downloading at least 14 Mb/s […]

July 12, 2024

AST SpaceMobile CEO gives business update

Abel Avellan, Founder, Chairman and CEO of AST SpaceMobile has written to partners, shareholders and even “future space-based cellular broadband network users” with an update on where the business is, especially following on the recent commitment by Verizon, which has joined AT&T in backing the company. Avellan describes Verizon and AT&T as the US industry […]

July 2, 2024

SpaceX valued at $200bn

SpaceX is contemplating another fundraising operation by selling shares in a tender offer that could value the closely held company at roughly $200 billion (€185.7bn), according to Bloomberg. SpaceX is reportedly discussing a tender offer — a transaction that enables employees and insiders like investors to sell shares — that may kick in days, said […]

July 1, 2024By Chris Forrester

Arianespace loses key launch order

July 9th is the scheduled launch date for the much-delayed test flight European Space Agency’s (ESA) Ariane 6 rocket. However, last week saw Europe’s important weather organisation cancel its launch contract on an Ariane 6 flight. Worse, perhaps, the cancellation was made in favour of Arianespace’s arch-rival SpaceX. Eumetsat, in a June 28th statement, said […]

July 1, 2024

Ariane 6’s wet dress rehearsal

The launch of the European Space Agency’s all-new Ariane 6 rocket gets ever-closer. Last week technicians at ESA’s Kourou, French Guiana spaceport completed a full ‘wet’ dress rehearsal of the rocket which was fully fuelled. The rocket took on about 180 metric tonnes of propellant and all was subsequently drained following the tests which included […]

June 26, 2024

SES Astra 1P and SpaceX break records

Astra 1P was successfully launched aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket at 5.35pm Florida time on June 20th. The SES satellite, and its SpaceX launch partner, broke many records in the process. The Astra 1P satellite will be the most powerful ever placed at the 19.2 degrees orbital slot, and will replace four existing satellites. […]

June 21, 2024By Chris Forrester

SpaceX’s success for Starship

SpaceX successfully launched its Test flight #4 of its giant Starship rocket on June 6th. The upper stage of the world’s most powerful vehicle made its way on track to a controlled soft-splashdown in the Indian ocean. While this was the fourth test flight, it was the first not to suffer any sort of mishap […]

June 7, 2024By Chris Forrester

Starlink vs Omnispace intensifies

Omnispace, a would-be mega-constellation satellite operator, is alleging potentially harmful interference to its licensed frequences by SpaceX’s Starlink broadband-by-satellite signals. A May 30th letter from Omnispace to the FCC argues that SpaceX’s experimental licence “violates the terms of its authorisation by operating at an altitude inconsistent with the [FCC] filing.” The letter to the FCC […]

June 6, 2024

Launch date set for Starship #4

Elon Musk’s SpaceX will attempt the fourth test flight of its massive Starship rocket on June 6th. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued its permission for the flight on June 4th. The FAA authorisation was modified from previous Starship flights, and the end result is that future launches will find an easier route to flight. […]

June 5, 2024