As expected, SpaceX has formally applied to the ITU to place an additional 29,988 new satellites into orbit. SpaceX is using the Pacific island state of Tonga as its regulatory source and using TongSat which is looking to profit from the satellite industry. The satellites will operate in the W-band, which is the microwave portion […]

The FAA last week issued a report to the US Congress expressing concern over how the growing number of satellite constellations will dispose of their failed craft and what the FAA says are the risks to human life and property. The report says: “The dramatic rise of non-geostationary satellites, particularly those in low Earth orbit […]

Italian largest bank, Intesa Sanpaolo, has announced that it intends to invest in Elon Musk’s SpaceX rocket business. The bank is Italy’s largest. Intesa Sanpaolo said in a press release that the move is in line with the bank’s business plan for 2022-2025. In the plan, innovation represents one of the most important aspects of […]

SpaceX’s Starlink service has expanded availability over the US. Heavy demand in some parts of the US has meant that Starlink was severely limiting new subscribers owing to limited bandwidth. However, with almost 1,000 new broadband satellites launched over the past few months, and the latest full Version 2 craft now being launched with four-times […]

Last week it was India which said that it was about to grant permissions for Starlink to operate over the nation. Now Turkey says that Starlink can apply for licences. The news follows on from an in-person meeting that Elon Musk had with Turkey’s President Erdogan in New York on September 18th. Erdogan reportedly wants […]

SpaceX is struggling to gain environmental permissions to launch its Starship rocket from Boca Chica, South Texas. There are already plans to expand its operations at Cape Canaveral/Kennedy Spacve Center, but a serious suggestion has been made to consider a more radical solution. Journalist Eliana Sheriff – who lives in Texas and is a very […]

Last week Rivada revealed it is using Terran Orbital to build its 600 satellites. SpaceX will then launch the constellation into orbit beginning in 2025. But one problem that’s not entirely solved is Rivada’s financing. While it has made some significant and key pre-payments to Terran, it is not yet clear where the initial cash […]

SpaceX’s Starlink broadband-by-satellite service has reported that it now has more than 2 million “active customers and counting” in over 60 countries – double the number from just nine months ago. Some observers have asked ‘what is an active customer?’ and questioned why Starlink doesn’t use the commonplace description of a paying ‘subscriber’. However, Starlink […]

Elon Musk’s giant Starship rocket is sitting on its launch pad at Boca Chica, South Texas, and all ready to go. But an approval from the US Fish & Wildlife Service is needed, and their investigation has reportedly not yet begun. It seems that an inspection and subsequent approval could be given within a 30-135 […]

Second-guessing when Elon Musk’s massive Starship might launch is a challenge. The FAA set more than 60 modifications to the rocket before it would give permission to launch. There are potential problems from other US agencies, not least those involved in protecting the local environment at the Boca Chica launch site in South Texas. There […]