Satellite technology company Thales Alenia Space is partnering Italy-based MIPRONS on an innovative propulsion system for satellites which uses water as a fuel. Based on MIPRONS’ proprietary technology, with the Italian patent being extended to 49 other countries, this miniaturized, high-thrust thruster will use a green, cost-effective propellant — water. An electrolysis process breaks down […]
Operating satellites at orbital heights of less than 300 kms is seen as a solution to reduce the cost of satellite launching and making affordable performance. Thales Alenia Space and the Belgian team of the UK’s QinetiQ are backing the development of so-called ‘skimsats’. The pair are working with the European Space Agency (ESA) and […]
SES-17, the satellite operator’s latest orbital asset, has been declared fully operational. SES-17 is a Ka-band craft serving the Americas, the Caribbean and the Atlantic Ocean from 67.1 degrees West. The all-electric propulsion satellite has reached orbit on schedule after months of in-orbit raising and successful in-orbit testing. SES says that this very high throughput […]
Russia’s Express AM3 (officially Экспресс-АМ3/Ekspress-AM3) communications satellite has been moved to a ‘graveyard’ high orbit and safely away from the normal orbital heights of fellow-geostationary satellites. The craft was operated by Russian Satellite Communications Company (RSCC). Express AM3 was built by Information Satellite Systems Reshetnev (NPO PM) for Kosmicheskaya Svyaz. The communications payload was built […]
Arabsat is ordering a new satellite, Arabsat-7A,that will add considerable sophistication to its fleet. The Saudi Arabia-based operator has signed a contract with Thales Alenia Space to build a fully ‘software defined’ ‘Space Inspire’ geostationary satellite and beam its signals over the Middle East, Africa and much of Europe. Arabsat-7A will replace the bulk of […]
Integrated satellite and terrestrial network operator Intelsat and Thales Alenia Space – the Joint Venture between Thales and Leonardo – have signed an agreement to build two software-defined satellites designed to advance Intelsat’s global fabric of software-defined GEO connectivity as part of its 5G software-defined network. “The orders were not unexpected,” notes Chris Forrester. “Now that […]
SES has ordered two replacement satellites for its prime orbital slot at 19.2 degrees East and will serve 118 million homes across Europe and beyond. Luxembourg-based SES says the two geostationary (GEO) Ku-band satellites will be for its prime orbital slot at 19.2 degrees East to maintain the premium services it provides to its European […]
Canadian satellite business Telesat, the world’s fourth-largest operator, revealed its Q3 results on November 5th. The 9-month revenues were down by 8 per cent to C$571 million (€396.4m). The 3-month numbers showed revenue of C$192 million, a fall of 5 per cent compared to the same period in 2020. But Telesat has a problem with […]
The launch of SES-17 has been delayed. Arianespace says investigations are ongoing in order to identify a new launch date from its Kourou spaceport. The Ariane 5 launch vehicle and spacecraft SES-17 and fellow passenger SYRACUSE 4A are in stable and safe conditions on the launch pad, says Arianespace. SYRACUSE-4A is a military satellite for […]
Ottawa-based Telesat has reportedly entered a bid for OneWeb’s satellite assets. But it isn’t alone. There will be an auction process on July 2nd in New York. The UK is widely reported to have committed to a $500 million (£405m) participation for a 20 per cent stake in OneWeb. The UK bid is said to […]