Eutelsat, as expected, is raising €1.35 billion in fresh capital. The French state is “anchoring” the increase, which will be in place by the end of this year. The extra cash comes by way of a €716 million capital increase which would be subscribed by the French State via the Agence des Participations de l’Etat […]
Madrid-based Hispasat, a member of the SpaceRISE consortium building the IRIS2 fleet of highly secure satellites, is to issue its Request for Proposals (RFP) to the industry. The RFP is expected to include provisions for building ten or more satellites for the project. The ten craft would operate at 400-750 kms altitude. IRIS2’s 264-satellite LEO […]
A supposedly routine static test firing of a SpaceX Starship rocket ended in a gigantic ball of flame in a huge explosion at Elon Musk’s Starbase facility in South Texas. In a statement, SpaceX said the rocket suffered “a major anomaly” while on a test stand at Starbase. “A safety clear area around the site […]
Satellite operator SES has raised two €500 million bonds. SES, as is usual in these cases, says it shall apply the net proceeds of the Notes towards its general corporate purposes, including, without limitation (i) financing all or part of the purchase price of the acquisition of Intelsat Holdings (including the payment of fees, costs […]
AST SpaceMobile (AST), which is planning a global satellite broadband system and already has extensive links with Vodafone, has formally confirmed a partnership with Vodafone Idea (Vi). The collaboration will bring D2D satellite broadband connectivity to India, supporting Digital India’s vision of universal mobile access, said AST. India is one of the world’s largest and […]
The European Space Agency (ESA) has a scheme to build and launch a series of satellites capable of capturing extremely high-resolution imaging satellites to be used for European Union military and government uses. The main problem, which emerged at a session held at the Paris Air Show, is the cost of the scheme. Europe’s ESA […]
MaiaSpace is owned by Arianespace, but is generally seen as an alternate to the giant rocket business. Founded in April 2022, it is being backed as the primary supplier for small-to-midsize rockets. The company used the Paris Air Show to announce plans for a new factory which is backed by the French Defence Ministry. French […]
Eutelsat’s newly appointed CEO, Jean-François Fallacher, speaking at the Paris Air Show, firmly denied that the satellite operator was in financial difficulties. “Let me correct a misimpression: Eutelsat does not have financial difficulties: No. Eutelsat has a need for financing. There’s a difference,” Fallacher asserted. “We need financing to develop the constellation and continue our […]
Charlie Ergen’s EchoStar share price rocketed 43 per cent on June 13th on news that Donald Trump has intervened with FCC chair Brendan Carr over the dispute between the FCC and EchoStar. June 16th saw EchoStar’s share price (Nasdaq:SATS) finish the day at $25.11 (€21.72). A week ago they were $15.99. In a nutshell, the […]
Despite missiles raining down – and perhaps to ensure connectivity – Elon Musk has confirmed that SpaceX’s Starlink broadband-by-satellite is now active in Iran. On June 13th, Iran’s communications ministry announced that “temporary restrictions have been imposed on the country’s internet” in response to Israel’s wave of attacks on military and nuclear facilities. The ministry […]