Spacecom’s AMOS-3 has lost its backup ‘star tracker’ device, which helps keep the satellite correctly oriented. However, all is well for the moment because its primary tracker is fully functioning and the satellite’s other operations are not affected. A satellite only needs one such tracker, but obviously is at risk if its primary star tracker […]
Reportedly, SpaceX has further trimmed the cost of launching satellites using one of its rockets. Using data from NASA (which uses the USA’s Government Accountability Office research), Space Intel Report (SIR) says that the already highly competitive $62 million per launch used by SpaceX as its ‘base price’, the actual cost now available to clients […]
According to a statement from Senator John Kennedy, who had objected to the C-Band Alliance being responsible for auctioning off C-band spectrum over the US, he remains committed to a public auction as distinct to a private sale of spectrum. This does not mean that the Federal Communications Commission has to abide rigidly to his […]
A Stratollite is a large balloon (or ‘high altitude platform’) that sits between the Earth and the high-orbiting satellites, and can remain – more or less – in place over its target audience below. Tucson-based Stratollites, developed by World View Enterprises (which has a marvellous mission statement: “Sometimes to break new ground, you have to […]
A company registered in the Cayman Islands is again trying to get a satellite launched despite alleged links with backers from China. Global-IP (not to be confused with Global IP Solutions) wants to finance and build a satellite to provide sub-Saharan Africa with 150 Gb/s broadband. But the company has some history behind it. In […]
In the next few days a ‘space tug’ satellite will be launched into orbit from the Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. The satellite, MEV-1 built by Northrop Grumman, will drift for about 3 months in a geostationary transfer orbit and rendezvous with a satellite which will have deliberately been raised out of its conventional orbit by […]
Elon Musk has unveiled his Starship Mk 1 ‘Big Falcon Rocket’ at its South Texas assembly facility. Musk said that test flight will start in a month or two, and be ready to reach orbit within 6 months. The prototype rocket is a beast, standing some 50 metres high, and was in the background as […]
LeoSat is planning to girdle the planet with between 78-108 satellites, each equipped with laser-based connectivity for ultra-fast low-latency communications. But raising sufficient cash has proved to be a major challenge. LeoSat has Mark Rigolle as its CEO, and Rigolle has past expertise as CEO at SES-backed O3b and prior to that position he as […]
FCC Commissioner Michael O’Rielly, as previously reported, is firmly in favour of seeking the C-Band Alliance (CBA) freeing up 300 MHz of satellite spectrum for relocation for 5G usage over the US. Speaking at the National Press Club in Washington DC this week he stated that the US needs 300 MHz of C-band spectrum freed […]
Comments from investment bank Exane/BNPP are very specific in stating that the long-awaited C-Band Alliances scheme to auction some of its C-band spectrum for 5G deployment over the US looks like being decided on a highly favourable basis to the Alliance. The bank reports on comments made by FCC Commissioner Michael O’Rielly and helped by […]