Advanced Television

Satellite

Excitement mounts over AST SpaceMobile launch

Many shareholders of AST SpaceMobile stock are beside themselves with anticipation of a spectacular rise in their holdings. Of course, there is the small challenge of launching the key five satellites that make up the very first portion of what will be a mega-constellation of approaching 90 satellites. The mission is to send and receive […]

July 31, 2024

Report: UK space employs 52,000

The UK’s Space Agency (UKSA), in its annual report, said that its latest data shows that direct employment in space-related businesses grew 6.7 per cent last year and now totals more than 52,000. DTH broadcasting is the largest sector. UKSA added that between 2021 and 2022 the UK space sector generated $18.9 billion (€17.4bn) income. […]

July 30, 2024By Chris Forrester

IRIS2 subject to a major rethink

It is widely accepted that the EU’s plan to build a low Earth orbiting constellation of satellites to rival that of SpaceX’s Starlink is in trouble. One reliable observer described the project as “fading away”. The EU’s IRIS² (Infrastructure for Resilience, Interconnectivity and Security by Satellite) scheme is seen as over-ambitious and thus too expensive. […]

July 29, 2024By Chris Forrester

Forecast: NTN, D2C markets at $17bn+ by 2032

The Non-Terrestrial Network (NTN) market is entering a new mass adoption phase. During H2 2024, the iOS release 18, and Android 15 are set to introduce satellite messaging as a core feature, enabling millions of devices worldwide to tap into satellite connectivity. At the same time, SpaceX’s new Direct-to-Cellular (D2C) Starlink network is expected to launch […]

July 29, 2024

Falcon is baaaaaaaack!

“Falcon is baaaaaaaack!!!!!!” was the post from SpaceX’s president and COO Gwynne Shotwell following the triple launch weekend of three Falcon 9 rockets, and achieved just two weeks after a partial failure of a Falcon’s upper stage on July 11th. The weekend (July 27th/28th) certainly saw SpaceX regain its stride, and started to make up […]

July 29, 2024

Intelsat C-band ‘insider trading’ case dismissed

A long-running Class Action against certain Intelsat directors and their investment firms and its then chairman (Dave McGlade) alleging inside trading has been dismissed by a US Appeals Court. The Class Action, led by a hedge fund Walleye Opportunities Master Fund, and others, had “failed to adequately show that the insiders learned adverse news about […]

July 26, 2024

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

AST SpaceMobile confirm satellites shipping date

There has been plenty of speculation as to the precise position and readiness of AST SpaceMobile’s first satellites. July 25th saw an official notice that its five AST BlueBird 1 craft have completed final assembly and are now ready for shipment to Cape Canaveral during the first week of August, with a 7-day launch window […]

July 26, 2024By Chris Forrester

Can SpaceX win the D2D business?

There’s a new – and potentially major – revenue opportunity coming from a couple of satellite operators: SpaceX and AST SpaceMobile are both are planning to supply Direct-to-Device communications to ordinary ‘smart’ phones. An authoritative report from Analysis Mason’s Christopher Baugh outlines their challenges and pitfalls for SpaceX in particular. Analysys Mason has developed dedicated […]

July 25, 2024

Terran Orbital raising $98m in share sale

Boca Raton-based satellite builder Terran Orbital is looking to issue additional shares in the company worth a maximum total of $98 million (€90.3m). Terran is limited as to what it can raise by issuing new shares. Terran Orbital has Lockheed Martin (LM) as a major shareholder. LM and certain other shareholders have undertakings from Orbital […]

July 25, 2024By Chris Forrester