Trade publication Space Intel Report (SIR) says that rocket company SpaceX has more than halved the inspection and refurbishment time needed for its recovered rockets, and is anticipating further time-savings to be made as its experience grows. SpaceX has reportedly had extensive discussions with the satellite and rocket insurance sector for its recovered first stages […]
Struggling satellite operator Avanti Communications has been hit by more bad news. News has emerged that Avanti’s long-awaited Hylas-3 satellite is to suffer further delays. The satellite is being built for the European Space Agency (ESA) by Airbus Defense & Space and its main mission is to carry a laser-optical payload (EDRS-C, European Data Relay […]
New Zealand pay-TV operator Sky Network Television and telco Vodafone Europe B.V.1, a wholly owned subsidiary of Vodafone Group Plc, have now decided to terminate the sale and purchase agreement in relation to the proposed merger of SKY and Vodafone New Zealand. The parties have also decided to withdraw the appeal of the Commerce Commission […]
Launching a communications satellite into orbit is more or less routine. But SpaceX is proving that recovering a rocket from its launch is also fast proving to be routine. SpaceX on June 23rd launched a previously used (‘flight proven’) first stage of a Falcon 9 rocket with BulgariaSat-1 on board. Then, just minutes later, and […]
June 28th will see Arianespace launch two satellites in a somewhat unusual set of circumstances. Weather permitting, the actual launch will take place from Kourou, French Guiana on June 28th. But the mission is complex. The rocket will carry two satellites, but one of the satellites is a so-called ‘condominium’ craft which is two satellites […]
Qatar has been given a 10-day ultimatum to close news channel Al Jazeera as part of a series of demands from Saudi Arabia, Egypt and the other Gulf states. Kuwait, which is not involved in the dispute and is acting as middle man, delivered a list of demands to Qatar which include: Close the news […]
Spanish satellite communications operator HISPASAT has completed the re-orbiting process of the Amazonas 1 satellite. This process, which began June 19th, ended on June 23rd after the transmission of the last command from the HISPASAT Satellite Control Centre in Arganda del Rey, through which the passivation of the satellite was completed after having efficiently provided […]
Paris-based research company Euroconsult, in its latest report (High Throughput Satellites: Vertical Market Analysis & Forecasts), says there is going to be a significant increase in High Throughput Satellites (HTS) over the next few year, and with each of these new satellites capable of delivering extra capacity into the market. Euroconsult reminds us that over […]
Two satellite operators are complaining officially to the European Union (EU) over the actions of a third satellite player. Eutelsat and California-based ViaSat are grumbling about London-based Inmarsat, and saying that Inmarsat is violating the terms of its EU-granted licence to operate. The complaint, reported in detail by trade magazine Space Intel Report, has been […]
Emirates-based telco ‘du’ is to build a new satellite teleport for the region. du says the new facility will cover some 75,000 sq metres of area and built away from the existing built-up area of Dubai. Sited in the Al Qudra region of Dubai, it is designed to accommodate up to 50 large antennas and […]