SKY Perfect JSAT Corporation, the main satellite operator in Japan, has selected Airbus to build Superbird-9, a fully digital in-orbit reconfigurable telecommunications satellite. It is due for launch in 2024. The satellite will be based on Airbus’ standardised OneSat product line. Airbus will provide a turnkey solution, including design and manufacture of the Superbird-9 spacecraft, […]
Airbus has won the prime contractor order from Eutelsat for its E-36D satellite replacement for Eutelsat 36B which is likely to reach the end of its working life during 2026, some 17 years after its launch in November 2009 (and was previously known as Eutelsat W7 and with a 15-year design life). 36D is planned […]
Thales Alenia Space has won a $930 million-value contract (€772m) from the European Commission (EC) and issued via the European Space Agency to build six ‘next generation’ Galileo satellites. However, the contract is reportedly funded at 9.6 per cent higher than the main rival bid from Airbus, which is also seeking a contract to build […]
While much of the Airbus Group results released this week are focused on its aircraft business, Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury told analysts that the past year represented the most challenging crisis to hit the aerospace industry. However, the satellite and rocket business figured in its end-of-year numbers (to December 31st 2020). The pressures from across […]
The European Court has suspended a massive $1.8 billion (€1.47bn) manufacturing contract with Airbus and Thales Alenia for production of Galileo sat-nav satellites. The Court is looking at allegations of trade secret thefts. An objection to the Court from Germany-based satellite builder OHB-System which had pitched with the UK’s Surrey Satellite Technology (SSTL) on construction […]
Airbus has confirmed that it has received an order from Intelsat for two satellites. Intelsat had requested permission from its Bankruptcy Court to go ahead with the contract. Intelsat has ordered the paid of Airbus ‘OneSat’ craft which are highly flexible satellites with next-generation software giving Intelsat a variety of technical options including frequency adaptability. […]
Intelsat, currently in Chapter 11 bankruptcy reconstruction, is asking its bankruptcy court to formally approve two new satellites for broadband In-Flight Connectivity. The craft are needed following on from its $500 million purchase last year of the commercial aviation assets of Gogo. Intelsat wants to order the pair of satellites from Airbus Defence & Space […]
OneWeb, the would-be broadband-by-satellite constellation backed by the UK and India, is contemplating switching its current Florida satellite production line to the UK. The Mail on Sunday reported that “executives behind OneWeb briefed civil servants” on the merits of moving satellite production from Florida to the UK. Currently satellite production takes place under a joint-venture […]
The European Commission (EC) is looking to build a global Low Earth Orbiting (LEO) broadband-by-satellite system to help bridge – and solve – the digital divide in connectivity. The European Commission has selected a consortium of European satellite manufacturers, operators and service providers, telco operators and launch service providers to study the design, development and […]
Arianespace will use Russia’s ’Far East’ cosmodrome at Vostochny to launch 36 OneWeb satellites into orbit today (December 18th), at 12:26 GMT (21:26 Russia Vostochny time). Arianespace is depending on a Soyuz rocket, often called the workhorse for the frequency of its use, for its Flight ST29, and the rocket was rolled out to its […]