Laurent Jaffart, Director of Connectivity and Secure Communications at the European Space Agency (ESA), has spoken encouragingly about the UK participating in the EU’s IRIS2 super-constellation being assembled by the SpaceRISE consortium. Jaffart was questioned on the possibility of the UK participating directly in IRIS2 during the Westminster Forum’s ‘Next steps for UK space policy, […]
Japan’s satellite operator, Sky Perfect JSAT, is to triple its investment in its fleet and which will include diversification into optical and radar observation satellites in addition to its core DTH broadcast services. Isao Kubo, the company’s CFO says that the past 3 years had seen it invest some $489 million (€419.7m) in its fleet, […]
The EU-backed IRIS2 mega-constellation of super-secure satellites has seen the SpaceRISE consortium, which is managing the project, launch its first contest for the building of the 270-satellite low Earth orbiting (LEO) segment of the scheme. The two competing suppliers are Aerospacelab of Belgium and Airbus Defense & Space of France. The competition (‘competitive dialogue’) will […]
President Emmanuel Macron of France, in a speech to British parliamentarians, said the UK should boost its investment in space-related businesses. On July 9th he was meeting privately with UK Prime Minister Sir Kier Starmer where it is possible that the UK’s investment in OneWeb could be on their agenda. Macron, in his speech, argued […]
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 […]
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 […]
With the satellite constellation IRIS2, the European Union wants to improve Europe’s digital infrastructure with modern satellite technology. The project aims to build a powerful, secure and independent communication network. Above all, however, the satellite constellation seeks to strengthen Europe’s technological sovereignty. Deutsche Telekom has announced it now will support the project with its core […]
Eutelsat has reportedly held talks with investors to raise €1.5 billion to expand its low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite constellations as it seeks better to compete with Elon Musk’s satellite-broadband service Starlink. The satellite operator is said to be in discussions to acquire funding from the French government, investor Fonds Strategique de Participations, shipping company […]
The SmallSat Europe conference at the RAI Congress Centre in Amsterdam heard speaker after speaker express anxiety over the planned European IRIS2 mega-constellation. The project, which will eventually bring together low Earth orbit, mid-Earth and geostationary satellites in a global ring of craft with ultra-secure communications, is looking extremely fragile if the event’s speakers are […]
IRIS² is the planned highly-secure satellite mega-constellation being engineered by the European Union and where Europe’s key satellite operators are working together in the SpaceRISE consortium to achieve the flagship scheme. SpaceRISE has issued a statement saying: “At SpaceRISE we are committed to the timely development and implementation of the multi-orbit system, and are delighted […]