A US bipartisan House Energy & Commerce Committee has introduced potential legislation to update the FCC’s current satellite licensing rules. One aspect will be the prohibition of Chinese businesses, although it is not yet completely clear whether the legislation will cover satellites where ownership – as distinct to components – includes Chinese companies. This could […]
French, German and Italian officials have agreed that their governments will help support the EU’s proposed IRIS² broadband low Earth orbiting satellite mega-constellation. The agreements came on November 22nd at the start of a Ministerial meeting to examine EU and European Space Agency (ESA) projects and future financing. France, Germany and Italy said public funding […]
UK-based Seraphim Space reported its Q1 numbers on November 17th, saying that its portfolio valuation had increased by £21 million to £207 million helped by foreign exchange gains (worth £13.8 million) and investments made during the quarter to September 30th. Seraphim had made three new investments during the quarter-year and four other follow-on transactions totalling […]
Canada-based space technology business MDA reported “strong top-line” growth for Q3 2022, with revenues at C$172 million (€125.6m), up 55 per cent y-o-y. Profitability was solid with EBITDA of C$38.8 million (up 22 per cent y-o-y). Perhaps even more importantly, the company’s backlog is up a very healthy 70 per cent to C$1.4 billion, an […]
Virgin Galactic is finalising its plans for its ‘next generation’ sub-orbital, tourist spaceplane. Virgin has signed agreements with Bell Textron and Qarbon Aerospace for its new ‘Delta Class’ spaceplane. Virgin will build the planes at a new facility in Mesa, Arizona at a rate of up to six units per year. The company says it […]
Rivada Space Networks, a European network company launching a unique connectivity constellation for Government and Enterprise communications, has issued its request for proposals for 600 low earth orbit (LEO) satellites, having recently released the RFP for the associated heavy-lift launch services. The company anticipates selecting a prime contractor for the space segment, parts of the […]
Quilty Analytics, in its latest in-depth study, says that the success of SpaceX has prompted more than 100 new launch start-ups entering the fray with most focussing primarily on smaller launch vehicles. But the report cautions that many will not be successful. Quilty says that historically, the business of designing, building, and operating launch vehicles […]
Azercosmos, Space Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan, and Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan (SUPARCO), have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for collaboration on Peaceful Uses of Space Sciences, Technology and Applications. The MoU envisages Pakistan-Azerbaijan collaboration in space science, technology and applications and will serve as […]
Analysts at Barclays have taken a close look at satellite stocks and while the bank marked down Iridium Communications (by 4.9 per cent, to a price target of $45) it has rated SES as ‘overweight’ for investors. In general terms capacity demand for telecommunications services is staying on a path for “exponential” growth (Barclays estimates […]
Luxembourg is a satellite-friendly nation. The country is already the home of SES and the formal domicile of Intelsat. Luxembourg has now signed a Letter of Intent with Virgin Orbit to help bring Virgin’s air-launch business to the country. Luxembourg’s deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence, François Bausch and Virgin Orbit signed a Letter […]