Sir Richard Branson and Chamath Palihapitiya, the former chairman of Branson’s Virgin Galactic rocket tourism company, who unexpectedly stepped down in February, have been accused of issuing misleading information to shareholders over the company’s share float and how it was financed. The investor lawsuit, filed February 21st by Virgin Galactic shareholder Thomas Spiteri, seeks damages […]
A planned spaceport in Unst, Shetland, in the far North of the UK, has received planning permission to go ahead. Shetland Islands Council says work to prepare the Saxavord Spaceport can proceed provided Scottish ministers don’t call the project in for further review. Three rocket pads would be built at the Lamba Ness peninsula in […]
Australian satellite operator Optus is buying a Mission Robotic Vehicle (MRV), informally known as a Space Tug, in order to rescue one of its satellites. The Robotic System will come from SpaceLogistics, a subsidiary of Northrop Grumman and is planned for a SpaceX launch in 2024. The MRV varies slightly from two previous space tugs […]
A report from analysts at Paris-based Euroconsult and ST Engineering iDirect says that the satellite industry is set for unprecedented transformation, with the impact of cloud-based systems, the introduction of next-generation NGSO broadband constellations, and convergence towards a unified 5G network architecture. However, ground segments will also have to play a pivotal role to allow […]
The Jeff Bezos-backed Blue Origin rocket system says it plans to more than double the number of people it lofts into sub-orbital space upon its New Shepard vehicle. It was a New Shepard rocket which carried William Shatner into sub-orbital space last October. Bob Smith, chief executive of Blue Origin, speaking at the annual FAA […]
Chamath Palihapitiya, chairman and a member of Virgin Galactic’s board, Is stepping down. He says he wants “to focus on other public company board commitments.” His departure is immediate, says a company statement. As part of the announcement, the Board appointed director Evan Lovell as Interim Chairman until a new chair is in place. Lovell […]
The new space race focuses on satellite Internet with a promise of higher speed and lower latency for industrial and business-oriented communication applications. As the connectivity revolution gathers momentum, low earth orbit satellites (LEOs) penetrate innovative application areas due to superior performance and positioning compared to geostationary and middle earth orbit satellites in remote tracking, […]
The European Union (EU) has published an 80-page document which proposes a Public-Private partnership satellite communications system. The scheme is budgeted at €6 billion (€5.2bn) and would give Europe a secure and independent satellite constellation. The proposals have two prime objectives: 1/ to ensure governmental users access to a secure communication system for the protection […]
In its 5th year, NSR’s first to market In-Orbit Services: Satellite Servicing, ADR, and SSA, 5th Edition (IoSM5) forecasts $14.3 billion (€12.6bn) in IoSM revenue, driven by Life Extension, generating $4.7 billion through 2031. As the race to launch Non-GEO Satellite Constellation grows, thousands of satellites are set to launch through the coming decade growing demand […]
The Intersputnik International Organization of Space Communications has gained full membership of the Global Satellite Operators Association (GSOA), a platform to promote satellite communication services and the common interests of satellite operators. The Association, formerly known as ESOA (EMEA Satellite Operators Association) used to focus on Europe, the Middle East and Africa. However, January 2022 […]