SpaceX has told the FCC that it now has “more than 1.4 million” Starlink customers in the US, its largest market. In December 2023 it had claimed 1.3 million customers in the US. “Clearly, growth has slowed in the US, even while accelerating in other countries,” commented specialist satellite consultant Tim Farrar of TMF Associates. […]
“Falcon is baaaaaaaack!!!!!!” was the post from SpaceX’s president and COO Gwynne Shotwell following the triple launch weekend of three Falcon 9 rockets, and achieved just two weeks after a partial failure of a Falcon’s upper stage on July 11th. The weekend (July 27th/28th) certainly saw SpaceX regain its stride, and started to make up […]
SpaceX’s Starlink broadband-by-satellite system says it is now connecting more than 1,000 aircraft with its equipment. SpaceX is also planning multiple rocket launches this weekend (starting July 27th) and thus to help catch-up on the launch times missed because of an Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) ruling to suspend SpaceX flights because of a July 11th […]
There’s a new – and potentially major – revenue opportunity coming from a couple of satellite operators: SpaceX and AST SpaceMobile are both are planning to supply Direct-to-Device communications to ordinary ‘smart’ phones. An authoritative report from Analysis Mason’s Christopher Baugh outlines their challenges and pitfalls for SpaceX in particular. Analysys Mason has developed dedicated […]
During Q4, AST SpaceMobile is due to launch five of its massive ‘Block 1 BlueBird’ 5G-ready satellites into orbit. These satellites will deliver 5G signals. In Q1 2025, AST has stated it will start launching its Block 2 BlueBird versions, which it says will be “ten times more powerful” and downloading at least 14 Mb/s […]
Abel Avellan, Founder, Chairman and CEO of AST SpaceMobile has written to partners, shareholders and even “future space-based cellular broadband network users” with an update on where the business is, especially following on the recent commitment by Verizon, which has joined AT&T in backing the company. Avellan describes Verizon and AT&T as the US industry […]
SpaceX is contemplating another fundraising operation by selling shares in a tender offer that could value the closely held company at roughly $200 billion (€185.7bn), according to Bloomberg. SpaceX is reportedly discussing a tender offer — a transaction that enables employees and insiders like investors to sell shares — that may kick in days, said […]
July 9th is the scheduled launch date for the much-delayed test flight European Space Agency’s (ESA) Ariane 6 rocket. However, last week saw Europe’s important weather organisation cancel its launch contract on an Ariane 6 flight. Worse, perhaps, the cancellation was made in favour of Arianespace’s arch-rival SpaceX. Eumetsat, in a June 28th statement, said […]
The launch of the European Space Agency’s all-new Ariane 6 rocket gets ever-closer. Last week technicians at ESA’s Kourou, French Guiana spaceport completed a full ‘wet’ dress rehearsal of the rocket which was fully fuelled. The rocket took on about 180 metric tonnes of propellant and all was subsequently drained following the tests which included […]
Astra 1P was successfully launched aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket at 5.35pm Florida time on June 20th. The SES satellite, and its SpaceX launch partner, broke many records in the process. The Astra 1P satellite will be the most powerful ever placed at the 19.2 degrees orbital slot, and will replace four existing satellites. […]