A planned launch from Vandenburg Space Force Base of 21 Starlink satellites on February 15th 2024 will contain the first batch of Elon Musk’s ‘direct to cell’ craft. Six of the 21 satellites are described as “trailblazers” and are equipped to handle direct to device communications including cellphones. The remining 15 craft are conventional Version […]
Japan’s Costco Online is selling SpaceX’s Starlink broadband-by-satellite equipment for Yen 33,000 (about $227) and a reduction of Y22,000 (approx €138). However, buyers have to move fast and order the kit by December 31st. The price is a bargain given that Costco US continues to sell Starlink equipment at the routine $499 cost. Meanwhile, a […]
SpaceX, as expected, has sold ‘insider’ shares at $97 (€88.80) to existing and new shareholders. It means that SpaceX is now valued at around $180 billion. The $97 achieved is a couple of dollars better than the rumoured $95 talked about over the past few weeks and indicates a strong demand for participation. Investors would […]
Euroconsult, a specialist in satellite industry market intelligence, has announced the release of its 26th edition flagship report, Satellites to be Built and Launched. This edition forecasts an average of over 2,800 satellites launched annually – equivalent to eight satellites per day and totaling a mass of four tons – between 2023 and 2032. The […]
Air New Zealand is to install Starlink antenna on its domestic aircraft fleet for broadband in-flight connectivity. The plan includes installations on the airline’s Airbus A320 and also its ATR 72 turbo-prop aircraft, and believed to be the first use anywhere on turbo-prop aircraft. “Whether travelling for work or leisure, we know maintaining seamless internet […]
Earlier in November SpaceX launched one of its regular ‘Rideshare/Transporter’ missions when it carries dozens of smaller satellites into space. It now appears that the November 11th launch suffered a glitch in safely deploying three small satellites for Momentus. San Jose-based Momentus, which offers clients in-space infrastructure services, including in-space transportation, hosted payloads and in-orbit […]
Elon Musk’s Starlink is not licensed to be used in Ghana, however some citizens are importing equipment from West African near-neighbours. Ghana’s National Communications Authority (NCA), the country’s regulator, has cautioned the general public against satellite services alleged to be from Starlink following reports of equipment being sold and operated in the country. The NCA […]
Analysts at Quilty Space pose the question of whether Elon Musk’s plans for SpaceX’s all-new Starship giant rocket can achieve scale. For example, after November’s launch of its second-ever Starship vehicle, Musk posted a picture of four more Starships lined up in one stage or another of assembly, and which he described as “the last […]
SpaceX is looking to raise more than a half-billion dollars in fresh equity by selling so-called ‘insider shares’ priced at about $95 per share, according to a Bloomberg report. If successful, the tender offer would result in a valuation for SpaceX of some $175 billion (€162.4bn). This move underscores SpaceX’s growing prominence in the commercial […]
Having launched more than 5,000 satellites it is inevitable for SpaceX’s Starlink that some will fail. SpaceX has filed to the FCC its latest report on those failures over the past couple of months and gives the reasons. Starlink reference number 3337 suffered failed software. Remedial action was taken and the software updated but ultimately […]