Appropriations, Procurement, and Acquisitions
Space Force nominee supports expanding launch vendor base (Defense News) The nominee to be the next Space Force chief said he supports the push to expand the service's pool of National Security Space Launch providers.
Airbus’ satellite communications are enlisted for Armed Forces of Czech Republic and the Netherlands (SatNews) Airbus has signed contracts with the Ministries of Defense of Czech Republic and the Netherlands to provide satellite communications for a 15-year period. The Armed Forces of Czech Republic and the Netherlands will utilize 2 and 3 channels respectively of the Airbus UHF (Ultra High Frequency) military communications hosted payload on-board the EUTELSAT 36D telecommunications satellite scheduled for launch in 2024.
New Zealand’s Quest for a Sustainable Space Industry (Satellite Today) New Zealand has a fledgling space industry with unique geographic advantages and government and commercial incentives for growth. In this regional focus, Dawn Aerospace, SpaceBase, Kea Aerospace, Rocket Lab, and others talk about the innovation happening in this island nation.
Colorado contractor wins $187M deal with Space Command, but will the HQ stay in state? (Stars and Stripes) Delta Solutions and Strategies, a Colorado Springs-based defense contractor, has landed a five-year contract to provide services and support to Space Command headquarters.
Space Business and Market Trends
Leading Operators Look at Industry Consolidation in a Changing Demand Environment (Via Satellite) PARIS — The industry’s leading satellite operators are taking stock of their areas for growth and their place in the ecosystem as satellite is becoming a
Regional Satellite Operators Examine Demand for Data and Partnering With LEO Constellations (Via Satellite) Regional operators from around the world are examining their place in the new world order of satellite, particularly the importance of data and
SpaceX Wins NASA Contract for 5 Additional Crewed Missions to ISS (Via Satellite) NASA awarded SpaceX five additional crewed flights to the International Space Station through 2030, as part of its Commercial Crew Program. With this
Mircosoft Azure Exec Confirms Slew of New Partnerships with SES, SpaceX, and Others (Via Satellite) Microsoft EVP of Strategic Missions and Technologies Jason Zander confirmed in a blog post published Wednesday that the software giant will team up with
US Air Force Awards Ursa Major TACFI Funding for Hadley Rocket Engine (Via Satellite) The U.S. Air Force has awarded rocket propulsion company Ursa Major funding for development of its Hadley engine. The contract is under the U.S. Air Force
Eutelsat Reshapes Team With New General Managers for Video and Connectivity (Via Satellite) Eutelsat Communications has made a series of new appointments as CEO Eva Berneke reshapes her team. The company appointed Laurence Delpy as general
OneWeb Announces UK 5G Pilot Test and LEO Trials With Telstra (Via Satellite) OneWeb is taking part in a satellite and 5G pilot in the U.K. and performing tests with Telstra in Australia for potential commercial service. The
Satellite maker Sidus Space rallies 30% on SpaceX launch deal (SeekingAlpha) Small satellite maker Sidus Space (SIDU) stock soared nearly 30% Wednesday after it announced that it had signed an agreement with SpaceX for five launches.
Eutelsat, OneWeb CEOs See Big Future for Combined GEO/LEO Offering (Via Satellite) PARIS — Eutelsat CEO Eva Berneke and OneWeb CEO Neil Masterson outlined their vision for their recently announced business merger and pitched the benefits
VC Firm for Saudi Oil Company Aramco Invests in OQ Technology for Satellite IoT (Via Satellite) Satellite IoT company OQ Technology closed a 13 million euro ($13 million) Series A funding round led by Wa’ed Ventures, the venture capital arm of Saudi
IFC Players Revisit Familiar Questions About the Business Model Versus Demand (Via Satellite) PARIS — Mobility, and in particular aviation, remains a key barometer for the satellite industry, as it looks to diversify its revenue streams away from
SES Awards Gilat Follow-On Orders for O3b mPOWER and SES-17 (Via Satellite) SES awarded Gilat Satellite Networks follow-on orders for the SkyEdge IV VSAT platform. The multimillion-dollar orders support SES’s O3b mPOWER
Yahsat Joins UAE Climate Change Pledge (Via Satellite) Yahsat is one of 21 UAE companies to pledge support for the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment’s (MoCCAE) strategic initiative, the company
Eutelsat Begins Search for New CFO as Sandrine Téran Steps Down (Via Satellite) Eutelsat will be looking for a new CFO as Sandrine Téran, who has been CFO for more than five years, is stepping down from the role. Eutelsat announced
Firefly Aerospace Names Bill Weber New CEO (Via Satellite) Firefly Aerospace has named Bill Weber as its new CEO after Tom Markusic stepped away from the role in June. Web was previously CEO of cyber and
Kevin Steen to Leave ST Engineering iDirect for OneWeb Technologies (Via Satellite) Kevin Steen, CEO of ST Engineering iDirect, is leaving the company to lead OneWeb Technologies. Steen succeeds former OneWeb Technologies CEO, Bob Roe,
Former L3Harris Exec Jackie Schmoll Joins Raytheon’s Intell & Space Business (GovConWire) Jackie Schmoll, a nearly two-decade defense and civilian market veteran, has joined Raytheon Technologies (NYSE: RTX) as vice president of requirements and capabilities for space and command and control systems.
Kacific Appoints New Executive Ivan Fong to Target Pacific Markets (Via Satellite) Kacific Broadband Satellites Group (Kacific) has appointed Ivan Fong as its new Managing Director of the Pacific. The company announced the appointment on
ABS Taps Yahsat Exec Amit Somani for New CEO (Via Satellite) ABS has looked to one of the Middle East’s biggest operators for its new CEO. The company announced Sept. 9 that it had appointed Yahsat’s Chief Strategy
Mercury Systems announces appointment of Allen Couture as senior vice president of execution excellence (GlobeNewswire News Room) Mercury Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: MRCY, www.mrcy.com), a leader in trusted, secure mission-critical...
Launch Services
Arianespace Launches Konnect VHTS Satellite for Eutelsat (Via Satellite) Arianespace launched the Eutelsat Konnect VHTS satellite on Wednesday evening to support Eutelsat’s expansion in the broadband business. Arianespace
Iridium Signs Launch Contract With SpaceX to Launch Spares for Next Constellation (Via Satellite) Iridium Communications signed a launch contract with SpaceX for a mission called Iridium-9, launching up to five ground spares for the Iridium Next
US Space Force
Navy seeks to up space game, including via Space Force (Breaking Defense) "So, we have people doing things all the way from orbitology, to design, build, assemble, integrate, test, and then ultimately operate," said Steven Meier, director of the Naval Research Lab's Naval Center for Space Technology.
Space Force building ground station in Alaska ahead of launch of Arctic satcom mission (SpaceNews) The U.S. Space Force broke ground on a new site at Clear Space Force Station, Alaska, will be the main gateway to the EPS-R payloads that will launch in 2023
Space Force Looks to ‘Engineer’ Culture, Gets First Civilian Direct Commission, Raymond Says (Air & Space Forces Magazine) Chief of Space Operations Gen. John W. “Jay” Raymond spoke about how the Space Force plans to deliberately develop its own culture.
Space Force eyes easing enlistment rules to target high-demand skills (Military Times) The incoming chief of the service said he needs to maintain recruiting flexibility to get individuals with technical skills into the ranks.
The Space Force adds the University of Puerto Rico to its partnership program (NPR) The University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez is the 14th school to team up with the U.S. Space Force for its University Partnership Program. The program aims to educate and recruit the future workforce.
Do the obvious thing: Establish a Space National Guard (Breaking Defense) Congress and the administration are faced with one of two solutions: establish a Space National Guard, or lose the manpower and experience that exists in the Air National Guard, argue Mitchell Institute’s Tim Ryan and AFA’s Stuart Pettis.
Military Space Operations
Satellite Data Shows How Russia Has Destroyed Ukrainian Grain (WIRED) The Russian blockade and bombardments are cutting off thousands of tons of grain, threatening the food supply in countries that rely on wheat exports.
Space Force squadron launches airlift exercise in Colorado Springs, giving rare view into space operations (Colorado Springs Gazette) As the Wednesday morning sun rose over the tarmac at Peterson Space Force Base in Colorado Springs, just over a dozen airmen donning heavy-duty headphones bustled about the belly of
Space Force should heed Ukraine lessons as it revamps structure: CSO nominee Saltzman (Breaking Defense) The Senate Armed Services Committee confirmation hearing for Gen. Chance Saltzman as the next, and second, Space Force chief was free of major fireworks — suggesting an easy 'yea' vote.
US Space Force Systems ‘Can’t Afford to Be Overly Redundant’ With NRO’s, Saltzman Says (Via Satellite) U.S. Space Force will need to limit duplication of Space Force systems with those of the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO), Lt Gen. B. Chance “Salty”
To protect and maybe defend: NRO, SPACECOM ponder commercial satellite defense options (Breaking Defense) Kaitlyn Johnson, of the Aerospace Security Project, welcomed the SPACECOM-NRO conversation, noting that it is "a big deal," especially since "Russia has conducted electronic and cyber counterspace attacks already" in its ongoing invasion of Ukraine.
Space Plane or Weapon? The X-37B Just Spent More Than 800 Days in Space (19FortyFive) The secrecy and intrigue surrounding the X-37B has led Moscow and Beijing to speculate about the true intentions of the platform.
Boeing-Built SES-20 and SES-21 Satellites Prepare for Launch (Via Satellite) Two SES C-band satellites — SES-20 and SES-21 — have been delivered and mated ahead of their upcoming launch. The Boeing-built satellites were delivered
Products, Services, and Solutions
Speedcast to Offer Starlink Service to Enterprise and Maritime Customers (Via Satellite) PARIS — Speedcast signed a deal to offer SpaceX’s Starlink internet service to enterprise and maritime customers, the companies announced Tuesday during
Hughes Launches Fusion Internet Services Combining GEO and Wireless (Via Satellite) Hughes Network Systems introduced a new satellite internet offering in the U.S. called Fusion, which combines Geostationary (GEO) satellite and wireless
AST SpaceMobile Blue Walker 3 Satellite Reaches Orbit (Via Satellite) AST SpaceMobile test satellite, BlueWalker 3 has reached orbit after SpaceX launched the satellite on Saturday. The anticipated satellite test AST
MDA to Supply Steerable Antennas for Airbus OneWeb Satellites (Via Satellite) Canadian manufacturer MDA has signed another satellite antenna deal, this time with Airbus OneWeb satellites for Ka-band steerable antennas, the companies
KT SAT Orders Koreasat 6A from Thales Alenia Space (Via Satellite) KT SAT Corporation has signed a contract with Thales Alenia Space for the Geostationary (GEO) Koreasat 6A communications satellite, based on the Spacebus
Northrop Grumman and Cubic Demonstrate JADC2 Connectivity (Northrop Grumman Newsroom) Northrop Grumman collaborated with Cubic Mission and Performance Solutions (CMPS), a division of Cubic Corporation, to successfully demonstrate a High Capacity Backbone (HCB)-enabled Gateway System solution that provides...
SpaceX Appeals the FCC’s Decision to Strike Starlink RDOF Funding (Via Satellite) SpaceX has submitted an appeal to the FCC for dropping its Starlink service from the first phase of the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund subsidizing
SpaceX says FCC's 'grossly unfair' rejection of $886 million Starlink subsidy leaves many Americans stranded on the wrong side of the digital divide (Business Insider) Elon Musk's company, SpaceX, has slammed the Federal Communications Commission for rejecting a subsidy for the Starlink satellite internet service.
Bae Systems to launch satellite clusters into LEO in 2024 (iTWire) Aerospace company Bae Systems will launch its first multi-sensor satellite cluster into low Earth orbit in 2024 to deliver information and intelligence in real time to military customers. Named Azalea, the group of satellites will deploy sensors to collect visual, radar, and radio frequency data to...
Wyld Networks Partners With Miromico on IoT Satellite Terminals and Services (Via Satellite) Wireless technology company Wyld Networks has signed a strategic partnership with Miromico AG to collaborate on sensor-to-satellite LoRaWAN terminals for
Cobham Provides New Sailor Ka-band Antenna Systems to Telenor (Via Satellite) Cobham Satcom has introduced two new maritime Ka-band antenna systems for Telenor Satellite’s THOR 7 VSAT services, the company announced Aug. 30. The
Elon Musk’s satellite internet flies under the radar at public schools nationwide (NBC News) Public school districts in Arizona, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, South Carolina, Texas and Virginia have announced pilot projects or are already using Starlink — but it’s not cheap.
hiSky Receives FCC Approval to Market Ku-band Smartellite Terminal in US (Via Satellite) hiSky is ready to market its Smartellite Ku-band satellite terminal in the United States after receiving FCC certification. The terminal passed a testing
Rocket Lab Test Fires Reused Rutherford Engine (Via Satellite) Rocket Lab successfully test fired a reused Rutherford first stage engine, a milestone in its work to make Electron a reusable launch vehicle. The
Apple to Debut iPhone With Emergency Messaging Enabled by Globalstar Satellites - Via Satellite - (Via Satellite) Apple’s new iPhone 14 will be able to send emergency SOS messages outside the reach of cellular networks, enabled by Globalstar satellite connectivity.
BAE Systems Announces Multi-Sensor Azalea Satellite Cluster (Via Satellite) BAE Systems announced plans to launch its own multi-sensor satellite cluster called Azalea for U.K. military intelligence. Azalea is planned as a cluster
Qatar Airways Expands IFC Agreement With Inmarsat for Boeing 787-9 and 737-10 Fleet (Via Satellite) Qatar Airways selected Inmarsat’s in-flight connectivity (IFC) solution for its Boeing 787-9 and 737-10 fleet. This is an expansion of an agreement the
LEO satellite cluster from BAE Systems to provide secure digital military intelligence from 2024 (Satnews) BAE Systems is set to launch its first multi-sensor satellite cluster into LEO in 2024 to deliver high-quality information and intelligence — in real time — from space to military customers. Known as Azalea™, the group of satellites will use a range of sensors to collect visual, radar and radio frequency (RF) data, which will be analyzed on board the satellites via machine learning (ML), on edge processors to deliver the resulting intelligence securely, anywhere in the world, while still on-orbit.
BICS Partners With Lynk Global to Close Digital Divide With Satellite (Via Satellite) Lynk Global has teamed up with telecommunications company BICS in a partnership that it hopes will enable mobile network operators (MNOs) to expand mobile
SpaceX Starlink user who took $600 internet dish on Greek sailing vacation says the service was 'surprisingly good' despite outages (Business Insider) Starlink user says Starlink's connectivity was "surprisingly good" despite some outages when the yacht turned or surrounded by masts in a harbor.
Satellite and Ground Station Operations
US Army challenging Palantir and Raytheon variants for TITAN Intelligence Ground Station (Army Recognition) US Army challenging Palantir and Raytheon variants for TITAN Intelligence Ground Station
Thales to Provide SpaceGate Ground Solution to Eutelsat for Konnect VHTS (Via Satellite) Thales Alenia Space will provide its SpaceGate ground connectivity solution to Eutelsat for the Konnect VHTS satellite. SpaceGate is a satellite access
Policy, Strategy, and Regulation
US space operations face stiff competition from China and Russia, top Space Force general says (Stars and Stripes) Competition from China and Russia is rapidly eroding the U.S. military’s dominance in space and the Space Force in its current form would struggle in a conflict with the two countries, the general nominated to lead the service told senators on Tuesday.
VP Harris Announces Public/Private Collaborations to Support the Space Workforce (Via Satellite) The White House released a formal plan to support the space workforce, along with a coalition of space companies focused on growing the skilled technical
EXCLUSIVE: US pushes ASAT missile ban as UN norms group reconvenes (Breaking Defense) Up to now, only Canada and New Zealand have joined the US in unilaterally pledging not to test destructive ASAT missiles, but diplomats expect others to join in.
New DoD Space Policy avoids politically loaded language, echoes Obama-era (Breaking Defense) The directive officially codifies the responsibilities of the Space Force, Space Command and the assistant secretary for space policy, as well as formalizing the "tenets" of responsible behavior for the military laid out by Secretary Lloyd Austin in a memo last year.
New legal 'manual' on peacetime military space activities could aid norms drive (Breaking Defense) The McGill space law manual is modeled on other well-known legal manuals that, while not official or legally binding, heavily influence the decision-making of military and government lawyers around the world in planning military operations in other domains.
UK Ministry of Defence Publishes Space Power Doctrine (Via Satellite) The U.K. Ministry of Defence published its first doctrine on national space power this month. The new UK Space Power doctrine brings together government
UK Space Execs Examine National Space Progress at SpaceComm Expo (Via Satellite) The space industry in the U.K. is developing rapidly, with increased focus on the sector due to the recent National Space Strategy
Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation
NASA Could Retry Moon Rocket Launch in Late September (New York Times) After two mission scrubs for technical issues, NASA officials have tentative hopes to launch the Artemis I mission on Sept. 23 or Sept. 27.
Leak ruins NASA moon rocket launch bid; next try weeks away (AP NEWS) NASA’s new moon rocket sprang another dangerous fuel leak Saturday, forcing launch controllers to call off their second attempt this week to send a crew capsule into lunar orbit with test dummies.
NASA's Artemis rocket makers explain that it's a marathon (Register) SLS rocket is a mix of old and new
Timing of NASA’s moon launch may depend on emergency detonation system (Washington Post) The system, which is designed to destroy the SLS rocket if it veers off course and threatens population centers, needs to be recharged every few weeks
Blue Origin rocket experiences 'booster failure,' activates abort system during uncrewed launch (CNN) A Blue Origin rocket experienced a "booster failure" during an uncrewed launch of its New Shepard rocket from West Texas on Monday morning, triggering an abort system that allowed the capsule to parachute to Earth.
Humans a step closer to Mars after Nasa creates oxygen from its atmosphere (The Telegraph) Scientists have built a toaster-sized machine that, for the first time, can make the Red Planet’s thin, carbon dioxide-rich air breathable
The next energy frontier: A race for solar power from space? (Breaking Defense) The concept of solar power satellites, first posited in 1968, seems to be back in fashion — not just in the US with initiatives at DoD and NASA, but around the globe, including in Beijing.
Space communications node offers DARPA model for rapid acquisition (Defense News) DARPA recently selected 11 teams to help develop an on-orbit satellite communications translator within eight days of releasing a formal solicitation.
Can the Air Force Shield Its New ICBM from Cyberattacks? (The National Interest) As part of the development process for the Sentinel missile, the Air Force has been working with Northrop Grumman to engineer new command and control systems, computing infrastructure, and networking capabilities.
Five Companies Developing Rocket Delivery for US Transportation Command (Via Satellite) Five companies have signed Cooperative Research & Development Agreements (CRADAs) with U.S. Transportation Command (USTRANSCOM) to develop rockets to
Dream Chaser space plane aims to deliver US military cargo within 3 hours (Space.com) The agreement for point-to-point transportation adds to others Department of Defense want for military and humanitarian purposes.
Army ponders satellite partners for 'Lonestar' GPS interference warning system (Breaking Defense) The experimental tech would directly alert soldiers on the ground when GPS signals have been disrupted.
Northrop Grumman’s Rocket Development Reaches New Heights (Northrop Grumman Newsroom) When you think of a rocket launch, you probably imagine a glistening white cylinder emerging from a cloud of smoke and fire making its way into outer space. But while the sight of a launch may only last a few minutes, not many see the dedication, long...
Space Technology
Viasat's Dankberg Calls for Industry-Wide Policy Discussions on Direct-to-Cell Service (Via Satellite) PARIS — The satellite industry is facing opportunity and danger — danger in terms of regulations, Viasat CEO Mark Dankberg cautioned Monday during a
Apple’s iPhone Satellite Service Kicks Off Smartphone Space Race (Wall Street Journal) Apple’s new emergency-text feature on its latest iPhones gives it a first-mover advantage in a budding market for low-cost satellite phone connections.
SpaceX, OneWeb, and Iridium Release Joint Best Practices for Orbital Safety (Via Satellite) SpaceX, OneWeb, and Iridium jointly released a document of best practices for orbital safety on Thursday afternoon. The best practices guide was
Space Science
NASA’s Perseverance Rover Digs Up Organic Molecules on Mars (WIRED) These are tantalizing hints that microbes might have lived on Mars billions of years ago, but scientists need to study the rocks back on Earth to be sure.
Voyager 1 and 2, Humanity’s Interstellar Envoys, Soldier On at 45 (WIRED) The two probes made flybys of Jupiter and Saturn in the 1970s. Today they’re still doing science way out beyond our solar system.
Threats and Risks to Space Systems
Ligado network will jam Iridium's receivers used by DoD: National Academies (Breaking Defense) The report, required by Congress to get to the bottom of whether Ligado's network would interfere with DoD capabilities, classifies much of the military impact.