Apogeo Space orders second space tug for connectivity constellation
Original Publication Date: 2023-06-06 22:02
Apogeo Space plans to launch nine picosatellites next year with an orbital transfer vehicle. The satellites are due to launch on a Vigoride tug slated to join the SpaceX Falcon 9 Transporter-10 mission. Apogeo plans to use its network of tiny satellites to connect low-power, battery-powered devices.
Space Force opens new office to foster ties with private sector
Original Publication Date: 2023-06-06 19:30
Space Systems Command opens new office in Northern Virginia. The office is dedicated to doing business with the commercial space industry. The Space Systems Command oversees the majority of military space acquisitions programs. The office has 10,000 square feet of conference space and offices for unclassified gatherings.
OneWeb targets maritime market with expanded satellite coverage
Original Publication Date: 2023-06-06 18:43
OneWeb launches a free trial offer for maritime customers June 6. The British operator said its network is now fully operational down to 35 degrees latitude. Financial costs for enterprise-grade OneWeb maritime services were not disclosed. Maritime connectivity prices for SpaceX’s Starlink LEO constellation start at $250 a month.
Rivada seeks Ex-Im financing for satellite constellation
Original Publication Date: 2023-06-06 16:51
Rivada Space Networks is hoping to secure support from the U.S. Ex-Im Bank. Ex-Im is eligible to finance the system because Rivada is based in Germany. Uncertainty about Rivada’s financing has raised questions about its manufacturing contract.
Blue Origin within a “few weeks” of resuming New Shepard flights
Original Publication Date: 2023-06-06 11:55
Blue Origin expects to be ready to resume launches of its New Shepard suborbital vehicle in the next few weeks. New Shepard has been grounded since a failure during a September 2022 payload-only flight. The FAA said then it needed to review Blue Origin’s plans before allowing those flights to resume.
Cargo Dragon docks at space station
Original Publication Date: 2023-06-06 00:00
SpaceX Dragon cargo ship caught up with the International Space Station early Tuesday and moved in for a problem-free docking. The ISS roll-out solar array blankets, or IROSAs, are the fifth and sixth to be added to the station to augment the lab's aging solar panels. Astronauts Steve Bowen and Woody Hoburg plan to install and extend the first 63-foot-long blanket during a spacewalk Friday and the second during another spacewalk next Thursday.
ST Engineering iDirect announces collaboration agreement with Airbus Defence and Space – SatNews
Original Publication Date: 2023-06-06 00:00
ST Engineering iDirect and Airbus Defence and Space have entered into a strategic partnership to enable tighter, space to ground integration. Both parties will draw on their long history of collaboration, experience and proven technology to focus on areas of innovation. Areas of focus will include the fully digitized Onesat GEO satellites; NGSO constellation programs.
BlackSky receives multimillion$$$ contract for advanced tactical imagery services + ground station infrastructure – SatNews
Original Publication Date: 2023-06-06 00:00
BlackSky Technology Inc. (NYSE: BKSY) has been awarded a multimillion dollar renewal contract to provide advanced subscription-based tactical imagery and analytics services. BlackSky’s advanced Spectra AI tasking and analytics platform and high-resolution satellite constellation deliver on-demand, high frequency imagery, monitoring and analytics to customers within 90 minutes.
INTEGRASYS develops MOBISAT + completes ESA’s ARTES program project – SatNews
Original Publication Date: 2023-06-06 00:00
MOBISAT is the first software to enable the first fully automated commissioning of SATCOM On-the-Move/SATCOM on-the-Pause (SOTM/SOTP) mechanically steerable antennas. MOBISAT is zero-touch commissioning that guides the antenna and fixes to optimize the link, RX gain, TX gain and interference nulling.
Teledyne Paradise’s AXIOM-X SCPC is integrated into the Satcube KU Portable satellite terminal – SatNews
Original Publication Date: 2023-06-06 00:00
Satcube provides seamless broadband connectivity over satellite through easy to use, lightweight terminals. The AXIOM-X has been designed from the ground up to deliver high performance IP centric DVB-S2X SCPC capability for the most stringent mission critical mobile applications.
OLM mods as vehicles shuffle in prepartion for upcoming test flights
Original Publication Date: 2023-06-05 16:48
Starbase continues to prepare for the next test flight of Starship. Modifications to the launch site are the main watch item, as it readies for the installation of steel plates and a water deluge system. Ship 25, known to be next in line to fly after Ship 24’s launch and demise, is at suborbital pad B.