Viasat demos 1st satellite SMS messages on Android smartphone in Mexico – SatNews
Original Publication Date: 2025-10-21 00:00
Viasat completed an in-country, first-of-its-kind, direct-to-device (D2D) demonstration in Mexico. The demonstration showcased smartphones sending and receiving messages over Viasat’s I-4 F3 satellite. D2D is an emerging technology which allows everyday devices like mobile phones to connect to satellites without the need for dedicated satellite hardware.
10,000th Starlink satellite launched – SatNews
Original Publication Date: 2025-10-21 00:00
SpaceX has launched 10,044 satellites of which 8,680 are successfully in orbit. One of the booster stages was used for the 31st time – another record. SpaceX has FCC permission to loft 12,000 Starlink satellites, and the mega-constellation could eventually comprise more than 30,000 spacecraft.
ST Engineering iDirect’s Intuition Ground System now available – SatNews
Original Publication Date: 2025-10-21 00:00
Intuition 1.1 is ST Engineering iDirect's next-generation ground system. Built on cloud-native, multi-orbit architecture, this release introduces advanced capabilities. Designed for the future, Intuition enables seamless adoption of emerging 3GPP standards and sets the stage for 5G NTN roaming in upcoming releases.
ESA’s report credits themselves for better in-flight connectivity and video-calling due to experiment with Viasat antenna – SatNews
Original Publication Date: 2025-10-21 00:00
Viasat Amara has a dual-beam phased array antenna that provides both better access to video calling and video streaming. The antenna makes it possible to connect to satellites both in low Earth orbit and in geostationary orbit. Viasat’s in-flight solution’s commercial service is expected to begin in 2028.
Launch Roundup: SpaceX to launch first expendable Falcon 9 since January
Original Publication Date: 2025-10-20 17:22
SpaceX dominates this week’s launch manifest with up to four missions aboard Falcon 9 vehicles. One of which will be the first expendable mission for the rocket since January, and another carrying 29 Starlink v2 Mini satellites for the second time. There is only one international mission scheduled at the time of publishing – a Chang Zheng 5 will loft an unknown payload midweek from China. The maiden launch of Japan’s HTV-X cargo supply vehicle was delayed from a planned launch at the start of the week.