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Archive for the ‘satellites’ category: Page 87

Sep 8, 2021

SpaceX wins contract to launch Yahsat’s Thuraya 4-NGS satellite

Posted by in category: satellites

Updated 2:45 p.m. Eastern clarify selection process.

NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. — Yahsat has selected SpaceX to launch its next-generation Thuraya mobile connectivity satellite in 2,023 the companies announced Sept. 8.

A Falcon 9 will launch the Thuraya 4-NGS satellite, being built by Airbus Defence and Space for UAE-based Yahsat, in the second half of 2023. The companies did not disclose terms of the launch contract.

Sep 8, 2021

Rocket Lab signs five-launch deal with European Internet of Things satellite company Kinéis

Posted by in categories: internet, satellites

Rocket Lab signed a five-launch contract with European satellite data company Kinéis. The deal adds to the space company’s backlog.

Sep 7, 2021

ELSA-d spacecraft captures “space debris” in orbit for the first time

Posted by in category: satellites

Private orbital debris removal company Astroscale has validated its magnetic capture system that is designed to tackle the problem of space debris. Its End-of-Life Services by Astroscale-demonstration (ELSA-d) servicer satellite managed to capture a simulated piece of space debris in orbit for the first time using the system.

Space debris is a serious and growing problem as popular orbits around the Earth become increasingly cluttered with defunct satellites, boosters, and other flotsam that present the hazard of an increased probability of a bit of debris striking a working spacecraft at hypersonic speeds.

Continue reading “ELSA-d spacecraft captures ‘space debris’ in orbit for the first time” »

Sep 7, 2021

Who is Starlink really for?

Posted by in categories: internet, satellites

The boom in LEO satellites will probably change the lives of customers who’ve struggled for high-speed internet—but only if they can afford it.

Sep 7, 2021

The Space Force is starting to lean into innovative launch concepts

Posted by in categories: government, military, satellites

The biggest threat to our success is moving too slowly and refusing to change.


In June, a previously flown Falcon 9 booster lofted a new-generation Global Positioning Satellite for the US Space Force. This marked a watershed moment for the US military and the concept of reusable rockets, as the Space Force entrusted a satellite worth about half a billion dollars to the new technology.

Now, thanks to a recent news release from the US Space Force, we have a little more insight into why the Space Force is leaning into reusable rockets and other technology from innovative companies such as SpaceX.

Continue reading “The Space Force is starting to lean into innovative launch concepts” »

Sep 5, 2021

Elon Musk says Starlink will transfer data close to speed of light

Posted by in categories: Elon Musk, internet, satellites, sustainability

Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla and SpaceX just confirmed that Starlink will transfer data close to speed of light. According to Gizmochina, the speed will be close to 97% speed of light.

Starlink is a constellation of thousands satellites aiming to deliver high-speed internet to consumers anywhere on the planet. While the Starlink service is still in beta, the company has over 100,000 users in 14 countries so far, with over half a million orders or refundable deposits placed by potential customers.

As of today there are 1,700 satellites in orbit. SpaceX intends to provide satellite internet connectivity to underserved areas of the planet, as well as provide competitively priced service in more urbanized areas. The company has stated that the positive cash flow from selling satellite internet services would be necessary to fund their Mars plans.

Sep 5, 2021

The size and shape of the world’s rockets from 1957

Posted by in categories: futurism, satellites

‘How far will future rockets go?’


The SpaceX Starship might be the next rocket to take humans to the moon, but it won’t be the first, and likely not the last.

Continue reading “The size and shape of the world’s rockets from 1957” »

Sep 5, 2021

Roaming! NASA’s Space Communications User Terminal

Posted by in categories: government, satellites

Roaming isn’t available in space, so network access is an issue as satellites and spacecraft orbit the Earth. This will soon change as NASA develops a new Wideband Ka-band communications terminal, which is a transceiver that operates over government and commercial Ka-band spectrum allocations (17.7 GHz – 31 GHz).

Sep 4, 2021

Rocket Lab expands spacecraft component production

Posted by in category: satellites

LOMPOC, Calif. — Rocket Lab announced Sept. 1 that it is expanding production of satellite components to meet demand from companies developing satellite constellations.

The company said it is increasing production of reaction wheels, components used for attitude control of spacecraft. The company started offering those components after acquiring Sinclair Interplanetary, a smallsat component manufacturer, in April 2020.

The new production line will be able to produce up to 2,000 reaction wheels a year. “When we took over Sinclair Interplanetary, on a good year they were doing between 100 and 150 wheels,” Peter Beck, chief executive of Rocket Lab, said in an interview. “Going to a couple of thousand is a serious move up.”

Sep 3, 2021

NASA Is Designing a Swarm of ‘Hive Mind’ Weather Satellites

Posted by in categories: robotics/AI, satellites

Because now more than ever we need to know the weather.


NASA is working on a new machine learning software that could revolutionize our understanding of weather patterns.

Continue reading “NASA Is Designing a Swarm of ‘Hive Mind’ Weather Satellites” »

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