News
NASA outlines objectives for Mars communications orbiter
2+ hour, 24+ min ago (520+ words) WASHINGTON " NASA has provided new details about its plans to procure a Mars communications orbiter funded under last year's budget reconciliation bill as companies continue positioning themselves to bid on the project. NASA published draft objectives and requirements Feb. 24 for…...
Aalyria hits $1.3 billion valuation after raising funds for satellite mesh network
6+ day, 4+ hour ago (254+ words) TAMPA, Fla. " Aalyria announced a $100 million funding round Feb. 23 that values the Californian venture at $1.3 billion, supporting deployment of laser terminals and software for dynamically routing data across space, air and ground networks. The funding follows growing demand for narrow,…...
Aalto plots Australia base to boost planned high-altitude pseudo satellite service
1+ week, 2+ day ago (580+ words) TAMPA, Fla. " Aalto is turning to Australia as a key operating base to bolster the business case for initial commercial services of its stratospheric pseudo-satellite over Japan, now pushed to 2027 amid regulatory hurdles and ongoing system-integration work. The proposed launch…...
Senate committee advances FCC satellite licensing bill after changes
2+ week, 2+ day ago (379+ words) SAN FRANCISCO " The Senate Commerce Committee approved a bill intended to streamline satellite licensing after revising provisions related to automatic approval of applications. The committee favorably reported the amended Satellite and Telecommunications Streamlining Act during a brief markup session Feb....
FCC Space Bureau chief shares agenda for regulatory reform
2+ week, 3+ day ago (395+ words) MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. " The U.S. Federal Communications Commission's Space Bureau is pursuing an ambitious agenda for regulatory reform. The space plank of the FCC's Build America Agenda would allocate additional spectrum for space activities, streamline the satellite licensing process and give…...
FCC approves thousands more Amazon Leo satellites as Gen 1 deadline looms
2+ week, 4+ day ago (420+ words) TAMPA, Fla. " Amazon received approval Feb. 10 to deploy thousands more broadband satellites, weeks after seeking relief from a July milestone for its first-generation network after reaching only about 11% of the required deployment. The U.S. Federal Communications Commission authorized Amazon to deploy…...
Satellite manufacturers see emerging market for ‘mini-constellations’
2+ week, 5+ day ago (552+ words) MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. " Manufacturers of small satellites that lack opportunities to build very large constellations say they are seeing growing interest from customers seeking smaller systems tailored to specific needs. During a panel at the SmallSat Symposium here Feb. 10, executives…...
Laser-linked satellite networks moving from concept to capability
2+ week, 5+ day ago (422+ words) WASHINGTON " Companies building an "internet for space" based on laser-linked satellites need to move beyond technical promise and demonstrate concrete use cases, industry executives said, as buzz around concepts like a "space data layer" accelerates across defense and space policy…...
Viasat sees orbital data center partnership opportunity
3+ week, 1+ day ago (812+ words) TAMPA, Fla. " While Viasat has no plans to join the rush to deploy orbital data centers, the satellite operator sees a role providing the communications links needed to connect such systems with users on Earth and other spacecraft. "We're certainly…...
Satellite servicing startup Starfish taps Quindar for mission operations software
3+ week, 3+ day ago (333+ words) WASHINGTON " Quindar, a startup that provides mission management software for satellite operators, has been selected by satellite servicing company Starfish Space to support the first three missions of its Otter spacecraft. Under an agreement announced Feb. 5, Quindar will provide software…...