Opinion

Human beings can be messy, selfish, and provincial when it comes to environmental responsibility on Earth. We leave rubbish behind us – and expect someone else to clean it up; causing damage without caring about the consequences. Our activities have significantly contributed to, if not caused, the globally recognized issue of climate change, and we...

The launch of the Peregrine-1 mission in early January gave the space community the occasion of a reminder that the Moon is not only subject to exploration and commercial endeavors, but also a divine entity subject to mythical beliefs in the U.S. and around the world. This leads to questions on the extent to which...

Space is evolving into a critical warfighting domain. With the U.S. Space Force indicating the potential anti-satellite (ASAT) capabilities developed by Russia and China as a reason for the need for suitable space-based countermeasures, it is clearly an ongoing arms race in the space domain. Multiple space commands are being reinforced while some have detached...

Space sustainability is becoming an undisputed necessity. However, not everyone agrees yet on the how, nor does everyone believe in the viability of a commercial market for space safety, security and sustainability – the 3S’s of space. Despite Morgan Stanley, and others, estimating that the revenue generated by the space situational awareness (SSA) market alone...

It’s not every day that the FCC proposes an entirely new rule section to address an emerging technology. But it may be a signal of the technology’s potential when it does. Such is the case for ISAM — or in-space servicing, assembly, and manufacturing. On Jan. 25, 2024, the Commission released a draft Notice of...

The agenda for the next World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC-27) features numerous intriguing items. But, if I were asked to pick a few for a three-course meal from the 19 on offer, these would be my choices: Starter – IMT Although the WRC menu is usually full of satellite dishes (please forgive me for this joke),...

2024 should be a remarkable year of achievements in the space industry. I’m excited by several activities converging in the aerospace industry and how they will affect satellite manufacturing. A few pivotal trends will play important roles: technology advancements in material and production capabilities, regulatory shifts, the integration of artificial intelligence, and the continued importance...

Thanks to Starlink and OneWeb, broadband from the sky dominates the view of the satellite data business for both the industry and the public. It’s all about hundreds of Mbps crossing from terminals to Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites to gateways and back again. That makes it easy to forget the power of small bursts of...

With the 2023 World Radiocommunications Conference (WRC) behind us it is time to look ahead to WRC-27. And what a road it will be to get there. WRC-23 made progress on many notable achievements including ensuring we have access to the spectrum we need for 5G terrestrial and non-terrestrial services, providing increased flexibility for operators,...

In today’s world, where recent global events underscore the fact that unpredictability is evident, satellites serve as a reliable safeguard for our crucial communication infrastructure. They provide protection in the event of major disruptions that could affect essential aspects of our lives such as financial transactions, trade, communication, the media, security, and power distribution. To...