Rachel Jewett

Welcome to the June edition of Via Satellite. You might have done a double-take when you saw the editor picture at the top, expecting Mark Holmes. I’m Via Satellite’s senior […]

“Exploit what we have, buy what we can, build what we must.” While this has been the message of U.S. Space Force leadership over the past few years, many agree […]

Japan Airlines selected Intelsat to provide in-flight connectivity on more than 20 upcoming Boeing 737 MAX aircraft. The aircraft will have multi-orbit service using Intelsat’s new electronically steered array (ESA) […]

Hughes Network Systems shared two updates on its in-flight connectivity business on Tuesday, announcing a new Hughes-built electronically steerable antenna (ESA) and an agreement to join the Airbus HBCplus program.  […]

MDA Space selected Tesat to provide the optical communication terminals (OCT) for Telesat’s Lightspeed Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) constellation.  Tesat announced Tuesday that MDA Space selected its SCOT80 optical communications terminal […]

Japanese satellite operator Sky Perfect JSAT ordered a software-defined satellite from Thales Alenia Space, JSAT-31. Based on the Space INSPIRE platform, JSAT-31 will have the largest capacity in the history […]

Satellite navigation startup TrustPoint has appointed Charles Beames as executive chairman of the company’s board of directors. With this role, Beames will lead the TrustPoint board and work with the […]

Viasat is partnering with Azercosmos to bring its L-band satellite services to Azerbaijan. This will be the first time that Viasat-enabled satellite services are offered in Azerbaijan. Under the proposed […]

Arabsat is working with ST Engineering iDirect and neXat to deploy managed satellite services.  The satellite operator announced a deal with ST Engineering iDirect on May 22 for expanded market […]

Amazon is beginning the process to actively deorbit its two Project Kuiper prototype satellites, nearly eight months after the satellites were launched. In an update on May 23, Amazon said […]

In this episode, we’re joined by Ashley Johnson, Planet CFO and president for a conversation about how satellite data contributes to transparency for peace and security, and how Planet works […]

French startup Kinéis is preparing for two Rocket Lab launches starting in June to launch the first 10 satellites of its IoT constellation. Kinéis announced Thursday that two launches are […]

Viasat posted record revenue for fiscal year 2024, its first year including Inmarsat’s contribution, post-acquisition. But the company’s stock dipped 16% on Wednesday as Viasat projected flat revenue in the […]

Yahsat has signed an MoU for a multi-year deal to leverage capacity on Eutelsat Group‘s Konnect satellite across multiple African and Middle East nations. Under the deal announced Wednesday, Yahsat […]

In a meeting of the United Nations Security Council, the U.S representative alleged that Russia launched what is likely a new anti-satellite mission last week. U.S. Deputy Ambassador Robert Wood spoke […]

Blue Origin flew a crew of astronauts to the edge of space on May 19, returning the New Shepard rocket to crewed flight after a gap of almost two years. […]

Starlink is now available in Indonesia, and the constellation has reached 3 million subscribers around the world. SpaceX founder Elon Musk visited Bali on Monday to meet with leaders and […]

SatVu has ordered two additional thermal imaging satellites from Surrey Satellite Technology (SSTL), HotSat-2 and HotSat-3. The satellites are both scheduled to launch in 2025. SatVu also announced on May […]

NOAA’s Office of Space Commerce (OSC) placed new orders for commercial space situational awareness (SSA) data and services. NOAA placed orders with all companies participating in its pathfinder program COMSPOC, […]

Belgian small satellite manufacturer Aerospacelab broke ground on a new factory this week that it says will be capable of producing 500 small satellites per year. The new factory, located […]

AT&T formalized its work with AST SpaceMobile with a new commercial agreement announced Wednesday. Under the agreement, AST SpaceMobile will provide space-based cellular broadband to AT&T’s customers through a revenue […]

EchoStar companies Dish Network and Hughes Network Systems are launching a bundle that combines satellite TV and broadband internet. Geared toward customers in rural parts of the U.S., the companies […]

Revenue at Spire Global fell below expectations in the first quarter of 2024, impacted by increased solar activity, U.S. government order delays, and a propulsion unit performance. Spire reported Q1 […]

Iridium and Blue Sky Network are supplying the satellite connectivity solution for an uncrewed aerial system (UAS) surveillance operation for oil and gas company Chevron.  The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) […]

UltiSat accepted orders for more than 575 Starlink kits and subscriptions to the U.S government and international humanitarian organizations during 2023 and through the first quarter of 2024. UltiSat announced […]

The FCC is establishing a new Spectrum Steering Team to lead the commission’s work to implement spectrum policies. FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel announced the team on May 14.  This team […]

Carnival Corporation completed deploying Starlink across its entire cruise fleet, the company announced Tuesday. Carnival reports that this is part of a connectivity strategy that quadrupled fleetwide bandwidth since 2019.  […]

Lockheed Martin awarded Terran Orbital another subcontract for its work for the Space Development Agency (SDA). Lockheed Martin awarded Terran Orbital a subcontract to produce 18 satellite buses for its […]

Amazon is ramping up production for its satellite broadband constellation Project Kuiper. Satellite manufacturing is now underway at a recently opened full-rate factory in Kirkland, Washington. Amazon is also opening […]

The family location-sharing app Life360 is interested in Bluetooth from space. Life360 announced a non-binding letter of intent on Monday with Hubble to become the exclusive consumer application of its […]