Rachel Jewett

What do satellite policy and space movies have in common? For starters, space debris often plays a key role in both. In this episode of On Orbit, we talk about […]

SpaceX launched two O3b mPOWER satellites for SES, and a 90-payload rideshare mission in a busy weekend of Falcon 9 missions. SES confirmed that the fifth and sixth O3b mPOWER […]

Intelsat has hired Raytheon Technologies exec David J. Broadbent as its new president of Government Solutions. Intelsat announced the hire on Nov. 13, effective immediately.  Broadbent is now responsible for […]

Hamid Akhavan is now CEO of Dish Network ahead of the EchoStar/Dish merger close, the company announced Monday. Akhavan is currently the CEO of EchoStar, and it was already in […]

Qualcomm is ending its direct-to-device relationship with Iridium because smartphone manufacturers are not adopting the satellite-compatible chips. Analysts say the price and the lack of technology standards were contributing factors.  […]

Spire Global posted a 34% year-over-year increase in revenue in the third quarter of 2023 and raised the low end of its guidance for the full year. Spire announced its […]

Comtech won a $20 million order for its next-generation troposcatter systems from the U.K.-based Spectra Group to service NATO and European customers.  The award is for Comtech’s Comet — Compact […]

As Viasat is dealing with the fallout of the anomaly on ViaSat-3, the operator is focusing its energy toward its mobility business versus residential broadband. With this shift, Viasat is […]

Rocket Lab reported a 7% year-over-year revenue increase in the third quarter of 2023, posting $67.7 million in revenue. Net loss was $40.6 million.  Revenue of $67.7 million was near […]

Aero, a semi-private airline based in the U.S., has tapped SpaceX to equip its fleet with Starlink’s in-flight connectivity service, the company announced Thursday.   Aero pitches itself as “the future […]

MediaMobil, a telecommunications company that provides internet to remote locations, signed a deal with Eutelsat Communications for maritime connectivity for ships and off-shore vessels. Eutelsat will supply its Advance managed […]

The European Space Agency (ESA) finalized its Zero Debris Charter, releasing the document this week during the 2023 Space Summit in Seville, Spain. The non-binding charter calls participants to stop […]

The U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) awarded SES’s government subsidiary a blanket purchase agreement (BPA) for the O3b system. The award announced Wednesday is a single award BPA to SES […]

BlackSky posted a net income of $675,000 in the third quarter of 2023, marking the first time the company has posted a positive net income.  However, CFO Henry Dubois noted […]

RESTON, VIRGINIA — Space operators must start planning for and implementing quantum-resistant cryptography now to ensure that space national security systems are resistant to emerging threats, a senior cyber official […]

RESTON, VIRGINIA — The White House’s Office of the National Cyber Director (ONCD) is taking a particular look at cybersecurity for space systems, and seeking industry collaboration to inform policy […]

Planet has completed ground tests for its work as a subcontractor on the NASA Communications Services Project (CSP), the company announced Friday. Planet is a subcontractor for SES Space & […]

The Senate passed a bill this week to reduce space debris called the Orbits Act. The bill would establish a program to demonstrate debris removal and require orbital debris standard […]

Globalstar increased its overall 2023 guidance on Thursday after reporting 53% year-over-year growth in the third quarter. Globalstar raised the low end of its guidance for the second time this […]

Mynaric secured a new contract from an existing customer worth $6 million for its Condor Mk3 optical terminals. The deal announced Wednesday is with an undisclosed, U.S.-based customer. Mynaric expects payment […]

GPS startup Zephr raised $3.5 million in a seed round led by Space Capital and First Spark Ventures, the company announced Tuesday. Zephr is working to create a networked GPS […]

Viasat is laying off 800 employees, about 10% of its workforce, as it is integrating the Inmarsat business post-acquisition. Viasat announced the reduction on Thursday and said it will be […]

Delta Air Lines has tapped Hughes Network Systems to supply in-flight connectivity (IFC) to more than 400 Boeing 717 and regional jets serving North America. This marks Hughes’ first direct-to-airline […]

MDA closed on its acquisition of SatixFy Space Systems UK (SSS) on Oct. 31, the company announced. MDA announced its plan to acquire the digital payload division of SatixFy Communications […]

Goonhilly Earth Station has acquired two U.S. based Comsat teleports, based in Southbury, Connecticut, and Santa Paula, California. The U.K.-based company announced the completed deal on Wednesday and said it […]

Amazon and a number of think tanks have launched a new advocacy group called the Alliance for Satellite Broadband to push for an update to the rules around satellite power […]

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) completed its safety review of SpaceX’s Starship Super Heavy license evaluation, the regulator announced on Tuesday. However the FAA is still working on an environmental […]

SES is pushing back the start of commercial service for its O3b mPOWER constellation to early in the second quarter of 2024, as it deals with power module issues on […]

Maxar Intelligence has named Dan Smoot as CEO, after Maxar Technologies recently split into two businesses — Maxar Space Infrastructure and Maxar Intelligence. The satellite imagery-focused company announced the move […]

A Colorado hiker in distress was recently rescued, in part due to satellite technology and the partnership of Skylo, Motorola, and Bullitt Group.  A group of friends were recently hiking […]