E-letter: Briefs
-
Connectivity
Vislink Debuts IP Link 3.0 ATSC System
Vislink revealed Thursday the launch of IP Link 3.0, a new Advanced Television Systems Committee (ATSC) 3.0 Studio-Transmitter Link system for broadcasting service platforms. Vislink’s IP data over Radio Frequency […]
-
Government/Military
US Space Force ESPA Flight System to Demonstrate Independent Launch of up to 18 Satellites from NASA Landsat-9
The U.S. Space Force-developed Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle Secondary Payload Adapter (ESPA) Flight System (EFS) is to demonstrate the launch of up to 18 multi-mission national security and civil satellites […]
-
Mobility
Iridium Debuts New Remote Asset Tracking and Management Device
Iridium Communications revealed Tuesday the availability of Iridium Edge Solar – a solar-powered Internet of Things (IoT) remote asset tracking and management device. Iridium Edge Solar has over-the-air configuration capabilities, […]
-
Imagery and Sensing
Space Dynamics Lab Completes Milestone for NASA Space Weather Mission
Utah State University’s Space Dynamics Laboratory (SDL) revealed Wednesday that it has successfully completed the Key Decision Point (KDP) C for NASA’s Atmospheric Waves Experiment (AWE). KDP-C provides NASA approval […]
-
Government/Military
SpaceX Receives $150M Contract to Launch SDA Tranche 0 Satellites
SpaceX has been awarded a $150.5 million firm-fixed-price contract from the Space Development Agency to launch its Tranche 0 transport and tracking layer satellites. The award, announced by the U.S. […]
-
Government/Military
BlackSky Wins IARPA Contract for Program to Automate Imagery Analysis
BlackSky has been awarded a contract from the Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Activity (IARPA) for a research program that will work to automate analysis of satellite imagery. The multi-year research […]
-
Government/Military
US Air Force Awards Lockheed Martin Next Gen OPIR Modification Worth Up to $4.9B
The U.S. Air Force on Jan. 4 awarded Lockheed Martin a modification worth up to $4.9 billion on the company’s existing contract for the Next-Generation Overhead Persistent Reconnaissance (Next-Gen OPIR) satellite […]
-
Launch
Momentus Pushes Back First Launch of Vigoride Vehicle
Momentus has pulled its Vigoride orbital transfer vehicle from the upcoming SpaceX Transporter 1 Falcon 9 launch set for Jan. 14, to allow for more time for FAA approval of […]
-
Mobility
Viasat Reaches Deal with Delta for IFC Service on 300 Aircraft
Delta Air Lines plans to bring Viasat’s In-Flight Connectivity (IFC) solution aboard 300 aircraft, the companies announced Tuesday. Viasat’s Ka-band IFC system will be rolled out on narrow-body aircraft starting […]
-
Finance
Skylo Hires Angira Agrawal as COO
Skylo, an Indian Internet of Things (IoT) network provider, revealed Tuesday that Angira Agrawal was hired as Chief Operationg Officer (COO). Agrawal will oversee all operations and customer-facing activities throughout […]
-
Government/Military
Kratos Receives $11M Development Contract for Next-Gen Satellite Program
A division of Kratos Defense & Security Solutions has received an $11 million development contract related to a planned next-generation satellite program, the company announced Monday. The award was given […]
-
Connectivity
Viasat Requests FCC Look Into Environmental Impact of SpaceX’s Starlink Constellation
Viasat has taken issue with SpaceX’s request to lower the orbital altitude of its Starlink satellite constellation, and requested the FCC to prepare an environmental impact statement on Starlink. In […]
-
Finance
UltiSat Reorganizes, Appoints Senior Leadership
UltiSat revealed Monday that the company has made several new senior leadership appointments and reorganized around four primary lines of business – Managed Network Services, Airborne Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance […]
-
Connectivity
Bringing LTE to the Moon: Nokia Exec Talks NASA Tipping Point Contract
“Why would astronauts on Earth have access to 5G at home, but not have the same access to the same technologies when they are on the Moon?” Thierry Klein, head […]
-
Launch
Arianespace Launches French Defense Satellite CSO-2 in Final Launch of 2020
An Arianespace Soyuz rocket orbited a French defense satellite on Dec. 29 in Arianespace’s final launch of 2020. The Soyuz rocket carrying the CSO-2 satellite took off from the Guiana […]
-
Finance
Comtech Extends UHP Acquisition Term
Comtech Telecommunications has extended the term of its acquisition agreement for UHP Networks until Feb. 28, 2021, Comtech announced Dec. 30. Comtech’s intent to acquire UHP was first announced in […]
-
Finance
Kymeta Receives $30M Investment from Hanwha Systems
Hanwha Systems (HSC), a South Korean defense technology company, has agreed to invest $30 million in Kymeta Corporation, the companies announced Dec. 28. After regulatory approval, Hanwha Systems will also […]
-
Connectivity
EU Starts Planning for Satellite Connectivity System for Europe
The European Commission has selected a group of companies in the satellite industry including Airbus, Arianespace, and SES, to study the build of a satellite-based connectivity system for the European […]
-
Launch
Firefly Aerospace and Adaptive Launch Solutions Reach Launch Agreement
Firefly Aerospace and Adaptive Launch Solutions (ALS) have signed a multi-year launch services agreement that includes four Alpha launches beginning in 2021. ALS, which designs multi-manifest hardware, avionics, and sequencers, […]
-
Finance
Voyager to Acquire Majority Stake in Nanoracks in its Latest Space Acquisition
Voyager Space Holdings plans to acquire a majority stake in Nanoracks through Nanoracks parent company XO Markets, the companies announced Dec. 23. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed, […]
-
Finance
Raytheon Completes Acquisition of Blue Canyon Technologies
Raytheon Technologies completed its acquisition of Blue Canyon Technologies (BCT), the companies announced Monday. Raytheon initially agreed to acquire BCT in November. BCT now reports into Raytheon Intelligence and Space, […]
-
Launch
Commission Releases Results of Arianespace Vega Launch Failure
The commission set up by the European Space Agency (ESA) and Arianespace to investigate the Vega launch failure in November has released its findings. Arianespace CEO Stéphane Israël said in […]
-
Government/Military
Atlas Space Operations Completes Testing on Phased Array Antenna System
Atlas Space Operations phased array antenna system has recently completed late-stage testing, solidifying it as a new Multi-Band/Multi-Mission (MBMM) antenna system, the company reported Dec. 17. Atlas has been developing […]
-
Connectivity
Hispasat Contracts Gilat to Extend Altán La Red Compartida Service in Rural Mexico
Gilat Satellite Networks revealed Monday that it received a multi-million dollar order from Hispasat to extend Altán La Red Compartida‘s service to rural Mexico. Gilat will expand the existing SkyEdge […]
-
Launch
ESA Contracts ArianeGroup for Work on Reusable Rocket First Stage Prototype
The European Space Agency (ESA) awarded ArianeGroup a $40 million (33 million euros) contract this month for the initial stages of development on a reusable rocket first stage prototype called […]
-
Launch
Arsat Agrees to Support Telesat LEOP Services
Arsat has signed an agreement with Telesat to support its transfer orbit support services, and it’s Benavidez Ground Station successfully supported Telesat’s work in the Launch and Early Orbit Phase […]
-
Government/Military
SpaceX Successfully Launches Classified Mission for NRO
SpaceX successfully launched the NROL-108 mission for the U.S. National Reconnaissance Office (NRO). On Saturday, Dec. 19, a Falcon 9 rocket lifted off from Launch Complex 39A (LC-39A) at 9:00 […]
-
Finance
Lockheed Martin Touts Integrated Product Benefits on Aerojet Rocketdyne Deal
Lockheed Martin’s surprise announcement Sunday that it has agreed to acquire propulsion systems developer and manufacturer Aerojet Rocketdyne in a $4.4 billion deal, will lead to better integrated end products […]
-
Connectivity
ST Engineering iDirect, Integrasys Help MSTelecom Deploy Network in Angola
Integrasys revealed Dec. 17 that local telecom and satcom provider MSTelcom has successfully deployed a large network across Angola, with connectivity supported by ST Engineering iDirect‘s Evolution platform. Integrasys’ Very […]
-
Government/Military
Blue Canyon Technologies Completes Satellite Bus CDR for DARPA Blackjack Program
Blue Canyon Technologies (BCT) has completed its Critical Design Review (CDR) validating its X-SAT Saturn-class bus design to support the Blackjack Program, the company announced Dec. 14. Blackjack is a […]





























