QinetiQ has received a $2.9 million contract to build a baffle for the European Space Agency‘s Airbus-built Euclid space telescope. The baffle is a black cylindrical structure and is built to prevent stray light from entering into the telescope’s optics, QinetiQ said Sept. 30. ESA led the development of the Euclid mission with Thales Alenia Space Turin in an effort to probe the “dark energy” that some […] More

A joint venture of Thales Group and Finmeccanica has secured a contract to design and develop a satellite platform that will work to deliver mobile and broadcasting services across multiple spectrum networks. Thales Alenia Space will build a dual-mission telecommunications satellite for Inmarsat and Greek satcom operator Hellas-Sat, Thales Group said Thursday. Under the agreement, […] More

Thales Alenia Space has developed simulation systems that will be used by Space Exploration Technologies Corp. in the testing phase of communications satellites for Iridium Communications‘ next-generation constellation. SpaceX was chosen to help launch Iridium NEXT satellites into space with a Falcon9 rocket under a $453.1 million contract between both companies, Iridium said Tuesday. “With […] More

Thales’ Alenia Space Belgium subsidiary has been selected to develop the electronic control power system for the European Space Agency’s launch vehicle. Astrium, prime contractor for the Ariane 5 Midlife Evolution launch system, awarded the contract to Thales Alenia Space Belgium for the upgrade of the upper-stage Vinci engine steering system, Thales Group said Monday. […] More

Executives from Lockheed Martin, Boeing, Northrop Grumman, Thales Alenia Space and other satellite manufacturers said software-defined or “flexible” satellites that can redesign capacity and beams have now become a requirement for operators, SpaceNews reported Wednesday.

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Boeing’s Spectrolab subsidiary will provide 3,360 NeXt Triple Junction solar cells for a NASA spacecraft that will be used for the agency’s Surface Water and Ocean Topography mission. NASA’s SWOT initiative is expected to launch this month to investigate the ocean’s surface topography and cycle in order to gain insights that could help communities prepare for […] More

Amazon Web Services is offering AWS Ground Station, a new service that gives customers expanded access to satellite data through a network of ground stations around the world.

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Iridium Communications on Wednesday declared the completion of the $3B Iridium NEXT satellite constellation at a press conference at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. "The completion of the Iridium NEXT program signifies a new chapter in the Iridium story, one that sees us transforming from a big cash spender to a big cash generator," Iridium CEO Matt Desch said in a statement published Wednesday.
 

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Iridium Communications has announced that the launch of the eighth batch of 10 Iridium NEXT satellites aboard SpaceX‘s Falcon 9 rocket is now scheduled on Jan. 7, SpaceNews reported Friday. The new schedule sought to provide SpaceX more time to accommodate Spaceflight Industries’ SmallSat Express rideshare mission, which took off on Monday, Dec. 3. Iridium CEO Matt Desch said in a […] More

Telesat has received a contract from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency to assess the capability of commercial satellite constellations in low-Earth orbit to support the Pentagon’s future broadband connectivity requirements and other space-based communication needs. The company said Tuesday it will collaborate with Leidos on the contract awarded through DARPA’s Blackjack program. Blackjack seeks to leverage […] More

Iridium Communications CEO Matt Desch has said the company intends to deboost the last batch of its legacy satellites in the first quarter of 2019 as it plans to transition all network functions to the Iridium NEXT constellation, SpaceNews reported Wednesday. Desch, a four-time Wash100 recipient, told reporters Monday at World Satellite Business Week in Paris the company has […] More

Inmarsat CEO Rupert Pearce has said the company has launched a new program that aims to develop new spacecraft to build up its fleets of Ka– and L-band satellites in an effort to meet demand, SpaceNews reported Thursday. Pearce said Wednesday at an earnings call that the GX Flex program, which is now in the […] More