Iridium Communications and Thales Alenia Space have completed a test call of the L-band hardware and associated software for the Iridium NEXT constellation, demonstrating end-to-end call flow through satellite, ground and public switched telephone networks. Iridium said Tuesday the milestone validates the Iridium NEXT system’s capabilities for satellite communications as the companies prepare for the first launch next year. “Placing […] More

The International Maritime Organization is studying Iridium Communications’ application to be a mobile satellite communications provider for the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System. “We see Iridium’s inclusion as a GMDSS service provider as being very important to maritime safety and security on a global basis,” U.S. Coast Guard Adm. Robert Day said Friday. “Our preliminary […] More

Matt Desch bagged his 10th Wash100 award in 2024. For a decade, he has propelled telecommunications, satellite, and technology industries and shaped the government contracting landscape into a future-forward domain for citizens, leaders, and the next generation.   Learn more about Matt Desch and his decade-long journey to becoming one of the foremost leaders in […] More

Executive Mosaic is pleased to announce Kay Sears, vice president and general manager of the space, intelligence and weapon systems sector at Boeing, as a 2023 Wash100 winner for her leadership in efforts to accelerate critical hardware production for various government programs. Sears has been selected two times to the annual Wash100 list in its […] More

Alan Khalili, formerl chief financial officer of Aireon, was appointed to take up the same role at SpaceLink, while Jim Schwenke, former Leidos executive, and satellite industry professional Erik Levine were tapped to assume vice president roles at the satellite commu nications company.

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Los Angeles-based Relativity Space has raised $500M in a round of Series D financing led by Tiger Global Management and will use the funds to advance the development of its launch vehicle, 3D printing technologies and other programs. “We are on track to launch our first Terran 1 rocket to orbit next year with existing capital on our balance sheet," said Tim Ellis, co-founder and CEO of Relativity Space.

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Morpheus Space, a space technology startup based in Germany, secured funding from investors such as In-Q-Tel and Airbus’ venture capital arm to support expansion efforts in the U.S., Defense One reported Wednesday.

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A senior official at Amazon Web Services has said the company is working with industry partners to promote and expand the services of the new AWS Ground Station that gives customers the ability to download and process data from multiple satellites and during weather disturbances, Via Satellite reported.

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United Launch Alliance plans to launch no earlier than Sunday, Jan. 6, a National Reconnaissance Office payload aboard its Delta IV Heavy rocket, Spaceflight Now reported Friday. The report said engineers have begun to address a small hydrogen leak in the engine section discovered during the Dec. 19 launch attempt. The NROL-71 was originally scheduled to lift […] More

Inmarsat has secured approval from the International Maritime Organization’s maritime safety committee to support the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System through its Fleet Safety service offering. The company said Tuesday it will deliver its maritime safety service through Inmarsat-4 and Inmarsat-6 satellite constellations. The approval would allow ship operators adopting Inmarsat’s Fleet One terminals and […] More

A SpaceX-made spacecraft took off Monday aboard a Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida to bring more than 5,800 pounds of crew supplies and research investigations to the International Space Station. NASA said Tuesday the Dragon spacecraft’s launch marks the 14th ISS cargo delivery mission under the Commercial Resupply Services contract. Dragon is […] More

Rebecca Cowen-Hirsch, senior vice president of government strategy and policy for Inmarsat Government, has been reappointed to serve on the Mobile Satellite Users Association’s board of directors. MSUA works to promote exchange of ideas, information and news among providers and customers of mobility communications, navigation and safety platforms, the association said Thursday. Other individuals elected to the MSUA […] More