Satellite Systems, Satcom & Space Systems

SATELLITE SYSTEMS, SATCOM AND SPACE SYSTEMS UPDATE

October 31, 2025 by

Sponsored by MatrixSpace

http://matrixspace.com

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30 Oct 25. ICEYE, the global leader in Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) satellite operations, today announced the launch of Tactical Access, a new commercial SAR product. Tactical Access is a subscription tasking product for customers with large annual imagery volumes requiring short tasking timelines, high planning flexibility, and prompt imagery delivery. Tactical Access includes an optional customer ground station, which provides users with direct downlink and imagery delivery within minutes. With Tactical Access, customers gain full tasking control over the industry’s largest and highest-resolution commercial SAR imaging fleet. Tactical Access provides reserved imaging capacity that guarantees availability on short notice for critical operations. Traditional industry satellite tasking models rely on first-in, first-out (FIFO) scheduling. FIFO is suitable for many applications but cannot adapt to late-breaking intelligence needs and time-sensitive imaging targets. Tactical Access removes this constraint for product subscribers by providing reserved imaging capacity that guarantees availability on short notice for critical operations. For image delivery, Tactical Access offers two options. First, customers may purchase a dedicated ground station consisting of an antenna and proprietary ICEYE Edge processor, enabling direct downlink of imagery data and delivery of finished imagery products within minutes after raw image data are downlinked from the spacecraft. A dedicated ground station also allows customers to maintain sole custody of image data following collection, a feature well-suited to national security requirements. Alternatively, in lieu of a dedicated ground station, customers may leverage secure cloud-based image delivery and receive finished imagery within hours following collection. Tactical Access users will enjoy all the benefits of ICEYE’s industry-best imagery capabilities, including up to 16 cm resolution imagery from ICEYE’s Generation 4 satellites and large-footprint modes such as Scan Wide (200 km x 300 km). Uniquely, Tactical Access customers also benefit from ICEYE’s electronic beam-steering technology, enabling dozens of high-resolution scenes captured in only minutes of satellite imaging time. Tactical Access exposes all these options through an easy-to-use user interface optimized for planning high volumes of imagery collections.

John Cartwright, Senior VP of Data Product at ICEYE, stated: “Tactical Access serves the demanding needs of our imagery power users around the globe by breaking the paradigm of the traditional imagery planning and delivery model. We have high-volume national security customers requiring significant planning flexibility and very short tasking planning-to-delivery timelines. Tactical Access is the industry’s best product for these needs, providing access to the industry’s finest SAR imagery with maximum flexibility.” (Source: PR Newswire)

28 Oct 25. Atheras Analytics SAS has announced the general availability of its DESIRISS Ground Network Dimensioning tool for satellite operators. Originally developed under the framework of the European Space Agency (ESA) project, supporting the goals of IRIS² (Infrastructure for Resilience, Interconnectivity, and Security by Satellite), this tool provides a dynamic and scalable approach to designing ground networks for large NGSO constellations, considering both technical constraints and commercial feasibility and resulting in significant savings on capex of between 30 and 45%. DESIRISS is a simulation tool of non-geostationary (NGSO) constellations operating at Ku-, Ka- and Q/V-band that can be used to evaluate the performance of a complete system or to optimise the antenna distribution over gateways. Utilising AI techniques and historical weather data, DESIRISS predicts rain attenuation that will affect the operating frequency bands whilst using sophisticated propagation models, comprehensive ISL (inter-satellite links), terrestrial network optimisation techniques and multi-objective optimisation algorithms. The goal of the solution is to optimise the ground segment to handle outages due to weather events. To consider a wide range of NGSO scenarios, the tool includes multi-orbit configurations such as LEO/LEO, MEO/MEO and LEO/MEO constellations. ESA is currently using the tool to review ground network designs proposed by the SpaceRISE consortium for IRIS2.

David Gibbons, CEO of Atheras Analytics SAS commented: “After many months of hard work and dedication to the project with ESA we are thrilled to bring DESIRISS to the satellite market for general availability. This is a unique software tool that has the potential to change the game in terms of ground station design, enabling substantial cost savings for operators and a streamlined design process. We look forward to engaging with the satellite operator community to demonstrate how we can enable them to select the very best location and design for their ground networks and reduce their overall expenditure.”

The Atheras Analytics team presented a paper ‘Performance Evaluation and Optimisation of the Ground Segment for Multi-Orbit NGSO Constellations’, detailing DESIRISS at the 30th Ka-Band conference last week in Turin and David Gibbons will present during the SATUCCINO panel session at Defence in Space tomorrow, 29th October, from 12.15pm.

28 Oct 25. ALL.SPACE, the leader in multi-orbit, multi-link SATCOM platforms, has announced a strategic partnership with Aalyria, a pioneer in network orchestration and software-defined connectivity, to advance autonomous, fully interoperable communications across space, air, land, and sea – specifically designed for defence scenarios where connectivity must survive beyond legacy single link satcom solutions. Modern defence operations increasingly hinge on rapid sensor‑to‑effector connectivity in contested domains: tracking hypersonic or ballistic threats, coordinating fires, sharing intelligence across multi‑domain assets. In these use‑cases, adversarial capabilities in electronic warfare (EW), anti‑satellite (ASAT) actions, jamming and cyber attacks threaten the communication backbone. This requirement aligns directly with the Pentagon’s vision for JADC2 (Joint All-Domain Command and Control) and programmes like NGC2 (Next Generation Command & Control). This partnership directly addresses those challenges. By combining multiple simultaneous orbits and bands, it eliminates single points of failure: if one SATCOM network is denied, Hydra’s multi-link capability and Spacetime’s adaptive orchestration ensure automatic failover and continuous connectivity. Spacetime’s predictive modeling of platform motion, link quality, and terrain or atmospheric effects enables persistent, optimized connections even as platforms move or networks degrade. The combined system supports the dynamic connectivity between sensors (e.g., ground radars, airborne ISR, space‑based trackers), command nodes, weapon systems and user terminals — ensuring resilient, low‑latency data flows in the face of hostile interference. Put simply: your network stays on, your sensors stay connected to effectors, and mission command retains situational awareness – even when the enemy tries to break these links.

John-Paul Szczepanik, Chief Technology Officer, ALL.SPACE: “Orchestration partnerships are essential to the future of defense communications. With Aalyria, we are able to deliver an autonomous SATCOM mesh that thinks, adapts, and optimizes in real time. Together, we are building the interoperable architecture to support the Pentagon’s needs – one network, every orbit, zero compromise.”

Dr. Brian Barritt, Aalyria’s Chief Technology Officer for software said, “Our collaboration with ALL.SPACE exemplifies what the Hybrid Space Architecture is meant to achieve – a truly autonomous, software-defined network spanning every orbit and transport layer. This partnership accelerates secure, resilient communications frameworks capable of withstanding contested environments and delivering the assured connectivity today’s missions demand.”

Together, ALL.SPACE and Aalyria will demonstrate cross-network interoperability and dynamic link orchestration across all orbits and terrestrial infrastructure – laying the groundwork for rapid adoption by U.S. and allied defense programs.

28 Oct 25. Thales unveils space surveillance radar AURORE – unique in Europe.

As part of the ARES program (Action and Space Resilience), Thales has been notified of a contract from the French Defence Procurement Agency (DGA) to develop, deliver and deploy a new ground-based low orbit space surveillance radar system. Called AURORE, it will watch the satellites and debris in low orbit from the earth.
This ground-breaking radar system provides continuous monitoring and tracking of multiple space objects simultaneously. It will strengthen French capabilities for assessing the space situation. AURORE will be the largest surveillance radar deployed in Europe.
In the context of the increasing militarization of space, this decision marks an important milestone for European and French sovereignty, by providing unprecedented detection capabilities to enhance military space surveillance missions of activities in low orbit.
Designed and manufactured at Thales’ Limours site, the AURORE radar also benefits from the expertise gained through partnerships with several French SMEs.

As space operations are challenged by a substantial increase in threats, from military to space debris, the ability to identify and track multiple small objects in space in real-time makes all the difference when it comes to space sovereignty and protecting the skies.

AURORE is a software-defined radar operating in the Ultra High Frequency (UHF) band, that will provide continuous surveillance and simultaneous multi-tracking of numerous space objects with a fast low Earth orbit responsiveness time, and the generation of a high-resolution picture of the space environment in real-time. The modularity of its architecture will form the backbone of a comprehensive roadmap aimed at expanding the product portfolio with a new family of UHF radars capable of meeting the needs of multiple critical missions, enabling protection against emerging ballistic and hypersonic threats.

“With AURORE, the only radar of its kind in Europe, Thales is contributing to French sovereignty by strengthening its capabilities for monitoring the space environment at low orbits. AURORE demonstrates, once again, Thales’ leadership in the field of air and space surveillance systems.” said Patrice Caine, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Thales.

28 Oct 25. UK-based Metalysis has been selected by British rocket and space company Skyrora to develop and supply a novel advanced refractory alloy powder, Tanbium, for use in rocket engine components – specifically nozzle and combustion chambers – in a European Space Agency (ESA)–funded programme. The partnership forms part of Skyrora’s award from ESA’s General Support Technology Programme (GSTP). Phase one will run for nine months and focus on de-risking the material production and testing its application via Additive Manufacturing (AM). The developed Refractory Complex Concentrated Alloy (RCCA), Tanbium, will be manufactured by Metalysis and demonstrated in rocket engine components using Skyrora’s in-house additive manufacturing system, Skyprint 2. This programme stage will raise the technology readiness level (TRL), with subsequent phases targeting TRL 6 for full-scale prototype testing in relevant environments. The other project partner is Thermo-Calc Solutions AB, who has designed and developed Tanbium using Integrated Computational Materials Engineering (ICME). Thermo-Calc Solutions will optimize Tanbium’s composition to Skyrora’s performance requirements in the project. Upper rocket stage and satellite thruster components are typically made from Niobium Hafnium C103 or Inconel 718, but these materials have limitations in burn time, oxidation resistance, reusability, and weight. Thermo-Calc Solutions AB has computationally designed Tanbium, a tantalum and niobium-based alloy, to deliver higher-temperature strength, improved ductility, enhanced oxidation resistance, and better laser processability than incumbent alloys, with predictions that it can extend component lifetime and burn time, while reducing weight with no effect upon performance. European space component production forecasts indicate demand for around 20,000 kg of alloy powder over the next five years for space launch and satellites, based on C103 usage. Skyrora chose Metalysis due to its world-leading expertise in demonstrating niche alloy and novel high-entropy alloy (HEA) powders, and its proven ability to deliver custom refractory alloys with precise physical and chemical characteristics. Metalysis’ patented FFC Cambridge electrolysis process enables the production of bespoke materials in the solid state, overcoming the alloying limitations found in traditional melting. This capability allows metals with very different chemical and physical properties to be combined, creating advanced alloys such as Metalysis’ unique HEA offering: lightweight refractory HEAs – at commercial scale – a breakthrough in materials science not seen since the Bronze Age. Furthermore, since the natural form of the alloy is a powder, it is suited to downstream consolidation techniques, such as Additive Manufacturing. As a UK midstream metal and alloy producer, Metalysis operates from both its Discovery Centre at the Advanced Manufacturing Park, and its Manufacturing Centre in the Dearne Valley, both located in South Yorkshire. Its process outputs range from R&D grammes to tens of tonnes of industrial production. Metalysis employs nearly 50 people across scientists, trained operators and engineers.

Nitesh Shah, CEO Metalysis: “Metalysis is very excited to be participating in this ESA funded project – utilising our alloy and high entropy alloy experience to produce the new alloy Tanbium, which is predicted to significantly enhance space component lifetimes. Skyrora came to us as the advanced materials partner because only our solid-state process can produce such a vast range of novel alloys. We look forward to successfully completing stage 1 of this project and moving to stages 2 and 3, and so making a real impact within the space propulsion market”.

Derek Harris, Director of Business Development and Communications, Skyrora: “This project reinforces Skyrora’s commitment to sovereign launch capability and materials innovation. The UK and Europe are currently heavily dependent on the US for C103 alloy, which is used across aerospace propulsion. Tanbium will enable full domestic sourcing with the powder produced by Metalysis, and components printed and tested by Skyrora, which will be simulated by Thermo-Calc to optimise material behaviour before physical testing. As a European launch vehicle manufacturer, not only will Tanbium align with our long-term vision for sustainable, high-performance space hardware, but it will also contribute to the ESA’s Net Zero Space ambitions.”

Dr. Ida Berglund, Managing Director of Thermo-Calc Solutions: “Scaling up refractory alloy powder production requires precision and quality. This project, and Metalysis experience and expertise in producing high quality refractory powders, help us bring Tanbium to the space propulsion market faster.”

Simon Hyde – European Space Agency (ESA) Technical Officer: “Ultra-High Temperature capable materials for rocket motor applications are a key item in the ESA work plans. This project addresses the challenge in an outstanding way: It combines bespoke alloy design with a unique production approach. These technologies are perfectly wedded to laser powder bed fusion, additive manufacturing. Using this, Tanbium alloy, the consortium are addressing a critical challenge for ultra-high temperature applications in Europe. They are opening a potentially rich seam for space applications and providing Europe with a resilient supply chain.”

30 Oct 25. Optimizing Space Exploration – SemiQon Innovations Enhance Capabilities of Spaceborne Vehicles. European Space Agency Supporting Commercialization of New Products Which Will Unlock New Lucrative Markets. SemiQon, an emerging leader in the field of quantum computing hardware, today announces it is now developing technologies optimized to support space exploration with the support of European Space Agency’s BIC program (ESA). This builds on the company’s release of the world’s first cryogenic CMOS transistor released earlier this year and brings the potential for immediate gains to the field of spaceborne electronics. Developing new technology is a cornerstone of ESA’s mandate. The Agency spends around 8% of its budget on direct research and development, just over €600 m annually goes toward R&D and innovation. One element of this is ESA’s BIC Finland program, which offers up to €90,000 jointly from ESA and Business Finland to help companies begin to ensure their product is suitable for use in space. When adding in other organizations in Europe as well as non-European markets including the U.S., U.K., Japan, India and others, up to $3.5 bn in direct government funding is available globally each year to startups developing new technologies for space.

“We at SemiQon think that our cryo-CMOS technology is ideally suited for use in a range of spaceborne applications. There are several different types of instrumentation which can benefit from this innovation because of its almost total absence of heat dissipation which conserves power, extending the capabilities of spaceborne vehicles, especially in deep space. The capability to function optimally in cryogenic temperatures will also enhance the performance of these components while in space, further extending battery life” said Himadri Majumdar, CEO at SemiQon. “We believe space is one of the most lucrative markets for our devices, and it is a market which is accessible to us near-term. Therefore, joining ESA’s BIC Finland program is an important next step in accessing this pool of new users.”

ESA experts have identified several potential uses for SemiQon’s products including on telescopes (bolometer, infrared, x-ray), 5G telecommunications digital beam forming, and Lunar/Mars exploration. These devices use an onboard temperature management system to optimize the performance of their electronics, which consumes extra energy. However, using the cryo-CMOS technology SemiQon has developed, the battery life of these spaceborne vehicles is expected to be extended by 50% Commented [SL1]: This would be a helpful estimate. Is it available? Commented [HM2R1]: We can expect that we can extend to 50% because temperature management is no longer required, significantly increasing performance. By joining the BIC program, SemiQon gains access to ESA’s technical expertise, equity-free funding, training, and extensive European networks to develop space industry applications. ESA Business Incubation Centres (ESA BICs) are the largest network of incubators supporting space related start-ups in Europe. The objective is to support product development while provides excellent opportunities to connect with new business partners and potential end users. This includes industry, universities, research organisations, government and investors.

23 Oct 25. Arianespace plans November 4 launch of Copernicus Sentinel-1D, why two satellites are better than one. The Copernicus Sentinel-1 mission is soon get its fourth satellite after having undergone the checks and functional tests prior to its integration with Ariane 6. Plans for the launch are on Tuesday, 4 November 2025. The Copernicus Sentinel-1 mission is based on a constellation of two identical satellites flying in the same orbit but 180° apart, to optimise global coverage and data delivery for Copernicus. Functional checks have been performed on the spacecraft to confirm the spacecraft is in working order after being transported to Kourou. These tests started with a pressurization and leak check before the spacecraft was switched on. Afterwards several tests were performed to assess the spacecraft’s health status and the correct functionality of all sub-systems. The AIS antenna assemblies, which were transported to the launch site in separate containers, have also been integrated onto the spacecraft and the final connectivity test to ensure their correct electrical connection concluded the spacecraft functional testing. The spacecraft is now ready for the next steps, including spacecraft finalization before fueling. Sentinel-1A was the first satellite in the series, launched in April 2014, followed by the launch of Sentinel-1B in 2016. The Sentinel-1B mission came to an end in August 2022 after experiencing a technical fault that rendered it unable to acquire data. The satellite has been successfully de-orbited and will re-enter Earth’s atmosphere within 25 years. Sentinel-1C was launched in December 2024 to take over the role of Sentinel-1B. The launch of Copernicus Sentinel-1D will provide a much-needed replacement to Sentinel-1A, which has been in orbit for 11 years now, well beyond its planned lifetime. Sentinel-1C was placed in orbit in December 2024, Sentinel-1D will significantly enhance the capabilities of the Copernicus Earth observation program. (Source: Satnews)

21 Oct 25. ST Engineering iDirect’s Intuition Ground System now available. ST Engineering iDirect, a global leader in satellite communications, has announced the general availability of Intuition 1.1, its next-generation ground system. Built on cloud-native, multi-orbit architecture, this release introduces advanced capabilities designed to unify satellite operations, enhance adaptability and maximize efficiency. The foundation of Intuition is its efficient, cloud-native architecture, which reduces compute resource requirements and is further enhanced by high-density processing savings with the XBB baseband solution. Together, these elements can reduce hardware requirements by up to 70%, significantly lowering the total cost of ownership (TCO). Its modular, microservices-based design enables seamless, low-risk deployments, including rapid feature upgrades with minimal operational disruption, while flexible cloud deployment options ensure scalability, efficiency and performance for any operational need. Intuition integrates ST Engineering iDirect’s award-winning Mx-DMA® MRC return waveform technology with global bandwidth management and advanced mobility, enabling dynamic multi-orbit bandwidth pooling, automated resource allocation and a faster response to network demands. This combination dramatically enhances performance, reduces costs and optimizes resource allocation to support growing connectivity requirements. Additionally, satellite network resource orchestration APIs further empower operators with comprehensive control over ground and space assets, enabling them to fully leverage advancements in software-defined satellites. Intuition, paired with ST Engineering iDirect’s AI-powered analytics platform, drives advanced network optimization and operational performance. Designed for the future, Intuition enables seamless adoption of emerging 3GPP standards and sets the stage for 5G NTN roaming in upcoming releases. By deploying Intuition today, satellite operators can maximize their return on investment, support high-density growth and maintain readiness for the next wave of industry innovation. Our vision with Intuition is to redefine agility and intelligent operations across the satellite industry,” said Sridhar Kuppanna, CTO and SVP of Engineering at ST Engineering iDirect. “With its cutting-edge architecture, robust APIs to facilitate analytics, and seamless readiness for 5G NTN, Intuition empowers customers to stay ahead in the rapidly changing connectivity landscape. Our agile development practice, and accelerated release delivery cycles will ensure that our customers have access to new capabilities and ongoing innovation to drive growth.” (Source: Satnews)

22 Oct 25. ULA’s Atlas V plans ViaSat-3 F2 launch November 3 doubling the bandwidth of Viasat’s entire fleet. The launch of a United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V 551 rocket carrying the ViaSat-3 Flight 2 (F2) mission for Viasat is planned for no earlier than Monday, November 3, 2025, pending range approval. Once in service, VS-3 F2 is expected to more than double the bandwidth capacity of Viasat’s entire existing fleet and marks a significant milestone in our satellite roadmap. An Atlas V 551 rocket, configured with five side-mounted solid rocket boosters and a standard-length payload fairing, will utilize several launch optimization features to place the ViaSat-3 Flight 2 spacecraft into a geosynchronous transfer orbit. The craft is one of the heaviest single-satellite payloads. Liftoff will occur from Space Launch Complex-41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida. The launch is scheduled for 10:36 p.m. EST at the opening of a 44-minute window, from Space Launch Complex-41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida. Initial buildup of the Atlas V 551 rocket is complete at ULA’s Vertical Integration Facility with five side-mounted solid rocket boosters and Centaur upper stage. Pre-flight testing is underway ahead of the ViaSat-3 F2 commercial satellite deployment mission. (Source: Satnews)

24 Oct 25. Airbus launch second SATCOM for Spanish Armed Forces. The satellite is radiation hardened to protect against a potential nuclear blast in space. The second SpainSat NG-II satellite was launched from the Kennedy Space Center, Cape Canaveral on 23 October 2025. Airbus and Thales Alenia Space developed the satellite communications (SATCOM) constellation, including the first satellite, which launched into orbit at the end of January 2025. These satellites operate from geostationary orbit in X, military Ka and UHF frequency bands, used for high throughput secure communications, enabling to provide dual, secure and resilient services for the Spanish military, international organisations such as the European Commission through the government SATCOM programme, as well as Nato from the spring of 2026. While Airbus constructed both spacecraft, based on its Eurostar Neo platform, a civilian-use SATCOM capability, Thales Alenia Space (a joint venture between Thales and Leonardo) integrated the communications module. The latter occurred in the company’s clean room in Tres Cantos, Madrid, which was inaugurated in 2021. For the first time in Spain, these facilities have enabled the integration of a module weighing more than two tonnes and measuring six metres in height. Following the completion of final integration, testing, and validation at Airbus facilities in Toulouse, the satellite was shipped to Florida in September, where it was launched on a Falcon 9 rocket. The satellite has an approximate length of seven metres and weighs around six tonnes.

Operational use in orbit: Spain and allies

Hisdesat, a Spanish government-owned satellite services company, will operate the constellation on behalf of the Ministry of Defence. The SpainSat NG-II spacecraft carries an X-band active receive and transmit antenna system, providing the equivalent functionality of 16 traditional antennas. This guarantees reliable communications for military and government missions and can adapt and change its coverage up to 1,000 times per second. Additionally, the active antennas system can eliminate and geolocate jamming attempts with high accuracy. Moreover, the satellite is radiation hardened to protect against a potential nuclear blast in space – a potential threat the Kremlin have suggested using against other spacefarers. It is these developments on previous satellites that together constitute claim “the most advanced government communications system in Europe,” according to a release from Airbus. (Source: airforce-technology.com)

27 Oct 25. ArianeGroup Prepares for Vinci Engine Integration and Acceptance Testing at the Lampoldshausen Site in Germany.

Implementation of an agreement between ArianeGroup and the German Aerospace Center (DLR) for the series production of Ariane 6.
ArianeGroup will carry out the integration and acceptance testing of the Vinci engine that powers the Ariane 6 upper stage in Lampoldshausen, Germany.

ArianeGroup and the German Aerospace Center (DLR) are implementing an agreement under which the integration and acceptance testing of the Vinci engine will be carried out at the Lampoldshausen site in Germany. The plans for the new production building were unveiled on October 24, in the presence of representatives from ArianeGroup, DLR, and the European Space Agency (ESA), which is supporting the agreement’s rollout. This new industrial framework for the Vinci engine will foster synergies while ensuring the ramp-up of Ariane 6 production, thereby securing Europe’s independent access to space.

Jens Franzeck, Chief Industrial Officer (CIO) of ArianeGroup, commented: “The Vinci engine truly embodies ArianeGroup’s Franco-German DNA. The engine’s design and key technologies come from Vernon in Normandy, while the combustion chambers are developed and built in Ottobrunn, near Munich. Bringing the engine’s integration to Lampoldshausen reflects the success of our cooperation with DLR and ESA, and reaffirms our ambition for a sovereign and united European space industry.”

Walther Pelzer, Member of the DLR Executive Board and Director General of the German Space Agency, said: “We have every reason to welcome this agreement, which marks the start of seamless integration and testing of the Vinci engine. It represents a strong commitment to Germany in the field of advanced technologies, guaranteeing not only highly qualified jobs, but also strengthening our technological sovereignty. The Vinci engine plays a decisive role in Europe’s access to space and enhances our capacity for innovation.”

Vinci is Europe’s very first re-ignitable cryogenic engine. It incorporates major technological advances and delivers significantly enhanced performance. The engine can be restarted up to five times, providing the flexibility needed for missions involving multiple orbital maneuvers. In the future, up to twelve Vinci engines could be assembled and tested each year in Lampoldshausen before being delivered to Bremen for integration into the Ariane 6 upper stage.

In parallel, the development and production of the liquid oxygen turbopumps for both the Vinci and Vulcain 2.1 engines will be carried out at the site in Vernon. This new allocation of tasks is consistent with the agreement signed in December 2024 by France, Germany, Italy, and the European Space Agency, implementing the decisions taken at previous ESA Ministerial Council meetings. (Source: ASD Network)

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SATELLITE SYSTEMS, SATCOM AND SPACE SYSTEMS UPDATE

October 24, 2025 by

Sponsored by MatrixSpace

http://matrixspace.com

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21 Oct 25. Kongsberg and Andoya Space to Strengthen Norwegian Space Capabilities. The MoU outlines a joint ambition to identify, define and pursue business opportunities within the space domain, drone segment and C4ISR. Given the investments already made within the space domain from both parties, the MoU highlights a near-term focus on building cooperation within the space sector, including satellite launch, system integration, testing, operations, and long-term infrastructure development.

“Norway already has the foundation for a nationally controlled and secure space value chain. Through this MoU with Andøya Space, we aim to further strengthen and operationalise that value chain by combining our experience in satellite production and system integration with Andøya’s unique launch capabilities,” said Øyvind Kolset, Executive Vice President, Missiles and Space, Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace. “This agreement supports both national and allied needs for secure access to space and enhanced responsiveness.”

“It is only through close collaboration between authorities and national and international businesses that Norway will succeed with its investments in space. Norway has built a solid space value chain over many years, and this MoU with KONGSBERG will help strengthen Norway’s position as a leading actor in the space segment,” said Ketil Olsen, CEO of Andøya Space, adding: “We already have a world-class technology test range at Andøya, and we look forward to further developing this capability to ensure it remains relevant for emerging technologies and the needs of our allies.” (Source: ASD Network)

22 Oct 25. L3Harris Successfully Completes Important Milestone for Army SATCOM Program. Critical Design Review completion is a key milestone on the path toward Wideband Global Satellite Communications certification for the network in 2026, opening the door for international sales. L3Harris Technologies has successfully completed the Critical Design Review (CDR) for the U.S. Army’s Large Wideband Satellite Communications Terminal (LWST) program, setting the stage for first-article testing and certification of the new terminal for integration into the Wideband Global Satellite Communications (WGS) network next year. Access to WGS provides high-capacity, cross-national, two-way SATCOM connectivity for tactical Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (C4ISR), battle management and combat support information.

LWST IDIQ

L3Harris received the LWST Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) award from the U.S. Army in July 2024, valued up to $120 m, with an initial $33 m order for development and certification of the first article unit. The 12.2-meter LWST is the next-generation follow-on terminal for the Modernization of Enterprise Terminals (MET) program, enhancing the capability to the new MIL-STD-164 revision C, which increases the network’s performance. Serving as the terminal design activity and integrator, L3Harris integrates and produces radio-frequency chain components to comply with the new military standards. Additionally, L3Harris designs and manufactures the frequency converters required to convert signals between L-Band and Ka/X-Band RF to ensure reliable, compliant WGS network operation. L3Harris’ subcontractor, CPI, is responsible for manufacturing the antenna structure itself and providing all transmit/receive amplifier equipment. L3Harris is leveraging its legacy program knowledge for the LWST mission, having previously conducted all of the engineering, manufacturing and sustainment for the MET assets, which will be fully interoperable with the new terminals.

“We have very mature RF models at the system level that cascade down. The updated RF chain to meet the new specifications is the ‘secret sauce’ for LWST.” Cherie Miller, Program Director, L3Harris

Beyond the higher performance, the new management-and-control functionality L3Harris is delivering sets the program up for the virtualization path the Army envisions for its network, according to Meredith Eiband, Technical Director, L3Harris. The company is providing Size, Weight and Power (SWaP) optimization to the terminal’s “block house,” which not only shrinks the operation center’s footprint for space-constrained locations but also adds functionality and flexibility in how operators can establish the network and connect the terminals worldwide.

Strategic SATCOM terminal

“From an engineering perspective, we’ve done a lot of RF systems-level modeling, leveraging lessons learned from MET, and investing in the technology so that LWST will be the first terminal of this size to be certified for the new revision of MIL-STD-164,” said Eiband. “The company is continuing to invest in the technology to SWaP-optimize the RF chain further for smaller form factors, which provides options for areas that do not require as much bandwidth, and drives greater affordability for international customers.”

As LWST is based on the foundation of MET, there are opportunities for the capability to be transferred to other MET variants with some additional modifications if the need arises, according to Miller. For example, to create a LWST High-Altitude Electromagnetic Pulse (HEMP) variant, only hardening modifications to the antenna structure would be required. Similarly, modifications can be made to existing MET sites to provide an LWST-like capability within the existing inventory. The LWST IDIQ’s period of performance extends into 2032 with up to six terminals expected to be part of the contract. The terminals will extend the current MET network, which currently comprises 100 terminals with four variants worldwide. The recently awarded MET Depot, Engineering and Support Services (DESS) IDIQ, valued at $457 m, will be leveraged to update MET terminals and sustain the worldwide SATCOM network. Once certified for WGS, international allies that are members of the WGS consortium will be able to order LWSTs directly or through applicable international partnership agreements. (Source: ASD Network)

22 Oct 25. Viasat Showcases Government Arctic Capabilities in Canadian Test Flight. As the Arctic region grows in importance for governments, mobility providers, and scientists, Viasat has completed a successful test flight in Northern Canada above 63.5degrees North Latitude – showcasing high-speed connectivity. Viasat, Inc. (NASDAQ: VSAT), a global leader in satellite communications, today announced successful tests of its steerable beam high-speed GX10 Arctic communications payload in Northern Canada. The demonstration flight, completed on a Calspan Gulfstream III aircraft, enabled attendees from Viasat’s government and military partners to connect their own devices over more than 600 miles of Arctic territory and showcased the satellites’ steerable Mil-Ka beam capabilities. The high-capacity GX10A and GX10B payloads are housed onboard Space Norway’s highly elliptical orbit (HEO) Arctic Satellite Broadband Mission (ASBM) spacecraft (ASBM-1 and ASBM-2). The satellites are operated using Space Norway’s secured earth ground stations in the north of Norway, while Viasat’s steerable beams and commercial payloads are controlled Part of the Communication Services segment and Viasat’s Government Satcom business, the GX10 capabilities strengthen Viasat’s global coverage capabilities with dedicated capacity for the Arctic region and support its roadmap of delivering multi-orbit services. Their onboard steerable Mil-Ka beams are designed to allow authorized military users to access our wideband capacity as part of their own independent network. This means governments will be able to steer satellite capacity anywhere within the arctic region above 63 degrees North: offering improved reliability and capacity for missions. Government Mil-Ka connectivity solutions enable mission applications across air, land, sea, and space, including supporting intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, border security, emergency response, and special forces operations. Todd McDonell, President, International Government, said: “After bringing the payloads into service for government customers earlier this year, we’re excited we can now demonstrate how this new capacity and coverage can help enable assured, resilient communications for tactical and strategic government missions, alongside vital research and monitoring in the region. This is another step in Viasat’s ability to provide innovative, multi-orbit solutions and services to meet the changing connectivity requirements of government customers worldwide.” (Source: ASD Network)

22 Oct 25. ESA-Supported Test Leads to Better In-flight Connectivity. Better in-flight streaming and video-calling might just become more accessible thanks to a project supported by the European Space Agency (ESA). Building upon the success of an experiment for a new type of antenna terminal together with ESA, Viasat – a global leader in satellite communications – now plans to commercialise its new in-flight connectivity solution called Viasat Amara. Viasat Amara has a dual-beam phased array antenna that provides both better access to video calling (a latency-sensitive use), as well as video streaming such as watching a football match (a bandwidth-sensitive use). This is possible because the antenna can connect to satellites both in low Earth orbit and in geostationary orbit, depending on what is needed. Links using satellites in low Earth orbit have lower latency with minimal communication delays, whereas those with satellites in geostationary orbit have a high bandwidth and so can transmit much more data.

Testing the antenna

The antenna terminal was developed, designed and tested within an ESA partnership, under ESA’s programme of Advanced Research in Telecommunications Systems (ARTES). The experiment, conducted in 2021, consisted of a demonstration flight from Rotterdam in the Netherlands to Payerne in Switzerland. The antenna provided a reliable satellite connection en route, enabling passengers to stream content on Youtube and Netflix, and video call with colleagues on the ground. Key data points: The growth forecast = 38.7% annually for the next 7 years. Scroll below to get more insights. This market report covers trends, opportunities and forecasts in eVTOL aircraft market to 2031 by propulsion type (battery-electric, hybrid-electric, and hydrogen-electric), mode of operation (piloted, autonomous, and semi-autonomous), lift technology (vectored thrust, multirotor, and lift plus cruise), application (commercial, military, emergency medical service, and others), and region (North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and the Rest of the World)

The antenna’s design

The antenna uses an innovative design known as an electronically steered phased array. Rather than relying on a single large antenna that physically moves to track satellites, it uses many small components. These individual elements coordinate the timing of their signals to have a unified connection, similar to how a stadium wave forms as each person stands up consequently. This mirrors movement and provides not only a faster way to connect, but also the possibility of connecting to two satellites simultaneously. Viasat’s in-flight solution’s commercial service is expected to begin in 2028. Thanks to its modular technology, the product can be easily incorporated into existing antennas, making it cheaper and easier to incorporate in passenger airlines.

“Phased array antennas are an evolutionary and much needed step towards more energy and space efficient in-flight connectivity solutions, and we are proud to have contributed to Project Aidan – a key milestone that led Viasat to developing Amara. We’re looking forward to next opportunities for cooperation with Viasat, and many other industry partners – for the benefit of all ESA Member States,” said Massimiliano Simeoni, Aidan’s Project Implementation Manager at ESA Connectivity and Secure Communications.

“The Viasat Aera terminal is a key part of Viasat Amara, our next generation in-flight connectivity solution going far beyond fast and free high-speed Wi-Fi,” said Viasat on its Viasat Amara announcement. “Our pioneering mission remains to help our airline customers maximize connectivity’s enormous potential for brand, loyalty, and growth. It’s been great to work with ESA as one of our key partners to help bring it to fruition.”

This antenna development marks the beginning of exciting opportunities for the future of onboard connectivity. (Source: ASD Network)

08 Oct 25. Hughes + Celona to deliver fully managed private wireless networks. Hughes Network Systems, LLC (Hughes) has begun a strategic relationship with Celona to launch a fully managed private wireless network solution—the new offering is designed to meet the rising demand for secure, mobile, and high-performance wireless connectivity that powers digital transformation and automation across industrial sectors such as manufacturing, warehousing, logistics, and energy. This also extends to government operations and public safety use cases. Combining Celona’s 5G LAN technology with the extensive managed services experience of Hughes, the solution offers enterprises embracing Industry 4.0 a turnkey solution, from site design and deployment to 24/7 network monitoring and support. The service also provides advanced Quality of Service (QoS), SIM-based security, and seamless indoor/outdoor mobility. The joint solution addresses connectivity challenges common in large or dense environments and supports real-time applications, including, but not limited to, robotics, video analytics, and connected worker systems. Customers benefit from enterprise-ready design, guaranteed service level agreements, and integration with on-premises and cloud-based business systems, without needing in-house cellular expertise. Hughes Managed Private Wireless Network is designed to support mission-critical use cases across both commercial and public sector domains. From automated guided vehicles (AGVs) and smart surveillance to mobile command centers and secure telehealth connectivity, the network offers flexible deployment options—on premises or cloud-hosted—tailored to each customer’s unique operational and compliance needs. Delivered as a fully managed service, the Hughes solution enables customers to harness the full power of private cellular without significant upfront investment or in-house technical expertise. Network management, SIM provisioning, performance optimization, and threat detection are handled by Hughes through its 24/7 Network Operations Center. The solution is supported by a large set of devices from major manufacturers and applications, which makes it ready for quick adoption by enterprises. (Source: Satnews)

14 Oct 25. SpaceX set to launch SDA Tranche 1 Transport Layer C on Wednesday from California. SpaceX is targeting Wednesday, October 15 at 4:03 p.m. PT for a Falcon 9 launch of the Space Development Agency’s (SDA) Tranche 1 data transport mission to low-Earth orbit from Space Launch Complex 4 East (SLC-4E) at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. This is the second of ten Tranche 1 missions Falcon 9 will launch on behalf of the SDA. This will be the seventh flight for the first stage booster supporting this mission, which previously launched SDA T1TL-B Tranche 1 and five Starlink missions. Following stage separation, the first stage will land on the Of Course I Still Love You droneship, which will be stationed in the Pacific Ocean. The space vehicles launched during this mission will provide data transport as a part of SDA’s Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture, a new layered network of satellites in low-Earth orbit and supporting elements that will provide global military tactical communication and missile warning, indication, and tracking capabilities. There is the possibility that residents of Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, and Ventura counties may hear one or more sonic booms during the launch, but what residents experience will depend on weather and other conditions. Tranche 1 Transport Layer C is one of six missions by the United States Space Force Space Development Agency (SDA) for the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture (PWSA) Tranche 1 Transport Layer constellation, which will provide assured, resilient, low-latency military data and connectivity worldwide to the full range of warfighter platforms from Low Earth Orbit satellites. The constellation will be interconnected with Optical Inter-Satellite Links (OISLs) which have significantly increased performance over existing radio frequency crosslinks. It is expected to operate over Ka band, have stereo coverage and be dynamically networked for simpler hand-offs, greater bandwidth and fault tolerance. This launch carries 21 small satellites manufactured by Lockheed Martin. (Source: Satnews)

16 Oct 25. USEI: Advancements in Satellite Communications discussion at Silicon Valley Space Week. U.S. Electrodynamics, Inc. (USEI), an award-winning, global teleport operator and a leader in satellite communications, is attending Silicon Valley Space Week (SVSW) in Mountain View, California, which will be in session from October 28-30, 2025—USEI will highlight the company’s latest innovations in RF satellite communications. USEI’s Brewster Teleport (Washington) and Vernon Valley Teleport (New Jersey) provide seamless connectivity across the Pacific, CONUS, and Atlantic regions, supported by a dedicated, 100G-capable terrestrial network. These facilities, together with USEI’s international network of full-motion antennas and the development of an Optical Ground Station (OGS) network, deliver a robust communications capability across LEO, MEO, GEO, and beyond. Backed by decades of engineering expertise, operational excellence, and a growing international presence, USEI ensures trusted connectivity for government, military, and commercial customers worldwide. Founded in 1985 by Jim Veeder, USEI offers four decades of expertise in the field and specializes in delivering high-performance RF and satellite communication systems for government, military, and commercial customers. USEI has long been a leader in government-backed R&D initiatives and is now driving advancements with a special focus on security, resilience, anti-jamming technology, and maximizing data bandwidth performance. Visit USEI at this major trade event—the company is sponsoring the lunch for SVSW attendees on October 30th. (Source: Satnews)

12 Oct 25. Rocket Lab secures multiple launches with JAXA. Rocket Lab Corporation (Nasdaq: RKLB) has signed a direct contract for two dedicated Electron launches with the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) – signifying the criticality of Electron to international space agencies requiring responsive launch and dedicated access to space. Launching from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1 in New Zealand, the two Electron missions will deploy satellites for JAXA’s Innovative Satellite Technology Demonstration Program. The first launch, scheduled from December of 2025, will deploy the agency’s RApid Innovative payload demonstration SatellitE-4 (RAISE-4) spacecraft, a single satellite that will demonstrate eight technologies developed by private companies, universities, and research institutions throughout Japan. The second launch, scheduled for 2026, is a JAXA-manifested rideshare of eight separate spacecraft that includes educational smallsats, an ocean monitoring satellite, a demonstration satellite for ultra-small multispectral cameras, and a deployable antenna that can be packed tightly using origami folding techniques and unfurled to 25 times its size. Rocket Lab founder and CEO, Sir Peter Beck, said: “It’s an incredible honor to be entrusted by JAXA to further their goals of innovation and development for Japan. These missions are a demonstration of Electron’s global importance – supporting the growth of Japan’s space industry with launch on a U.S. rocket from a New Zealand launch site – and we’re proud to be entrusted to deliver them. Japanese satellite operators have long turned to Electron for its reliability and responsiveness since its earliest launches – whether its constellation-building for Japan’s new wave of commercial satellite operators, or bespoke missions requiring responsive mission planning and highly-accurate payload deployment.” Rocket Lab is a launch leader for the Japanese space industry, with more than two dozen dedicated missions booked to fly on Electron through to the end of the decade. These include constellation deployment missions for satellite operators iQPS and Synspective, in addition to the multiple launches already completed this year with 100% mission success. Other successful missions for Japanese satellite operators include the “On Closer Inspection” mission on February 2024 for Astroscale-Japan for the first phase of its orbital debris removal program; and the “Running Out Of Fingers” mission launched in 2019 for Tokyo-based company ALE. Mission information about Rocket Lab’s first launch for JAXA next month will be announced shortly.(Source: Satnews)

13 Oct 25. “Every major objective of the flight test was achieved” as Starship aces its 11th test for SpaceX. On Monday, October 13, 2025, at 6:23 p.m. CT, Starship lifted off from Starbase, Texas on its eleventh flight test. This was the final flight of the second-generation Starship and first generation Super Heavy booster, as well as the final launch from the current configuration of Pad 1. Every major objective of the flight test was achieved, providing valuable data as we prepare the next generation of Starship and Super Heavy to create a rapidly reusable vehicle with service to Earth orbit, the Moon, Mars, and beyond. All photos captured by Satnews. The flight test began with Super Heavy igniting all 33 Raptor engines and ascending over the Gulf. The successful first-stage ascent was followed by a hot-staging maneuver, with Starship’s upper stage igniting its six Raptor engines to continue its flight to space. Following stage separation, the Super Heavy booster completed its boostback burn to put it on a course to a pre-planned splashdown zone off the coast of Texas using 12 of the 13 planned engines. Under the same angle of attack tested on the previous flight, the booster descended until successfully igniting all 13 planned engines (including one that did not relight during the boostback burn) for the high-thrust portion of the landing burn. The booster successfully executed a unique landing burn planned for use on the next generation booster. Super Heavy hovered above the water before shutting down its engines and splashing down. After completing a full-duration ascent burn, Starship achieved its planned velocity and trajectory. During flight, Starship successfully deployed eight Starlink simulators and executed the third in-space relight of a Raptor engine, demonstrating a critical capability for future deorbit burns. Starship re-entered the Earth’s atmosphere and was able to gather extensive data on the performance of its heatshield as it was intentionally stressed to test the limits of the vehicle’s capabilities. In the final minutes of flight, Starship performed a dynamic banking maneuver to mimic the trajectory that future missions returning to Starbase will fly. Starship then guided itself using its four flaps to the pre-planned splashdown zone in the Indian Ocean, successfully executing a landing flip, landing burn, and soft splashdown. (Source: Satnews)

13 Oct 25. Amazon’s KF-03 mission is launched by SpaceX on a Florida night. On Monday, October 13 at 9:58 p.m. ET, Falcon 9 launched the KF-03 mission to orbit from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. Photos captured by Satnews. The Kuiper deployment sequence began more than 56 minutes after liftoff and wrapped up less than eight minutes later. It brings the satellite constellation up to a total of 153 in low Earth orbit. This was the sixth overall mission supporting the Kuiper constellation. This was the second flight for the Falcon 9 first stage booster supporting this mission, which previously launched KF-02. After stage separation, the first stage landed on the A Shortfall of Gravitas droneship, which was be stationed in the Atlantic Ocean. (Source: Satnews)

20 Oct 25. SatVu, the world’s leading provider of high-resolution thermal imaging from space, has announced its participation in NATO’s Alliance Persistent Surveillance from Space (APSS) initiative. As part of this effort, SatVu has successfully delivered an Infrared Familiarisation programme to NATO personnel at the NATO Communications and Information Agency (NCIA) headquarters in The Hague, Netherlands.

SatVu joins NATO’s Alliance Persistent Surveillance from Space (APSS) initiative, strengthening the Alliance’s intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities.
The company has delivered an Infrared Familiarisation programme to NATO personnel, showcasing how thermal intelligence adds a critical “activity layer” to complement optical and SAR data.
SatVu’s thermal imaging satellites detect activity, not just change, enabling NATO to gain faster, richer, and more actionable insights for decision-making.

The APSS initiative is a multi-year, multi-domain, multinational effort designed to enhance space-based intelligence sharing across the Alliance. By integrating commercial and government-owned space-based assets, APSS enables NATO to build a comprehensive, cross-domain intelligence picture to inform political decision-making and military operations. Managed by NCIA, the programme ensures that data is collected, aggregated, and delivered at speed, providing decision-makers with actionable insights when they are most needed. Through SatVu’s involvement, NATO analysts gain access to advanced thermal imaging capabilities that complement existing optical and Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) data sources. SatVu’s satellites capture heat variations across the Earth’s surface at resolutions of up to 3.5 metres, allowing detection of activity rather than just physical change. This offers unique advantages for defence and intelligence, including 24/7 operational capability and the ability to reveal insights invisible to traditional imaging.

During the recent Infrared Familiarisation course, NATO participants explored a range of defence applications including:

Strategic site monitoring and critical infrastructure protection
Detection of activity in ships, aircraft, and vehicles through thermal signatures
Border security and counter-narcotics operations
Identification of underground or concealed infrastructure
Monitoring of power stations, fuel depots, and other energy facilities

The programme engaged NATO personnel from across the operational community, ensuring a broad understanding regarding how thermal data supports wider operational needs. The training underscored the importance of introducing sensors and intelligence layers that have been less widely understood. Thermal intelligence was described as the “activity layer” that reveals operational status and human presence, complementing (or enhancing) Optical and SAR sensors data sources.

Anthony Baker, CEO & Co-founder, SatVu: “Thermal intelligence provides the critical ‘activity layer’ that enhances and complements existing intelligence sources, enabling decision-makers to see not just where assets are, but what they are doing. By working with NATO, we are excited to help accelerate the delivery of richer, more actionable intelligence to support the Alliance’s security and operational goals.”

By contributing to APSS, SatVu is committed to supporting NATO in advancing ISR capabilities – helping to ensure that the Alliance has access to enhanced space-based intelligence.

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SATELLITE SYSTEMS, SATCOM AND SPACE SYSTEMS UPDATE

October 17, 2025 by

Sponsored by MatrixSpace

http://matrixspace.com

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16 Oct 25. ICEYE, the global leader in Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) satellite operations for Earth observation, and IHI Corporation (“IHI”), the Japanese leader in aerospace and defense industries, have signed a procurement contract to build an Earth observation satellite constellation for security, civilian, and commercial use. Under the terms of the contract, IHI has placed an initial order for four satellites and associated image acquisition system, with the option to procure a further 20 satellites at a later stage. The first satellites are expected to begin phased commissioning and data delivery from around April 2026. The agreement marks a significant step in the partnership between ICEYE and IHI. ICEYE’s satellites use radar to produce detailed images regardless of clouds or darkness, ensuring uninterrupted monitoring for defense, disaster response, and environmental management.

Rafal Modrzewski, Co-founder and CEO of ICEYE, said: “ICEYE has built a trusted partnership with Japan since 2018, grounded in shared values and innovation. This agreement with IHI marks a new milestone in strengthening our partnership and enhancing shared security and resilience. By combining IHI’s engineering excellence with ICEYE’s SAR technology, we’re enabling sovereign access to critical Earth observation data and advancing Japan’s leadership in space-based intelligence.”

Hiroshi Ide, President and CEO of IHI, commented: “At IHI, we are committed to contributing to the realization of a safe and secure society in a rapidly changing world. This initiative represents an investment in IHI’s future. In collaboration with ICEYE, we are taking on the challenge of creating new value through cutting-edge satellite technology. Through the development of an Earth observation satellite constellation, we aim to address not only national and economic security but also a wide range of societal challenges. By harnessing the full strength of the IHI Group’s manufacturing capabilities, we will lead the construction of essential infrastructure that will be indispensable for the society of the future.”

Two of the initial four satellites are planned to be assembled and tested in Japan, with preparations already under way between IHI and ICEYE. Subject to successful demonstration results, IHI plans to exercise options for the remaining 20 satellites in phases from fiscal year 2026, targeting completion of the 24-satellite constellation by fiscal year 2029. The contract follows the memorandum of understanding signed between ICEYE and IHI in May 2025 to jointly develop the constellation and establish domestic production facilities in Japan. This cooperation builds on the companies’ shared vision to combine ICEYE’s SAR technology and rapid satellite deployment capabilities with IHI’s engineering heritage to advance Japan’s manufacturing and space capabilities. (Source: PR Newswire)

15 Oct 25. Germany and France on Wednesday signed an implementation agreement for a satellite-based early warning system called Odin’s Eye, which is meant to significantly improve Europe’s ability to detect missile launches.

“It remains crucial for our joint defence that we can detect and counter threats as swiftly as possible,” German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius said at a signing ceremony with his new French counterpart Catherine Vautrin on the sidelines of a NATO meeting in Brussels.

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“From space, we aim to spot hostile missiles the moment they are launched. Only then we can intercept them in time.”

German space company OHB has been coordinating the development of an architecture for Odin’s Eye. (Source: Reuters)

15 Oct 25. New Zealand confirms acceleration for space, advanced aviation sectors. The New Zealand government has announced intentions to further accelerate the value of its space and advanced aviation sectors by 2030. NZ Minister for Space and Minister of Defence Judith Collins made the comments during this year’s New Zealand Aerospace Summit in Christchurch earlier this week. The space and advanced aviation sectors are entering a phase defined by scale, ambition and global relevance, according to Minister Collins.

“At this summit a year ago, I released the New Zealand Space and Advanced Aviation Strategy, which set out our ambition to double the value of the sectors by 2030,” Minister Collins said.

“An economic report released earlier this year shows space sector revenues increased 53 per cent to $2.68 bn in the five years to 2024, and the advanced aviation sector, which overlaps with the space sector, had a total estimated revenue of $530 m in 2024.

“Our space and advanced aviation sectors are more than just rockets, drones and satellites. They’re about advanced manufacturing, AI and autonomy, Earth monitoring and next-generation mobility.

“The sectors are also about building a high-tech economy that delivers high-value jobs and solutions to global challenges.

“We are on track to establish a world-leading regulatory environment for the sectors. By the end of this year, we will have put in place a regulatory sandbox where tests can be carried out freely and safely.

“New Zealand’s approach to advanced aviation regulations is proving to be world-leading and will attract more interest from overseas players keen to take advantage of a safe and responsive and regulatory environment.

“In July we passed new legislation to deter foreign interference and protect New Zealand’s national interests and national security through a new regulatory regime for operators of ground-based space infrastructure.

“In terms of a national space mission, our first objective is to develop our sovereign space capabilities and I expect I will have more to say about this by the end of the year.

“All of this is evidence New Zealand’s space and advanced aviation sectors are no longer emerging, they’re here and they’re accelerating.” (Source: Space Connect)

14 Oct 25. Iridium Communications Inc. (NASDAQ: IRDM), a leading provider of global voice, data, and PNT satellite services, and Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. (QTI) today announced that they have successfully integrated Iridium® data services into the Snapdragon® Mission Tactical Radio (MTR) and intend to make these services available for adoption and use by U.S. government customers and approved allied partners. By integrating Iridium data services, Snapdragon MTR-equipped devices, ranging from handheld and mounted radios to autonomous vehicles, stand to benefit from flexible, highly reliable, and secure L-band satellite communications in environments where terrestrial networks are congested, compromised, or unavailable. To meet diverse mission needs, the Snapdragon MTR can integrate multiple Iridium services into a single chipset: Short Burst Data® (SBD®), for proven low-latency messaging and telemetry, and Iridium Burst®, for receipt of simultaneous broadcasts to an unlimited number of enabled devices. The Iridium waveform, coupled with QTI’s leadership in commercial wireless capabilities such as cellular, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and GNSS, will enable powerful global connectivity in devices with strict size, weight, power, and cost (SWaP-C) requirements.

Iridium Executive Vice President of Government Programs Scott Scheimreif said, “The Snapdragon MTR positions Iridium and QTI at the forefront of next-generation communications architectures while equipping warfighters and coalition partners with scalable solutions.”

11 Oct 25. Amazon’s KF-03 mission now planned for Sunday by SpaceX with calmer seas. After postponing the KF-03 since Monday, SpaceX is now targeting Sunday, October 12 for a Falcon 9 launch of the KF-03 mission to orbit from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. Liftoff is targeted for 8:29 p.m. ET with additional opportunities available until 10:44 p.m. ET. If needed, a backup launch opportunity is available on Monday, October 13 starting at 8:08 p.m. ET. Facing rough seas offshore along the Eastern Seaboard, SpaceX is now targeting 8:29 p.m. Sunday, October 12, for liftoff from Launch Complex 40. The mission for Amazon is to deploy Amazon’s 28 satellites into low-Earth orbit. According to weather officials, there’s a 95% chance of favorable weather conditions at the time of the launch. Officials are monitoring weather conditions with concerns related to Cumulus Cloud Rule. The forecast calls for a temperature of 75°F, few clouds, 22% cloud cover and a wind speed of 15mph. A live webcast of this mission will begin about 15 minutes prior to liftoff, which you can watch on X @SpaceX. You can also watch the webcast on the X TV app. This will be the second flight for the Falcon 9 first stage booster supporting this mission, which previously launched KF-02. After stage separation, the first stage will land on the Just Read the Instructions droneship, which will be stationed in the Atlantic Ocean. (Source: Satnews)

08 Oct 25. Ground Control joins CLS to advance satellite IoT for environmental and infrastructure monitoring. Ground Control, the UK and U.S.-based specialist in satellite IoT devices and cloud-based platforms, has been acquired by CLS, the global provider of satellite services for environmental monitoring and resource management. Since 2006, CLS has been supporting humanitarian organizations with HUMANAV, a digital solution co-developed with field-active agencies. The acquisition strengthens CLS’s position in the rapidly growing satellite IoT market and enhances its ability to deliver solutions for environmental protection, climate adaptation, and the security of people, assets and critical infrastructure. The company’s sustained growth underscores the effectiveness of CLS’s strategy and its resilience in an increasingly competitive global market. This acquisition marks the group’s 18th since it began external growth initiatives in 2008. As the long-standing operator of the Argos satellite-based data collection and localization system, CLS was tracking objects long before the advent of GPS. A subsidiary of CNES (French Space Agency) and CNP, an investment company, CLS pioneered satellite data collection and geolocation services, which remain at the core of its activities. Over the years, the company has become a global player in satellite IoT solutions. Ground Control brings expertise in rugged satellite hardware, from cost-effective RockBLOCK modules to advanced RockREMOTE devices, and its Cloudloop platform for device and data management. Ground Control’s technologies enrich CLS’s already extensive ecosystem, which includes beacons, services, decision-support cloud platforms, forecasting models and artificial intelligence tools. While CLS and Ground Control sometimes operate in the same strategic sectors, they address complementary customer bases and offer distinct yet interoperable technologies. The acquisition adds four operational sites to CLS’s existing network of 31 offices across five continents, bringing the total to 35 locations and more than 1,100 employees. Clients of both companies will benefit from an integrated ecosystem, expanded local presence, increased R&D capacity, and a shared commitment to sustainable innovation.

Stéphanie Limouzin, President of The CLS Group, said, “Combining CLS’s space-based IoT services with Ground Control’s hardware and cloud platforms allows us to provide clients with a broader range of solutions, faster support, and more operational flexibility.”

Alastair MacLeod, CEO of Ground Control, said, “Joining CLS is a natural step for Ground Control. Together, we offer complete end-to-end solutions with stronger global coverage and shared environmental values.”

About Ground Control

Ground Control is a UK- and US-based company specialized in reliable, rugged satellite and hybrid IoT communications solutions for remote and mission-critical operations. Founded nearly 30 years ago, the company has built a strong reputation for designing and manufacturing compact, low-power satellite IoT devices and two-way messaging trackers, used across industries where connectivity is essential, no matter how remote the location. At the heart of Ground Control’s offering is Cloudloop, a flexible and secure device and subscription management platform that enables seamless provisioning, data routing, and operational visibility across diverse global asset fleets. With teams based in the UK and California, Ground Control serves a broad range of sectors. Now part of the CLS Group, Ground Control continues to develop robust, field-proven technology while benefiting from the global reach, environmental mission, and scientific legacy of its new parent company. (Source: Satnews)

Founded in 2017, MatrixSpace is creating the next generation of artificial intelligence enabled sensing solutions to digitize the outdoors beyond the limits of human perception.

The MatrixSpace expeditionary radar kit fits in a standard daypack and contains everything needed to deliver actionable detections to an ATAK mobile device in less than 5 mins.

Visit maxtrixspace.com

SATELLITE SYSTEMS, SATCOM AND SPACE SYSTEMS UPDATE

October 3, 2025 by

Sponsored by MatrixSpace

http://matrixspace.com

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03 Oct 25. Critical UK satellites to be defended from laser threats.

The UK is investing in sensors that will help protect satellites crucial to our economy and security from lasers from adversaries

New detection tech is being built to spot lasers that adversaries may use to dazzle satellites and intercept communications.
UK Armed Forces project will help protect satellites that are used for everything from bank transfers and weather forecasts to emergency services and intelligence operations.
One fifth of the UK economy is reliant on satellite services, with this latest innovation securing economic growth and making our country more secure as part of the Plan for Change.

British businesses, emergency services and more will be protected from drastic disruption by new sensors that identify laser threats from adversaries to military and civilian satellites in space. Lasers can be used by adversaries to track the location of satellites, dazzle or blind them, or to intercept and interrupt communications. The new sensor technology under development will be able to determine the characteristics of lasers based in space or on the ground and whether they pose a threat to the satellite, providing the military with crucial information to protect and defend UK and allied space systems and assets. Nearly 20% of UK GDP is reliant on satellite services, which are essential for supporting daily life, including through communication, money transfers, navigation, emergency services, and weather forecasting. Satellites are also critical to defence, providing capabilities such as intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance and providing instant communications to military platforms. The new sensors are being developed by the UK Space Command (UKSC), which is a joint command of the British Armed Forces, and the UK Space Agency (UKSA), the Government body responsible for the country’s civil space programme. The project is backed by around £500,000 of funding – the first allocated as part of the UKSA’s Unlocking Space for Government programme, which aims to harness space to improve UK public services and strengthen national security as part of the Government’s Plan for Change. Today’s announcement follows the Strategic Defence Review identifying defence in space as central to warfighting and protecting national infrastructure, as well as identifying investment in defence as an engine for growth that will be crucial to the Government’s Plan for Change.

Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry, Luke Pollard MP, said: “Space is a hugely important and contested frontline and satellites play a vital role in UK prosperity and security. They are crucial to our everyday lives and provide a critical capability for our Armed Forces. It is essential they are protected. Today’s announcement shows our commitment to defend British assets in orbit – which protect us on the ground, in the air and at sea. This supports our national security, delivering on the Government’s Plan for Change.”

Major General Paul Tedman, Commander of UK Space Command, said: “The Strategic Defence Review raised space to parity with the traditional warfighting domains and underscored the critical importance of space to our economy, prosperity and national security and defence. It made it clear that space does not just accessorise our way of war, in many respects it is changing it fundamentally. It also made clear that threats to our national interests in space are increasing. In this new era of threats, UK Space Command is competing against a growing arsenal of adversary counterspace systems and requires new and innovative edge technology to protect and defend our satellites. Therefore, I am delighted that in less than 6 months after publishing the SDR, we are investing new money into this novel technology to accelerate our space programme.”

Harshbir Sangha, Director of Missions and Capabilities at UK Space Agency, said: “Protecting the UK’s satellite infrastructure is vital to our national security, economy and daily life. This joint project with UK Space Command marks an important step in developing the tools we need to detect and respond to emerging threats in space. By investing in cutting-edge sensor technology, we’re helping to ensure that the UK remains resilient and ready in an increasingly contested space environment.

The aerospace and defence sectors added over £42bn to the economy last year, an increase of 64% in the last 10 years, delivering on the Government’s Plan for Change. There are now 443,000 people now directly employed across the UK, with the Government making defence is an engine for economic growth.” (Source: https://www.gov.uk/)

02 Oct 25. The Italian Space Agency has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Bahrain Space Agency. The agreement was signed during the 76th edition of the International Astronautical Congress on 2 October. It is envisioned to promote joint cooperation in the peaceful use of outer space as well as in space science, technology and applications. Teodoro Valente, president of the Italian Space Agency (ISA), signed the memorandum of understanding with Mohamed Al-Aseeri, chief executive officer of the Bahrain Space Agency.

“The agreement consolidates the collaboration launched in 2020 between the Italian Space Agency and the National Space Science Agency,” according to a statement from the ISA.

“The memorandum of understanding aims to foster capacity-building activities and to expand cooperation in areas of mutual interest, including academic and training opportunities for the staff of both agencies, training programs and specialised education for selected students and researchers, expert exchanges, and the organisation of joint symposia, conferences and seminars. The agreement also provides for the exchange of data and information within the framework of joint projects, in accordance with applicable laws and regulations. The operational modalities of the cooperation will be defined through specific implementation agreements in the fields of space science, exploration, law and space policy.”

It’s understood that a similar agreement is being discussed at the International Astronautical Congress between the Polish Space Agency and Japan’s national space organisation, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency. That agreement, understood to be in discussions currently, could focus on similar space cooperation, research and development, and potentially moon exploration. (Source: Space Connect)

01 Oct 25. Axiom Space, a leader in commercial space infrastructure, and Resonac Corporation (“Resonac”), a leading provider of cutting-edge materials solutions in the semiconductor industry, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to collaborate on the research, development and manufacturing of high-performance semiconductor materials in the environment of space. This collaboration paves the way toward leveraging microgravity to advance next-generation chip technologies and accelerate the in-space manufacturing market.

“The unique environment of space offers immense potential for advancing semiconductor materials, especially in crystal growth,” said Masato Fukushima, Resonac Chief Technology Officer. “Partnering with Axiom Space, we aim to accelerate experiments and drive innovation in materials, fostering industrial growth and societal progress.”

Under the agreement, Axiom Space and Resonac will explore the potential of microgravity and low-Earth orbit (LEO) vacuum conditions to produce next-generation semiconductor materials for critical semiconductor applications and chip packaging. The absence of convection and sedimentation in the microgravity environment provides the opportunity to grow defect-free semiconductor bulk crystals, resins and 2D materials. The companies plan to leverage the International Space Station, Axiom Space’s orbital platforms, and the future Axiom Station to advance from proof-of-concept to commercially viable scale manufacturing. Under this MOU, Resonac also plans to extend its current work with Axiom Space where Resonac is developing molding compounds that can reduce soft errors when semiconductor devices are exposed to space radiation. Soft errors are caused when cosmic rays enter a transistor, and electrons are thrown away causing the bits to become inverted. To solve this challenge, Resonac is testing simple devices fabricated with various compositions of molding material in the external and internal environment of the International Space Station.

“Our collaboration with Resonac underscores how Axiom Space is enabling global corporations from around the world to leverage space to drive manufacturing innovation across critical technology sectors such as semiconductors,” said Koichi Wakata, Axiom Space Astronaut and Chief Technology Officer.

Divya Panchanathan, Global Lead for In-Space Semiconductor Commercialization at Axiom Space, added, “Space offers pristine conditions to unlock material properties that can’t be replicated on Earth, and with Resonac’s strong semiconductor materials expertise, we aim to fuel in-space innovations and enable new technologies to drive industrialization in low-Earth orbit.” Axiom Space and Resonac’s alliance is poised to shape the future of space-enabled manufacturing, laying the groundwork for scalable orbital production and cutting-edge semiconductor technologies that benefit industries both on Earth and beyond. (Source: ASD Network)

01 Oct 25. Viasat, Inc. (NASDAQ: VSAT), a global leader in satellite communications, today announced it will provide its InRange launch telemetry service for future sub-orbital demonstration of Skyrora’s Skylark L launch vehicle. InRange ensures a continuous flow of telemetry data during rocket flight from launch to payload deployment. Unlike traditional ground networks that can only connect when a launch vehicle is within sight, InRange uses Viasat’s L-band geostationary satellites which orbit 36,500km above the Earth. This means launch operators like Skyrora can closely monitor launch missions from launch vehicle to control center with consistent and reliable connectivity from space. The announcement follows Skyrora’s successful UK-first ground tests of InRange, completed in October 2024 in collaboration with Viasat and CGI. In August, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) granted the Scottish company a license to launch and operate its sub-orbital Skylark L rocket from the SaxaVord Spaceport in Shetland. Skyrora currently aims to launch as many as 16 times per year by 2030. The project is funded by the European Space Agency (ESA) under its Boost! Commercial Space Transportation Services and Support Programme, with support from the UK Space Agency (UKSA). The first phase covered ground tests completed in 2024. Now in its second phase, the project will see further static tests of InRange before integrating the solution with Skylark L ahead of real-life launches.

Todd McDonell, President, International Government, Viasat, said: “As activity and interest in space grows, countries around the world are looking to develop their space industries and launch capabilities. We are delighted to be playing a key role on that journey within the UK space sector by supporting Skyrora with InRange. Through our satellite network, we can help make successful, reliable launches a reality.”

Volodymyr Levykin, CEO and Founder of Skyrora, said: “The InRange telemetry system reduces the likelihood of challenges around recording and transmitting the readings of launches. It could not only help save launch companies ms of pounds but also give them more flexibility by improving their visibility of telemetry data throughout the flight. Now we’re moving towards launch, this is an incredibly exciting time for the UK space sector.”

InRange is also part of NASA’s Communications Service Project, which will see the solution demonstrated onboard Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket on two future missions. Viasat is also working with the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) to develop InRange for Mitsubishi’s Heavy Industry’s H3 launch vehicle. Viasat has also launched its new HaloNet portfolio, a group of comprehensive solutions designed to support the space-to-ground communication landscape — including a telemetry data relay solution to support the launch industry.

01 Oct 25. USSF accepts L3Harris’ ATLAS System for operations. ATLAS will integrate critical data for space C2, intelligence, and operational readiness, to address emerging space threats. The US Space Force (USSF) has officially accepted the Advanced Tracking and Launch Analysis System (ATLAS) for operational use. Developed by L3Harris Technologies, ATLAS is a next-generation Space Development Agency (SDA) analysis system. It is designed to integrate critical data for space command and control (C2), intelligence, and operational readiness, enabling effective responses to emerging anti-satellite threats. L3Harris Space and Airborne Systems president Ed Zoiss said: “This pivotal milestone aligns with Chief of Space Operations Gen. B. Chance Saltzman’s top priorities at the Space Force to help ensure space superiority, an essential element of our country’s national security.

“The Space Force requires timely, accurate and relevant information to avoid operational surprise, and ATLAS meets this demand by providing essential and actionable space domain awareness.”

This operational acceptance marks a pivotal step in modernising the USSF’s capabilities, replacing the legacy Space Defence Operations Centre (SPADOC) with a more advanced system. The initiative to develop ATLAS began in 2018 under the US Air Force and was later expedited by L3Harris following their selection by the USSF in February 2022. The programme is considered a priority by the Department of Defense (DoD). ATLAS’s deployment will facilitate the decommissioning of the SPADOC system, a space management tool. Once deployed, operators and stakeholders will ensure that ATLAS achieves operational acceptance by implementing its Minimum Viable Capabilities (MVCs). These MVCs include automated processing and maintenance of astrometric baselines, orbit determination, event processing, and satellite conjunction management. The first MVC to be delivered focuses on observation processing and association, where ATLAS will utilise sensor data to enhance space domain awareness. In March 2025, L3Harris secured a $90m follow-on contract from the USSF Space Systems Command to further develop and integrate tools that enhance ATLAS’s capabilities. This includes modernising command and control systems to improve satellite and space debris tracking. (Source: airforce-technology.com)

01 Oct 25. Australian and UK Space Agencies re-sign AU-UK Space Bridge Framework Arrangement. The Australian Space Agency and the UK Space Agency have formally re-signed the AU-UK Space Bridge Framework Arrangement. The agreement was formally re-signed at the 76th International Astronautical Congress (IAC 2025) at Sydney’s International Convention Centre on October 1. The renewed agreement aims to reaffirm and extend shared commitment to deepening bilateral cooperation in space science, technology, and innovation. The agreement was signed in person by Australian Space Agency head Enrico Palermo and UK Space Agency chief executive officer Dr Paul Bate. Both leaders spoke about the enduring value of the partnership, including new opportunities for economic growth, advanced space capabilities, and contributed to global challenges such as climate resilience and food security.

Dr Bate confirmed that the UK Space Agency is sharing insights made into growth and development of small-to-medium enterprises in the industry.

“So we have over 1900 space organisations in the UK and the vast majority of them are relatively small, some are pre-revenue,” he said. “The two things that we’ve learned is that we have to keep investing in that ecosystem. You can’t get the big companies until you’ve got the smaller ones. It’s a long term endeavour. So multi-year funding and a growth infrastructure that allows that ecosystem to flourish… Incidentally, more recently we’ve noticed a particular payback when we invest in clusters and the infrastructure in our local communities, not just in the individual companies. The second thing, and we announced this relatively recently in our industrial strategy, is that when we’ve got that ecosystem thriving, the challenge becomes a new one, which is how do we help those companies or a subset of them that are most likely to grow? We have to be a little bit discerning; what we can’t do is put all the money at the scale needed into all the SME’s. So, what we’re now looking at is how we unlock space and really scale up the very best organisations. And what we think will make the biggest difference is combining the research and development funding, often grant funding, with a better and more coherent approach to procurement so that anchor contracting is there from government and, where appropriate, co-investment. So the government and the private sector coming together to invest in those companies, helping them have the equity and therefore the cash runway to really make a success in their technology. We know that’s challenging for scale ups and that’s where we want to support. So that’s we’ve been testing that quite carefully and I think you’ll see us in the UK do a lot more on that.”

Originally signed in 2021, the Space Bridge has become a cornerstone of international collaboration, enabling joint ventures between Australia and the UK across government, industry, and academia. The re-signing comes as several co-funded projects under the UK Space Agency’s International Bilateral Fund reached successful completion, including initiatives in water quality monitoring (AquaWatch), autonomous agriculture, and space sustainability; demonstrating the tangible benefits of cross-border innovation. Palermo confirmed that the current mandate for the Australian Space Agency was to stay as a regulatory body, not create a commercial arm.

“I mean the current mandate for the Agency is fivefold, we coordinate and develop spot policy across the federal government, States and territories.

“We build capability through our programmes, including our Lunar Rover Programme. We manage and lead the international relationships. Hence the UK space bridge today… We do regulate and administer the space launch and returns act and then we inspire and that’s the mandate of the Agency today. That’s very similar if you look at New Zealand, the space agency in India. Bringing together promotion, regulation and international partnerships and policies. Yeah, so that that will continue. It’s always been in our DNA that we were formed as an agency to build a vibrant space sector here in Australia. But also for space to be part of the enabling critical tech agenda of government.” (Source: Space Connect)

30 Sep 25. US, France step up joint military satellite moves to counter China in space.

Summary
US and France plan second joint military satellite operation
Mission would be third after US-UK joint moves this month
Western military space officials warn of increased threat to space

France and the United States are planning a second joint mission of coordinated satellite maneuvers in orbit, part of a growing push to sharpen allied spying capabilities as China expands its own military footprint in space, a senior U.S. general told Reuters. The operation would be the Pentagon’s third known mission conducted in space with an ally following its first-ever joint maneuver with two spacecraft in orbit late last year, also involving France. The U.S. Space Command conducted a joint mission with the UK earlier this month. (Source: Reuters)

30 Sep 25. Rocket Lab and Synspective Strike Another 10-Launch Deal, Boosting Contracted Missions to 21 Electron Launches. Rocket Lab Corporation (Nasdaq: RKLB) (“Rocket Lab” or “the Company”), a global leader in launch services and space systems, today announced it has secured a second multi-launch contract with Synspective, a leading Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) satellite data and analytics company from Japan. The new contract for a further 10 dedicated Electron launches brings the total number of upcoming Synspective missions to 21 – marking the largest order of dedicated Electron missions with a single customer to date. Following the first launch agreement announced in June 2024, this second multi-launch contract within 18 months further solidifies Electron’s international expansion and leadership of the small lift launch market globally. This latest contract secures the launch of 21 StriX SAR satellites across multiple missions through to the end of the decade. Rocket Lab has been Synspective’s sole launch provider to-date, successfully deploying six StriX satellites across six dedicated launches from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1 in New Zealand. The next 21 Synspective launches will take place from the same launch site, with Rocket Lab’s schedule flexibility, tailored launch service, and streamlined operations central to Synspective’s decision to extend its previous multi-launch contract.

Rocket Lab founder and CEO, Sir Peter Beck, says: “Regular and reliable launch on a flexible schedule is essential to the build out of Synspective’s constellation, and Electron has been integral to this from the start as the sole launcher of all StriX satellites in space today. It’s an honor to add another 10 StriX satellites to Electron’s launch manifest and continue our long-standing partnership with Synspective.”

Synspective founder and CEO, Dr. Motoyuki Arai, said: “Rocket Lab’s precision and track record have consistently enabled us to stay on schedule and achieve our mission objectives. As we move forward with 21 launches, our continued collaboration is crucial to accelerating the deployment of our SAR satellites and the growth of our data platform.”

Electron’s reliability, proficiency at executing against rapid timelines, and satellite deployment accuracy to within meters of its target, has made it the commercial launch vehicle of choice for satellite operators wanting to build out their constellations with precision. The majority of Electron launches this year have either been the continuation of multi-launch contracts with commercial constellation customers, or have completed the entire deployment of a constellation in less than a year. (Source: ASD Network)

28 Sep 25. Sierra Space Successfully Completes Critical Design Review for Missile Tracking Satellites in SDA Tranche 2. Sierra Space, a Defense Tech company delivering solutions for the nation’s most critical missions and advancing the future of security in space, announced today the successful completion of the Critical Design Review (CDR) for the Space Development Agency’s (SDA) Tranche 2 Tracking Layer (T2TRK), affirming technical readiness to begin production of advanced missile tracking satellites for the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture (PWSA). Under this contract, Sierra Space will deliver two orbital planes of satellites—18 in total—equipped with state-of-the-art infrared sensors to detect and track ballistic, hypersonic, and next-generation threats. Each constellation plane will host multiple missile warning/tracking IR sensors to include a missile defense sensor, forming a resilient layer of early threat detection for U.S. and allied forces.

“Our successful completion of CDR demonstrates Sierra Space’s ability to deliver innovative solutions at speed to support the nation’s defense initiatives,” said Erik Daehler, Senior Vice President of Sierra Space Defense. “We’re proud to support the SDA’s vision with space systems purpose-built for protecting against emerging threats.”

With the completion of CDR, Sierra Space now moves into the assembly, integration and testing phase for T2TRK, with hardware already arriving at its state-of-the-art manufacturing facility Victory Works. The company’s focus on high-rate production enables it to provide our constellation class Horizon spacecraft to our customers with the speed and quality needed to ensure mission success. Sierra Space’s success in the T2TRK program highlights its evolution as a next-generation defense leader, merging commercial agility with deep space system engineering expertise. With over 30 years of space flight heritage and a track record of 500 missions, Sierra Space continues to deliver innovative solutions that meet the needs of the U.S. Department of Defense and allied partners.(Source: BUSINESS WIRE)

30 Sep 25. UK Space Agency goes global with 23 new projects. A new batch of 23 projects will strengthen international space partnerships, develop national capabilities and boost economic growth, the UK Space Agency announced today.

Sunrise viewed from space over the Earth’s horizon.

This is the second round of projects from the successful International Bilateral Fund (IBF), representing a £6.5m boost for UK companies and universities collaborating internationally on space innovation with partners in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, India, Japan, Lithuania, Japan, and the USA. From autonomous 3D printing and lunar agriculture to orbital threat detection, biotech manufacturing, medical research and deep space radar, these collaborations span life sciences, communications, in-orbit servicing, Earth observation and advanced materials. They showcase the breadth of expertise across the UK’s vibrant space sector, which employs more than 55,000 people and generates £18.6 bn in annual revenue.

Space Minister Liz Lloyd said: “This £6.5m boost shows Britain leading the way in space innovation. From improving mobile coverage to monitoring Earth’s forests, these 23 projects will create jobs, strengthen partnerships with our allies, and keep the UK at the cutting edge of space technology. It’s an exciting time for our space sector and great news for British businesses reaching for the stars. The space funding boost, announced during the International Astronautical Congress (IAC) in Sydney, demonstrates the UK’s commitment to international partnerships and a wide range of areas where the space sector can contribute to economic growth.”

As set out in the Government’s Industrial Strategy, the UK Space Agency is increasing bilateral research & development funding with international allies. The IBF is a critical mechanism for this, providing targeted support for UK-led international collaborations and building capabilities and partnerships across the global space sector.

Today’s announcement follows the agreement between NASA and the UK Space Agency to develop AI models to support future exploration missions, under the Transatlantic Tech Prosperity Deal, as well as the successful launch of the NASA IMAP mission on 23 September, for which UK scientists contributed a key instrument.

Dr Paul Bate, Chief Executive of the UK Space Agency, said: “These new projects span the full spectrum of UK space expertise, from telecommunications, propulsion and environmental monitoring to cutting-edge technologies that could change how we develop treatments for deadly diseases using microgravity. By combining home-grown talent with global expertise, we want to strengthen our capabilities, support growth, and ensure the UK remains at the forefront of space innovation. This announcement comes at a pivotal moment in the evolution of the UK Space Agency, ahead of its integration into the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) from 1 April 2026. The merger will create a single civil space unit, streamlining strategy, policy, and delivery, building on recent achievements and ensuring the government supports the UK space sector effectively.”

UKspace Executive Director, Colin Baldwin, said: “The UK Space Agency’s International Bilateral Fund is going from strength to strength, providing a stimulus for the UK’s space sector to forge new partnerships with organisations around the globe, covering such a broad range of space interests. We are pleased to see so many of UKspace’s members and partners involved in the selected projects, enabling them to bring their world-class expertise to these exciting collaborations.”

Kevin Craven, CEO of ADS, representing businesses in aerospace, defence, security and space, said: “Advancements in space technology make our world smaller, our society more innovative and our lives more prosperous. We are delighted to see the IBF enabling international partnerships to that end. ADS has worked extensively to champion the UK’s thriving space sector in key strategic markets such as Japan and Lithuania. We look forward to working in close collaboration with government to build on this important work further.”

Call 2 Projects to date

Preparing to launch an Americium Radioisotope Stirling Generator, University of Leicester x NASA Glenn Research Centre x Perpetual Atomics x Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory – £499,000

Advancement of Americium Radioisotope Stirling Generator (Am-RSG) technology towards a near-term flight opportunity, and accelerating commercial, civil and defence applications of the Am-RSG to provide further opportunities and increase the customer base for the technology. This project will establish a strategic UK sovereign capability and help build international partnerships for export and trade.

UK-India-5G-from-orbit, AccelerComm Ltd x Radisys India Ltd (India) – £498,000

The next generation of Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTNs) is dependent on 5G base stations operating on board satellites. Making this happen in the extreme environment of an orbiting satellite requires technology developed by AccelerCommand Radisys. This project will integrate the latest versions of AccelerComm’s technology into Radisys’s lab in India, providing a valuable resource for joint research and demonstrations to customers and partners around the world.

AquaWatch AUK: Satellite Mission Development for Water Monitoring Innovation, Surrey Satellite Technology Limited (SSTL) x Pixalytics Ltd x Assimila Ltd x University of Stirling x RAL Space x CSIRO, Australia’s national science agency x Deloitte (Australia) – £479,000

Building on the successes of earlier AquaWatch-AUK projects, this initiative strengthens the UK-Australia Space Bridge, enabling satellite development to address global water quality challenges through innovative Earth Observation technologies. By integrating satellite and in-situ measurements, it creates a scalable monitoring system that improves data access, supports better decision-making, and benefits industries like tourism and agriculture.

Long Baseline Multistatic Radar for Deep Space Domain Awareness, University of Birmingham x Goonhilly Earth Station x University of Manchester x CSIRO, Australia’s national science agency x Massachusetts Institute of Technology – Lincoln Laboratory (USA) – £452,000

This project proposes Long Baseline Multistatic Radar (LBMR), linking powerful transmitters (e.g., Millstone Hill, Kwajalein) with sensitive receivers in the UK and Australia. The system will enable real-time detection and tracking of smaller, distant GEO objects. The project will deliver a live demonstration, a significant step towards validating LBMR as a scalable, low-cost solution for operational Space Domain Awareness.

SLOSH-CAT: Slosh Control Algorithm Testing, Satellite Applications Catapult Ltd x Space Machines x University of Sydney (Australia) – £447,000

SLOSH-Cat explores how liquid fuel moves inside spacecraft and how that movement affects their ability to stay stable and point accurately in space. Using advanced sensors and motion tracking, the team studies how shifting fuel can cause small disturbances. These insights help improve the software that controls spacecraft, making them safer and more precise as Space Machines prepares for its MAITRI mission launch next year.

ARGUS: Autonomous Rendezvous for GEO Utility & Surveillance, Lunasa Ltd x Space Machines Company PTY Ltd (Australia) – £392,000

This project will develop a key technology for an upcoming ISAM mission, integrating Lúnasa’s autonomous StarLogic RPO kit into Space Machines’ commercial GEO inspection satellite, GEO-Viper. The system will be upgraded for the GEO environment, advancing from TRL-5 to TRL-7 to deliver a flight-ready rendezvous, proximity, and operations solution.

RANGER: Relative Autonomous Navigation for GNSS-Enabled Rendezvous, Lunasa Ltd x Infinite Orbits (France) – £367,000

This project aims to advance Lúnasa’s high-precision R-GNSS relative navigation technology from TRL 5 to TRL 7 through integration with Infinite Orbits’ servicing satellite, in preparation for a forthcoming commercial in-orbit servicing mission. The project will encompass hardware-software integration, simulation and performance analysis, as well as testing and qualification for space readiness.

PROJECT BRIDGE, Frontier Space Technologies Ltd x The Exploration Company GmbH (Germany) x Undisclosed US Pharma (USA) – £366,000

This project will design a Cargo Handling System for next-generation space infrastructure, enabling safe, repeatable life sciences research in orbit. By combining UK engineering with real-world pharma input, BRIDGE supports the future of space-based drug development and biomanufacturing, positioning the UK as a leader in microgravity-enabled health innovation and shaping how biological science is done in space after the ISS.

Project MITHRIL: Avionics Integration and Control Demo on the Impulse Mira Platform, Lodestar Space Ltd. x University College London x Impulse Space (USA) – £363,000

This project integrates Lodestar’s MITHRIL onto the Mira spacecraft and develops formation flying techniques to enable responsive Space Domain Awareness (SDA) for UK and US dual-use needs. It culminates in a real-time hardware-in-the-loop validation campaign, de-risking the 2027 orbital launch while strengthening international collaboration and UK SDA capability.

UK detector technology for NASA high-resolution imaging of the Moon and Mars, Open University x BAE Space Mission Systems x University of Arizona (USA) – £362,000

This project will design a TDI rolling scene simulator and conduct radiation testing of the CIS125 detector at Moon/Mars mission representative doses to advance the UK-developed CIS125 ‘CCD in CMOS’ detector for future high-resolution imaging missions to the Moon, Mars, and Earth. This international collaboration builds on strong US-UK partnerships and aims to lay the foundation for HiRISE2, a next-generation imaging instrument delivering a world-leading resolution for planetary science, commercial, and defence applications.

In-Orbit Distributed Additive Manufacturing with Manufacturability Intelligence (IN-DAMMI), Autonomous Manufacturing Ltd x Photocentric, APWorks GMBH (Germany) – £330,000

A UK-Germany collaboration that will connect space-ready 3D printers to Earth-based control software, allowing engineers to remotely manufacture parts in orbit. It will also use AI to identify which spacecraft components are suitable for in-space production. By reducing reliance on Earth-based supply chains, this innovation will lower launch costs, increase mission flexibility, and strengthen the UK’s position in space manufacturing.

Cosmic Maker II: International Demonstration of Autonomous Multi-Material 3D Printing in Microgravity, Photocentric Ltd x Voyager Space Nanoracks (USA/Italy) x Novaspace (Germany) – £299,000

Cosmic Maker II will demonstrate autonomous 3D printing in space-like conditions using advanced ceramic and polymer materials. Building on the success of the ESA- and BSGN-supported Cosmic Maker I, this next phase will validate the system during real microgravity through a parabolic flight campaign. The 3D printing platform designed to enable in-orbit manufacturing of tools, components, and research parts for the International Space Station and future platforms like Starlab.

BioPTSS: Biofeedback Integrated Personalised Tourniquet System For Spaceflight, Northumbria University x Western Clinical Engineering Group x Delfi Medical Innovations Inc. x Canadian Space Agency x European Space Agency x NASA (Canada, Germany, USA) – £287,000

This project aims to improve astronaut health on missions beyond low Earth orbit by developing and optimising blood flow restriction exercise (BFRE) with the associated Personalised Tourniquet System for Spaceflight (PTSS). Building on the recent SpaceX launch evaluating BFRE in orbit, it will integrate biofeedback technology into space-qualified PTSS hardware for real-time monitoring and optimisation of the exercise stimulus.

ISAM Biotech Pilot Project: Advancing Type 1 Diabetes Solutions in a New Commercial Space Incubator, Kayser Space Limited x Kings College London x COMAT (France) – £252,000

This project will develop a commercial platform to support biotech research and in-orbit manufacturing in microgravity, demonstrating vascularised tissue growth in a relevant environment. It will also mature the business case for future Low Earth Orbit customers, creating a scalable asset for drug development, organoids, and tissue engineering beyond the ISS.

Beam-Steering Conformal Antenna Array Integrated with Flexible LoRa Electronics for Lightweight Satellite Communication, University of Leeds x University of New South Wales (UNSW) (Australia) – £150,000

This project will create a lightweight, curved satellite communication system by integrating a printed beam-steering antenna with a flexible long-range wireless circuit on a carbon fibre structure. The prototype will demonstrate low power use, reduced weight, and improved reliability for next-generation nano/pico-satellites and mobile platforms, paving the way for more agile and cost-effective space missions.

ETV Phase 1 – Preliminary Design Review of the Economical Transfer Vehicle, Meridian Space Command x Alpha Impulsion (France) – £150,000

This project will advance the development of the Economical Transfer Vehicle (ETV), the world’s first “self-eating” spacecraft. he ETV is a next-generation logistics and payload-hosting spacecraft powered by an autophage engine that actively consumes its own structural tank during flight. Designed for high delta-V missions, it will transport payloads across Earth orbits and beyond, supporting future in-orbit servicing, infrastructure, and deep space logistics.

QUIVER – Derisking High-Rate Intersatellite Links for Realtime Collaborative Constellations, Open Cosmos Ltd x Panasonic Operational Excellence Co. (Japan) – £147,000

This project will explore higher-frequency, high-bandwidth radio links to enable satellites to work together for faster, more comprehensive monitoring and data collection. It will combine the advantages of radio and optical links while avoiding some of their limitations. A key focus will be designing a suitable antenna and developing tools to analyse and optimise constellation operations.

Project Oracle of Nyx: Onboard Threat Characterisation for Dual-Use Applications for Nyx, Lodestar Space Ltd. x The Exploration Company GmbH (Germany) – £135,000

Project Oracle of Nyx will pioneer new approaches to Space Domain Awareness (SDA) through the development of a dual-use sensor suite to detect and characterise orbital threats. Lodestar’s sensor suite will be designed to interface with TEC’s Nyx spacecraft, laying the groundwork for future missions to the ISS.

Flora Fidelity: Advancing Hyperspectral Forestry Monitoring Through UK-Canada Space Collaboration, Gentian (UK) x Bullfinch Earth (Canada) – £127,000

A UK–Canadian collaboration applying Earth Observation, wearable sensors and AI technologies to solve long-standing challenges in forest monitoring: the lack of efficient forest surveys combining below-crown and above-crown forest data and the difficulty in obtaining accurate, low-cost, precisely-located ecological data for training satellite-based models.

IGNITE – Innovative GaN-based Wireless Transmission for Space Energy, Bumblebee x MDA Space (Canada) – £127,000

This project will create a proof-of-concept high-frequency Inductive Wireless Power Transfer (IWPT) system that replaces failure-prone mechanical connectors on lunar rovers, robotic arms and payload interfaces. The system has the potential to significantly extend the service life of this equipment which will increase scientific knowledge and reduce mission costs.

Physical Emulator Interface for Scalable Microgravity-R&D Modules for Quantum and Advanced Materials, Elethron x Atmos Space Cargo GmbH (Germany) – £127,000

Elethron is developing an integrated solution comprising powerful computational engines and autonomous, space-based advanced materials fabrication laboratories designed to integrate with the emerging free-flyer supply chain.

Astro-SANITAS (Stable Anti-Necrotic for In-space Tissue Augmentation and Survival): Halting Aging and Safeguarding Life in Space, LinkGevity x Delta Biosciences (Lithuania) – £120,000

A groundbreaking pharmaceutical that blocks tissue degeneration and halts aging -poised to redefine human resilience under extreme stress. Astro-SANITAS is advancing a world-first technology to protect astronaut cells from death, enable in-orbit tissue manufacturing, and unlock transformative health applications on Earth.

RootSpace: A UK–Canada Innovation Incubator for Space Biosystems and Climate-Resilient Agriculture, Take Root Bio Limited x University of Guelph (Canada) – £99,000

A UK–Canada collaboration exploring how space farming technologies could support future human missions and sustainable food systems on Earth. The project will deliver a prototype digital twin of a Martian biosphere, expand a Lunar Crop Catalogue of resilient plants, and design an incubator to accelerate startups, linking space science with climate-resilient agriculture. (Source: https://www.gov.uk/)

30 Sep 25. Australia, US sign space framework agreement darkened by budget concerns. Australia and the United States of America have signed a treaty-level space framework agreement to explore new opportunities for government, businesses and researchers to collaborate on joint projects with NASA and other American partners. The agreement was signed during the 76th International Astronautical Congress (IAC 2025) at Sydney’s International Convention Centre on 30 September.

“This is just one more step in growing your program and growing the partnership, which we think is so important,” acting NASA administrator Sean Duffy said.

“Great allies working together not just on Earth but in space is critical. And so we appreciate it. We’re hoping to spend more money. We all are about getting more money into our budgets since it’s a conversation that both countries have (and consider to be) an important conversation. For having our governments be willing to spend money on science and exploration and again, both of us doing that together is going to be important and this is a critical step forward making that happen so.”

As part of the event in Sydney, the Australian federal government is announcing a mandate to begin negotiations on a cooperative agreement between the European Space Agency (ESA) and Australia. This would establish a formal mechanism for Australian businesses and researchers to access ESA’s space science program and missions, as well as for further European activity here in Australia. These partnerships are envisioned to help bolster and provide opportunities for Australia’s space industry. The congress’ “Australia Zone” is showcasing 150 Australian organisations among a total of around 450 exhibitors. The Australian space sector has a $4.6 bn annual turnover and employs 17,000 people. IAC 2025 is organised by the International Astronautical Federation and is hosted by the Space Industry Association of Australia.

“IAC 2025 is a terrific opportunity to show the world how much momentum and growth has been achieved in the Australian space sector in the eight years since the congress was last held here,” Minister for Industry and Innovation and Minister for Science Tim Ayres. “The exhibition hall will showcase the cutting-edge technologies that Australian space research has developed, important as well for their transformative downstream applications for Australian industries on the threshold of the shift to a high-skilled, less carbon-intensive economy. Strengthening Australia’s international partnerships with NASA and the European Space Agency creates new opportunities for Australian ideas and technologies, improving Australia’s industrial capability, boosting productivity and building economic resilience.” (Source: Space Connect)

22 Sep 25. Rocket Lab’s HASTE program sends JENNA on her mission. Rocket Lab successfully launched the JENNA mission, a suborbital flight under its Hypersonic Accelerator Suborbital Test (HASTE) program, from Wallops Island, Virginia, on September 22, 2025, around 7:45 PM EDT. The purpose of the mission was to conduct hypersonic testing, with specifics for this government/military flight being classified. The JENNA launch was a suborbital flight of Rocket Lab’s Electron rocket. A modified version of Rocket Lab’s existing Electron rocket, it leverages the reliability of the proven Electron launch vehicle to provide suborbital trajectories. HASTE serves as a testbed for various hypersonic technologies, including those for air-breathing and glide vehicles. It can carry a diverse range of hypersonic payloads, helping to test technologies that operate at extreme speeds and re-enter Earth’s atmosphere from space. The primary clients for the HASTE vehicle are within the defense sector, particularly the U.S. military. HASTE can deliver payloads to test environments at speeds greater than 7.5 km per second, providing a platform for diverse suborbital trajectories. HASTE supports the defense industry’s need for frequent, affordable, and reliable testing of hypersonic systems, crucial for the development of advanced national security technologies. (Source: Satnews)

22 Sep 25. SpaceX launches and lands NROL-48 on secret mission in dense fog from California on Monday. On Monday, September 22 at 10:38 a.m. PT, Falcon 9 launched the NROL-48 mission from Space Launch Complex 4 East (SLC-4E) at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. The are satellites built with Northrop Grumman on commercial Starlink buses with military-grade payloads for national security

“Having hundreds of NRO satellites on orbit is vital to our nation and partners,” the agency said in a September 22 statement. “This constellation continues to add capability and resilience to our mission through shorter revisit times, increased observational persistence, and faster processing and transmission of data.”

This was the 18th flight for the first stage booster supporting this mission, which previously launched Crew-7, CRS-29, PACE, Transporter-10, EarthCARE, NROL-186, Transporter-13, TRACERS, and nine Starlink missions. Following stage separation, the first stage landed on Landing Zone 4 (LZ-4) at Vandenberg Space Force Base. There was the possibility that residents of Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, and Ventura counties may have heard one or more sonic booms during the launch, but what residents experienced depended on weather and other conditions. (Source: Satnews)

25 Sep 25. United Launch Alliance launches Amazon’s Project Kuiper 3 mission sending 27 operational broadband satellites connecting the world. A United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V rocket carrying the Kuiper 3 mission for Amazon’s Project Kuiper lifted off on September 25, at 8:09 a.m. EDT, from Space Launch Complex-41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. This mission further strengthens the partnership between ULA and Amazon to rapidly launch and deliver innovation solutions for global connectivity.

“We are proud to collaborate with Amazon and advance their mission to provide fast, reliable internet to communities around the world,” said Gary Wentz, ULA vice president of Government and Commercial Programs. “Our mission is to launch critical payloads for our customers and serve as the catalyst to help Amazon build this global broadband constellation aligning us with one of our core missions of connecting the world.”

The Kuiper 3 launch deployed a batch of 27 operational Project Kuiper satellites into low Earth orbit. There are five remaining Kuiper missions on the Atlas V rocket, building up to 38 high-cadence, rapid fire launches on the next-generation Vulcan rocket. ULA will deliver more than half of the Project Kuiper constellation’s 3,200 satellites, through the world’s largest commercial launch agreement. ULA’s next launch is ViaSat-3, planned to launch from Space Launch Complex-41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. (Source: Satnews)

Founded in 2017, MatrixSpace is creating the next generation of artificial intelligence enabled sensing solutions to digitize the outdoors beyond the limits of human perception.

The MatrixSpace expeditionary radar kit fits in a standard daypack and contains everything needed to deliver actionable detections to an ATAK mobile device in less than 5 mins.

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SATELLITE SYSTEMS, SATCOM AND SPACE SYSTEMS UPDATE

September 26, 2025 by

Sponsored by MatrixSpace

http://matrixspace.com

25 Sep 25. German military to invest $41bn in space capabilities.

“Satellite networks today are an Achilles’ heel of modern societies. Whoever attacks them paralyzes entire nations,” German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said.

German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius today announced that Berlin will invest €35bn ($41bn) over the next five years on space security, including improved cybersecurity.

“[W]e are building structures within the Bundeswehr to enable us to effectively defend and deter in space in the medium and long term,” he told the Federation of German Industries’ annual Space Congress in Berlin, according to an online translation of an MoD press release.

“We plan to acquire new satellite constellations — for early warning, reconnaissance, and communications. We will also utilize dual-use systems, meaning technologies that can be deployed for both civilian and military purposes,” Pistorius added.

That plan, according to the release, includes spending on:

hardening systems against disruptions and attacks
improved situational awareness through radars, telescopes and the future use of sentinel satellites
the creation of redundancies through several networked satellite constellations
secured, also on-demand available, transport capacities into space
a dedicated military satellite operations center in the Bundeswehr Space Command

Pistorius specifically called out the need for improved cybersecurity for “all space systems” — and back in May Maj. Gen. Michael Traut, commander of German Space Command, said “self-protection measures [or] built-in self-protection” for satellites was on his “Christmas list.”

As for the motivating factor, Pistorius cited increasing threats to Western space assets from Russia and China as the impetus for the new spending plan.

“Satellite networks today are an Achilles’ heel of modern societies. Whoever attacks them paralyzes entire nations,” Pistorius said.

For example, he noted the February 2023 Russian cyberattack on Viasat’s communication satellite network in the run up to the invasion of Ukraine that also shut down German wind turbines, according to a report in Defense News.

Pistorius also alleged that Russian Luch/Olymp satellites have been shadowing two communications satellites operated by US firm Intelsat that are used by the Bundeswehr.

The Luch/Olymp birds, characterized by Moscow as “inspector satellites,” have been making close passes around a number of US and Western nation satellites in geosynchronous Earth orbit since at least 2015.

The MoD is reaching out to German and European industry for assistance in making its space plans a reality, Pistorius stressed.

He explained that Berlin wants to “promote innovations from small and medium-sized enterprises in the future in a non-bureaucratic and early stage — and use larger companies as system integrators to integrate small businesses and startups,” according to the MoD press release.

Europe’s major launch company, Arianespace, announced today that it has been awarded a contract by the Bundeswehr to launch two SATCOMBw Stufe 3 satellites on heavy-lift Ariane 6 rockets. The new satellites are to replace the COMSATBw 1 and 2 military communications birds.

At the same time, Pitorius said, MoD is “also currently looking at market-available solutions. Specifically where this technological shortcut makes sense.”

While the company didn’t cite the specific agency involved due to security concerns, Planet Labs Germany GmbH, the American firm’s European headquarters, announced on July 1 that it had received a “multi-year €240 million agreement, funded by the German government, in support of European peace and security” for “high-resolution imagery and timely intelligence.”

Today in Berlin, the company announced plans “to begin production of next-generation, high-resolution Pelican satellites in Germany” under a deal “expected to exceed 8 figures” in capital investment.

Caleb Henry, director of research at Quilty Space, told Breaking Defense that one big winner from the MoD’s plan will be OHB, headquartered in Bremen, which Henry described as Germany’s “biggest space prime.”

OHB operates five aging SAR-Lupe synthetic aperture radar satellites that provide intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance to the German military. In 2023, the company launched two replacements, called SARah, but were moribund until a recovery maneuver to deploy their jammed antennas this spring brought them into service, according to a May 27 report by market analysis firm Seradata.

Henry said he would also “be watching to see if this proposal has any impact on Germany’s emerging launch providers, notably Isar Aerospace and RFA.”

“Germany has discussed its own MEO [medium Earth orbit] constellation as well, which would be a notable investment in sovereign space systems,” Henry added.

He noted that the move may be the start of a trend away from France being the only big player in European space.

“What’s interesting to me is that for a long time, when looking at where Europe, if you kind of ask the the old Henry Kissinger question, ‘when I call Europe, who do I call?’ for the space industry that has always been France. But in recent years, we’ve started to see more of a pendulum swing towards Germany,” he said.

“And so to me, it’s the culmination of a … growing desire in Germany for greater space autonomy, and a willingness to pursue that, if necessary, on an independent basis,” Henry said. (Source: Breaking Defense.com)

25 Sep 25. German defence minister warns against growing Russian threat in space. German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius warned on Thursday about the growing threat posed by Russian space activities, citing concerns over two Russian satellites shadowing Intelsat satellites used by German forces and others.

“Russia and China have expanded their capabilities for warfare in space rapidly over the past years: They can disrupt satellite operations, blind satellites, manipulate or kinetically destroy them,” he told a space conference in Berlin.

Make sense of the latest ESG trends affecting companies and governments with the Reuters Sustainable Switch newsletter. Sign up here. Pistorius underscored the need for talks on developing offensive capabilities in space as a deterrent, pointing to Russia’s use of two of its Luch Olymp satellites to track Intelsat satellites. (Source: Reuters)

23 Sep 25. Terran Orbital Corporation, a leading manufacturer of small satellites primarily serving the aerospace and defense industries, today announced the successful delivery of all 42 satellite bus platforms for the Space Development Agency’s (SDA) Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture Tranche 1 program. These spacecraft help form a resilient, low-latency communications network in low Earth orbit, designed to deliver secure data connectivity to warfighters across the globe.

“Completing delivery of all satellite buses for the SDA’s Tranche 1 Transport Layer marks a major achievement for Terran Orbital and a key milestone in our work with Lockheed Martin,” said Peter Krauss, President and Chief Executive Officer of Terran Orbital.

“Our team’s relentless dedication and technical excellence have been on full display throughout this program. With Lockheed Martin and the Space Development Agency, we are helping to develop a secure and resilient space communications architecture that will enhance national security and strengthen allied operations around the world.”

The inaugural launch of the Tranche 1 Transport and Tracking satellite constellations began Sept. 10 with the first 21 data transport satellites. Nine additional launches are expected to occur at a pace of approximately one per month, continuing until the entire constellation is fully deployed and operational in orbit in 2026.

16 Sep 25. Globalstar to enter next era of mobile satellite connectivity with expanded operational frequencies. Globalstar, Inc. (NASDAQ: GSAT) has plans to bring-into-use the company’s HIBLEO-XL-1 satellite system filing in preparation for its next era of mobile satellite connectivity. Since 2000, Globalstar has been operating its current mobile satellite system (MSS) and providing service over the same Big Low Earth Orbit (LEO) frequency bands, investing bns of dollars to expand, innovate and commercialize mobile satellite services that are now at the fingertips of hundreds of ms of people around the world. In November of 2024, Globalstar announced an additional investment of $1.5 bn in a third-generation mobile satellite system called C-3, which will include 48 additional satellites supported by approximately 90 new ground station antennas installed globally. The company’s current system and C-3 satellites will operate over Globalstar’s same licensed Big LEO frequency bands, altitude and inclination. The C-3 System’s higher power downlink capabilities are expected to greatly improve the user experience for anyone accessing Globalstar to meet their communications needs. With this announcement, Globalstar takes an important step toward further expansion of its global MSS capabilities with plans to bring its HIBLEO-XL-1 system into use. The HIBLEO-XL-1 system, filed through France, includes numerous additional satellites, orbital shells and frequency bands, including currently licensed L-, S- and C-band frequencies, as well as additional MSS bands for mobile uplink and downlink as well as additional feeder-link spectrum.

Dr. Paul Jacobs, Globalstar CEO, said, “We believe that bringing HIBLEO-XL-1 into use provides Globalstar with significant optionality as the Company grows as a major provider of connectivity in the global space economy that is expected to reach $1.8 trillion by 2035. We look forward to providing operational updates on our progress as we enter a new era in Globalstar’s expanding investments in connecting everyone, everywhere. Globalstar’s mission is mission-critical communications, which has led us to the forefront of LEO satellite communications, providing reliable and affordable solutions across to consumers and industries where and when they need us.” (Source: Satnews)

16 Sep 25. ESA’s Skimsat VLEO mission moves forward with Redwire in cooperation with Thales Alenia Space. Redwire Corporation (NYSE: RDW) has reached an agreement with Thales Alenia Space with the support of the European Space Agency (ESA) to become the prime contractor for Skimsat, whose preliminary study was coordinated under Thales Alenia Space’s responsibility. Skimsat is an ESA technology demonstration mission for a small satellite designed to operate in Very Low Earth Orbit (VLEO). Thales Alenia Space in the UK will be a major contributor to the mission and is currently selected to provide the electric propulsion subsystem. The Skimsat mission, funded by ESA’s Preparation and Technology Development elements of Basic Activities and General Support Technology Program, leverages Redwire’s Phantom spacecraft, an advanced European VLEO platform designed to operate in the lower reaches of Earth’s atmosphere. The Skimsat mission aims to improve satellite sustainability and mission performance while reducing spacecraft mass and mission cost by enabling sustainable operational capability at lower altitudes. Redwire’s spacecraft facility in Belgium has more than 50 years of spaceflight heritage developing spacecraft platforms and successfully delivering innovative technology for game-changing ESA programs. Most notably, every spacecraft used for ESA’s Proba missions (Proba-1, Proba-2, Proba-V, and Proba-3) have been developed and integrated at Redwire’s Belgium facility. Collectively, these missions have spent more than 50 years in orbit without failure. Redwire is also integrating spacecraft to support other critical ESA missions including the In-Orbit Demonstration and Verification (IOD/IOV) mission and the Atmospheric Limb Tracker for Investigation of the Upcoming Stratosphere (ALTIUS) mission. Redwire is a global leader in VLEO capabilities and we are grateful for the trust from ESA to accelerate development of the Skimsat mission, as the prime contractor, which could unlock critical infrastructure in VLEO for a wide array of future intelligence, Earth science, and communications missions,” said Marc Dielissen, General Manager of Redwire Space Belgium. “Redwire’s Phantom spacecraft is built on five decades of satellite manufacturing experience and flight heritage and offers a flexible and resilient design to tackle this pioneering mission.” (Source: Satnews)

19 Sep 25. U.S., U.K. Demonstrate Partnership During First On-Orbit Operation. U.S. Space Command and United Kingdom Space Command conducted their first coordinated satellite maneuver from Sept. 4 to 12, demonstrating the alliance’s readiness to conduct dynamic, responsible and integrated space operations. The Rendezvous Proximity Operation, delivered under Multinational Force – Operation Olympic Defender, repositioned a U.S. satellite to examine a U.K. satellite and assure our ally of its nominal operation in orbit.

“This operation was a first of its kind for U.K. Space Command and represents a significant increase in operational capability,” said Royal Air Force Maj. Gen. Paul Tedman, U.K. Space Command commander. “Expertly executed with U.S. Space Command, I could not be more pleased or proud of the rapid progress we are making with our allies in Multinational Force – Operation Olympic Defender. We are now, with our allies, conducting advanced orbital operations to protect and defend our shared national and military interests in space.”

The long-standing interoperability between the U.K. and the U.S. extends into space through continuous security cooperation, information sharing and exercises. The U.K. was also among the first nations to join the Spacecom-led coalition alongside the U.S., with the purpose of unifying combined space operations, should they ever be needed in conflict. The coordinated on-orbit maneuver marks the continued progress in maturing the Olympic Defender cooperation framework.

“This coordinated maneuver between two allies validated the interoperability that’s foundational to our collective defense,” said Space Force Lt. Gen. Douglas Schiess, commander of U.S. Space Forces-Space and Spacecom’s Combined Joint Force Space Component Command. “The confirmation of the ‘s combined military might on-orbit delivers a credible deterrent in the increasingly contested space domain.”

Schiess said space is a team sport, and no nation can accomplish all that is required to meet its objectives there alone. Cooperation between the U.S. and the U.K. provides a more comprehensive understanding of the congested and complex space environment, as well as opportunities to maintain readiness for major engagements, and ensures safe and responsible space operations.

“The success of this multidomain operation represents the warfighting advantage realized by employing our capabilities and expertise as one unified team,” said Space Force Gen. Stephen Whiting, commander of Spacecom and Olympic Defender. “Though our opponents may attempt to replicate the value of such cooperation, our partnerships are uniquely defined by not only the mutual goal of deterring aggression but a shared pledge to fight and win shoulder to shoulder, if necessary.” (Source: U.S. DoD)

19 Sep 25. Europe urged to adopt jamming-resistant tech amid rising GPS interference. Reports from Ukraine revealed that Russian systems can interfere with GPS. Experts from space-tech startup Astrolight have called for the adoption of jamming-resistant technology across Europe due to risks posed by ground-based GPS interference to civil aviation and critical infrastructure, particularly in the Baltic Sea region. The appeal follows Latvia’s Electronic Communications Office confirmation last month that Russia is disrupting satellite navigation systems from sites in Kaliningrad, Leningrad, and Pskov Oblasts. Reports from Ukraine in July this year indicated that Russian systems can now interfere with GPS signals up to 1,200 miles above ground. This impacted navigational accuracy of satellites in low-Earth orbit. Notably, the European Space Agency is already pursuing a €1bn ($1.18bn) investment for the development of a new military-grade satellite network. European commissioner for defence and space Andrius Kubilius also advocated for stronger EU coordination to counter Russian hybrid attacks. UN agencies have warned that ground-based jamming can jeopardise military operations, airline navigation, and maritime shipping. It also poses risks to civilian infrastructure such as power grids and banking systems reliant on GPS timing.

Kubilius said: “Russia’s hybrid and total war strategy in Europe is clear – from attacks on Ukraine to sabotage in Germany, disruption of Baltic communication lines, and ongoing interference in political processes across the region. These actions show that hybrid threats are happening now, and we must respond with higher investments and even stronger technology.”

Astrolight, based in Lithuania, has developed a laser communication system designed for contested environments, offering secure links between satellites and the ground. The technology can be utilised on the ground, between space and Earth, as well as exclusively in space, Astrolight CEO Laurynas Mačiulis said.

“Laser-based communication is the only technology today that offers true immunity against these new-generation electronic warfare threats and can reliably protect our satellites from jamming and interference,” Mačiulis added.

The company has demonstrated its technology in collaboration with the Lithuanian Navy this year and plans further testing with Nato allies. (Source: airforce-technology.com)

Founded in 2017, MatrixSpace is creating the next generation of artificial intelligence enabled sensing solutions to digitize the outdoors beyond the limits of human perception.

The MatrixSpace expeditionary radar kit fits in a standard daypack and contains everything needed to deliver actionable detections to an ATAK mobile device in less than 5 mins.

Visit maxtrixspace.com

————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————

SATELLITE SYSTEMS, SATCOM AND SPACE SYSTEMS UPDATE

September 18, 2025 by

Sponsored by MatrixSpace

http://matrixspace.com

———————————————————————————————————————–

17 Sep 25. HawkEye 360 Inc., the global leader in signals intelligence data and analytics, today announced that Cluster 12 has officially reached Full Operational Capability (FOC). The three formation-flying satellites, launched on June 26 (ET) aboard a Rocket Lab Electron rocket, are now fully calibrated, commissioned, and integrated into HawkEye 360’s constellation — delivering mission-ready signals intelligence across key global regions. The mission also included Kestrel-0A, an experimental satellite designed to evaluate emerging capabilities that inform HawkEye 360’s next generation of technologies. Kestrel-0A is progressing well, with ongoing contact and early-stage mission milestones being achieved.

“Achieving FOC for Cluster 12 strengthens our ability to deliver timely, mission-critical signals intelligence to defense, intelligence, and commercial partners,” said Todd Probert, President, U.S. Government. “This cluster enhances our ability to monitor complex operating environments, detect signals of interest, and drive informed decisions across land and sea.”

Cluster 12 adds further depth and coverage to HawkEye 360’s constellation, supporting expanded frequency detection, improved revisit rates, and broader global reach. These advancements directly support the growing demand for signals intelligence to address challenges such as maritime domain awareness, air defense system detection, and GNSS interference monitoring.

“This milestone reflects the outstanding performance of our engineering, operations, and mission management teams,” said Eric Haengel, Vice President of Space & Ground Systems. “Cluster 12 is now fully integrated into our constellation and contributing to the seamless delivery of high-impact RF data for our customers worldwide.”

With Cluster 12 now operational, HawkEye 360 continues to scale its capabilities to support government and allied partners with consistent, trusted RF geolocation data — providing the strategic awareness needed to navigate increasingly contested and complex domains. (Source: PR Newswire)

17 Sep 25. FLANQ and CIS Form Strategic Partnership for USV-Launched UAVs. FLANQ, a German maritime defence solutions provider, and CiS, a Spanish developer of autonomous aerial systems, have announced a strategic partnership to jointly develop and deploy an integrated capability enabling the launch and recovery of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) from Uncrewed Surface Vessels (USVs). The announcement follows successful trials of a CiS Orka tactical air surveillance and reconnaissance drone being hosted, deployed and recovered aboard a 12-foot FLANQ USV operating autonomously in open water at an undisclosed test site. By merging FLANQ’s proven USV platforms and mission payloads with CiS’s expertise in long-endurance UAV systems, the partnership will deliver a modular, scalable system-of-systems designed to provide rapid-response surveillance, reconnaissance, and intelligence-gathering capabilities, critical to strengthening Europe’s autonomous defence capabilities.

Key objectives of the partnership Include:

Development of a fully integrated UAV launch-and-recovery systems from medium to large USV platforms
Persistent over-the-horizon ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance) enabled by AI-based mission autonomy
Seamless interoperability with NATO maritime command-and-control frameworks
Deployment-readiness for dynamic threat environments, including hybrid and grey-zone conflict scenarios

“This partnership with CiS reinforces our commitment to delivering maritime domain advantage to Europe and its allies,” said Daniel Esser, Co-founder and Chief Commercial Officer of FLANQ. “Together, we are enabling a new level of operational flexibility and responsiveness through intelligent, aerial and uncrewed surface systems.”

Tom Kaufmann, Managing Partner and CEO at CiS, added: “Europe’s maritime borders face increasing threats – from illicit trafficking to shadow fleet sabotage. Through our collaboration with FLANQ, we will deliver an agile, intelligent system that enhances situational awareness and supports decision-makers across the maritime security domain.”

The joint system’s capabilities will be showcased this month at REMPUS 2025 in Portugal, the annual NATO-led military exercise where both companies are participating.

17 Sep 25. Vilnius, Lithuania. GPS jamming and spoofing is no longer just a problem in war zones. On August 12, Latvia’s Electronic Communications Office confirmed that Russia is disrupting satellite navigation systems from three permanent sites in Kaliningrad, Leningrad, and Pskov Oblasts, creating widespread risks for civil aviation and critical infrastructure across the Baltic Sea region. The agency described the issue as a “growing problem” that has outgrown national borders, forcing pilots to rely on fallback navigation methods and even grounding flights. Estonian ministers have previously called the interference a “deliberate hybrid attack” reaching into everyday life. According to space industry experts from Astrolight, a space-tech startup from Lithuania that develops laser communication solutions for space and Earth, we need to put our focus on jamming-resistant technology.

“The Baltics are on the frontline of electronic warfare, and this could spread to other regions soon,” said Laurynas Mačiulis, CEO of Astrolight. “Satellites, navigation, and communications are experiencing regular attacks. We need jamming-resistant technology now – and it must be addressed across NATO, not just locally.”

Traditionally, GPS jamming and spoofing was considered a localized threat, disrupting signals for aircraft or ground forces. But in July 2025, reports from Ukraine disclosed that Russian systems are now powerful enough to interfere with GPS signals over 1,200 miles above ground, causing satellites in low-Earth orbit to lose navigation accuracy. Experts say this is the first widely reported case of ground-based systems interfering with satellites directly.

UN agencies warn that ground-based jamming now threatens military operations, disrupts airline navigation, and interferes with maritime shipping. Civilian infrastructure, from power grids to banking systems that rely on GPS timing, is also at risk, exposing how vulnerable conventional radio-frequency (RF) links are to high-power interference.

The European Space Agency is dealing with the issue by investing €1 bn in a new military-grade satellite network. European Commissioner for Defence and Space Andrius Kubilius is pushing for stronger EU-wide coordination to counter Russian hybrid attacks, including electronic warfare that now reaches into space.

“Russia’s hybrid and total war strategy in Europe is clear – from attacks on Ukraine to sabotage in Germany, disruption of Baltic communication lines, and ongoing interference in political processes across the region,” said Andrius Kubilius, European Commissioner for Defence and Space. “These actions show that hybrid threats are happening now, and we must respond with higher investments and even stronger technology.”

The risks extend beyond political and physical infrastructure, according to Mačiulis.

“We believe that low Earth orbit satellites will be the next target of the enemy’s electronic warfare efforts. In warzones and global hot-spots, these satellites are now essential for providing real-time intelligence on troop movements and monitoring critical infrastructure,” he said.

Earlier, Ukraine’s defence Intelligence Directorate (GUR) reported that more than 1,500 Russian targets worth bns of dollars have been destroyed over the past two years thanks to imagery from Ukraine’s radar satellite.

“Laser based communication is the only technology today that offers true immunity against these new-generation electronic warfare threats and can reliably protect our satellites from jamming and interference,” Mačiulis said.

Unlike RF, laser communications are highly directional and resistant to such attacks – because laser beams are less than thousands of degrees wide, they are hard to detect or intercept.

Astrolight, based in Vilnius, has developed a next-generation laser communication system designed to operate in contested environments, providing unjammable, high-speed links between satellites and the ground. According to Mačiulis, the technology can be used both on the ground, between space and earth, and in space alone. Astrolight already showcased secure ship-to-ship communication with their POLARIS during a test with the Lithuanian Navy this summer. In September, they are heading to waters together with NATO Allies for a REPMUS mission.

15 Sep 25. Space Norway Signs New Launch Agreement with SpaceX. Space Norway has signed a contract with SpaceX for the launch of the new communications satellite, THOR 8, into geostationary orbit. The mission, which will launch aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket in 2027, will strengthen Space Norway’s communications capacity for both governmental and commercial clients.

“The Falcon 9 launch service was selected after a competitive process. SpaceX has an impressive track record of launches, and we count on their reliable services for THOR 8, just as we did for last year’s successful launch of the two ASBM satellites”, says Peter Olsen, Head of Satcom Division at Space Norway.

“We’re proud of the trust Space Norway has in SpaceX and Falcon 9 to safely launch their THOR 8 spacecraft to orbit,” said SpaceX Vice President of Commercial Sales, Stephanie Bednarek. “We look forward to this exciting mission.”

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SpaceX was the first company to commercialize the reuse of its rockets, and to date, they have completed more than 500 successful launches and recoveries of Falcon first stage boosters.

Expanding Capabilities

THOR 8 is a major undertaking for Space Norway. The satellite will both replace older satellites being phased out in the coming years and provide increased capacity and service offerings for our customers. THOR 8 is part of Space Norway’s multi-orbit strategy, with satellites in low Earth orbit (LEO), geostationary orbit (GEO), and highly elliptical orbit (HEO). This portfolio allows us to serve a broad spectrum of customers with widely varying needs.

Operated from Oslo

THOR 8 will be operated by Space Norway from Oslo, and the company is well underway in the preparations needed to incorporate the new satellite into the overall service offering, both at the satellite operations facility and at the teleport where service platforms will be located. The French company Thales Alenia Space has started building the satellite, and Space Norway is establishing a local presence at the satellite manufacturing facilities to closely monitor the construction process.

Capacity

THOR 8 is a multi-purpose satellite that offers capacity for both data services and broadcasting. Intelsat has already secured lifetime usage—at least 15 years—for its broadcasting customers. Read more.

THOR 8 carries two dedicated payloads for broadcasting in Europe and the Nordics, as well as payloads for data services to commercial and governmental customers. (Source: ASD Network)

11 Sep 25. SpaceX finally launches Indonesia’s Nusantara Lima mission on 9/11 from the Cape. The weather at the Cape in Florida finally cooperated after three unsuccessful scrubs as SpaceX’s Falcon 9 on Thursday, September 11 launched the Nusantara Lima mission to geosynchronous transfer orbit from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. The launch took place 7:59 p.m. ET, with additional opportunities available until 9:56 p.m. ET. If needed, a backup opportunity is avail

The Nusantara Lima mission, led by Indonesia’s Pasifik Satelit Nusantara (PSN), involves launching a high-throughput telecommunications satellite to provide enhanced broadband services across Indonesia and surrounding regions. Built by Boeing on the 702MP satellite platform, Nusantara Lima will augment the capacity of the SATRIA-1 satellite, offering a total capacity of over 160 Gbps.

This satellite is designed to support underserved areas, providing reliable connectivity to remote regions, including rural hospitals and schools. Around 80 Gbps of its bandwidth will serve Indonesia, with additional capacity aimed at neighboring countries like Malaysia and the Philippines.

The satellite is part of Indonesia’s efforts to bridge the digital divide, providing internet access in areas where terrestrial communication infrastructure is not feasible. The mission will also rely on ground systems developed by partners such as Hughes Network Systems and Kratos Communications, ensuring operational efficiency and scalability.

This was the 23rd flight for the first stage booster supporting this mission, which previously supported Crew-6, SES O3b mPOWER-b, USSF-124, BlueBird 1-5, and 18 Starlink missions. Following stage separation, the first stage landed on the A Shortfall of Gravitas droneship, which is stationed in the Atlantic Ocean. (Source: Satnews)

10 Sep 25. SpaceX launches Space Development Agency’s top secret Tranche 1 mission on Wednesday from California. On Wednesday, September 10 at 7:12 a.m. PT the Falcon 9 launched the Space Development Agency’s (SDA) first Tranche 1 mission to low-Earth orbit from Space Launch Complex 4 East (SLC-4E) at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. Photos captured by Satnews unless otherwise accredited. The SDA’s first spacecraft, Tranche 0, launched in 2023 and 2024 demonstrated capabilities such as laser communication between satellites, with the ground, and recently between a commercial partner’s satellite and an SDA terminal installed on an aircraft in flight.

The 21 satellites, built by York Space Systems, are the first, fully operational spacecraft for the constellation known as the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture (PWSA). It was formerly called the National Defense Space Architecture (NDSA), but the name was changed in 2023.

The launch is a new phase for SDA, which since 2019 has been planning a large constellation of government-owned missile tracking and data transport satellites in low Earth orbit.

21 satellites manufactured by York Space Systems for Space Development Agency’s upcoming Tranche 1 Transport Layer launch. Image: York Space Systems

The SDA said it was renamed “to more specifically reflect the agency’s mission to deliver needed space-based capabilities to the joint warfighter to support terrestrial missions through development, fielding, and operation of a proliferated low Earth orbit (pLEO) constellation of satellites.”

In 2019 the SDA was formed as an independent agency to safeguard the United States against hypersonic weapons. The agency also planned on offering a network of satellites and ground support systems that could unify the Department of Defense’s capabilities across a “resilient, threat-driven space surveillance and communications architecture,” according its establishing memorandum. It became a part of the U.S. Space Force in October 2022.

This was the sixth flight for the first stage booster supporting this mission, which previously launched five Starlink missions. Following stage separation, the first stage will land on the Of Course I Still Love You droneship, which will be stationed in the Pacific Ocean. (Source: Satnews)

08 Sep 25. Aechelon + partners Niantic Spatial, ICEYE, BlackSky and Distance debut Project Orbion. Aechelon Technology has announced ‘Project Orbion,’ together with its partners — a groundbreaking, new initiative that will integrate best-of-class technology solutions to create a live Digital Twin of the Earth.

All of this is complete with accurate physics, real-time weather and more in full Synthetic Reality (SR). Aechelon’s Project Orbion is a living synthesis of real-time satellite imagery, radar intelligence, video photogrammetry and AI all combined with the most accurate rendition of the Earth, reconstructing and distributing our world in dynamic 3D. From monitoring wildfires to floods, from wartime troop movements to shipping routes in peacetime, from urban rescues to remote disasters—Project Orbion helps situational awareness, understanding and safe human decision making.

Synthetic Reality data supplied from Project Orbion is designed to train leading-edge defense and corporate AI models with real-world data -not just human-generated data, but actual ground truth conditions data. It’s where cutting-edge AI is fused into a digital twin of the planet. Project Orbion is capable of penetrating darkness, clouds and smoke to enable users to react to natural disasters and defense-oriented use cases—all with the most up-to-date 3D representation of the world.

Project Orbion partners include..

Niantic Spatial® (San Francisco) for its Large Geospatial Model reconstruction and visualization service

ICEYE® (Helsinki) for space-based imaging radar

BlackSky (Herndon, Virginia) for very high resolution, high-cadence Earth Observation (EO) imagery

Distance Technologies™ (Helsinki) for their Light Field 3D Displays.

(Source: Satnews)

08 Sep 25. ST Engineering iDirect achieves 1st 5G NTN PoC milestone. ST Engineering iDirect has achieved interoperability between the company’s ground system and the 5G Core through its Interworking Gateway Function. This demonstrated a non-3GPP satellite network connecting seamlessly with the 5G ecosystem, while appearing fully 3GPP-compliant. This proof of concept (PoC) highlights ST Engineering iDirect’s progress in its hybrid strategy for 5G NTN, validating its capability to seamlessly integrate satellite and terrestrial networks for scalable and efficient global connectivity to operators. The PoC demonstrates that satellite operators can leverage the operational efficiencies of the 5G Core while continuing to utilize satellite-specific waveforms such as DVB-S2X and Mx-DMA MRC, ensuring reliable performance until the satellite-optimized 5G NR waveform matures. Importantly, this integration will deliver immediate benefits without requiring operators to overhaul their existing infrastructure.

The PoC also demonstrated inter-provider roaming, another key advancement in global connectivity and a critical element for operators to extend coverage to new regions and orbits, capture new revenue streams and accelerate time-to-market. The seamless interoperability of networks across multiple providers, powered by advanced 5G core capabilities, also allows operators to gain enhanced operational flexibility, improved ROI, and the ability to offer differentiated services, while end users will benefit from uninterrupted, secure connectivity and high-quality application performance.

With planned future enhancements including satellite-optimized gNodeB technology and 5G NR (New Radio) to address 3GPP access complexities and hybrid User Equipment (UE) modems to seamlessly switch between non-3GPP and 3GPP systems, ST Engineering iDirect’s hybrid strategy is designed to help operators unlock new interoperability capabilities. It will also pave the way toward a fully standardized 5G-6G future, uniting satellites and terrestrial networks for unprecedented global scalability and coverage.

Our goal is to create a unified, interoperable SATCOM network that enables seamless roaming between terrestrial and non-terrestrial systems, allowing customers to protect their existing investments while transitioning to a scalable, next-generation 5G NTN network,” said Sridhar Kuppanna, Chief Technology Officer at ST Engineering iDirect. “The hybrid methodology is foundational to our strategy and this proof of concept demonstrates how we’re making that vision a reality.” (Source: Satnews)

13 Sep 25. Es’hailSat, neXat MENA collaboration. A partnership between Qatari satellite company Es’hailSat, the Qatar Satellite Company, and neXat, creators of the first satellite-specific open OSS/BSS platform, seeks to improve the way managed services are accessed and delivered across the Middle East and Africa. Es’hailSat will use the neXat platform to make it easier for its channel partners — such as licensed resellers — to purchase its managed services across the region. Es’hailSat will also benefit from improved access to resellers.

As well as managing the provision of managed services, neXat’s advanced tools will be used by Es’hailSat to manage their customer lifecycle. The platform is the first of its kind to unite the management of satcom services, customers and networks virtually.

“Our mission at neXat is to make managing and accessing satellite services easier, simpler and more cost effective. We’re excited for Es’hailSat, a major operator, to take advantage of our platform’s unique offerings to improve the access to their services across an important and growing region,” said neXat’s Senior VP APAC, Rajeev Nair.

Es’hailSat provides managed VSAT services and associated communication solutions for government and enterprises, on two co-located satellites at MENA’s orbital hot slots. Es’hailSat aims to expand its managed services offering across the region, which includes end-to-end satellite connectivity with customizable bandwidth, data volume, and SLA options, supported by hardware provisioning, network monitoring, field engineering, and 24/7 technical support. The service operates in Ku-band and Ka-band, offering high-speed data transfer and seamless integration with other telecom networks for applications like cellular backhaul and maritime communications.

“At Es’hailSat, we are always looking at ways to enhance our service offerings to deliver the satellite, teleport and managed services needed for customers across Middle East and North Africa,” added Es’hailSat’s President and Chief Executive Officer, Ali Ahmed Al-Kuwari. “We believe that the highly robust and reliable services offered by this partnership between neXat and Es’hailSat, together with our Tier-4 certified teleport infrastructure, provide a strong base needed to serve end customers and our resellers across the region.”

neXat’s platform can help managed services providers address the higher costs and lower revenue per megahertz (MHz) in the current satellite market. The OSS-BBS helps operators reduce operational expenditures as they look to increase revenues by selling their MHz through managed services.

The platform will enable the operator to centralise management of multiple hubs, reduce operational overhead, and accelerate service rollout. (Source: Satnews)

10 Sep 25. Starship business valued at $2.5tn by 2030. A report from ARK Investment Management forecasts that Elon Musk’s SpaceX Starship business, which carried out its tenth test flight on August 26th, is likely to be valued at some $2.5 trillion (€2.1tn) by the end of the decade. The rocket’s upper Starship spacecraft, which is designed to one day carry cargo or humans to Earth orbit and beyond but flew with only dummy payloads for this test mission, made a significant stride forward and made a soft water landing in the Indian Ocean.

The Starship team of engineers and technicians is now preparing for Test Flight #11.

ARK says that the August launch achieved all major objectives and extending its ~10-year lead over competitors. For the first time, the rocket launched eight Starlink simulators of next-gen v3 satellites. Stressed intentionally during re-entry, the rocket gathered critical heatshield and structural data before falling into the Indian Ocean.

“After the launch, Elon Musk disclosed plans for Starship v4 and putting SpaceX on track for the commercialization and reusability in ARK’s base case model for 2027 and a ~$2.5 trillion valuation in 2030,” said ARK.“In our model,” added ARK, “measured in bandwidth per kilogram (Gbps/kg), Starlink’s v3 performance is the most sensitive input, with satellite mass still unknown. ARK will be monitoring this performance carefully.” (Source: Satnews)

09 Sep 25 Thales Alenia Space leads 5G D2D demo for CNES with Capgemini + Thales Paris. Capgemini, Thales and Thales Alenia Space have been selected by the French Space Agency (CNES) as part of a government-backed call for projects under the France 2030 program to lead an innovative demonstration of 5G Direct-to-Device (D2D) connectivity. The project—named U DESERVE 5G— will demonstrate the feasibility of direct communications between satellites and mobile devices or fixed terminals (5G D2D). A demonstrator satellite will be placed in LEO to test interoperability between terrestrial and non-terrestrial 5G networks. The project will use a set of scenarios to evaluate how smoothly devices can switch between satellite and terrestrial 5G coverage, which is a crucial step toward truly global, seamless and uninterrupted connectivity. At a time when anytime, anywhere connectivity has become a strategic priority— both to meet market demand and ensure infrastructure resilience in crisis situations—satellite technology is emerging as a crucial and complementary solution alongside terrestrial networks.

At the heart of the project is an innovative 5G satellite payload with an active antenna. It will enable voice calls and data transmission directly between the satellite and a test mobile device, without routing via a ground station. The demonstrator will include all components of the chain: test satellite, payload, NTN* ground segment and test mobile devices. It will be compatible with Release 17 of the 3GPP 5G standard and will provide an end-to-end test platform to evaluate the performance of the 5G NTN/TN system and trial use cases, especially involving the Internet of Things (IoT).

Drawing on its expertise in telecommunications and its successful efforts to promote satellite 5G standardization, Thales Alenia Space will lead the consortium, which brings together: (Source: Satnews)

14 Sep 25. Airbus, Thales, Leonardo could sign first deal this year on satellite tie-up, Airbus executive says. European aerospace groups Leonardo, Thales and Airbus could sign an initial agreement to combine their satellite businesses as early as this year, the head of Airbus’ defence and space division said in an interview on Sunday, confirming an earlier Reuters report.

Under “Project Bromo,” Leonardo, Thales and Airbus plan to set up a satellite manufacturing company to compete with rivals from China and the U.S., including Elon Musk’s Starlink. “We’re on the right track, but several issues still need to be clarified before taking such a major step,” Airbus Defence and Space CEO Michael Schoellhorn told Italian daily Il Corriere della Sera.

Schoellhorn added that operations of this kind require a two-step process, comprising of a framework agreement and then a phase leading to the actual closing of the deal. “In this case, I believe the signing (of a first deal) could take place as early as in 2025”, he said. ($1 = 0.8523 euros) (Source: Reuters)

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Founded in 2017, MatrixSpace is creating the next generation of artificial intelligence enabled sensing solutions to digitize the outdoors beyond the limits of human perception.

The MatrixSpace expeditionary radar kit fits in a standard daypack and contains everything needed to deliver actionable detections to an ATAK mobile device in less than 5 mins.

Visit maxtrixspace.com

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SATELLITE SYSTEMS, SATCOM AND SPACE SYSTEMS UPDATE

September 14, 2025 by

Sponsored by MatrixSpace

http://matrixspace.com

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11 Sep 25. Hanwha Aerospace has signed a contract with BAE Systems to integrate next-generation, anti-jamming Global Positioning System (GPS) technology into Hanwha Aerospace’s ‘Deep Strike Capability’ precision-guided weapon system.

This contract brings the two aerospace and defense technology companies together to collaborate in the critical field of advanced guidance technology. The collaboration will leverage BAE Systems’ world-renowned expertise in military GPS and anti-jamming solutions to counter sophisticated electronic warfare threats.

Billy Boowhan Lee, the Head of PGM Business Group of Hanwha Aerospace, said “The purpose of this cooperation with BAE Systems is to secure advanced electronic warfare protection technology to protect our guided weapon systems,” adding, “Based on a technological advantage to counter electronic warfare threats, we will strengthen our position in the global market.”

“Our collaboration with Hanwha will help give operators added versatility in the field when they need it most,” said Luke Bishop, Director of Navigation and Sensor Systems at BAE Systems. “That versatility combined with our highly reliable military GPS products provide users with a product they can trust will work in the most contested environments.”

Hanwha’s Deep Strike Capability system provides a flexible, multi-caliber and multi-range rocket launch capability, adaptable to diverse missions from suppressing enemy fire support to neutralizing targets in complex environments. Furthermore, its dual-launcher configuration allows the deployment of a wide range of guided rockets from a single platform, delivering superior firepower and operational flexibility.

The new guidance system, developed through this collaboration, is expected to provide Hanwha’s Deep Strike Capability system with superior precision and operational reliability, even in highly contested electronic environments.

This initiative is strategically engineered to meet NATO interoperability requirements, significantly enhancing the marketability of the system to European and other allied nations.

12 Sep 25. Intellian and Eutelsat Developing Ultra-Portable Military-Grade LEO Manpack Terminal. Intellian Technologies Inc., a leading global provider of satellite communication antennas and ground gateway solutions, and Eutelsat, the only GEO-LEO operator in satellite communications, have today announced the development of the most ultra-portable, fully integrated military-grade Manpack for Eutelsat’s OneWeb LEO (low Earth orbit) network.

Developed for Defense and Government, this military-grade unit provides the uninterrupted, dependable Eutelsat OneWeb LEO connectivity critical for mission success.

This terminal is a cornerstone of Intellian’s government sector growth strategy, tapping into the global military antenna market. It directly addresses the urgent need for next-generation LEO capabilities within the broader military satellite communications domain, as Defense sectors worldwide invest in secure, diverse, and resilient connectivity.

Designed for rapid deployment, the Manpack is small and light to fit a standard military rucksack. It features one-touch network acquisition for immediate operation even in the most demanding and high-pressure conflict regions and is optimized for low power consumption to maximize mission duration for up to five hours on external batteries depending on usage. With auto detected Resilient Global Navigation Satellite System (R-GNSS), it enables external support of an Alternative Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (Alt-PNT) to ensure operation in GPS-denied environments.

Built to battlefield-ready specifications, the Manpack is designed for Ingress Protection (IP67), as well as the U.S. Military Standards for Environmental Engineering (MIL-STD-810H) and Electromagnetic Compatibility (MIL-STD-461). This ensures exceptional durability for Communications-On-The-Pause (COTP) to personnel on front lines and mission-critical operations.

Eric Sung, CEO at Intellian Technologies said, “Our military-grade Manpack addresses the rapidly evolving demands of defense users for resilient OneWeb LEO connectivity. It’s a critical addition to our portfolio of OneWeb solutions across maritime, land fixed and land mobility, and will deliver essential global connectivity for military personnel, NGOs, and enterprise customers who require uncompromising durability and performance.”

Steve Mills, Eutelsat’s Vice President for Global Government said, “We’re pleased to be expanding our user terminal portfolio with the addition of a manpack solution. Thanks to Intellian’s expertise and innovation, this development strengthens the ability of our OneWeb constellation to immediately provide reliable, portable and innovative connectivity options to government and defense users, and we look forward to bringing this solution to our partners together.” (Source: ASD Network

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Founded in 2017, MatrixSpace is creating the next generation of artificial intelligence enabled sensing solutions to digitize the outdoors beyond the limits of human perception.

The MatrixSpace expeditionary radar kit fits in a standard daypack and contains everything needed to deliver actionable detections to an ATAK mobile device in less than 5 mins.

Visit maxtrixspace.com

——————————————————————————————————————

SATELLITE SYSTEMS, SATCOM AND SPACE SYSTEMS UPDATE

September 10, 2025 by

Sponsored by MatrixSpace

http://matrixspace.com

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10 Sep 25. ICEYE launches the ISR Cell, bringing tactical space-based intelligence anywhere . Proven in NATO exercises, the ISR Cell is a first-of-its-kind, easy-to-deploy mobile unit that radically compresses the ISR loop from hours to minutes — from collection requirements to intelligence dissemination. ICEYE, the global leader in Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) satellite operations, today launched the ISR Cell — an end-to-end containerized unit that gives defense forces direct access to space-based tactical Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) in near-real-time, enhancing decision-making speed and effectiveness. Designed to plug-and-play with any ICEYE mission, sovereign or ICEYE-operated, the ISR Cell moves space-based intelligence from centralized nodes to the edge. Proven in military exercises, the ISR Cell strengthens ICEYE’s offering to defense customers and advances its ambition to become a primary provider of critical ISR infrastructure to allied nations. The ISR Cell directly addresses the primary bottleneck in the ISR cycle: the rapid, reliable exploitation of increasingly complex data. It provides every level of command direct access to satellite tasking, downlink, AI-assisted analysis, and secure intelligence dissemination — on-site and on tactical timelines. This capability, previously limited to strategic command levels, can now be rapidly deployed to high-risk environments and act as a critical backup in the event of an outage of a fixed, centralized ground segment. Unlike traditional satellite intelligence, which is optimized for strategic or operational decisions over hours or days, the ISR Cell is engineered to bring satellite intelligence to tactical timescales, delivering critical intelligence in minutes. Aerial systems can be used effectively for real-time intel, but their utility is limited by range, line-of-sight, and vulnerability to electronic warfare. The ISR Cell overcomes these constraints by bringing space-based intelligence directly to the tactical edge. Beyond its utility in conflict zones, where it provides access to tactical space-based ISR, the ISR Cell provides critical resilience and operational flexibility for a wide range of tactical applications, including on-site tasking and independent downlinking. This creates a much-needed layer of resilience on the ground for the increasingly critical infrastructure in space. “The ISR Cell is a massive leap forward in transforming how military organizations gain access to critical intelligence. It puts strategic-grade space intelligence tools in the hands of the commander in minutes, not hours or days, fundamentally changing how modern operations are planned and executed,” said Pekka Laurila, CSO and Co-founder of ICEYE.

Laurila continued, “The ICEYE ISR Cells are already in production, with first customer deliveries scheduled for early 2026. This foundational capability, combined with our latest Gen4 satellites, makes satellite intelligence more efficient and directly accessible to every decision node, enabling faster and more reliable ISR loops across the force at scale.”

ICEYE has recently solidified its position in the military and defense sector by securing several key agreements. The company will deliver its SAR satellite technology and space-based ISR capabilities to the Polish Armed Forces, the Portuguese Air Force, the Royal Netherlands Air Force, and the Finnish Defence Forces. These partnerships, along with a separate agreement to provide SAR data to NATO Allied Command Operations, highlight ICEYE’s role as a crucial provider of intelligence infrastructure for allied nations.

09 Sep 25. ICEYE launches high-performance Gen4 satellite for commercial operations. Gen4 sets a new SAR satellite performance standard, featuring up to 16 cm resolution and an expanded 400 km high-resolution coverage area, enabling more images per orbital pass and higher revisit rates, resulting in the world’s highest-fidelity commercial SAR imagery. ICEYE, the global leader in Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) satellite operations, today announced the commercial availability of its fourth-generation “Gen4” satellites. The latest generation delivers the world’s highest-fidelity commercial SAR imagery of up to 16 cm resolution, extends the high-resolution field of regard to 400 km, and enables more images per orbital pass for faster coverage of priority areas of interest (AOIs). With this significant increase in coverage and optimized design, Gen4 is built for large-scale deployment and operations in large constellations. Its higher imaging throughput increases the per-pass image count, making sub-15-minute revisit performance more accessible. For defense and intelligence teams, this means faster, more reliable situational awareness and greater confidence in mission-critical decisions. Each Gen4 satellite can capture up to 500 images per day, with up to half concentrated within a 2,000-km-wide region per orbit. Imaging and downlink can occur simultaneously at up to 700 Mbps, enabling tasking, acquisition, and delivery within the same pass for near real-time monitoring. A larger and more powerful antenna delivers a stronger signal and sharper detail. This advancement is a key feature of the new Gen4 satellite, which expands high-resolution imaging coverage by 250% – from 150 km to 400 km. This allows a single satellite to monitor a vast area of interest, such as an entire naval task force or a major land border crossing in a single pass while accelerating revisits over time-sensitive targets. The result is improved image quality, providing sharper insights and higher confidence. This enhanced imagery further improves the Detect & Classify product, which bundles ICEYE imagery with SATIM’s AI-based imagery derivatives, to automatically detect and classify vessels, aircraft, and vehicles with better than 90% accuracy. For national customers and governments, Gen4 can be purchased as a fully sovereign capability that is not subject to ITAR control. ICEYE delivers the Gen4 satellite as part of a complete, secure system that can be launched, deployed, and operated within 12 months, including ground segment, comprehensive training and continuous software updates. The first wave of Gen4 satellites were launched as part of the SpaceX TR13 mission in March this year, demonstrating ICEYE’s position as a critical partner for governments, and defense and intelligence customers, worldwide. ICEYE currently operates the world’s largest constellation of SAR satellites and has succeeded in packing powerful sensors into cost-efficient platforms with rapid revisit times. Because its satellites are software-driven, ICEYE can continuously evolve their capabilities from the ground without building new hardware.

Rafal Modrzewski, co-founder and CEO of ICEYE, said: “After years of dedicated research and innovation, we are proud to announce that our next-generation satellite, Gen4, is now commercially available. This marks a significant step forward in delivering more images, sharper, faster, and more flexible to our customers worldwide.” “Gen4 is not only a technological leap; it’s a clear example of how ICEYE continues to push the boundaries of the SAR satellite industry. It’s a game-changer for how governments, as well as defense and intelligence users, can see, understand, and respond to events around the globe,” he concluded.

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Founded in 2017, MatrixSpace is creating the next generation of artificial intelligence enabled sensing solutions to digitize the outdoors beyond the limits of human perception.

The MatrixSpace expeditionary radar kit fits in a standard daypack and contains everything needed to deliver actionable detections to an ATAK mobile device in less than 5 mins.

Visit maxtrixspace.com

—————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————–

SATELLITE SYSTEMS, SATCOM AND SPACE SYSTEMS UPDATE

September 8, 2025 by

Sponsored by MatrixSpace

http://matrixspace.com

08 Sep 25. QinetiQ and Xona Increase Resilience of GPS Using New Satellites. QinetiQ and Xona Space Systems have demonstrated how GPS navigation can be bolstered by using Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites, in the first UK tests of Xona’s new satellite navigation system, Pulsar. This marks a major milestone in the development of next generation Positioning, Navigation and Timing (PNT) capabilities, increasing resilience against jamming and spoofing, as well as improving GPS availability in congested or challenged environments. The tests saw QinetiQ’s Q40 Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) receiver- which can already receive signals from multiple GNSS satellite constellations on multiple frequencies, acquire and track signals from Xona’s first production-class satellite, Pulsar-0. The tests demonstrated that by supplementing GNSS with LEO satellite signals like the Pulsar X1, enhanced resilience in contested or poor-signal environments can be achieved. A recent software upgrade to QinetiQ’s Q40 was developed under the European Space Agencies’ Navigation Innovation and Support Program (NAVISP) in the GNSS Receiver with Advanced Pulsar Enhancement (GRAPE) project. GRAPE is a collaboration between QinetiQ and Xona, supported by the UK Space Agency and European Space Agency. Its goal is to explore how new LEO-based signals, can be integrated with existing GNSS, to enhance the accuracy and resilience of navigation services for defence, critical infrastructure, and future autonomous applications.

Chris Walker, Managing Director, Mission Systems Division, QinetiQ, said: “For the first time, we have demonstrated how signals from new LEO satellites can be used alongside existing GNSS to give users stronger, more resilient timing and position information. This is a huge step in increasing the protection of our defence, critical infrastructure and future autonomous systems against interference.”

Giorgio Taylor, Director of Business Development, UK & Europe added: “Our Pulsar constellation is designed to deliver resilience and accuracy at a time when GNSS alone is no longer enough. The demonstration of QinetiQ’s Q40 receiver from our in-orbit signal proves this technology is ready to make a difference to users, from defence to commercial autonomy.” (Source: ASD Network)

08 Sep 25. Airbus ready for Defence Industrial Strategy to prioritise sovereignty. Particularly when it comes to space defence, wherein the European prime is competing with Lockheed Martin UK for WSS. As a leading supplier in the UK’s military space capability, Airbus Defence and Space are eager for the government to follow its own advice in prioritising sovereignty and ensure, as the government mantra goes, that UK defence remains an engine for growth. In an exclusive interview with Airforce Technology prior to the release of the Defence Industrial Strategy (DIS), Airbus executives Martin Rowse, campaign director, and Kata Escott, managing director, welcomed signals in the Strategic Defence Review (SDR) in June, wherein the trio of authors recommended that the UK leverage the “significant untapped potential” domestically while also “boosting export potential.” While the SDR determined the government’s philosophy going forward, the DIS, which the Defence Secretary will release later today, outlines the specific approach to be taken in real terms.

“What that will do is put some meat on the bones of this big idea. I think that the really interesting bit will be in how the government then delivers on that commitment,” Escott considered.

“I think the political rhetoric is all in a great place,” she continued, “but I think there’s an opportunity here for [the government] to demonstrate a shift – some of the urgency we saw in the SDR.”

The Ministry of Defence revealed plans for increasing critical defence skills, investing £182m in the talent pipeline; launching a £250m fund for defence growth deals; and exploiting lessons in innovation coming out of Ukraine. In recent months, Nato allies have been eager to leverage and build Ukrainian designs of proven weapons systems, this includes Denmark and the UK to name a few. The company claims that they have up to £10bn ($13.5bn) worth of export potential with its portfolio of military satellite communications (MILSATCOM) based in the UK. This derives from years of building commercial and military satellites. In the space community, Airbus is known for Skynet, the UK’s MILSATCOM capability, which provides a critical enabler to the United States and 17 other Nato allies too. For a sense of the cost of the programme, it is worth noting that in 2022 the UK promised £1.4bn ($1.78bn) for space capabilities over the following ten years, apart from the £5bn to be spent on advancing Skynet. Built in Portsmouth but coming out of final tests, the first 6A satellite is booked to launch on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket this year, and will operate the British military’s communications into the 2040s.

“That’s a big wealth generator because it leads to new capability,” Rowse stated. “The enduring Skynet 5 satellites are then evolved into the Skynet 6A satellites, which will be evolved into the WSS [Wideband Satellite System] satellites.”

WSS contract

At present, Airbus Defence and Space UK is competing with Lockheed Martin UK on the nation’s WSS contract. The procurement covers up to three tranches of geostationary (GEO) satellites, along with ground infrastructure and launch operations that are equipped with military-grade X-Band and Mil-Ka payloads to ensure high availability and hardened performance. A second and final invitation to negotiate reflecting all the agreed changes was produced and formally released on 8 August 2025. A preferred bidder will be selected and a full business case taken forward in early 2026. According to the government, WSS represents the “single largest space procurement nationally” – with an estimated contract value above £1.5bn – supporting the growth of the UK sovereign space sector. While sovereignty is a key part of the SDR and, perhaps, the DIS, Lockheed Martin UK will also be able to tap into a vibrant global space industry and leverage its experience in ground terminal infrastructure and building small satellites in the past 50 years. The company, based in the US but with a UK entity, have built more than 300 mission payloads for customers. This includes the LM 400 satellite bus, which provides a range of services both military and civil, including communications. It is worth noting, however, that Lockheed do not currently build satellites on UK soil at present. Although, the company is pursuing production sites in the UK, Lockheed Martin does have a space technology office in Harwell that explores opportunities within the UK space sector. Airforce Technology contacted Lockheed Martin UK about its WSS offering and the UK government about the competing companies but neither organisation responded for comment. (Source: airforce-technology.com)

03 Sep 25. Skylo expands collaboration with Garmin to bring satellite connectivity to new smartwatches. Skylo Technologies has announced the next phase of the firm’s technology collaboration with Garmin, enabling satellite-powered messaging1 and SOS messaging directly from the new fēnix® 8 Pro multisport smartwatches — no smartphone required. This marks a breakthrough in satellite connectivity: users can stay connected from their wrist — whether they’re deep in the back country or on a neighborhood trail with a spotty signal. With Skylo’s standards-based satellite network integrated directly into fēnix 8 Pro smartwatches, users in the non-contiguous U.S., Canada and Europe can send and receive text messages and share live GPS coordinates. The Garmin fēnix 8 Pro will be powered by Skylo’s commercially available satellite network service that allows users to connect with Garmin Response(SM) emergency coordination center to send and receive text messages about the nature of the emergency, and automatically share GPS location data to assist in the response effort. Garmin Response will coordinate with the appropriate emergency services team once an SOS message is received. Users can also send text messages to friends, family, and other contacts directly from their fēnix 8 Pro, or alternatively, via the Garmin Messenger application running on a paired smartphone. This launch builds on the existing strategic collaboration between Garmin and Skylo which has utilized Garmin Response emergency coordination services to connect users of select Skylo connected devices to the help they need through a vast global network of law enforcement agencies, emergency services providers, search and rescue professionals, embassies, coast guards, and more. This 24/7-staffed emergency monitoring and global rescue coordination service routes messages worldwide, helping people in need reach emergency services nearly every day. From hikers lost in the wilderness to travelers involved in car accidents on isolated roads and people with health issues in suburban areas without terrestrial coverage, this collaboration has meaningfully impacted people’s lives when they needed it most. With this collaboration, Garmin becomes one of the first major smartwatch brands to adopt open standards-based satellite connectivity — a shift that underscores a broader trend away from proprietary satellite hardware toward scalable, integrated experiences. Now, with fēnix® 8 Pro, the peace of mind previously available only with handheld satellite communicators is built into the watch you wear every day. Skylo’s service requires no additional antennas or external hardware, leveraging chipsets already found in today’s leading consumer devices. It’s part of Skylo’s broader mission to bring direct-to-device connectivity to a billion devices — not in some far-off future, but today. Shipping September 8, fēnix 8 Pro smartwatches from Garmin will be available at select Garmin retailers and online at www.garmin.com. Skylo’s embrace of 3GPP standards-based protocols allows connected products to incorporate satellite technology using the economies of scale available in the broader cellular industry. Skylo’s satellite connectivity is available in 36 countries around the world and spans 60 m sq. km. of coverage. This is what satellite connectivity should feel like — seamless, invisible, available when you need it,” said Tarun Gupta, Co-founder and Chief Product Officer of Skylo Technologies. “We’re proud to help Garmin unlock a new category of devices that are lighter, smarter, and connected when it matters most. Whether you’re scaling peaks or hiking on trails, Skylo helps keep Garmin customers connected – even far from cellular coverage.” Garmin is proud to team up with Skylo to deliver our proven SOS service to the fēnix 8 Pro smartwatch. Our professionally trained Garmin Response emergency response coordinators have supported thousands of SOS incidents across every continent for almost two decades, helping connect adventurers and their loved ones to potentially life-saving help when they need it the most,” said Brad Trenkle, Garmin co-Chief Operating Officer. (Source: Satnews)

Founded in 2017, MatrixSpace is creating the next generation of artificial intelligence enabled sensing solutions to digitize the outdoors beyond the limits of human perception.

The MatrixSpace expeditionary radar kit fits in a standard daypack and contains everything needed to deliver actionable detections to an ATAK mobile device in less than 5 mins.

Visit maxtrixspace.com

————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————-

SATELLITE SYSTEMS, SATCOM AND SPACE SYSTEMS UPDATE

September 5, 2025 by

Sponsored by MatrixSpace

http://matrixspace.com

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04 Sep 25. King Cobra SATCOM System Installed on HMAS Sydney, Marking Major Upgrade for Navy Communications. The Royal Australian Navy has begun replacing its legacy MASTIS satellite communications system with the advanced King Cobra system, starting with HMAS Sydney at Garden Island, NSW. The upgrade promises enhanced bandwidth, coverage, and assured connectivity across the fleet. A sweeping project to replace Navy’s satellite communications got underway in August with the upgrade of HMAS Sydney’s SATCOM capability from the current Maritime Advanced SATCOM Terrestrial Infrastructure System (MASTIS) to the King Cobra system. The MASTIS system was the first of its kind when installed across the fleet in the early 2000s. The dual-band terminal could transmit and receive simultaneously across multiple SATCOM frequencies and enabled communication with the Optus/ADF satellite constellation launched in 2003. The King Cobra and Cobra systems were selected as Navy’s primary and alternate SATCOM systems to replace MASTIS after 25 years. Developed with support through the Defence Innovation Hub, the King Cobra and Cobra systems provide an enhanced capability and are capable of operating on the Wideband Global SATCOM (WGS) constellations.

“The new systems provide greater bandwidth and coverage to satellites in different orbits, leading to more assured communications for the fleet.”

The WGS constellation in geostationary orbit provides communications for the United States military and partner forces such as Australia. The installation of the King Cobra terminal on six frigates commences with HMAS Ballarat next year. The King Cobra can communicate with satellites in low-Earth orbit to geostationary orbit and will be installed on the guided-missile destroyers, landing helicopter docks, auxiliary oiler replenishment ships and landing ship docks, with HMAS Sydney being the first to receive the King Cobra SATCOM system. The rollout is expected to be completed by the end of the decade. Capability Acquisition and Sustainment Group project manager Ruiqi Wang said the new systems provide greater bandwidth and coverage to satellites in different orbits, leading to more assured communications for the fleet. In 2023, it was announced Brisbane communications company EM Solutions would provide upgraded SATCOM systems under a contract worth $150m. Mr Wang said domestic manufacture and supply was important for maintaining system components across the existing fleet. (Source: ASD Network)

04 Sep 25. Israel MOD and IAI Successfully Launch Ofek 19 Satellite, Entering its Orbit in Space. Israel Ministry of Defense Spokesperson’s Statement: The Directorate of Defense Research and Development (DDR&D) Space Program Office in the Israel Ministry of Defense (IMOD), the IDF, and Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) successfully launched the Ofek 19 satellite into space last night (Tuesday, September 2nd, 2025) at 22:30 IST. The launch was carried out from an undisclosed test site by a three-phased “Shavit” launcher. In line with the original launch plan, the satellite entered its orbit, began transmission and underwent a series of initial tests. The DDR&D’s Space Program Office engineers, in collaboration with IAI’s Space Division engineers continue to carry on pre-planned tests until the satellite is fully commissioned in the near future. Ofek 19 satellite was developed drawing on experience accumulated by the defense establishment and IAI in developing the advanced Ofek observation satellites, which have been launched to space since 1988. The defense space program is led by the DDR&D’s Space Program Office and includes various stakeholders within the IDF, such as Unit 9900 of the Intelligence Directorate and the Israeli Air Force (IAF). IAI developed and manufactured both satellite and launcher as lead contractor. IAI’s Systems, Missiles and Space (SMS) Group, through its SPACE Division, led the project in collaboration with the ELTA Group, who produced the payload, and IAI’s MLM Division, who developed the launcher alongside Tomer Ltd. and Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, who manufactured the launch vehicle’s rocket engines Upon entering into operation, the IMOD will transfer command of the satellite to Unit 9900, the IDF’s visual and geospatial intelligence unit.

President of Israel, Isaac Herzog: “I was moved to witness the launch of Ofek 19 – a satellite made in Israel. It’s inspiring to see the extraordinary capabilities of Israeli industries. Years of outstanding, focused work have reached places we couldn’t imagine. We’re not just a Startup Nation – we’re a Space Nation. Israel must have a presence in space, where humanity’s future lies, which carries critically important strategic capabilities, particularly in the arena we’re engaged in. I congratulate IAI, the defense establishment, the DDR&D, the Defense Ministry, and all partners in this vital endeavor. This demonstrates once again that we are a unique and exceptional nation – there is no country like the State of Israel.”

Defense Minister, Israel Katz: “This is a moment of tremendous national pride – for the people of Israel and all those who work tirelessly, day and night, to safeguard our security and future. Israel, once again, demonstrates its supremacy as one of the world’s leading technological and defense powers. Launching the Ofek 19 satellite into space represents another building block in Israel’s power projection on the global stage, reflecting the advanced capabilities of the Ministry, the IDF, and IAI. This achievement embodies a unique combination of Israeli innovation, excellence, and ingenuity – providing us with strategic superiority and significant reinforcement of our national security. I salute the engineers, developers, soldiers, and defense personnel who worked around the clock to deliver this exceptional achievement. Israel continues to soar, lead, and secure our defense with pride and strength.”

IMOD Director General, Maj. Gen. (Res.) Amir Baram: “Ofek 19, joining Israel’s satellite constellation in space, represents a significant force multiplier for the operational capabilities of our defense establishment. This represents a massive effort led by hundreds of personnel across the Ministry, the IDF, and defense industries. The Swords of Iron War, particularly Operation Rising Lion, demonstrated that modern warfare extends into space. Expanding and strengthening our foothold in space is a central objective in the Ministry’s strategy. In the coming decade, we will invest bns in deploying a satellite constellation that will allow us to maintain persistent, simultaneous surveillance of any point throughout the Middle East.”

Head of the IMOD’s DDR&D, Brig. Gen. (Res.) Dr. Daniel Gold: “Following our unprecedented wartime successes, including over 12,000 satellite images of Iranian territory during Operation Rising Lion, we have deployed an advanced satellite equipped with cutting-edge intelligence gathering capabilities representing the forefront of global technology. Space is becoming an increasingly critical domain of warfare, and this satellite delivers a quantum leap in operational and technological capabilities that will preserve and enhance Israel’s space-based superiority for decades to come.”

President and CEO of Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), Boaz Levy: “As the State of Israel’s Space House, we are extremely proud of the successful development and launch of another satellite for the State of Israel, within less than two months. Ofek 19 is an SAR satellite that will provide Israel with intelligence capabilities during day, night, and all weather and visibility conditions. These capabilities are essential now more than ever, especially following Operation Rising Lion, which underscored that having advanced observation capabilities in our region is critical for achieving aerial and ground superiority. Ofek 19 joins Israel’s constellation of communication and observation satellites currently in space, all of which have been developed and manufactured by IAI. We take great pride in showcasing our human capital and technological strength that leads to the development of such complex, groundbreaking systems, which position Israel at the forefront of global technological capabilities and innovation.”

Head of the IMOD’s DDR&D Space Program Office, Avi Berger: “The launch of Ofek 19 marks a significant leap forward in Israel’s defense and technological capabilities in space. Developed and manufactured by Israel Space Industry’s top engineers, the satellite ensures continued operational independence and strategic flexibility in the intelligence arena. The operational capabilities from space that were demonstrated during ‘Swards of Iron’ and ‘Rising Lion’ have emphasized the necessity of leveraging our security superiority in space. Ofek 19 joins Israel’s operational satellite constellation in space which, through groundbreaking technology, significantly enhances the IDF’s intelligence capabilities and will enable Israel to maintain its operational advantage in both distant and nearby arenas.” (Source: ASD Network)

03 Sep 25. SATIM and ICEYE announce launch of ‘Detect & Classify’ product for AI-powered analysis of SAR imagery. The new product automatically detects and classifies vessels, vehicles, and aircraft with over 90% accuracy, providing scalable insights that eliminate the bottleneck of manual analysis and enable faster, more informed decisions for defense and security. SATIM, the provider of state-of-the-art solutions for SAR data analytics, and ICEYE, the global leader in Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) satellite operations, together with, today announced the launch of Detect & Classify – an AI-powered product that accelerates the transformation of satellite imagery into actionable intelligence. The product combines ICEYE’s high-resolution SAR imagery with SATIM’s advanced artificial intelligence to automatically detect and classify vessels, aircraft, and vehicles in ICEYE imagery with better than 90% accuracy. Object detection and classification using ICEYE satellite SAR imagery and Satim’s unique AI-based software The Detect & Classify product bundles ICEYE imagery with SATIM’s AI-based imagery derivatives, delivering both the SAR image and detections and classifications of objects in the image in a single, high-confidence package. This product delivers a new level of rapid situational awareness across maritime, air, and land domains, providing powerful support to SAR analysts and their missions within the armed forces and intelligence agencies. This product launch follows a successful joint development effort between ICEYE and SATIM, The Detect & Classify product, brought to market by ICEYE and powered by Satim’s unique AI capabilities, responds to a long-standing challenge with manual SAR data analysis. Traditionally, defense and intelligence organizations have relied on time-consuming manual analyses of imagery by SAR experts to extract valuable intelligence. Detect & Classify empowers SAR imagery users – no longer just SAR experts – to shorten this cycle by automating the delivery of actionable insights about what the imagery captures. ICEYE routinely delivers imagery within hours or in some cases minutes, and the Detect & Classify derivatives are delivered on the same timelines. Intelligence analysts can now more quickly establish patterns of behavior in larger volumes of imagery; tactical teams can rapidly locate and classify assets for targeting, and maritime forces can more effectively identify and intercept illicit “dark vessels.” Combining SATIM’s extensive object catalog with ICEYE’s high-fidelity SAR imagery creates a powerful product that eliminates manual analysis bottlenecks and provides customers with direct access to actionable intelligence, improving situational awareness and accelerating critical decisions. We’ve seen significant uptake of our products with customers around the globe, and this product will expand this benefit to a wider range of customers.

Jacek Strzelczyk, CEO and co-founder SATIM, “Our goal with Detect & Classify is to empower our customers to make faster, more informed decisions with less effort. This is more than just an analytics tool — we’re eliminating a bottleneck between satellite imagery pixels and decision-making, giving our users near-instant situational awareness. And it’s a transformative step on the path towards ‘lights-out,’ machine-driven satellite imaging operations. That’s a fundamental shift for defense, security, and intelligence operations that use satellite imagery.”

John Cartwright, Senior VP of Data Product at ICEYE, “SATIM is a global leader in artificial intelligence solutions for Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) image analysis. With over a decade of expertise, proprietary algorithms and strong partnerships, SATIM delivers unmatched precision in automatic object detection and classification. Its flagship technology, OREC (Automatic AI-based Object Detection and Classification in SAR), achieves industry-leading accuracy rates – over 90% for ships and aircraft – and provides the most extensive object catalogue on the market.Tested and validated during international military exercises such as CWIX and FEX, SATIM’s technology has proven its reliability in real-world operational environments. By transforming raw SAR data into clear, actionable intelligence within minutes, SATIM empowers defence, government, and commercial users to gain situational awareness, accelerate decision-making, and reduce reliance on scarce human expertise.”

ICEYE owns and operates the world’s largest SAR satellite constellation, delivering global access and the highest revisit frequency on the market. ICEYE SAR satellites provide 25 cm ground resolution, enabling accurate object detection and classification and situational awareness in all weather and lighting conditions. To date, ICEYE has launched 54 SAR satellites into orbit for its own and customers’ use. The recent introduction of ICEYE’s new Scan Wide imaging mode further strengthens this capability, allowing for coverage of up to 60,000 km² in a single scene. This broad-area surveillance mode is particularly useful for Detect & Classify in maritime and large-scale monitoring efforts, enabling users to rapidly identify areas of interest before tasking higher-resolution modes for more detailed analysis.

02 Sep 25. Trump to announce Space Command is moving from Colorado to Alabama. Gen. John “Jay” Raymond and Chief Master Sgt. Roger Towberman, right, hold the Space Force flag alongside President Donald Trump in the White House, May 2020. (Alex Brandon/AP) President Donald Trump’s administration will announce on Tuesday that U.S. Space Command will be located in Alabama, reversing a Biden-era decision to keep it at its temporary headquarters in Colorado, according to two people familiar with the announcement. Trump is expected to speak Tuesday afternoon, and he will give the new location, according to the people, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to confirm the plans ahead of the official announcement. A Pentagon website set up to livestream the remarks describes the event as a “U.S. Space Command HQ Announcement.”

“The president will be making an exciting announcement related to the Department of Defense,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said.

Space Command’s functions include conducting operations like enabling satellite-based navigation and troop communication and providing warning of missile launches. Alabama and Colorado have long battled to claim Space Command because it has significant implications for the local economy. The site also has been a political prize, with elected officials from both Alabama and Colorado asserting their state is the better location. Huntsville, Alabama, nicknamed Rocket City, has long been home to the Army’s Redstone Arsenal and NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center. The Army’s Space and Missile Defense Command is also located in Huntsville, which drew its nickname because of its role in building the first rockets for the U.S. space program. The announcement caps a four-year back-and-forth on the location of Space Command. The Air Force in 2021 identified Army Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville as the preferred location for the new U.S. Space Command. The city was picked after site visits to six states that compared factors such as infrastructure capacity, community support and costs to the Defense Department. Then-President Joe Biden in 2023 announced Space Command would be permanently located in Colorado Springs, Colorado, which had been serving as its temporary headquarters. Biden’s Democratic administration said that keeping the command in Colorado Springs would avoid a disruption in readiness. A review by the Defense Department inspector general was inconclusive and could not determine why Colorado was chosen over Alabama. Trump, a Republican who enjoys deep support in Alabama, had long been expected to move Space Command back to Alabama. (Source: Defense News)

01 Sep 25. EU to boost satellite defences against GPS jamming, Defence commissioner says. The European Union will deploy additional satellites in low Earth orbit to strengthen resilience against GPS interferences and will improve capabilities to detect it, EU Defence Commissioner Andrius Kubilius said on Monday. His remarks followed an incident on Sunday in which the GPS system aboard European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s aircraft was jammed en route to Bulgaria. Bulgarian authorities suspect the jamming was due to due to interference by Russia, an EU spokesperson said. (Source: Reuters)

28 Aug 25. ESA’s Flight Ticket Initiative: first five missions secured with Avio and Isar Aerospace. The Flight Ticket Initiative is a collaboration between the European Space Agency (ESA) and the European Commission for European companies and institutions to test and prove new products and applications in space. It encourages the use of new European launchers. Testing prototypes in space provides valuable insight for research projects and unlocks the market potential of commercial applications. These types of missions are also called in-orbit demonstration or validation (IOD/IOV) as they are meant to demonstrate or validate hardware, services and satellite payloads in space.

Flying with Avio

Signatures between ESA and Avio have secured three missions to fly on the Vega-C rocket as auxiliary passengers from the European Spaceport in French Guiana.

Vega-C rocket, photo courtesy of ESA

Spanish company Persei will get to operate its E.T. Pack mission to demonstrate a solution to deorbit satellites using a kilometer-long aluminum tape that will be extended from the satellite. The tape, also called a tether, will generate an electric current as it passes through the plasma and geomagnetic field that surrounds our planet. This will create a force known as Lorentz drag which will slow down and deorbit a satellite. This fuel-free system offers a promising solution to reduce space debris, while keeping the satellite stable and avoiding collisions during deorbiting. German Aerospace Center, DLR, will fly its Pluto+ cubesat to demonstrate a high-performance-yet-compact avionic system. Developed at DLR’s Institute of Space Systems in Bremen, Germany, Pluto+ will also test a flexible solar array capable of delivering 100 Watts of power. With this mission, DLR aims to show that advanced components typically used on larger satellites can also thrive on smaller satellites. French company Grasp is developing an EO constellation. Under the contract signed, their second satellite in the constellation, GapMap-1, will launch on Vega-C. It will carry a new type of instrument, a short-wave infrared spectrometer, designed to detect greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. This satellite follows an earlier demonstrator already in orbit. The constellation takes detailed measurements by scanning the atmosphere with 60 measurements on each pass overhead, providing more accurate data on air pollution and climate change. (Source: Satnews)

27 Aug 25. Rocket Lab to launch secretive Jake 4 customer soon. Rocket Lab’s HASTE (Hypersonic Accelerator Suborbital Test Electron) is a modified Electron rocket for suborbital hypersonic testing. It is a liquid-fueled launch vehicle designed to provide cost-effective and high-cadence testing of hypersonic technologies for the U.S. Department of Defense. The mission is for a confidential customer, with no additional details known. HASTE is a modified version of Rocket Lab’s Electron rocket, using much of the same technology. It is designed to support a variety of suborbital test trajectories and provide a commercial testing capability at a lower cost compared to full-scale tests. A specialized design features a tailored third stage for re-entry conditions and precise control, and can achieve different trajectories like direct inject or boost glide. The forecast calls for a temperature of 80°F, few clouds, 24% cloud cover and a wind speed of 11mph. Rocket Lab Launch Complex 2 within the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport at NASA Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia is the launch site for HASTE. Tailored specifically for technology demonstration missions, HASTE launches from Wallops carry on the extensive tradition of suborbital launch from Virginia’s coast and stands ready to serve the current and future technology needs of hypersonic and suborbital test missions. (Source: Satnews)

26 Aug 25. SpaceX launches NAOS an EO spacecraft for Luxembourg + smallsats from sunny California. SpaceX’s Falcon 9 launched a new Earth-observation satellite along with several smaller spacecraft from California on Tuesday (Aug. 26). Photos captured by Satnews. NAOS (National Advanced Optical System) is the space component of Luxembourg’s governmental dual-use observation satellite system LUXEOSys (Luxembourg Earth Observation System). Its purpose is to provide high resolution images to national and international governmental and military organizations such as NATO. The NAOS Earth-observation satellite and other payloads are seen on the second stage of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket before encapsulation inside their payload fairing. SpaceX showed this photo during the NAOS launch webcast on Aug. 26, 2025. (Image credit: SpaceX) The 800 kg satellite is built by OHB Italia and is equipped with a very high-resolution optical camera with a ground resolution of 50 cm in an around 450 km high sun-synchronous orbit. It will have a operational life time of 7 years. In addition to NAOS, which was built for Luxembourg by the company OHB Italia, the Falcon 9 is carrying small satellites for Dhruva Space (LEAP-1); the San Francisco-based company Planet (Pelican-3 and Pelican-4); and Exolaunch (Capella’s Acadia-6 and Pixxel’s FFLY-1, FFLY-2, and FFLY-3). This is the 27th flight for the first stage booster supporting this mission, which previously launched Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich, DART, Transporter-7, Iridium OneWeb, SDA-0B, NROL-113, NROL-167, NROL-149, and 18 Starlink missions. Following stage separation, the first stage landed on Landing Zone 4 (LZ-4) at Vandenberg Space Force Base. (Source: Satnews)

25 Aug 25. Rocket Lab expands U.S. investments for National Security programs and semiconductor manufacturing. Rocket Lab Corporation (Nasdaq: RKLB) is boosting its U.S. investments to expand semiconductor manufacturing capacity and provide supply chain security for space-grade solar cells and electro-optical sensors for national security space missions. The Trump Administration will support these investments with a $23.9 m award through the Department of Commerce, part of the CHIPS and Science Act that ensures U.S. leadership in space-grade semiconductor technology. In a strategic response to the increasing demand for a robust domestic supply chain of space-grade solar cells and electro-optical sensors for spacecrafts and satellites, Rocket Lab’s capital investments over the next five years are expected to strengthen the Company’s market position as a leading satellite manufacturer, components supplier, and end-to-end mission provider for commercial and national security space missions. Rocket Lab is one of only two companies in the United States that specialize in the production of high efficiency, radiation hardened, space-grade compound semiconductors. Rocket Lab’s investment builds upon the Company’s existing U.S. expansion plans for its space systems products alongside a $275 m acquisition of Geost, an electro-optical payload provider based in Tucson, Arizona and northern Virginia. Combined, these multi-hundred m-dollar investments will strengthen America’s semiconductor industrial base and invigorate industry innovation for U.S. commercial and national security satellite missions.

Through these investments, Rocket Lab expects to:

Double production capacity of compound semiconductors and space-grade solar cells, from 20,000 wafers to nearly 35,000 wafers per month
Provide U.S. spacecraft manufacturers and the wider aerospace industry with access to domestically produced, advanced semiconductor and electro-optical technologies
Expand its ability to rapidly deliver integrated spacecraft systems purpose-built for U.S. national security
Drive economic growth in California, Colorado, Maryland, New Mexico, Mississippi, Arizona and northern Virginia, as it expands its U.S. based headcount to more than 2,000 employees

Rocket Lab’s solar cells have powered industry-defining space missions including the James Webb Space Telescope, NASA’s Artemis lunar explorations, the Ingenuity Mars Helicopter, and the Mars Insight Lander, and more – underscoring the Company’s pivotal role in space industry innovation and U.S. supply chain security.

Rocket Lab Vice President of Space Systems, Brad Clevenger, said, “Our leadership in American-made semiconductor technologies is built upon more than 25 years of engineering and manufacturing excellence in New Mexico. These latest investments will expand that production capacity, strengthen supply chains, create new jobs, and develop economic opportunities across the states where we operate – and are additional examples of Rocket Lab’s commitment to delivering reliable and cost-effective solutions at scale to the space industry.” (Source: Satnews)

01 Sep 25. Andøya Space and Rheinmetall Nordic AS have signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) in order to enhance mutual commercial capabilities for civil and military space operations. The purpose of this partnership is to respond to increasing security demands in Europe by rapidly deploying satellites and space assets. Andøya Space and Rheinmetall will be focussing on closing gaps in the satellite and launch-related value chain at Andøya, Norway. This alliance will provide regular commercial launch services and flexible, rapid response capabilities from the European mainland. It will also offer Tactical Responsive Launch (TacRL) capabilities, ensuring secure and resilient operation of satellites with expedited reaction times. Hence, the connection between Andøya Space and Rheinmetall will be essential for upholding the strategic military and civil space infrastructure of Germany, Norway as well as of NATO member states and other strategic partner countries. Both companies have confirmed to ensure strategic autonomy, increased responsiveness, faster deployment of new capabilities, and operational advantages in the geopolitical climate.

Troels Sandreid, President of Andøya Spaceport, said: “This Letter of Intent is a significant milestone for Andøya Space. By bundling expertise and infrastructure, we are aiming at reinforcing Europe’s ability to respond swiftly and securely to emerging civil and military space demands”.

Thomas Berge Nielsen, CEO of Rheinmetall Nordic AS, said: “Looking at the development of European space capabilities, the collaboration with Andøya Space will be a decisive factor concerning our assortment for the civil and military sector. We are very much looking forward to working together”.

Aligning these two companies is an important step towards completing the Andøya space-value-chain and of developing state-of-the-art facilities and services on European soil. Andøya Space and Rheinmetall are determined to offer these services to customers for commercial conditions, ensuring the successful execution of TacRL missions and regular launch services.

Founded in 2017, MatrixSpace is creating the next generation of artificial intelligence enabled sensing solutions to digitize the outdoors beyond the limits of human perception.

The MatrixSpace expeditionary radar kit fits in a standard daypack and contains everything needed to deliver actionable detections to an ATAK mobile device in less than 5 mins.

Visit maxtrixspace.com

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SATELLITE SYSTEMS, SATCOM AND SPACE SYSTEMS UPDATE

August 29, 2025 by

Sponsored by MatrixSpace

http://matrixspace.com

28 Aug 25. Exolaunch Successfully Deploys Satellites for Capella Space, Pixxel and US Commercial Customer on SpaceX’s NAOS Mission. Unmatched rideshare heritage supports hyperspectral and SAR constellation expansion aboard the NAOS mission Exolaunch, a global leader in launch mission management, satellite integration and deployment services, has successfully deployed satellites for Capella Space, Pixxel, and an undisclosed U.S. commercial customer on the National Advanced Optical System (NAOS) rideshare mission with SpaceX. NAOS is part of Luxembourg’s dual-use governmental observation satellite system, LUXEOSys, launched from Vandenberg Space Launch Complex, California. Successfully deployed payloads on the NAOS mission underscore Exolaunch’s growing role in advancing the world’s most sophisticated Earth observation constellations:

Capella Space — Second Exolaunch launch for Capella, following the successful deployment of Acadia-5 on Transporter-11 in 2024;
Pixxel — Three new Firefly satellites deployed, building on four previously launched with Exolaunch and fueling Pixxel’s rapid hyperspectral imaging constellation growth;
Undisclosed U.S. Commercial Customer — Two satellites deployed via Exolaunch’s CarboNIX separation systems under a dedicated hardware and integration services contract.

Exolaunch continues to distinguish itself and set industry standards by providing launch capacity and turnkey integration services, not only for established constellations, but also for leading venture-backed startups building their first constellations, cutting-edge research institutions, and emerging space nations entering orbit for the first time. This unique customer mix reflects the company’s flexibility and trusted expertise in enabling diverse missions worldwide. Building on this foundation, Exolaunch has secured long-term launch access through multi-year agreements with SpaceX, extending the companies’ collaboration into the next decade. These contracts ensure reliable capacity across a broad set of orbital profiles — from sun-synchronous to dawn-dusk and high-inclination orbits — and reinforce Exolaunch’s unmatched track record as the only integrator with payloads manifested on every SpaceX Transporter mission since the program’s inception in 2020. Exolaunch is gearing up for its next record-setting rideshare mission later this year. (Source: ASD Network)

28 Aug 25. Isar Aerospace Secures Launch Agreements With ESA.

Isar Aerospace becomes first privately funded player in Europe to sign commercial launch service agreements with ESA and the European Commission
Contracts cover the launch of two missions aboard ‘Spectrum’ from 2026 onwards

Isar Aerospace has secured two launch service agreements with the European Space Agency (ESA) and the European Commission as part of the Flight Ticket Initiative. The contracts mark the first launch agreements between a privately funded European launch service provider and European institutions, setting a precedent for future institutional launches aboard Isar Aerospace’s launch vehicle ‘Spectrum’.

Daniel Metzler, CEO and Co-Founder of Isar Aerospace, said: “Isar Aerospace delivers sovereign space capabilities for Europe and its partners. These agreements demonstrate the trust European institutions have in our launch services. It marks a key step in strengthening Europe’s independent space access and sets the foundation for future institutional missions under other programs like the European Launcher Challenge.” The agreement covers the launch of two missions: The ‘CASSINI’ mission, developed by the Dutch company ISISpace, and the ‘Tom & Jerry’ mission by French company Infinite Orbits. Both missions will be launched from Isar Aerospace’s dedicated launch pad at Andøya Spaceport in Norway and are scheduled from 2026 onwards. (Source: ASD Network)

27 Aug 25. Luxembourg launches LEO LUXEOSys satellite. The Luxembourg Earth Observation System (LUXEOSys) satellite was launched into orbit on 26 August from the Vandenberg Space Force Base in California aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, according to a 27 August press release from the Luxembourg Directorate of Defence. The LUXEOSys satellite was developed by OHB Italia S p A and is referenced as the National Advanced Optical System (NAOS) by the manufacturer. Intended as a very-high-resolution low Earth orbit (LEO) optical satellite system, it includes the satellite platform, optical payload, and ground segment. Israel’s Elbit Systems provided its Jupiter space camera aboard the satellite, according to the Israeli company’s 27 August press release. The camera has a PAN (panchromatic) GSD (Ground Sampling Distance) of 30 cm at 450 km, which means the camera can distinguish features as small as 30 cm when the satellite is flying at an altitude of 450 km. The MS (multispectral) GSD is 1.2 m at 450 km, which means that a single pixel captures 1.2 m on the ground from a 450 km altitude. The camera’s swath is 12 km at 450 km. The aperture is 70 cm, spectral range is 0.45–0.9 µm, and speed is 8 km/s. It is designed to last for eight years. (Source: Janes)

27 Aug 25. Spacecom Commander Emphasizes Need for Expanded Partnerships, Investment. As Russia and China seek to expand their influence in space, Space Force Gen. Stephen Whiting, commander of U.S. Space Command, urged greater international cooperation to safeguard the domain at the South American Defense Conference in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Aug. 20. The three-day conference was cohosted by Navy Adm. Alvin Holsey, U.S. Southern Command commander, and Gen. Xavier Isaac, chief of the Argentine armed forces joint staff, and included sessions on enhanced maritime domain awareness and armed forces support to law enforcement in countering transnational criminal organizations. The U.S. has worked with regional partner nations across geographic domains in the Western Hemisphere for decades, but Whiting highlighted the need for growth in space domain partnerships.

“U.S. Space Command and U.S. Southern Command have become excellent partners in space — working together for security cooperation and domain awareness,” he said.

He highlighted the $42 m investment for infrastructure development and the placement of 11 space domain awareness telescopes with partners in South America.

“We’re working to build and share specialized expertise through partner space training opportunities and share enhanced domain awareness via Southcom’s program,” Whiting said.

The program is a Southcom initiative — a comprehensive system that integrates various data sources and technologies to improve situational awareness and understanding of activities in a specific domain. Whiting emphasized its role in enhancing situational awareness and collaboration for space-based intelligence and surveillance capabilities, noting its positive impact on maritime domain awareness, countering illicit activities and disaster response. Holsey underscored that these capabilities are crucial for addressing threats already in the region. In his opening remarks, he highlighted how illicit activities, including transnational criminal organizations operating across the Americas, threaten the region, and how the U.S. is countering these operations.

“The challenges and threats that span the Andean Ridge to the Strait of Magellan are growing more complex. … Expanding the scope, scale and strength of transnational criminal organizations throughout the region is a top concern. Currently, 33 U.S.-sanctioned groups, including the recently designated 10 foreign terrorist organizations, are operating in the Western Hemisphere, engaged in illicit trafficking of drugs, weapons, commodities, wildlife and persons that earn them $358 bn a year in revenue,” he said.

Whiting emphasized that space-based capabilities underpin the global economy, infrastructure and security, noting sectors such as farming, banking, communications and weather forecasting rely on space technology. While many nations understand the vital importance of the space domain, there are countries undermining the collective progress of humanity in space. Whiting detailed China’s irresponsible creation of space debris and its lack of transparency in sharing launch information, endangering satellites and astronauts, while also highlighting concerns about its operations within host nations to support military space activities. He further raised concerns about Russia’s reported plans to violate the Outer Space Treaty with a nuclear-capable satellite, a development he deemed “unjustifiable irresponsibility” posing an indiscriminate threat to all satellites.

He said China and Russia are seeking to establish space operation facilities in the Americas, likely including counterspace operations.

“Both nations are fielding a wide range of related weapons from reversible, nonkinetic systems like satellite communications jamming, GPS jamming and cyberattacks to direct ascent antisatellite missiles and co-orbital antisatellite weapons, putting friendly satellites at risk,” he said.

Given this threat environment, Spacecom views partnerships and alliances as essential for enhancing space security and responding to emerging threats.

“We need capable partners who are willing to increase their capacity to effectively contribute to the team,” Whiting said. “A partnered approach to enhance space security through sharing expertise, burden sharing and coordinated rapid, effective responses to emerging threats — leaving no doubt to our opponents that we are stronger, more capable and always ready to counter any threat.” (Source: U.S. DoD)

26 Aug 25. Elbit Systems Ltd. announce the successful launch of its advanced JUPITER space camera aboard the National Advanced Optical System (NAOS) satellite, supporting a wide span of earth Observation missions, including military operations, environmental monitoring and scientific research. The NAOS satellite, manufactured by OHB Italia S.p.A., was launched on August 26th from Vandenberg Space Force Base, California, USA, aboard a Falcon 9 rocket operated by SpaceX. Developed by Elbit Systems ISTAR & EW – ELOP, JUPITER is one of the world’s most advanced space cameras, featuring a very large aperture and an exceptionally lightweight design. The camera is multispectral, offering a combination of imaging channels:

A high-resolution panchromatic channel (black and white), which captures fine spatial details across the full visible spectrum.
RGB channels (red, green, blue) for true-color imaging.
A NIR channel (Near-Infrared), which enables analysis of vegetation health, water content, and material properties.

These channels are provided at an exceptional resolution ratio, ideal for advanced image fusion and analysis. JUPITER is capable of capturing continuous long image strips with a swath, allowing efficient coverage of large geographic areas in a single orbital overpass. The data generated by the JUPITER camera is designed for seamless integration with both onboard systems and ground station analytics platforms. Its compatibility with advanced image processing and AI engines enables the extraction of actionable insights, supporting informed decision-making across a wide range of applications. In addition to the camera, Elbit Systems developed and supplied advanced algorithms to support the ground segment of the NAOS mission, enhancing image analysis capabilities. This achievement is the result of a close collaboration between OHB Italia and Elbit Systems, combining satellite engineering excellence with top-tier imaging technology to deliver one of the highest-performing spaceborne optical systems in the world.

25 Aug 25. York Space Systems (York), a defense technology company transforming how the United States builds and operates space-based capabilities, today announced the completion and shipment of its final spacecraft to the launch site for the upcoming Tranche 1 Transport Layer launch. A total of 21 York-built satellites—comprising the full payload of the launch vehicle—will lift off by the end of this summer, marking the on-orbit debut of the first generation of the Space Development Agency’s (SDA) Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture (PWSA) directly supporting warfighters in the field. This launch marks the operational beginning of a new era in national security space. All 21 spacecraft were manufactured and delivered at scale from York’s production facilities, underscoring the company’s ability to produce highly capable national security satellites with speed, precision, and consistency. This milestone demonstrates the transition from bespoke legacy architectures to a scalable industrial model designed to meet modern threats head-on.

“This launch marks the operational beginning of a new era in national security space, one defined by responsiveness, capacity, and real-world performance,” said Melanie Preisser, VP and GM of York. “York is proud to be the first to deliver and launch spacecraft for Tranche 1, helping bring SDA’s vision to life with highly capable systems built at unmatched production rates. This is how the future of military space gets fielded.”

The Tranche 1 mission represents a historic pivot from experimentation to enduring capability. SDA’s low-Earth orbit constellation is designed to provide secure, resilient communications and data transport for U.S. and allied warfighters, at a fraction of the cost and time of traditional defense prime contractors.

“Our satellites are built, delivered, and ready for launch, now all that’s left is integration with the rocket,” added Preisser. “Once deployed, these systems will provide on-orbit Link 16 connectivity to the warfighter.”

This launch builds on a year of rapid and measurable progress for York. In the past few months alone, the company successfully launched its Dragoon mission and then followed just weeks later with the BARD mission, demonstrating next-generation communications capabilities for NASA. With Tranche 1, York continues to accelerate the timeline from customer request to delivery on orbit, demonstrating what can be accomplished when speed and capability are demanded by the government customer and built into the very foundation of the performing prime. York’s proven ability to deliver highly capable spacecraft at scale and on compressed timelines positions the company as a leading contender to serve as an integrated prime provider for the U.S. Space Force’s defense programs. With a demonstrated track record in mass production, rapid deployment, and seamless integration of space and ground systems, York offers the scale, technical depth, and operational readiness needed to execute on the program’s ambitious vision for a fully integrated, resilient national security space architecture.

About York Space Systems

York Space Systems is a defense technology company transforming how the United States builds and operates space-based capabilities. As the leading provider of proliferated warfighter space solutions, York routinely delivers fully integrated, mission-ready systems, combining high-performance spacecraft, software-defined operations, and ground-based autonomy, at unmatched speed and value.

With a foundation in high-rate manufacturing and systems-level integration, York is driving the convergence of hardware, software, and mission autonomy to redefine how the U.S. executes national defense from space. By enabling real-time intelligence and resilient, scalable infrastructure, York empowers a smarter, faster, and more adaptive defense posture. Learn more at http://www.YorkSpaceSystems.com. (Source: BUSINESS WIRE)

22 Aug 25. Boeing-built X-37B spaceplane successfully launches. The vehicle is on its 8th mission where it will be testing technologies for U.S. government partners. The Boeing-built X-37B lifted off from Kennedy Space Center in Florida aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 at 11:50 p.m. Eastern time on Aug. 21. On this latest mission — its 8th — the spaceplane is hosting a service module to expand its capacity to carry experiments. Why it matters: Boeing team members design, build and operate the returnable space vehicle. Reusability allows the X-37B to fly, improve and repeat, shortening the time from concept to dependable capability for the U.S. Space Force.

“Our role is to make sure the spaceplane is the most reliable testbed it can be,” said Michelle Parker, vice president of Boeing Space Mission Systems. “None of this happens without teamwork. Launch is the starting line for this mission, but the work that follows — the quiet, methodical work on orbit, analysis, and eventual return is where progress is earned.”

Catch up quick: The X-37B completed its seventh mission on March 7, 2025, landing at Vandenberg Space Force Base, California. Less than six months later, the vehicle is back in space.

Over seven missions it has logged more than 4,200 days in space and proved capabilities.

“Having a returnable space platform allows us to learn faster,” said Col. Brian Chatman, installation commander for Space Launch Delta 45. “The data we gather from the X-37B speeds decisions, hardens our architectures, and helps Guardians stay connected and on course even in contested environments. This is how we move from promising ideas to fieldable capability at pace.”

What’s next: The orbital test vehicle is hosting multiple experiments for government partners, including:

A laser communications demo: Data transfers through proliferated satellite relays using infrared light, enabling more secure transmission of larger information quantities.
A quantum inertial sensor: A high-performance sensor that measures motion with extreme precision to support navigation when GPS isn’t available, relevant for missions where GPS is denied and cis-lunar navigation. After the X-37B lands, the team will inspect hardware to feed improvements into the next flight.

24 Aug 25. Rocket Lab’s Electron’s 70th mission sends “Live, Laugh, Launch,” soaring. Rocket Lab Corporation (Nasdaq: RKLB), a provider in launch services and space systems, successfully launched its 70th Electron mission, solidifying the Company as a global leader in responsive launch services and Electron as the world’s most frequently launched small orbital rocket. Photo captured by Satnewes. The ‘Live, Laugh, Launch’ mission lifted-off from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1 in Mahia, New Zealand on August 23 at 22:42 UTC, less than three weeks after Electron’s previous successful launch from the same site.

Rocket Lab Founder and CEO, Sir Peter Beck, says: “Reaching our 70th launch is a powerful moment for Rocket Lab, and what’s even more remarkable is the pace at which we are achieving these milestones. This mission is the latest testament to the responsiveness and operational maturity of Electron and the entire Rocket Lab team.”

‘Live, Laugh, Launch’ was Electron’s 12th mission of 2025 as Rocket Lab continues to execute an accelerated schedule of Electron launches, including a record-setting prior quarter of two launches flown just two days apart from Launch Complex 1 in late June. The majority of Electron missions launched this year, including today’s mission, have been the continuation of multi-launch contracts with satellite operators to deploy their constellation in low Earth orbit — demonstrating the industry’s reliance on Electron for reliable, dedicated access to space for small satellites, all while the Company continues preparing to debut its new medium-lift reusable rocket, Neutron.

Rocket Lab to launch “Live, Laugh, Launch,” on Saturday

Rocket Lab Corporation (Nasdaq: RKLB) a global provider of launch services and space systems, is scheduled to launch its next dedicated mission on Electron this weekend. The mission is scheduled to lift off less than three weeks after Electron’s previous mission and marks the Company’s 70th Electron launch to date.

Named “Live, Laugh, Launch,” the mission is scheduled for launch from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1 in New Zealand no earlier than August 23, 2025 UTC to deploy five satellites to a 655km circular Earth orbit for a confidential commercial customer.

This latest mission on Electron’s 2025 launch manifest underscores its ability to provide responsive space access for small satellite customers with a range of mission requirements. As the world’s most frequently launched small-lift orbital rocket, Electron continues to break its own launch cadence records that set the precedent for repeatable, reliable space access globally.

Rocket Lab’s 70th Electron mission comes just days before the highly-anticipated official opening of its new launch site, Launch Complex 3, for its upcoming Neutron rocket — a medium-lift, reusable rocket that will launch from Wallops Island, Virginia. The Company continues to execute a busy schedule of Electron launches while preparing to debut Neutron. (Source: Satnews)

21 Aug 25. SpaceX sends USSF-37 mission X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle soaring from the Cape on Thursday. SpaceX’s Falcon 9 on Thursday, August 21 at 11:50 p.m. ET launched the USSF-36 mission to orbit from Launch Complex 39A (LC-39A) at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Photos captured by Satnews.

“OTV-8 exemplifies the X-37B’s status as the U.S. Space Force’s premier test platform for the critical space technologies of tomorrow. Through its mission-focused innovation, the X-37B continues to redefine the art of the possible in the final frontier of space,” said AFRCO Acting Director William Blauser.

The eighth mission of the X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle will launch on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, designated USSF-36, with a wide range of test and experimentation objectives. These will include demonstrations of high-bandwidth inter-satellite laser communications technologies and enhanced space navigation using the highest performing quantum inertial sensor in space and the highest performing strategic grade quantum inertial sensor ever tested in space.

This will be the sixth flight for the first stage booster supporting this mission, which previously launched NROL-69, CRS-32, GPS III-7, and two Starlink missions. Following stage separation, the first stage will land on SpaceX’s Landing Zone 2 (LZ-2) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. USSF-36 is the eighth launch of the X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle (OTV-8) and third Falcon launch of the spacecraft, after SpaceX previously launched OTV-5 and OTV-7 (USSF-52). The OTV-8 mission in Low Earth Orbit includes operational demonstrations and experiments of next-generation technologies, including laser communications and the highest performing strategic grade quantum inertial sensor ever tested in space. Mission partners include the Air Force Research Lab and the Defense Innovation Unit, respectively. (Source: Satnews)

18 Aug 25. SpaceX launches 24 smallsats of Starlink Group 17-5 on Monday from sunny California. On Monday, August 18 at 9:26 a.m. PT, Falcon 9 launched 24 Starlink smallsats to low-Earth orbit to join the Starlink constellation from Space Launch Complex 4 East (SLC-4E) at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. Starlink megaconstellation has more than 8,100 active units, and totals over 9,400 Starlink satellites that have been launched since 2018. This was the 100th Falcon 9 flight of 2025. It was SpaceX’s 103rd mission overall for the year, including three suborbital test flights of Starship, the rocket that will eventually transport humans to the Moon and Mars. This was the ninth flight for the first stage booster supporting this mission, which previously launched NROL-126, Transporter-12, SPHEREx, NROL-57 and now five Starlink missions. Following stage separation, the first stage landed on the Of Course I Still Love You droneship, which was stationed in the Pacific Ocean. Trent Arant has chosen a unique lifestyle that involves traveling across the U.S. while gaming and live streaming from his converted camper van. On Monday, August 18, SpaceX’s Falcon 9 is scheduled to launch Starlink Group 17-5 at 8:44 AM – 12:44 PM PDT from Space Launch Complex 4E, Vandenberg, SFB, California, into low Earth orbit. The 24 smallsats will join the Starlink constellatiion to provide internet to the world. This site has witnessed the launch of 208 rockets, including 208 orbital launch attempts. While Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA, has been the site for 822 rocket launches. This will be the ninth flight for the first stage booster supporting this mission, which previously launched NROL-126, Transporter-12, SPHEREx, NROL-57 and four Starlink missions. Following stage separation, the first stage will land on the Of Course I Still Love You droneship, which will be stationed in the Pacific Ocean. There is the possibility that residents of Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, and Ventura counties may hear one or more sonic booms during the launch, but what residents experience will depend on weather and other conditions. (Source: Satnews)

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20 Aug 25. Australia and New Zealand Expand SouthPAN Program with Viasat through $252m AUD Award for Additional Satellite Services. Geoscience Australia and Toitu Te Whenua Land Information New Zealand have expanded the agreement with Viasat for the world class satellite-based augmentation system, SouthPAN. Viasat, Inc. (NASDAQ: VSAT), a global leader in satellite communications, today announced a $252 m AUD award from Geoscience Australia (GA) and Toitu Te Whenua Land Information New Zealand (LINZ) to deliver additional satellite services for the region’s world-class Southern Positioning Augmentation Network (SouthPAN). This expands on a previous SouthPAN award for the company and the estimated net incremental value for Viasat from this agreement is $214m AUD. SouthPAN is a collaborative satellite-based augmentation system developed jointly by Australia and New Zealand. It provides precise positioning and navigation services to support a number of sectors, including aviation, maritime, agriculture, surveying and emergency response. SouthPAN serves growing end market use cases, including in agriculture to increase productivity through applications like precision spraying, yield mapping, controlled traffic farming, inter-row seeding and livestock management. It is also capable of improving personnel safety on mine and construction sites through smart geo-fencing technologies to accurately identify the location of workers operating vehicles and heavy machinery. This marks the second such award for the company, after Inmarsat – which has since combined with Viasat – was awarded a contract in May 2023 to deliver a satellite payload for SouthPAN. The new agreement, which amends the previous award and comes under Viasat’s Communication Services segment, covers the continuation of services from Viasat’s existing in-orbit satellites as well as a new payload, marking a significant extension of Viasat’s partnership with both Governments.

“This agreement secures a reliable satellite service and ground infrastructure, delivering precise positioning across Australia and its maritime zones – enabling industries to innovate where accuracy is critical,” said Geoscience Australia’s Chief Executive Officer, Melissa Harris. “From farms to freight, users will be able to access free services that are accurate and timely.”

Todd McDonell, President, Viasat International Government, said: “Viasat is thrilled to expand its support for SouthPAN and enable improved positioning and navigation services across Australia and New Zealand. SouthPAN represents extraordinary potential for the region: It can save lives by enabling precision safety tracking, help farmers improve productivity through automated device tracking, and even support transport management systems of the future.

“We have a long history providing advanced PNT and safety services across the world, so we are of course excited to be expanding this work and collaboration with GA and LINZ.”

SouthPAN is delivered by Geoscience Australia in partnership with Toitu Te Whenua Land Information New Zealand, with early services available to both countries since 2022. (Source: ASD Network)

18 Aug 25. UK space sector bolstered with government reforms to boost growth and cut red tape. UK Space Agency to join the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology by April 2026, helping to streamline support for the UK’s growing space industry.

UK Space Agency to join the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology by April 2026, helping to streamline support for the UK’s growing space industry.
Move is part of the government’s Plan for Change to cut red tape and make Whitehall more agile and efficient.
Over 60 new industry-led recommendations published today show how smarter regulation can unlock major opportunities – from tackling space junk to building and repairing satellites in orbit.

People and businesses across the UK will benefit from new changes that will see the UK Space Agency become part of the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) – cutting duplication, reducing bureaucracy, and putting public accountability at the heart of decision-making. In a major step to boost support for the UK’s space sector, the change will bring together the people who shape space policy and those who deliver it. This will cut any duplication that exists and ensure decisions are made with clear ministerial oversight. Taking place by April 2026, the new unit will keep the UK Space Agency (UKSA) name and brand and will be staffed by experts from both organisations. This will drive up efficiency in line with the government’s Plan for Change, cutting red tape and making Whitehall more agile. Today also sees the publication of over 60 recommendations from industry leaders on how to improve regulation for space missions, including Rendezvous and Proximity Operations (RPO) – where spacecraft work together in orbit. These missions are key to unlocking a future market worth £2.7bn by 2031 (according to the UKspace IOSM Priorities Paper), and the UK is well placed to lead the way. It is a prime example of the joined-up working that will benefit from the merge of UKSA into DSIT. With the right support, UK space firms could capture a quarter of the global market for in-orbit servicing, assembly and manufacturing. This will help to clean up space, extend the life of satellites, and build new infrastructure above Earth. Every Arms Length Body across government is being reviewed with a view to rooting out unnecessary bureaucracy and duplication, and to put public accountability first. Ministers have already announced that NHS England, the largest quango in the world, will be abolished as part of this process.

Space Minister Sir Chris Bryant said: “You don’t need to be a rocket scientist to see the importance of space to the British economy. This is a sector that pulls investment into the UK, and supports tens of thousands of skilled jobs right across the country, while nearly a fifth of our GDP is dependent on satellites. The aims for growth and security at the heart of our Plan for Change can’t be met without a vibrant space sector. Bringing things in house means we can bring much greater integration and focus to everything we are doing while maintaining the scientific expertise and the immense ambition of the sector.”

UK Space Agency CEO Dr Paul Bate said: “I strongly welcome this improved approach to achieving the government’s space ambitions. Having a single unit with a golden thread through strategy, policy and delivery will make it faster and easier to translate the nation’s space goals into reality. In coming together, the UK Space Agency and space policy colleagues are building on the firm foundations of economic growth and capability development laid in recent years, including cutting-edge missions, major national programmes, and the regulations that enable UK launch and leadership in space sustainability. We will continue to deliver, while reducing duplication and ensuring we work even more closely with Ministers to support the UK space sector, and the country.”

The UK Space Agency was founded in 2010 and currently operates as an executive agency of DSIT. It catalysed investment and revenue of at least £2.2bn for the UK space sector in 2024/2025. DSIT and the Agency will continue to work closely together over the coming months to support the UK space sector and ensure a smooth transition to the new arrangements. Further practical details on the merger will be announced in due course. This RPO Sandbox report has been delivered by 3 firms with leading expertise in the field: Astroscale, ClearSpace and D-Orbit, working in collaboration with the Civil Aviation Authority, the UK Space Agency and DSIT. Publishing the Stage 1 Report on the Regulatory Sandbox for Rendezvous and Proximity Operations (RPO) delivers a key recommendation from the Space Regulatory Review and further demonstrates the strength of the sandbox model to support wider innovation, taking advantage of these safe spaces for establishing ‘what works’ for regulating cutting-edge new technologies. By tackling bottlenecks and uncertainties that UK firms in this field and beyond currently face, and ensuring regulation keeps up with the fast pace of innovation in this area, we will help encourage investment in nascent space activities like space junk removal, in-orbit refuelling and repair services that are expected to be highly lucrative in the decades ahead. By stress-testing the regulatory framework for novel space missions, the report’s recommendations provide important clarity for the UK’s space industry, their clients and investors, which ultimately encourages the growth of and investment in British space businesses working on RPO missions. This work is supported by the Regulatory Innovation Office’s (RIO) mission to reform regulation across emerging technologies. Delivery on these recommendations is already underway, as is Stage 2 of the Sandbox, which will examine issues unique to RPO missions in greater detail. The Stage 1 report sets a model for future sandboxes to follow. Its findings will support the delivery of the UK’s first ever active debris removal mission, planned to launch by 2028 to prove the tech needed to safely remove defunct satellites from orbit. This is technology that will protect the safe, secure and sustainable access to space upon which the UK’s economy and national security depend.

Nick Shave, Managing Director, Astroscale UK: “Astroscale UK is proud to have jointly led the industry delivery of Stage 1 of the RPO Regulatory Sandbox. Rendezvous and Proximity Operations are the foundation of all in-orbit servicing, from life-extension and refuelling to active debris removal – and with the right regulatory framework, the UK can be a global leader in this transformative sector. The recommendations in this report tackle the real bottlenecks industry faces today, providing clarity, proportionality and the confidence investors need. We look forward to working with government, regulators, and our fellow innovators to turn these proposals into action, ensuring the UK captures the economic and sustainability opportunities of a truly serviceable space sector.”

Rory Holmes, ClearSpace COO and UK Managing Director, said: “Together with partners, ClearSpace has been at the forefront of delivering Stage 1 of the RPO Regulatory Sandbox, an important step towards a safe, sustainable, and commercially dynamic space sector. This stage has been pivotal in fostering collaboration between government, regulators, insurers, and operators, enabling stakeholders to address knowledge gaps and reduce uncertainty around licensing in-orbit servicing missions in the UK. Through the RPO Operators Consortium, we have contributed to comprehensive recommendations on safety, sustainability, security, and liability measures to strengthen the UK’s regulatory framework and benefit all satellite operators. By establishing a clear, transparent, proportionate, and predictable approach, these proposals position the UK to become a global leader in this strategically vital domain. We remain committed to turning this framework into action, supporting its implementation, and advancing the vision of secure, resilient, and sustainable space operations.”

D-Orbit’s UK Legal Counsel, Lauren Payne, said: “Stage 1 successfully highlighted a range of challenges associated with the licensing of RPO missions under the current regulatory framework, allowing key stakeholders in licensing to work through these real-life challenges in a focussed, neutral forum. For Stage 2 we will build on the work in Stage 1 and zero in on implementation, where we hope to translate these issues into a better regulatory environment for RPO operators, customers, and regulators.

Colin Macleod, Head of the Space Regulator at the UK Civil Aviation Authority, said:

The regulatory sandbox on RPO allows us to work with industry and government on cutting edge ideas in a fast-paced, collaborative and safe environment. RPO is vital for sustainable space but operating satellites at thousands of miles per hour in close proximity brings big challenges. Getting this right unlocks new ways of operating in space, helping the UK space sector grow while operating safely and responsibly.”

There are no immediate changes to UK Space Agency grants or contracts, and businesses and researchers currently working with the UK Space Agency do not need to take any action. The Stage 1 Report of the Regulatory Sandbox for Rendezvous and Proximity Operations (RPO) has been funded by DSIT and developed in collaboration with the sector, the Civil Aviation Authority, and the UK Space Agency. While government bodies were actively involved in the process, the recommendations and problem statements are independent and originate from the sector – they do not represent government policy. DSIT is committing to explore the recommendations further as part of ongoing regulatory reform efforts. Publishing this report fulfils a recommendation from the Space Regulatory Review; and its delivery is supported by the Regulatory Innovation Office (RIO), whose mission is to unlock innovation by removing regulatory barriers to emerging technologies reaching the market. The Regulatory Innovation Office is an office within DSIT established to drive reforms to the regulatory system that will support the rapid introduction of our most impactful technologies. (Source: https://www.gov.uk/)

19 Aug 25. AstroAgency Expansion Continues with New Partnerships and U.S. Showcase. A strategic communications and market intelligence firm dedicated to the commercial space industry is accelerating its expansion into North America, formalising two new transatlantic partnerships. UK-headquartered AstroAgency has signed two Memorandums of Understanding (MOU) with Voyager Technologies and Cislunar International, kicking off a six-month push to grow the firm’s connections and clients across the United States and Canada. The first MOU will see AstroAgency and Voyager Technologies collaborate across several fronts, including European and U.S. stakeholder engagement, strategic marketing support, and the development of VISTA, a new science park initiative. AstroAgency is anticipated to establish a North American office at VISTA as the development progresses.

“AstroAgency’s establishment at VISTA is a reflection of our shared belief that in-space research starts with collaboration here on Earth,” said Jeffrey Manber, president, International & Space Stations, Voyager Technologies. “Our science park lays the foundation for a truly international ecosystem, one that accelerates discovery, fosters innovation and ensures space can benefit all of humanity.”A second MOU was signed with Cislunar International, a growing company with bases in Washington and Texas, focused on tailored support for aerospace businesses. The agreement builds on a long-standing relationship with Cislunar co-founder Sam Peterson, who has served as an advisor to AstroAgency since 2023. The partnership will see both firms work together to strengthen services for their international client bases.

The new partnerships followed AstroAgency’s participation in last week’s Small Satellite Conference in Salt Lake City, Utah, where company Director Daria Filichkina featured on stage in a panel discussion alongside representatives from the United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Astroscale and the Secure World Foundation.

“We’re excited to deepen our North American partnerships and bring our experience in delivering bold, impactful campaigns and strategic guidance to companies across the United States and Canada,” said Daniel Smith, CEO of AstroAgency. “After six years of pioneering this niche service, backed by more than 100 project case studies, SmallSat offered the perfect launchpad for our next chapter.”

AstroAgency’s trip to Utah part of a space delegation led by Scottish Development International, while the Voyager signing in Colorado was attended by representatives of the UK Department for Business and Trade. The activity reflects the company’s continued focus on international collaboration, sustainability in space and stakeholder engagement; values demonstrated through AstroAgency’s collaborations with the UK Space Agency, European Space Agency, Committee on Earth Observation Satellites, United Nations, Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre, and the Australian and Scottish Governments. Established as the first full-service marketing agency for space in 2019, the company previously delivered projects in North America for clients that include NovaSpace, PCI Geomatics, the Secure World Foundation, Asterra, TerraMetric and, more recently, the firm secured its first collaboration with NASA. Last week’s developments reflect a strategic commitment to the region as a priority for long-term growth, with Canadian talent already among the company’s expanding international team. New resources and senior leadership focus are being invested to strengthen relationships and increase AstroAgency’s presence locally. To date, the firm has supported over 80 organisations worldwide, from government space agencies to commercial satellite manufacturers, launch providers, and Earth observation companies, with clients including Spire Global, CATALYST, and Hydrosat. Most recently, AstroAgency welcomed its first Japanese client, Axelspace, following a successful trade mission to Japan. With the United States the most mature space economy in the world and Canada’s sector growing at pace, AstroAgency sees this North American expansion as a natural step in its global mission in transforming how people understand space; not as a distant ambition, but as a vital enabler of economic growth, environmental resilience and daily life on Earth.

18 Aug 25. Firefly Aerospace eyes Alpha rocket launch in Japan for Asia market. Firefly Aerospace (FLY.O)is exploring an option to launch its Alpha rocket from Japan as the U.S. rocket maker expands its satellite launch services globally, a Japanese company operating a spaceport in the country’s northern Hokkaido said on Monday. The plan could make Japan the second offshore launch site – and first in Asia – for Firefly, the Texas-based rival to Elon Musk’s market leader SpaceX, which had its Nasdaq debut earlier this month and is preparing for an Alpha launch in Sweden. Space Cotan, operator of the Hokkaido Spaceport located about 820 km (510 mi) northeast of Tokyo, said it and Firefly signed a preliminary agreement to study the feasibility of launching the small-lift rocket Alpha from there. (Source: Reuters)

12 Aug 25. ULA, GO Vulcan! GO Centaur! GO USSF-106! and they did! ULA’s recap: The United launch Alliance rocket departed Space Launch Complex-41 on Tuesday night at 8:56 p.m. EDT. The GEM 63XL solid rocket boosters burned for approximately 90 seconds and then separated, The methane-fueled first stage performed for five minutes before separating to allow the Centaur V to take over. Photos captured by Satnews. The 10-hour countdown started at 10:09 a.m. EDT under the guidance of ULA Launch Conductor Scott Barney. The pad crew completed final preps at the complex and then cleared the area for fueling. The “go” for cryogenic tanking was given by ULA Launch Director James Whelan. Tanking operations were successfully performed as a m pounds of cryogenic propellants were placed into the rocket. The clear to launch was given at 8:47 p.m. EDT by Space Force Mission Director Col. Jim Horne of Space Systems Command. The USSF-106 payloads feature demonstrations and experiments from Department of Defense customers, including the Navigation Technology Satellite-3 (NTS-3). The Air Force Research Laboratory’s NTS-3 is the military’s first experimental navigation satellite system in nearly 50 years. NTS-3 delivers enhanced GPS capabilities to the warfighter at faster speeds and lower cost and paves the way for a more robust, resilient and responsive architecture for satellite navigation technology. NTS-3 will be the Department of Defense’s first experimental navigation satellite system in nearly 50 years. It builds on the legacy of NTS-1 and NTS-2, which were launched by ULA-heritage Atlas rockets in the 1970s and paved the way for today’s space-based PNT technology through the Global Positioning System (GPS). Designed, developed, and integrated by L3Harris Technologies, NTS-3 will provide an on-orbit demonstration of game-changing technologies and techniques, preparing the way for a new generation of GPS receivers. (Source: Satnews)

11 Aug 25. SpaceX delivers for Amazon, with launch of Project Kuiper’s smallsat KF-02 Mission. After the fourth delay due to weather, on Monday, August 11 at 8:35 a.m. ET, Falcon 9 launched the KF-02 mission to orbit from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. This is the second of a three launches contract for Amazon’s Kuiper low Earth orbit satellite internet constellation. 24 small satellites are on board. This was the first flight for the Falcon 9 first stage booster supporting this mission. After stage separation, the first stage landed on the A Shortfall of Gravitas droneship, which was stationed in the Atlantic Ocean. SpaceX is targeting Monday, August 11 for a Falcon 9 launch of the KF-02 mission to orbit from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. The 27-minute window opens at 8:35 a.m. ET. This is the fourth delay due to weather of SpaceX’s Falcon 9 launch for Amazon’s Project Kuiper satellites. According to weather officials, there’s a 75% chance of favorable weather conditions at the time of the launch. Officials are monitoring weather conditions with concerns related to Cumulus Cloud Rule, Anvil Rules. The forecast calls for a temperature of 82°F, scattered clouds, 37% cloud cover and a wind speed of 10mph. A live webcast of this mission will begin about 15 minutes prior to liftoff, which you can watch on X @SpaceX. You can also watch the webcast on the new X TV app. This will be the first flight for the Falcon 9 first stage booster supporting this mission. After stage separation, the first stage will land on the A Shortfall of Gravitas droneship, which will be stationed in the Atlantic Ocean. (Source: Satnews)

13 Aug 25. U.S. Space Force’s L3Harris-built NTS-3 satellite successfully launches. The L3Harris-built (NYSE: LHX) advanced Navigation Technology Satellite-3 (NTS-3) has successfully launched from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on a United Launch Alliance (ULA) Vulcan rocket. NTS-3 is the Department of Defense’s first experimental navigation satellite system in nearly 50 years. It is also the first fully reprogrammable Positioning, Navigation and Timing (PNT) satellite that will provide warfighters with responsive and flexible capability to ensure mission success.

“The need for accurate and uninterrupted PNT has never been more essential to our warfighters who operate in GPS-denied environments,” said Ed Zoiss, President, Space and Airborne Systems, L3Harris. “The successful launch of the NTS-3 system is the first step in updating 20th century technology to help address current threats to our national security.”

The L3Harris-built Navigation Technology Satellite-3 (NTS-3) satellite launched on a United Launch Alliance Vulcan rocket Aug. 12 from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. NTS-3 will be used for a variety of experiments to include testing on-orbit, next-generation technologies that assist warfighters in contested environments. L3Harris delivered NTS-3 three times faster and at lower cost than similar programs by leveraging industry standard form factors and interfaces. NTS-3 is also smaller and lighter than traditional PNT satellites and will operate at a higher altitude. Once on-orbit, the satellite will perform experiments to shape the future of U.S. space-based PNT capabilities. NTS-3’s payload technology is modular, scalable and can be configured to fly on different satellite buses. This technology will be instrumental in achieving future affordability goals and mission timelines. L3Harris propulsion and spaceflight avionics on the ULA Vulcan rocket were critical to delivering NTS-3 to a precise orbit. The rocket used two L3Harris RL10 engines, providing a combined total thrust of nearly 48,000 pounds. The rocket also used 12 MR-107 thrusters to help steer the upper stage and helium tanks that are essential to the rocket’s operation. Key company spaceflight avionics include controllers, data acquisition units, and the T-740U Transmitter, which are crucial for vehicle control and data relay during launch.US Space Force Successfully Launches L3Harris-Built NTS-3 Satellite. (Source: Satnews)

11 Aug 25. EchoStar needs to act swiftly on launch plans. Charlie Ergen’s EchoStar has signed a $1.3bn (€1.1bn) initial contract with Canada-based MDA Space to build 100 or so low Earth orbiting ‘MDA Aurora’ satellites for its proposed global Direct-to-Device scheme, addressing a potential “350 m Americans” and “more than 7 bn additional people globally”. EchoStar says the total cost of its initial constellation of 200 satellites is estimated at some $5 bn. But the overall scheme could extend to “thousands of satellites” says the operator. EchoStar will use its S-band/2 GHz spectrum rights (although there may be problems with European access to spectrum). But there are other significant costs, not least securing launch capability from only a small portfolio of potential rocket builders, many of which are fully booked for years to come. While the industry expects more hard news to emerge in September at the Paris World Satellite Business Week event, Ergen needs to act sooner than later. For example, a launch of eight satellites for Globalstar – with Apple’s backing – should have happened in the first-half of this year, and has yet to happen and is not expected until Q4. There’s a squabble between Apple, MDA (which is building the satellites) and RocketLab which is building the satellite’s core bus. Globalstar has cautioned that “important factors that may cause our actual results to differ materially from those anticipated” within its 10-Q, the risk of the “delay of the completion or launch of new satellites”. Ergen’s D2D scheme should start being ready for launch in batches starting in 2028, which could mean good news for the Jeff Bezos-backed Blue Origin rocket business and its New Glenn rocket. Reportedly Bezos has no room in his launch manifest until H2 of 2026. There’s always SpaceX, of course, but there’s not much love between Ergen and SpaceX’s Elon Musk who are battling over 2 GHz spectrum rights. The problem for EchoStar is that the launch business isn’t getting any easier given there’s a very active queue of would-be satellite deployments, and not much in the way of cargo space. (Source: Satnews)

Founded in 2017, MatrixSpace is creating the next generation of artificial intelligence enabled sensing solutions to digitize the outdoors beyond the limits of human perception.

The MatrixSpace expeditionary radar kit fits in a standard daypack and contains everything needed to deliver actionable detections to an ATAK mobile device in less than 5 mins.

Visit maxtrixspace.com

SATELLITE SYSTEMS, SATCOM AND SPACE SYSTEMS UPDATE

August 15, 2025 by

Sponsored by MatrixSpace

http://matrixspace.com

12 Aug 25. ICEYE, the global leader in Synthetic Aperture Radar 12 (SAR) satellite operations, announces the launch of its newest imaging mode, Scan Wide. This latest addition to ICEYE’s suite of SAR (Synthetic Aperture Radar) imaging products offers customers the largest scene size available in its portfolio to date: with Scan Wide, customers can now image an area of 60,000 km² with a single scene. Scan Wide also supports multi-frame tasking, enabling customers to capture 120,000 km² in a single acquisition. This large scene size is particularly useful for maritime applications such as dark vessel search and oil spill monitoring. Scan Wide extends ICEYE’s uniquely differentiated imaging capabilities, enabled by its phased array imaging technology. ICEYE is the only NewSpace company providing a comprehensive range of imaging modes, from 25 cm resolution Dwell and Spot modes with a 5 km x 5 km footprint to the 27 m resolution Scan Wide mode with a 200 km x 300 km footprint, with multiple resolution and scene size combinations between these extremes. With ICEYE’s rich product capabilities, customers can use Scan Wide to conduct large-area intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR). For instance, Scan Wide can help analysts identify suspicious activity like illicit ship-to-ship transshipment or vessels that have disabled their Automatic Identification Systems (AIS) to mask illegal activity. Once these threats are identified with Scan Wide, users can deploy ICEYE’s 25 cm and 50 cm modes like Dwell Precise and Spot Fine to better characterize the activity. Beyond defense applications, the Scan Wide footprint and resolution are well-suited for applications such as oil spill detection and monitoring. Scan Wide is supported on all satellites in the rapidly-growing ICEYE fleet. The combination of ICEYE’s proliferated constellation and diverse imaging modes is unequaled in the industry.

“By adding Scan Wide to our imaging portfolio, we enable users to ‘zoom out’ to search wide areas, and then ‘zoom in’ for high-resolution collections of targets of interest, tipping and cueing all within the same, seamless user experience,” said John Cartwright, ICEYE’s SVP of Product for Data. “ICEYE is unique among operators of its class in this extraordinary flexibility. We will continue to take advantage of our satellite technology to innovate new products that help our customers answer questions faster and more reliably, providing a powerful information advantage.”

ICEYE owns and operates the world’s largest SAR satellite constellation, delivering unlimited global access and the highest frequency revisits on the market. ICEYE SAR satellites provide 25 cm ground resolution, enabling accurate object detection and situational awareness in all weather and light conditions. To date, ICEYE has launched 54 SAR satellites into orbit for ICEYE’s and its customers’ use. The release of the Scan Wide product demonstrates ICEYE’s ongoing leadership in expanding the frontier of imaging capabilities for NewSpace missions.

13 Aug 25. Rohde & Schwarz has taken a significant step forward in satellite testing technology by delivering a fully customized solution to the TASA. For the first time, Rohde & Schwarz integrated EMC and antenna measurement capabilities into a single test chamber, addressing a complex challenge in satellite payload testing. The innovative system, now operational at TASA’s facility, reflects the growing need for advanced satellite testing methodologies. With the increasing adoption of Non-Terrestrial Network (NTN) technologies, precise validation of satellite performance in complex environments is becoming essential. This includes ensuring seamless integration between satellites and cellular base stations — an area where conventional testing methods often fall short. The project’s complexity stemmed from TASA’s dual testing requirement: a single chamber capable of performing both EMC and antenna measurements. To meet this demand, Rohde & Schwarz’s solution includes a R&S ZNA43 vector network analyzer, R&S AMS32 customized measurement software, and engineering services. The system also incorporated a Compact Antenna Test Range (CATR) reflector, developed in partnership with a Taiwan third-party supplier. A key innovation in the project was the introduction of a patented diamond-shaped reflector design. This reflector minimizes interference within the chamber and reduces interactions between the reflector, feed, and Device Under Test (DUT) positioner. The result is improved accuracy and reliability in measuring complex satellite payloads. For Rohde & Schwarz, this project reinforced its expertise in integrating third-party components. The collaboration between a third-party supplier and TASA highlights the company’s adaptability in addressing specialized customer requirements while maintaining high standards of performance and reliability. As satellite-based connectivity becomes more integral to global communications, the industry faces rising expectations for robust and reliable testing processes. Satellites play a critical role in ensuring seamless communication across a wide range of applications, from remote sensing tools to mobile networks.

06 Aug 25. Open Cosmos kicks off first rideshare mission for the European Commission’s IOD/IOV program. Marking a major milestone for European innovation, the European Commission and ESA established a pool of rideshare providers to accelerate access to space for groundbreaking technologies. Today, Open Cosmos is thrilled to move from selection to execution, officially starting its first rideshare service under this program. Under this contract, Open Cosmos will deliver the first rideshare service to Luso Space, providing end-to-end support to the company on demonstrating and validating new on-orbit satellite technologies. This contract recognizes Open Cosmos’s proven capability in designing, manufacturing, and operating space missions, with a 100% success rate in orbit. The company has demonstrated its readiness to offer comprehensive rideshare services, leveraging its flight-proven architecture compatible with a range of satellite form factors up to 500 kg microsats. With six satellites currently on-orbit under Spanish ITU filing, and an additional four under design and manufacturing from Spain, alongside contributions to 22 more satellites contracted from other Open Cosmos subsidiaries, Open Cosmos is rapidly expanding its on-orbit infrastructure. This growth, coupled with its Open Constellation initiative, which aggregates heterogeneous space infrastructure for hosting additional payloads, highlights the company’s commitment to providing continuous and regular rideshare opportunities. The implementation of the framework contract will be through individual Work Orders, with the first set of Work Orders already planned. Each Work Order will detail the specific tasks and deliverables, ensuring a streamlined and effective process for integrating IOD/IOV Experiments onto Open Cosmos’s spacecraft. Furthermore, Open Cosmos will establish Rideshare Service Agreements with each IOD/IOV Experiment Provider, ensuring a collaborative and successful mission for all parties involved.

Open Cosmos is committed to ensuring that all Rideshare Services rely on spacecraft and launch services based on EU solutions, reinforcing Europe’s self-reliance in space.

We are incredibly enthusiastic about this partnership with the EU and ESA supporting the fast validation of new European technologies, as part of our mission of making space more accessible”, said Rafael Jordá Siquier, CEO of Open Cosmos. “We have progressed at speed, signing the frame contract earlier this year and now kicking off the first work order for a launch next year.”

Zuzana Mazanova, Head of Unit at the European Commission, said, “This contract marks another step forward in realising the Horizon Europe vision — boosting technological sovereignty and innovation within the EU space sector. By supporting companies like Open Cosmos, we are enabling a new generation of European missions that advance science, commercial competitiveness, and sustainability in space.”

Patrice Kerhousse, IOD-IOV Programme Manager at European Space Agency (ESA), said, “The selection of Open Cosmos through this Frame Contract reflects our continued effort to strengthen the European rideshare ecosystem. We are committed to fostering a competitive market of service providers capable of supporting IOD/IOV missions with agility, reliability, and cost-effectiveness. Open Cosmos has demonstrated that capability, and we are confident in their ability to deliver.” (Source: Satnews)

07 Aug 25. First next generation GEO-based missile warning satellite completes environmental testing, on track for delivery to USSF. The first of a new, more capable, more survivable missile warning satellite, designed by Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) for today’s highly contested space domain, has successfully completed environmental testing. The first Next-Generation Overhead Persistent Infrared (Next-Gen OPIR) Geosynchronous Earth Orbit (GEO) Block 0 missile warning satellite recently completed thermal vacuum (TVAC) and acoustic testing. Completion of both tests, performed at Lockheed Martin Space’s facility in Sunnyvale, California, keeps the satellite on track for delivery. During TVAC testing, the Next-Gen OPIR GEO satellite faced a grueling, simulated space environment, proving it can operate in and withstand the harsh temperatures and pressures of an extended life in GEO. In acoustic testing, the satellite successfully withstood the violent vibration conditions that it will endure during launch. With environmental testing complete, the satellite is now in final systems integration testing, which includes testing connections with various ground systems. From a GEO vantage point—approximately 22,000 miles from the Earth’s surface—Next-Gen OPIR GEO’s advanced sensors will have an unmatched view of our planet’s mid-latitudes to detect ballistic missiles, hypersonics and other threats to America and its allies. Next-Gen OPIR GEO’s new sensors are designed to detect advancing adversary threats, including missile boost technologies that are faster burning and dimmer. The satellites, built on Lockheed Martin’s proven LM 2100™ combat bus, include resiliency features to address counter-space threats. The pacesetting Next-Gen OPIR GEO program will enhance and eventually succeed the on-orbit, Lockheed Martin-developed Space Based Infrared System (SBIRS). SBIRS is a combat-proven, space-based early warning system that has protected America’s troops and allies from ballistic missile attacks. (Source: Satnews)

08 Aug 25. Innovative NTS-3 Navigation Satellite Readies for Launch. Satellite will help chart the course for the future of global positioning, navigation and timing capabilities to address 21st century threats. L3Harris continues to help chart the course toward a new era of positioning, navigation and timing (PNT). As the prime contractor of NTS-3, the company is preparing its Navigation Technology Satellite-3 (NTS-3) for launch following successful tests earlier in 2024. Designed, built, and tested by L3Harris, NTS-3 is the first U.S. experimental, integrated navigation satellite system in nearly 50 years. In addition to the satellite, L3Harris is also supporting launch vehicle integration, integration with the control, and user segments and on-orbit operations. The company is also delivering novel mission applications software integrated into the NTS-3 ground control system to enable responsive reprogramming of the payload. Together with Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL)-developed reprogrammable, software-defined user equipment, the system demonstrates a multilayer, robust, and resilient geosynchronous (GEO) augmentation to GPS to ensure U.S. freedom of navigation in air, space, and terrestrial domains.

General B. Chance Saltzman, Chief of Space Operations, pointed out in the Department of the Air Force Posture Statement Fiscal Year 2025, that as threats to our national security and space environment, to include GPS, increase at alarming rates, the U.S. is accelerating the pivot towards resilient satellite constellations, ground stations, networks, and data links. To successfully navigate this rapidly evolving threat environment, the nation’s warfighters need to be able to operate in GPS-degraded and GPS-denied environments. To that end, the U.S. has been conducting transformational analysis based on current and future threats, operational needs, and costs to be able to deliver resilient, effective systems and architecture.

Given these considerations, NTS-3 is smaller and lighter than traditional satellites and will operate at a different altitude. Once on-orbit, it will be used to conduct experiments that will demonstrate the resiliency that NTS-3 technology can provide to U.S. and allied military PNT. These will include, but are not limited to, flexible and advanced signals, reprogrammability, enhanced timekeeping, regional military protection, beam forming, alternative concept of operations in an end-to-end space, ground-control, and user-equipment enterprise.

Faster delivery through industry standards and modular design

L3Harris delivered NTS-3 three times faster and at lower cost than similar programs by leveraging industry standard form factors and interfaces. Its use of commercial development platforms enabled early integration and testing of software and firmware, helping to reduce risk. In addition, the satellite’s payload technology is modular and scalable and can be accommodated on different platforms.

“In today’s volatile geopolitical landscape, the need for accurate and uninterrupted PNT has never been more critical,” said Ed Zoiss, President, Space and Airborne Systems, L3Harris. “We’re looking forward to the launch and on-orbit tests of NTS-3’s cutting-edge capabilities, which are critical to updating 20th century technology for the 21st century threats that contested, degraded, and denied PNT poses to our country’s national security.”

Cutting-edge capabilities to counter threats to PNT

NTS-3’s innovative technologies include:

Active electronically steerable phased array: NTS-3 is the first U.S. satellite to use phased array antenna technology for a space-based PNT mission, allowing simultaneous transmission of Earth-coverage beams and multiple, independently configurable regional beams. This capability enables groups with diverse needs to be supported more efficiently. Phased array technology is more power-efficient than other options and allows for graceful degradation in case of failures, significantly enhancing reliability.
Agile waveform platform: This innovative platform features an on-board Enhanced Signal Processor and Ground Mission Application, enabling the rapid development and deployment of new signals. The Enhanced Signal Processor is fully reprogrammable on-orbit and supports legacy GPS as well as new, advanced waveforms. The Ground Mission Application enables operators to plan, configure and control Earth coverage and regional spot beams and signals to support multiple operations over a wide geographical area.
Cion antenna/receiver: Fully reprogrammable on-orbit, the NTS-3 Cion digital space receiver can navigate autonomously if needed thanks to its ability to synch its signals to GPS. This ensures continuity if ground contact is lost.

Beyond the Satellite: Supporting the Launch

This past summer, L3Harris marked the one-year anniversary of its acquisition of power and propulsion provider, Aerojet Rocketdyne. The Vulcan rocket that will be used to launch the NTS-3 satellite is equipped with two Aerojet Rocketdyne RL10 engines, providing a combined total thrust of nearly 48,000 pounds to its Centaur V upper stage. Additionally, it utilizes 12 MR-107 thrusters and helium tanks provided by the company that are essential to the rocket’s operation. Separately, L3Harris’ Integrated Mission Systems segment is also providing key spaceflight avionics including controllers, data acquisition units, and the T-740U Transmitter, which are crucial for vehicle control and data relay during launch. From engines and avionics to an innovative new satellite, L3Harris technology and people are helping to launch a new era of PNT. As it readies for launch, the NTS-3 satellite will help pave the way for uninterrupted, assured PNT by testing innovative technologies and techniques across space, ground control and user equipment segments. (Source: https://www.defenceweb.co.za/)

Founded in 2017, MatrixSpace is creating the next generation of artificial intelligence enabled sensing solutions to digitize the outdoors beyond the limits of human perception.

The MatrixSpace expeditionary radar kit fits in a standard daypack and contains everything needed to deliver actionable detections to an ATAK mobile device in less than 5 mins.

Visit maxtrixspace.com

SATELLITE SYSTEMS, SATCOM AND SPACE SYSTEMS UPDATE

August 8, 2025 by

Sponsored by MatrixSpace

http://matrixspace.com

06 Aug 25. L3Harris Upgrades USSF Telescopes for Space Domain Awareness Mission. L3Harris Technologies (NYSE: LHX) has successfully upgraded the Ground-Based Electro-Optical Deep Space Surveillance telescopes at White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico, enabling the U.S. Space Force to declare operational acceptance. L3Harris’ role in upgrading the 35-year-old telescopes under the Ground-Based Optical Sensor System (GBOSS) program is a significant contribution to enhancing the capabilities of the Space Surveillance Network. The upgrades are expected to improve space situational awareness for the Department of Defense with the ability to detect, track and counter potential threats.

“This successful operational acceptance highlights L3Harris’ commitment to advancing the nation’s Space Domain Awareness,” said Ed Zoiss, President, Space and Airborne Systems, L3Harris. “Upgrading these legacy telescopes enables expanded coverage of space, supporting the mission to deter conflict, defeat aggression and protect U.S. interests.”

L3Harris is providing Space Domain Awareness capabilities and advanced technology to the DOD and other government agencies, creating an asymmetric advantage against space threats. As part of the GBOSS program, the company will further its commitment to national space security by upgrading telescopes in Maui, Hawaii, later this year.

“The GBOSS upgrade represents a leap forward in capability for the joint warfighter,” said Col. Barry Croker, Commander, Mission Delta 2 – Space Domain Awareness, U.S. Space Force. “This upgrade will further enhance the space domain awareness data Mission Delta 2 Guardians provide to inform decision making, orient fires, and enable maneuvers across all military service domains.”

L3Harris is also at the forefront of developing and advancing innovative technology that enables the Space Force’s mission through the Maintenance of Space Situational Awareness Integrated Capabilities and Advanced Tracking and Launch Analysis System contracts. These efforts help ensure warfighters have the critical information and tools needed to maintain space superiority and protect U.S. national security. (Source: ASD Network)

06 Aug 25. Kratos and hiSky Partner to Enable Kratos’ OpenSpace and hiSky’s Smartellite Solutions to Work Together for IoT and Related Satellite Network Services in Virtual and Cloud Environments. Orchestrated Software Solution Will Eliminate the Need for On-site Hub Hardware and Enhance Flexibility for Customers. Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. (Nasdaq: KTOS), a technology company in Defense, National Security and Global Markets, and hiSky, a leading provider of industrial satellite communications solutions, announced today a partnership that will enable the delivery of hiSky satellite network services, including Industrial Internet of Things (IoT) as a fully orchestrated capability using Kratos’ OpenSpace® dynamic, software-defined ground system. The partnership will allow satellite and other communications network operators to offer IoT connectivity services to their commercial and government customers, taking advantage of the scale, economics and operational benefits of a modern, cloud-enabled network architecture. According to ABI Research, the global IoT market for supply-side software and service revenue will grow in value from US$277bn in 2024 to US$606bn by 2030, and that IoT will play an increasing role in all industries. Satellite connectivity can contribute mightily to this growth with its ability to reach remote, mobile, disaster-affected and other unconnected environments. The partnership between Kratos and hiSky will advance this capability by enabling IoT services employing virtual and cloud-native network architectures, thereby reducing costs and greatly increasing scalability and service flexibility. hiSky’s solution provides customers around the globe an exceptionally agile answer for satellite IoT applications with easy-to-deploy Smartellite™ terminals today connecting to a conventional hardware-based hub. “Kratos is working closely with hiSky to fully virtualize the hiSky hub within the OpenSpace platform, enabling it to run in the mainstream public cloud,” said Greg Quiggle, SVP of Product Management at Kratos. “Doing so will enable hiSky and Kratos customers to offer a new breed of on-demand and dynamically scalable IoT services at a much lower cost than conventional hardware-based systems.”

According to Shahar Kravitz, co-founder and CEO at hiSky, “With the results of this partnership, satellite operators will be able to spin-up new carriers upon demand at any enabled teleport with a touch of a button, without the need for new hardware at the teleport and the associated plumbing. It’s a new era of flexibility, scalability, speed of service enablement and redundancy.” (Source: ASD Network)

06 Aug 25. Mission Success for Rocket Lab’s Latest Constellation Deployment Launch for iQPS. Rocket Lab Corporation (Nasdaq: RKLB) (“Rocket Lab” or “the Company”), a global leader in launch services and space systems, today successfully launched its 69th Electron mission and deployed the latest satellite to orbit for Institute for Q-shu Pioneers of Space, Inc. (iQPS) – Rocket Lab’s fifth dedicated mission in a multi-launch contract to build their constellation in low Earth orbit.

‘The Harvest Goddess Thrives’ mission lifted off from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1 in New Zealand at 04:10 UTC on August 5th. Electron deployed a single synthetic aperture radar (SAR) imaging satellite named QPS-SAR-12 (nicknamed KUSHINADA-I for the Japanese goddess of harvest and agriculture) to a 575km circular Earth orbit. It was Rocket Lab’s fourth launch this year for iQPS and fifth mission overall, making Electron the most prolific launcher of their constellation to date. Four more dedicated iQPS missions are scheduled to launch on Electron through the remainder of this year and in 2026.

Rocket Lab Founder and CEO, Sir Peter Beck, says: “Every Electron launch is a demonstration of payload deployment precision for our customers – an especially critical element when scaling satellite constellations. Today’s fifth and flawless deployment for iQPS once again underscores Electron’s reliability and continues to prove that consistent tailored access to space is a reality on Electron for our customers.” iQPS CEO, Dr. Shunsuke Onishi, says: “Building a satellite constellation requires both timely development and manufacturing, as well as highly precise launch execution. We are deeply grateful to both our team and the Rocket Lab team for their continued dedication in making this possible. As the number of satellites increases, so too does the frequency and value of the data we are able to provide. We will continue to accelerate our efforts to ensure that our satellite data can be leveraged in even more fields and applications.” The Harvest Goddess Thrives’ marks Rocket Lab’s 11th Electron mission of 2025 and its 69th launch overall. Details of the next Electron launch will be shared in the coming days. (Source: ASD Network)

05 Aug 25. Global Invacom Holdings Limited (GIHL) has jointly founded eNexus Space Data, to deliver a Ground Station as a Service (GSaaS) offering. Led by a group of satellite industry experts, including the team at Global Invacom, eNexus Space Data has been created in response to the anticipated growing demand for ground station services. Operating as a GSaaS provider, eNexus will deliver data collected by satellites across multiple orbits for a wide range of applications, including earth observation (EO). This approach negates the need for operators to own and operate their own satellite ground stations, providing operational and financial advantages to these potential customers.

Gordon Blaikie, Chief Executive Officer of Global Invacom Group, commented: “The satcoms industry is undergoing a significant transition, with more objects in orbit than ever before and a greater level of complexity. With eNexus, we are navigating that complexity and making ground station services much more accessible. For us, this move represents a transition to the provision of services alongside our heritage of supplying satcoms equipment.” GIHL is well placed to help propel eNexus Space Data, both through the provision of satellite communications equipment and with its expert knowledge and experience across the satcoms industry.

eNexus Space Data is a privately owned corporation registered in the state of Delaware, USA. GIHL has acquired a 45.5% stake in exchange for the provision of certain initial satellite communications equipment.

About Global Invacom Group Limited

Global Invacom Group comprises a number of companies specialising in innovative technology, products and solutions for the satellite ground equipment sector. Uniquely, the Group provides fully integrated manufacturing for most of its product lines providing additional quality and supply chain assurance to a global blue-chip customer base in the satellite communications, satellite TV and satellite navigation markets. The Group has an established global presence with sales offices, research and development centres and manufacturing facilities across the world, including Singapore, China, Indonesia, the Philippines, Malaysia, Israel, the UK, and the USA. Global Invacom Group Limited is listed on the Mainboard of the Singapore Exchange Securities Trading Limited.

29 Jul 25. SSC continues to transform acquisition of SATCOM capabilities—5 companies contracted. The United States Space Force’s (USSF) Space Systems Command (SSC) continues to transform the way satellite communications (SATCOM) capabilities are acquired. The Command has awarded a Protected Tactical Satellite Communications (SATCOM) – Global (PTS-G) Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract and initial five Firm Fixed Price orders under Delivery Order 1 (DO1) totaling $37.5 m to the following companies:

Viasat, Inc.
Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation
Astranis Space Technologies Corp
Intelsat General Communications LLC
The Boeing Company

PTS-G delivers resilience to military users worldwide with proliferated small satellites providing anti-jam capability in Geosynchronous Orbit (GEO). The DoD requires wideband global assured access for the tactical warfighter, ensuring their freedom to connect anytime, anywhere operations require. PTS-G is the cost-effective component of Space Force architecture that takes advantage of the advanced PTW waveform while maximizing use of existing user and gateway terminals. During the first delivery order, each awardee will mature a design and provide demonstrations based upon their established commercial product lines, to meet PTS-G requirements. The results of this initial order will inform subsequent competition for follow-on production orders. The initial PTS-G IDIQ award will be followed by an award in 2026 for the production of PTS-G Space Vehicles to meet IOC capability, with a projected launch in 2028, putting the first PTS-G satellite into orbit. A second wave of production awards for additional PTS-G satellite capability is planned for 2028, with launch planned for 2031. Our PTS-G contract transforms how SSC acquires SATCOM capability for the warfighter,” said Cordell DeLaPena, Jr., program executive officer for SSC Military Communications and Positioning, Navigation and Timing. “The incorporation of commercial baseline designs to meet military capability significantly enhances the Space Force’s speed and efficiency to add capability to meet emerging threats.”

Erin Carper, division chief for SSC Tactical SATCOM, said, “By maximizing the use of commercially available products and awarding to a pool of offerors on this IDIQ contract, the Space Force ensures value for the DoD and taxpayer while driving competition and promoting the long-term viability of the SATCOM industrial base.”

Space Systems Command is the U.S. Space Force field command responsible for acquiring, developing, and delivering resilient capabilities to outpace emerging threats and protect our Nation’s strategic advantage in, from, and to space. SSC manages a $15.6 bn annual space acquisition budget for the Department of Defense, working with joint forces, industry partners, government agencies, academia, and allied nations. (Source: Satnews)

27 Jul 25. MicroCarb launched. The launch of the MicroCarb satellite from Korou, French Guiana, by Arianespace. The scientific mission, MicroCarb, led by the French space Agency CNES, was successfully launched from Europe’s Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana. MicroCarb is a joint mission between the UK Space Agency and French Space Agency, Centre National d’Études Spatiales (CNES), serving as the prime contractor. The mission is co-financed by these two agencies, as well as by the European Commission and the French government within the framework of the Investments for the Future Program (PIA), managed by the National Research Agency (ANR). The satellite is designed to precisely map atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO₂), capturing detailed data on emissions from human activities as well as absorption by natural sinks such as oceans and forests. The satellite is built on the CNES Myriade platform. Thales Alenia Space, a joint venture between Thales (67%) and Leonardo (33%), completed the assembly, integration, and testing of the satellite platform at RAL Space in Harwell, UK, and was responsible for launch preparations. Airbus Defence and Space provided the instrument payload, the infrared spectrometer. MicroCarb will operate in LEO at an altitude of 650 km and serves as a precursor to the European Union’s Copernicus Anthropogenic Carbon Dioxide Monitoring (CO2M) mission—a constellation of three satellites, with payloads supplied by Thales Alenia Space, that will deliver precise measurements for human-induced atmospheric carbon dioxide and methane. MicroCarb complements the CO2M mission by providing early observations and valuable data, enhancing our capability for CO₂ and methane monitoring to inform climate policy makers. Additionally, a special city-scanning mode will enable the mapping of CO₂ distribution within urban areas, which are responsible for the majority of global emissions.

Richard Thorburn, CEO of Thales Alenia Space in the UK, said, “I am immensely proud of the contribution our teams in the UK and France have made to MicroCarb – Europe’s pioneering satellite for mapping carbon dioxide on a global scale. Huge thanks to CNES and to the UK Space Agency for the trust they have placed in us, enabling Thales Alenia Space to play a key role in advancing Europe’s leadership in climate monitoring and environmental science, and helping to protect our planet.” (Source: Satnews)

29 Jul 25. Gilmour Space Technologies’ giant leap for Australia’s space capability with successful first test launch of Eris rocket. Gilmour Space Technologies has completed the maiden test launch of Australia’s first locally designed and built orbital rocket — a major milestone toward offering low-cost, responsive launch services for small satellites globally. The 23-meter, 30-tonne Eris rocket, powered by new hybrid propulsion technology, successfully lifted off from the Bowen Orbital Spaceport in North Queensland, achieving approximately 14 seconds of flight. The TestFlight 1 campaign was the first integrated attempt of an orbital-class rocket designed and built entirely in Australia. It also marked the first use of the newly licensed Bowen Orbital Spaceport — Australia’s first commercial orbital launch site, built by Gilmour Space to support future missions. Eris was developed almost entirely in-house — including propulsion, structures, avionics, software, and the spaceport itself — on a fraction of the budget available to most global launch companies.

“Space is hard,” said Adam Gilmour, CEO of Gilmour Space Technologies. “SpaceX, Rocket Lab and others needed multiple test flights to reach orbit. We’ve learned a tremendous amount that will go directly into improving our next vehicle, which is already in production.”

“Getting off the pad and into flight is a huge step forward for any new rocket program. This was the first real test of our rocket systems, our propulsion technology, and our spaceport — and it proved that much of what we’ve built works.”

Importantly, there were no injuries to any person and no adverse environmental impacts.

“Only six nations currently launch to orbit regularly — and just a handful are developing sovereign capability to join them,” he said. “We’ve now taken a big step toward joining that group.”

“Clearing the tower was a major milestone for our team. It showed that Australia can design, build, and launch rockets right here at home,” Gilmour said.

As part of this historic campaign, Gilmour Space worked closely with many stakeholders and regulators — including the Australian Space Agency, Civil Aviation Safety Authority, Air Services Australia, Maritime authorities, and others — to help shape and navigate the rules needed to safely launch rockets from Australia for the first time. Initial data confirms that key systems performed well until the anomaly, including ignition, liftoff, first-stage thrust, range tracking and telemetry. The team is now reviewing flight data to understand the cause of the anomaly that led to early termination, with lessons already being applied to the next vehicle, which is in production.

Looking Ahead:

The TestFlight 1 mission represents the culmination of years of effort by a team of more than 200 people, over 500 Australian suppliers, and strong support from government and industry and close coordination with the Australian Space Agency, CASA, Airservices Australia, maritime authorities, and others. It is the next step in Gilmour’s mission to provide low-cost, responsive launch services for small satellites — a capability in growing demand globally. The team will now review flight data and apply lessons learned to the next Eris rocket, with plans to launch again within [XX] months.

“Every test, especially the first, is a learning opportunity,” said Gilmour. “Congratulations to our talented team for getting us this far. Onward to TestFlight 2.” (Source: Satnews)

Founded in 2017, MatrixSpace is creating the next generation of artificial intelligence enabled sensing solutions to digitize the outdoors beyond the limits of human perception.

The MatrixSpace expeditionary radar kit fits in a standard daypack and contains everything needed to deliver actionable detections to an ATAK mobile device in less than 5 mins.

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SATELLITE SYSTEMS, SATCOM AND SPACE SYSTEMS UPDATE

August 1, 2025 by

Sponsored by MatrixSpace

http://matrixspace.com

31 Jul 25. Eycore and Kongsberg NanoAvionics to Collaborate on Next-Gen SAR Satellites for NATO and Allied Defence Applications.

Their first mission will validate a fully European, all-weather imaging capability tailored to defence and security users worldwide.

Eycore, an emerging developer of compact synthetic-aperture-radar (SAR) payloads, and small-satellite manufacturer Kongsberg NanoAvionics (NanoAvionics) today announced an agreement to place Eycore’s inaugural SAR demonstrator into orbit aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 Transporter rideshare mission in the first quarter of 2026. The flight will test Eycore’s X-band radar on NanoAvionics’ flight-proven MP42 microsatellite bus, laying the groundwork for an all-European, military-grade SAR solution that provides governments with rapid, sovereign access to sub-meter, day-night, all-weather imagery. The spacecraft will operate from a 510-kilometer, sun-synchronous orbit. At the core of the mission is Eycore’s deployable active phased-array antenna. It consists of five panels, one fixed and four unfolding in space to create a large aperture without compromising launch volume. NanoAvionics’ MP42 platform will provide the necessary peak power for the payload, data downlink, as well as the attitude control agility and stability required for various imaging modes for different intelligence requirements: Stripmap for continuous swath coverage, Spotlight for sub-meter resolution of priority targets, and ScanSAR for very wide-area awareness. Together, these modes enable operators to seamlessly shift from border-length surveillance to vehicle-level inspection, ensuring relevance across intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR), border security, maritime domain awareness, and rapid disaster response. The companies have also been working in parallel on a satellite bus and next-generation payload, offering even higher resolution, wider swath, longer imaging times, higher incidence angle, and other improvements.

“Partnering with a reliable bus provider like Kongsberg NanoAvionics lets us focus on perfecting our SAR technology while de-risking the platform, launch, and operations,” said Tomasz Kusowski, Co-founder & VP of the Management Board of Eycore. “This demonstrator is the springboard for high-performance European SAR satellites that will deliver tactical data for national security and defense applications.”

Atle Wøllo, CEO of Kongsberg NanoAvionics, added: “Across Europe we are seeing rising demand for domestically controlled, all-weather Earth observation. By combining our small satellites with Eycore’s sensors, we are giving governments a fast, cost-effective path to sovereign SAR capabilities that strengthen national security and resilience.”

29 Jul 25. US Space Force kills protected satcom programme, consolidates effort. US Space Force (USSF) officials have quietly killed the Protected Tactical Satellite Communications – Resilient (PTS-R) programme, as part of a service-wide restructuring of the entire Protected Anti-jam Tactical Satcom (PATS) family-of-systems (FoS) effort, with a larger focus on rapidly maturing anti-jamming capabilities for wideband satcom assets. Service officials announced the cancellation of PTS-R in a July 2025 statement, arguing the decision to nix the effort was driven by a “focus on implementing faster and more robust capabilities … [and] prototypes into operation as quickly as possible”, USSF programme leaders said.

Aside from the PTS-R cancellation, the service’s shift in focus within the overall PATS initiative will also look to prioritise “utilising lower cost-risk contracts and providing incremental capabilities faster by operationalising current PTS prototype satellite capabilities”, said Cordell DeLaPena, program executive officer for military communications and position, navigation, and timing (PNT) at USSF.

“Opportunities to make incremental improvements to … existing prototypes will be investigated, and the new PTS FoS acquisition strategy” to meet the operational requirements within USSF that the PTS-R programme had been intended to fill, DeLaPena said in the July statement. At the time of the programme cancellation, programme officials at USSF were poised to begin prototype evaluations for both PTS-R and the Protected Tactical Satellite Communications – Global (PTS-G) systems. (Source: Janes)

28 Jul 25. The Boeing [NYSE: BA]-built X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle (OTV) is preparing to launch its eighth mission (OTV-8) from Florida’s Space Coast, with liftoff scheduled no earlier than August 21. This milestone comes less than six months after the successful completion of OTV-7.

“With each successive flight, the X-37B has demonstrated adaptability and flexibility by hosting diverse experiments and pioneering new orbital regimes,” said Michelle Parker, vice president of Boeing Space Mission Systems. “This mission continues that legacy by fielding cutting-edge technologies that advance our nation’s space capability and improve the resilience of future architectures.”

OTV-8 will fly with a service module, expanding capacity for experiments and opening new opportunities for mission partners, which include the Air Force Research Laboratory and the Defense Innovation Unit. The mission will host demonstrations of high-bandwidth inter-satellite laser communications technologies, as well as the highest performing quantum inertial sensor ever tested in space. The U.S. Space Force will leverage insights from this mission to inform future space architectures.

“OTV-8’s laser communications demonstration will mark an important step in the U.S. Space Force’s ability to leverage commercial space networks as part of proliferated, diversified, and redundant space architectures,” said U.S. Space Force Chief of Space Operations, Gen. Chance Saltzman. “In so doing, it will strengthen the resilience, reliability, adaptability, and data transport speeds of our satellite communications architectures.”

The revolutionary quantum inertial sensor will demonstrate precise positioning, navigation and timing in a GPS-denied environment. Quantum inertial sensors, useful for navigation in deep and cis-lunar space, promise to push the technological frontiers of long-distance space travel and exploration.

“OTV 8’s quantum inertial sensor demonstration is a welcome step forward for the operational resilience of Guardians in space,” said Space Delta 9 Commander Colonel Ramsey Hom. “Whether navigating beyond Earth-based orbits in cis-lunar space or operating in GPS-denied environments, quantum inertial sensing allows for robust navigation capabilities where GPS navigation is not possible. Ultimately, this technology contributes significantly to our thrust within the Fifth Space Operations Squadron and across the Space Force guaranteeing movement and maneuverability even in GPS-denied environments.”

Boeing and Space Force teams are preparing the spaceplane for launch at Boeing’s facility at Kennedy Space Center, Florida. Since its inaugural launch in April 2010, the spaceplane has spent more than 4,200 days in space. A leading global aerospace company and top U.S. exporter, Boeing develops, manufactures and services commercial airplanes, defense products and space systems for customers in more than 150 countries. Our U.S. and global workforce and supplier base drive innovation, economic opportunity, sustainability and community impact. Boeing is committed to fostering a culture based on our core values of safety, quality and integrity.

17 Jul 25. L3Harris has the future of PNT ready now. L3Harris payloads and components have been on board every U.S. GPS satellite—more than 70 missions since the 1970s. Our technology is at the core of GPS availability, accuracy and integrity. L3Harris recently demonstrated a cutting-edge Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (PNT) solution for the U.S. Space Force’s (USSF) Space Systems Command that is adaptable to different platforms, is fully reprogrammable on-orbit, and is scalable to support additional signals and increased power to address evolving threats. This ready-now solution can provide the USSF with the ultimate flexibility to efficiently field smaller, multi-launch capable satellites to augment or disaggregate the constellation. During a two-day event, the company conducted a comprehensive Design Concept Review (DCR) showcasing a Resilient-GPS (R-GPS) prototype that performed beyond current requirements. The session demonstrated the ability to accelerate the existing USSF R-GPS roadmap for a more resilient PNT infrastructure. Using their Navigation Technology Satellite-3 (NTS-3) reprogrammable payload and National Security Agency-certified reprogrammable cryptography, L3Harris successfully simulated the commanding of an R-GPS satellite to transmit navigation signals that were acquired and tracked by a monitor station receiver, as well as Military User Equipment and commercial receivers, signifying that R-GPS can seamlessly and efficiently be integrated into the existing GPS infrastructure.

L3Harris followed a “prototyping with purpose” approach, which is much more than a laboratory demonstration. The review showcased maturity far beyond a traditional Preliminary Design Review, translating into a low-risk, achievable plan for future development phases of the R-GPS program. The L3Harris R-GPS design includes capabilities aligned to future Lite Evolving Augmented Proliferation, providing an opportunity for roadmap acceleration and reduction in lifecycle costs. The DCR conveyed how the L3Harris R-GPS satellite will minimize impact on the Control Segment and maintain backward compatibility with current and in development user equipment to ensure operational compatibility. L3Harris is the only company to support the entire GPS enterprise across all operational segments. As a critical contributor, the company has provided navigation technology for every U.S. GPS satellite ever launched. In 2024, L3Harris was selected to design concepts for Phase 0 of the R-GPS program through the Space Enterprise Consortium (SpEC) Other Transaction Authority (OTA) vehicle, managed by National Security Technology Accelerator (NSTXL). The new, agile R-GPS satellite program will dramatically reduce costs by launching eight smaller, more capable space vehicles at one time. This enables the U.S. to quickly and affordably augment, modernize, and upgrade the GPS space layer for resiliency, significantly increased power to combat terrestrial jamming and enhanced security and cryptography.

Our team transmitted, tested, and validated the core set of R-GPS signals across the entire enterprise to showcase a fully reprogrammable, resilient PNT solution for the Department of Defense,” said Ed Zoiss, President, Space and Airborne Systems, L3Harris. “We leveraged best in class commercial technology in the payload and spacecraft bus and the government’s investment in cutting-edge NTS-3 PNT technologies. Conducting an end-to-end demo using fielded Space Force user equipment in just six months is an unprecedented accomplishment. Using NTS-3’s advanced technology, L3Harris’ R-GPS solution is the most advanced capability offering supporting PNT proliferation to augment or disaggregate the constellation.”

Zoiss added, “Our approach supports satellite design verification, proves compatibility with the Control Segment and User Equipment, and allows for early enterprise integration opportunities. As a global PNT leader for more than five decades, we understand the challenges in aligning three segments of the GPS enterprise (Space, Control and User), so we showcased a holistic, aligned approach.” (Source: Satnews)

22 Jul 25. ULA continues launch prep of Vulcan for U.S. Space Force’s Space Systems Command USSF-106 mission. The first U.S. national security launch aboard a United Launch Alliance (ULA) Vulcan rocket will be the United States Space Force (USSF)-106 mission. Liftoff will occur at an as-yet-to-be-determined launch date from Space Launch Complex-41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. ULA is set to launch a Vulcan Centaur VC4S rocket, with four solid rocket boosters, to send USSF-106 directly to geosynchronous orbit for the U.S. Space Force’s Space Systems Command. This will be the first National Security Space Launch (NSSL) mission on a Vulcan rocket. From its inception, the Vulcan rocket was designed to deliver heavy payloads to any orbit. The upcoming USSF-106 mission utilizes this capability with Centaur V launching a multi-manifest U.S. national security payload directly to geosynchronous orbit for the Space Force. ULA technicians at Cape Canaveral are assembling the most powerful Vulcan rocket yet. Together with its twin BE-4 main engines and four side-mounted GEM 63XL solid rocket boosters, Vulcan will generate three m pounds (13 meganewtons) of liftoff thrust to launch the USSF-106 mission. (Source: Satnews)

26 Jul 25. The four Airbus-built CO3D (Constellation Optique 3D) satellites have been successfully placed into orbit by an Arianespace Vega-C rocket from the European Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana. The satellites, developed in partnership with the French Space Agency (CNES), will now commence their mission to create a highly detailed 3D map of the Earth’s surface. The dual-use CO3D satellites will deliver a global high-resolution Digital Surface Model (DSM), providing 50 cm stereo imagery to CNES, and 2D imagery to government and commercial clients, further strengthening Airbus’s comprehensive suite of optical and radar satellite solutions.

“The successful launch of the CO3D constellation is a testament to European ingenuity and a major step forward in our first class Earth observation capabilities,” said Alain Fauré, Head of Space Systems at Airbus. “Thanks to our strong partnership with CNES, these satellites, based on our next-generation S250 product, can now deliver a game-changing 3D map of our planet and provide high revisit and high resolution observation capabilities. This programme, which is already attracting significant interest in today’s geopolitical context, showcases our commitment to technological, industrial, and commercial innovation.”

The four 285 kg satellites are now in a Sun synchronous orbit at an altitude of 502 km. Over the next six months, they will undergo in-orbit testing before beginning an 18-month campaign to deliver a 3D map of France and the ‘crisis arc’ to CNES. The data will feed a cloud-based ground segment operated by Airbus to produce the final 3D map, supporting critical military and civil applications ranging from geology and hydrology to urban planning and civil security. The CO3D satellites feature several technological innovations, including a new observation mode, called Step and Stare. Each satellite uses its matrix detector to shoot images (Stare) and pave the area of interest with images of about 7km x 5km. The spacecrafts’ outstanding agility allows them to quickly reposition between successive pictures (Step) allowing each of them to provide the user with 7, 14, 21 or 28km swath images. The CO3D programme benefits from manufacturing expertise gained from the OneWeb constellation satellites’ development, utilising a modern, digitalised assembly line in Toulouse that draws inspiration from the automotive and aeronautical industries. Several pieces of equipment use commercial off the shelf components that are adapted for use in Space to provide CO3D with the best performance from the wider industrial domain as well as a customised level of space-ready quality. Also successfully deployed on the same launch was the MicroCarb satellite, a joint mission between CNES and the UK Space Agency. Equipped with a high-precision Airbus-made spectrometer, Microcarb will map atmospheric carbon content on a planetary scale, providing vital data to climate scientists.

Founded in 2017, MatrixSpace is creating the next generation of artificial intelligence enabled sensing solutions to digitize the outdoors beyond the limits of human perception.

The MatrixSpace expeditionary radar kit fits in a standard daypack and contains everything needed to deliver actionable detections to an ATAK mobile device in less than 5 mins.

Visit maxtrixspace.com

SATELLITE SYSTEMS, SATCOM AND SPACE SYSTEMS UPDATE

July 25, 2025 by

Sponsored by MatrixSpace

http://matrixspace.com

25 Jul 25. Hanwha Aerospace has signed a landmark technology transfer agreement with the stated-funded Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI) for the KSLV-II (Korea Space Launcher Vehicle-II) also called Nuri, Korea’s first indigenously developed space launcher. This tech transfer underscores Hanwha’s commitment to cultivating the space industry as a primary future growth engine, complementing its established leadership in the defence sector. This landmark deal marks the first time that the complete lifecycle technology for the KSLV-II – encompassing design, manufacturing, and launch operations – has been transferred to the private sector in South Korea. The agreement formally positions Hanwha Aerospace at the forefront of the nation’s growing space industry. The KSLV-II is a monumental achievement for South Korea. Developed over 14 years from 2010 to 2023, the project was a national effort led by KARI with the participation of over 300 private enterprises. Its successful launch made South Korea the seventh country in the world with the capability to launch a satellite using its own indigenous technology. Under the agreement, Hanwha Aerospace will collaborate closely with KARI on upcoming KSLV-II’s launches, ensuring a seamless and comprehensive transfer of operational know-how and accumulated experience. This acquisition is a cornerstone of Hanwha’s strategy to build a comprehensive space industry value chain. Leveraging synergies with its affiliates, including Hanwha Systems and Satrec Initiative, the company aims to connect space transportation, satellite manufacturing, and satellite services, creating a robust, private sector-led space ecosystem. “This technology transfer is a critical milestone for improving the nation’s space industry capabilities. It provides us with the foundation to enhance the KSLV-II’s technological capabilities and cost-effectiveness,” said Son Jae-il, President and CEO of Hanwha Aerospace. “Our goal is to build a robust and globally competitive commercial launch service, solidifying our position as a leader in the new space era”.

22 July 25. Boeing [NYSE: BA] engineers have confirmed the 9th and 10th O3b mPOWER satellites, built for leading space solutions company SES, have successfully launched and are transmitting signals from space after lifting off aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket at 5:12 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time. Approximately two hours after liftoff, the satellites separated from the launch vehicle, initiating a series of comprehensive health checks by Boeing team members in El Segundo, Calif., home to Boeing’s mission control facility and the world’s largest satellite factory. Leveraging highly efficient xenon thrusters to maneuver in space, the satellites will continue their 130-day journey to MEO, approximately 8,000 kilometers from the Earth’s surface. They will join the first eight satellites currently providing high-performance connectivity services to SES users worldwide.

“We designed O3b mPOWER so each additional satellite beyond the first six boosts capacity, performance, and resilience,” said Michelle Parker, vice president, Boeing Space Mission Systems. “This capability stems from our investments in cutting-edge technology and the enhanced production techniques we’ve refined over the course of the program.”

The O3b mPOWER constellation entered commercial service in April 2024, providing high-throughput, low latency connectivity that mimics the speed and reliability of traditional internet connections, but with virtually unlimited geographic flexibility. From MEO, the satellites provide coverage to nearly 95% of the world’s population.

“I’m proud of our SES team and partners for continuously pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in space to bring critical connectivity where it matters most. Over the past year, our O3b mPOWER services have been transforming industries and empowering our key customers including telco operators, cruise lines, airlines, NATO, the Government of Luxembourg, the Government of United States and many other allied governments,” said Adel Al-Saleh, CEO of SES. “With this launch we continue adding incremental capacity to our initial O3b mPOWER constellation, strengthening our MEO network and delivering high throughput and predictable low latency services at scale.”

The satellites leverage digitally formed beams to dynamically address evolving communication needs across geographies and customer bases. Boeing hardened this technology for military use on the Wideband Global SATCOM (WGS)-11 and WGS-12 and Evolved Strategic SATCOM (ESS) nuclear command and control satellites the company is building for the U.S. Space Force. This software-defined technology allows for more secure and reliable connectivity resistant to attempts of jamming, interruption or interception. A leading global aerospace company and top U.S. exporter, Boeing develops, manufactures and services commercial airplanes, defense products and space systems for customers in more than 150 countries. Our U.S. and global workforce and supplier base drive innovation, economic opportunity, sustainability and community impact. Boeing is committed to fostering a culture based on our core values of safety, quality and integrity.

21 Jul 25. PAL Aerospace has integrated next-generation low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite connectivity into its Force Multiplier fleet, becoming the first contractor-owned, contractor-operated ISR provider to do so. The first aircraft equipped, PAL Aerospace’s flagship C-GFMX (DHC-8 315), features Starlink technology installed in partnership with AeroMech. This capability enables real-time, high-throughput transmission of full-motion video, radar tracks, imagery, and open-source intelligence directly from the aircraft to ground-based analysts and mission command. The system is now available as a fleet-wide option for defense clients seeking turnkey, no-compromise ISR capability. Integrating seamlessly with equipped mission software, AIMS-ISR and AIMS-C4 (by CarteNav, a PAL company), this capability enables Force Multiplier operators to cross-reference live airborne data with remote sensor feeds and intelligence sources mid-mission. While SATCOM has been available on ISR aircraft before, this marks a generational leap in cost and performance – delivering persistent, secure, high-bandwidth connectivity at a price point cost-viable for agencies of all sizes.

“We collect data for our customers, and this truly revolutionizes how we deliver it – both in terms of speed and volume,” said Dave Keddy, VP of Operations, PAL Aerospace. “We can now transmit full-motion video and other mission data in real time, directly from the aircraft, while still in flight. We’ve already seen it enable collaborative analysis between airborne crews and ground-based teams during live operations. For us, this is a generational step forward in airborne ISR.”

“We are grateful for the opportunity to work alongside PAL Aerospace, and we are excited to see how Starlink’s groundbreaking high-speed connectivity will enhance mission capabilities for the Force Multiplier fleet” said AeroMech COO, Anthony Wiederkehr.

PAL Aerospace is redefining what contractor-operated ISR can deliver—real-time collaboration, faster decisions, and proven operational readiness. Our Force Multiplier program gives defense, domestic security, and public safety agencies access to cutting-edge airborne ISR without the burden of ownership. Learn more about our turnkey solutions here: palaerospace.com/force-multiplier

13 Jul 25. Russia slaps a satellite dish on a boat, calls it a “Starlink Killer” — analysts say it’s 1990s tech. Russia has introduced a new maritime drone called “Breeze” equipped with satellite communication technology, presenting it as a domestic alternative to Starlink. However, the system appears to rely on outdated communication methods that could severely limit its practical military use. According to Defense Express on July 12, Russian companies Sea Project and Unmanned Logistics recently tested the Breeze drone in the White Sea. Designed for transporting cargo to remote northern regions, the drone is slated for production in Arkhangelsk region. Notably, its communication system includes a Simrad maritime radar and a spherical antenna housing the new RS-30M satellite terminal—previously tested on a train. Russia has positioned the RS-30M as its answer to the American Starlink system, but several critical limitations suggest otherwise. Unlike Starlink, which uses a constellation of low-Earth orbit satellites positioned roughly 550 km above Earth, the RS-30M connects to satellites in geostationary orbit—approximately 36,000 km away. While this allows for broad coverage, it introduces significant drawbacks, including signal latency as high as 800 milliseconds and limited bandwidth of only a few megabits per second. In contrast, Starlink typically offers latency around 40 milliseconds and speeds exceeding 200 Mbps. In addition, the RS-30M relies on a mechanical, parabolic antenna that must be physically aligned with a satellite, a method largely phased out in modern systems. Starlink’s phased array antenna enables dynamic, software-based tracking without moving parts—technology commonly found on next-generation UAVs. In effect, the RS-30M reflects a technological regression. Similar SATCOM systems were installed on US military drones like the MQ-1 Predator in the 1990s. Modern drones such as the MQ-9 Reaper now use significantly more advanced antenna systems with greater performance. Due to these limitations, the RS-30M is unlikely to support high-quality real-time video streaming or provide the responsiveness required for controlling high-speed, long-range unmanned systems—especially suicide drones such as Russia’s Shahed-type platforms. In comparison, Ukraine has already demonstrated practical battlefield integration of Starlink-based communication systems in platforms like the RUBAKA and UJ-26 “Bober.” (Source: Satnews)

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Founded in 2017, MatrixSpace is creating the next generation of artificial intelligence enabled sensing solutions to digitize the outdoors beyond the limits of human perception.

The MatrixSpace expeditionary radar kit fits in a standard daypack and contains everything needed to deliver actionable detections to an ATAK mobile device in less than 5 mins.

Visit maxtrixspace.com

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SATELLITE SYSTEMS, SATCOM AND SPACE SYSTEMS UPDATE

July 18, 2025 by

Sponsored by MatrixSpace

http://matrixspace.com

15 Jul 25. Australia’s SATCOM ambitions resurge in RFI for narrowband capability. After shifting requirements to a multi-orbit satellite last year, the government is still considering a single-orbit system, leading to confusion about its SATCOM intentions. Australian Army signaller sets up a satellite radio antenna to enable a mobile patrol to report in from an area of mangroves on the northern Kimberley coast of Western Australia, 18 October 2024. Credit: Australian Defence Forces. The Australian government issued a request for information (RFI) among industry regarding military satellite communication (SATCOM) systems at the end of June 2025. However, it appears that the call to industry has resurrected some aspects of a contract that the government had previously cancelled towards the end of 2024, more than eight months ago. Joint Project (JP)-9102, as it was known, would have delivered a wideband and narrowband, geostationary earth orbit (GEO) SATCOM constellation until the Department of Defence (DoD) cancelled the project, having changed its requirements from a single-orbit system to a multi-orbit capability after 18-months of development with Lockheed Martin Australia. The resurgent Strategic Partnership Agreement (SPA)-9102, as the RFI is now known, requests knowledge of capabilities in the space systems market offering a narrowband, ultra-high frequency (UHF) SATCOM system, with a focus on resilient satellites that mitigate against electromagnetic interference.

RFI details

The SPA structure under which Australia are considering existing SATCOM capabilities contrasts with JPs in that they provide broader scope, long term thinking, compared to the narrower end capability pursued under a JP structure. The RFI is open to any company that believes they have something to offer. This nascent stage only calls for insight into existing capabilities available today; no selection or proposals will be made at this point, it is purely a research endeavour. After the RFI process, the government will consider possible solutions and understand what industry can provide before requesting specific requirements. A proposal phase will likely follow some time later.

What SATCOM does ADF use now?

At present, the Australia Defence Forces rely on a collection of SATCOM systems. One of which is a US-managed system, the Wideband Global SATCOM manufactured by Boeing. But even without access to WGS, Australia has some commercial capabilities which include a communications payload, as well as a UHF communications payload on a satellite that covers the Indian Ocean. Self-reliance and fast access are still the main reasons for the procurement of a sovereign system.(Source: army-technology.com)

16 Jul 25. MDA Space Ltd. (TSX: MDA), a trusted mission partner to the rapidly expanding global space industry, today announced that it will prime SkyPhi, a new mission funded by the European Space Agency (ESA) and the UK Space Agency (UKSA) that will enable regenerative 5G direct-to-device (D2D) satellite communications from low Earth orbit (LEO). The announcement, made today at the UK Space Conference taking place in Manchester, spotlights the UK’s role in driving forward next-generation space-based telecommunications and reinforcing its leadership in satellite innovation. Funded by the ESA and the UKSA, the mission is part of the ARTES (Advanced Research in Telecommunications Systems) program. SkyPhi supports the development and validation of innovative satcom technologies with strong commercial potential. MDA Space UK will lead phases A and B of the mission in collaboration with UK-based mission partners CGI and Open Cosmos, combining proven strengths in satellite platforms and operations, secure communications, network integration, and advanced payload systems.

“This pioneering project led by MDA Space represents the kind of innovation the UK space sector needs to maintain its competitive edge. By starting the development of an end-to-end 5G direct-to-device satellite communications system with a LEO satellite and UK-based ground infrastructure, the project is placing the UK as a leader in new satellite technologies,” said Dr. Craig Brown, Director of Investment at the UK Space Agency. “The collaboration between MDA Space, CGI and Open Cosmos demonstrates the power of partnership in solving complex technical challenges.”

“The selection of SkyPhi and MDA Space UK, supported by our strong UK-based team of industry partners, recognises the depth of talent and innovation resident in the UK space sector,” said Mike Greenley, CEO of MDA Space. “Our mission at MDA Space is to turn the proven into the possible, and with the support of the UK Space Agency and ESA, we’re putting that goal in motion and advancing a bold vision for satellite-enabled 5G services and the industrial base of the UK space industry.” (Source: PR Newswire)

15 Jul 25. Spaceport Cornwall Selected for UK MOD Hypersonic Framework to Advance Britain’s Defence Capabilities.

Spaceport Cornwall joins 90 organisations on the MOD’s UK Hypersonic Capability Framework
The spaceport brings unique testing and launch capabilities to the £1bn national defence initiative
The framework aligns with the government’s Strategic Defence Review and supports its commitment to spend 2.5% of GDP on defence by 2027

Spaceport Cornwall has been selected to join the UK Ministry of Defence’s transformational Hypersonic Technologies and Capability Development Framework (HTCDF), positioning the Cornwall-based facility as a key contributor to Britain’s sovereign hypersonic technology capability development. The seven-year, £1bn framework brings together ninety organisations from across industry and academia to rapidly develop advanced hypersonic defence capabilities for the UK. Spaceport Cornwall’s inclusion recognises the unique combination of capabilities offered by the facility, including horizontal launch capabilities, comprehensive operations facilities and its strategic location at Cornwall Airport Newquay, adjacent to RAF St Mawgan military base. The HTCDF is designed to accelerate capability development through to Technology Readiness Level 9, enabling rapid progression from early research through to operational deployment. This agile approach addresses the evolving nature of modern defence challenges and ensures the UK maintains its technological edge. The framework aligns with the government’s Strategic Defence Review and supports the UK’s commitment to spend 2.5% of GDP on defence by 2027. It forms part of a broader industrial strategy to strengthen Britain’s defence manufacturing base while bolstering AUKUS collaboration with Australia and the United States. Nearly half of the selected suppliers are Small and Medium Enterprises, demonstrating the framework’s commitment to leveraging the full breadth of UK innovation. The framework will reopen to new suppliers every 6-12 months, ensuring continued access to emerging technologies and capabilities.

Ross Hulbert, Head of Engagement at Spaceport Cornwall: “This is a defining moment for Spaceport Cornwall and demonstrates our commitment to supporting Britain’s defence capabilities. Our unique position as the UK’s first licensed spaceport, combined with our world-class facilities and proximity to both civilian and military aviation infrastructure, makes us ideally suited to contribute to this vital national capability.”

Spaceport Cornwall’s involvement in the hypersonic framework reinforces its role as a hub for cutting-edge aerospace and defence innovation. As the UK advances its hypersonic capabilities, Spaceport Cornwall stands ready to support testing, development and deployment activities that will enhance Britain’s defence posture and protect national interests alongside allied partners.

15 Jul 25. Australian Defence announces purpose-built space workforce for Australian Defence Force. Defence has announced it will soon begin targeted recruitment for a purpose-built space workforce for the Australian Defence Force. The 2024 Defence Workforce Plan highlighted the need to recruit and retain highly specialised personnel for emerging capabilities, including space. To meet the demands of the evolving space domain, Defence will soon begin targeted recruitment and training for highly specialised roles to grow its existing space workforce across areas, including satellite communications and operations, position, navigation and timing, intelligence and surveillance. Defence’s current space workforce consists of diverse Navy, Army and Air Force personnel. From 2026, Air Force direct entry will be available for roles including space operations specialist and space operations officers.

“Our region is rapidly evolving, and space is a critical operational domain. By establishing a permanent space workforce, we are preparing Defence to lead, integrate and innovate in this contested and congested environment,” said Minister for Defence Personnel Matt Keogh, who has previously visited the Joint Commercial Operations Pacific Cell.

“Space capabilities will play a critical role in the execution of activities as part of Exercise Talisman Sabre 2025 alongside existing operational domains of maritime, land, air and cyber.

“People are at the centre of our advantage. Defence is building a sustainable space workforce through targeted recruitment, career pathways and joint training.

“The evolving space domain demands highly specialised roles and will provide our people with opportunities to shape how Australia operates in space.”

Emerging space capabilities are a focus of Exercise Talisman Sabre 2025, with Defence personnel working alongside international partners to conduct real-time and on-demand space demonstration exercises in Townsville. During the exercise, personnel will use commercially available data to provide timely and accurate reporting on space events and activities to support military operations. The evolving space domain demands highly specialised roles, requiring targeted career development and training continuums. The workforce will eventually cover the full spectrum of space mission sets, including satellite communications, position, navigation and timing, space domain awareness, missile warning, satellite operations, space control, environmental monitoring and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance. An Australian Defence Force career in space operations would potentially offer working with satellite systems and commercial partners, contributing to joint and coalition operations, members will be part of a frontier mission at the intersection of science, strategy and service. This purpose‑built space workforce would continue to work alongside Australian industry and commercial operations to deliver the capabilities and outcomes required by Australia’s strategic circumstances. In 2023, Space Command formally shifted from operating within the Air Force to being within the ADF’s Joint Capabilities Group. The move – revealed as part of the DSR into the military – was part of a broader shake-up that saw the newly formed No. 1 Space Surveillance Unit (1SSU) assume operation of Defence’s space domain awareness capabilities. The Labor federal government hoped the combined changes would “increase the importance” of Space Command and allow it to integrate better with other military branches. The DSR – penned by former defence minister Stephen Smith and former defence chief Sir Angus Houston – also said a method should be established for building and sustaining a trained Defence space workforce, including a defined career path. Defence Space Commander Major General Gregory Novak had previously declared that Space Command is now an equal partner to the Army, Navy, and Air Force. Talking at the SIAA’s annual conference in 2024, the service’s chief said he “personally doesn’t like the term of space as an enabler” because it doesn’t “cover the full root of what we do”.

“We do much more than enable. We are a peer operationally of the other domains of maritime, air and land, and we make equally significant contributions,” he said.

“We are in a much more contested and congested space at home than we’ve been in the past, and all the indicators are that trend will continue into the future.” (Source: Space Connect)

09 Jul 25. Globalstar’s launch services agreement with SpaceX. Globalstar, Inc. (NASDAQ: GSAT), a next-generation telecommunications infrastructure and technology provider, announces that the Company has signed an agreement with SpaceX for a Falcon 9 launch for the next set of satellites, pursuant to the 2022 satellite procurement agreement with MDA. As previously disclosed, these satellites will provide continuous satellite services in combination with the existing second-generation satellites in operation today. Globalstar CEO Dr. Paul Jacobs stated, “The launch services agreement with SpaceX represents another important milestone as we continue to execute on our construction and launch plan. These satellites, constructed by our partners at MDA and Rocket Lab, will enhance our ability to provide the highest quality satellite services to our customers over the long-term.” Globalstar expects the launch will take place next year following the initial launch this year. These satellites have been authorized by the Federal Communications Commission to operate under Globalstar’s HIBLEO-4 filing for a renewed 15-year term. (Source: Satnews)

10 Jul 25. Australia’s Gilmour Space Technologies plans maiden flight of Eris Test Flight1 on July 16, nation’s first orbital launch in over 50 years. Gilmour Space plans a Tuesday, July 16, launch for the maiden flight of Eris Test Flight1 at 2:30 PM – 12:30 AM PDT. The launch will be from Bowen Orbital Spaceport, a private orbital launch facility owned and operated by Gilmour Space hosts of the Eris Pad which has witnessed the launch of 0 rockets, including 0 orbital launch attempts. The forecast calls for a temperature of 53°F, few clouds, 15% cloud cover and a wind speed of 7mph. Gilmour Space Technologies is a venture-funded Australian space company headquartered in Queensland, Australia that is developing hybrid-engine rockets and associated technology to support the development of a low-cost space launch vehicle. Australia’s Gilmour Space Technologies ready to launch maiden Eris Test flight the nation’s first orbital launch in over 50 years

Gilmour Space Technologies is gearing up for their first Eris Test flight, no earlier than May 15. Gilmour Space’s Eris TestFlight1 will be the first Australian-made rocket, #Eris, to attempt orbit, and the nation’s first orbital launch in over 50 years. Gilmour’s vision: ALL ORBITS. ALL PLANETS ®

Weather forecast calls for a temperature of 77 °F, clear skies, 4% cloud cover and a wind speed of 5 mph. Gilmour Space Technologies is the leading launch services company in Australia, located in Bowen Orbital Spaceport, North Queensland, providing valuable access to space to global Commercial and Defense customers. Backed by some of the country’s biggest investors, Gilmour Space is tracking to launch Eris orbital launch vehicles and ElaraSat bus/platforms to Low Earth Orbits (LEO) from 2025. (Source: Satnews)

07 Jul 25. Could Amazon buy into AST SpaceMobile? An intriguing idea been floated around by Defence news expert Larry Ramer, suggesting that Amazon should buy — or make a considerable investment — in AST SpaceMobile. Ramer explained: “In light of the tremendous potential of AST’s technology, I also would not be surprised if AMZN eventually decides to buy AST for as much as $80 bn in a combination of cash and stock.” An Amazon investment/acquisition would allow their Project Kuiper satellite broadband to leapfrog their own deployment of Kuiper satellites with — arguably — AST’s superior craft. Moreover, AST has some extremely valuable contracts in hand, not least the Vodafone agreement and in particular the deal with Vodafone Idea (in India) as well as partnerships in place with AT&T and Verizon in the US. Ramer reminds readers that, according to one report: “More than 2.5 bn people globally still lack internet access.” and that, “large swaths of the world’s population still don’t have access to mobile internet primarily because of affordability.” In Bangladesh, Nigeria, and Pakistan, for example, just 37 per cent, 34 per cent and 24 per cent of the citizens respectively have mobile internet. Ramer also looks at the AST Board of Directors, and in particular AST Mexican board member Adriana Cisneros, whose Instagram account featured a picture of former Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos with AST’s CEO, Abel Avellan, and Cisneros. In the wake of Cisneros’ post, Scotiabank analyst Andres Coello wrote: “Could Jeff Bezos become an ASTS investor? This is a possibility widely discussed by investors and analysts, in no small measure because Bezos is one of the world’s top space investors.” The concept is that an Amazon stake in AST would guarantee access to AST’s satellites and its broadband technology. “These systems would likely enable Amazon to deploy its Project Kuiper initiative more quickly while greatly increasing the amount of revenue that it can generate,” suggests Ramer. Another close observer talks about a more modest investment, of about percent by Amazon into AST. The prize for Amazon is access to the AST’s many telco partners of a direct 450 m AST-linked subscribers. (Source: Satnews)

13 Jul 25. SpaceX launches highly secret Israeli communications satellite. SpaceX launched a Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station early Sunday carrying an Israel Aerospace Industries communications satellite, a payload that had been kept largely secret until liftoff.

“We at IAI are extremely proud of the development and successful launch into space of the State of Israel’s ‘Dror 1’ national communications satellite, Boaz Levy, CEO and President of IAI said in a statement. “Dror 1 is the most advanced communications satellite ever built in Israel, designed to preserve this national strategic capability in the country while providing Israel with essential satellite communications capabilities for years to come.” (Source: News Now/upi)

11 Jul 25. Rocket Lab Selects Bollinger Shipyards to Support Modification of Neutron Landing Platform. Rocket Lab Corporation (Nasdaq: RKLB) (“Rocket Lab” or “the Company”), a global leader in launch services and space systems, today announced it has awarded a contract to Bollinger Shipyards, the largest privately owned new construction and repair shipbuilder in the United States, to support the build out of Rocket Lab’s ocean landing platform for its Neutron reusable rocket. Modification and fit-out of Rocket Lab technology to its 400-ft-long landing platform named ‘Return On Investment’ has begun and is taking place at Bollinger Shipyards, primarily at its shipyard in Amelia, Louisiana, with delivery of the vessel to Rocket Lab expected in early 2026. Bollinger Shipyards, a premier builder of high-performance vessels, will leverage its extensive experience in marine engineering to complete the Rocket Lab-led design of the rocket-landing platform that includes autonomous ground support equipment, blast shielding for on-deck equipment protection during Neutron landings, and station-keeping thrusters for the platform to hold its position during Neutron return-to-Earth missions at sea. Reusability is key to Rocket Lab’s development of Neutron. To meet the increasing demand for regular and reliable launch to space for large single satellites, multi-satellite constellation deployment, and high assurance national security missions, Rocket Lab expects to quickly scale Neutron and double its launch capacity annually once it enters service – with “Return On Investment” integral to that effort. Rocket Lab’s development of recovery infrastructure in Louisiana builds upon the Company’s existing U.S. expansion plans for Neutron’s operations and development, with “Return On Investment” to be operated out of the U.S. East Coast to support timely delivery and return of Neutron rockets to its launch site on Wallops Island, Virginia.

Rocket Lab Vice President – Neutron, Shaun D’Mello, says: “Neutron’s ability to return to Earth on “Return On Investment” and launch again and again will be foundational to its success. With Bollinger’s extensive experience in marine engineering and shipbuilding, they have been selected to deliver this critical project. We’re looking forward to working with Bollinger to create the conditions to modernize Louisiana’s shipyard capabilities to meet the demands of the aerospace industry’s cutting-edge capabilities.”

Bollinger Shipyards President and CEO, Ben Bordelon, says: “Bollinger is proud to partner with Rocket Lab on a project that showcases both the ingenuity and innovation of American shipbuilding and the future of space flight. At Bollinger, we’ve spent decades building some of the most advanced vessels in the world. We’re honored to have been selected to bring our deep expertise and experience in marine engineering and fabrication to a program that pushes the boundaries of what’s possible.” (Source: ASD Network)

11 Jul 25. ALL.SPACE Announces Hydra MAX: World’s 1st Dual-beam, Full-duplex, 500MHz Satcom Terminal for On-the-move Connectivity

ALL.SPACE, the leader in multi-orbit, software-defined satcom capabilities, has successfully demonstrated its next-generation Hydra MAX communications platform.
Hydra MAX delivers a world first of 500MHz of instantaneous bandwidth per beam, totalling a full 1GHz of aggregate bandwidth across the commercial & military Ka bands, from a single, compact, 86cm on-the-move terminal.

UK-based ALL.SPACE has revealed a major advancement in mobile satellite communications with the successful demonstration of Hydra MAX – the first network independent terminal of its kind to deliver ultra wideband communications to multiple satellites simultaneously.

Hydra MAX enables simultaneous connections (full duplex, i.e. both transmit and receive on each beam), unlocking resilient connectivity across all orbits – including next-generation LEO Ka-band networks – even in the most demanding operational environments. With military-grade ruggedness and full integration of modems, tactical comms and edge computing, it marks a significant leap in the capabilities of mobile communications systems.

Unlike other systems that can only switch between multiple orbits, Hydra MAX is truly full-duplex – capable of sending and receiving data on both beams at the same time, across the full scan range. Unlocking the ability to hold connections to two or more independent networks at the same time. This technical breakthrough sets ALL.SPACE apart as the only terminal provider offering this level of capability and performance in such a rugged, mobile form-factor.

Hydra MAX will connect seamlessly across LEO, MEO, HEO and GEO satellites, including WGS, SES’s O3b mPOWER, Viasat 3 & GX, emerging Ka-band constellations such as Amazon Kuiper & Telesat Lightspeed. With advanced digital beamforming technology enabling mono-pulse tracking at over 400Hz, it maintains high-integrity links even under the most intense motion profiles, ensuring uninterrupted connectivity for mission-critical operations on the move.

Engineered for the world’s most demanding use cases, Hydra MAX also supports defence-grade, frequency-hopping sovereign waveforms over the Military Ka-band frequencies, offering unmatched resilience to electronic warfare and jamming threats. With four field-swappable bays for integrated modems, tactical radios, or edge compute, and full MIL-STD 810 certification, it’s battle-ready – proven to perform across maritime and land platforms while maneuvering at speed over the roughest terrain.

John-Paul Szczepanik, CTO, ALL.SPACE, said: “Hydra MAX is not just a product milestone – it’s a signal to the market that ALL.SPACE is redefining what’s possible in mobile communication. Simultaneous multi-beam, full-duplex, wideband connectivity – while moving, while under threat, while connected to three different orbits if you want.

“Hydra KuKa will take this even further, continuing to place ALL.SPACE as the go-to for defence and commercial customers looking for performance, flexibility and resilience.”

The innovation doesn’t stop with MAX. Building on this breakthrough, ALL.SPACE is now advancing its third-generation platform: Hydra KuKa – extending its dual-beam, full-duplex, 500MHz, capability across both Ku- and Ka-bands simultaneously.

Following a successful proof-of-concept demonstration in September 2024 and a Preliminary Design Review (PDR) with a key customer in May 2025, Hydra KuKa is now progressing through final design, test, and certification. This next-generation platform is set to deliver the ultimate in satcom interoperability across every major satellite network out there – and usher in a new era of true hybrid mobile connectivity. (Source: ASD Network)

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SATELLITE SYSTEMS, SATCOM AND SPACE SYSTEMS UPDATE

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09 Jul 25. During a recent visit to Japan, Canadian Space Agency (CSA) President Lisa Campbell met with Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) President Hiroshi Yamakawa to explore new avenues for collaboration and opportunities for enhanced partnerships. The meeting reaffirmed the longstanding and productive relationship between the two space agencies ranging from their partnership in the International Space Station, the International Charter Space and Major Disasters, and the renewal of their commitment to sharing valuable Earth observation data – a collaboration that started in 2021. Canada and Japan have a long history of cooperation. Together, the CSA and JAXA are working on complementary lunar exploration technologies to help establish a long-term human presence on the Moon. Looking ahead, both countries are focused on developing next-generation technologies to ensure a sustainable and secure future in space. The CSA delegation also took part in the SPACETIDE conference to showcase the Canadian space program and its vibrant industrial capabilities, while engaging with the Japanese space sector. The objective was to broaden awareness and lay the groundwork for potential future Canada–Japan industry relations and business development. As the global space environment grows more complex, strong international partnerships are essential. Canada remains committed to working closely with like-minded countries like Japan to advance peaceful exploration, strengthen industry ties, and support innovation that benefits humanity as a whole.

Quotes

“Canada and Japan have a rich history of scientific and technological advancement, sharing a common vision for the peaceful and innovative use of space. By developing our strengths and innovating side by side, Canada and Japan are not only positioned for future growth but are also laying the vital foundations for the future of space exploration.” —The Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Industry and Minister responsible for Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions

“By strengthening our collaboration with Japan, whether in Earth observation, lunar exploration, or industry development, we are advancing shared priorities like sustainability, resilience, and new economic opportunities.” —Lisa Campbell, President of the Canadian Space Agency

“The visit of President Campbell was a valuable opportunity for JAXA and the CSA to renew the commitment to our strengthening partnership. We were also able to introduce JAXA’s diverse research and development activities, including initiatives such as Earth observation, lunar missions, space science exploration and Space Strategy Fund. JAXA looks forward to continuing this longstanding relationship to support the peaceful and sustainable use of outer space as well as the advancement of science and technology.” —Hiroshi Yamakawa, President of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency

Quick facts

Canada and Japan are both members of the International Charter Space and Major Disasters. With 17 Charter members and 270 contributing satellites from around the world, the Charter allows for resources and expertise to be organized for a quick response to catastrophic events.
Canada and Japan have been proud partners in the International Space Station (ISS) since the inception of the project in the 1980s. So far, eight JAXA astronauts have completed their robotics training at the CSA’s Robotics Training Centre to learn how to operate Canadarm2 while on board the ISS.
In 2009, Canadarm2’s first cosmic catch was JAXA’s HTV cargo ship. This year, Canadarm2 will catch JAXA’s new HTV-X vehicle and berth it to the ISS.
The CSA is supporting the participation of two scientists from Canada on the X-Ray Imaging and Spectroscopy (XRISM) mission. Led by JAXA, XRISM is an international space mission that studies extreme events in space and furthers our understanding of the universe. (Source: PR Newswire)

09 Jul 25. MDA Space (TSX: MDA), a trusted mission partner to the rapidly expanding global space industry, announced that it has digitally formed and steered multiple beams with its Ka-band direct radiating array (DRA) using direct sampling, a first in the industry. Digitally formed beams, multiple simultaneous beams, and electronically steered beams are among the key features of the MDA AURORATM Ka-band DRA. Their successful validation marks a significant breakthrough in satellite communication systems that support broadband connectivity and 5G networks. It also marks a key milestone in the development of the digital payload technology for the MDA AURORATM software-defined product line for next-generation satellite constellations Beam forming and steering with Ka-band DRAs has typically relied on intermediate frequency conversion whereas MDA Space’s use of direct sampling results in a more efficient and effective approach, allowing customers to save on satellite costs, mass and power consumption. MDA AURORATM enables the DRA to deliver signals where they are needed and when they are needed, while maximizing the use of the satellite resources. In addition, MDA AURORATM is highly scalable, capable of handling hundreds of array elements and providing multiple simultaneous high-capacity spot beams that can be electronically steered, offering a new level of flexibility and performance. This capability is particularly valuable for satellite operators seeking to support 5G networks and the growing demand for data-intensive services, where high-speed, low-latency connectivity is essential.

“With MDA AURORATM, we’re providing a highly flexible and adaptable solution that can be tailored to meet each customer’s specific requirements,” said Luigi Pozzebon, Vice-President of Satellite Systems at MDA Space. “The successful demonstration of our Ka-band DRA technology is a critical step towards delivering those advanced capabilities that will help customers compete in the rapidly evolving satellite communications market.”

Customers can now observe functioning MDA AURORATM technology in a specially designed demonstration lab at the company’s manufacturing facility in Montréal. This includes the formation and steering of beams through thermal imaging, as the heat the beams generate on the test chamber surface is captured. The lab features a DRA prototype that will ultimately be connected to an onboard processor (OBP) prototype to demonstrate the full communication chain between a gateway ground station and a user terminal, providing a comprehensive view of the system’s end-to-end capabilities. (Source: PR Newswire)

08 Jul 25. GKN Aerospace and ArianeGroup strengthen partnership with new Ariane 6 contract.

Agreement reinforces a long-term partnership that plays a key role in securing Europe’s independent access to space
Frame Contract secures GKN Aerospace’s role in exploitation phase – the operational launch phase – of Ariane 6
ArianeGroup retains supplier of critical components for both Vulcain 2.1 and Vinci engines for the industrial ramp-up of Ariane 6
Space market also a leading driver of innovation and technology for GKN Aerospace’s wider business

GKN Aerospace and ArianeGroup have signed a new Frame Contract for the operational phase of Ariane 6, securing Europe’s access to space for years to come and building on a partnership spanning over five decades. It is the first agreement between ArianeGroup and a major industrial partner as the new European launcher enters its industrial ramp-up. The new agreement confirms GKN Aerospace’s continued deliveries to the Ariane 6 program throughout the launcher’s operational life, following its successful maiden flight in July 2024 and the first commercial mission in March 2025.

ArianeGroup, a French-German leader in space technology, secures several mission-critical components for the Ariane 6 launch vehicle supplied by GKN Aerospace, including:

-LH₂ and LOX turbines for the first-stage Vulcain 2.1 engine

-Nozzle extension for the Vulcain 2.1 engine

-LH₂ and LOX turbines for the second-stage Vinci engine

These components have been developed in collaboration with ArianeGroup under a European Space Agency (ESA) programme and are produced at GKN Aerospace’s engines centre of excellence in Trollhättan, Sweden.

Ariane 6 is Europe’s next-generation launch vehicle, ensuring independent access to space and offering an efficient, flexible solution for a wide range of institutional and commercial missions. It is launched from the Guiana Space Centre in Kourou, French Guiana.

Stefan Oscarsson, Senior Vice President Engines, said: “We are proud to continue our long-term collaboration within the Ariane programme. Signing this contract secures our future contribution to European space launch capability and reinforces our partnership with ArianeGroup as we move forward with Ariane 6.”

Stéphane Nogatchewsky, Chief Procurement Officer ArianeGroup, said: “This fruitful collaboration with a major industrial partner is an important step towards the Ariane 6 program. I would like to thank the teams at GKN Aerospace and ArianeGroup. This contract shows the progress in the negotiations with our partners for the exploitation phase and underscores our determination to make the Ariane 6 ramp-up a success.”

GKN Aerospace has been a trusted partner in the Ariane programme since its inception. This new contract marks the next chapter in a long-standing collaboration, focused on innovation, reliability, and ensuring Europe’s independent access to space.

10 Jul 25. SATIM Inc., a global leader in AI-powered object detection and classification on Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) imagery, has entered into a strategic collaboration with Ursa Space Systems, a pioneer in applied satellite intelligence and operator of the world’s largest virtual SAR constellation. Through this partnership, SATIM’s cutting-edge object detection and classification software will be made available via Ursa Space’s platform, enhancing the analytical capabilities accessible to Ursa Space’s global user base. The partnership marks a significant milestone for both companies in expanding the accessibility and operational impact of SAR-based analytics. By combining SATIM’s advanced AI-driven processing with Ursa Space’s unparalleled data access and delivery infrastructure, the collaboration is set to provide mission-critical insights for government and commercial users worldwide.

30 Jun 25. Axient selected for USSF STEP 2.0 contract to accelerate military space innovation. Astrion, through its legacy company Axient LLC, was selected earlier this month by the U.S. Space Force (USSF) as one of 12 awardees on the Space Test Experiments (STEP) 2.0 program. STEP 2.0, a 10-year, multi-award Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract worth up to $237m, aims to advance military space technology, reduce costs, and streamline processes by harnessing the latest in commercial innovation. Astrion and the other contract awardees will bid on task orders to build modular satellites and integrate them with various experimental payloads, enabling USSF to conduct tests on emerging technologies on-orbit. Astrion has a long history of partnership with USSF Space Systems Command, supporting critical programs including the National Security Space Launch, Missile Warning, Global Positioning, and New Entrant Certification missions. In addition, for nearly two decades Astrion teammate Orion Space Solutions, an Arcfield Company, has developed trusted space-based solutions for the national security and intelligence communities. Administered by USSF’s Space Systems Command’s (SSC) Department of Defense (DoD) Space Test Program (STP), STEP 2.0 is expected to issue its first delivery order in January 2026. Other organizations selected for the STEP 2.0 contract include Blue Canyon Technologies, General Atomics, Lockheed Martin Corp., Loft Orbital Federal, Lynk Global, Orbit Systems, Spire Global Subsidiary, Turion Space Corp., Tyvak Nano-Satellite Systems, Utah State University Space Dynamics Lab, and York Space Systems. Dan Benjamin, Astrion’s Executive Vice President and General Manager, Space, said, “We look forward to this opportunity to build on our space integration history delivering our extensive experience, bold ideas, and unmatched execution in support of STEP 2.0.” (Source: Satnews)

01 Jul 25. Oxford Space Systems deploys S-Band helical antenna for Astro Digital enhancing satellite communication capabilities. Oxford Space Systems, a leading innovator in deployable antennas for space, was successful with the on-orbit deployment of an S-band isoflux helical antenna for Astro Digital, a provider of satellite systems. The isoflux pattern enables wide and consistent coverage on the ground, enhancing satellite communication capabilities. This deployment builds on a strong collaboration between Oxford Space Systems and Astro Digital, supporting multiple satellites with advanced antenna solutions. The S-band antenna was designed and manufactured by Oxford Space Systems to meet Astro Digital’s mission requirements. Its compact stowage and robust deployment mechanism ensure efficient use of spacecraft volume and mass, while delivering high-performance S-band communications for data transmission and ground coverage.

Sean Sutcliffe, CEO of Oxford Space Systems, commented, “The successful deployment and performance verification at high power of our S-band isoflux helical antenna for Astro Digital is a clear demonstration of our engineering expertise and commitment to mission success. We are proud to continue supporting Astro Digital with agile and reliable deployable antenna solutions.

Chris Biddy, CEO of Astro Digital, added, “We value our partnership with Oxford Space Systems and are pleased with the successful deployment of this S-band antenna. Their innovative approach to deployable antennas continues to support our mission needs and enables us to deliver reliable communications for our customers.”

Following deployment, the antenna underwent a transmit test, which confirmed its operational performance in orbit.

This deployment reinforces Oxford Space Systems’ position as a trusted partner in the global space industry, delivering high-performance deployable antennas for commercial and government missions. (Source: Satnews)

Rocket Lab Founder and CEO, Sir Peter Beck, says, “Electron has demonstrated once again that it is the gold standard for responsive and reliable space access for small satellites. The future of space is built on proven performance, and Electron continues to deliver against a stacked launch manifest this year. Congratulations to the team on achieving its fastest launch turnaround yet between two missions from Launch Complex 1. This launch was also a quick-turn mission to meet our customer’s mission requirements, and we’re looking forward to doing it again later this year.”

‘Symphony In The Stars’ was Rocket Lab’s 10th Electron mission of 2025 and its 68th launch overall. With 100% mission success so far this year, Electron continues to deliver reliable deployment amid an increasing launch cadence and rapid contract-to-launch timelines. Rocket Lab has now completed four launches in June for commercial satellite constellation operators, underscoring Electron’s consistent performance and rapid deployment capabilities as the world’s leading small launcher: the “Full Stream Ahead” mission on June 3rd; “ (Source: Satnews)

01 Jul 25. SpaceX’s Falcon 9 launches MTG-Sounder satellite to address air pollution and extreme weather events + ESA + EUMETSAT. On Tuesday, July 1 at 5:04 p.m. ET, Falcon 9 launched the Eumetsat MTG-S1 mission to geosynchronous transfer orbit from Launch Complex 39A (LC-39A) at Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Both MTG and Copernicus Sentinel-4 are world-class Earth observation missions developed with European partners to address scientific and societal challenges, such as air pollution and extreme weather events. While the MTG-Sounder (MTG-S1) will provide improved data for weather forecasting and storm detection, Sentinel-4 will enhance air quality monitoring over Europe.

This was the ninth flight for the Falcon 9 first stage booster supporting this mission, which previously launched Crew-9, RRT-1, Firefly Blue Ghost Mission 1, Fram2, SXM-10, and three Starlink missions. (Source: Satnews)

29 Jun 25. Arianespace to launch CO3D + MicroCarb satellites via Vega C. On July 25, 2025, Arianespace will place into orbit Airbus Defence and Space’s CO3D satellites, as well as the CNES’s MicroCarb satellite, with a Vega C rocket. The CO3D mission is a constellation (Constellation Optique en 3D) composed of four small satellites which are set to map the globe in 3D from LEO, serving public and private sector needs. The MicroCarb mission is designed to map sources and sinks of carbon dioxide (CO2) – the most important greenhouse gas – on a global scale. This data will answer both the military need for precise and up-to-date cartography as well as civil applications such as hydrology, geology, civil security, urban planning and land and resource management. The CNES’ MicroCarb mission is designed to map sources and sinks of carbon dioxide (CO₂), the most important greenhouse gas, on a global scale. The satellite’s dispersive spectrometer instrument will measure atmospheric concentration of CO₂ globally with a high degree of precision. MicroCarb’s platform is based out of the lastest CNES Myriade model. Its instrument was built by Airbus Defence and Space, and the integration was realized by Thales Alenia Space UK through a dedicated partnership implemented with the UK Space Agency.

The VV27 launch at a glance:

354th launch by Arianespace, 5th Vega C launch
10% of the satellites launched by Arianespace are Earth observation satellites
147th-150th spacecraft built by Airbus Defence and Space launched by Arianespace (CO3D, 4 satellites)
108th spacecraft built by Thales Alenia Space launched by Arianespace (MicroCarb platform) (Source: Satnews)

Founded in 2017, MatrixSpace is creating the next generation of artificial intelligence enabled sensing solutions to digitize the outdoors beyond the limits of human perception.

The MatrixSpace expeditionary radar kit fits in a standard daypack and contains everything needed to deliver actionable detections to an ATAK mobile device in less than 5 mins.

Visit maxtrixspace.com

SATELLITE SYSTEMS, SATCOM AND SPACE SYSTEMS UPDATE

July 4, 2025 by

Sponsored by MatrixSpace

http://matrixspace.com

02 Jun 25. SpaceX launches Starlink Group 10-34 on Saturday, the first of two missions from both coasts. On Saturday, June 28 at 12:26 a.m. ET, Falcon 9 launched 27 Starlink Group 10-34 smallsats to low-Earth orbit from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. This launch set a new launchpad turnaround record in the predawn hours of Saturday when it launched its latest Falcon 9 rocket. Photos by Satnews. This was the 5th flight for the first stage booster supporting this mission, which previously launched CRS-32, NROL-69, GPS III-7, and now two Starlink missions. The early morning launch carried 27 Starlink satellites and the afternoon liftoff sent 26 more of the relay satellites skyward, totaling SpaceX’s network to more than 7,900 active units, per satellite tracker Jonathan McDowell. (Source: Satnews)

02 Jul 25. UK’s Orbex and Germany’s Exolaunch Sign Strategic Partnership Agreement In Launch Services. The Agreement with Exolaunch will provide end-to-end launch services for small satellites on both Orbex Prime and Proxima. Orbex, the UK-based orbital launch services company, has today announced a strategic five-year partnership with Exolaunch, a global leader in launch services, mission management, deployment systems and integration services for small satellites The agreement will see Orbex and Exolaunch collaborate to provide end-to-end launch services for small satellites. Exolaunch will utilise launch capacity and integrate customer payloads with Orbex’s launch vehicles, Prime and the new medium-sized launcher, Proxima, while Orbex will benefit from Exolaunch’s deployment systems, rideshare structures and global market outreach. In addition, Orbex will work with Exolaunch on future Orbex Prime and Proxima missions to address the growing demand for micro and cube satellite launch services. Exolaunch will provide its flight-proven separation systems for cubesats and microsatellites, with its hardware positioned as the deployment solution for Orbex customers across dedicated and rideshare missions. The partnership also includes the use of Exolaunch’s EXOtube, a modular and scalable launch platform designed to optimize satellite constellations’ launch configurations, increase mission flexibility, and enhance vehicle utilization. The teams will further collaborate on launch campaign planning, satellite integration, and on-site execution support. (Source: ASD Network)

30 Jun 25. Bengaluru-based SatSure, a full-stack satellite Earth Observation (EO) and Decision Intelligence company, announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Hyderabad-based Dhruva Space, a leading full-stack Space solutions provider with proven expertise in satellite platforms, launch services, and ground station infrastructure. This strategic partnership aims to unify the two companies’ end-to-end, indigenously-developed capabilities across the upstream and downstream segments of the Space value chain, addressing the needs of both strategic and commercial stakeholders with high-reliability, homegrown technology. This strategic collaboration aims to provide one-stop-shop support for the world’s growing Space-based observation needs by combining SatSure subsidiary KaleidEO’s next-generation analytical solutions with Dhruva Space’s expertise in small satellite platforms, critical subsystems, and system integration.

Speaking about the development, Prateep Basu, Founder & CEO, SatSure, said, “We are very excited to be joining forces with Dhruva Space, which will enable us both to harness the best of Indian ingenuity and technological prowess. This partnership is poised to boost our sovereign EO capabilities and create a complete package for end customers who need both high-quality data and end-to-end solutions.”

Sanjay Nekkanti, Founder & CEO, Dhruva Space, also comments on the partnership, “This collaboration with SatSure marks a significant step in building a vertically integrated, sovereign Space ecosystem – one that bridges satellite platform development with actionable intelligence. By leveraging Dhruva Space’s end-to-end capabilities spanning satellite platform development, launch integration, and ground segment infrastructure, in conjunction with KaleidEO’s cutting-edge Earth Observation payloads and analytics stack, this collaboration is poised to significantly optimise mission timelines and deliver actionable insights for critical applications across both very critical sectors.”

SatSure, known for its innovative demand-driven approach in increasing adoption of Space Technologies by non-traditional commercial users, spun out KaleidEO in 2022 which has built two high-resolution optical and multi-spectral payloads.

With a proven track record of Space heritage built over the past four years, Dhruva Space is now scaling its infrastructure with the development of a state-of-the-art 280,000 square-foot spacecraft manufacturing facility. This expansion is designed to address the rising global demand for satellite platforms and Space-enabled services across strategic and commercial domains. The facility, located in Hyderabad, Telangana, is the first-of-its-kind in India and designed to support end-to-end capabilities for the design, engineering, assembly, integration, and testing of spacecrafts weighing up to 500 kg. This partnership aims to offer a fully indigenous solution that spans payload development to platform deployment, enabling faster, more cost-effective access to high-quality Earth Observation data for a wide spectrum of users across sectors. (Source: PR Newswire)

21 Jun 25. On June 21st, Space Inventor will launch Denmark’s 1st satellite into orbit. The BIFROST satellite with the CEO & owner of Space Inventor, Karl Kaas. On June 21st, Space Inventor will launch Denmark’s 1st satellite into orbit—BIFROST is a Danish-Swedish surveillance satellite originally developed by the company Space Inventor. Terma, Gatehouse Satcom, DTU, and Swedish Unibap Space Solutions have joined the satellite development project, which is financially supported by DALO (Danish Defence Acquisition and Logistics Organisation) under the Danish Ministry of Defence and FMV (Swedish Defence Materiel Administration) under the Swedish Ministry of Defence. After seven years of development, this smallsat will be launched into orbit on June 21st from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. The launch is initiated by the Danish and Swedish Defence ministries as part of the Danish government’s Space Strategy for Research and Innovation 2025–2035, introduced in 2024. The strategy highlights the Arctic as a security policy priority, where space-based technologies play a vital role in supporting the tasks of the military and emergency services. These include, for example, monitoring navigation in icy waters, search and rescue operations, and enforcing sovereignty across the Kingdom of Denmark. The satellite represents a pioneering Danish achievement, combining state-of-the-art technologies within artificial intelligence, advanced sensor systems, inter-satellite communication, and modern satellite design. BIFROST is engineered specifically for the Danish and Swedish Defence forces and will enable space-based surveillance, target identification, and real-time event reporting in the North Atlantic and Arctic regions. The satellite’s purpose is to strengthen AI-supported situational awareness and tactical observations, improving Denmark and Sweden’s capabilities to respond quickly and share data across European and international partnerships. Space is an increasingly strategic domain for defence policy. This satellite launch clearly demonstrates the potential of space-based technologies to contribute to both Danish and Nordic security and defence. Denmark is highly invested in the future of the space sector, and these solutions give us the ability to monitor every corner of the Kingdom. The satellite will provide important knowledge to our armed forces. As space technologies evolve rapidly worldwide, Danish companies continue to show great innovation and ingenuity. I look forward to following this mission closely,” said Troels Lund Poulsen, Danish Minister of Defence. Many skilled people have put in countless hours developing the BIFROST satellite, and it highlights the strength of close collaboration between the space industry, academia, and the military in both countries. With this launch, we are entering orbit on a mission to explore faster and more efficient surveillance of Greenland, the Arctic, and the North Atlantic region. The satellite is based on Space Inventor’s microsatellite platform, integrating advanced technologies for surveillance and target recognition with artificial intelligence. This creates new possibilities that neither Denmark nor Sweden have had access to before,”” said Karl Kaas, founder and CEO of Space Inventor, and initiator of the BIFROST satellite. The launch from Vandenberg Space Force Base can be followed online. The planned launch time is June 21st at 21:19 UTC (23:19 Danish time). (Source: Satnews)

26 Jun 25. RTX provides Blue Canyon satellite to shape future space missions. Blue Canyon Technologies, RTX’s (NYSE: RTX) launched a CubeSat in support of ARCSTONE, a NASA mission to measure lunar spectral reflectance, or the way sunlight is reflected back from the Moon’s surface at different wavelengths of light—the ARCSTONE mission will use the data it collects to help calibrate space-based imagers for earth observation. Sunlight, reflected from Earth, carries a vast amount of information into space about the planet’s surface, atmosphere and its composition. ARCSTONE will use a spectrometer to precisely measure reflected sunlight from the entire lunar disk. This cannot be done as effectively from Earth’s surface due to interference from the atmosphere. The ARCSTONE observatory is shown in LEO with the spectrometer viewing the Sun and Moon. The spacecraft rotates in order to view the Moon or the Sun. In addition to building the spacecraft, Blue Canyon Technologies will also provide mission operations support, making approximately three contacts with the satellite per day. The ARCSTONE spacecraft is Blue Canyon’s 66th CubeSat to launch into orbit, bringing the company’s total number of CubeSat and microsatellite spacecraft launched to 84 units. The satellite was designed using the company’s guidance, navigation and control systems to enable high pointing accuracy and agility for targeting. Pointing accuracy describes the process of orienting a spacecraft which is especially important in data collection missions. The spacecraft was assembled at Blue Canyon’s CubeSat factory in Boulder, Colorado, and mission operations will be conducted from the company’s Mission Operations Center in Lafayette. One of the most challenging tasks in remote sensing from space is achieving required instrument calibration accuracy on-orbit,” said Dr. Constantine Lukashin, physical research scientist at NASA’s Langley Research Center and principal investigator for the ARCSTONE mission. “The Moon is an excellent and available source for calibration with the potential for high accuracy. ARCSTONE will enable multiple spaceborne assets to improve quality of measurements and data products for generations to come.” (Source: Satnews)

24 Jun 25. United Launch Alliance + Amazon launch the Kuiper 2 mission. A United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V rocket carrying the Kuiper 2 mission for Amazon’s Project Kuiper lifted off on June 23 at 6:54 a.m. EDT from Space Launch Complex-41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. This mission marks the next step in Amazon’s initiative to provide fast, reliable internet to customers around the world, including those in unserved and underserved communities. The Kuiper 2 launch deployed the second batch of operational Project Kuiper satellites into the intended orbit. There are six remaining Kuiper missions on the Atlas V rocket, building up to 38, high-cadence, rapid fire launches on the next-generation Vulcan rocket. ULA will deliver more than half of the Project Kuiper constellation’s 3,200 satellites, through the world’s largest commercial launch agreement. We are proud to continue our strong partnership with Amazon and empower their mission to bridge the digital divide through reliable satellite technology,” said Gary Wentz, ULA vice president of Government and Commercial Programs. “ULA, working as a catalyst to global connectivity in collaboration with Amazon, enables delivery of these critical satellites designed to drive innovation and connect the world.” (Source: Satnews)

23 Jun 25. SpaceX launches the Transporter-14 on a dedicated smallsat rideshare mission from foggy Vandenberg. On Monday, June 23 at 2:25 p.m. PT, Falcon 9 launched the Transporter-14 mission to low-Earth orbit from Space Launch Complex 4E (SLC-4E) at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. Photos by Satnews. This was the 26th flight for the first stage booster supporting this mission which previously launched NROL-87, NROL-85, SARah-1, SWOT, Transporter-8, Transporter-9, NROL-146, Bandwagon-2, NROL-153, NROL-192, and 15 Starlink missions. Transporter-14 was a dedicated smallsat rideshare mission. There were 70 payloads on this flight, including cubesats, microsats, re-entry capsules, and orbital transfer vehicles carrying three of those payloads to be deployed at a later time. (Source: Satnews)

28 Jun 25. Rocket Lab launches ‘Symphony In The Stars’ and achieves new record of two launches under 48 hours. Rocket Lab Corporation (Nasdaq: RKLB) (“Rocket Lab” or “the Company”), provider of launch services and space systems, today successfully launched its 68th Electron rocket to deploy a single satellite to space for a confidential commercial customer. The ‘Symphony In The Stars’ mission lifted-off from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1 in Mahia, New Zealand on June 28th (7:08 p.m./07:08 UTC) to deploy a single spacecraft to a 650km circular Earth orbit. The mission was the first of two dedicated launches for the new customer on Electron booked less than four months ago, with a second mission scheduled before the end of 2025. The mission was the second of two launches from the same launch site in less than 48 hours, a new launch record for the Company as it continues to deliver dedicated, repeatable and reliable access to space for satellite operators. Rocket Lab Founder and CEO, Sir Peter Beck, says, “Electron has demonstrated once again that it is the gold standard for responsive and reliable space access for small satellites. The future of space is built on proven performance, and Electron continues to deliver against a stacked launch manifest this year. Congratulations to the team on achieving its fastest launch turnaround yet between two missions from Launch Complex 1. This launch was also a quick-turn mission to meet our customer’s mission requirements, and we’re looking forward to doing it again later this year.” ‘Symphony In The Stars’ was Rocket Lab’s 10th Electron mission of 2025 and its 68th launch overall. With 100% mission success so far this year, Electron continues to deliver reliable deployment amid an increasing launch cadence and rapid contract-to-launch timelines. (Source: Satnews)

Founded in 2017, MatrixSpace is creating the next generation of artificial intelligence enabled sensing solutions to digitize the outdoors beyond the limits of human perception.

The MatrixSpace expeditionary radar kit fits in a standard daypack and contains everything needed to deliver actionable detections to an ATAK mobile device in less than 5 mins.

Visit maxtrixspace.com

SATELLITE SYSTEMS, SATCOM AND SPACE SYSTEMS UPDATE

June 27, 2025 by

Sponsored by MatrixSpace

http://matrixspace.com

26 Jun 25. Pacific Defense, the leading provider of Modular Open Systems Approach (MOSA) products, announced it has secured the inaugural launch for its Moonraker MOSA space Radio Frequency (RF) payload on board the K2 Space Gravitas Mission in February 2026. The mission includes a series of multi-orbit Space Situational Awareness (SSA) demonstrations showcasing the payload’s mission flexibility. Moonraker is a 3U Open VPX multi-function, RF payload with application software capable of performing a range of RF missions that fundamentally changes the cost, schedule, and deployment concept for responsive space missions. Designed for SSA, Moonraker payload architecture fully supports a range of receive and transmit Electromagnetic Spectrum Operation (EMSO) functions to command the electromagnetic operational environment.

“We’re thrilled to take the United States Department of Defense’s MOSA initiative to new heights with Moonraker,” said Bryan Terlecky, Vice President of Space Systems at Pacific Defense. “As global space competition intensifies, there is a pressing need for adaptable, software-driven solutions that can rapidly evolve to counter emerging threats. This mission marks a significant step in our commitment to providing innovative and flexible solutions for space control”.

The on-orbit demonstration, being completed under a contract with the Air Force Research Lab/Space Vehicles Directorate (AFRL/RV), is a critical milestone for Pacific Defense’s Space MOSA payloads and will inform future operational systems. For more information, please visit Space Systems. (Source: BUSINESS WIRE)

25 Jun 25. GSOA welcomes the European Commission’s publication of the proposed EU Space Act and the accompanying Vision for the European Space Economy. These developments acknowledge the strategic relevance of space infrastructure and services for Europe’s economic resilience, technological sovereignty, competitiveness and digital future. As the EU advances its space agenda, it is essential to foster innovation, fair competition, and legal certainty across the space value chain. A coherent and proportionate regulatory framework, aligned with international obligations and cohesive across Member States, will be key to avoiding fragmentation of the internal market and preserving Europe’s global competitiveness while ensuring a level-playing field for all stakeholders. Europe needs a space regulation that is tailored for the industry to best respond to government’s and citizen’s needs, preserving competition both at national and international level. It is crucial to avoid duplication of existing national or EU-level rules and to refrain from introducing burdensome requirements that may stifle innovation, investment and growth. Notably, the security of space-based assets and services should build on the effective and cohesive implementation of existing EU legislation on cybersecurity and critical entities resilience, while ensuring consistency with global standards. Sustainability and responsibility in space activities are also imperative to 1) Mitigate the risk of in-orbit collision; 2) Minimise the Threat of Non-Trackable Debris; 3) Preserve human life in space; 4) Limit satellite reflectivity and the related impact on optical astronomy. GSOA remains committed to engaging constructively with EU institutions and stakeholders as these policy efforts evolve, and to supporting a balanced, pragmatic approach that reinforces the long-term viability and strategic relevance of the European space ecosystem.

25 Jun 25. Kongsberg Launches New Satellites to Complete N3X Space Constellation. Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace (’KONGSBERG’) has completed its N3X satellite constellation with the successful launch of two new microsatellites — ARVAKER 2 and 3 — aboard SpaceX’s Transporter-14 mission from California. The N3X satellite constellation is designed to enhance Norway’s maritime domain awareness.

“With our initial N3X satellite constellation in orbit, KONGSBERG’s role as one of Europe’s most integrated space system and surveillance providers has been proved again. With this and future constellations, we are ready to support Norway and other global customers with technology and services to enhance maritime security,” said Eirik Lie, President of Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace.

The N3X constellation is built for persistent monitoring of maritime activity. Its payloads include an Automatic Identification System (AIS) receiver and a navigation radar detector (NRD) both supplied by Kongsberg Discovery, and the NRD designed by Norwegian Defence Research Establishment (FFI). This combination enables N3X to identify cooperative vessels broadcasting AIS, as well as “dark vessels” that disable AIS but continue emitting radar signals. N3X satellites capture these emissions, allowing authorities to geolocate suspicious vessels and support maritime law enforcement, environmental monitoring, and rescue operations among other applications. The data from N3X will be utilized by the Norwegian Armed Forces, as well as other Norwegian government institutions involved in maritime security such as the Coastal Administration, the Directorate of Fisheries, and the Norwegian Customs. The development and deployment of the N3X constellation highlights KONGSBERG’s vertically integrated space capability: Kongsberg NanoAvionics manufactured three microsatellite platforms for the constellation, Kongsberg Discovery delivered payloads and KSAT (Kongsberg Satellite Services) are providing satellite operations and a global ground station network for low-latency data access. KONGSBERG companies and subsidiaries cover the full value chain to offer next-generation satellite systems, from delivering our own micro satellites and ground stations to market-leading data processing and analytics. KONGSBERG is uniquely positioned to deliver complete system solutions combing space segment with the ground systems to enhance data delivery and reduce latency. A central part of KONGSBERG’s capability is the ability to assemble, integrate and test satellites with sensitive and nationally controlled payloads in our facilities. In addition to the N3X satellites, KONGSBERG also successfully integrated and deployed four additional satellite missions aboard the same SpaceX launch. These satellites, delivered by Kongsberg NanoAvionics, serve customers from Germany, Spain, and New Zealand, and will conduct missions in air traffic surveillance, thermal intelligence, and fundamental space research. In total, KONGSBERG has launched 10 satellite missions so far in 2025, continuing its year-over-year expansion from 9 missions in 2024. (Source: ASD Network)

25 Jun 25. Space businesses react as UK government unveils Industrial Strategy. Space business leaders say the UK’s Modern Industrial Strategy, “sets the stage for timely and meaningful discussion at next month’s UK Space Conference”. As UK Space Conference prepares to convene on 16–17 July in Manchester, UK space business leaders have voiced broad support for the UK government’s new industrial strategy. The Industrial Strategy names space as a ‘frontier’ industry alongside 10 others “where investment supports both economic growth and security”. The space sector sits across two of the detailed sector plans, ‘Advanced Manufacturing’ and ‘Digital and Technologies’. On that basis, UK space businesses now sit squarely in two flagship sector programmes, potentially opening a broader pool of innovation grants, facilities, and cluster support.

Space Business Leader Reaction: UK Space Conference in Manchester on 16-17 July will be the first chance for space sector leaders to convene and discuss the implications of this announcement.

Nick Shave, Managing Director of Astroscale UK says: “The UK Government’s Modern Industrial Strategy marks a major step forward for the space sector, particularly for In-Orbit Servicing, Assembly, and Manufacturing (ISAM). With the Advanced Manufacturing Sector Plan, it creates a more supportive environment for high-assurance innovation, underpinned by commitments to R&D, infrastructure and skills. The strategy also strengthens national resilience by backing truly nationally separable capabilities in critical dual-purpose technologies and recognising space as part of the UK’s Critical National Infrastructure. At the same time, its export-focused approach positions UK ISAM capability to support allied missions and expand global partnerships — a vital balance for long-term competitiveness and security in space.

“The UK’s Modern Industrial Strategy is likely to make this year’s UK Space Conference more focused on both practical delivery and strategic collaboration. With space identified as a key growth sector linked to advanced manufacturing and national resilience, discussions will shift from exploring potential to shaping concrete plans around infrastructure, supply chain security, and export opportunities. The strategy’s emphasis on strengthening sovereign capabilities in critical technical areas and fostering international partnerships will encourage deeper dialogue on how the UK space sector can strengthen its global position while supporting defence and critical national infrastructure. Overall, the conference is set to bring together industry and government with a shared drive to accelerate the UK’s space ambitions and secure its position as a global leader, particularly in the high growth ISAM market.”

Lewis D’Ambra, Head of Government Affairs, Space Forge says: “The new Industrial Strategy signals a pivotal shift in how the UK backs its most promising space innovators. We welcome the government’s sharper focus on core capabilities – it’s exactly what’s needed to unlock scale and position the UK as a manufacturing powerhouse in orbit and on Earth. From advanced materials to in-orbit servicing and launch, this strategy connects the dots between innovation, industrialisation and sovereign capability – and Space Forge is ready to deliver on that vision.”

John Harrison, General Counsel and Head of Public Affairs, Airbus says: “Airbus welcomes the UK’s modern Industrial Strategy. Having worked closely with the Government to help shape this plan, we are delighted to see it deliver a long-term vision, built on a genuine partnership with industry.

“The firm long-term commitment to the full innovation lifecycle, from R&D in the Aerospace Technology Institute to a focus on commercialisation and supply chain resilience, provides the confidence and stability needed to fuel innovation and anchor high-value manufacturing in the UK for decades to come. The significant new investment in skills is also critical, creating a strong pipeline of engineering and digital talent, which will be the foundation for developing the sustainable technologies of the future, from hydrogen-powered aircraft to next-generation space systems. We stand ready to help turn this ambitious strategy into a reality for British industry.”

Daniel Smith, Founder, AstroAgency, says: “It’s encouraging to see the UK’s Industrial Strategy recognise space technology as both critical infrastructure and a key driver of economic growth, underpinning a wide range of business sectors. With effective delivery, it has the potential to catalyse the sovereign capabilities and resilience the industry has long called for. Alongside the Strategic Defence Review, it sets the stage for timely and meaningful discussion at next month’s UK Space Conference in Manchester.”

Jake Geer, Managing Director Orbit Fab UK says: “The inclusion of space in the Industrial Strategy, and the renewed focus on the five capability areas like IOSM identified in the Space Industrial Plan, gives a clear signal to business about the UK’s readiness to scale-up. At a time when many other European nations are doubling their space commitments, the UK government endorsing space as a key growth industry is particularly welcome. The UK needs to move fast to deliver these commitments, and we now wait to see how, when and at what speed the Spending Review will implement the planned interventions.”

Dr. Marco Rocchetto, CEO of Spaceflux says: “Spaceflux welcomes the UK’s Modern Industrial Strategy, published this morning. Combined with targeted support for areas such as space situational awareness and in-orbit activities that advance both sustainability and security, the strategy has the potential to make a meaningful impact on the space sector and the wider economy. We look forward to discussing next steps at the UK Space Conference in Manchester.”

Alan Thompson, Head of Government Affairs, Skyrora ltd says: “The Industrial Strategy most importantly signals the growing economic coherence and interconnectedness that will continue to enable growth and be further reinforced by faster growth of the UK Space industry.

“Highlighting the UK’s aspiration for In Orbit Service And Manufacturing and creating a green corridor for the start of a commercial Launch service, both will necessitate and inspire the further development of both satellites and spacecraft. This will also lead to the growth of “Next Space” companies developing on orbit services, following in the path of Space Forge, Astroscale, and Clear Space who are pioneering in partnering with regulators to achieve responsible deployment of their engineering capabilities.

“Coupled with longer term availability of funding resources, and a commitment to supporting with the education and skills ecosystem we see every reason to be hopeful in the Space industry about a strong industrial base being formed, and a clear strategic imperative emerging of the significance and importance of the Space domain to the UK.”

24 Jun 25. ICEYE, the global leader in Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) satellite operations and primary provider of critical infrastructure for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) to allied nations, has successfully launched and deployed six new SAR satellites into orbit, serving dedicated customer missions and expanding its own SAR satellite constellation – the largest in the world. This launch brings ICEYE’s total launched satellites to 54. All ICEYE satellites on the Transporter-14 launch are 25 cm class collectors, the highest fidelity in the industry. The launch marks ICEYE’s biggest to date, significantly accelerating the expansion of ICEYE’s constellation and its capabilities. The satellites were integrated via Exolaunch and successfully launched on June 23 aboard the Transporter-14 rideshare mission with SpaceX from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, USA. Each spacecraft has established communication, and routine commissioning operations are underway. These satellites were manufactured by ICEYE in Finland and ICEYE US in the United States. Yesterday, ICEYE announced that it has been selected to provide Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) systems to the Royal Netherlands Air Force (RNLAF). The first satellite of the agreement was launched into orbit aboard this Transporter-14 rideshare mission with SpaceX. The satellite was launched within four months of the agreement, a record delivery time, marking the first operational Dutch military satellite mission. With this launch, ICEYE successfully launched its second Generation 4 satellite (“Gen4”), following the first on Transporter-13 launch in March. Gen4 satellites extend ICEYE’s SAR leadership in national security and disaster response with the best SAR image quality available. It doubles the SAR antenna size and also the radiated SAR power, enabling 2x larger imaging areas (150-400 km swath width) and 30% more image detail. Additional upgrades include advanced orbit control for imaging congested areas in a single satellite pass. So far this year, ICEYE’s launches in January and March 2025 have successfully deployed four new satellites each. ICEYE plans to launch more than 20 new satellites annually in 2025 and beyond.

24 Jun 25. New projects use satellite data to drive public service innovation. Five projects from across the UK will use satellite data to help transform the delivery of public services, thanks to new funding from the GHGSat C9, C10, and C11 launched in space. Credit: GHGSat The new projects bring innovative space companies together with public sector partners, ranging from local councils to government agencies. They will use a wealth of data from existing satellite networks to help monitor the safety of buildings and infrastructure, track animal and plant life, identify methane leaks and ensure farmers can access the right government support schemes. Over £2.5m of funding, announced today (24 June) at the European Space Agency’s Living Planet Symposium 2025, in Vienna, comes after a joint call for proposals from the UK Space Agency and ESA’s InCubed2 programme, which was launched in July 2024.

Harshbir Sangha, Director of Missions and Capabilities at the UK Space Agency, said: “By bringing together innovative space companies with public sector partners, we’re demonstrating that space technology delivers practical benefits here on Earth. From monitoring biodiversity to ensuring infrastructure safety, these initiatives show how satellite data can drive efficiency, sustainability and better decision-making.”

This investment reflects our commitment to establishing the UK as a global leader in space-enabled public services, creating a blueprint for how space technology can address some of our most pressing societal challenges.

The projects

CORE: COrner Reflector Enabled Remote Sensing

Geospatial Ventures in Nottingham is developing a system that tracks tiny movements in buildings, bridges and other structures to spot potential safety issues early. The system uses special radar technology and artificial intelligence to constantly monitor infrastructure that might be difficult or expensive to check manually. This provides a safer, more efficient way to survey large sites without sending engineers to dangerous locations.

THICKET: a biodiversity mapping tool

AAC Clyde Space in Glasgow is creating a tool that helps farmers support wildlife on their land. Using their own constellation of satellites that frequently capture detailed images, the system will show farmers exactly what plants and animals are living on their land. This will help farmers make better decisions about sustainable farming and access government support schemes like the Sustainable Farming Incentive.

Government GHG service

GHGSat UK in London is developing an advanced analytics platform that turns satellite data about greenhouse gases into practical information the government can use for increased accountability across emitting organisations and tailored mitigation strategies. Their constellation of satellites, which trace the source of greenhouse gases directly to industrial facilities focuses particularly on methane, providing accurate data within hours of an emission to help the UK government make informed decisions about reducing these harmful gases. This supports the government’s goal to reach net-zero emissions by 2050.

FANTOM – Future Analytics

Earth-i in Guildford is building a system that creates useful environmental information from satellite images by developing novel indicators for environmental land monitoring. It will provide analytics directly to the Rural Payments Agency, which manages farming subsidies and environmental schemes. The service will help monitor land changes and support sustainable land management across the UK.

EO4Biodiversity

HR Wallingford in Oxfordshire is leading a project that uses satellite information to help improve plant and animal diversity. Working with multiple partners, including Water Resources South East, they’re developing ways to use Earth Observation data to track biodiversity changes over time. This will help landowners, developers and public bodies protect and enhance natural habitats and support the UK government’s biodiversity net gain requirements.

UKspace Executive Director, Colin Baldwin, said:

This investment into the application of satellite data into downstream services covering infrastructure, biodiversity, agriculture, methane emissions and sustainability is very welcome.

For some time, we have been working with our members and through our committees to highlight how the space industry can bring immense value to the public sector, so we are very encouraged to see the Government recognising the opportunity. Several UKspace member companies are benefiting from this programme and we look forward to seeing their ideas being adopted into new and improved operational services.

On Monday the Living Planet Symposium hosted a ceremonial signing of the ground segment development contract awarded to Telespazio UK for the TRUTHS mission, a UK-led climate mission developed with the European Space Agency. Under this agreement, Telespazio UK will be responsible for designing and developing the ground systems needed to receive, process, and distribute TRUTHS satellite data. Their role is vital to ensuring that this highly accurate climate data reaches scientists, policymakers, and organisations worldwide to support better climate monitoring and action.

The UK Space Agency is also due to launch a climate funding call, offering up to £300,000 in funding to help UK organisations develop new climate services using Earth Observation satellite data. These small grants, between £40,000 and £80,000 per project, are aimed at supporting early ideas that improve tools or services for tackling climate change, protecting nature, or helping society make more informed decisions for the planet. (Source: https://www.gov.uk/)

18 Jun 25. Qorvo offers new Ka-band PA for LEO sats + strengthens radar with BAW S-band switched filter bank modules. Qorvo® (Nasdaq: QRVO) has launched their new Ka-band power amplifier (PA) that is designed to improve the performance and integration of Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites. Developed to meet the evolving demands of next-generation payloads, Qorvo’s newest PA further expands its proven GaN-on-SiC SATCOM portfolio, giving system designers a more efficient, compact and scalable option for space-based payloads. Qorvo’s QPA1722 PA offers customers three times the instantaneous bandwidth, a 38% smaller footprint and 10% higher efficiency than competing devices. These enhancements enable greater data throughput and more flexible payload architectures, critical for meeting global connectivity goals in size- and power-constrained satellite platforms.

Key Features of the QPA1722:

Frequency Range: 17.7–20.2 GHz
Output power: 10W (saturated); 6W (linear)
1 GHz instantaneous bandwidth for high data-rate applications
36% efficiency for improved power handling and thermal management
Compact SMT package for streamlined system integration

Qorvo’s existing Ka-band ground solutions are already enabling global connectivity, and a next-generation, higher-performance lineup is scheduled to debut this summer. Paired with the QPA1722 and Qorvo’s full portfolio of SATCOM products, these enhancements will deliver a more powerful, efficient end-to-end ground-to-space link that reinforces Qorvo’s commitment to connecting the world through space. Additional offerings can be found on our SATCOM solutions page.

The QPA1722 is sampling now, with volume production planned for the Fall of 2025. Qorvo also provides evaluation kits upon request.

The QPA1722 helps us meet the rising demand for LEO constellation deployment,” said Doug Bostrom, general manager of Qorvo’s Defense and Aerospace business. “According to Gartner® research, the most obvious opportunity for LEO satellites is the ubiquitous provision of broadband services to consumers and businesses, reinforcing the demand for compact, high-efficiency payload solutions in space-based networks.” (Source: Satnews)

18 Jun 25. Planet today announced it was selected for a new seven-figure contract with NATO to deliver advanced daily monitoring and intelligence capabilities across the Alliance. In this collaboration, Planet will provide NATO with a specialized platform solution that leverages its PlanetScope Broad Area Monitoring technology combined with advanced Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) analytics to deliver NATO a unique solution for persistent space-based surveillance, enhanced early indicators and warnings, and Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA) functions. (Source: Satnews)

15 Jun 25. Exolaunch to deploy their largest mission to date — 45 customer satellites on Transporter-14. Exolaunch is set to deploy 45 customer satellites on the upcoming Transporter-14 rideshare mission with SpaceX aboard a Falcon 9 rocket as soon as this month. This mission highlights Exolaunch’s role as a trusted partner for rideshare launches and represents unparalleled expertise and flight heritage

Flight-proven hardware: CarboNIX, Nova, and Quadro deployment systems

The Transporter-14 mission represents a major milestone for Exolaunch as its largest mission to date, building on the company’s track record of providing reliable and precise access to orbit for customers worldwide. Exolaunch’s teams of experts will manage the deployment of numerous microsatellites, up to 250 kilograms, and CubeSats, up to 16U in size, supporting 25 new and returning customers from the USA, UK, Lithuania, Finland, Belgium, Germany, Australia, Canada, South Korea, France, Japan, Spain, Norway, Italy, and Greece. On this mission, Exolaunch will use its flight-proven deployment systems, including:

CarboNIX microsatellite separation rings in 8″, 11″, 15″, and 24″ sizes
EXOpod Nova advanced CubeSat deployers, supporting higher-mass and larger volume satellites with exceptional reliability
Quadro four-point separation systems, offering synchronized release and ultra-low tip-off rates for precision microsatellite deployments

Exolaunch’s EXOpod Nova deployers have now supported over 100 delivered units and hundreds of successful CubeSat deployments, reinforcing Nova’s reputation as a trusted next-generation deployer for CubeSat mission. Exolaunch continues to be the only launch integrator to have manifested satellites on every Transporter mission since the program’s inception in 2020. With Transporter-14, Exolaunch will celebrate its 37th mission overall, having deployed over 530 satellites across 36 previous missions on different global launch vehicles. (Source: Satnews)

18 Jun 25. SpaceX’s successful nightime launch of Starlink Group 10-18 smallsats from Florida. SpaceX’s Falcon 9 launched Starlink Group 10-18 smallsats on Tuesday, June 17, for the Starlink constellation to Low Earth Orbit from from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral SFS, Florida, at 1:55 EDT at the cost of $69.75m. Photos by Satnews. Despite the fog the Falcon 9’s first stage landed on one of two East Coast Autonomous Spaceport Drone Ship (ASDS) in the Atlantic Ocean after its flight. (Source: Satnews)

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SATELLITE SYSTEMS, SATCOM AND SPACE SYSTEMS UPDATE

SATELLITE SYSTEMS, SATCOM AND SPACE SYSTEMS UPDATE

SATELLITE SYSTEMS, SATCOM AND SPACE SYSTEMS UPDATE

SATELLITE SYSTEMS, SATCOM AND SPACE SYSTEMS UPDATE

SATELLITE SYSTEMS, SATCOM AND SPACE SYSTEMS UPDATE

SATELLITE SYSTEMS, SATCOM AND SPACE SYSTEMS UPDATE

SATELLITE SYSTEMS, SATCOM AND SPACE SYSTEMS UPDATE

SATELLITE SYSTEMS, SATCOM AND SPACE SYSTEMS UPDATE

SATELLITE SYSTEMS, SATCOM AND SPACE SYSTEMS UPDATE

SATELLITE SYSTEMS, SATCOM AND SPACE SYSTEMS UPDATE

SATELLITE SYSTEMS, SATCOM AND SPACE SYSTEMS UPDATE

SATELLITE SYSTEMS, SATCOM AND SPACE SYSTEMS UPDATE

SATELLITE SYSTEMS, SATCOM AND SPACE SYSTEMS UPDATE

SATELLITE SYSTEMS, SATCOM AND SPACE SYSTEMS UPDATE

SATELLITE SYSTEMS, SATCOM AND SPACE SYSTEMS UPDATE

SATELLITE SYSTEMS, SATCOM AND SPACE SYSTEMS UPDATE

SATELLITE SYSTEMS, SATCOM AND SPACE SYSTEMS UPDATE

SATELLITE SYSTEMS, SATCOM AND SPACE SYSTEMS UPDATE

SATELLITE SYSTEMS, SATCOM AND SPACE SYSTEMS UPDATE

SATELLITE SYSTEMS, SATCOM AND SPACE SYSTEMS UPDATE

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