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13 Mar 25. Space Force teaming with Air Force on Joint Simulation Environment. For the past year, the Space Force has been working closely with the Air Force and Navy to learn from their experience developing an advanced, realistic training and testing environment for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter — with an eye on one day creating a similar capability for the space domain.
Col. Corey Klopstein, program executive officer for Operational Test and Training Infrastructure at Space Systems Command, said his team started discussions last year with the Air Force’s Advanced Training Capabilities Division about how the Space Force could be involved with the effort, known as the Joint Simulation Environment. The Space Force has since joined the JSE user group and is working with the program office to find ways to bring space capabilities into the simulation environment and eventually develop an advanced test and training capability of its own.
“The Space Force needs to provide space effects to the joint warfighter to ensure the joint warfighter can validate in their training events and their exercises, whether or not they’re going to be effective,” Klopstein said March 5 at the Air Warfare Symposium in Aurora, Colorado. “The Space Force also needs a high-fidelity environment to be able to validate not just our system performance in the threat environment that we anticipate, but also our tactics, and validate our tactics.”
The JSE is typically associated with the F-35 because the Navy and Air Force developed it as a high-end test capability for the advanced fighter jet. Though there’s currently just one JSE system located at Patuxent Naval Air Station in Maryland, the program is weeks away from flipping the switch at a second site at Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada and plans to eventually host the capability at all of its F-35 bases. As the services expand their JSE footprint, the goal is for the system to become the premier combat training environment for U.S. and coalition partners. As part of that process, they’re working with the Space Force to integrate simulated space capabilities and scenarios into the environment to help make training more representative. That could include things like space-enabled electronic warfare, navigation or communications.
Klopstein described that work as “ongoing,” noting that the Space Force is funding an effort to develop standards and specifications to bring those capabilities to the JSE.
Longer term, the Space Force is crafting a plan for an advanced simulation capability of its own. The service has training devices, but for the most part they’re not interconnected, meaning that guardians assigned to different missions can’t train together.
Klopstein said the Space Force is in the process of creating distributed — or cross-mission — and high-end training systems. On the distributed side, it has been using a system called Swarm for large, tactical training exercises like Space Flag.
Realistic simulation is also key for the Space Force’s testing enterprise, which relies heavily on virtual systems to validate that satellites and other space capabilities work as envisioned. Unlike the other services that can test their ships on the water or their aircraft in flight, the Space Force can’t validate most of its systems in the space environment, which makes the quality of its ground-based testing infrastructure even more important.
Klopstein stressed that as space becomes more congested and adversaries increase their threats against U.S. systems, the service needs an advanced simulation capability that factors in a changing space environment.
“We’ve got to make sure that our systems can survive in a threat environment that we haven’t had to consider in the past,” he said. “Gathering quantitative data that is representative of our systems that gives us the confidence level that the systems can perform in this threat environment is something that we’ve got to do going forward.”
The service hasn’t decided what a JSE for space could look like and hasn’t announced any specific timeline in that regard, but Klopstein said the service wants to learn from the Air Force’s work on the program and carry those learnings into a future system.
“The partnership that we’ve started … is only going to continue to broaden going forward,” he said. “We are looking to be able to prototype and partner with [the Air Force] to leverage that work that’s been done and potentially build out the Space Force synthetic and high-fidelity training environment that we need.” (Source: Defense News)
13 Mar 25. BlackSky Technology Inc. (NYSE: BKSY) has delivered its first AI-enabled analytics derived from new, very high-resolution imagery captured by the company’s first Gen-3 satellite three weeks after its successful February 18 launch. The significant milestone demonstrates how BlackSky’s AI-automated detection and identification algorithms accurately transform Gen-3’s fine-detailed imagery into actionable, precision insights at machine speed and scale over tactical objects of interest.
“BlackSky’s first Gen-3 satellite has continued to exceed on-orbit performance expectations, accelerating a path toward fine-tuning our advanced, propriety AI-enabled analytics capabilities within just weeks of launch,” said Brian O’Toole, BlackSky CEO. “Gen-3 imagery will enable the delivery of extraordinarily detailed and accurate real-time automated analytics seamlessly into our customers’ workflow.”
“This powerful combination coupled with our high-frequency, time-diverse, low-latency monitoring constellation will help decision makers see an expansive, diverse set of mission-relevant details more clearly and reduce the speed of analyses over large volumes of imagery from days to minutes,” said O’Toole.
BlackSky’s AI is designed to enable the automatic detection, identification and classification of a wide library of vehicles, aircraft, vessels and other objects of tactical interest with industry-leading precision. The model is designed to recognize and discern differences, for example, between box trucks and tractor-trailers, and smaller vehicles such as pickups, jeeps, vans or cars. In addition to larger vessels like warships, merchant or container ships, the model is designed to detect and classify smaller vessels such as tugboats, patrol or commercial boats.
“BlackSky’s adaptable in-house AI model works with a very high degree of transferability across Gen-2, Gen-3 and external commercial imagery sources supporting multi-intelligence data fusion activities,” said O’Toole. “BlackSky’s AI-enabled analytics enhance operational efficiency and give analysts the ability to quickly and efficiently extract a new level of valuable insights from vast amounts of imagery, detecting patterns, anomalies, and changes without requiring extensive manual review.”
With BlackSky’s first Gen-3 satellite now on orbit, the company expects to expand the constellation to eight satellites within 12 months. These new satellites will generate 35-centimeter imagery and integrate seamlessly into our existing constellation, global ground network and BlackSky Spectra® software platform, enhancing the value of our current Gen-2 dawn-to-dusk dynamic monitoring services. Adding additional Gen-3 satellites is expected to increase our revisit rates, reduce delivery latency, enhance our image quality and capacity, and unlock new customer applications.
12 Mar 12. Military-Crewed SpaceX Flight Set to Bring Back Astronauts. The SpaceX Crew-10 mission, which includes two active-duty U.S. military officers, is scheduled to launch from Kennedy Space Center, Florida, today on a quest to bring back a pair of NASA astronauts who have been on the International Space Station since June 2024. Dubbed Crew Dragon Endurance, the SpaceX Dragon 2 reusable spacecraft is set to dock at the ISS Thursday. The mission comes after President Donald J. Trump called for the safe return from the ISS of NASA astronauts Barry “Butch” Wilmore and Suni Williams — both retired U.S. Navy captains — whose return to Earth was delayed after Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft hit technical snags.
“These are our people, and we’re not leaving them up there,” Trump said in a February 2025 speech at the Mar-a-Lago Club in Palm Beach, Florida.
The mission marks the 10th crew rotation for NASA’s Commercial Crew Program and SpaceX’s 17th crewed orbital flight. The team effort has a goal of bringing Wilmore and Williams home by March 16. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth saluted the mission by releasing a video message earlier today.
“The Department of Defense is proud to have multiple branches, and two active-duty U.S. military officers represented in this mission,” Hegseth said.
Army Col. Anne McClain and Air Force Maj. Nichole Ayers made up the active-duty portion of the SpaceX crew.
Picked by NASA in 2013 and serving as Crew-10’s commander, McClain spent 204 days on the ISS from 2018-2019 during Expeditions 58/59, leading two spacewalks. Ayers, a native of Colorado Springs, Colorado, graduated from the U.S. Air Force Academy in 2011 and earned her wings in 2014, flying T-38 Talons at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia. Following that she piloted the F-22 Raptor fighter jet, where she flew over 200 combat hours supporting missions like Operation Inherent Resolve. NASA brought her on board in 2021. An additional astronaut — and former Navy SEAL and physician who joined NASA in 2017 — Lt. Cmdr. Jonny Kim, is also scheduled to launch no earlier than April 8, 2025, to participate in Expeditions 72/73.
“We’re praying for you, we wish you Godspeed, and we look forward to welcoming you all home soon,” Hegseth told the astronauts via the video.
The trouble for Wilmore and Williams started what was supposed to be a week spent on the ISS. Upon arrival, NASA and Boeing identified a number of helium leaks and thruster issues on the Starliner, forcing the astronauts to stay on the ISS. By September, issues with the spacecraft led to NASA opting to send the vessel back to earth unmanned and leaving Wilmore and Williams. Once aboard the ISS, some of the Crew Dragon Endurance team will remain for a scheduled six months. While aboard, the team is set to conduct over 200 experiments, including organoid studies for disease treatments and plant growth tests in microgravity. They’ll also try out leg pressure cuffs to help with fluid shifts in space — work that supports NASA’s Artemis program and benefits life on Earth. (Source: U.S. DoD)
12 Mar 25. Cobham Satcom’s TACTICAL TRACKER 2600 undergoes WGS certification. The development positions the satellite antenna as the sole X/Y antenna system authorised for use within the WGS network. Cobham Satcom has revealed its enhanced TACTICAL TRACKER 2600 satellite antenna is currently in the process of obtaining certification for the Wideband Global SATCOM (WGS). The TACTICAL TRACKER 2600, part of a range known for its multi-orbit and multi-band capabilities, is designed for easy transport and quick setup. This development positions the product as the sole X/Y antenna system authorised for use within the WGS network, managed by the US Space Force. Cobham Satcom tacticals and flat panels product management vice-president Henrik Fyhn said: “With WGS certification, our TACTICAL TRACKER systems will be ready to provide military forces with dependable connectivity on post.
“Further, we have focused on simplifying set-up and improving user-friendliness, which minimises training and ensures communications are always ready fast.”
In line with this advancement, Cobham Satcom has introduced improvements across its TACTICAL TRACKER series. The number of ports has been reduced from 14 to four, streamlining the setup process and decreasing the likelihood of failures. The company noted that these satellite antennas can be assembled in under 30 minutes, a task made even more user-friendly with the aid of a new application and graphical user interface, as well as interchangeable reflector panels. The updated drive motor design and software enable the 1.3m and 1.5m series to retrace positions, facilitating a “Break Before Make” topology with a single antenna and modem on mPower MEO networks without compromising encryption. This innovation simplifies SATCOM systems by minimising the number of terminals required for mission-critical operations. Cobham Satcom is set to demonstrate the capabilities of the TACTICAL TRACKER at Satellite 2025, which is currently taking place until 13 March at the Walter E Washington Convention Center in the US. (Source: naval-technology.com)
12 Mar 25. Quantum Space, a leader in advanced space operations, is launching its life extension services to enhance satellite mission longevity and operational efficiency. Leveraging its highly maneuverable Ranger spacecraft, these services include mission extension, orbital adjustment, and refueling—addressing the growing demand for sustainable and cost-effective satellite operations. This initiative aligns with Quantum Space’s commitment to maximizing the value and lifespan of orbital assets for commercial and government clients. The Ranger’s rapid maneuverability and repositioning capabilities enable seamless transitions between orbits to meet diverse mission requirements.
“At Quantum Space, we are dedicated to transforming space operations by providing life extension solutions that empower our clients to realize the Freedom to Maneuver for achieving their mission objectives more effectively,” said Ben Reed, Cofounder and Chief Innovation Officer of Quantum Space. “Our advanced technologies and strategic partnerships position us to deliver unparalleled service in the evolving space economy.”
The Ranger spacecraft features high delta-velocity maneuvers, substantial payload capacity, and precision operations, making it an ideal solution across various orbital regimes. Designed for persistent operations exceeding 15 years, Ranger reduces the need for frequent satellite replacements, lowering overall mission costs while supporting national security and commercial needs. As part of its expansion, Quantum Space secured investment from Sporos Capital Partners in its Series A round, accelerating the deployment of its in-space mobility and mission extension solutions.
“Quantum Space is at the forefront of transforming how assets operate in orbit, and we believe their life extension services will be critical to the future of space logistics,” said Nishant Machado, Managing Partner at Sporos Capital. “Our investment reflects our confidence in their leadership, technology, and vision for sustained space operations.”
With these life extension services, Quantum Space is reinforcing the resilience and sustainability of space operations, offering greater maneuverability and longevity for national security initiatives, commercial ventures, and scientific research. (Source: PR Newswire)
11 Mar 25. Amentum (NYSE: AMTM), a global leader in advanced engineering and innovative technology solutions, is partnering with Rivada Space Networks to offer a unique, ultra-secure low earth orbit connectivity network to support mission-critical U.S. government communications around the globe. As the first unified global communications network, Rivada’s Outernet is transformative. A global low-latency point-to-point network of 600 low earth orbit (LEO) satellites, it is a unique next-generation constellation combining inter-satellite laser links with advanced onboard processing and routing to create a ubiquitous optical mesh network in space. This “orbital network,” in which data stays in space from origin to destination, creates an ultra-secure satellite network with pole-to-pole coverage, offering end-to-end latencies much lower than terrestrial fiber over long distances. And by routing traffic on a physically separated network in space, it provides a layer of defense for any organization that needs to share data securely between widely distributed sites.
Declan Ganley, CEO, Rivada Space Networks, said: “We are delighted to be working with Amentum to enhance their portfolio of services for national security, intelligence and commercial customers. Global geopolitical dynamics continue to highlight concerns about national security and the state of civil and defense infrastructure particularly in the area of cybersecurity and resilient information systems. The space domain now plays a critical role in securing network infrastructure and addressing rising data sovereignty and security demands.”
Ganley added, “Unlike traditional LEO systems, which bridge the last mile between the satellite and the nearest gateway, Rivada’s game-changing Outernet is a fully independent and inter-connected, MEF compliant private space network that re-defines connectivity in terms of security, latency, capacity, efficiency, and coverage. It is fast becoming the system of choice for secure data communications.”
“Our goal is to ensure our customers have access to the latest innovation in secure space architecture as part of their national security solutions,” said Dave Marlowe, Vice President, Intelligence & Cyber at Amentum. “Rivada is building a uniquely capable LEO constellation focused on zero trust networking and by establishing a highly secure global communications backbone in space, the Outernet not only strengthens digital infrastructure on a global scale, but it also provides an innovative platform for our US government customers to expand their capabilities to meet new challenging mission needs. By tapping into a truly independent global network, we can offer a new level of resilience, security, performance and global reach.” (Source: PR Newswire)
12 Mar 25. Military Satellite SKYNET 6A passes initial phase of testing. The SKYNET 6 programme is working closely with industry to exploit technological advancements to deliver the next generation of military communication satellites. SKYNET is the UK Ministry of Defence’s satellite communication (SATCOM) capability. It supports operations to deliver information to UK and allied forces around the world, enabling battlefield information advantage anywhere, anytime. Representing the single largest government investment in the UK space industry, SKYNET 6 highlights the nation’s commitment to developing its space capabilities and is a programme co-sponsored by Strategic Command and UK Space Command. The first of the SKYNET 6 assets, 6A, has reached a milestone with the completion of the initial phase of testing at the new UK-government funded National Satellite Test Facility (NSTF) in Harwell, Oxfordshire. The satellite will leverage the latest developments in digital processing and radio frequency spectrum utilisation, offering greater capacity and versatility than previous generations of SKYNET satellites. Further testing of the completed SKYNET 6A satellite will be conducted at the facility this year, with Airbus Defence, Space UK and the Science and Technology Facilities Council’s (STFC) RAL Space working closely together to guarantee the satellite’s long-term functionality and reliability once it’s launched into orbit.
Jason Gnaneswaran, Senior Responsible Owner for SKYNET 6, said: “The SKYNET 6 programme will ensure our deployed forces have world-leading communications abilities on demand, whether on the battlefield, onboard a ship, or in the air. This milestone in testing is a huge achievement for the Ministry of Defence and RAL Space and is a crucial step in guaranteeing the delivery and long-term functionality of SKYNET 6A. It also highlights the success of the broader SKYNET enterprise and the value of close collaboration with our industry and cross-government partners.”
Scheduled for launch in 2026, this cutting-edge satellite will be the first SKYNET military communications satellite to be entirely designed, built, and tested in the UK, marking a significant advancement for the nation’s space industry. It will be a critical asset for the UK’s armed forces and allies, providing secure and reliable communications for at least 15 years and supporting a wide range of military activities across all operational domains. This project directly sustains 550 highly skilled jobs throughout the country, including in Stevenage, Corsham, and Portsmouth. Whilst the Harwell Campus is already home to over 100 local and international space organisations, the NSTF itself is expected to attract new businesses and investment to the UK space sector, further solidifying the country’s position as a leader in space technology.
SKYNET 6A’s testing campaign is a testament to the UK’s growing expertise in the space sector enabled by direct investment from the programme.
Dr Barbara Ghinelli, Director for the Science and Technology Facilities Council’s Innovation Clusters and for the Harwell Campus, said: “By supporting pioneering projects like SKYNET 6A, the facility is helping to accelerate the UK’s journey towards the commercialisation of space and further strengthening our clusters as global hubs for innovation. Our unique combination of facilities and expertise supports businesses across the UK, and we are excited to enable more dual-use application of our capabilities through programmes like SKYNET 6 and the Regional Defence and Security Clusters.”
Ben Bridge, Airbus Defence and Space UK Chairman, said: “Airbus is proud to have been a partner to the MOD on Skynet for the past 40 years, guaranteeing UK sovereign capability. Skynet 6A provides end-to-end UK design, development and manufacture capability to support our Armed Forces, and the completion of this initial testing phase is a great accomplishment. SKYNET continues to play a critical role in the UK’s military satellite communication infrastructure, supporting whole force integration which ensures the armed forces remain connected and informed wherever they operate. ” (Source: https://www.gov.uk/)
11 Mar 25. US Space Force’s X-37B Spaceplane Returns After 434-Day Secret Mission. The U.S. Space Force’s X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle (OTV-7) has returned to Earth after a 434-day classified mission, the U.S. Space Force said on Friday. According to the U.S. Space Force, the uncrewed spaceplane completed its seventh mission and landed at California’s Vandenberg Space Force Base at 2:22 a.m. ET (11:22 p.m. local time) on Friday. The spacecraft was launched on December 28, 2023, from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center aboard a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket. While the exact details of the mission remain largely classified, U.S. Space Force in a news release, said X-37B had “accomplished a range of test and experimentation objectives intended to demonstrate the X-37B’s robust maneuver capability while helping characterize the space domain through the testing of space domain awareness technology experiments” while in orbit. One of the most notable aspects of the mission was its successful execution of an aerobraking maneuver, allowing the vehicle to alter its orbit and slow down by using atmospheric drag. This technique conserves fuel and represents a significant advancement in orbital maneuvering.
Chief of Space Operations Gen. Chance Saltzman praised the maneuver, stating that it “underscores the U.S. Space Force’s commitment to pushing the bounds of novel space operations in a safe and responsible manner.”
Lt. Col. Blaine Stewart, the X-37B program director, described the mission as an “exciting new chapter” in the program, emphasizing the spacecraft’s ability to perform complex maneuvers and gather valuable data on space domain awareness.
The Space Force remains tight-lipped on specific experiments conducted, but officials indicated that the spacecraft’s activities contributed to understanding an “increasingly congested and contested environment” in space. Analysts suggest this could involve scanning for space debris, monitoring satellite activity, or testing new surveillance technologies. The X-37B program, originally developed by NASA, conducted its first flight in 2010. With each mission, the spacecraft has demonstrated new capabilities, including testing energy beaming technology and thermal protection systems. Despite its 434-day duration, the latest mission was one of the shortest for the X-37B, with previous flights lasting up to 908 days. Its next mission is yet to be announced. (Source: https://www.sofx.com/)
11 Mar 25. Intellian Technologies Inc., a global technology solutions provider of resilient multi-constellation, feature-rich satellite user terminals and Eutelsat Group, the only GEO-LEO operator in satellite communications, announced today that the new Enterprise Flat Panels are now available exclusively on Eutelsat’s OneWeb LEO network. Featuring the OW11FL (Land Fixed), OW11FV (Land Mobility) and OW11FM (Maritime) – the new series uses Intellian’s innovative antenna technology to deliver enterprise-grade connectivity, enabling end users to receive fast, dependable connectivity anywhere in the world for business-critical communications. The Enterprise Flat Panels are designed and engineered to deliver the maximum throughput currently offered on the OneWeb LEO network and are available for purchase through Eutelsat’s network of distribution partners worldwide targeting the land fixed, land mobility, maritime, and government sectors. Featuring advanced tracking technology, performance is guaranteed over wide scan and at the lowest elevation angles, ensuring seamless and undisrupted connectivity for end users. The Enterprise Flat Panels have a huge amount of technology packed into such a sleek form factor and come with support for optional Resilient Global Navigation Satellite System (R-GNSS). Global availability of the Enterprise Flat Panels follows on the heels of Intellian’s Compact Flat Panels, which were launched with Eutelsat at the end of 2024. This marks the latest development in what Intellian considers will become the fastest growing range of flat panel solutions for critical environments where performance, reliability and connectivity are key.
Ben Swallow, Chief Commercial Officer, Intellian Technologies Inc, said: “We are excited that our new Enterprise Flat Panels are now fully available and live on Eutelsat’s OneWeb LEO network, providing customers even greater choice for their operational requirements. The truly innovative Enterprise Flat Panels have been designed, engineered and manufactured to deliver exceptional operational benefits and performance for end users. Together with the Compact Flat Panels, they form our Flat Panel Series which extends across hundreds of use cases with our six variants for Maritime, Land Fixed and Land Mobility markets.”
Filipe De Oliveira, Vice President for Commercial, Eutelsat OneWeb commented: “The addition of the new Enterprise Flat Panels strengthens our partnership with Intellian and enriches Eutelsat’s user terminal portfolio to our distribution partners. These terminals are designed to offer flexibility, addressing a broad spectrum of customer needs while delivering high performance connectivity across land for fixed and mobility applications and at sea. We look forward to the seamless integration of the flat panels into our end-to-end solutions.”
11 Mar 25. Record UK contract wins through European Space Agency. A dramatic increase in the money flowing to the UK from European Space Agency (ESA) programmes has been announced today, with an additional £112 m (€134 m) in contracts secured for the UK space sector between June 2022 and December 2024. These contracts are expected to deliver £1 bn in wider UK economic benefits. The UK is a founding member of ESA and one of its leading funders. A fundamental principle of ESA is that money from each country’s taxpayers returns to that country, after ESA overheads, through industrial contracts, a process known as geographical return (geo-return). However, for too long, the value of these contracts has fallen short of the UK’s total investment – after overheads, in 2022 UK space organisations were receiving 93p back in contracts for every £1 invested. Determined to address this issue, the UK Space Agency committed to reducing the deficit, with the full support of ESA. New figures, released on the opening day of Space-Comm Expo in London, demonstrate the positive impact of these efforts. In the fourth quarter of 2024 alone, the work helped secure £80 m (€96 m) in additional contracts – the highest single quarter return ever recorded by an ESA member state.
Science Secretary Peter Kyle said: “These figures show not only the incredible results of a government working hand-in-glove with industry to get even more bang for our buck, but also send a clear message to the private sector across the globe: when it comes to space, science and tech, the UK is a powerhouse for innovation and investment. We are on a mission to deliver sustained economic growth, and it is fantastic to see such a vital industry helping us turbocharge our Plan for Change, ultimately raising living standards for everyone.”
In total, between June 2022 and the end of 2024, the UK secured £844m (€1.01bn) in ESA contracts, from an expected return of £732m.
The additional £112m will have a large, positive impact on the competitiveness of the UK’s space sector, supporting businesses to attract further private investment, develop cutting edge technologies and expand internationally. It means the UK now receives 99p back in contracts for every £1 invested, after overheads.
Dr Paul Bate, CEO of the UK Space Agency, said: “While the value to the UK economy of our membership of ESA is many times greater than the sums invested, it is important for us to demonstrate the UK’s competitiveness in securing industrial contracts. First and foremost, the record figures announced today are down to the efforts of the UK space sector, so I would like to congratulate all those working on the new contracts. I would also like to thank the teams in ESA and the UK Space Agency for their hard work in delivering this exceptional result.”
In 2022, the UK Space Agency identified several reasons for the historic deficit. These include the relatively high resource requirements for applying for ESA funding, limited awareness of UK contributions and deficits in certain programmes, and some gaps in understanding how smaller companies can engage effectively with ESA and put forward the strongest funding proposals. To address the issues, a joint UK Space Agency-ESA Industrial Policy Task Force was established. This identified and secured additional contracts, and improved access to specialist expertise for UK space companies.
Josef Aschbacher, Director General of the European Space Agency, said: “ESA and the UK Space Agency are working hand in hand to empower the UK’s space sector, including its adjacent industries and vibrant startup scene. The results of our collaboration stand for economic growth, technological and scientific autonomy, high-value jobs for Europe and the UK, but also for a shared European vision of space that is both ethical and sustainable. The new figures announced today reflect ESA’s longstanding commitment to help the UK in building one of the most attractive and innovative space economies in the world, whilst developing new scientific and industrial capacity and capabilities with partners across Europe.”
The UK Space Agency delivered 21 training courses across the UK (Bid Writing and ESA 101 Workshops), increased promotion of existing ESA resources and rolled out a new internal data tool to enable a more comprehensive, strategic overview of the UK’s entire ESA portfolio.
A boost in direct engagement with industry led to the UK having the most registered entities on ESA’s procurement platform and the largest number of smaller companies (SMEs) in the ESA ecosystem.
Colin Baldwin, UKspace Executive Director, said: “The increasing number of ESA contracts being won by UK space companies reflects the work done by the UK Space Agency, ourselves and other stakeholders to give our members the tools and knowledge required to showcase their capabilities and expertise, and convert this into business-winning activities.
I hope our 200+ members – from start-ups to corporations – along with the wider UK space sector, will continue to demonstrate their quality, win more contracts, and deliver continued value for ESA and the UK economy.” The UK space sector employs 52,000 people and generates an income of £18.9bn each year. Satellite services support wider industrial activity worth around £364bn, – 16% of UK GDP – and play a vital role in national security. (Source: https://www.gov.uk/)
10 Mar 25. Thales and SES demonstrate compatibility of secure anti-jamming waveforms with MEO satellites.
- Thales’s Modem21 system typically equips sovereign, ultra-resilient geostationary satellites offering secure, high-data-rate military satellite communications services with high levels of jamming protection.
- With the deployment of new satellite constellations, the armed forces are now taking steps to extend their coverage and develop hybrid satcom capabilities that will complement the services provided by geostationary satellites.
- Feasibility studies conducted under a defence technology project (PTD) for the French defence procurement agency (DGA) have demonstrated the compatibility of the Modem21 system with the Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) constellation operated by SES.
- This demonstration of Modem21’s capacity to operate with non-geostationary MEO satellites opens up new opportunities for the deployment of hybrid solutions combining ultra-secure communications based on sovereign military satellites in geostationary orbit with commercial MEO constellations in equatorial or polar orbit offering enhanced security and anti-jamming performance.
In October 2024, Thales and SES for the first time demonstrated the compatibility of Thales’s Modem21 system with SES’s O3b mPOWER satellites, establishing the system’s capacity to operate with commercial MEO constellations.
“Multi-orbit compatibility of Modem21 with the SES constellation underscores the feasibility of future hybrid satellite solutions for the armed forces that will continue to meet the security and jamming protection requirements of military operations,” said Alexandre Bottero, Vice President, Networks and Infrastructure Systems, Thales.
“As governments address the growing need for multi-orbit capabilities to guarantee the resilience, security and sovereignty of their communications, we are delighted to be aligning our efforts with those of our technology partners to help achieve these objectives. The combination of Thales’s Modem21 with SES’s innovative second-generation O3b mPOWER MEO system promises to deliver the high levels of technical performance and security required while ensuring that government customers preserve full control of their networks,” said Roy Sielaff, Vice President, Space & Defence Europe, SES.
Hybridisation of sovereign and commercial satellite communications is a major opportunity for the armed forces to assert their connectivity superiority. With the demonstration of Modem21 operating with the O3b mPOWER satellites in SES’s MEO constellation, Thales is paving the way to the development of new capabilities in hybrid, multi-band, multi-operator environments to meet the needs of the armed forces. Modem21 has already been deployed in various theatres of operations to provide command posts with secure communications capabilities. The system was selected by NATO about ten years ago and is fully compliant with STANAG 4606, NATO’s Electronic Protective Measures (EPM) standard. The disruptive technology behind its communications protocol has been selected by about a dozen governments around the world.
10 Mar 25. Intellian Technologies USA, Inc., a leading provider of global satellite communication (SATCOM) antennas and ground gateway solutions, announced today that its ARC-M4 Block 1 (AN/USC-75) is now being manufactured at Intellian’s U.S. headquarters, in Irvine, California. Intellian is intensifying its commitment to the U.S. Government’s mission-critical objectives and supply chain resiliency, by manufacturing the ARC-M4 Block 1 SATCOM terminal in the U.S. Intellian has implemented a meticulous component-level supply chain control system to ensure that no components are used from vulnerable nation states, which enhances national security and protects against supply chain disruptions. Together, these actions drastically add manufacturing capacity, increases supply chain resiliency, and demonstrates our commitment to the needs of our U.S. Government partners. The maritime ARC-M4 Block 1 (AN/USC-75) terminal gives its users rugged, high Sea State, high-performance operations with enhanced resiliency through automated switching between MILSATCOM and COMSATCOM assets, such as WGS, and SES’s mPOWER constellations, leveraging our shipboard mediation system for terminals and waveforms. The ARC-M4 Block 1 is the first WGS-certified Hybrid terminal in the warfighter’s arsenal. The ARC-M4 family of terminals were engineered to deliver the concepts of Agile Resilient Communications – Multi-Role, Multi-Mission, Multi-Band, Multi-Orbit (ARC-M4). Enhanced resiliency comes from the agility and options to choose frequency bands, services, and orbits to mitigate adversarial actions. Intellian’s ARC-M4 Block 1 terminal is certified for simultaneous X-band and Military Ka-Band operations on the WGS constellation (AN/USC-75) without any caveats or restrictions. The terminal is also certified for use on SES O3b mPOWER, and Viasat’s I5 high-capacity Military Ka-Band payloads (Cat IV). Frequency bands are electronically switched eliminating the need for manual hardware modifications by a signal’s technician. The ARC-M4 Block 1 terminal is designed for LEO, MEO, GEO, and HEO multi-orbit services, and is engineered to anticipate new constellations launching across all orbits. Within the U.S. Department of Defense, the message is clear: single-use and siloed technologies are not viable; dual-use technology is mandatory. The ARC-M4 Block 1 breaks innovative boundaries by harmonizing MILSATCOM and COMSATCOM assets.
Eric Sung, CEO, Intellian Technologies, said: “Intellian remains at the forefront of technological innovation, bringing forward both practical and innovative solutions that are trusted to the highest degree. Our new ARC-M4 Block 1 line at our U.S. headquarters is Intellian’s first international production line, marking phase one of our expanding global capabilities. These enhanced facilities meet the needs of our U.S. Government customers while also reducing operational risk. Our on-going component-level supply chain system ensures that all components and parts are compliant with U.S. Government sourcing requirements and restrictions. We are committed to enhancing satellite communication performance and mission readiness with the agility, flexibility and quality necessary to succeed in any operational environment.”
For more information about the ARC-M4 Block 1
The ARC-M4 Block 1 enables agile resilient communications (ARC) multi-role, multi-mission, multi-band and multi-arc (M4). By delivering dual, simultaneous links in both X-band and Ka-band, the terminal provides communication path redundancy and fallback options. This pathway diversity coupled with intelligent mediation and link bonding delivers unparalleled resiliency in a single user terminal.ARC-M4 Block 1 promotes interoperability between major satellite operators, namely WGS, Inmarsat I5 and SES mPOWER.
About Intellian Technologies, Inc.
Intellian is driven by a passion for innovation and an agile responsiveness to customer needs. As the crucial link between satellite networks and ms of people on Earth, Intellian’s leading technology and antennas empower global connectivity across oceans and continents, organizations and communities. Strategic thinking, an obsession with quality and a proven ability to deliver enables Intellian to invent for the future, creating mutual success for partners and customers as the world’s connectivity needs evolve. For more information, follow @Intellian and visit intelliantech.com. Intellian Technologies Inc. is listed on the Korean Stock Exchange, KOSDAQ (189300:KS).
10 Mar 25. Orbit Communication Systems Ltd., a leading global provider of maritime, land and airborne SATCOM solutions, tracking ground stations, and mission-critical communication systems, is set to unveil its new OrBeam MIL Electronically Steerable Antenna (ESA) at Satellite DC 2025. This cutting-edge phased array antenna is designed to meet the growing demand for continuous, reliable satellite communications across LEO, MEO, and GEO orbits. With the rapid increase in satellite constellations and the evolving needs of defense, commercial, and enterprise users, Orbit’s OrBeam MIL ESA delivers an agile, multi-orbit solution that requires no user intervention. The system’s electronically controlled beam steering allows seamless connectivity with multiple satellites, enhancing operational efficiency and uninterrupted communication across the most challenging environments. The new antenna supports Ka or Ku frequencies and is designed for seamless connectivity with GEO, MEO, and LEO satellites. Its flat-panel design with no moving parts ensures lower power consumption and high reliability, while its compact and lightweight structure enables fast deployment across aerial, maritime, and land-based platforms. The system is capable of Make-Before-Break (MBB) satellite handovers, providing solutions for high-speed, uninterrupted low-latency satellite communications.
“As the satellite communication landscape evolves at an unprecedented pace, Orbit continues to push the boundaries of innovation,” said Daniel Eshchar, CEO of Orbit. “Our new OrBeam MIL ESA system represents a breakthrough in multi-orbit connectivity, providing defense and commercial customers with a highly reliable, low power consumption, and future-ready SATCOM solutions.”
08 Mar 25. Global Konet first company to achieve Dualsat ESA Antenna APP debuts at Satellite Show 2025. Global Konet will participate in the Satellite Show 2025, the world’s largest satellite exhibition, held in Washington, D.C., revealing new technology that enables simultaneous service of two satellites through a single ESA antenna — making them the first global company to achieve this feat. The exhibition takes place from March 11 to 13 at the Washington Convention Center, where Global Konet will showcase cutting-edge satellite antenna technology to the world.
Dualsat ESA Antenna APP
- the Satellite IoT GU24 terminal
- the Satellite IoT GA24 terminal
- the Dualsat ESA Antenna APP
- real-time Satellite Tracking Software technologies and products.
The Satellite IoT GU24 and GA24 terminals have been designed with panel dimensions of 250×220 cm and a weight of 700g, making them suitable for small drones. They have successfully completed ground trials for 1 Mbps video transmission from KA-band satellites in the Middle East, showcasing their miniaturized panel design technology. These terminals are expected to become essential panel boards for future long-range satellite drone services and counter-drone equipment. Testing of simultaneous services from two satellites is being carried out using the Dualsat ESA Antenna APP technology. The Dualsat ESA Antenna APP provides a full-duplex solution for offering or monitoring services from multiple satellites through a single antenna. The exhibition will feature the demonstration of television feeds from two satellites streamed through a single antenna to a set-top box, allowing for seamless TV viewing with cutting-edge video and APP technology. Global Konet will also introduce its real-time Satellite Tracking Software technology capable of tracking both GEO satellites and LEO satellites such as Starlink. The live satellite tracking feature being unveiled relies on satellite information stored in a database to analyze location data, allowing the KONET ESA antenna to perform signal analysis and satellite monitoring.
Executive Vice President Jong-Chul Yoon stated, “Through the Satellite Show 2025, we aim to secure leadership in ESA satellite antennas.” He added, “We aspire to become the leading technology company in the flat panel antenna market with our world-class cutting-edge technology.” (Source: Satnews)
02 Mar 25. SpaceX’s successful Sunday Starlink Group 12-20 launch of 21 smallsats incuding 13 Direct to Cell. On Sunday, March 2 at 9:24 p.m. ET, Falcon 9 launched 21 Starlink satellites, including 13 with Direct to Cell capabilities, to low-Earth orbit from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. Photos by Satnews. This was the fifth flight for the first stage booster supporting this mission, which previously launched GOES-U, Maxar 3, and now three Starlink missions. This is the fifth flight for the first stage booster supporting this mission, which previously launched GOES-U, Maxar 3, and two Starlink missions. Following stage separation, the first stage landed on the Just Read the Instructions droneship, stationed in the Atlantic Ocean SpaceX plans Sunday launch of 21 Starlink Group 12-20 smallsats including 13 Direct to Cell SpaceX is targeting Sunday, March 2 for a Falcon 9 launch of 21 Starlink satellites, including 13 with Direct to Cell capabilities, to low-Earth orbit from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. Liftoff is targeted for 9:24 p.m. ET, with backup opportunities available until 12:21 a.m. ET on Monday, March 3. If needed, additional launch opportunities are also available on Monday, March 3 starting at 10:04 p.m. ET at a cost of $69.75 m. (Source: Satnews)
06 Mar 25. Arianespace’s successful top secret launch for French military. The CSO-3 military observation satellite has been successfully launched by Arianespace atop an Ariane 6 from Europe’s spaceport in French Guiana. Carrying a very-high-resolution optical instrument built by Thales Alenia Space, the joint venture between Thales (67%) and Leonardo (33%), the satellite was developed by prime contractor Airbus Defence & Space for the French defense procurement agency DGA on behalf of the French Air and Space Force’s Space Command, with delegated oversight from the French space agency CNES. The third and last component in the CSO system for France’s MUSIS* military program, CSO-3 will provide increased coverage and revisit capabilities to enable more effective conduct of military operations and faster crisis response. Designed to the most stringent intelligence and defense requirements, CSO-3 is equipped with a cutting-edge instrument developed by Thales Alenia Space. This instrument is the core of the mission, affording exceptional resolution and detail of Earth’s surface. Its unrivaled performance enables it to acquire imagery at extremely high resolution, even in low-light conditions and at night thanks to its infrared capabilities. Its advanced technologies include latest-generation optical systems and ultra-sensitive sensors. Like for the previous Helios 1, Helios 2 and Pleiades satellites, Thales Alenia Space designed strategic equipment for the CSO system, including the solar arrays, very-high-throughput image telemetry systems, and encryption/decryption modules to ensure data security and confidentiality. The company also supplied the system’s telemetry, tracking and control transponders. (Source: Satnews)
10 Mar 25. Kymeta, a world leader in flat-panel satellite antenna technology, announces today it is accepting orders for its Goshawk u8 user terminal, designed specifically for government and global ministry of defense. With the growing need for satellite network flexibility and open network architecture that ensure secure, sovereign defense operations, the Goshawk u8 offers a critical solution at a time when allied nations are prioritizing secure, resilient, and rapidly deployable communications on the move. The Kymeta Goshawk u8 delivers resilient and flexible, multi-orbit, multi-network satellite communications in a single terminal. Combining Low Earth Orbit (LEO) and Geostationary Orbit (GEO) satellite technologies alongside cellular connectivity, it allows for improved responsiveness to enable maneuver warfare tactics, such as rapid, focused and unexpected actions that can shatter an enemy’s cohesion. As sovereign nations look to prioritize greater control over critical satcom infrastructure to stay ahead of emerging threats, the Goshawk u8, which has been designed to support data-centric, cloud-enabled operations, will ensure defense and government users remain connected whenever and wherever they need it most.
Rick Bergman, CEO and President of Kymeta stated: “At Kymeta, we are relentless in our mission to empower those who protect and serve nations and communities. In a world where secure and independent communications are non-negotiable, the Goshawk u8 will provide government and defense users the freedom to operate with confidence. The Goshawk u8 comes at a time of heightened global demand for trusted, sovereign communications solutions, as governments, including the DoD and defense organizations, look to strengthen operational resilience amid an increasingly complex security landscape.”
Partner Testing
The Goshawk has been in partner trials, receiving highly positive feedback. Customers are experiencing firsthand the innovation and value our solution delivers. This momentum is further fueled by surging demand from the DoD and global militaries. As a result, demand for its cutting-edge Intelligent Communication Platforms (ICPs) continues to grow. These ICPs are setting a new standard for secure, reliable connectivity in mission-critical environments.
About the Goshawk u8 terminal
The Goshawk u8, which is easy to install and engineered for seamless mobility, is a fully customizable, compact and lightweight solution that integrates effortlessly across diverse vehicles and vessels. It provides reliable, network-redundant connectivity on the move to meet mission-critical demands and real-time operations for multinational defense operations.
The new antenna provides jamming mitigation for GNSS-denied operations, effortlessly integrating with existing networks. It supports high-bandwidth applications, enabling global defense units to access video streaming, data transmission and voice communication with minimal interruptions, even in remote or mobile scenarios.
The electronically steered antenna (ESA) has a user-friendly interface making connectivity quick and easy and its metamaterial casing and compact, lightweight profile enhances durability and reliability in harsh conditions.
As Kymeta accelerates its global expansion, it is set to push the boundaries of its product portfolio – and the Goshawk u8 is the latest drive for the company to do this. Delivering next-generation solutions that redefine satellite and hybrid communications for defense, government and commercial markets, Kymeta ensures that customers stay ahead in an increasingly volatile and connected world.
09 Mar 25. Elon Musk has asked to meet Italy’s President Sergio Mattarella, amid growing doubts in Rome about a potential $1.5bn deal with Starlink, the multi-billionaire’s internet satellite provider. Musk wrote on X late on Saturday that it “would be an honour to speak with President Matterella”, in a bid to salvage a deal that has faced opposition as geopolitical turbulence between the US and Europe intensifies. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s government has been in talks with Starlink over a potential five-year deal for secure military communications for diplomats, troops and other Italian civil servants working abroad. Meloni, who has forged a strong personal bond with Musk, said in early January that talks were still at the “preliminary stage,” but defended the necessity of a potential deal saying there was “no public alternative” to meet Italy’s secure communication needs. Yet the deal now looks increasingly likely to be a casualty of a transatlantic rift over defence, following US President Donald Trump’s decision to suspend military aid and intelligence sharing with Ukraine. Musk has also repeatedly said on X that the US should leave the Nato security alliance. Musk’s remarks followed a claim by a right-wing social media influencer allied with the multi-bnaire that Mattarella was personally obstructing the deal. The Italian president, who wields strong moral authority as head of state, has not made any public comment on the Starlink deal or the choices facing Italy as it seeks to enlist a satellite-based internet provider. But he rebuked Musk last year for intervening in Italy’s internal politics, after the multi-bnaire demanded the removal of Italian judges that had ruled against one of Meloni’s flagship initiatives to deter illegal migrants. A spokesman for Mattarella said on Sunday said that the president, currently en route to Italy after an official visit to Japan, had no immediate comment. Rome has begun to more actively consider alternatives to Starlink for critical services as fierce domestic political controversy to the deal has mounted. Industry minister Adolfo Urso said last month that the government was working to develop a domestic provider. Last week, Eva Berneke, chief executive of Eutelsat, confirmed the Franco-British owner of Starlink rival OneWeb, has also begun talks with Rome. News of the government’s exploratory talks with Eutelsat prompted an attack from the far-right League led by deputy prime minister Matteo Salvini, who is an admirer of both Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. “In the Italian national interest it would be strange to choose a French entity . . . instead of a more technically developed and cutting edge system like the American one,” the League said in a statement late last week. “In a delicate phase like this, every choice must be made in the name of the Italian national interest without ideological prejudices, considering the USA an essential partner for the security and growth of our country,” the statement added. Musk last week separately thanked Salvini’s League for its support. While Meloni has made no public comment on the debate since January, her office has said that any decision would be made “in full compliance with institutional procedures and with the utmost transparency”. Italy’s left-wing opposition parties also tried last week to amend a pending space bill to restrict Rome to procuring satellite communication services exclusively from EU-based companies. The amendments were rejected by a vote in parliament, where Meloni’s right-wing party enjoys a comfortable majority, but highlighted the growing furore around the already controversial Starlink talks, which has also drawn criticism from members of the European parliament. (Source: FT.com)
09 Mar 25. USSF, BAE Systems reach deal on second phase of FORGE programme. US Space Force (USSF) programme officials developing the Future Operationally Resilient Ground Evolution (FORGE) platform have teamed up with BAE Systems, to continue maturation of the system’s command-and-control (C2) architecture. USSF’s Space Systems Command (SSC) inked the USD151 m deal with BAE Systems, which will cover phase two of FORGE C2 prototype development, according to a 3 March command statement. This work will “build upon the critical milestones achieved in Phase 1 … to deliver a prototype” system for eventual integration onto the Next-Generation Overhead Persistent Infrared (Next-Gen OPIR) system. BAE Systems was one of several companies that was selected by SSC to participate in the first phase of FORGE C2 prototype development. Other companies awarded phase one prototype deals included Ball Aerospace, Parsons, General Dynamics, and Omni Federal. The funding for phase two of the FORGE C2 prototype development deal was a joint other transaction authority (OTA) contract between the command’s Space Enterprise Consortium (SpEC) programme and the National Security Technology Accelerator (NXTL), command officials said in the 3 March statement. Designed to meet the ground station requirement for Next-Gen OPIR, the FORGE platform will provide “a modular, extensible, and cyber-hardened ground system” to support downlinked data from Next-Gen OPIR satellites, according to Pentagon budget documents. Next‐Gen OPIR is designed to augment and eventually replace the air force’s legacy, satellite-based early warning missile defence system, the Space-Based Infrared System (SBIRS) constellation. Next-Gen OPIR satellites will operate at geosynchronous orbit (GEO) and will be equipped with advanced intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) sensor capabilities to address “adversary advances in missile technology and counter-space systems with added resiliency features”, budget documents stated. (Source: Janes)
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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 company combines novel artificial intelligence and radar technologies to identify movement and provide context in real-time. MatrixSpace sensors are the smallest, lightest and most portable high-performance systems on the market powered by AI. They deliver actionable insights that empower a broad range of public and private enterprises to protect assets and maintain safety with superior situational awareness.
For the modern, mobile battlespace, MatrixSpace provides both high performance 4D radar and jam-resistant mesh networked communications engineered to perform in the harshest conditions—day or night, in any weather, and in remote, rugged locations. Designed for flexibility, our radar systems can be integrated with tactical vehicles or mounted on structures like buildings, TOCs, or stanchions. Offering 360° coverage, they provide unmatched field-of-view advantages, while low energy consumption allows for solar/battery-powered operation in off-grid environments at twice the duration and a fraction the cost of alternatives. The MatrixSpace AI platform removes clutter and classifies objects, so operators can act confidently without specialized radar expertise.
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.
MatrixSpace solutions are designed and developed in the United States, without ITAR export restrictions, manufactured under the highest ISO and IATF standards and rigorously tested for quality, reliability and compliance.
Visit maxtrixspace.com
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