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20 Mar 14. Space Force Delivers Warfighting Effects, Protects Homeland. Since the U.S. Space Force stood up five years ago, it has delivered warfighting effects to the point that the U.S. can now contest the space domain, Space Force Chief of Space Operations Gen. B. Chance Saltzman said today during Defense One’s “State of Defense 2025: Air Force and Space Force” digital event.
He said those warfighting capabilities include proliferated warfighting, space architecture and proliferated low-Earth orbit satellite communications.
“We’re developing missile tracking capabilities. We’re still providing all the GPS functions that enable the internet online banking. It’s a pretty good deal for the American taxpayer if you think about what all we provide,” Saltzman said, noting his service has over 15,000 people and is just 3.3% of the Defense Department’s budget.
He said the service’s top three priorities are space domain awareness to provide accurate real-time information to decision-makers, resilient satellite architecture to better defend space capabilities and counter-space capabilities to hold at-risk adversaries’ use of space against the joint force. Saltzman said space requires six categories of counter-space weapons — three ground-based and three space-based — jammers, directed energy and kinetic capabilities, like missiles. Homeland defense has always been a central part of the National Defense Strategy, he added, noting the Space Force will play a significant role in making the Golden Dome a reality. The Golden Dome, which will be similar to Israel’s Iron Dome air defense system, will be designed to defend the U.S. against aerial attacks. The general said industry would play a big part in space domain transformative technology and praised the work done by companies in delivering those capabilities to the Space Force. (Source: U.S. DoD)
18 Mar 25. ALL.SPACE delivers satellite terminals to US Army and Navy. The Hydra 2 and Hydra 4 terminals are expected to provide enhanced resilience, connectivity, and security for mission-critical operations. ALL.SPACE has announced the initial operational deployment of its Hydra 2 and Hydra 4 satellite communications terminals to the US Army and Navy. This development signifies a step forward in defence satellite communications (SATCOM), providing enhanced resilience, connectivity, and security for mission-critical operations, stated the multi-orbit, multi-link SATCOM solutions provider. The Hydra 2 terminal, also known as the Dual-link Ka Terminal, is specifically designed for maritime and land operations. It offers simultaneous dual-link connectivity that operates at full performance across geostationary equatorial orbit (GEO), medium earth orbit (MEO), and future low earth orbit (LEO) Ka-band networks. This is expected to ensure continuous data transfer even in the most challenging environments. The terminal is fully ruggedised for field conditions and integrates seamlessly with existing defence systems to deliver high-throughput, interference-resistant communications. On the other hand, the Hydra 4 terminal, known as the Quad-link Multi-band Terminal, is tailored for battlefield operations. With four active transmission links, it enables real-time, high-bandwidth data exchange across multiple frequency bands, including Military Ka, Commercial Ka, Ku, and L-band networks. The Hydra 4’s offers secure communication channels that are resistant to interference and jamming, which are considered critical in contested operational zones.
This technology has been field-tested and is already in use by military forces for land and sea operations.
ALL.SPACE CEO Paul McCarter said: “The deployment of the Hydra 2 and Hydra 4 terminals marks a transformative moment for military SATCOM. By providing resilient, multi-orbit connectivity in real-world defence scenarios, we are ensuring that military forces can operate with uninterrupted, secure communications. Our technology is designed to withstand the toughest conditions while offering seamless integration across existing defence networks.” (Source: army-technology.com)
20 Mar 25. Andoya Spaceport, in collaboration with Exolaunch, aims to elevate launch capabilities at a new integration facility. Andøya Spaceport, strategically located in northern Norway at 69°N and 16°E, with orbital launch pads offering direct injection into Polar and sun-synchronous orbits (SSO), today announced a strategic collaboration with Exolaunch, a global leader integration, rideshare missions, and deployment services. This partnership will leverage Exolaunch’s satellite processing expertise for Andøya Spaceport’s planned integration facility in the Spaceport Village at Nordmela to become a hub for the small-satellite market in Europe.
“We welcome the partnership with Exolaunch to ensure our new facilities are designed efficiently and with our end-users in mind. Exolaunch’s experience with over 30 missions will provide valuable input during design and construction to best meet user needs,” said Andøya Spaceport President, Ingun Berget.
“Supporting Andøya Spaceport while they scale their facilities and product offerings for orbital-class small launch vehicles is an exciting step for Exolaunch as we continue expanding our work in Scandinavia,” commented Robert W. Sproles, chief executive officer at Exolaunch. “Andøya Spaceport’ world-class infrastructure and prime location at the edge of the Arctic Circle make it a standout launch site for small satellite missions. Their capabilities complement our expertise in enabling ambitious small satellite missions, from precise orbit deployment to mission flexibility and costefficiency. At Exolaunch, we’ve built a track record of deploying hundreds of satellites with reliability, empowering operators to achieve their goals in science, technology, and connectivity. We look forward to working with the team at Andøya Spaceport and their customers to shape a dynamic future for small satellite launches in Europe and support the region’s emergence as a global leader in space innovation.” (Source: ASD Network)
19 Mar 25. Multi-million-pound investment gives rocket boost to South West space sector. Minister Jones has announced a multi-million-pound investment in Bristol’s space sector from leading German space company OHB.
* New multim-pound investment from leading German space company OHB to support Plan for Change by creating specialist jobs in Bristol.
* OHB’s UK expansion sees job-boosting new subsidiary at Bristol & Bath Science Park to develop cutting-edge satellite and spacecraft tech.
* Industry Minister Sarah Jones announces investment in keynote speech at opening of Farnborough International Space Show.
The South West will benefit from a multi-million-pound investment from leading German space company OHB, creating up to 50 specialist jobs in Bristol working on satellites and exploration spacecraft, and supporting the government’s Plan for Change in delivering more skilled jobs, higher living standards, and productivity growth in every part of the United Kingdom.
Industry Minister Sarah Jones will announce the investment in a speech to the Farnborough International Space Show today [19 March], welcoming the news as a major win for the South West’s world-leading aerospace cluster, and the latest vote of confidence in the UK’s investment environment.
The Farnborough International Space Show, supported by ADS – the trade association for the UK’s aerospace, defence, security and space sectors – will be a significant event for the space industry, with 50 different countries exhibiting and many high-value commercial deals expected to be signed.
OHB’s initial multi-million-pound investment will create a new UK subsidiary based at Bristol and Bath Science Park to develop cutting-edge tech for satellites and spacecraft, and was secured by the Department for Business and Trade working together with the Space West cluster, Invest Bristol & Bath and the UK Space Agency.
Industry Minister Sarah Jones is expected to say: “The UK is open for business, and today’s investment from OHB is a major win for Bristol’s world-leading aerospace and tech industry which will create high-skilled local jobs and ensure the UK remains a partner of choice for space agencies around the world. This is the latest vote of confidence in our Industrial Strategy, which will give our space sector the certainty it needs to stay at the cutting edge of global innovation, driving growth and good jobs across the UK and showing our Plan for Change is working.”
The British space sector generates £18.9 bn each year, supporting over 50,000 jobs, and will be a top priority in the Government’s Industrial Strategy, which has identified advanced manufacturing and digital & technologies as key growth-driving sectors.
The UK’s space workforce is also highly qualified and more than twice as productive (2.3x) as the average UK worker, while the global space market is expected to be worth over £1 trillion by 2035, according to the latest figures from global management consultancy McKinsey.
OHB CEO Marco Fuchs said: “I am truly glad that we have finally established a presence in one of Europe’s key space markets. The Bristol region, with its high-tech cluster, provides a great environment for OHB to develop innovative and competitive space products and systems from the UK for the national and European markets.”
West of England Mayor Dan Norris said: “Today’s announcement means more high skilled jobs for local people – and that’s fantastic news. OHB SE setting up shop in the West of England is a big win for our region and a real rocket boost for our space industry.
I’m really proud that they’ve chosen the Bristol & Bath Science Park as their UK base. We’re proving once again that this is the place to be for world-class innovation, job creation, and serious economic growth.
Kevin Craven, CEO of ADS welcomed the announcement:
The UK space sector – a jewel in the UK’s advanced manufacturing crown – has seen impressive growth in recent years. The space economy in the UK spans a wide range of capabilities employing around 50,000 people, with strengths in small satellite technology, sustainability, and emerging areas such as in-space manufacturing, artificial intelligence, and quantum computing.”
Representing more than 500 businesses operating in space, ADS wholeheartedly welcomes the ongoing commitment to developing our sector throughout the country. Space will secure the UK’s domestic, future and technological advantage! (Source: https://www.gov.uk/)
18 Mar 14. BlackSky Technology Inc. (NYSE: BKSY) recently completed a critical design review (CDR) with a major international defense customer. “Completing the CDR is a monumental achievement validating BlackSky’s space-based tactical ISR services meet our customer’s long-term mission needs,” said Brian O’Toole, BlackSky CEO. “BlackSky’s Spectra® tasking and analytics data-fusion platform architecture is being optimized in parallel to the development of the company’s advanced Gen-3 constellation to deliver very high-resolution imagery and AI-powered analytics at unprecedented speed.”
This important milestone confirms that BlackSky’s image quality, time-diverse revisit, order and delivery timelines and precision AI-enabled analytics standards are technically aligned with the customer’s real-time space-based intelligence mission requirements.
“BlackSky’s next-generation services will feature fully automated multi-sensor tip-and-cue capabilities that give customers the ability to securely task and receive very-high resolution imagery and precision AI-derived analytics that support minute-by-minute situational awareness during time-sensitive mission operations,” said O’Toole.
BlackSky’s first Gen-3 satellite launched on February 18 and delivered first light images just five days afterward. BlackSky’s proprietary, advanced detection and identification algorithms delivered AI-enabled analytics derived from new, very high-resolution Gen-3 imagery three weeks following launch. With BlackSky’s first Gen-3 satellite now on orbit, the company plans to expand the constellation at a regular cadence over the next 12 months. (Source: BUSINESS WIRE)
18 Mar 25. UK Space Command trials “buddy system” to improve induction. The buddy system provides people with a knowledge of space to support civil servants joining UK Space Command. UK Space Command introduced a “buddy system” designed to facilitate the training of new workers with little to no experience or knowledge of the new military domain. A senior officer referenced the new system during the Space-Comm Expo in London on 12 March 2025, where they observed that “we can help people navigate that new, demanding role much more quickly than [we] potentially would [have] do[ne].” The aim of the initiative – which was first introduced in February 2025 – is to offer companions with sufficient knowledge of space to support new civil servants joining Space Command to help improve their induction.
Feedback will be collected so that the system can be continuously developed.
Becoming space-literate
The ‘buddy system’ is the first of many ways the fledgling command, established in April 2021, is cultivating a space-conscious workforce, not just within Space Command itself, but across the Ministry of Defence (MoD) and the armed forces.
One significant source of space education will be the UK Space Academy, which is scheduled to open in 2027. Courses from foundation through to practitioner and expert levels can be accessed by those working in Space Command, or those across defence who are interested in a career in space. Other British services, such as the Royal Air Force, are promoting space among its Air Cadets from the age of 14-years-old, all of whom can now undertake qualifications in the field.
Constitution of UK Space Command
For most positions in UK Space Command, both military and civilian, a space background is desirable but not essential.
The joint command is run by nearly 600 staff; more than half of them are military personnel, drawn from across the armed forces. Space Command also includes more than 100 contractors, and a contingent of MoD civil servants.
More broadly, the MoD approaches space in the same way as it does with the sea, land, air, and cyber domains. Therefore, it can draw personnel from across all services.
The UK is pursuing integration across the single armed services wherein space becomes a key consideration, the senior officer acknowledged. However, they added that this must be balanced with allowing Space Command to grow as an authority in its own right, which requires a space-conscious workforce.
To derive from experience in the future, the Joint Personnel Administration, a human resources intranet-based personnel database, records information of all those who have gained space operator experience within the MoD, “which means,” the senior officer noted, “in the future… we have an ability to recall people, and make sure we are closely aligned with our reserves as well.”
Run up to the SDR
“I think the demand signals on us have never been so much as they are now” they added. “It gives me more confidence that space really is at the front and centre.”
This fresh mentality for space as a domain in its own right is one that has still yet to be fully realised as the MoD continues to cultivate a space mentality in the modern battlespace. There is vulnerability that comes with operating space-based infrastructure, from communications, intelligence, surveillance to navigation; the ability to protect these enablers is important as space becomes more contested.
Naturally, protective measures in space will become a pivotal focus area for the MoD’s strategic procurement plans going forward. Even industry is making this pivot towards space, a reality that Éric Béranger, CEO of Europe’s foremost missile manufacturer MBDA, addressed in a speech in Paris on 17 March.
The space revelation seeps in ahead of the UK’s Strategic Defence Review, a document that will outline the principles guiding the British armed forces amid a fractured security climate, due to be released before the middle of 2025. (Source: army-technology.com)
17 Mar 25. Lockheed Martin spent $300m on axed JP 9102 project. Lockheed Martin spent more than $300m on the JP 9102 military SATCOM project before the deal was surprisingly withdrawn last year by Labor. The revelation was contained within previously unreleased documents compiled for senators that confirmed the federal government has “no liability” to compensate any of the businesses involved. In total, it states Defence spent $102m to consult industry and down-select potential solutions for the project, which was arguably the biggest in the local space sector. First announced in 2017, JP9102 was the project name of the $3 bn plan to create a sovereign SATCOM capability that would have reduced Australia’s reliance on other countries’ satellites Lockheed Martin was named “preferred tender” in April 2023 – all but guaranteeing the deal – before it was abruptly dropped, along with scores of smaller firms, in November 2024. Four months on, new briefing documents released under Freedom of Information laws have provided more background to the decision.
It states Lockheed Martin spent in excess of US $200m (AU$316m) on JP 9102 and that its proposal would generate 200 space jobs in Victoria alone. However, the federal government insisted that “no final contract had been negotiated” with the business and argued that workforce and supply chains were actually only in “the early stages of development”.
“The termination of the tender process is within the Commonwealth rights under the conditions of tender, and the conditions of tender provide to the extent permitted by law,” it read.
“The Commonwealth has no liability to compensate tenderers for participating in the tender activity.”
The rebuttal comes despite a swathe of senior industry figures previously hitting out at the decision and the lost time wasted on the project. Av-Comm, which was working with Lockheed, revealed it had spent $3 m upgrading its organisation to be ready to deliver the contract, alongside overhauling its processes and workflows.
“It’s clear that the government see defence spending as a cost and not an opportunity to invest in Australian capability, Australian businesses and the Australian people,” CEO Michael Cratt said.
Meanwhile, the Space Industry Association of Australia went further, with chairman Jeremy Hallett arguing the decision would make companies think twice about working with Defence in the future.
“While other OECD nations see sovereign space capability as critical to creating high-tech, high-value jobs and a military advantage, in our own backyard, we seem to be doing the exact opposite,” he said.
While Lockheed didn’t criticise the decision, it previously announced it had leased office space in Melbourne’s CBD and appointed a senior executive to be the deputy director. Other firms involved included Inovor Technologies, EM Solutions, Linfox, Shoal Group and Ronson Gears.
The Australian, which broke the story last year, claimed the decision to effectively cancel JP 9102 was due to a lack of budget. The federal government, though, insisted it was because multiple low-Earth orbit satellites are more secure from attacks than a single geostationary spacecraft, as planned by Lockheed.
Later, the Minister for Defence Industry, Pat Conroy, told Space Connect’s sister brand, Defence Connect, that the “money still resides” in JP 9102 and would be invested elsewhere.
“We were putting all our eggs in one basket, and that basket was exposed,” he said. “We’ve ceased the procurement activity, and we have focused on looking at other technology solutions, and that is, to be quite frank, because of the growing counter space threats.
“I’ve been frustrated and annoyed by some of the commentary out there, by people who just don’t have access to the classified briefings, who profess to be greater experts on this area than the ADF, who might be trying to sell their particular commercial technology or have a view.
“And some journalists have accepted that hook, line and sinker, and I find that frustrating.” (Source: Space Connect)
17 Mar 25. Kongsberg NanoAvionics (NanoAvionics) has successfully launched the first of three initial microsatellites for Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace’s N3X constellation. The launch is part of a five-year contract awarded in 2024 by the Norwegian Armed Forces to KONGSBERG for providing maritime surveillance data. The ARVAKER I satellite was launched aboard SpaceX’s Transporter-13 mission from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California on 15 March. Shortly after deployment, NanoAvionics’ mission control established two-way communication with the spacecraft, maintaining the company’s 100% first-contact success rate across more than 45 missions to date. The N3X constellation, based on NanoAvionics’ flight-proven MP42H microsatellite bus, will provide crucial maritime surveillance data to multiple Norwegian government agencies, including the Armed Forces, the Coastal Administration, the Directorate of Fisheries, and Norwegian Customs. Enabled by the performance capabilities of the NanoAvionics MP42H microsatellite bus, it will also offer excess data collection capability outside Norwegian Areas of Interest which will be available for international users. ARVAKER I and its following counterparts will enhance maritime security by detecting vessels involved in illegal fishing, smuggling, environmental crimes, and other unlawful activities.
The satellite is equipped with surveillance instruments, including AIS receivers and navigation radar detectors, developed by the Norwegian Defence Research Establishment and delivered by Kongsberg Discovery. They will also assist in search and rescue operations for ships in distress.
“The need for advanced maritime surveillance has never been greater, as shown by recent global events,” said Atle Wøllo, CEO of Kongsberg NanoAvionics. “It is a great achievement that our proven microsatellite platforms keep helping governmental customers meet these growing challenges in national security applications. Our NewSpace 3.0 philosophy brings commercical space agility to the governmental domain without sacrificing the reliability required by these applications.”
ARVAKER I is the first step in the deployment of the N3X constellation. The following two satellites, ARVAKER II and III, will launch on the upcoming Transporter mission later this year. Once operational, the constellation will significantly expand Norway’s ability to monitor its areas of interest, reinforcing national security and maritime domain awareness.
Eirik Lie, President of Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace, said: “KONGSBERG has been active in the space segment for decades, delivering high-end technology and solutions, but this successful launch marks a milestone for us as we will own and operate the satellites for the first time.”
15 Mar 25. ICEYE, the global leader in synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellite imaging for high-fidelity Earth Observation, persistent monitoring, and natural catastrophe solutions, has successfully launched four new 25 cm resolution satellites, strengthening the company’s SAR satellite constellation, the largest in the world. Among the satellites was ICEYE’s Generation 4 satellite (“Gen4”), marking another leap in the company’s rapid innovation in SAR technology. These satellites will extend ICEYE’s leadership in imaging for the most challenging applications in natural catastrophe response and national security. The satellites were integrated via Exolaunch and successfully lifted off on March 15, 2025, aboard the Transporter-13 rideshare mission with SpaceX from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, USA. Each spacecraft has established communication, and routine commissioning operations are underway. ICEYE’s Gen4 satellite provides the best SAR image quality available and marks a significant breakthrough in SAR satellite technology and in the industry. This groundbreaking technology advancement builds on ICEYE’s space heritage and doubles both the size of the SAR antenna and radiated SAR power. This enables Gen4 satellites to more than double the imaging area, ranging from 150 km to 400 km swath width. The images contain 30% greater information density. The improvements also include advanced orbit control for target imaging, and more imaging capacity for congested areas in a single satellite pass. This new generation will empower customers with enhanced situational awareness, faster decision-making capabilities, and improved mission outcomes. Detection and classification of vessels, vehicles, or aircraft will be much easier, which is key in demanding defence and intelligence environments. ICEYE will release further details about the full suite of Generation 4 technology improvements and customer applications in the coming weeks.
“With the launch of the Generation 4 satellite, ICEYE continues to lead the innovation in the SAR satellite industry. As we aim to be the primary provider of critical infrastructure for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) to allied nations, our SAR development serves the growing demand for space-based technology in the global defence markets”, said Rafal Modrzewski, CEO and Co-founder of ICEYE.
With today’s launch, ICEYE has launched 48 SAR satellites into orbit for the company and its customers since 2018 and plans to launch more than 20 new satellites annually in 2025, 2026, and beyond. ICEYE’s first launch of the year in January 2025 successfully deployed four new satellites.
09 Mar 25. Rocket Lab’s details about ocean platform for Neutron rocket return landings at sea. The sea-based landing platform for Neutron rockets returning to Earth will support greater space access for national security missions, civil space exploration, and commercial satellite constellation deployments. Rocket Lab USA, Inc. (Nasdaq: RKLB), a global provider in launch services and space systems, shared details about ‘Return On Investment’, the ocean landing platform for Neutron missions returning to Earth.
Rocket Lab’s Neutron rocket is a reusable carbon composite medium-lift launch vehicle being developed to meet the demand for single and multi-satellite constellation deployment, high assurance national security missions, and cargo to various Earth orbits, as well as lunar and interplanetary exploration. Capable of deploying payloads up to 33,000 pounds (15,000 kg), Neutron is being brought to the market at a rapid development pace on the foundation of Rocket Lab’s industry leadership as one of the world’s most frequent and reliable launch providers.
Neutron can perform two reusable mission profiles depending on mission requirements. This includes Return To Launch Site (RTLS) missions for Neutron first stage propulsive landings at Rocket Lab Launch Complex 3 in Virginia. The second reusable mission profile, a Down Range Landing (DRL) maneuver, is intended to maximize Neutron’s performance and will result in Neutron’s precise propulsive landing at sea on the landing platform.vb
Rocket Lab Founder and CEO, Sir Peter Beck, says: “We’re working hard to bring Neutron online with one of the fastest development schedules in history for a new rocket, because we know medium-lift launch opportunities are limited and space access is being stifled. Neutron’s debut launch planned for later this year will help to ease that bottleneck, and our new landing platform will open space access even further by enabling even more mission opportunities that require maximum Neutron performance.”
Rocket Lab currently expects Neutron to make its debut launch from Virginia in the second half of 2025.
‘Return On Investment’ is Rocket Lab’s sea-based landing platform for Neutron, the Company’s new reusable 141 ft (43 m) medium-lift rocket currently in development. Operated out of the U.S. East Coast, the landing platform is built upon a modified barge – the ‘Oceanus’ supplied by Canal Barge Inc., a New Orleans-based, private marine transportation company – and named after the Greek Titan Oceanus, the personification of the Oceanus River that the Greeks believed encircled the entire world. ‘Return On Investment’ will be customized with propulsion systems to maintain the platform’s target position and thermal protection systems to conserve electrical and other support equipment installed on the deck. ‘Return On Investment is expected to enter service in 2026. (Source: Satnews)
10 Mar 25. SKY Perfect JSAT selects Thales Alenia Space to build “JSAT-32” communications satellite. SKY Perfect JSAT Corporation and Thales Alenia Space have signed a contract to build the GEO communications satellite, “JSAT-32.”
Operating in the Ku and Ka frequency bands, JSAT-32 will provide coverage over Japan and its surrounding seas, with newly added spot beams for mobility applications. JSAT-32 will serve as a future replacement for existing SKY Perfect JSAT satellites that provide communication and distribution services in Japan. As prime contractor, Thales Alenia Space will be responsible for the design, manufacturing, testing and delivery of the satellite to the designated launch pad. The company will also provide the associated ground segment. With a launch mass of 3.7 tons, JSAT-32 will be built on Thales Alenia Space’s Spacebus 4000B2 platform, renowned for its robustness, reliability and time-to-market efficiency. The satellite is scheduled for launch in 2027, and will be designed to have an in-orbit lifetime of over 15 years.
“The procurement of JSAT-32 is part of our strategic investment, aligning with our long-term satellite fleet refresh plan,” said SKY Perfect JSAT President and CEO Eiichi Yonekura. “With its additional Ka-band payload, JSAT-32 will enhance our ability to meet growing mobility demands, including national security needs. As we continue the procurement of JSAT-31, we look forward to leveraging Thales Alenia Space’s proven technology and expertise.”
“I would like to sincerely thank SKY Perfect JSAT for renewing its trust in our company,” said Hervé Derrey, CEO of Thales Alenia Space. “JSAT-32 is the second satellite we will deliver to SKY Perfect JSAT, after JSAT-31 ordered in 2024. This new contract further underscores the success of our robust and proven Spacebus 4000 product line, which has represented a total of 42 satellite programs, including 16 based on Spacebus 4000B2 product.” (Source: Satnews)
11 Mar 25. Astrum Mobile selects SWISSto12 to manufacture NEASTAR-1 GEO satellite. Asia Pacific’s only Satellite-to-Device (S2D) company, Astrum Mobile will operate the very first Satellite-to-Device (S2D) platform delivering 5G Non-Terrestrial Network (NTN) service.
Astrum Mobile’s vision for a ubiquitous S2D service directly to end-user smartphones and smart devices is advancing with the selection of SWISSto12 as the manufacturer of the NEASTAR-1 satellite, based on the small geostationary HummingSat platform, to be operated from GEO position 105E over Asia Pacific covering the APAC region. As the industry shifts towards direct-to-end-user device services, Astrum Mobile’s S2D service will leverage 3GPP (3rd Generation Partnership Project) NTN to deliver rich media, data casting, IoT, mass notification, and in addition, emergency notification services throughout Asia Pacific. Operating as a high-power S2D service in L-band and resistant to severe weather-related radio frequency service fade, Astrum Mobile will provide enhanced Service Level Assurances (SLA) and avoid natural service disruptions caused by events such as typhoons, floods, and earthquake. End users will access the service using standard smartphones and smart devices. Astrum Mobile aims to offer ubiquitous services and will partner with local innovators to provide compelling services in each country. NEASTAR-1 will be equipped with on-board reconfigurable beams to address market changes and dynamics over time.
“Astrum believes that in today’s connected world, everyone should have affordable access to various rich media services, including broadcast services, news, information, social media, and emergency services, especially in areas where life is at risk due to the lack of terrestrial services. Leveraging the always-available smartphone or smart device is the most compelling value proposition, and the time is right with the recent industry shift to 3GPP 5G NTN features on smartphones and devices. SWISSto12 was selected for its commercial approach, experienced satellite telecommunications team, as well as its small and agile spacecraft platform. NEASTAR-1 is the fifth satellite in the HummingSat product line, benefiting from extensive manufacturing experience, heritage and synergies to meet Astrum Mobile’s business plan,” said Michael Do, Chief Operating Officer of Astrum Mobile.
“We have received significantly positive assurance from customers and partners that such a service will address the need to provide ubiquitous service access that meets national and commercial interests for enabling communications anywhere, everywhere. NEASTAR-1 is generating tremendous interest and excitement, and we look forward to launching Asia Pacific’s first S2D services,”” said Sean Wallace, Chief Executive Officer of Astrum Mobile.
“SWISSto12 is delighted to partner with Astrum Mobile to deliver NEASTAR-1 on its first S2D mission. We will demonstrate the performance of a powerful S2D payload packed into the compact form factor of HummingSat. This adds another validation to our mission to better connect and protect users worldwide by providing agile geostationary satellite communications,” said Emile de Rijk, CEO and Founder of SWISSto12. (Source: Satnews)
06 Mar 25. SpaceX Starship 8 test results — some good, some not so good. SpaceX’s eighth flight test proved to be similar to the seventh with Starship’s engine trouble, however, unlike the seventh test flight the eighth test flight was able to return the Starship’s huge first-stage booster.
“Obviously a lot to go through, a lot to dig through, and we’re going to go right at it,” SpaceX’s Dan Huot said during live launch commentary today after Ship was lost. “We have some more to learn about this vehicle.”
The booster known as Super Heavy, returned to Starbase seven minutes after launch and was caught by the launch tower’s arms making this the third successful capture for SpaceX. The launch took place on Thursday, March 6, after the company stood down from a Monday launch attempt due to “too many question marks,” according to SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, that led to a scrub. Thursday’s successful launch from its Starbase site in South Texas at 6:30 p.m. EST 2330 GMT; 5:30 p.m. local Texas time, sent the 403-foot-tall (123 meters) vehicle skyward. The Starship spacecraft, also referred to as the upper stage, rode atop the 232-foot-tall (71-meter-tall) Super Heavy rocket booster. Several of Starhip’s six Raptor engines shut down when only approximately 20 seconds from the end of its ascent burn, and the vehicle began to tumble causing SpaceX to lose contact with Ship about nine minutes into the flight, and it is assumed that the Ship detonated in the sky.
“Once you lose enough of those center engines, you’re going to lose attitude control,” said Dan Huot, SpaceX communications manager. “And so we did see the ship start to go into a spin, and at this point, we have lost contact with the ship.” (Source: Satnews)
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