Advanced Television

Boeing

Boeing accused of technology theft

Boeing’s aerospace division is being sued for alleged theft of IP concerning the counterfeiting of highly specialised tools used on NASA projects. The action comes from Colorado-based Wilson Aerospace which is suing Boeing over what Wilson alleges is its ‘Fluid Fitting Torque Device-3’ developed by Wilson, and which Boeing used to attach four main engines […]

June 8, 2023

Satellite electrical propulsion to grow

It isn’t so very long ago that electrical propulsion for satellites was a very new kid on the block. Boeing’s Xenon-Ion Propulsion System (XIPS) was introduced on the (then) Hughes 702 versions its high-power versions of its popular HS-702 craft and used for final orbital insertion. December 1999 saw the launch of an HS-702 with […]

May 10, 2023

Boeing delivers Viasat-3 craft

Boeing has delivered to Florida what it describes as the “most powerful” satellite platform it has ever built in the shape of ViaSat-3 Americas, a new-generation craft for operator Viasat of California. It will be able to harness well over 30 kW of solar power when it reaches orbit. That’s 1/4+ of the power generated […]

March 22, 2023By Chris Forrester

Launch success for mPOWER pair

SpaceX successfully launched two mPOWER satellites for SES and its O3b division on December 16th. Despite a heart-stopping interruption to the launch rocket’s video signal which would normally have shown the rocket’s booster on its floating landing barge, but everything was “nominal” in the booster’s landing and the deployment of the two satellites. Confirmation soon […]

December 19, 2022By Chris Forrester

ViaSat-3 moves to mechanical testing

Viasat’s latest satellite, the first of the new ViaSat-3 Ka-band class, has completed its integration and is now in ‘flight configuration’ mode. However, the craft now has to be processed through the vibration, environmental and acoustic testing phases. ViaSat-3 is a huge beast of a satellite. Each of the trio is capable of handling more […]

September 30, 2022By Chris Forrester

Boeing delivers 2 SES satellites

Aerospace company Boeing has delivered two satellites for connectivity service provider SES to their launch site in Cape Canaveral, Florida, ahead of the upcoming launch of the twin spacecraft on a United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V rocket. “SES-20 and SES-21 are the first commercial satellites we’ve delivered since the start of the global pandemic,” […]

August 24, 2022

Viasat readies giant EMEA satellite

Viasat of California’s giant, powerful Viasat-3 satellite is making progress in preparation for its launch next year. Viasat has itself been working on the satellite’s vital payload and the craft has now been delivered to Boeing for integration into a Boeing 702 satellite. This second ViaSat-3 class satellite is expected to provide broadband service over […]

July 14, 2022By Chris Forrester

Aerojet wins 116-rocket engines order

Aerojet Rocketdyne has won an order from the United Launch Alliance (ULA) for the delivery of 116 RL10C-X rocket engines that will be used in the giant Vulcan Centaur rocket. Aerojet Rocketdyne says the order is a direct result of the deal between ULA and Amazon “as part of the largest commercial launch contract in […]

April 13, 2022

Astra wants 13,620 broadband satellites

Last week it was aerospace giant Boeing which received permission from the FCC to launch a broadband constellation of 147 satellites. California-based Astra Space has gone much better. It applied to the FCC on November 4th to “ultimately” launch 13,620 satellites. But Astra and Boeing are not alone. The FCC has received fresh requests from […]

November 8, 2021By Chris Forrester

FCC licenses new LEO constellation from Boeing

Boeing’s plans for a 147-fleet of V-band low Earth orbiting satellites have been given approval by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). The FCC says its licence covers Boeing’s plans for a broadband and communications services for residential, commercial, institutional, governmental, and professional users in the US and globally. “Advanced satellite broadband services have an important […]

November 5, 2021By Chris Forrester