SES needs six of its O3b/mPOWER satellites in orbit to kick-start its global service. Four are already in orbit out of the eleven that will eventually complete the constellation. Boeing is wrapping up the next two (mPOWER 5 and 6) in readiness for launch in June on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. SES CEO Steve […]
SpaceX conducted another textbook launch during the early hours of February 12th from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. The launch (officially Mission 5-4) broke a number of records, not least the shortest-time ever (5 days) between launches from the same pad. The mission was SpaceX’s 10th launch of the year, a pace of one launch […]
The space and satellite insurance sector enjoyed their third successive year of profits following losses in 2018 and 2019. The profits were impressive, with $579 million (€534m) in premiums paid and helping offset losses and claims of $294 million. However, the industry is not tapping into the fast-growing Low Earth orbiting market as the likes […]
China has used a mobile sea platform based in the Yellow Sea to launch 14 satellites into orbit. The rocket (named Jielong-3, or ‘Smart Dragon-3’) lifted off on December 9th from the Tai Rui modified barge in the Yellow Sea. The mission carried eight satellites built by Changguang Satellite Technology, which concentrates on remote sensing, […]
Federal Communications Commission Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel has unveiled a plan to reorganise the agency better to support the needs of the growing satellite industry, promote long-term technical capacity at the FCC, and navigate 21st global communications policy. Under this plan, Chairwoman Rosenworcel will work to reorganise the FCC’s International Bureau into a new Space Bureau […]