| | | | Steely Newsletter Issue #027 |
| Read all about Satellite constellation operators strategizing how to differentiate themselves from Starlink, OneWeb's new satellite terminal that can fit inside a backpack, the US Space Force launches the record breaking 'Victus Nox' space mission, and so much more! |
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| | Space News | Jeff Foust | 09-14-2023 The satellite industry is debating how quickly the satellite direct-to-device market will grow and what to call it. Satcom companies believe the market will grow quickly, driven by customer demands to stay connected. Others are more cautious, citing the need to develop advanced technologies and infrastructure. A panel at Euroconsult’s World Satellite Business Week also discussed the importance of communicating the market's capabilities to the public in a clear and concise way. |
| Via Satellite | Rachel Jewett | 09-14-2023 Satellite constellation operators like OneWeb, Amazon’s Project Kuiper, and Rivada Space Networks are competing with SpaceX’s Starlink constellation by offering different services and features. Amazon is preparing to launch its own satellite constellation, Project Kuiper, with its first two demonstration satellites launching in October. Kuiper will focus on affordability, reliability, and flexibility. Rivada Space Networks, which has a constellation contract in the development phase with Terran Orbital, plans to differentiate itself with a wholesale approach to selling capacity and service level agreements. The company has a multi-billion dollar pipeline of customers who want guaranteed rates and low latency. OneWeb is staying firm in its approach as a wholesale capacity provider and will not cut out its service providers and integrators. The operator is merging with Eutelsat and has distribution partnerships with Hughes Network Systems and Intelsat. |
| Via Satellite | Rachel Jewett, Mark Holmes | 09-13-2023 Satellite operator SES and SpaceX are partnering to offer a new hybrid satellite connectivity solution for the cruise industry. The solution, called SES Cruise mPOWERED + Starlink, will combine the best of Medium-Earth Orbit (MEO) and Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) technologies to provide high-speed and secure internet access to cruise ships. The solution will be available in two tiers: Premium and Pro. The Premium tier will offer 3Gbps of bandwidth per ship, while the Pro tier will offer 1.5Gbps. SES will be responsible for integrating, selling, and delivering the product. This is the first time that a major satellite operator will be offering a managed hybrid connectivity service for the cruise industry. |
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| | Via Satellite | Jeffrey Hill | 09-11-2023 OneWeb has launched a new lightweight user terminal for military and emergency response teams. The FoldSat Leo Ku OW Mil terminal is ruggedized, fits in most backpacks, and has a low profile and foldable antenna design. It can operate via a multi-option external power source, has a throughput of up to 195 Mbps download and 32 Mbps upload speeds, and features external GNSS input for GPS denied environments. |
| Royal Aeronautical Society | Tim Robinson | 09-12-2023 Phasor Solutions, a UK tech start-up acquired by South Korea's Hanwha in 2020, is developing multifunctional, electronically steered antennas for military and civil applications. The company's antennas are ultra low-profile, lightweight, and modular, making them ideal for use on aircraft, ships, and land vehicles. Phasor's antennas can also connect to multiple satellites in different orbits, providing more resilient and flexible communications. The company expects its new antenna technology to be available for military customers in land-based applications in the summer of 2024, with flight testing of the commercial aerospace product to begin in October 2024. |
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| | C41SER | Courtney Albon | 09-15-2023 Firefly Aerospace's Alpha rocket successfully launched the U.S. Space Force's second tactically responsive space demonstration satellite in 27 hours, a record for such a launch. The mission, dubbed Victus Nox, is part of an effort to develop the ability to quickly launch satellites into space in response to threats or to augment damaged systems. The Space Force plans to have an enduring responsive space capability in place by 2026. |
| Space News | Jeff Foust | 09-12-2023 Arianespace will launch a small geostationary communication satellite for Intelsat on an Ariane 6 in 2026, a sign of the enduring importance of such satellites in the commercial launch market. The one-ton satellite will carry a payload of 12 Ku-band transponders and is based on the HummingSat platform that satellite company, Swissto12, developed with support from the European Space Agency. Launch companies say that the commercial GEO market remains important to them despite a decline in orders, and that such satellites will increasingly be part of multi-orbit systems working with LEO constellations. |
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🏛️US Government Satellite News |
| Space News | Sandra Erwin | 09-13-2023 The U.S. Space Force is developing a new strategy to integrate commercial satellite services into military activities. The strategy will provide guidance on how to use emerging space industry services, such as rapid-revisit satellite imaging and low-Earth orbit satellite communications. The goal is to harness the innovation and capabilities of the commercial space sector to create a strategic advantage for the U.S. military. The new strategy will also help clarify the role of commercial providers and how their capabilities can be integrated into military operations. This will bring clarity to the industry so that commercial companies can globally support and augment military activities. The Space Force is also committed to working with military allies and private companies to ensure the protection of satellites during conflicts. This will be done through data sharing and other forms of collaboration. The Space Force believes that increased collaboration with the commercial space industry is essential to enabling new capabilities that support integrated deterrence. This integration includes data sharing and interoperability between allies and industry partners. |
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