Steely Newsletter Issue #058 |
Read all about AT&T signing a commercial agreement with AST SpaceMobile for sat-to-cell service, Amazon's new Project Kuiper satellite production facility opening in Everett, Washington, Hubble Network and Life360's aim to launch a worldwide item-tracking network, and so much more! |
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| | Via Satellite | Rachel Jewett | 05-16-2024 AT&T and AST SpaceMobile have signed a commercial agreement to provide space-based cellular broadband to AT&T's customers in underserved areas. This agreement extends their collaboration which began in 2018. AST SpaceMobile will launch its first five satellites this summer to provide limited service in the US. The company is confident about receiving FCC approval to operate commercially and believes a significant portion of the population will be willing to pay for the service. | Tech Explore | Lauren Rosenblatt | 05-15-2024 Amazon is opening a new facility in Everett, Washington to streamline the manufacturing process for Project Kuiper, its initiative to provide broadband internet access through satellites. The 184,000-square-foot facility will sort and store parts from various suppliers before shipping them to the Project Kuiper manufacturing plant in Kirkland for assembly. This expansion will allow Project Kuiper to launch its first production satellites later this year and eventually build up to five satellites per day. The company is also partnering with a local college to create a training program for future satellite technicians. | IEEE Spectrum | Margo Anderson | 05-13-2024 A startup called Hubble Network has partnered with Life360 to create a global tracking system using Bluetooth. This system would function similarly to trackers offered by Apple and Samsung, but with the advantage of working anywhere on Earth. Hubble achieves this long-range Bluetooth connection through special signal detection on their orbiting satellites. While trackers cannot send signals back to the satellites due to power limitations, they can still transmit their location and other data (temperature, humidity, etc.) very efficiently. This paves the way for various applications in asset tracking, environmental monitoring, and more. The company plans to launch more satellites to create a comprehensive global network by 2026. |
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🛡️Satellite Cybersecurity News |
| Government Technology | Jule Pattison-Gordon | 05-16-2024 A recent conference highlighted the growing importance of protecting satellite communication systems from a variety of threats. These threats include solar weather disruptions, like the recent solar storm that impacted GPS systems, and cyberattacks from nation-states, like the Russian hack on Ukraine's Viasat network. To improve space cybersecurity, experts recommend a three-pronged approach: securing ground systems, protecting communication links, and hardening satellite equipment in orbit. Challenges include the long lifespan of satellites that makes them difficult to update and the need for better communication between governments and private companies. |
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| | everythingRF | 05-16-2024 Micro-Ant is a company that creates custom antennas for various applications,
including land, maritime, and aerospace. Their parabolic antennas are known for their high gain, efficiency, and ability to function in harsh environments. Micro-Ant also offers ultra-wideband Ka antennas that cover a large frequency range. With over 20 years of experience, they ensure their products are built to endure tough conditions with simple assembly. Their expertise extends to testing and certification, guaranteeing every antenna meets strict requirements. Micro-Ant also provides segmented and non-segmented parabolic carbon fiber reflectors, known for their superior quality. |
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| | Space.com | Andrew Jones | 05-17-2024 China launched a new satellite named Shiyan-23 on May 12th.
The launch vehicle was a Long March 4C rocket and lifted off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center. The purpose of the Shiyan-23 is listed as space environment monitoring, but details about the satellite are scarce. This is typical for China's Shiyan series, which translates to "experiment" and likely includes various functionalities. |
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🏛️US Government Satellite News |
| Via Satellite | Rachel Jewett | 05-15-2024 The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) announced the formation of a new team to oversee the implementation of its spectrum policies. This Spectrum Steering Team will collaborate with various stakeholders, including government agencies and industry experts, to put the National Spectrum Strategy into action. The strategy, released last November, aims to address the growing demand for spectrum caused by the advancement of wireless technologies. Led by Susan Mort and Ira Keltz, the team will focus on identifying new uses for specific frequencies and developing a pipeline for spectrum allocation in the private sector. | Space News | Sandra Erwin | 05-13-2024 Terran Orbital, a satellite manufacturer, announced a new contract with Lockheed Martin to build 18 satellite buses. This comes a day before Terran Orbital's earnings report, likely to assure investors about their partnership despite Lockheed Martin's withdrawal of their acquisition offer. This new contract brings the total number of satellite buses ordered by Lockheed Martin to 106. Lockheed Martin is a major shareholder of Terran Orbital and these satellite orders are a significant portion of Terran Orbital's backlog. |
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