Texas-based satellite operator AST SpaceMobile has opted for a modified launch plan with SpaceX, investing an additional $5 million to deploy its first commercial direct-to-smartphone satellites early next year. The change involves adjusting the orbital inclination to 53 degrees, exceeding the initial plan. This alteration aims to enhance coverage, reaching up to 59 degrees latitude for both the northern and southern hemispheres. The decision to broaden coverage aligns strategically with AST SpaceMobile’s prominent telecom partner, AT&T, which operates extensively in North America. The telecom giant has been actively supporting AST SpaceMobile in navigating regulatory requirements for satellite-based connectivity, particularly in…
Author: Michael Hughes
SpaceX has received the green light from regulatory authorities to proceed with its second integrated Starship/Super Heavy launch, scheduled for the morning of November 17. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed on November 15 that it had issued an updated launch license, citing SpaceX’s compliance with safety, environmental, policy, and financial responsibility requirements. The key hurdle in obtaining the license was the completion of an environmental review by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) concerning upgrades to the Starship launch pad at Boca Chica, Texas. Notably, the review focused on the addition of a water deluge system designed to…
In a comprehensive 741-page report released on November 14, the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission, an influential congressional advisory body, highlighted the escalating strategic and systemic competition between the United States and China. The report emphasizes China’s swift military expansion and pursuit of global influence, posing a significant challenge to U.S. national security. The report categorizes the current state as a “new normal” characterized by ongoing, long-term strategic rivalry. It sheds light on China’s substantial investment in modernizing its military, particularly focusing on advancements in missiles, space capabilities, undersea warfare, and artificial intelligence. Key areas of concern outlined in…
SpaceX achieved another milestone on November 9 with the successful launch of a cargo Dragon mission to the International Space Station (ISS). The Falcon 9 rocket lifted off from Launch Complex 39A at 8:28 p.m. Eastern, carrying the CRS-29 cargo Dragon spacecraft into orbit. The Dragon is set to autonomously dock with the ISS around 5:20 a.m. Eastern on November 11, remaining at the station until early to mid-December. Originally scheduled for November 5, the launch was delayed to address a leaking valve on one of the Draco thrusters, containing nitrogen tetroxide propellant. SpaceX’s Benji Reed, Senior Director of Human…
SpaceX successfully launched its ninth dedicated smallsat rideshare mission, Transporter-9, on November 11, deploying more than 100 satellites. The Falcon 9 rocket lifted off from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California at 1:49 p.m. Eastern, marking another chapter in a program that has stirred mixed reactions within the commercial space sector. The booster, having previously completed 11 missions, including Transporter-8 in June, executed a textbook landing back at the launch site approximately seven and a half minutes after liftoff. Transporter-9 released 90 payloads over the course of half an hour, beginning approximately 55 minutes post-launch. However, initial confirmations of successful…
SpaceX successfully launched a third pair of O3b mPower satellites for Luxembourg-based operator SES on November 12. The Falcon 9 rocket carrying SES’s satellites lifted off from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida, at 4:08 p.m. Eastern, heading towards medium Earth orbit (MEO). The Boeing-built satellites separated from the rocket about two hours later. SES confirmed that it successfully contacted the satellites post-launch. The satellites are now en route to their final positions in MEO, a journey expected to take several months, utilizing onboard all-electric propulsion. Despite SES facing electrical issues with the initial satellites in the constellation, SpaceX’s Falcon…
Virginia-based space data and services firm, Spire Global, unveiled its Constellation Management Platform at Space Tech Expo Europe in Bremen on November 14. The web-based app is designed to simplify satellite constellation operations for Spire’s customers, providing a user-friendly interface for managing satellite operations. The Constellation Management Platform is part of Spire’s Space Services, offering end-to-end solutions to customers, allowing them to build, launch, and operate their satellite constellation for a flat monthly fee. This mission operation-as-a-service platform supports various use cases, including Earth observation, connectivity, radio frequency intelligence, and space domain awareness. https://twitter.com/SpireGlobal/status/1724439566076043710 Frank Frulio, General Manager of Space…
Bulgaria has officially joined the Artemis Accords, a collaborative framework for international cooperation in space exploration led by the United States. Milena Stoycheva, Bulgaria’s Minister of Innovation and Growth, signed the accords on November 9 at a ceremony held at NASA Headquarters. Bulgaria’s inclusion makes it the 32nd nation to endorse the document since its introduction three years ago. In a statement, Stoycheva remarked on the historical significance of Bulgaria joining the Artemis Accords, emphasizing the country’s commitment to pushing the boundaries of space exploration with the support of artificial intelligence and advanced technologies. She highlighted the belief that such…
In a virtual meeting of the FAA’s Commercial Space Transportation Advisory Committee (COMSTAC) on November 8, Deputy Secretary of Transportation Polly Trottenberg proposed that the launch industry should play a role in funding additional resources for the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) Office of Commercial Space Transportation (AST). This comes in response to calls from industry witnesses, including SpaceX’s Bill Gerstenmaier, to significantly increase the budget of AST to handle the rising levels of launch activity. Trottenberg, while acknowledging the need for increased resources in AST, highlighted competing priorities within the FAA and suggested that industry could contribute to the additional…
Semiconductor giant Qualcomm has opted to scrap its plans to provide technology enabling direct connectivity between Android smartphones and Iridium’s satellites in the absence of cellular service. Despite successfully developing a chip that allows phones to connect with satellites for emergency communication and low-bandwidth messaging, Iridium announced on November 9 that no smartphone makers have incorporated Qualcomm’s enabling technology into their devices. The collaboration between Iridium and Qualcomm, announced earlier this year, aimed to see smartphones with satellite connectivity capabilities released in the second half of 2023. However, the lack of integration of Qualcomm’s technology into smartphones has led to…