Commercial
Q&A | China’s OneSpace ready for first orbital launch attempt
Ahead of the planned March 27 launch of the OS-M1/’Chongqing · Liangjiang Star’ four-stage solid rocket OneSpace representatives responded to a series of questions on the imminent launch, the company's ambitions, the nascent Chinese commercial space sector and more.
How the space industry learned to stop worrying and love the bubble
Perhaps the strongest sign to date that the space industry is in some kind of bubble is the creation of Hypergiant Galactic Systems.
EchoStar, Khosla Ventures invest $60 million in Wyler-backed broadband venture
Tarana Wireless has raised $200 million in total from investors that include AT&T, Deutsche Telekom and Wyler’s 1010 Holdings, LLC.
FCC: we won’t rush C-band decision
Federal Communications Commission officials urged patience with the repurposing process for satellite C-band spectrum, saying regulators are more concerned about getting it right than rushing the process.
Blue Origin studying repurposing of New Glenn upper stages
Blue Origin has studied repurposing upper stages of its future New Glenn launch vehicle to serve as habitats or for other applications as part of a series of NASA-funded commercialization studies.
First Ariane 6 to carry 30 OneWeb satellites • Viasat seeking to raise $500 million • Hispasat trials Wi-Fi hotspots in Colombia
Arianespace’s first Ariane 6 mission will carry 30 OneWeb satellites to low Earth orbit. The launch, slated for the second half of 2020, will use the “62” version of the rocket, which has two side boosters.
Mynaric raises $12.5 million from mystery constellation customer
Laser communications terminal provider Mynaric says it raised 11 million euros ($12.5 million) in post-IPO funding from a mystery constellation venture that plans to buy up to 1,000 terminals.
Maneuver puts SpaceIL lander on course for the moon
SpaceIL’s lunar lander performed a maneuver March 19 that puts the privately developed lander on course to enter orbit around the moon next month.
APT Satellite revenue up despite continued ‘fierce’ market condition
With two new satellites in orbit and a third on the way, APT Satellite of Hong Kong continues to grow, but company executives remain worried about Asia-Pacific market conditions.
Inmarsat receives another acquisition offer — this time from a consortium of public and private investors
Inmarsat said it remain in discussion with the consortium, which under British law has until April 16 to make a binding offer.
Op-ed | Commercializing Space: Before a commercial LEO market can flourish, the ISS must be retired
I’m a firm believer that the commercialization of space is absolutely essential for the growth of the space economy and achieving all of the goals we espouse for human activities in space.
Ruag revises strategy to win constellation orders
Long before Ruag began producing structures for OneWeb communications satellites, the Swiss aerospace equipment supplier noted the market shift toward large constellations and began investing in automation.
What Airbus learned from building satellites with OneWeb
Regardless of whether the Airbus-OneWeb joint venture gearing up to crank out dozens of satellites a month ultimately builds just 648 satellites or closer to the 900 originally envisioned, OneWeb’s constellation is the first such project large enough to truly incorporate aviation-style mass production procedures for spacecraft.
How OneWeb plans to make sure its first satellites aren’t its last
OneWeb’s dream of blanketing the globe in affordable, abundant broadband took an important step toward reality Feb. 27 when a Russian rocket lifted off from South America to deliver six French-built satellites into low Earth orbit.
OneWeb raises $1.25 billion from returning investors
Less than a month after the launch of its first six satellites, OneWeb closed a new $1.25 billion financing round to further its internet constellation.
SpaceX preparing to begin Starship hopper tests
SpaceX could begin initial tests of a prototype of the company’s next-generation Starship vehicle as soon as this week, Elon Musk said March 17.
