SmallSat Symposium

Declining value of space SPACs could trigger mergers and acquisitions
Space companies that went public in the last year only to see their valuation drop precipitously may soon become targets of acquisitions.

SDA seeks commercial Earth-observation data
The Defense Department’s Space Development Agency is looking for ways to rapidly acquire Earth observation data.

Build or buy. That’s the question for constellation developers.
Many satellite constellation developers are opting to build their own satellites.

NASA outlines concerns about Starlink next-generation constellation in FCC letter
NASA says that SpaceX’s proposal for a second-generation Starlink constellation with 30,000 satellites could lead to a “significant increase” in potential collisions in low Earth orbit and interfere with the agency’s launches and scientific activities.

KSAT to support NASA LunIR mission
Kongsberg Satellite Services is providing ground network support for the Lunar InfraRed Imaging mission.

Satellite IoT companies don’t see broadband systems as competitors
Companies developing internet-of-things satellite constellations don’t see other broadband megaconstellations as direct competitors, but some see an opportunity to learn from them.

Sateliot raises 10 million euros in Series A round
Sateliot raised 10 million euros ($11.4 million) in a Series A investment round.

Small satellite constellations promise resilient communications and Earth observation
Small satellite constellations provide valuable communications links in the wake of natural disasters, according to speakers at the SmallSat Symposium here.

Industry questions U.S. government support for commercial remote sensing
Remote sensing startups moving into the defense market would like to see DoD and other agencies develop plans to procure commercial capabilities.

DoD space agency launching experiments in preparation for 2022 satellite deployments
SDA and DARPA small spacecraft equipped with optical crosslinks will fly to orbit in SpaceX's next rideshare mission Transporter-2.

Lynk to soon begin tests of cellular connectivity using first satellite
Lynk will start testing cellular connectivity services with its first small satellite in the near future as it plans to begin commercial service early next year.

Maxar executive: Smallsat industry deserves credit for pushing innovation
Technological advances in small satellites are helping improve spacecraft designs and pushing the industry to take more risks, said Jim McClelland, vice president of Maxar Technologies.

Virgin Orbit considering moves into adjacent markets
With its first successful launch in the books, Virgin Orbit is considering ways it can expand into adjacent markets, including supporting ventures developing satellite systems.

DoD grapples with how to bring in new space technology to military systems
DoD has to transition to a space architecture that takes advantage of emerging technologies, Steve Butow, director of the Defense Innovation Unit’s space portfolio, said at the SmallSat Symposium.

Analytical Space wins $26.4 million to establish optical network
Satellite communications startup Analytical Space Inc. won a $26.4 million contract to develop and launch six cubesats and two hosted payloads to begin establishing Fast Pixel Network for optical communications.

Investors see multiple avenues for space sector exits
Money will continue flowing into the space industry from government agencies, private equity firms and public markets, according to panelists at the 2021 SmallSat Symposium.