Small Satellites 2020

SMi Group are proud to announce the Small Satellites Conference, taking place in London on the 1st and 2nd September 2020.

With nations around the world developing th…

On National Security | The promise and perils of LEO constellations

DoD’s Space Development Agency is leading the way as it prepares to put up a communications transport layer and a surveillance and tracking layer for hypersonic missile defense.

LEO constellations still held to high bar in FCC rural broadband subsidy program

The U.S. Federal Communications Commission remains unconvinced that low Earth orbit satellite internet constellations are worth subsidizing through its $16 billion rural broadband program despite tweaking the rules for that program to give LEO constellations a better chance to qualify for funding. 

SES details LEO constellation and expanded MEO constellation to FCC

SES proposed a low Earth orbit constellation to the U.S. Federal Communications Commission that, if built, would make the company an operator of satellites in low, medium and geostationary orbits. 

Viasat, lured by broadband subsidy opportunity, eyes 300-satellite LEO constellation

Viasat says it is open to building a constellation of nearly 300 satellites in low Earth orbit if it can qualify for some of the $20.4 billion in broadband subsidies the U.S. Federal Communications Commission intends to dole out under the Rural Digital Opportunities Fund. 

Op-ed | Proliferated LEO is risky but necessary

The world is moving inexorably to proliferated constellations. This is a logical progression and generally a good thing. But like many good things, it is not without risks.

Megaconstellation startup raises $110 million to connect smartphones via satellite

AST & Science’s immediate focus is starting revenue generation in the next few years with low Earth orbit satellites numbering in the “low twenties” in an equatorial orbit.

Military enthusiastic about commercial LEO satcom but wants proof that vendors can deliver

The Army is not ready to sign contracts with any LEO broadband providers quite yet, but it’s scoping the market.

Dankberg teases ViaSat-4 specs, still mulling MEO constellation

Viasat says that co-building its ViaSat-3 satellites with Boeing has given the company experience it can leverage to multiply the capacity achievable with a next-generation ViaSat-4 system.

SpaceX submits paperwork for 30,000 more Starlink satellites

The FCC, on SpaceX’s behalf, submitted 20 filings to the ITU for 1,500 satellites apiece in various low Earth orbits, an ITU official confirmed Oct. 15 to SpaceNews. 

UnseenLabs plans to launch half dozen ship-tracking cubesats in 2020

French startup UnseenLabs intends to launch up to six more ship-tracking cubesats next year to build on the success of its first satellite. 

LEO constellation operators OneWeb, Iridium announce collaboration

Iridium and OneWeb, two companies pursuing different types of telecommunications businesses from low Earth orbit, said Sept. 17 that they would work together on a combined service offering. 

Telesat outlines spending plan for Canadian government’s LEO constellation investment 

Telesat plans to use an 85 million Canadian dollar ($64.7 million) investment by the government of Canada on the first dozen satellites of its low Earth orbit broadband constellation. 

Space Development Agency looked upon to bring LEO technology to ground forces

The Army is pondering broader use of low-cost satellites for tactical applications.

Canadian government pledges $521 million for Telesat LEO constellation

The Canadian government is investing 85 million Canadian dollars ($64.7 million) into research and development for Telesat’s broadband satellite constellation, and has agreed to spend up to 600 million Canadian dollars ($456.6 million) more on capacity. 

As it plans LEO constellations, DoD must prepare to deal with congestion

The buzzword in military space these days is “proliferated LEO,” which is Pentagon-speak for large numbers of small satellites in low Earth orbit.