OneWeb
Hughes Network Systems to invest $50 million in revived OneWeb
Hughes Network Systems, an original OneWeb investor, said July 27 it would put $50 million into the consortium that is purchasing OneWeb out of bankruptcy protection.
UK Parliament to scrutinize OneWeb purchase
“This whole decision making process seems unusual and doesn’t have the transparency that it requires,” Jones said in a video posted to Twitter. “Therefore, my committee will be holding an inquiry to understand the decision making behind this purchase.”
Ariane 5 launch on July 28 • Teledyne logs OneWeb revenue dip
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TOP STORIES
British military finalizes Skynet-6A contract with Airbus
Britain’s military on July 19 agreed to fully fund a gap-filler Skynet satellite it sole-sourced from Airbus Defence and Space three years ago, signing a 500-million-pound ($628.5 million) contract that covers the satellite’s manufacture and launch, as well as ground segment upgrades.
Bankruptcy court frees payment to OneWeb Satellites to restart satellite manufacturing
OneWeb received permission from a U.S. bankruptcy court Friday to pay its satellite vendor to resume building spacecraft for the company’s broadband megaconstellation.
OneWeb’s revival worries astronomers
A potential return to operations of satellite megaconstellation company OneWeb is a new source of worry for astronomers who previously had been focused on the effect SpaceX’s Starlink satellites will have on their observations.
British government and Bharti Global buy OneWeb, plan $1 billion investment to revive company
The British government and Indian mobile network operator Bharti Global placed a winning bid to acquire OneWeb, a broadband megaconstellation startup that filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in March after running out of funding, OneWeb said July 3.
Astronomers warn about effects of other satellite megaconstellations
Astronomers who have spent the last year worried about the effect that SpaceX’s Starlink satellites will have on their observations say they are increasingly concerned about the impact from other proposed megaconstellations.
Intelsat, SES to participate in FCC’s $9.7B C-band program • OneWeb says it wants 48,000 satellites
OneWeb told the FCC May 26 that it wants to increase its constellation size to 48,000 satellites despite having filed for bankruptcy over an inability to fund a smaller broadband megaconstellation.
OneWeb seeking to curb employee losses through extra paychecks
OneWeb is asking its bankruptcy court for permission to issue up to $8.8 million in worker retention and incentive payments to discourage its remaining employees from quitting before the company can sell its spectrum.
Op-ed | An unexpected effect: the industry’s recent challenges prove the importance of space
Rationalization of the startup landscape and the right sizing of company balance sheets is inevitable, paving the way for “Space 3.0,” which will see the profitable and sustainable exploitation of entirely new market opportunities, backed by a growing base of enlightened stakeholders.
Space Force vice commander: China can’t be allowed to buy bankrupt U.S. space companies
Lt. Gen. Thompson: DoD plans to work with Congress to help space companies that face bankruptcy.
EchoStar says Jupiter-3 launch timing clouded by coronavirus
The coronavirus pandemic and the transition launch providers are making to new rockets is complicating EchoStar’s reservation of a launch slot for its Jupiter-3 broadband satellite, according to company executives.
Iridium says coronavirus clouding revenue projection
The coronavirus pandemic is making it harder for Iridium to line up customers for its recently upgraded satellite constellation, but isn’t expected to reverse the company’s six-year annual growth streak, according to CEO Matt Desch.
JSAT delays earnings • Orbcomm confident during pandemic
Japanese satellite operator Sky Perfect JSAT is delaying its annual financial report by seven weeks, citing the coronavirus.
OneWeb falls back to Earth
Analysts agree the coronavirus crisis roiling markets is making it difficult for companies to raise money, but OneWeb’s troubles began well before the outbreak became a global pandemic.
