Satellite 2017
Why SES all but skipped Satellite 2017
Satellite 2017 visitors were surprised to see Kymeta Corp.’s booth in the prominent exhibit hall location traditionally reserved for global satellite fleet operator SES.
Lockheed Martin halts Athena effort, plans some Atlas 5 overlap with Vulcan
Lockheed Martin has ended its effort to return a small-to-medium-lift launch vehicle to market, and plans to keep the Atlas 5 rocket in flight concurrently with United Launch Alliance’s Vulcan rocket for the first five years of operations.
News from Satellite 2017, the year’s biggest satellite trade show
Coverage from the 2017 Satellite show in Washington DC
Cheap satellite terminals key to bridging digital divide, execs say
The key to extending internet access to billions of people around the globe is not launching a massive constellation of satellites into low Earth orbit, but creating inexpensive terminals, senior industry executives said March 9 at the Satellite 2017 conference.
Space Data Assn., AGI working to improve commercial space traffic center
The organizations announced March 6 they reached an agreement to launch an updated Space Data Center Space Traffic Management service that will provide satellite tracking, radio frequency spectrum management, and conjunction warning services to companies.
Shotwell on SpaceX launch backlog: “We will definitely catch up”
SpaceX President and COO Gwynne Shotwell says using Falcon 9 rockets with pre-flown first stages will enable the company to execute on its backlog, which is currently loaded with customers that expected to have their satellites launched in 2016.
Protecting satellites from cyber attacks isn’t getting any easier
Satellites service and equipment suppliers remain on high alert, watching for signs individual hackers or powerful nation states are trying to breach their network’s cybersecurity. That job is becoming increasingly complex as satellite networks become an integral part of larger terrestrial networks.
ILS plans larger Proton payload fairing, defers work on smaller Proton variant
International Launch Services is adding a larger payload fairing for its Proton rocket, but deferring development of one of two smaller versions of the vehicle announced last year.
3D printing saving satellite builders time and money
Satellite manufacturers are turning increasingly to additive manufacturing to reduce the cost and time required to design and build spacecraft.
Satellite builders unsure what Trump will mean for their business
Satellite manufacturers aren’t yet sure how the policies of the Trump administration will impact their businesses.
Air Force ready to offer commercial operators spots for WGS partnership effort, general says
U.S. Air Force Space Command is looking to increase its partnership with industry, even preparing to bring in commercial operators to help run the Wideband Global Satcom constellation, the AFSC vice commander said March 8.
Blue Origin signs OneWeb as second customer for New Glenn reusable rocket
OneWeb has signed on as Blue Origin’s second customer for its New Glenn orbital launch vehicle, both companies announced March 8.
NGA using data from Spire and Ball to monitor Arctic maritime traffic
The National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency is using satellite data provided by Spire Global and Ball Aerospace to monitor maritime traffic in the Arctic, a region where the changing climate is having a dramatic impact on trade routes, Peter Platzer, Spire chief executive, said March 6 during a Satellite 2017 panel here.
Boeing expects market for big communications satellites to remain soft
The commercial market for geostationary communications satellites shows no signs of rebound, according to Boeing executives who attribute lackluster demand to the rapid pace of innovation in the satellite market, few launch opportunities and the inability of the U.S. Export Import Bank to finance large transactions.
Facebook willing to invest in satellite user equipment
Facebook is willing to help the satellite industry figure out how to drive down costs on user equipment so that the company can leverage space technology to bring internet access to the rest of the planet.
Is imagery the ‘killer app’ for smallsats?
Peter Wegner, Spaceflight Industries chief technology officer, is convinced the killer app for small satellites is imagery. Joe Rothenberg, the former engineering director for Terra Bella, the Earth-imaging company purchased by Google, isn't so sure.
Time for Defense Department to relinquish reigns on SSA, Pentagon expert says
The ever growing number of satellites means a new organization is needed to catalog and track objects in orbit for the commercial space sector, experts said March 7.
Inmarsat CEO hints at more advanced Global Xpress satellites
Telecom satellite operator Inmarsat says that it plans to continue building up Global Xpress beyond the four Boeing-built satellites initially meant to comprise the entire system.
Military, industry hope 2017 means big improvements for space acquisition
Acquisition reform must begin with closer cooperation between the military and commercial space sectors, industry advocates said March 7.
Broad supplier base lending material support to smallsat revolutionaries
When Hawkeye 360 solicited proposals in 2016 to build its radio-frequency monitoring satellites, the firm found 25 companies capable of meeting its requirements.
