Satellite 2020
MHI pressing through pandemic toward late 2020 H3 rocket debut
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries still expects to conduct the maiden flight of Japan’s H3 rocket this year, notwithstanding the coronavirus pandemic.
L3Harris redesigns reflector antenna for small satellite market
L3Harris Technologies has redesigned its patented unfurlable mesh reflector antenna to meet growing demand from firms building satellites weighing roughly 180 to 1,000 kilograms.
Arianespace suspends French Guiana launches amid coronavirus response
Arianespace paused launch activity from Europe’s South American spaceport March 16 following the French government’s announcement that non-essential activities should be limited in response to the growing coronavirus pandemic.
Space in the time of the coronavirus
Satellite 2020 was forced to end early but at least the conference took place. By the end of the week, the industry’s biggest event, the Space Symposium in Colorado Springs scheduled for the end of March, bowed to the inevitable and announced it would be postponed to a date yet to be determined.
Four fears satellite manufacturers can’t shake
Satellite manufacturers expressed optimism about market demand, but also listed challenges they face amid market and technological changes.
Assure Space won’t cover collision risk in low Earth orbit
Since the beginning of the year, space insurance underwriter Assure Space is no longer offering policies covering collision risk for satellites operating in low Earth orbit.
SDA evaluates cloud computing for speed, flexibility
The Space Development Agency (SDA) is evaluating how cloud computing could bolster its campaign to quickly identify and track missiles.
Airbus impressed by Northrop Grumman, but remains undecided on satellite servicing
Airbus Defence and Space wanted to launch a satellite servicer shortly after Northrop Grumman launched MEV-1, but backed away from those plans two years ago because of uncertainty about the commercial market.
Spaceflight to launch startups: stop focusing on cool tech
Elizabeth Driscoll, business development director at Spaceflight, said the company is constantly in need of more launch options, but won’t rush to new vehicles without confidence they will deliver.
Commercial geospatial startups: beware the valley of death
It’s not easy for commercial geospatial intelligence products to make their way into day-to-day operations of defense and intelligence agencies.
Isotropic pivots to serve a handful of key markets including government and defense
Isotropic, a firm once focused on the consumer broadband market, has pivoted toward developing terminals for government and defense customers, established satellite constellation operators, telecommunications, enterprises and maritime, while licensing technology for aircraft terminals.
Satellite operators hint at fear of SpaceX, Blue Origin becoming competitors
Executives from SES and Eutelsat said they are watching as SpaceX deploys its own Starlink constellation of broadband satellites, which could make SpaceX one of their competitors.
Musk: we’re not spinning off Starlink
SpaceX has no plans to make Starlink a separate business, Elon Musk, SpaceX’s founder and chief executive, said March 9.
OneWeb, SpaceX optimistic about cheap user terminals
Executives from SpaceX and OneWeb say their companies are working intensely on user terminals so customers will be able to get internet connectivity from their respective low Earth orbit constellations.
Momentus to offer last-miles service from SpaceX rideshare flights
Momentus purchased rides on five SpaceX Falcon 9 SmallSat Rideshare missions in 2020 and 2021 to showcase the ability of its Vigoride in-space transportation vehicle to move customer satellites 300 to 1,200 kilometers beyond the drop-off point, the Santa Clara, California, company announced March 9.
Iceye releases preview of new radar video product
Radar satellite operator Iceye released a preview March 9 of a video product it plans to offer commercially by the end of 2020.
Startup financing flourished in 2019 with no sign of slowing
Space industry startups attracted $5.7 billion in financing in 2019, “shattering the $3.5 billion record set the previous year,” according to a new report by Bryce Space and Technology.
