FCC outlines proposed smallsat licensing rules

Under newly proposed rules, smallsat operators will be able to choose a licensing path — for authorization as a domestic operator or for U.S. market access as a foreign operator — for $30,000 instead of the $472,000 fee required today for satellites in non-geosynchronous orbits. 

U.S. Chamber Hosts FCC Chairman Pai for Smallsat Discussion

Small Satellite Integration: Implications for Encryption, Interference, and Deorbit Assurance

Please join the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Procurement and Space Industry Council and the SmallSat Alliance on Tuesday, July 9, 2019, from 9…

Parsons planning more merger and acquisition moves

Fresh off its purchase of geospatial intelligence firm OGSystems in January, Parsons is searching for more companies to buy that would further expand its presence in space, among other industries.

Kinéis takes control of Argos system, finalizes successor constellation plans

Kinéis, a subsidiary formed last year by French maritime company CLS, has taken over operation of the Argos hosted payload system, and finalized manufacturing agreements for a constellation of 25 small satellites for Internet of Things connectivity.

ÅAC Clyde raises $9 million amid hiring spree

Craig Clark, chief strategy officer at ÅAC Clyde, said the company is hiring more staff this year to support a backlog of smallsat business for customers who are finalizing decisions on what spacecraft they want.

Rocket Lab unveils Photon smallsat bus

At the 35th Space Symposium here, Rocket Lab unveiled Photon, a smallsat based on the kick stage the company uses on its Electron rocket.

Vega rocket-builder Avio sees revenue jump, new rockets progressing

Avio, the company that builds Europe’s light-lift Vega rocket and the future Vega C, reported a double-digit jump in revenue for its first full year as a publicly traded company.

LeoStella looks for more customers as it opens satellite factory

As LeoStella inaugurated the factory that will be used to produce a series of Earth imaging satellites, the joint venture of Thales Alenia Space and Spaceflight Industries continues to look for other customers.

Smallsat industry faces new challenges to growth

The small satellite field, which has enjoyed significant growth and investment in the last few years, will face new challenges this year demonstrating their business plans, with some expecting a shakeout in some parts of the sector.

Op-ed | We can — and should — democratize the economy of space, from communications to deep space exploration  

It's time to rethink manufacturability and seriously consider “pop-up” manufacturing, an on-site manufacturing center brought to customer hubs.

Firefly investor Noosphere Ventures eyes satellite manufacturing sector

Noosphere Ventures, two years after providing a lifeline investment in small launcher company Firefly, is gearing up to make another space investment, this time in the small-satellite manufacturing sector.

SpaceX launches all-smallsat Falcon 9 mission

A SpaceX Falcon 9 exclusively dedicated to small satellites launched Dec. 3, at 1:34 p.m. Eastern, carrying 64 satellites to low Earth orbit.

PLD Space, after ESA input, doubles lift capacity of smallsat launcher

The changes follow a 10-month European Space Agency review that concluded launching up to 300 kilograms to a 500-kilometer orbit on a single rocket would be better than 150 kilograms as originally envisioned.

Bankers see a growing industry shift to smallsats

Investment bankers increasingly believe that the satellite industry is fundamentally shifting from large geostationary spacecraft to constellations of low Earth orbit smallsats, forcing existing companies to respond while creating opportunities for investors.

French space startup raises $4.1 million to develop smallsat electric thruster technology, software

French space startup Exotrail has secured $4.1 million in funding to develop its electric thruster technology and software for smallsats.

ÅAC Clyde looks to constellations as future of business

ÅAC Clyde, the company being formed by Sweden’s ÅAC Microtec and Scotland’s Clyde Space, says its primary business is shifting from satellite subsystems to constellations as smallsat operators begin fielding more satellites.