Starlink
Raytheon wins contract to connect military aircraft to commercial internet satellites
Raytheon is one of several major defense contractors selected by the U.S. Air Force for the program known as “defense experimentation using commercial space internet."
Falcon 9 launch adds 60 Starlink satellites to orbit as constellation beta testing continues
SpaceX on Sept. 3 launched 60 Starlink internet satellites on a Falcon 9 rocket while disclosing early testing results from the constellation for which it has now launched 713 satellites.
Report outlines measures to reduce impact of satellite constellations on astronomy
A new report offers ways both astronomers and satellite developers can reduce the effect megaconstellations have on ground-based astronomy, but warned that no combination of measures can entirely eliminate the problem,
SpaceX launches Starlink and BlackSky satellites
A SpaceX Falcon 9 launched the latest set of the company’s Starlink satellites, along with two BlackSky imaging satellites, Aug. 7 after weeks of delays.
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.
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.
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.
SpaceX launches eighth Starlink mission, first VisorSat satellite
SpaceX launched a batch of 60 Starlink broadband satellites June 3, including one with a deployable sunshield meant to test out a new way to reduce the brightness of future satellites.
Army’s evaluation of Starlink broadband to focus on reliability, vulnerability
Gen. Murray: “It’s about figuring out what capabilities they can provide, and what vulnerabilities do they have?"
SpaceX to add sunshades to all future Starlink satellites
SpaceX has decided to add sunshades to future Starlink satellites to reduce their impact on astronomy, having opted for constellation-wide implementation of the reflective hardware.
U.S. Army signs deal with SpaceX to assess Starlink broadband
The U.S. Army will experiment using Starlink broadband to move data across military networks.
Planet’s next six satellites will launch on upcoming SpaceX Starlink missions
Six SkySat satellites will be evenly split across two Starlink launches on Falcon 9.
Space Force to get deeper insight into inner workings of SpaceX commercial launches
The $8.9 million "fleet surveillance" contract gives the Space Force a closeup view of SpaceX commercial launches.
SpaceX to test Starlink “sun visor” to reduce brightness
SpaceX Chief Executive Elon Musk said April 27 that he hopes to test a new way to reduce the brightness of the company’s Starlink satellites on the next launch for the broadband megaconstellation.
Starlink passes 400 satellites with seventh dedicated launch
SpaceX launched its seventh batch of Starlink satellites on a Falcon 9 rocket April 22, growing its internet constellation to 422 satellites in low Earth orbit.
SpaceX seeks FCC permission for operating all first-gen Starlink in lower orbit
SpaceX is asking the FCC for permission to operate all 4,400 of its first-generation Starlink satellites at much lower altitudes than previously planned.
