Telesat LEO

Telesat completing financing for Lightspeed constellation
Telesat expects to finalize the financing for its Lightspeed broadband constellation in the next few months, along with contracts to launch the fleet of nearly 300 satellites.

Thales Alenia selected to build Telesat’s broadband constellation
Canadian satellite operator Telesat announced Feb. 9 it has selected Thales Alenia Space to manufacture 298 satellites for a broadband network in low-Earth orbit.

Telesat and Loral to form Canadian public company
Canadian satellite fleet operator Telesat and Loral Space & Communications announced plans Nov. 24 to combine to form Telesat Corp., a Canadian public company, in a deal expected to close next year.

To boost its military space business, Lockheed Martin turns to commercial players
To compete in an unconventional program like the Space Development Agency's Transport Layer, Lockheed Martin decided to team up with commercial companies.

Telesat remains optimistic about prospects for LEO constellation
As SpaceX prepares to extend its Starlink beta test program to Canada, Telesat remains optimistic its broadband low Earth orbit constellation will find enough business to be successful.

News Analysis | Telesat’s deliberate pace to LEO broadband
Compared to the rapid-fire tempo of SpaceX Starlink and OneWeb’s upcoming return to launch operations in December, Telesat’s pace to build a global LEO broadband constellation is glacial.

Telesat to announce satellite, launch contracts by year’s end
Canadian satellite fleet operator Telesat is in advanced discussions with vendors seeking to build and launch satellites for its multibillion dollar Telesat LEO constellation.

Telesat wins DARPA contract to manufacture satellite buses for Blackjack program
Telesat won a $18.3 million DARPA contract to produce two satellite buses for the Blackjack low-Earth orbit constellation.

Telesat preparing for mid-2020 constellation manufacturer selection
Telesat says enabling technologies for its low-Earth-orbit constellation of 298 internet satellites are now mature enough for the operator to select a prime contractor in the next few months.

Telesat LEO manufacturing decision bumped to 2020
Telesat Canada will likely choose the winner of a now three-way race to build its low Earth orbit broadband constellation in the first few months of 2020 instead of this year, CEO Dan Goldberg said Nov. 5.

Maxar-Thales Alenia Space team breaks up, now competing separately for Telesat LEO
Maxar Technologies and Thales Alenia Space abandoned plans to jointly compete to build Telesat’s low-Earth-orbit broadband constellation, setting up a now three-way race for a multibillion-dollar contract expected to be awarded soon.

Telesat’s LEO plan: dedicated satellite factory, bulk launch contracts and a variety of antennas
Telesat wants a factory capable of building 20 to 25 large LEO satellites a month so that it can have monthly launches. The company is also working with several antenna builders to have user terminals ready for broadband services.

Telesat to receive constellation bids this summer
The two contenders to build Telesat’s constellation of broadband satellites have nearly finalized their designs and will submit proposals in the coming months, Telesat CEO Dan Goldberg said May 2.

Relativity signs contract with Telesat for launching LEO constellation
Small launch vehicle developer Relativity announced April 5 a contract with Telesat to launch a portion of that company’s low Earth orbit broadband satellite constellation.

Telesat LEO contenders pitch Canadian production to sweeten deal
Companies competing to build hundreds of broadband satellites for Canadian fleet operator Telesat are considering setting up production facilities in Canada.

Telesat signs New Glenn multi-launch agreement with Blue Origin for LEO missions
The agreement, for an unspecified number of launches and satellites, makes Telesat the fifth customer to sign up to use the reusable launcher, which is slated for a maiden flight in 2021.

Key technologies the commercial satellite constellations need are on the horizon
WASHINGTON — If satellite constellations are to fulfill their promise of offering global communications services, they will need key technologies including low-cost antennas and laser cross-links, according to speakers at the Satellite 2018 conf…

Telesat touts LEO constellation over M&A as best growth strategy
Telesat CEO Dan Goldberg said his company has refrained from running headlong with other fleet operators in adding new telecom satellites over areas now burdened by an oversupply of capacity.

Canada budgets a boost for LEO broadband constellations
The Canadian government will support the development of low-Earth-orbit satellites that can bring internet services to rural parts of the country.

Telesat to announce manufacturing plans for LEO constellation in coming months
Telesat, with one demonstration satellite for its planned broadband satellite constellation in orbit, expects to announce plans for manufacturing the full system in the coming months as it seeks partners to help fund its development.