Author: starpathwp-production
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Viasat Completes First Satellite Broadband Upgrade for U.S. Military Sealift Command
Viasat has successfully carried out the initial satellite broadband upgrade aboard a Military Sealift Command vessel, marking a significant milestone in its broader initiative. The project, encompassing a total of 105 vessels, is part of a contract valued at $578 million, initially secured by Inmarsat in 2022 prior to its acquisition by Viasat. The…
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India Successfully Launches INSAT-3DS Meteorological Satellite
India achieved another milestone in its space exploration efforts with the successful launch of the INSAT-3DS meteorological satellite. The satellite was launched aboard a 51.7-meter-long Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre. The GSLV lifted off at 7:05 a.m. Eastern on Feb. 17, delivering the INSAT-3DS into geosynchronous transfer orbit. The…
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Sidus Space Successfully Integrates NASA ASTRA Engineering Unit into LizzieSat FlatSat
Sidus Space, a Space, and Data-as-a-Service satellite company, announced that it has completed the integration and testing of the NASA ASTRA (Autonomous Satellite Technology for Resilient Applications) Engineering Unit into the Company’s LizzieSat FlatSat located at the Sidus Integration Facility in Cape Canaveral, Florida. The Sidus team successfully completed extensive integration testing and communications with…
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SpaceX performs double launch from Florida, including the US’ next lunar landing attempt
SpaceX launches two missions in a matter of hours While other companies are working on catching up to SpaceX rocket capabilities, cost, and reusability, one thing that the company is and most likely will be king at for a while is rapid launches. Unlike many of there launchers, SpaceX operates two launch pads at Florida’s…
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JAXA reaches orbit on the second launch of H3
Japan’s H3 rocket made a second attempt to reach orbit on Saturday, 11 months after it failed during its maiden flight. The rocket successfully sent a mass simulator and two small satellites to the same 669-kilometer Sun-synchronous orbit it targeted on the previous mission. Liftoff commenced at 00:22 UTC (9:22 AM local time) from Launch…
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SpaceX takes a proactive step toward responsible behavior in orbit
SpaceX announced this week that it will voluntarily bring down about 100 of its first-generation Starlink satellites, which provide broadband Internet from low-Earth orbit, as part of its commitment to “space sustainability.” The satellites are presently operational and serving Internet customers. However, in a statement, the company said, “The Starlink team identified a common issue…
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FCC Proposes New Framework for Licensing In-Space Servicing
The Federal Communications Commission proposed a framework for licensing in-space servicing, assembly, and manufacturing (ISAM) activities at its most recent meeting on Feb. 15. All five commissioners voted in favor of proposing the framework. The FCC said these proposed changes are meant to support the development of these space activities, which it described as an…
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Unpacking the Geopolitical Landscape of GNSS With Zephr CEO Sean Gorman
We often take for granted how much of our modern lives are underpinned by GPS technology. This episode of On Orbit digs into GPS and the global landscape of GNSS, which stands for Global Navigation Satellite System. Dr. Sean Gorman, CEO of new startup Zephr, joins as this episode’s guest. Zephr, which recently raised a…
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NASA’s Artemis Science Mission and First Intuitive Machines Flight Launches to the Moon
A suite of NASA science instruments and technology demonstrations is on the way to our nearest celestial neighbor for the benefit of humanity. Through this flight to the Moon, they will provide insights into the lunar surface environment and test technologies for future landers and Artemis astronauts. At 1:05 a.m. EST on February 15, 2024,…
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Iridium Posts Record Revenue in 2023, Adds 5 Years to Expected Constellation Life
Iridium Communications continued its multi-year growth streak in 2023, reporting record revenue for the year of $790.7 million, up 10% from the year-ago period. The satellite operator reported full year financial results on Feb. 15. Total revenue included $584.5 million of service revenue and $206.2 million of revenue related to equipment sales and engineering and…