Author: starpathwp-production
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SpaceX Secures Regulatory Nod for Second Starship/Super Heavy Launch
SpaceX has received the green light from regulatory authorities to proceed with its second integrated Starship/Super Heavy launch, scheduled for the morning of November 17. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed on November 15 that it had issued an updated launch license, citing SpaceX’s compliance with safety, environmental, policy, and financial responsibility requirements. The key…
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Firefly Aerospace Gathers $300 Million in New Financing
Firefly Aerospace last week said it has raised about $300 million in the past eight months, adding that it is generating additional interest from investors following the startup’s successful tactical responsive space launch mission in September. The latest Series C round is being led by existing investors that include the private equity firm AE Industrial Partners, and…
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Amazon says Project Kuiper satellites ace orbital tests — including video streaming
A flight director watches over Project Kuiper’s mission operations center in Redmond, Wash. (Amazon Photo) Amazon’s Project Kuiper satellite network streamed its first video and facilitated its first online sale during a monthlong series of orbital tests that the company says achieved a “100% success rate.” The performance of the two prototype satellites, known as…
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Telespazio Acquires e2E to Bolster its Integrated Space Capabilities in the UK
Telespazio UK, a subsidiary of Telespazio (a joint venture between Leonardo, 67%, and Thales, 33%), has announced that it has finalized the acquisition of e2E Group. With over 45 years of heritage in the UK marketplace, Telespazio UK has a track record of success delivering systems, services, and engineering support to the European Space Agency…
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Qualcomm Abandons Plans for Direct Satellite Connectivity in Android Smartphones
Semiconductor giant Qualcomm has opted to scrap its plans to provide technology enabling direct connectivity between Android smartphones and Iridium’s satellites in the absence of cellular service. Despite successfully developing a chip that allows phones to connect with satellites for emergency communication and low-bandwidth messaging, Iridium announced on November 9 that no smartphone makers have…
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Hughes Begins Testing Jupiter 3 Satellite With its Ground System
Hughes Network Systems announced Thursday that the Jupiter 3 satellite successfully deployed its solar arrays and antennas and passed readiness testing by manufacturer Maxar Space Systems. Hughes is now testing the satellite communications with ground equipment. The satellite, which SpaceX launched in late July, is moving closer to commercial service. Parent company EchoStar said in…
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Transportation Official Urges Launch Industry Contribution to FAA’s Space Office Budget
In a virtual meeting of the FAA’s Commercial Space Transportation Advisory Committee (COMSTAC) on November 8, Deputy Secretary of Transportation Polly Trottenberg proposed that the launch industry should play a role in funding additional resources for the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) Office of Commercial Space Transportation (AST). This comes in response to calls from industry…
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Lockheed Martin Readies First 5G.MIL Payload for Orbital Deployment
Lockheed Martin is one step away from showcasing how its 5G.MIL capability can reach all domains around the world. In its final successful lab demonstration, the company validated that its innovative space payload is set to deliver global advanced communications capabilities from orbit. During the October demonstration, Lockheed Martin showcased the industry’s first fully regenerative…
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First images released from China’s Fengyun 3F satellite
The first images from Fengyun 3F satellite were released to the public at the 2023 Fengyun Satellite User Conference on Monday. All remote-sensing instruments have been put into operation, marking the satellite proceeding to the in-orbit testing phase, the China Meteorological Administration said. The satellite will provide support for global environmental monitoring and disaster prevention,…
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China launches new-generation marine satellite
China on Thursday sent a new-generation ocean color monitoring satellite into space to help improve understanding of marine waters. The satellite was launched by a Long March-2C carrier rocket at 11:55 a.m. (Beijing Time) from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China, and it later successfully entered the planned orbit. The launch was the…