Tag: satellite communications
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Rocket Lab Raises $1.94 Billion to Fully Finance Iridium Acquisition
Rocket Lab has completed a $1.944 billion equity offering and secured lender consent to retain Iridium Communications’ existing term loan after its planned acquisition. Together with available cash, those steps provide sufficient funding for the transaction’s cash payments, specified debt repayments and closing costs. Rocket Lab has terminated a $3.6 billion bridge financing commitment, removing…
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Open Cosmos Raises $348 Million, Reaches $1 Billion Valuation
UK-based satellite manufacturer and operator Open Cosmos closed a €300 million ($348 million) Series C round on September 14, 2026, lifting its valuation above $1 billion and making it Europe’s newest space unicorn. The company plans to use the capital to expand satellite production, ground infrastructure and its proprietary Earth observation and broadband constellations for…
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Mitsubishi Electric Orders SWISSto12 Phased-Array Antennas for Japanese Government GEO Program
SWISSto12 and Mitsubishi Electric Corporation signed a memorandum of understanding on September 14 covering advanced satellite payloads, radio-frequency products and market development in Japan and the wider Asia-Pacific region, while Mitsubishi Electric placed a separate order for phased-array antenna products supporting a Japanese government secure communications program in geostationary orbit. The companies did not disclose…
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Elveo Selects Apex to Establish Production for 320-Satellite D2D Network
Elveo Mobile has selected Apex to help establish a dedicated U.S. factory for its planned 320-satellite low-Earth-orbit direct-to-device constellation, the companies announced September 14. The partnership will use Apex’s Factory X model to transfer spacecraft-platform technology and high-rate manufacturing expertise to an Elveo-controlled production operation. Under the agreement, Apex will supply productized spacecraft platforms and…
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BeiDou Technology Helps Overcome the “Information Islands” Isolating Small Hydropower Plants in Southwestern China
A research team from China Southern Power Grid’s Guizhou Electric Power Research Institute has integrated BeiDou high-precision positioning and short-message communications into the safety monitoring of small hydropower plants in Guizhou, southwestern China. The technology has completed demonstration applications at three remote hydropower stations, helping address communications blind spots and weak early-warning capabilities in the…
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SpaceX’s Nasdaq-100 Weighting Set to More Than Double in September Rebalance
SpaceX is expected to more than double its weighting in the Nasdaq-100 Index when the benchmark completes its quarterly rebalance later in September, potentially generating billions of dollars in mandatory purchases by index funds and exchange-traded funds. Preliminary Nasdaq data indicate the company’s weighting could rise from approximately 1.28% to 2.82%, with the final allocation…
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European Commission Targets €65 Billion for Space in 2028–2034 EU Budget
The European Commission wants space activities to receive half of a proposed €131 billion defense, security and space funding envelope for 2028–2034, European Commissioner for Defence and Space Andrius Kubilius said in Paris. The proposed split would direct approximately €65.5 billion to space programs over seven years, substantially elevating space within the European Union’s next…
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China’s New Communications Plan Elevates Satellite Networks in the 6G Roadmap
China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology has called for deeper integration between satellite networks and terrestrial communications systems, including satellite-to-phone connectivity, satellite Internet of Things services and the coordinated development of an integrated space network. The requirements are part of China’s Information and Communications Industry Development Plan for the 15th Five-Year Plan period, issued…
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Canada Creates Direct Military Space Career Path for Non-Commissioned Members
The Canadian Armed Forces established a dedicated space occupation for non-commissioned members in summer 2026, allowing recruits to enter military service as space professionals rather than transferring from another trade later in their careers, Brig. Gen. Chris Horner disclosed September 4. Horner, commander of 3 Canadian Space Division and Joint Force Space Component Commander, revealed…
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Eutelsat Orders GEO Satellite Life Extension Mission from Infinite Orbits
Eutelsat has selected French in-orbit servicing company Infinite Orbits to extend the operational life of at least one satellite in its geostationary fleet, the companies announced September 10 during the International Space Summit in Paris. The agreement gives Infinite Orbits its third commercial life-extension customer and expands the order book for its Endurance servicing spacecraft.…