Tag: Satellite
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China Conducts Ninth Orbital Launch of May, Deploying Secretive Shijian-26 Satellite
China successfully launched its ninth orbital mission of the month early Thursday, sending the experimental Shijian-26 spacecraft into orbit aboard a Long March 4B rocket from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China. The rocket lifted off at 12:12 a.m. Eastern (0412 UTC) May 29, with insulation tiles visibly shedding from the payload fairing…
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China Conducts Ninth Orbital Launch of May, Deploying Secretive Shijian-26 Satellite
China successfully launched its ninth orbital mission of the month early Thursday, sending the experimental Shijian-26 spacecraft into orbit aboard a Long March 4B rocket from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China. The rocket lifted off at 12:12 a.m. Eastern (0412 UTC) May 29, with insulation tiles visibly shedding from the payload fairing…
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Japan Defense Ministry Selects Space One, Space BD for Satellite Launch
The Japanese Ministry of Defense has selected Space BD and Space One to launch a small optical imaging satellite, marking a milestone in the country’s growing reliance on commercial space services for national security applications. The companies announced Tuesday they had secured a contract to launch the satellite, which will be built by Canon Electronics.…
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U.S. Space Force Awards BAE Systems $1.2 Billion Contract for Missile-Tracking Satellites in Medium Earth Orbit
The U.S. Space Force has awarded BAE Systems a $1.2 billion contract to build 10 missile-tracking satellites for a medium Earth orbit (MEO) constellation aimed at enhancing missile defense capabilities. The contract, awarded on May 29 to BAE Systems Space and Mission Systems through a firm fixed price Other Transaction Authority (OTA) agreement, marks the…
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Europe Faces Skepticism Over Viability of IRIS² Satellite Constellation Amid Push for Space Autonomy
Despite growing enthusiasm in Europe for achieving autonomy in space infrastructure, significant doubts remain about the feasibility of IRIS², a major government-backed satellite communications constellation project aimed at providing secure connectivity across Europe. The Infrastructure for Resilience, Interconnectivity and Security by Satellite (IRIS²) initiative, backed by a consortium known as SpaceRISE, aims to deploy a…
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China Accelerates AI Push with Ground and Space-Based Infrastructure, U.S. Struggles to Counter
China is advancing a state-driven campaign to dominate global artificial intelligence through an expanding network of domestic data centers and an emerging space-based computing architecture, according to a new report. The report, titled “China’s AI Infrastructure Surge,” was published by the Special Competitive Studies Project and Strider Technologies. It describes how Beijing is coordinating with…
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Maxar Space Systems to Build EchoStar XXVI High-Power GEO Satellite Platform
Maxar Space Systems, a trusted partner in satellite design and manufacturing, announced it has been awarded a contract by EchoStar Corporation to manufacture EchoStar XXVI, a high-power geostationary communications satellite based on the Maxar 1300 platform. EchoStar XXVI will deliver robust coverage to DISH TV customers across all 50 U.S. states, including Puerto Rico, and…
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Ovzon Receives 1.04 Billion Order from the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV)
Ovzon has received an order at a value of 1.04 billion SEK (~110 MUSD) from the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV). The order is for the company’s integrated SATCOM solution and includes satellite network services, mobile satellite terminals and dedicated customer support. The service will run for 24 months with delivery starting in June 2025.…
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Rocket Lab’s Electron Rocket Successfully Launches BlackSky Gen-3 Imaging Satellite
Rocket Lab’s Electron rocket successfully placed a BlackSky high-resolution imaging satellite into orbit during a launch from its New Zealand facility. The launch occurred at 7:57 p.m. Eastern from Launch Complex 1 in New Zealand. The Gen-3 satellite deployed 52 minutes after liftoff from the rocket’s kick stage into a circular orbit approximately 470 kilometers…
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Rocket Lab’s $275 Million Geost Acquisition Signals Ambition to Become Major U.S. Military Satellite Prime Contractor
Rocket Lab is expanding aggressively into the U.S. defense satellite market, with its recent $275 million acquisition of satellite payload provider Geost marking a key step in the company’s broader plan to become a full-spectrum prime contractor for military space programs. “We’re not done,” Rocket Lab CEO Peter Beck said in an interview, hinting at…