Tag: Software
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Eric Schmidt-Backed Group Plans New Telescope Network Spanning Space and Earth
Former Google chief executive Eric Schmidt is moving into space science, announcing plans to fund and build a new global network of telescopes designed to operate faster and at lower cost than traditional government-led observatories. Schmidt said on Wednesday that Schmidt Sciences, one of his philanthropic organisations, will develop the Eric and Wendy Schmidt Observatory…
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Amazon Leo Begins Shipping High-Speed Satellite Terminals for Enterprise Testing
Amazon’s satellite internet venture, Amazon Leo, said it has begun shipping its high-end user terminals to selected enterprise customers, marking a significant step toward launching its global broadband network as competition with SpaceX’s Starlink intensifies. The service, previously known as Project Kuiper, is entering an enterprise preview phase that will allow companies to test production-grade…
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Catalyx Space Raises $5.4 Million to Develop Satellite Infrastructure and Reentry Platforms
Startup Catalyx Space has secured $5.4 million in seed funding to accelerate the development of space infrastructure, including satellite buses and reentry platforms. The funding round, led by Outlander VC, also included participation from Arka Venture Labs, Lex Reddy, KDX Management LLC, and several other investors. Founded last year by Rifath Shaarook in India, Catalyx…
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Industry Groups Press FCC to Ease Spectrum Limits on LEO Satellites
Eleven industry organizations are urging the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to revise restrictions on signal strength for low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellites, saying rules imposed more than 20 years ago are outdated and holding back growth in the sector. In a letter sent Monday to FCC Chair Brendan Carr, the groups said that lifting equivalent…
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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…
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EnduroSat Raises €43 Million to Expand Satellite Production for Next-Generation Endurance Platform
Bulgaria-based EnduroSat has secured €43 million ($48.8 million) in new funding to ramp up production of its next-generation modular satellites, the company said this week, marking a significant step toward delivering scalable, reconfigurable space platforms for commercial and government missions. The investment round was led by U.S.-based Founders Fund, with participation from CEECAT Capital, Morphosis…
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Raytheon Secures $379.7 Million Contract Extension for Delayed GPS Control System
The U.S. Space Force has awarded Raytheon a $379.7 million contract extension to continue work on the overdue Next Generation Operational Control System (OCX), a critical upgrade to the Global Positioning System (GPS) ground control infrastructure that is now more than eight years behind schedule. The contract extension, disclosed on May 21, adds another year…
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PiLogic Raises $4 Million to Bring AI Diagnostics Onboard Satellites
California-based startup PiLogic has secured $4 million in seed funding to advance artificial intelligence tools designed to diagnose and mitigate satellite issues in orbit, the company announced on Wednesday. PiLogic’s flagship technology, an AI-driven diagnostics model for satellite electrical power systems, is set to launch later this year aboard a customer spacecraft, founder and CEO…
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Planet Labs Explores AI for Actionable Earth Observation Insights
Planet Labs, renowned for its daily Earth imagery via small satellites, is intensifying its focus on leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) to transform vast image data into actionable intelligence, despite cautioning against overhyping AI’s capabilities. Troy Toman, Senior Vice President of Product and Software Engineering at Planet, emphasized the company’s evolution in understanding customer needs beyond…
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U.S. Space Force’s R2C2 Program Accelerates with $1 Billion Small-Business Contract
In a groundbreaking move aimed at accelerating critical space technologies, the U.S. Space Force’s Space Rapid Capabilities Office (Space RCO) has awarded a $1 billion Indefinite-Delivery/Indefinite-Quantity (IDIQ) contract to 20 small businesses for the development of ground-systems software. The contract, part of the Rapid Resilient Command and Control (R2C2) program, marks a significant shift towards…