Technology

Mynaric will participate in Phase 2 of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) Space-BACN program, the company announced Tuesday. Mynaric previously participated in Phase 0 and Phase 1 of the program.  Space-BACN is a U.S. Department of Defense program to foster interoperable technologies that can enable seamless communication between government and commercial Low-Earth Orbit...

Diversified Technologies (DTI) is developing a new spacecraft engine powered by in-situ propellants that it claims will provide enhanced in-space maneuverability and greater payload capacity. The Atmosphere-Refueling Magnetic Induction Plasma Engine (AR-MIPE) provides high thrust at specific impulse without the need for electrodes, which the company says will extend thruster life and permit the use...

Orion Space Solutions recently completed a critical design review (CDR) on the Tetra-5 program for the U.S. Space Force, which will demonstrate autonomous rendezvous, proximity operations and docking (RPOD) for on-orbit refueling.  Space Systems Command (SSC) awarded Orion the contract in 2022, along with the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL). The contract is worth up...

The U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) awarded Mbryonics a contract to deliver an optical terminal for the second phase of the Space-BACN program.  Space-BACN is a U.S. Department of Defense program to foster interoperable technologies that can enable seamless communication between government and commercial Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite constellations.  Mbryonics, based in Ireland,...

Amazon Web Services (AWS) has a new ground station in Alaska for its AWS Ground Station managed service. This is the 12th ground station in the global network, which allows satellite operator customers to control satellite communications and process satellite data without building their own network of ground stations.  The Alaska location is notable because...

Axiom Space is partnering with Kepler Communications US and Skyloom Global to integrate and demonstrate optical inter-satellite links (OISLs) on the first module of the company’s commercial space station. The companies announced Dec. 19 what they are calling an orbital data center.  This work will allow for data to be transmitted to and from the...

The U.K. space industry has been boosted by a new contract award by Thales Alenia Space. The company has selected the UK’s National Satellite Test Facility (NSTF), at RAL Space in Oxfordshire, for the first comprehensive assembly, integration and test campaign of the European Space Agency’s FLEX (Fluorescence Explorer) satellite. Thales Alenia Space announced the...

Amazon’s prototype Kuiper satellites are equipped with optical inter-satellite links, Amazon revealed Dec. 14, along with the news the links have been successfully tested in space.  Amazon shared that its prototype satellites launched in October include advanced optical communications payloads which completed multiple successful demonstrations. In the tests in early November, the payloads maintained 100...

Thuraya is releasing a new generation version of its XT-PRO DUAL satellite phone. It is a dual-mode, dual-SIM satellite-cellular phone that allows users to move in and out of terrestrial coverage and seamlessly connect regardless of their location. The Thuraya XT-PRO DUAL will be available from mid-December 2023 onwards, and pre-orders are open via Thuraya’s...

Intellian Technologies debuted the OW130L satellite terminal for Eutelsat OneWeb customers, the company announced Tuesday. The dual parabolic terminal is particularly suitable for customers requiring high-capacity connectivity, such as those operating critical national infrastructure.  It is part of a suite of six parabolic terminals Intellian designed for Eutelsat OneWeb land and maritime customers. The terminals...