Technology

Iridium Communications unveiled its satellite-to-cell ambitions on Thursday, announcing a partnership with Qualcomm Technologies for satellite-compatible chips that will enable messaging on Android cell phones via Iridium’s satellite constellation.  The new Qualcomm chipset can send two-way messages on Iridium’s current satellite network, and the companies reported a successful demonstration this week at the CES trade...

Composite manufacturer TISICS has been boosted in its plans to bring more sustainable launch technology to market. It announced Jan. 4 that it has been awarded funding through the UK Space Agency’s (UKSA) Launch UK Technology Investment Program. Project DeLLCom will develop demisable launcher components to reduce the risk of damage to satellites by space...

Keysight Technologies and Qualcomm Technologies have demonstrated an end-to-end 5G non-terrestrial network (NTN) connection, which the companies say can help bring affordable broadband to remote areas. The demonstration used satellite channel and 5G base station emulation platforms to establish a 5G NTN connection with a Qualcomm Technologies 5G mobile test platform. The companies announced the...

Bright Ascension reports a record number of its software deployments were on the SpaceX Transporter 6 mission on Tuesday, taking the company’s current total to software on 39 spacecraft in orbit. The company announced, Jan. 4 that six of its GenerationOne flight software deployments were launched onboard the Falcon 9 mission. The satellites, developed by...

Saturn Satellite Networks signed a deal to use CesiumAstro’s active phased array payload for its recently announced Space Broadband Networks satellite program.  Under the program, called SBN-1, Saturn Satellite Networks plans to launch six small, high-throughput Geostationary satellites to provide satellite-based internet access to satellite operators, capacity resellers, internet service providers, and end users. Saturn...

Astroscale Japan has signed a new marketing partnership deal with three companies in Japan. The MoU with Yusen Logistics, Mizuho Bank, and Kids Station, will see these companies support Astroscale’s space debris removal demonstration satellite, Active Debris Removal by Astroscale-Japan (ADRAS-J). Astroscale announced the deal, Dec. 15. The ADRAS-J satellite is designed to rendezvous with a Japanese...

OneWeb placed an order with Hughes Network Systems for 10,000 Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) terminals for enterprise and government customers, the companies announced Tuesday. There are already prototypes of the terminal and testing underway, and Hughes plans to start production of the LEO terminals for OneWeb in the second half of 2023. Hughes is OneWeb’s ground...

Videosoft has joined Inmarsat’s Elevate program, the company announced Dec. 13. Elevate is a development program, ecosystem, and marketplace for providers of software, hardware and solutions, and original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) in commercial land markets. Videosoft provides adaptive encoding and secure real-time video transmission over wireless networks. Videosoft’s solutions work over satellite and cellular, incorporating...

Astroscale’s upcoming ELSA-M debris capture mission will use Addvalue and Inmarsat’s data relay service to communicate during the mission, the companies announced this month.  IDRS is the inter-satellite data relay system offered by Addvalue, powered by Inmarsat’s satellite network. It works by having an Addvalue terminal on a client’s satellite in Low-Earth Orbit (LEO), and...

UltiSat and Integrasys are joining forces as they target more key business from the likes of the U.S. Defense Department and NATO. The aim of the agreement is to provide improved visibility, management, and resiliency for deployed communications systems to these organizations. The companies announced the collaboration, Dec. 12. The approach combines the capabilities of...