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Lynk Global signed a contract with the Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) to provide commercial satellite-to-cell services to the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD), the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and other U.S. government agencies. Lynk Global announced the contract on April 25.  Lynk refers to its service, which connects standard phones directly to satellite...

JAXA selected Astroscale Japan, a subsidiary of Astroscale Holdings, as the commercial partner for Phase II of JAXA’s Commercial Removal of Debris Demonstration (CRD2) program. Astroscale Japan announced the partnership on April 25.  Eddie Kato, president and managing director of Astroscale Japan, said Astroscale has demonstrated several capabilities during Phase I of the mission and...

SES‘ new software-enabled Medium-Earth Orbit (MEO) satellite system O3b mPOWER is now operational, the European satellite operator announced Wednesday. With six out of 13 O3b mPOWER satellites launched, SES said it will be rolling out services ranging from tens of Mbps to multiple gigabits per second to customers “in the coming months.” SES O3b mPOWER...

In Rocket Lab‘s fifth successful launch of 2024, the New Zealand-based launcher deployed the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology’s (KAIST) NEONSAT-1 satellite and NASA‘s Advanced Composite Solar Sail System to their intended orbit. Rocket Lab’s “Beginning Of The Swarm” (B.T.S.) mission — its 47th on the Electron rocket — lifted off from Rocket...

The ClearSpace-1 debris removal mission changed its objective after detecting a space debris collision of the target with untraceable debris. In-space debris removal company ClearSpace announced the decision on April 24. ClearSpace pivoted to the next stage of the ClearSpace-1 mission following a technical and programmatic review with the European Space Agency (ESA). The debris...

Spanish launcher in development PLD Space has raised 78 million euros ($84 million) from investors, the company announced Tuesday. The company plans to use the funds to open the first rocket factory in Elche, Spain in mid-2024.  This new funding is in addition to 42 million euros ($45 million) the company received from the Spanish...

Africa Mobile Networks (AMN) has deployed the company’s first base station in Nigeria that has connectivity via SpaceX’s Starlink constellation, AMN announced last week.   AMN has deployed over 4,000 base stations for cellular backhaul via satellite across Africa and Latin America since 2018. Last year, the company signed a commercial agreement to use the Starlink...

Lockheed Martin increased both sales and operating profit in the company’s Space segment in the first quarter of 2024, compared to the same time period in 2023.  Space posted $3.3 billion of sales in Q1. Lockheed Martin reported higher sales on Fleet Ballistic Missile (FBM), and ramp up in the hypersonic and Next Generation Interceptor...

Seraphim Space closed a new venture fund, Seraphim Space Ventures II LP, with backing from satellite operator Eutelsat Communications, Japanese telco NEC and Japanese satellite operator SKY Perfect JSAT. Seraphim announced the first close of the SSV II fund on Monday.  The fund will be focused on investing in Seed and Series A-stage companies. Seraphim...

Dhruva Space, a  space engineering solutions provider based in Hyderabad, India, marked the final close of its Series A funding at 123 Indian crores ($15 million). The funding will go toward the company’s new spacecraft manufacturing facility, business acquisition plans, and product offerings. Dhruva Space announced the end of the funding round on April 22. ...