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Planet will lay off 117 employees, CEO Will Marshall announced Tuesday, after the company lowered its guidance last quarter.  Planet published a note that Marshall sent to the company, explaining the layoffs. He said that when the company went public in December 2021, it built up understaffed teams and took on new projects to expand...

Satcom Direct and Gilat Satellite Networks have signed a strategic agreement to develop and supply new aviation antennas for OneWeb’s constellation, the companies announced Tuesday.  Gilat will develop an electronically steered antenna (ESA) system, and Satcom Direct subsidiary Satcom Direct Avionics will work with OneWeb to develop the modem unit. The companies are targeting a...

Xona Space Systems has received $1.2 million in further AFWERX funding after demonstrating precision position, navigation, and timing (PNT) signals on its demonstration satellite, Huginn.  AFWERX is the innovation arm of the Air Force Research Laboratory. The funding announced Tuesday is a $1.2 million Direct to Phase II SBIR (Small Business Innovation Research) contract.  The...

SES is extending its partnership with Agence France-Presse (AFP) that will see AFP provide better real-time access to live news and events from around the world on its AFPTV Live platform. The two companies announced the extended partnership, Aug. 1. AFPTV Live, based on SES 360, offers a platform that enables users to access AFP’s live video...

Orbit Fab has hired former Terran Orbital executive Shawn Hendricks as its first chief operating officer (COO), to ramp up the company’s internal production. Orbit Fab announced the hire July 31.  Hendricks was senior vice president of operations for Terran Orbital, and previously held management positions with L3Harris and served nearly two decades with the...

Satellite manufacturer Astro Digital will incorporate Astroscale’s Docking Plate into its modular satellite bus line for future end-of-life servicing. The companies announced July 24 that Astro Digital is set to receive its first Astroscale Docking Plate later this year, with launch expected in the fourth quarter of 2024.  Installing the Docking Plate on a spacecraft...

FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel is asking the FCC to consider new spectrum rules to ensure reliable communications for commercial space launches.  According to a July 28 FCC release, the rules would ensure spectrum certainty for communications services used during commercial space launches. The rules would adopt a new allocation in the 2025 to 2110 MHz...

Axess Networks and ABS are teaming up as Axess looks to increase its coverage in the Middle East. The two companies announced the partnership, July 30. The agreement provides Axess Networks with expanded opportunities for both terrestrial and maritime clients in the region strengthening Axess’ dual-use strategy for the ABS-2A satellite. This latest development complements...

Hughes Network Systems’ long-awaited Jupiter 3 satellite is finally on its way to orbit after a late Friday night SpaceX launch. SpaceX launched Jupiter 3 on a Falcon Heavy mission from Launch Complex 39A at Kennedy Space Center in Florida at 11:05 p.m. on July 28.  The satellite was deployed three hours and 28 minutes after...

Eutelsat Communications is optimistic for a return to top line growth in the coming fiscal year, despite drop in Video revenues. The company reported 1.13 billion euros ($1.25 billion) in revenue in its 2022-23 fiscal year on July 28, down 1.8% compared to the prior year.  Revenue in the Video segment fell 8% during the...