Satellite News

Rocket Lab said it has flown a fully Autonomous Flight Termination System (AFTS) for the first time on an Electron launch vehicle. The AFTS flown on the company’s most recent mission, ‘Running Out Of Fingers’, makes Rocket Lab one of only two U.S. launch companies to fly with an autonomous system.

Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. announced that it had been awarded a US$39 million sole-source contract for Geolocation Global Support Services.

Hughes Network Systems, LLC and Al Yah Satellite Communications company announced the commencement of a joint venture to provide satellite broadband services in Brazil, now operational under the established Hughes do Brasil name.

Hughes Network Systems, LLC announced that SES will employ the Hughes JUPITER System to enable services on its SES-17 satellite, which is being built by Thales Alenia Space and expected to launch in 2021.