Satellite News

Astrolight, a start-up company specialising in free-space optical communication systems, has performed initial long-range ground test of its mobile optical ground station for LEO satellites, achieving Gigabit per second data rate over 10-kilometer distance.

Xplore Inc., a commercial space company providing Space as a Service, announced a co-operative Memorandum of Understanding with Accion Systems to provide spacecraft hosting services for the next generation of Accion’s flagship ion thruster, TILE.

The payload designed and developed by Alén Space for the first nanosatellite of Sateliot’s constellation has successfully completed its first in-orbit demonstrations. This validation process is a fundamental step for providing IoT communications services with world-wide 5G coverage.

Lockheed Martin’s In-space Upgrade Satellite System (LINUSS) completed environmental testing and is ready for launch later this year, demonstrating how small CubeSats can regularly upgrade satellite constellations to add timely new capabilities and extend spacecraft design lives.

Rocket Lab has announced its next mission is part of a rapid launch schedule of three dedicated Electron missions for global monitoring provider BlackSky.

On 17 August 2021 at 0147 UTC, Arianespace’s second Vega mission of the year will lift off from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana, with the optical observation satellite Pléiades Neo 4 and four auxiliary passengers.