Washington Post
• Faiz Siddiqui, Patience Haggin
Amazon’s effort to deploy a Starlink competitor may be reaching a turning point, while Telesat’s plans face a $2 billion debt battle and reliance on SpaceX rockets. Separately, SpaceX is reportedly discussing a Boost Mobile acquisition or network deal, potentially extending its reach into wireless service.
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Amazon’s effort to deploy a Starlink competitor may be reaching a turning point, while Telesat’s plans face a $2 billion debt battle and reliance on SpaceX rockets. Separately, SpaceX is reportedly discussing a Boost Mobile acquisition or network deal, potentially extending its reach into wireless service.
Rocket Lab is scheduled to launch a privately owned Japanese Earth-observation satellite on Nov. 2, marking its 99th mission to date. The company plans to stream the launch live; the available report does not identify the satellite’s operator or provide its mission specifications.
Launch activity from Cape Canaveral is down this year, but the Space Force is continuing upgrades intended to support substantially higher launch rates. The effort signals that infrastructure planning is proceeding despite a near-term dip in launches; the available reports do not specify the projects, schedule or expected capacity.
SpaceX sent 27 Starlink broadband satellites to orbit from California just after midnight on Oct. 31. The launch adds another batch to the constellation, extending the company’s ongoing deployment of its satellite internet network.
United Launch Alliance is scheduled to launch 40 Amazon satellites from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on Nov. 13, pending range approval and favorable weather. The mission would use Vulcan to deploy spacecraft for Amazon’s low-Earth-orbit constellation, while SpaceX is separately adding 27 Starlink satellites in a Falcon 9 launch from Vandenberg.
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SpaceX completed all engine testing for Starship Flight 15 within eight days, including three static fires in three days, while also conducting cryogenic proof and catch testing for Flight 16. The company lifted top-deck deluge plates onto Pad 1’s launch mount, marking an unusually busy stretch for the program.
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ISRO placed the next-generation NVS-03 navigation satellite into geosynchronous transfer orbit on a GSLV-F18 launch from Sriharikota. The satellite restores India’s NavIC constellation to its minimum operational configuration of four satellites, a milestone toward reliable operation of the country’s indigenous navigation system.
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