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The FCC approved SpaceX’s deployment of 15,000 satellites for Starlink Mobile direct-to-device services, while deferring some elements of the company’s requests. The agency also announced plans to make more wireless spectrum available and is set to consider auctioning 25 MHz that could benefit SpaceX and Amazon.
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The FCC approved SpaceX’s deployment of 15,000 satellites for Starlink Mobile direct-to-device services, while deferring some elements of the company’s requests. The agency also announced plans to make more wireless spectrum available and is set to consider auctioning 25 MHz that could benefit SpaceX and Amazon.
As Russia begins deploying its RASSVET low Earth orbit constellation, defense experts warn that Europe remains too dependent on the United States for space security. The deployment highlights a strategic gap as Europe confronts growing pressure to strengthen its own space capabilities.
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Day two of the International Astronautical Congress featured Aselsan’s planned 198-satellite low Earth orbit network, Fergani’s navigation constellation, a proposed spaceport in Somalia and Türkiye’s Moon mission. Together, the announcements span satellite infrastructure, navigation, launch access and exploration, presenting a broad national space agenda.
Meridian Space and Kongsberg NanoAvionics said Oct. 5 they had successfully activated Meridian’s First Customer Link communications payload in low Earth orbit. The companies aim to begin producing flat broadband spacecraft in mid-2027, following in-orbit antenna tests.
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The UK company says more than 50 satellites are complete and plans to put 96 in orbit by late 2028, building toward a 192-satellite low Earth orbit network offering secure connectivity and real-time intelligence with global coverage by 2030. The schedule follows difficulties securing launches and meeting regulatory deployment deadlines.
Airbus Defence and Space has delivered the first batch of next-generation satellites for Eutelsat’s OneWeb low Earth orbit constellation. The batch comprises 32 satellites, marking the start of deliveries for the upgraded spacecraft fleet.
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Google is testing tensor processing units aboard Planet Labs satellites after a SpaceX launch, advancing its Project Suncatcher concept for orbital AI infrastructure. The effort arrives alongside Satlyt’s $8 million funding round for virtual on-orbit data centers and Foundational’s $11 million plan to commercialize satellite laser ranging.
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The Space Force selected Northrop Grumman and True Anomaly to build “space-to-space” ISR satellites by 2028, while L3Harris secured a $461.9 million executive-aircraft satcom contract. Separately, Nokia and ICEYE are developing sovereign low-Earth-orbit communications systems for governments, defense contractors and emergency services.
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