Space Intel Report
• Peter B. de Selding
The UK spectrum regulator is seeking changes to international rules that limit transmission power for low-Earth-orbit broadband systems in Ku and Ka bands. The restrictions were established about 25 years ago to protect geostationary satellites from interference; Ofcom argues they should be softened for newer LEO constellations.
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The UK spectrum regulator is seeking changes to international rules that limit transmission power for low-Earth-orbit broadband systems in Ku and Ka bands. The restrictions were established about 25 years ago to protect geostationary satellites from interference; Ofcom argues they should be softened for newer LEO constellations.
Proposals to move data centers into orbit seek access to abundant solar energy and room to expand, including for military operations. But concentrating computing infrastructure in space could expose it to missile attacks, jamming and cyberattacks, raising questions about the security and resilience of the concept.
Muhammad Hunain of Melagen Labs says spacecraft are still shielded with aluminum, while rad-hardened electronics remain too expensive to produce at the scale the space economy demands. His comments frame radiation protection and component costs as persistent constraints on scaling spacecraft production.
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SpaceX’s planned acquisition of up to 14 MHz of paired 800-MHz spectrum from Grain Management has sharpened investor focus on its move into wireless. Analysts have warned of added competition for AT&T and satellite rival AST SpaceMobile, with Piper Sandler lowering ASTS to Neutral and cutting its price target to $54 from $98.
Pasha Kravtsov says he wanted to join True Anomaly after a former colleague told him the company was working to counter a recently launched Russian military satellite. The account points to the company’s involvement in space-security operations, though the report provides no further details on the effort.
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Space Capital projects that investment in the space economy will top $100 billion in 2026 for the first time in a single year. The forecast points to a mix of SpaceX’s blockbuster IPO, rising defense spending and continued investment in space infrastructure, while related coverage highlights the company’s ambitions in satellite connectivity and the growing role of private wealth in space.
Australian non-Earth imagery company HEO released images Oct. 13 of Satellogic’s Merlin.01 Earth-observation satellite, captured days after its launch. The release documents HEO’s ability to observe a newly launched commercial satellite in orbit and offers a visual update on Merlin.01’s deployment.
The U.S. Army stress-tested Amazon’s nascent proliferated satellite communications network to assess its ability to deliver high-speed connectivity to soldiers in the field. The demonstration marks a step in Amazon Leo’s push into military communications as it develops a rival to SpaceX’s Starlink.
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