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SpaceNews.com • Sandra Erwin

Northrop Grumman debuts LR-450 compact inertial navigation to deliver satellite-independent positioning beyond GPS coverage

Northrop Grumman is introducing the LR-450, a compact, lightweight positioning and navigation system derived from James Webb Space Telescope guidance technology. The inertial navigation platform is designed to provide continuous, precise spacecraft tracking and attitude orientation even when external satellite signals are unavailable.

2026-05-13T07:26:11.975612-07:00

Space Intel Report

Eutelsat reports Q1 revenue jump as OneWeb-backed LEO growth offsets weaker US government demand; OneWeb revenue up 65%

2026-05-13T05:23:24.336537-07:00

SpaceNews.com

FCC greenlights SpaceX’s EchoStar spectrum purchase for US direct-to-device—ties approval to $2.4B escrow amid upper C-band tran

2026-05-12T16:35:38.746696-07:00

Via Satellite

AST SpaceMobile keeps 2026 target at 45 BlueBird satellites, pairs direct-to-device demo (98.9 Mbps) with SpaceX launch plan

2026-05-12T14:01:37.740391-07:00

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Northrop Grumman debuts LR-450 compact inertial navigation to deliver satellite-independent positioning beyond GPS coverage Northrop Grumman is introducing the LR-450, a compact, lightweight positioning and navigation system derived from James Webb Space Telescope guidance technology. The inertial navigation platform is designed to provide continuous, precise spacecraft tracking and attitude orientation even when external satellite signals are unavailable.

2026-05-13T07:26:11.975612-07:00

Northrop Grumman debuts LR-450 compact inertial navigation to deliver satellite-independent positioning beyond GPS coverage

Space Intel Report

Eutelsat reports Q1 revenue jump as OneWeb-backed LEO growth offsets weaker US government demand; OneWeb revenue up 65% Eutelsat says revenue for the three months ended March 31 rose 11.8% from government business, as demand for military-related capacity outpaced slack in US government spending. OneWeb revenue increased 65% in Q1, helping lift overall results, while Eutelsat’s LEO scale continues to offset declines in video-related activity.

2026-05-13T05:23:24.336537-07:00

Eutelsat reports Q1 revenue jump as OneWeb-backed LEO growth offsets weaker US government demand; OneWeb revenue up 65%

Breaking Defense

Latvia tests UGV comms in dense forest where Starlink-linked systems falter Latvian reports say unmanned ground vehicles encountered significant communication problems while operating in densely forested areas, with many incidents involving systems relying on Starlink. The episode highlights a practical connectivity gap for ground robotics in challenging terrain, with potential operational impacts during decentralized missions.

2026-05-13T01:57:09.373330-07:00

Latvia tests UGV comms in dense forest where Starlink-linked systems falter

SpaceNews.com

FCC greenlights SpaceX’s EchoStar spectrum purchase for US direct-to-device—ties approval to $2.4B escrow amid upper C-band tran The FCC has approved SpaceX’s acquisition of EchoStar spectrum to expand U.S. direct-to-device services, contingent on a $2.4 billion escrow arrangement linked to disputes over EchoStar’s abandoned terrestrial 5G buildout. Separately, the FCC’s FCC 26-26 report formalizes a broader shift to spectrum sharing and mandates auctions of remaining Upper C-band by mid-2027.

2026-05-12T16:35:38.746696-07:00

FCC greenlights SpaceX’s EchoStar spectrum purchase for US direct-to-device—ties approval to $2.4B escrow amid upper C-band tran

Space Intel Report

SES and Eutelsat say IRIS2 secure connectivity negotiations with the European Commission need weeks to settle cost, configuratio SES and Eutelsat said their negotiations with the European Commission on Europe’s IRIS2 multi-orbit secure connectivity constellation are not yet finalized, requiring several more weeks of work to lock cost, configuration and schedule. The operators are tying completion to resolving performance and final build details with the EC.

2026-05-12T16:35:28.169022-07:00

SES and Eutelsat say IRIS2 secure connectivity negotiations with the European Commission need weeks to settle cost, configuratio

Via Satellite

SES posts results in line with expectations as Networks revenue grows on airline contracts; operator cancels two GEO satellites SES reported results broadly in line with analyst expectations, highlighting momentum from its Networks business as it records revenue growth tied to airline contracting. Alongside the performance update, SES disclosed the cancellation of two GEO satellite programs, underscoring a shifting balance between demand and fleet footprint.

2026-05-12T14:56:25.654451-07:00

SES posts results in line with expectations as Networks revenue grows on airline contracts; operator cancels two GEO satellites

Via Satellite

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AST SpaceMobile keeps 2026 target at 45 BlueBird satellites, pairs direct-to-device demo (98.9 Mbps) with SpaceX launch plan AST SpaceMobile says it still expects to have 45 BlueBird satellites in orbit this year after a recent Blue Origin launch failure, with CEO Abel Avellan pointing to a mid-June SpaceX mission launching three BlueBirds. The company also reported a direct-to-device broadband test reaching 98.9 Mbps from space to a standard smartphone. In parallel, it issued a business update and first-quarter 2026 results.

2026-05-12T14:01:37.740391-07:00

AST SpaceMobile keeps 2026 target at 45 BlueBird satellites, pairs direct-to-device demo (98.9 Mbps) with SpaceX launch plan

SpaceNews.com

Space Force awards TrustPoint $4M TACFI contract to demo GPS-independent LEO PNT system TrustPoint, a Virginia startup, received a $4 million Tactical Funding Increase (TACFI) contract from the U.S. Space Force to demonstrate an end-to-end, GPS-independent positioning, navigation and timing (PNT) system. The effort targets a first-of-its-kind GPS backup/complement layer using low-Earth-orbit navigation.

2026-05-12T07:30:46.768508-07:00

Space Force awards TrustPoint $4M TACFI contract to demo GPS-independent LEO PNT system

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Satellite News

Northrop Grumman debuts LR-450 compact inertial navigation to deliver satellite-independent positioning beyond GPS coverage

Eutelsat reports Q1 revenue jump as OneWeb-backed LEO growth offsets weaker US government demand; OneWeb revenue up 65%

FCC greenlights SpaceX’s EchoStar spectrum purchase for US direct-to-device—ties approval to $2.4B escrow amid upper C-band tran

AST SpaceMobile keeps 2026 target at 45 BlueBird satellites, pairs direct-to-device demo (98.9 Mbps) with SpaceX launch plan

News Timeline