SSI News
Another woe for space insurers: US$175 million claim made for SkyTerra-1’s faulty antenna
A US$175 million insurance claim has been filed for the ‘total loss’ of the SkyTerra-1 communications satellite, after its 22 m diameter main mesh antenna developed a fault, Seradata understands. No details have been released by its owner, Ligado Networks (formerly...
Launches in May 2024
China shows its prowess with Chang’e 6 lunar far side sample return mission (Updated)
The Chang’e 6 mission is under way. Its goal is to be the first to bring back a sample from the far side of the Moon. It uses backup hardware originally designed for the near side version of this mission, Chang’e 5, which flew in November 2020. Ahead of the mission, a...
The US$3.1 billion offer Intelsat could not refuse from rival SES
SES has made an agreed bid of US$3.1 billion in cash for rival satellite operator Intelsat. The deal, expected to close in the second half of 2025, will see two of the ‘Big Four’ fixed-satellite service (FSS) commercial satellite operators merge to form a mega GEO...
Launches in April 2024
Round-up of recommended space stories in April 2024
We're keeping an eye on space news on the web so you don't have to wade through it all. Here is our round-up of the most important, and interesting, space news stories of April (note that space orders is on another post): Future Human Spaceflight Blue Origin...
Mel’s Good Space – April 2024
I love a good space story. Especially the ones of adventure, risk, technology and humans overcoming challenges presented by the cosmos. Enter our recently released report. Positioned through the lifecycle of a satellite, it makes for the start of a fascinating story....
Thuraya-3 satellite’s comms payload fails in orbit
Middle Eastern satellite operator Yahsat’s subsidiary Thuraya has lost the communications payload on one of its satellites. The Thuraya-3 communications satellite, located over 98.5 degrees east in geostationary Earth orbit (GEO), had a serious payload anomaly on 15...
International Space Station battery debris falls on Florida home…so should Keraunothnetophobics be afraid?
Keraunothnetophobia, as defined by some online dictionaries, is the fear of falling artificial satellites and other space objects. It is not to be confused with Keraunophobia, the fear of lightning strikes. Although often regarded as especially irrational,...
Space launch and satellite orders in April 2024
Lots of military space orders - mostly small ones - were announced during April 2024. Many were revealed at one of the military space conferences during the month, including the Space Symposium, Colorado Springs, USA. There were also some large non-military orders...
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