Neowin News Feed for: Satellites

Free Starlink internet arriving in Venezuela following capture of Nicolás Maduro

Paul Hill — Mon, 05 Jan 2026 09:16:01 +0000

SpaceX provides free Starlink to Venezuela for some time to support a peaceful transition after the capture of long-time leader Nicolás Maduro. Read more...

SpaceX to discard bad batch of 100 Starlinks, citing common issue and risk of losing control

Martin Hodás — Wed, 14 Feb 2024 10:12:02 +0000

Elon Musk's space company decided to kill roughly 100 Starlink satellites to prevent the unnecessary creation of space junk. SpaceX claims it is part of its commitment to space sustainability. Read more...

SpaceX successfully tested direct communication between smartphones and Starlink satellites

Martin Hodás — Thu, 11 Jan 2024 11:58:01 +0000

Just six days after being launched into orbit, SpaceX has managed to execute the first text communication over its new Starlink satellites with direct-to-cell capability bypassing the user terminal. Read more...

Watch Virgin Galactic launch its second tourist mission to space - TWIRL #127

Paul Hill — Sat, 12 Aug 2023 20:40:01 +0000

Check this week's recap section for a chance to watch some of the highlights from Virgin Galactic's second commercial crew flight to the edge of space where the customers experienced microgravity. Read more...

Long March, PSLV, and Electron rockets set to launch SAR satellites - TWIRL #124

Paul Hill — Sat, 22 Jul 2023 20:06:01 +0000

This Week in Rocket Launches we have three rockets scheduled to take off from China, India, and New Zealand. They will all be carrying synthetic-aperture radar observation satellites. Read more...

TWIRL 114: Here are all the SpaceX launches coming up this week, and more

Paul Hill — Sat, 13 May 2023 20:31:44 +0000

This week, SpaceX has quite a lot of launches. It will send up Starlink satellites as well as others for Iridium and OneWeb. China's CAS Space will also perform the second launch of the Kinetica 1. Read more...

Motorola's latest gadget enables satellite messaging on any smartphone

Aditya Tiwari — Fri, 24 Feb 2023 11:24:01 +0000

If you want satellite communication on your existing smartphone, your wait has finally ended. Motorola's Bluetooth-powered dongle lets you send text messages via satellite in areas with no network. Read more...

TWIRL 101: SpaceX to launch Starlink satellites with anti-reflective coating

Paul Hill — Sat, 21 Jan 2023 18:33:10 +0000

SpaceX is going to launch some new Starlink satellites that will have an anti-reflective coating. This could help address concerns that astronomers have raised about the proliferation of satellites. Read more...

Qualcomm introduces Snapdragon Satellite for global coverage on premium mobile devices

Paul Hill — Fri, 06 Jan 2023 02:20:01 +0000

Qualcomm has announced a new solution called Snapdragon Satellite that will arrive on high-end phones using the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 Mobile Platform. It'll enable messaging via satellite. Read more...

TWIRL 98: SpaceX to orbit rival company's internet-beaming satellites

Paul Hill — Sun, 01 Jan 2023 08:08:01 +0000

This week, SpaceX will perform two launches, a rideshare mission and the orbiting of 40 OneWeb satellites. Interestingly, the latter satellites are competitors of SpaceX's Starlink. Read more...

TWIRL 86: ABL Space Systems set for RS1 maiden flight

Paul Hill — Sun, 09 Oct 2022 09:42:01 +0000

We've got plenty of launches coming up this week, though, they will all be focused on launching satellites. One of the launches this week is the maiden flight of the RS1 rocket from ABL Space Systems. Read more...

TWIRL 81: Plenty of satellite launches this week amid Artemis I uncertainty

Paul Hill — Sun, 04 Sep 2022 21:52:01 +0000

We have quite a lot of launches this week. Aside from more attempts by NASA to launch the SLS, several companies and countries are planning to launch various satellites into orbit. Read more...

TWIRL 79: China to start the week with the launch of a mystery payload

Paul Hill — Sun, 21 Aug 2022 13:40:01 +0000

This week we have two planned rocket launches. The first will be a Long March 11 carrying a mystery payload. The second will be a Falcon 9 carrying 53 Starlink satellites, designated Group 4-23. Read more...

TWIRL 77: Roscosmos will launch Iran's Khayyam remote sensing satellite this week

Paul Hill — Sun, 07 Aug 2022 16:36:01 +0000

We have a quiet week coming up. SpaceX will launch more Starlink satellites, and Russia is planning to launch a remote sensing satellite called Khayyam for the Iranian military from Baikonur. Read more...

TWIRL 72: Russia to launch first GLONASS-K2 satellite for navigation constellation

Paul Hill — Sun, 03 Jul 2022 15:54:01 +0000

This week we have a lot of satellite launches, including the first GLONASS-K2 satellite. In addition, the Vega C and Zhuque ZQ-2 rockets will make their first flights if all goes to plan this week. Read more...

OneWeb satellites will now be delivered to space by India after it cuts ties with Russia

Paul Hill — Thu, 21 Apr 2022 14:40:01 +0000

OneWeb is working with New Space India Limited, the commercial arm of ISRO, to launch its internet delivery satellites into orbit. It comes after OneWeb cut ties with Russia over the war in Ukraine. Read more...

Amazon will launch internet space satellites with Arianespace, Blue Origin, and ULA

Paul Hill — Wed, 06 Apr 2022 22:00:01 +0000

Amazon has procured 83 rocket launches to put its Project Kuiper internet-beaming satellites into orbit. It'll work with Arianespace, Blue Origin, and United Launch Alliance over five years. Read more...

OneWeb satellites to hitch a ride onboard SpaceX rockets after cutting ties with Russia

Alap Naik Desai — Mon, 21 Mar 2022 21:28:02 +0000

OneWeb LEO satellites will be delivered by SpaceX. The British satellite internet company could depend on its American counterpart to send about 220 satellites to LEO after it cut ties with Russia. Read more...

TWIRL 57: Russian cosmonauts exit capsule wearing Ukrainian colours

Paul Hill — Sun, 20 Mar 2022 15:14:01 +0000

Following the week where Russian cosmonauts gave tacit support to Ukraine, we have just one rocket launch, a Roscosmos Soyuz 2.1a that will be carrying Meridian-M satellites for the MoD. Read more...

TWIRL 53: China and Rocket Lab preparing to launch satellites

Paul Hill — Sun, 20 Feb 2022 07:38:01 +0000

We've got yet another quiet week coming up with just two launches taking place. China and Rocket Lab will be launching a host of satellites designed for various tasks. Both will launch on Sunday. Read more...

A geomagnetic storm may have destroyed up to 40 SpaceX Starlink satellites

Mehrotra A — Wed, 09 Feb 2022 08:20:01 +0000

SpaceX has announced that the recent mission to deploy satellites into orbit has gone awry due to a geomagnetic storm resulting in as much as 40 satellites deorbiting and burning up in the atmosphere. Read more...

Elon Musk asks Tonga if it wants Starlink terminals shipped over following tsunami

Paul Hill — Fri, 21 Jan 2022 14:14:01 +0000

Elon Musk has offered Starlink's services to Tonga following a devastating tsunami that knocked the country offline. He said he wants confirmation from officials before sending equipment. Read more...

OneWeb's internet satellites will help first responders get connectivity wherever they are

Paul Hill — Fri, 24 Dec 2021 00:04:02 +0000

OneWeb is working with Excelerate to give first responders in the UK and around the world access to its internet satellites. This will ensure they can stay connected to the net wherever they are. Read more...

OneWeb partners with Vocus to deliver comms services in Australia

Paul Hill — Mon, 20 Dec 2021 21:00:02 +0000

OneWeb has announced a partnership with Vocus to deliver its services to enterprise customers in Australia. The two firms hope to start getting new customers by the middle of next year. Read more...

Starlink could come out of beta next month despite pre-order backlog

David Allen — Mon, 20 Sep 2021 19:48:02 +0000

The Starlink satellite-based internet service could be coming out of beta next month, Elon Musk says. The service could offer hope for those in rural America struggling with options. Read more...

Elon Musk: Seems like Bezos retired to pursue a job filing lawsuits against SpaceX

Usama Jawad — Fri, 27 Aug 2021 10:26:01 +0000

Elon Musk has taken a dig at Jeff Bezos, saying that he retired from Amazon to pursue a full-time role filing lawsuits against SpaceX. This follows Amazon urging the FCC to deny Starlink plans. Read more...

OneWeb to help bolster the Canadian military's connectivity

Paul Hill — Wed, 19 May 2021 00:32:01 +0000

OneWeb has formed a partnership with the Canadian firm ROCK Networks. OneWeb is due to begin providing connectivity to ROCK Networks' customers, including Canada's military, in November. Read more...

Rocket Lab to launch more BlackSky satellites in new deal

Paul Hill — Fri, 26 Mar 2021 01:30:02 +0000

Rocket Lab has signed a new deal with BlackSky which will see it launch nine satellites for the company across five launches. It comes after a BlackSky satellite was launched by the firm this week. Read more...

OneWeb and SatixFy to bring satellite Wi-Fi to planes

Paul Hill — Sat, 20 Mar 2021 02:24:01 +0000

OneWeb is working with SatixFy to develop In-Flight Connectivity terminals. The terminals will be installed on commercial aircraft and provide internet access from OneWeb's LEO satellites. Read more...

TWIRL 3: Rocket Lab to attempt launch of delayed mission

Paul Hill — Sun, 07 Mar 2021 20:16:02 +0000

There are four planned rocket launches this week, two from SpaceX, one from Rocket Lab, and another from the Chinese National Space Administration. Rocket Lab's mission was delayed from last week. Read more...

Rocket Lab releases plans for reusable Neutron rocket

Paul Hill — Mon, 01 Mar 2021 15:24:01 +0000

Rocket Lab has announced plans for its upcoming Neutron rocket which will deliver larger satellites to space, go to other planets and launch with human crews. Neutron will be partially reusable too. Read more...

TWIRL 2: SpaceX's Starship SN10 could take flight

Paul Hill — Sun, 28 Feb 2021 20:12:01 +0000

There are three rocket launches expected this week. Rocket Lab is launching several satellites, Iran is re-attempting to launch its Pars 1 satellite, and SpaceX will try to land Starship SN10. Read more...

Vodafone successfully trials highly accurate tracking technology

Paul Hill — Tue, 16 Feb 2021 22:48:01 +0000

Vodafone says it has successfully trialled a tracking mechanism that combines space satellites and its IoT platform. The firm said that it can track objects with an accuracy of 10 centimetres. Read more...

UN and UK sign agreement on space sustainability

Paul Hill — Tue, 26 Jan 2021 15:54:01 +0000

The UN and the UK have signed an agreement which promotes the safe and sustainable use of space. The UK has created an £85,000 fund to promote the agreement's guidelines around the world Read more...

UK government to acquire OneWeb for $500 million

Paul Hill — Fri, 03 Jul 2020 16:20:01 +0000

The UK government has led a consortium to buy the satellite firm OneWeb after it filed for bankruptcy earlier this year. The government has paid $500 million and the private sector chipped in too. Read more...

Fourth major global navigation system set to be completed this month

Paul Hill — Fri, 12 Jun 2020 18:22:01 +0000

China is set to launch its final BeiDou-3 satellite into orbit this month. The network is accessible globally and provides an accuracy of 3.6 metres to the general public and 10 cm for the military. Read more...

SpaceX rival, OneWeb, files for bankruptcy due to COVID-19

Paul Hill — Sat, 28 Mar 2020 09:46:02 +0000

OneWeb has announced that it's filing for bankruptcy. The firm was responsible for launching several internet-providing satellites but the economic situation caused by COVID-19 caused it to fail. Read more...

Europe's telescopes can handle broadband satellite interference

Paul Hill — Thu, 05 Mar 2020 11:28:01 +0000

A paper has looked at the expected effect of internet satellites on telescope astronomy. It said the issue is manageable and that the first and last hours of the night will be impacted most. Read more...

France announces Air and Space Force, due to launch in 2020

Paul Hill — Sun, 14 Jul 2019 09:26:01 +0000

French President, Emmanuel Macron, has announced that the country will launch the Air and Space Force from September next year. France will use the new entity to defend the country's satellites. Read more...

SpaceX set to launch Starlink satellites into space on May 15

Paul Hill — Thu, 09 May 2019 01:34:01 +0000

SpaceX has announced that it'll launch dozens of Starlink satellites into space on May 15. The satellites will not have communication links between them but include antennas and electric propulsion. Read more...