Episode Details

Main Topics

Communications

* SpaceX is rumored to be developing its own Starlink-branded smartphone to connect with the company’s satellite services. The device is intended to help boost revenue as SpaceX prepares for an IPO. [source]

* Spanish telco MasOrange will trial Starlink’s Direct-to-Cell service under a new agreement with SpaceX. MasOrange plans to carry out a technical pilot in the Spanish province of Valladolid. [source]

* AT&T and Amazon announced an extensive strategic partnership that leverages Amazon LEO network to augment terrestrial fiber infrastructure across the US. [source]

* CesiumAstro closes its $470M services C round to scale operations. This includes $200M in debt from EXIM and JP. Morgan that was reported a few weeks ago, along with $270 million in equity announced this week led by Trousdale Ventures. [source]

* Gilat Satellite Networks receives an over $10M order from an undisclosed leading ground gateway antenna provider to support rollout of ground infrastructure for a LEO constellation. [source]

* Gilmour Space has partnered with Singapore and US-based Transcelestial to integrate and test laser optical communications on their MMS2 ElaraSat mission later this year. [source]

Earth Observation

* HEX20 partners with Transcelestial to integrate laser-based inter-satellite communication into their DINK-N Earth observation constellation. [source]

* Tomorrow.io raises $175M in equity led by Stonecourt Capital and HarbourVest to accelerate the deployment of their AI weather satellite constellation called DeepSky [source]

* Vantor wins a $5.3 million contract under NGA’s Luno B program to detect and deliver automated insights on real-time changes to Earth’s landscape for global mapping and intelligence missions. [source]

* Blacksky wins a seven figure multi-year contract with geospatial intelligence fusion company EMDYN to deliver space-based imagery services to international customers including API-enabled automated tip-and-cue tasking and fusing of signals and other intelligence sources. [source]

Launch

* SpaceX pausedFalcon 9 launches for four