Articles tagged with "satellite-communication"
Elon Musk’s SpaceX and xAI in talks to merge, report says
Elon Musk’s companies SpaceX and xAI are reportedly in discussions to merge ahead of a planned SpaceX initial public offering (IPO) expected later in 2026. The merger would consolidate Musk’s ventures, bringing together products such as the Grok chatbot, the X social media platform, Starlink satellites, and SpaceX rockets under a single corporate entity. Although company officials have not publicly confirmed the talks, recent filings reveal the creation of two new Nevada-based entities, K2 Merger Sub Inc. and K2 Merger Sub 2 LLC, which may be linked to the merger process. The potential merger aligns with Musk’s broader strategy of integrating his companies and could enable xAI to deploy its data centers in space, a goal Musk has expressed interest in. Financially, SpaceX invested $2 billion in xAI last year, with Tesla also contributing $2 billion recently. xAI previously acquired X in a deal valuing xAI at $80 billion and X at $33
energyspace-technologysatellite-communicationAI-integrationdata-centersSpaceXxAINorthwood Space secures a $100M Series B and a $50M Space Force contract
Northwood Space, a startup focused on modernizing ground-based satellite communications infrastructure, has achieved significant milestones with a $100 million Series B funding round and a nearly $50 million contract from the U.S. Space Force. The funding round was led by Washington Harbour Partners and co-led by Andreessen Horowitz, reflecting strong investor confidence in Northwood’s vertically integrated approach to ground station technology. The Space Force contract aims to upgrade the satellite control network, which manages critical government space missions such as GPS satellite tracking and control. Founded only a few years ago and having raised $30 million in Series A less than a year prior, Northwood is rapidly scaling to meet growing demand for more efficient ground solutions. The company’s technology centers on smaller phased-array antenna systems designed to replace traditional large dish antennas, enabling higher capacity and more flexible satellite communications. CEO Bridgit Mendler emphasized that the new capital will support the company’s ability to handle increasing customer requests and avoid resource constraints, marking an inflection point in
IoTsatellite-communicationphased-array-antennasground-station-technologyspace-techdefense-technologysatellite-control-networkWorld's first: China’s humanoid robot connects to orbiting satellite
China’s humanoid robot “Embodied Tien Kung” achieved a world first by directly connecting to a low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite, demonstrated at the 3rd Beijing Commercial Space Industry High-Quality Development Promotion Conference on January 23. The robot linked with GalaxySpace’s new wing-array integrated internet satellite, transmitting real-time visual and movement data without relying on ground-based networks. During the demonstration, the robot performed a real-world task by retrieving a certificate from a driverless vehicle and delivering it to a project leader, all while maintaining a stable satellite connection that also supported smartphones and computers. This milestone highlights the potential for humanoid robots to operate in remote or network-limited environments such as disaster zones, mining sites, and field exploration areas. By bypassing geographic constraints of traditional internet, satellite connectivity enables robots to perform complex physical tasks with real-time data transmission, improving efficiency and safety in high-risk settings. The “Embodied Tien Kung” robot’s achievement builds on its previous
robotIoTsatellite-communicationhumanoid-robotremote-operationautonomous-systemsLEO-satelliteBlue Origin plans satellite swarm to serve data centers, governments
Blue Origin has announced plans for TeraWave, a large-scale satellite communications network comprising over 5,400 satellites, set to launch by the end of 2027. Unlike existing consumer-focused services like SpaceX’s Starlink, TeraWave targets high-capacity data users such as data centers, national security agencies, and global corporations. The network will feature a multi-orbit design with 5,280 satellites in low Earth orbit (LEO) and 128 high-capacity satellites in medium Earth orbit (MEO). The MEO satellites are expected to deliver symmetrical data speeds up to 6 terabits per second using optical laser links, while the LEO satellites will provide speeds of 144 gigabits per second via radio waves. This architecture aims to offer ultra-high-throughput connectivity with rapid scalability and redundancy, especially benefiting remote and underserved areas where fiber infrastructure is limited. Blue Origin’s entry into the satellite internet market comes amid intense competition from established players and emerging state-backed
IoTsatellite-communicationBlue-Originglobal-internetdata-centershigh-speed-connectivitysatellite-networkPentagon studies China's hypersonic plan to defeat US carriers
The Pentagon’s leaked “Overmatch Brief” reveals that China’s military poses a significant threat to the US Navy’s most advanced aircraft carrier strike groups, including the Gerald R. Ford-class carriers. Based on computer simulations, the assessment concludes that China could neutralize or sink these carriers through a multifaceted campaign combining ballistic and hypersonic missiles, cyberattacks, and anti-satellite operations. Chinese attacks on US satellites would degrade American targeting, communication, and navigation capabilities, leaving carrier groups vulnerable to coordinated missile salvos from land, sea, and air platforms. China’s missile arsenal includes up to 600 hypersonic missiles capable of high-speed, maneuverable flight, making interception extremely difficult. The brief highlights the complementary nature of China’s missile forces, where large numbers of lower-cost missiles saturate defenses while advanced systems penetrate them to deliver decisive strikes. This layered threat, supported by targeting data from satellites, radars, and unmanned aircraft, creates overlapping engagement zones that increase the likelihood of
energyhypersonic-missilesmilitary-technologyanti-ship-weaponscyber-operationssatellite-communicationdefense-systemsApple reportedly plans ambitious satellite-powered iPhone features
Apple is reportedly developing a range of advanced satellite-powered features for the iPhone beyond its current capabilities of satellite texting and calling. Upcoming enhancements include an API for app developers to integrate satellite connectivity, an offline version of Apple Maps for navigation without cellular or WiFi access, the ability to send photos via satellite messaging, and improved “natural usage” that allows satellite connection without the phone needing to be directly pointed at the sky. These innovations aim to significantly enhance iPhone usability in areas lacking traditional cellular coverage. Additionally, Apple is exploring improvements to 5G networks by enabling them to connect with satellites, potentially expanding network coverage. While basic satellite features are expected to remain free, users may incur charges from carriers for more advanced services. Apple is also collaborating with its satellite partner, Globalstar, to upgrade the necessary infrastructure, with Apple providing financial support to facilitate these enhancements.
IoTsatellite-communicationmobile-technology5G-networksAppleconnectivitywireless-technologySatellites found exposing unencrypted data, including phone calls and some military comms
Security researchers from UC San Diego and the University of Maryland have uncovered that up to half of all geostationary satellites are transmitting sensitive consumer, corporate, and military data without encryption. Using an off-the-shelf satellite receiver over a three-year period, they intercepted unencrypted information including private phone calls, text messages, in-flight Wi-Fi internet traffic, and communications from critical infrastructure systems such as energy, water suppliers, and offshore oil and gas platforms. The researchers have spent the past year notifying affected organizations, prompting some, like T-Mobile and AT&T’s Mexican network, to begin encrypting their satellite transmissions. However, many entities, including certain critical infrastructure providers, have yet to secure their data, leaving substantial amounts of satellite communications vulnerable to eavesdropping for the foreseeable future. This ongoing exposure highlights significant security risks in satellite data transmission that require urgent attention.
energysatellite-communicationdata-securitycritical-infrastructureIoT-securitytelecommunicationscybersecuritySatellites are leaking private messages and sensitive military data
A recent study by researchers at UC San Diego and the University of Maryland has uncovered a significant security vulnerability in global satellite communications. The team found that approximately half of all geostationary satellite signals transmit sensitive data—including personal calls and texts, corporate information, and military communications—without any encryption. Using a relatively inexpensive setup costing under $800, the researchers intercepted thousands of private messages and data streams that were never intended for public access. Their findings highlight a widespread assumption within the satellite industry that no one would scrutinize or attempt to intercept these transmissions, a security approach the researchers describe as dangerously complacent. The study revealed that telecom companies often use satellites to connect remote cellular towers to their core networks, a process called backhaul, which frequently lacks encryption. This exposed unprotected data from major carriers such as T-Mobile, AT&T Mexico, and Telmex. More alarmingly, the researchers intercepted unencrypted communications from U.S. and Mexican military and law enforcement agencies, including sensitive information like ship identifiers
IoTsatellite-communicationdata-securityencryptionmilitary-communicationstelecommunicationscybersecurityAST SpaceMobile lands key Verizon deal amid growing competition with SpaceX and T-Mobile
AST SpaceMobile has secured a major new partnership with Verizon to deliver space-based cellular broadband across the United States, marking its most significant deal to date in the emerging satellite-to-cellular market. Verizon will integrate AST’s satellite network with its existing terrestrial infrastructure, utilizing Verizon’s 850 MHz spectrum to extend coverage in remote areas lacking traditional cell towers. This agreement builds on a prior $100 million commitment from Verizon made last year to support AST’s service rollout. Verizon becomes the second major carrier to partner with AST, following a 10-year deal with Vodafone. The deal comes as AST races to deploy its BlueBird satellite constellation, designed to connect directly with unmodified cell phones. The company has launched its initial five “Block 1” satellites into low Earth orbit, providing intermittent U.S. coverage, and is preparing to deploy 45-60 “Block 2” satellites by 2026. AST has demonstrated 4G and 5G connectivity, including voice and video calls, but faces
IoTsatellite-communication5Gspace-based-broadbandVerizonBlueBird-satellitescellular-network-integrationElon Musk Is Out to Rule Space. Can Anyone Stop Him?
The article highlights Elon Musk’s dominant role in the modern space industry through his company SpaceX, which has achieved an unprecedented launch cadence—95 launches in a single year, more than the rest of the world combined. SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rockets deploy Starlink satellites that provide global internet coverage, a capability that has become strategically crucial, as evidenced by its impact on communications during the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Additionally, SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft currently serves as America’s sole means of transporting astronauts to the International Space Station, underscoring Musk’s critical position in both commercial and governmental space operations. Looking ahead, Musk stands to further consolidate power as the U.S. government pursues the weaponization of space in response to perceived threats from Russia and China. The Pentagon is investing heavily in satellite-based defense systems, including orbiting interceptors and communication networks, areas where SpaceX’s launch and satellite expertise are indispensable. Although Musk’s companies may not manufacture the weapons themselves, their infrastructure and technology will
IoTsatellite-communicationSpaceXStarlinkspace-technologyaerospacedefense-technologyUS submarines' mission-critical system to get upgrade with new contract
British company SERCO has secured a $97 million contract to continue supporting and upgrading the U.S. Navy’s Submarine High Data Rate (SubHDR) antenna systems for the next decade. These mission-critical systems enable U.S. submarines to maintain high-capacity, secure communications—including wide-band data, voice, imagery, and video conferencing—while submerged. SERCO, which has supported the SubHDR program for over 20 years, will conduct most of the maintenance, repair, and upgrade work at its Ludlow, Massachusetts facility, with additional support in Newport, Rhode Island. The SubHDR system operates in extremely high frequency (EHF) and super high frequency (SHF) bands, allowing submarines to connect via mast-mounted antennas to military satellite networks such as Milstar, the Global Broadcast Service, and the Defense Satellite Communication System. This capability ensures underwater forces remain integrated into coordinated fleet and joint task force operations. Originally developed with contributions from Raytheon, the SubHDR system has
IoTmilitary-communicationsubmarine-technologysatellite-communicationhigh-frequency-antennasdefense-technologysecure-communications10-watt laser sends 1 Gbps from plane to satellite in world-first test
General Atomics (GA-EMS) and Kepler Communications have achieved the world’s first high-speed laser communication link between an aircraft and a satellite, transmitting data at rates up to 1 gigabit per second over a distance of nearly 3,400 miles. The test involved a 10-watt Optical Communication Terminal (OCT) mounted on a De Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter plane communicating with a Kepler satellite in low Earth orbit, compatible with the U.S. Space Development Agency’s (SDA) Tranche 0 architecture. This milestone validates a critical component of the Pentagon’s proliferated space network, demonstrating secure, high-throughput data transfer capabilities between airborne platforms and orbiting satellites. The system’s success highlights the challenges and advancements in free-space optical communications, which require precise pointing, acquisition, tracking, and lock mechanisms to maintain stable links from moving platforms to satellites. General Atomics’ OCT, housed in a Laser Airborne Communication Turret (
IoTsatellite-communicationlaser-communicationoptical-communicationaerospace-technologysecure-data-transmissionspace-networkWhy SpaceX made a $17B bet on the direct-to-cell market
SpaceX has made a significant strategic move in the satellite-to-phone market by acquiring a large portion of wireless spectrum from EchoStar for $17 billion, split evenly between cash and SpaceX stock. This acquisition centers on securing valuable spectrum—a limited range of radio frequencies essential for wireless communication. The deal follows the FCC’s 2024 approval of the Supplemental Coverage from Space (SCS) framework, which allows satellites to extend terrestrial carrier networks using existing phone spectrum. Unlike previous arrangements where satellite operators had to partner with terrestrial carriers, SpaceX now holds the spectrum license directly, positioning itself to more aggressively expand its Starlink Direct-to-Cell service, which it began offering to T-Mobile users as a premium add-on. While SpaceX focuses on building rockets and satellites rather than cell phones, CEO Elon Musk has hinted at entering the phone market through his other venture, X, potentially challenging established players like Apple, which currently partners with Globalstar for satellite-enabled iPhone services. SpaceX’s spectrum acquisition may
IoTsatellite-communicationwireless-spectrumDirect-to-CellStarlinktelecommunicationsSpaceXApple unveils Apple Watch Series 11, Watch Ultra 3, and Watch SE 3
Apple has introduced three new Apple Watch models: the Apple Watch Series 11, Apple Watch Ultra 3, and Apple Watch SE 3. The Series 11 features a new hypertension alert system that analyzes blood vessel responses over 30-day periods to detect chronic high blood pressure, aiming to notify over a million undiagnosed users in its first year. It also introduces a Sleep Score that evaluates sleep quality based on multiple factors, 5G connectivity for improved coverage and battery efficiency, and offers up to 24 hours of battery life. The Series 11 is available in Jet Black, Silver, Rose Gold, and Space Gray, starting at $399. The Apple Watch Ultra 3 boasts the largest Apple Watch display with a wide-angle OLED screen and introduces satellite connectivity for emergency communications and location sharing in areas without cellular or Wi-Fi coverage. It also supports 5G and hypertension notifications like the Series 11. The Ultra 3 comes in Black and Natural Titanium and starts at $799.
IoTwearable-technologyApple-Watch5G-connectivityhealth-monitoringsatellite-communicationbattery-lifeX-37B: US space plane launches on 8th mysterious military mission
The U.S. Space Force’s X-37B spaceplane was launched into low Earth orbit on its eighth secretive Orbital Test Vehicle (OTV) mission, designated USSF-36, by a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center. The launch occurred at 11:50 pm EDT, with the Falcon 9 first stage successfully landing nearby at Cape Canaveral. The X-37B, a 29-foot-long reusable spaceplane resembling a mini space shuttle, is designed to conduct classified sensor and technology experiments in orbit. Its current payload includes advanced technologies such as laser communications and a cutting-edge quantum inertial sensor, which enhances navigation capabilities in GPS-denied environments and holds promise for future long-distance space travel, including cis-lunar missions. During the OTV-8 mission, the X-37B will test laser communications and integrate with proliferated commercial satellite networks in low Earth orbit, potentially including SpaceX’s Starlink constellation. These demonstrations aim
IoTsatellite-communicationlaser-communicationsquantum-sensorsspace-technologymilitary-technologynavigation-systemsGoogle debuts Pixel Watch 4 with domed display, emergency Satellite Communication
Google has unveiled the Pixel Watch 4, featuring a domed Actua 360 display with a 10% larger active area, 16% smaller bezels, and a 50% brighter 3,000-nit screen. Available in 41mm and 45mm sizes, the watch starts at $349 for Wi-Fi and $449 for LTE on the smaller model, with the larger version priced at $399 (Wi-Fi) and $499 (LTE). Notably, the LTE models support standalone emergency satellite communication, enabling users to contact emergency services even when off the grid, powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon W5 Gen 2 Wearable Platform. The watch also introduces a wrist-raise gesture to access Google Assistant (Gemini) without voice commands or button presses, alongside AI-enhanced features like Smart Replies. Health and fitness tracking have been significantly improved, with 18% better accuracy in sleep cycle classification, a new skin temperature sensor, and dual-frequency GPS for precise route
IoTwearable-technologysatellite-communicationAI-health-coachfitness-trackingGPSbattery-lifeYC-backed Apolink by 19-year-old bags $4.3M to build 24/7 connectivity for LEO satellites
Apolink, a Y Combinator-backed space-tech startup founded by 19-year-old Indian-origin entrepreneur Onkar Singh Batra, has raised $4.3 million in an oversubscribed seed round at a $45 million valuation. The Palo Alto-based company aims to build a real-time, 24/7 connectivity network for low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites, addressing the persistent issue of communication dead zones when satellites lose line-of-sight with ground stations. Unlike existing solutions that rely on relay satellites or ground station networks with partial coverage, Apolink plans to deploy a constellation of 32 satellites equipped with lasers and radios to provide near-continuous connectivity with up to 99% uptime and low latency, initially 10–15 seconds, improving to 2–3 seconds over time. Batra’s approach is notable for its hybrid radio-frequency and optical architecture that is hardware-independent, enabling compatibility with satellites lacking specialized user terminals—a key limitation in current inter-satellite link
IoTsatellite-communicationLEO-satellitesspace-technologyconnectivityhybrid-RF-optical-architecturenetwork-interoperabilityChina claims its high-orbit laser communication tops Starlink speed
Chinese scientists have reportedly achieved a breakthrough in satellite laser communication by transmitting data at 1 Gigabit per second (Gbps) from a geostationary satellite to Earth using a low-power 2-watt laser. This speed is claimed to be five times faster than SpaceX’s Starlink satellite internet service, which typically delivers speeds of only a few Mbps from much lower orbits (about 550 kilometers above Earth). The main obstacle in satellite laser downlinks—atmospheric turbulence that distorts and weakens signals—was addressed through a novel “AO-MDR synergy” technique combining Adaptive Optics (AO) and Mode Diversity Reception (MDR). This method was tested at the Lijiang observatory in China, where a 1.8-meter telescope equipped with 357 micro-mirrors corrected the distorted laser light, which was then processed through multiple channels to select the strongest signals using a “path-picking” algorithm. The researchers, led by Professor Wu Jian and Liu
IoTsatellite-communicationlaser-communicationadaptive-opticsdata-transmissionoptical-technologytelecommunications