Articles tagged with "satellite-internet"
Blue Origin schedules third New Glenn launch for late February, but not to the moon
Blue Origin has scheduled the third launch of its New Glenn rocket for late February 2026, but contrary to earlier suggestions, the mission will not involve a lunar landing. Instead, the rocket will carry a commercial satellite for AST SpaceMobile into low-Earth orbit, marking the second commercial payload flown by New Glenn. The company has not provided a reason for prioritizing this satellite launch over its own Blue Moon Mark 1 (MK1) robotic lunar lander, which is currently undergoing vacuum chamber testing at NASA’s Johnson Space Center with no launch date set. This upcoming launch will be the third New Glenn flight in just over a year, following a decade of development. Blue Origin will reuse the booster from its second mission in November 2025, recovered via a drone ship landing similar to SpaceX’s Falcon 9 operations. The launch occurs amid a busy period in spaceflight, with NASA’s Artemis II lunar orbit mission, SpaceX’s Starship testing, and the Crew-12 ISS mission
energyspace-technologysatellite-internetrocket-launchaerospacesatellite-broadbandspace-explorationBlue Origin’s satellite internet network TeraWave will move data at 6Tbps
Blue Origin, Jeff Bezos’ space company, has announced TeraWave, a new satellite internet network designed to deliver data speeds up to 6 terabits per second (Tbps). Targeted at enterprise, data center, and government customers, TeraWave will deploy a constellation of 5,280 low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellites and 128 medium-Earth orbit (MEO) satellites, with initial launches planned for late 2027. The LEO satellites will use radio frequency (RF) connectivity with speeds up to 144 Gbps, while the MEO satellites will employ optical links capable of reaching the 6 Tbps maximum speed, significantly surpassing current offerings like SpaceX’s Starlink, which maxes out at 400 Mbps. TeraWave aims to provide a space-based network layer that enhances connectivity in locations unreachable by traditional infrastructure, addressing enterprise needs for higher speeds, symmetrical upload/download rates, redundancy, and rapid scalability. This initiative complements Amazon’s
IoTsatellite-internetBlue-OriginTeraWavelow-Earth-orbit-satellitesdata-transmissionspace-technologyWhat Would A SpaceX Public Offering In 2026 Look Like? - CleanTechnica
The article discusses the potential public offering of SpaceX in 2026, highlighting a recent letter from CFO Bret Johnsen indicating plans to buy $2.56 billion of shares at $421 each—nearly double the previous internal valuation. This move hints at an initial public offering (IPO) that could raise over $30 billion, potentially making it the largest IPO ever and positioning SpaceX as the most valuable private company globally. Elon Musk, holding a 44% stake, stands to gain significant wealth, while the IPO is expected to fund ambitious projects such as increasing Starship flight rates, deploying AI data centers in space, building a Moonbase, and enabling crewed Mars missions, thereby advancing Musk’s vision of making humanity multi-planetary. SpaceX, founded in 2002 with the mission to explore space, has grown into a dominant aerospace company with a broad portfolio. Its Falcon 9 rocket, known for reusability and cost efficiency, supports a high launch cadence, while
energyspace-explorationaerospace-technologyreusable-rocketssatellite-internetSpaceXStarshipSpaceX reportedly in talks for secondary sale at $800B valuation, which would make it America’s most valuable private company
According to the Wall Street Journal, SpaceX is reportedly preparing a secondary share sale that could value the company at approximately $800 billion, doubling its previous $400 billion valuation. This new valuation would make SpaceX the most valuable private company in the United States, surpassing OpenAI, which is currently valued at $500 billion. The scale of the offering has not been disclosed, and SpaceX has not commented on the report. This development highlights a broader trend in private markets where mega-valuations have become increasingly common. Companies like OpenAI and Anthropic have achieved valuations in the hundreds of billions through private funding rounds and secondary sales, allowing them to access liquidity without going public or facing the pressures of quarterly earnings reports. Founded in 2002, SpaceX leads the commercial rocket launch industry and operates Starlink, its satellite internet service, which had over eight million customers worldwide as of November.
robotspace-technologysatellite-internetStarlinkaerospaceprivate-company-valuationcommercial-rocket-launchesAmazon Leo Ultra challenges Starlink with 1Gbps enterprise speeds
Amazon has introduced Leo Ultra, its most advanced satellite internet antenna, aiming to challenge Starlink’s dominance by delivering enterprise-grade speeds of up to 1Gbps download and 400Mbps upload. The 20-by-30-inch phased-array terminal features no moving parts, rapid installation, and resilience to extreme weather, targeting industries such as aviation, logistics, energy, and agriculture that require reliable connectivity in remote or challenging environments. Amazon Leo, formerly Project Kuiper, has already deployed over 150 satellites and is moving from deployment toward commercial readiness with an enterprise preview program shipping early units to select partners. The Leo Ultra antenna incorporates custom silicon, proprietary RF engineering, and advanced signal-processing algorithms to reduce latency and enhance throughput, supporting cloud tasks, video conferencing, and real-time monitoring. Amazon emphasizes private networking capabilities with network-wide encryption, management tools, and 24/7 priority support. The service connects directly to AWS and other cloud or on-premise systems without routing through the public internet, offering options
IoTsatellite-internetenterprise-connectivityphased-array-antennacloud-integrationnetwork-securityAmazon-Leo-UltraSpaceX’s Starlink secures more spectrum and airlines as it passes 8 million customers
SpaceX’s Starlink satellite internet service has surpassed 8 million global customers, marking significant growth from 6 million in June 2025. To support this expansion, SpaceX is acquiring an additional $2.6 billion worth of wireless spectrum licenses from EchoStar, extending a previously announced $17 billion deal. This spectrum will be used to develop Starlink’s emerging “direct to cell” satellite constellation, enabling T-Mobile customers to access satellite-based 5G internet. EchoStar began selling off its spectrum licenses under pressure from the Federal Communications Commission and the Trump administration, with Trump reportedly urging EchoStar’s CEO to divest. In addition to spectrum acquisitions, Starlink is expanding its presence in the aviation industry through new commercial contracts. International Airlines Group (IAG), which includes British Airways, Iberia, and Aer Lingus, plans to install Starlink inflight internet on over 500 aircraft starting in 2026, covering short-haul, long-haul, and global routes.
IoTsatellite-internetStarlinkwireless-spectrum5G-connectivityaviation-technologyinflight-internetSpaceX strikes $17B deal to buy EchoStar’s spectrum for Starlink’s direct-to-phone service
SpaceX has reached a $17 billion agreement to acquire EchoStar’s AWS-4 and H-block spectrum licenses, paying $8.5 billion in cash and $8.5 billion in SpaceX stock. This acquisition is a strategic move to advance SpaceX’s “Direct to Cell” satellite constellation, enabling broadband-speed internet access directly to mobile phones worldwide. The deal also includes $2 billion in cash interest payments on EchoStar’s debt. By owning this spectrum, SpaceX aims to reduce its reliance on traditional network providers and plans to implement optimized 5G protocols in its direct-to-phone Starlink service once its next generation of satellites is operational. The transaction also benefits EchoStar’s Boost Mobile customers, granting them access to Starlink’s direct-to-phone service. EchoStar pursued the sale amid an FCC investigation into its spectrum usage, with reports indicating that former President Trump personally encouraged EchoStar CEO Charlie Ergen to sell the licenses. EchoStar believes that this sale, combined with a recent spectrum
IoTsatellite-internet5GStarlinkspectrum-licensesmobile-connectivitySpaceXJetBlue will use Amazon’s Project Kuiper satellites for free in-flight internet
JetBlue has announced it will use Amazon’s Project Kuiper satellites to provide free in-flight internet, marking the first airline partnership for Amazon’s satellite internet service. The Kuiper terminals installed on JetBlue’s planes will offer download speeds up to 1 Gbps, significantly faster than SpaceX’s Starlink service currently maxing out at 250 Mbps. While Amazon plans a smaller satellite constellation of 3,226 satellites compared to SpaceX’s 8,000+, this move positions JetBlue uniquely in the in-flight connectivity market, diverging from the trend of airlines partnering with Starlink. Amazon began launching Kuiper satellites in April 2025 and has also integrated its satellite internet technology with Airbus planes, signaling major commercial advancements for the project. Despite earlier production challenges, Amazon remains on track to meet the FCC’s mid-2026 deadline to deploy half of its planned satellite network. This partnership with JetBlue represents a significant milestone for Project Kuiper as it moves closer to operational status and expands
IoTsatellite-internetAmazon-Project-Kuiperin-flight-connectivityaerospace-technologylow-Earth-orbit-satellitesbroadband-communicationSpaceX faces two new lawsuits alleging safety‐related retaliation
Two former SpaceX employees, Robert Markert and David Lavalle, have filed separate wrongful-termination lawsuits alleging retaliation linked to safety concerns and workplace injuries. Markert, a 13-year veteran, claims he warned SpaceX about dangerous practices in the rocket fairing recovery process that prioritized cost savings over safety, but was ignored and later fired. He also alleges that technicians endured punishing work schedules with insufficient training, leading to unreported injuries. Lavalle, a plumber at SpaceX since 2014, alleges he was terminated shortly after requesting medical leave for gout-related knee pain and claims the company failed to accommodate multiple work-related injuries. He further alleges age discrimination tied to a wave of firings under a younger senior manager. These lawsuits come amid SpaceX’s rapid development of its Starship rocket and ongoing Falcon 9 launches, highlighting concerns about workplace safety at the company. Data from OSHA shows SpaceX’s Starbase facility in Texas had an injury rate nearly triple the aerospace manufacturing average in
energyaerospaceSpaceXrocket-technologyworker-safetysatellite-internetStarshipStarlink suffers rare global blackout, Elon Musk promises fix
Starlink, Elon Musk’s satellite internet service, experienced a rare global outage on July 24, 2025, disrupting connectivity for thousands of users across multiple continents including North America, Europe, and Africa. The outage began around 3:24 pm ET, with reports peaking at over 58,000 users affected according to Downdetector. Starlink acknowledged the issue on social media, stating they were actively working on a solution and promising updates. Musk personally apologized for the disruption on X (formerly Twitter), assuring that the root cause would be addressed to prevent future occurrences. The company’s website also went temporarily offline during the outage, compounding user frustration. The blackout coincided with Musk’s recent announcement about Starlink’s expanding “Direct to Cell” service, which enables smartphones to connect directly to satellites, though no direct link between the update and the outage has been confirmed. The disruption had significant impacts, particularly in remote regions such as Canada’s North, where Starlink supports critical
IoTsatellite-internetStarlinknetwork-outageElon-MuskconnectivitytelecommunicationsAmazon’s Kuiper satellites to get boost from rival SpaceX
Amazon’s Project Kuiper, aiming to establish a major satellite internet constellation with over 3,200 satellites, is receiving launch support from its chief competitor, SpaceX. On July 16, 2025, SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket will carry 24 Kuiper satellites into orbit, increasing the total Kuiper satellites in space to 78. This collaboration follows a December 2023 agreement after Amazon initially excluded SpaceX from its first round of launch contracts, despite the Falcon 9’s reputation for reliability. Amazon faces a regulatory deadline to deploy at least half of Kuiper’s initial constellation by July 2026, putting pressure on its launch schedule. Besides SpaceX, other launch providers include United Launch Alliance (ULA), which has already launched the first two Kuiper batches, and Blue Origin, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos’ other company, which plans to use its New Glenn rocket but has yet to demonstrate full operational capability. The partnership with SpaceX highlights the competitive yet interdependent nature
IoTsatellite-internetProject-KuiperSpaceXFalcon-9low-Earth-orbitsatellite-constellation