Page 5 - Satellite

Starship 8 test failure: SpaceX's boldest rocket faces uncertain future

Repeated failures have cast doubt on Starship's reliability, a key part of SpaceX's goals for Mars colonisation, prompting the company to investigate failures and enhance the spacecraft's performance

Trump's tariffs put Starlink's future in Canada in uncertain waters

Starlink flies more than 7,000 satellites in low-Earth orbit (LEO) serving some 5 million subscribers, and Canada is the company's largest market outside of the US

SpaceX's Starship Flight 8 set to launch today; know when & where to watch

SpaceX aims to repeat history by catching a Super Heavy booster through giant metal arms. The mission is scheduled to take place on March 6, 2025

Nasa's SPHEREx and PUNCH missions delayed; Know about the next launch date

Nasa's SPHEREx and PUNCH missions have been delayed to March 6, allowing the agency more time to complete vehicle processing and prelaunch checkouts

Satcom spectrum policy must not exclude terrestrial firms: Mittal

Spectrum for satellite connectivity in rural and hard-to-reach areas can be given on shared basis but when it comes to urban areas, TRAI and the government need to come out with a policy that does not discriminate against the terrestrial providers, Sunil Mittal, Chairman of Bharti Group, said on Friday, weighing in on one of the most spirited debates raging in the industry in recent times. Satellite connectivity is indeed required to serve dark, underserved areas, Mittal said, adding, "We fully welcome that". The top honcho of Bharti Group, considered to be telecom sector stalwart, was speaking on the sidelines of SOUL leadership conclave 2025. "There are lots of parts of the world and lots of people still living in dark areas which need to be lit up. The only way it can be done is through satellite broadband connectivity," he said. Mittal added: "We are one of the leading players and waiting for our permissions, and we are providing the services in many parts of the world already.

Adani-backed firm among 3 finalists for India's small satellite rocket bid

That move has been the highest-profile piece of India's privatisation efforts, which the government hopes will help the country claim a greater share of the booming global satellite launch market

Starlink got $1 mn from USAID over 4 yrs, now Musk is shutting it down

US President Donald Trump has frozen billions in international aid, leaving USAID-funded projects, including Starlink deployments, in limbo

Falling Starlink satellites worry scientists, 120 fell from space in Jan

As the cases of SpaceX's Starlink satellite falling from space rise, scientists are concerned over its environmental impact which could potentially harm the ozone layer

India's 1st private satellite constellation highlights youth talent: PM

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said India's first private satellite constellation by Pixxel Space showcases the exceptional talent of the country's youngsters. Bengaluru-based space startup Pixxel has scripted history by launching the country's first private constellation of earth-imaging satellites, Firefly, making a grand entry into the fast-emerging field of hyper-spectral imaging. "India's first private satellite constellation by Pixxel Space showcases the exceptional talent of India's youth and highlights the expanding capabilities of our private sector in the space industry," the prime minister said in a post on X. A SpaceX rocket launched three of Pixxel's six Firefly satellites on January 14 from California in the United States. The satellites are the world's highest-resolution commercial-grade hyperspectral satellites with the capability to observe the earth in over 150 bands, a technology that is useful in sectors as diverse as agriculture and defence. Pixxel ...

Starship Super Heavy Booster returns to launch mount, says Elon Musk

In November 2024, SpaceX's Starship, owned by Musk was launched amid much anticipation and fanfare as the rocket embarked on its sixth test flight

Isro successfully performs docking of satellites as part of SpaDeX Mission

Earlier on January 12, Isro brought the two spacecraft to three metres and then moved them back to safe distance

Google-backed Pixxel launches India's first private satellite constellation

This launch marks the first phase of Pixxel's commercial constellation, with three additional Firefly satellites scheduled to launch in the second quarter of 2025

Pixxel launches highest-resolution commercial hyperspectral satellites

Bengaluru-based startup Pixxel announced the launch of three of the world's highest-resolution commercial hyperspectral satellites from the Vandenberg Space Force Base in California on Wednesday. The Firefly constellation satellites were integrated via Exolaunch and launched aboard the Transporter-12 rideshare mission with SpaceX. The launch took place around 1 am. Pixxel organised a livescreening of the launch at its headquarters in Bengaluru. With the launch of the first three satellites, Pixxel will now be able to deliver more precise critical climate and Earth insights, said founder and CEO Awais Ahmed. Ahmed was addressing reporters on the sidelines of the screening. He said the Firefly constellation was six times sharper than the 30-metre standard of most existing hyperspectral satellites, capturing fine details previously invisible to conventional systems. The Firefly also marks a watershed moment in India's space journey as the nation's first commercial satellite ...

SpaDeX: Isro brings satellites within three metres in trial attempt

ISRO on Sunday said the two satellites launched to perform space docking experiments were brought within three metres and then moved safely back in a trial attempt. The space agency also said the docking process would be done after analysing the data further. "A trial attempt to reach up to 15 metres and further to three metres is done. Moving back spacecraft to safe distance. The docking process will be done after analysing data further," ISRO said in a post on X. The Space Docking Experiment (SpaDeX) project has missed two announced schedules for docking experiments on January 7 and January 9. ISRO launched the mission on December 30. The PSLV C60 rocket, carrying two small satellites -- SDX01 (Chaser) and SDX02 (Target) -- along with 24 payloads, lifted off from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota. About 15 minutes later, the two small spacecraft weighing about 220 kilogrammes each were launched into a 475-kilometre circular orbit, as intended. The SpaDeX project is

Big rockets, a big telescope and big changes in space await in 2025

The space firm founded by Amazon's Jeff Bezos has a powerful rocket called New Glenn that may at last get off the ground in 2025

UK warns against using satellite phones in updated India travel advisory

The UK government on Tuesday updated its travel advisory for India to warn British nationals against carrying or operating satellite phones in India without a licence. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) reviewed the Safety and Security section of its advisory for India to flag that Britons have been arrested for bringing in such devices illegally to India. It highlighted that prior permission from the Department of Telecommunication was also required for listening devices and powerful cameras or binoculars and that advice around such equipment can be sought from the High Commission of India in London. "It is illegal to possess and operate satellite phones in India without a licence. British nationals have been arrested or detained for bringing satellite phones and other satellite-enabled navigational devices into the country without prior permission, reads the FCDO update. "Contact the Indian Department of Telecommunication to request a licence. You may also ne

Subscriber loss, price war to make recovery tough for pvt telcos in 2025

Private telecom operators face twin challenges on investment recovery in the New Year customers leaving their network after tariff hikes and satellite players mainly Elon Musk's Starlink eyeing a chunk of their bread and butter data business. Private operators have invested around Rs 70,000 crore in telecom infrastructure and radiowave assets this year to expand the coverage of next-generation 5G services which is one of the main highlights of 2024 for the sector. To recover investments and protect margins, private telcos resorted to tariff hikes in mid-year but that move backfired. Around 2 crore subscribers dropped their connections. Reliance Jio, Bharti Airtel and Vodafone Idea jointly lost 2.6 crore customers due to a 10-26 per cent price hike. Around 68 customers switched to state-run player BSNL which refrained from price hike. The loss-making PSU still offers generation-old 3G service and is on the path of rolling out 4G network across the country. Despite subscriber loss,

World's most advanced and expensive; Indo-US NISAR satellite to launch soon

India and the US jointly designed the NISAR satellite which is set to be launched next year. It can gather images with dual frequency radar, effectively functioning in darkness and adverse weather

Indian startup OrbitAID's patented tech clears zero gravity test in Florida

It validates SIDRP's capabilities for on-orbit satellite servicing, including docking, refuelling, and proximity operations, in simulated space conditions

Chennai-based startup Space Kidz eyes lunar leap with all-women line-up

Space Kidz may become first Indian private firm to crash-land on the moon's surface