Communications satellite

The Hybrid Space Architecture project links ground communication systems with satellite networks.Photo: Defense Innovation UnitThe Department of Defense (DOD) has signed agreements with four companies to help develop a space-based communications network of commercial and military satellites. The project hopes to use military and commercial satellites to transport data across a secure communication architecture, ultimately delivering it to military users.01:25Randall Park's Favorite SuperheroesMonday 5:02PMDOD’s Defense…

Starlink satellites hitch a ride to low Earth orbit aboard a Falcon 9 rocket.Photo: John Raoux (AP)Starlink has made its way to the southernmost continent, beaming down broadband internet to a research center in Antartica. McMurdo Station, a research outpost run by the U.S. Antarctic Program, is testing out a Starlink terminal to enhance its connectivity.The National Science Foundation (NSF), which funds the program, announced the recent development this week on Twitter, “NSF-supported USAP scientists in #Antarctica are…

The Space Force was created less than three years ago, and is now in charge of military satellite ground stations.Photo: Staff Sgt. Kayla White (AP)The U.S. Army transferred its satellite ground stations to the Space Force on Monday as the latest step in establishing the sixth branch of the U.S. military devoted to demonstrating national dominance in space.The U.S. Department of Defense announced the transfer last year, which took effect on August 15. All in all, 15 global units with 319 military and 259 civilian…

If you’ve taken a good look at the night sky in recent years you may have noticed a few more twinkling lights. That’s largely due to a surge in low Earth orbit satellites, an increasing number of which are being deployed to offer satellite internet service. SpaceX, OneWeb, and Amazon, the latter through its yet-to-launch Project Kuiper, together reportedly plan to launch over 46,000 more satellites into space in the coming years. There’s a problem though. In their haste to get satellites up and running and beat out…

Astroscale is set to develop ELSA-M. The company’s previous debris removal spacecraft, ELSA-d, is shown here.Illustration: AstroscaleThe European Space Agency is joining forces with Astroscale, an orbital debris removal company, to thin the massive cloud of space debris orbiting Earth. This effort will pave the way for communications company OneWeb to continue building its telecommunication network.The European Space Agency revealed in a press release today that Astroscale, a company focusing on space debris removal, will…