2024 Q2 Orbital Launch Attempts by Country
With Q2 in the rearview mirror, one thing is clear—global launch attempts are on the rise.
Jack Kuhr
Charts Defining the Space Industry in Q2: Payload Research
There were 63 total global launches in Q2 2024, a 40% YoY increase. The usual suspects, SpaceX and China, are once again leading the charge.
Starlink Mini Impact and Rapid Terminal Iteration: Payload Research
Last week, SpaceX unveiled the Starlink Mini terminal, a laptop-sized device capable of delivering high speed internet nearly anywhere in the world.
LEO and GEO Satellite Operators Battle it out on EPFD Rules: Payload Research
Late last year, the World Radio communication Conference (WRC-23) approved a proposal to review EPFD (Equivalent Power Flux Density) limits, a critical juncture in rights negotiations between GEO and LEO operators that sets the stage for regulatory action by 2027 or 2031.
Lunar Infrastructure Startup Ethos Emerges from Stealth
If the Apollo era was all about “flags and footprints,” Artemis’ bid for a permanent presence on the Moon will center around lunar infrastructure—the era of “pads and gas pumps.”
Indian Launch Startup Agnikul Notches First Suborbital Flight
Agnikul Cosmos, an Indian rocket startup, successfully launched its Agnibaan SOrTeD vehicle on a suborbital test flight mission Wednesday, marking another win for the Indian space sector that has already had a banner past 12 months.
A Look Into China’s Defense Payloads: Payload Research
Over the last decade, China has grown its military presence in space to include sophisticated space planes, recon birds, secure comms, SSA, and ASAT capabilities.
SpaceX Sets Starship Flight 4 Launch Date and Details Improvements
Another Starship test flight is around the corner.
NASA Identifies Cost-Effective Methods for Managing Space Debris in New Study
NASA found that quickly disposing of spacecraft at the end of their life is one of the most cost-effective ways to prevent trash in orbit, according to an orbital debris management cost-benefit analysis that compared the effectiveness of 24 different tools to mitigate space debris
AST SpaceMobile Secures AT&T Direct-to-Cell Agreement
AST SpaceMobile ($ASTS) clinched a deal with AT&T to provide satellite-to-cell connectivity through 2030, the two companies announced Wednesday. Public markets cheered the definitive commercial agreement signed with the country’s largest cellular provider, propelling AST’s stock up nearly 70% yesterday and pushing its market cap to $1B+. Customers will be able to opt in to […]
Tracking EchoStar’s Subscriber Declines: Payload Research
EchoStar reported another quarter of declining revenue last week as its Hughes Network satellite broadband, TV (Dish + Sling), and retail wireless (Boost Mobile) subscriber base continues to shrink.
FAA Prepares an EIS for Starship KSC Operations
The FAA is planning an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to assess SpaceX’s proposed modifications for Starship operations at KSC site LC-39A.