Lots of raises, contracts, grants and more as we powered through the second week of 2023. Let’s take a look.

Partnership

Voyager Space and Airbus Defence and Space are partnering to develop and operate Starlab, a free-flying space station set for launch in 2028 that will serve NASA and a global customer base of space agencies and researchers. Airbus will provide technical design support and expertise for the Starlab station.

by Douglas Messier
Managing Editor

Powered by 33 flights of SpaceX’s Falcon 9 booster, the United States leads all nations with 48 launch attempts through the first seven months of the year. The total is three short of the number of U.S. launches attempted last year, and far ahead of the 27 launches conducted by second place China through the end of July. The U.S. has conducted more launches than the 43 flights conducted by the rest of the world combined.

A number of notable flights were conducted. SpaceX launched two Crew Dragons to the International Space Station (ISS), including the first fully privately funded mission to the orbiting laboratory. United Launch Alliance (ULA) launched Boeing’s CST-100 Starship crew vehicle on an automated flight test to ISS, a crucial step before astronauts to fly on the spacecraft. Small satellite launch provider Rocket Lab conducted its first deep-space mission by sending a spacecraft the size of a microwave to the moon.

Cruise line’s newbuild programme and current fleet will leverage SES’s O3b mPOWER connectivity service to make seamless family luxury a reality

LUXEMBOURG (SES PR) — SES, the world’s leading content connectivity satellite service provider, will be providing ground-breaking high-speed satellite-based connectivity services to the newest landmark ship of a leading family cruise line, the company announced today. The cruise line existing fleet will also transition its connectivity to SES’s second-generation medium earth orbit (MEO) system O3b mPOWER, alongside installing the service onto its newbuild programme.

PARIS (ESA PR) — A large data-driven telecommunications satellite that uses innovative technology to keep cool as well as other innovations – developed under an ESA Partnership Project – has started its commercial service.

The satellite will provide broadband connectivity for commercial shipping, aviation, governments and enterprises through its operator, SES, as well connecting underserved areas and accelerating digital inclusion.

SES will support ARSAT’s mission to accelerate digital inclusion, close the digital gap and provide broadband services all over the country

LUXEMBOURG (ARSAT PR) — ARSAT, Argentina’s leading telecommunications company, will take advantage of SES’s recently launched high performance geostationary (GEO) satellite, SES-17, to deliver high-quality connectivity services. “We want to reach all areas of the country,” SES and ARSAT announced today. The multi-year agreement will allow ARSAT to provide reliable broadband satellite services starting in mid-2022.

EXPLORA I, Explora Journeys’ first ship, will benefit from SES’s world-leading connectivity service that aligns with Explora Journeys’ long-held ambition to redefine luxury ocean travel

LUXEMBOURG (SES PR) — SES, the world’s leading content connectivity satellite service provider, today announced that it will be providing global connectivity services to Explora Journeys, debuting on EXPLORA I. Guests and crew will benefit from SES’s best-in-class low latency, highest available throughput and global Cruise mPOWERED connectivity service.

First SES C-band satellite dedicated to freeing up lower 300 MHz of C-band spectrum will ensure SES can continue providing video and data services to its customers while enabling wireless operators to quickly deploy 5G services across the US

Cape Canaveral (SES PR) – SES announced today that the SES-22 satellite was successfully launched into space onboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from SpaceX’s Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida, United States, at 5:04 pm local time.

LUXEMBOURG, 7 June 2022 (SES PR) – SES S.A. today announced the successful launch and pricing of a bond offering in which the company has agreed to sell senior unsecured fixed rate notes due in 2029 for a total amount of EUR 750 million [US $789 million]. The new notes will bear a coupon of 3.50% and were priced at 99.725% of their nominal value, representing a credit spread of 175bps and a yield-to-maturity of 3.55%.

SES is rated Baa2, negative outlook by Moody’s and BBB, stable outlook by Fitch. Proceeds of the issuance will be used for general corporate purposes, which include the refinancing of existing debt.

CLEVELAND (NASA PR) — NASA selected six American satellite communications (SATCOM) providers on April 20 to begin developing and demonstrating near-Earth space communication services that may support future agency missions.

For more than a year, the agency has been evaluating the feasibility of employing commercial SATCOM networks for near-Earth operations as it works to decommission its near-Earth satellite fleet. This approach would allow NASA to focus more time and resources on its deep space exploration and science missions.

Collaboration will improve Space Situational Awareness and promote best practices in all near-Earth orbits for SES and its partners

Luxembourg, 31 March 2022 (SES PR) – A partnership to enhance Space Situational Awareness (SSA) and ensure a sustainable use of space has been formed between SES, the world’s leading satellite-based content connectivity solutions provider, and NorthStar Earth and Space (NorthStar), the first commercial service to monitor space from space, both companies announced today.