INDUSTRY NEWS SpaceX launches Boeing-built AMOS-17 satellite — SpaceX has launched Israeli firm Spacecom’s AMOS-17 satellite from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. Built by Boeing, the AMOS-17 digital satellite will provide significant internet access and other communications services to underserved parts of Africa, Europe, and the Middle East. The satellite will enter service in a few months after on-orbit tests and moving to its final position over Africa. AMOS-17 is built on Boeing’s 702 satellite platform, and will deliver broadband services such as television, internet, and data services to a potential market consisting millions of people in its coverage regions. According to Boeing, services provided by Spacecom will expand using Boeing’s 702 digital satellite platform. The fixed and steerable beams of the multi-band AMOS-17 satellite are capable of providing continued services to long-term customers. The moving bandwidth of the satellite can accommodate short-term demand for high-capacity throughput in times such as special events or natural disasters. Once operational, the satellite will be the most advanced high-throughput satellite to provide satellite communication services to Africa. The life of AMOS-17 is expected to exceed 20 years. LeoLabs introduces commercial satellite tracking service — LeoLabs has launched LeoTrack, the world’s first commercial satellite tracking service for smallsat and cubesat operators. The service will be available as a web-based subscription and offer satellite operators a full range of monitoring capabilities, including precision tracking and predictive radar availability. It will also offer scheduled passes and real-time orbit visualization for constellations and individual satellites. The novel satellite tracking service is built on LeoLabs’ past expertise of providing satellite and space debris tracking services for constellation operators in LEO (low Earth orbit). LeoLabs already serves diversified technology leaders such as Maxar, BlackSky, Planet, and Swarm Technologies by providing supporting missions to these companies, ranging from advanced Earth observation to internet of things (IoT) connectivity. Through LeoTrack, the company intends to extend the same value proposition to the entire smallsat community. Back to 2019-08-14 issue of C.E. Weekly Back to Members Base Camp Back to CJHunter Home Page