Latest news with #Satellite2025
Yahoo
21-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
The new space race is just getting started
A version of this article originally appeared in Quartz's members-only Weekend Brief newsletter. Quartz members get access to exclusive newsletters and more. Sign up here. Six women in royal blue spacesuits rocketed to the edge of space lastweek, with pop star Katy Perry vowing to write a song about her 'highest high' and CBS's Gayle King rejecting the 'astronaut' title upon return. The 10-minute Blue Origin publicity flight delivered its promised social media moments: Perry kissed the ground while King waxed philosophical about Earth's beauty. Fellow passenger Lauren Sanchez, who designed the sleek suits with luxury fashion house Monse, rushed to embrace fiancé (and Blue Origin founder) Jeff Bezos after touching down. But beyond the celebrity spectacle lies a more consequential story: There's a fortune to be made in the cosmos. According to a McKinsey report released last year, the global space economy was valued at $630 billion in 2023 and is expected to almost triple to $1.8 trillion by 2035, growing at twice the projected rate of global GDP. At the center of this booming market stands Elon Musk's SpaceX, whose valuation has skyrocketed to $350 billion as of December 2024, according to CNBC. With its near-monopoly on the U.S. satellite launch market and approximately 7,000 Starlink satellites in orbit providing high-speed internet to about five million subscribers, SpaceX's dominance seems nearly unassailable. The company's influence was further cemented earlier this month when the Pentagon awarded SpaceX the lion's share of a $13.5 billion launch contract through 2029. SpaceX secured $5.9 billion for 28 missions, while United Launch Alliance received $5.3 billion for 19 launches and Blue Origin got $2.3 billion for seven missions. After the announcement, Musk couldn't resist taking a swipe at his competitors. 'Winning 60% of the missions may sound generous, but the reality is that all SpaceX competitors combined cannot currently deliver the other 40%! I hope they succeed, but they aren't there yet,' Musk said on X. For companies trying to compete with such overwhelming market advantage, the path forward requires unprecedented cooperation. At the recent Satellite 2025 conference, the CEO of Aerospacelab, a Belgium-based satellite manufacturer, warned that individual companies cannot match SpaceX's 'extreme vertical integration' alone. 'We have to break some barriers and work more as a team by openly merging or forming joint ventures to share the risk,' CEO Benoit Deper said, according to SpaceNews. The industry appears headed for major consolidation. In a striking forecast released in January, venture firm Space Capital predicted that both Boeing and Airbus will divest their space divisions in 2025. 'These divestitures by entrenched government contractors marks a pivotal moment in the space economy, as it changes the competitive landscape, establishes a new power broker system, and creates new opportunities and risks in the government's extended capabilities in space,' the report said. Space Capital also projects 2025 to be 'one of the most transformative years on record for the space economy,' partly influenced by Musk's prominent position in the Trump administration, which is expected to maintain a 'strongly pro-growth and anti-regulation' stance. California-based startup SpinLaunch represents one of the more innovative challengers with its revolutionary kinetic launch system — essentially a massive high-tech slingshot that spins satellites before releasing them toward space. This approach aims to deploy up to 250 microsatellites in a single mission, which would surpass SpaceX's record of 143. Beyond sending celebrities to space, Blue Origin itself is intensifying competition with its New Glenn rocket, recently completing its first mission in a direct challenge to SpaceX's larger Starship. The company received a boost when Jared Isaacman, President Donald Trump's pick to lead NASA and a commercial astronaut himself, publicly congratulated Monday's mission. Isaacman earned his astronaut wings as commander of SpaceX's Inspiration4 mission in 2021, the first all-civilian orbital spaceflight, and he later led additional private missions to test Starlink capabilities in space. Other serious contenders are rapidly emerging. California-based Rocket Lab aims to take on SpaceX's workhorse Falcon 9 with its Neutron rocket, while Texas-based Firefly Aerospace has already secured NASA and Space Force contracts. California-based Relativity Space plans to debut its partially 3D-printed Terran R rocket next year, while Colorado-based United Launch Alliance's Vulcan Centaur rocket is expected to complete more launches in the coming months. The road ahead remains turbulent for all players. SpaceX has weathered recent FAA groundings following malfunctions and Starship test flight failures that saw debris raining from the sky, yet it still achieved 130 launches last year. These setbacks highlight the inherent risks of space operations, where even minor failures can cost hundreds of millions and set timelines back by months or years. For newer entrants with smaller capital reserves and less political influence, such delays could prove existential. Perhaps Katy Perry's next hit won't just be about her personal journey to the edge of space, but about the far more dramatic race unfolding below — a high-stakes competition that could reshape humanity's relationship with the cosmos for decades to come. 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Associated Press
10-03-2025
- Automotive
- Associated Press
Ubiqconn Joins Satellite 2025 to Showcase Cutting-Edge Satellite Communication Solutions
TAIPEI, March 10, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Ubiqconn Technology, a leading provider of industrial Internet of Vehicle (IoV) and embedded Internet of Things (IoT) solutions, is excited to announce its participation at Satellite 2025 in Washington DC, from March 11th to 13th. As one of the industry's premier events, Satellite 2025 provides an unparalleled platform for discovering the latest advancements in satellite technology, connecting with industry leaders, and engaging in conversations that are shaping the future of satellite communications. Ubiqconn will be showcasing its state-of-the-art solutions tailored to enhance connectivity, efficiency, and reliability across various industries such as maritime, logistics, port management, and remote operations. With its innovative products and services, Ubiqconn aims to revolutionize satellite communication systems and expand their capabilities to meet the evolving demands of global markets. 'We are thrilled to participate in Satellite 2025, as it presents an exciting opportunity to connect with industry pioneers, showcase our latest innovations, and explore new ways to push the boundaries of satellite communication technology,' said Tim Tsai, North America CEO at Ubiqconn and RuggON. 'We look forward to demonstrating our contributions to the industry and discussing how Ubiqconn is driving the future of satellite connectivity.' Visit Ubiqconn at Booth #2343 in the Taiwan Space Pavilion. Satellite 2025 will gather experts, key stakeholders, and thought leaders from the satellite and space sectors. The event will feature a range of presentations, panel discussions, and networking opportunities, addressing the most pressing challenges and opportunities within the satellite industry. About Ubiqconn Ubiqconn is a subsidiary of the FIC Group, a leader in global high-tech design, engineering, and manufacturing for over 40 years. Given this experience, Ubiqconn's professional team also provides high-quality assurance in ODM and OEM products. Ubiqconn is an innovative manufacturing company that specializes in the industrial Internet of Vehicle (IoV) solutions and embedded Internet of Things (IoT) solutions With a perfect balance between technology and application know-how, Ubiqconn can achieve the customer demand to conquer the increasing challenge in IoT. For more information, visit or follow us on LinkedIn About RuggON RuggON Corp. is a a subsidiary of Ubiqconn Technology and a leading manufacturer of rugged mobile computing solutions. Combining Ubiqconn's advanced technology to drive innovation and expand in the Mobile Industrial (IioT) market. With decades of ruggedized mobile solution expertise, RuggON strives to improve mobile productivity in harsh environments. A committed engineering team delivers devices of exceptional value and quality that improve user experience. The company is dedicated to understanding the various demands of different industries in order to provide application-oriented, tailored solutions that are efficient and effective. RuggON is committed to higher standards to achieve customer satisfaction. It prides itself on providing endless possibilities today to meet the demands of tomorrow. For more information, visit our website or follow us on LinkedIn.
