Satellite

Gilat Satellite Networks Ltd. has announced its key role in the first-ever demonstration of an in-flight aircraft communicating at broadband speeds with a low earth orbit (LEO) satellite system.

Vietnam is set to have its MicroDragon Earth observation satellite launched from Japan in December 2018, while it also prepares to take the chair of the Committee on Earth Observation Satellites (CEOS) in January 2019, further cementing Vietnam’s status as a major space power in Southeast Asia.

Satellite communications equipment provider Global Invacom Group called for trading in its shares to be suspended on Tuesday, 23 October 2018, before the Singaporean stock market opened, revealing that its negotiations regarding a possible reverse acquisition are taking longer than expected.

Indonesia’s Ministry of Communication and Information Technology (Kominfo) has launched the tender for its Multifunctional Satellite Project at the Creative & Innovative Financing Forum held in Bali, Indonesia, according to a report in SpaceTech Asia.

Israel’s civilian space programme is in crisis due to chronic underfunding and the continuous outsourcing of satellite communications acquisitions to foreign satellite manufacturers, according to the annual report of the Israeli State Comptroller.

Intelsat S.A. and Africa Mobile Networks (AMN) have announced that Intelsat has made a strategic investment in AMN. The purpose of the investment is to accelerate the deployment of mobile connectivity to unserved communities across multiple countries in sub-Saharan Africa.

The Japanese New Space sector has never had it so good, though no one denies that there is much more to do. Investments are up, a robust ecosystem is emerging, and the Japanese government and large trading houses are now supportive of the sector: significant progress when compared to just a few years ago, according to a special report in the Financial Times.

Sky and Space Global (SAS), the New Space narrowband satellite communications company listed on the Australian Stock Exchange (ASX), has announced that its Pearl nanosatellite has passed a Critical Design Review (CDR) and is now ready for construction and integration.

The Indian government's Cabinet Committee on Security has approved the creation of the Defence Cyber Agency, the Defence Space Agency, and the Special Operations Division as part of ongoing defence reforms designed to deal with emerging and new threats, according to government sources quoted in the Indian media.

Russian launch provider Eurokot has suggested that its Rokot-2 light launcher could resume service in 2021 now that the launch vehicle uses Russian-made control systems. The last Rokot-2 launch occurred in April 2018 using the last launcher that used Ukrainian-made control systems.