By Warren Ferster Prevailing trends in satellite telecommunications have brought the industry to a crossroads. The successful navigation of which will depend on what happens with ground operations, as much as in space. Bandwidth prices have dropped sharply amid a capacity glut magnified by decreasing demand from television broadcasters — a longtime anchor customer for…Read more Why adaptability is key for a changing satellite industry
Early success has GovSat-1 partnership looking to grow
By Warren Ferster A joint venture between SES and the Luxembourg government providing satellite communications services primarily to military customers is already eyeing new satellites, frequencies and orbits following the launch early this year of its first satellite, the company’s top official said. The GovSat-1 satellite, launched in January, began operations in March serving customers…Read more Early success has GovSat-1 partnership looking to grow
AoA validates growing commercial role in MILSATCOM architecture
By Warren Ferster ARLINGTON, Va. -- The U.S. Department of Defense should continue to use a mix of military- and commercially owned satellites to serve its wideband communications needs, even as it requires increasingly higher levels of protection against jamming and other threats that have emerged in recent years. That is one of the…Read more AoA validates growing commercial role in MILSATCOM architecture
Diverse weather satellite user base presents opportunities and challenges
By Warren Ferster COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The dual-use nature of weather and environmental monitoring satellites can pose challenges from a data policy and user feedback perspective, but offers numerous opportunities for collaboration between the defense and civil sectors, government and industry officials said. Speaking on a panel entitled “National Infrastructure and Security Applications for…Read more Diverse weather satellite user base presents opportunities and challenges
U.S. military officials emphasize need for speed
By Warren Ferster COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – A dynamic threat environment and rapidly advancing technology are driving the U.S. military to emphasize speed and agility in acquiring and deploying new space capabilities, said senior U.S. national security officials at an annual space industry conference. These officials emphasized resilient constellations, composed in many cases of…Read more U.S. military officials emphasize need for speed
Partnerships hold key to resiliency in space
Maintaining space superiority was a prevalent theme at the 34th Space Symposium in Colorado Springs, CO, which brought together senior space leaders from government and industry. Once considered a benign environment, space is now a viewed by U.S. military leadership as a warfighting domain, just like land, air, sea and cyber. Partnerships between agencies, allies and,…Read more Partnerships hold key to resiliency in space
Low-latency satellite systems grow on U.S. military
Enterprise applications being embraced by U.S. military don't tolerate latency well, putting premium on LEO and MEO satellite systems.
National Space Council, meet Congress
The super-heavy-lift SLS is exhibit A of the argument that getting the Executive Branch speaking with one voice on space policy, while sensible, won’t matter a great deal if Congress has a different agenda.
Damn the reporters, full speed ahead
WASHINGTON – U.S. Air Force Gen. John Hyten twice implicated the media in a recent speech lamenting the U.S. government’s decades-long retreat from risk taking in space and missile development programs. Speaking June 20 at the Mitchell Institute here, the commander of U.S. Strategic Command and former commander of Air Force Space Command was careful…Read more Damn the reporters, full speed ahead
Warren Ferster Consulting 