Today: 8 November 2025
Subscribe
Browse Category

Technology News 4 June 2025 - 6 June 2025

Global Navigation Showdown: How GPS III, Galileo, BeiDou & GLONASS Upgrades Will Change How You Navigate

Global Navigation Showdown: How GPS III, Galileo, BeiDou & GLONASS Upgrades Will Change How You Navigate

GPS III, first launched in 2018, delivers three times the accuracy and eight times the anti-jamming performance of previous GPS generations, with a GPS III satellite named Katherine Johnson launched by SpaceX in 2025. GPS modernization includes the L1C common civil signal for interoperability with Galileo and a Next Generation OCX ground system to handle new signals and security. Galileo is planned as a 30-satellite constellation, with 27 in orbit by late 2024 and the full 30-satellite fleet expected by the end of 2025. Galileo’s HAS began in 2023, delivering about 20 cm horizontal and 40 cm vertical accuracy, while
6 June 2025
 ·  ·  ·  · 
The Space Race for the Internet: Inside the Billion-Dollar Satellite Mega-Constellation Boom

The Space Race for the Internet: Inside the Billion-Dollar Satellite Mega-Constellation Boom

As of mid-2025, Starlink operates about 7,500 active satellites, the largest fleet in history, accounting for more than 60% of all active satellites. Starlink’s next-generation satellites (v2) weigh about 800 kg each, vs 260 kg for v1, and use inter-satellite laser links to route data across continents. Amazon’s Project Kuiper plans 3,236 LEO satellites at roughly 600 km altitude, with more than $10 billion invested, the first 27 operational satellites launched in April 2025, and a target to deploy half the constellation by July 2026. OneWeb completed its Gen1 constellation with 618 of 648 satellites in 1,200 km polar orbits
5 June 2025
 ·  ·  ·  ·  · 
DJI Matrice 4E and Matrice 4T Series Drones: Comprehensive Report

DJI Matrice 4E and Matrice 4T Series Drones: Comprehensive Report

The DJI Matrice 4 Series was launched in January 2025 and comprises two models, Matrice 4T (Thermal) and Matrice 4E (Enterprise), both with foldable airframes and about 1.22 kg takeoff weight. The Matrice 4T adds a radiometric thermal camera (640×512 px, 12 µm, 30 Hz) and a built-in near‑IR spotlight with a 6° field of view, covering roughly 100 m range. The Matrice 4E targets geospatial tasks, pairing a 20 MP wide camera with a 4/3″ sensor and mechanical shutter, plus 48 MP medium and 48 MP tele cameras enabling up to 112× hybrid zoom. Both drones use the O4
5 June 2025
 ·  ·  ·  · 
Inside America’s Silent Sentinels: The Untold Story of GSSAP in Space Surveillance

Inside America’s Silent Sentinels: The Untold Story of GSSAP in Space Surveillance

GSSAP-1 and GSSAP-2 were launched on July 28, 2014 aboard a Delta IV M+(4,2) from Cape Canaveral, accompanied by the ANGELS experimental satellite. The GSSAP satellites operate in near-geosynchronous orbit roughly 35,900 km (22,300 miles) above Earth and function as a “neighborhood watch” for the GEO belt, providing space situational awareness to USSPACECOM. Built by Northrop Grumman on the GeoStar-1 bus, GSSAP satellites are three-axis stabilized and carry high-resolution optical sensors capable of rendezvous and proximity operations with other GEO objects. Each GSSAP spacecraft carries limited onboard propellant, meaning its maneuvering life spans only a few years before it must
5 June 2025
 ·  ·  ·  ·  · 
Mega-Constellations Exposed: How Swarms of Tiny Satellites Are Taking Over Low Earth Orbit

“No Signal? No Problem!” – Next‑Gen Satellite Phones Set to Change Everything

In 2022, Apple’s iPhone 14 introduced Emergency SOS via satellite, later expanded in the iPhone 15 to support satellite texting via Globalstar. In April 2023, AST SpaceMobile’s BlueWalker 3 demonstrated a two-way 4G call using a standard smartphone on Earth with a 64 m² satellite antenna. Lynk Global demonstrated the first direct satellite text to an unmodified phone in 2022 and is partnering with mobile operators in over 40 countries to fill coverage dead zones. SpaceX’s Starlink Direct to Cell uses 2023-generation satellites with advanced antennas to connect to ordinary phones via terrestrial bands, with a plan to offer basic
5 June 2025
 ·  ·  ·  · 
Orbiting at Zero Speed: How Geostationary Satellites Rule Global Communications

Orbiting at Zero Speed: How Geostationary Satellites Rule Global Communications

Geostationary orbit sits at about 35,786 km above the equator and completes a sidereal day (~23h56m), so satellites appear fixed over one longitude; Arthur C. Clarke popularized it in 1945, giving the region the nickname the Clarke Belt. A GEO satellite remains stationary relative to the ground, allowing ground antennas to point at a fixed spot without tracking. Three GEO satellites spaced roughly 120° apart can provide near-global coverage, excluding polar regions. Syncom 2, launched in 1963, reached a geosynchronous orbit with a slight inclination, while Syncom 3, launched in 1964, was placed over the equator with zero inclination and
5 June 2025
 ·  ·  ·  ·  ·  · 
Connected Canada: A Comprehensive Look at Internet Access in 2025

Connected Canada: A Comprehensive Look at Internet Access in 2025

By early 2025, about 93.5% of Canadian households have access to high‑speed internet (50 Mbps down/10 Mbps up), up from 79% in 2014. The Universal Broadband Fund (UBF) started in 2020 with a $3.225 billion budget and targets 98% of households with 50/10 by 2026 and 100% by 2030. Bell Canada had fiber passed to about 7.3 million premises by mid‑2023, while Telus passed more than 3.1 million premises with fiber in British Columbia and Alberta. Rogers Communications became Canada’s largest broadband provider after acquiring Shaw in 2023, serving roughly 7 million internet customers, with the combined Rogers/Shaw passing about
5 June 2025
 ·  ·  ·  · 
Mega-Constellations Exposed: How Swarms of Tiny Satellites Are Taking Over Low Earth Orbit

Mega-Constellations Exposed: How Swarms of Tiny Satellites Are Taking Over Low Earth Orbit

By 2024, small satellites accounted for over 95% of all satellites launched annually. SpaceX’s Starlink operates the world’s largest constellation with over 7,000 active satellites in orbit as of late 2024. Starlink’s initial shell consisted of about 4,400 satellites at roughly 550 km altitude and 53° inclination, with FCC approval for about 12,000 satellites and potential expansion to 42,000. Iridium uses 86.4° near-polar orbits in six planes at ~780 km to achieve global coverage including polar regions. OneWeb’s Gen1 network aimed for ~1,200 km orbit with ~86–87° inclination and had deployed 618 satellites by March 2023, before merging with Eutelsat
5 June 2025
 ·  ·  ·  ·  ·  · 
Military Satellite Services: Complete Guide to Secure Communications

Military Satellite Services: Complete Guide to Secure Communications

The United States operates the Advanced Extremely High Frequency (AEHF) constellation, delivering jam-resistant, global, protected military communications including nuclear command and control links. Navstar GPS is a 31-satellite global navigation system that provides precise positioning, navigation, and timing to guide munitions such as JDAM and to synchronize encrypted networks. Defense Support Program (DSP) and the Space-Based Infrared System (SBIRS) form the U.S. early-warning constellation that uses infrared sensors to detect missile launches worldwide. U.S. Keyhole KH-11 optical reconnaissance satellites (and successors) provide high-resolution imagery from space. Russia operates the Liana ELINT constellation, including Lotos-S1 in low orbit and Pion-NKS in
4 June 2025
 ·  ·  ·  ·  ·  ·  ·  ·  ·  ·  ·  ·  · 
Aviation Satellite Services: Benefits, Providers, and New Technologies

Aviation Satellite Services: Benefits, Providers, and New Technologies

By late 2022, more than 10,000 aircraft worldwide were equipped with in-flight connectivity, and about 65% of airlines planned further IFC investments in the next few years. Aireon’s space-based ADS-B payloads on Iridium NEXT have been operational since 2019, enabling global real-time tracking and supporting ICAO’s 15-minute GADSS position reporting standard. COSPAS-SARSAT, a global satellite distress system, relays 406 MHz ELT signals from aircraft to ground stations to coordinate search and rescue and has saved thousands of lives. Global Navigation Satellite Systems—GPS (USA), GLONASS (Russia), Galileo (EU), BeiDou (China)—provide precise positioning, while SBAS like WAAS and EGNOS offer 1–2 meter
4 June 2025
 ·  ·  ·  ·  ·  · 
Maritime Satellite Services: Complete Guide to Ship Connectivity & Communications

Maritime Satellite Services: Complete Guide to Ship Connectivity & Communications

L-band MSS terminals, such as Inmarsat FleetBroadband and Iridium Certus, provide global coverage with compact antennas but limited data throughput. Ku-band VSAT (12–18 GHz) has been the maritime workhorse, Ka-band HTS (26–40 GHz) offers higher capacity, while C-band deployments are restricted near shore due to interference and large dish requirements. GEO satellites offer broad coverage with about 600 ms latency, while LEO Iridium NEXT, a 66-satellite constellation upgraded 2017–2019, provides true global L-band coverage and was recognized as a GMDSS provider in 2020. SpaceX Starlink and OneWeb have emerged as disruptive LEO players in maritime, with Starlink signing on nearly
4 June 2025
 ·  ·  ·  · 
How Satellite Internet Is Revolutionizing Disaster Response and Humanitarian Relief

How Satellite Internet Is Revolutionizing Disaster Response and Humanitarian Relief

Hurricane Maria in 2017 damaged 95% of cell towers in Puerto Rico, leaving the island largely without phone service. SpaceX’s Starlink uses a low-Earth-orbit (LEO) satellite constellation of hundreds to thousands of satellites, lowering latency to about 20–40 ms with ~600 ms for geostationary satellites. Starlink can deliver 100–200 Mbps per user, versus about 25 Mbps on legacy satellite links. Ground terminals are plug-and-play, roughly pizza-box-sized dishes that require only a power source and a clear view of the sky to connect. In Ukraine since 2022, SpaceX shipped thousands of Starlink terminals, with tens of thousands in operation, becoming essential
4 June 2025
 ·  ·  ·  ·  · 
1 … 83 84 85 86 87 … 90
Go toTop