#WASHINGTON — The U.S. Army plans to launch later this year a new procurement of #satellite communications terminals through the so-called Family of Terminals – Large (FoT-L) program.

The Army is trying to consolidate as many as six types of terminals into just two variants, said a Jan. 12 request for information from the Army’s program office that oversees tactical networks, based at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland.

Having fewer large terminal antenna variants is a key goal, said the #RFI, due to the logistics burden and rising cost of operating aging equipment.

#WASHINGTON — #SpaceX Chief Executive Elon Musk says a propellant dump caused the destruction of the #Starship upper stage on a November test flight, giving him confidence that the vehicle can reach orbit on its next launch.

On that Nov. 18 launch, the #Starship upper stage, or ship, was nearing the end of its burn to place it on a long suborbital trajectory when contact was lost. Hosts of the SpaceX #webcast said it appeared the automated flight termination system was activated, but did not give a reason why, and the company provided few details since.

#NEW #ORLEANS — D-Orbit, an Italian company that provides space transportation services, has raised 100 million euros ($110 million) in a Series C round to expand into satellite servicing and other applications.

The company announced Jan. 11 a first closing of a Series C round, led by Japanese company Marubeni Corporation. Also participating in the round is Avantgarde, a family office, along with venture funds CDP Venture Capital Sgr, Seraphim Space Investment Trust, United Ventures, Indaco Venture Partners, Neva SGR Spa and Primo Ventures.

#NEWORLEANS — #SpaceX expects to conduct the third integrated test flight of its #Starship vehicle in February as it works to demonstrate key technologies needed to land humans on the moon.

#Redwire said Jan. 10 the two unfurlable #solar array wings it provided for Ovzon 3, the first commercial satellite to use the space technology company’s Roll-Out Solar Array ( #ROSA ) hardware, have successfully deployed in #geostationary orbit.

#TAMPA, Fla. — Iridium Communications plans to make its low Earth orbit #constellation compatible with 5G standards used by mass-market smartphones, aiming to enable them to access messaging and SOS services outside cellular coverage from 2026.

The standards-based approach comes after a proprietary-only strategy for serving the emerging direct-to-device market derailed last year when Qualcomm scrapped plans to make specialized chips that would give smartphones the ability to connect to Iridium’s satellites.

#WASHINGTON — The Space Development Agency confirmed on Jan. 8 that it awarded Rocket Lab a $515 million contract to build and operate 18 spacecraft that will be part of a low Earth orbit network of military satellites.

#SpaceNews first reported on this contract award on Dec. 23 after the agreement was disclosed in a regulatory filing.

#Rocket Lab becomes the third supplier of SDA’s Transport Layer Tranche 2 Beta satellites — projected to launch in mid-2027 — that will carry radios using the UHF (Ultra High Frequency) and S-band frequencies that military and intelligence units rely upon for voice and low-speed data transmissions.