editorial

Qorvo® (Nasdaq: QRVO) has launched their new Ka-band power amplifier (PA) that is designed to improve the performance and integration of Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites.

Developed to meet the evolving demands of next-generation payloads, Qorvo’s newest PA further expands its proven GaN-on-SiC SATCOM portfolio, giving system designers a more efficient, compact and scalable option for space-based payloads.

Qorvo’s QPA1722 PA offers customers three times the instantaneous bandwidth, a 38% smaller footprint and 10% higher efficiency than competing devices. These enhancements enable greater data throughput and more flexible payload architectures, critical for meeting global connectivity goals in size- and power-constrained satellite platforms.

Key Features of the QPA1722:

• Frequency Range: 17.7–20.2 GHz
• Output power: 10W (saturated); 6W (linear)
• 1 GHz instantaneous bandwidth for high data-rate applications
• 36% efficiency for improved power handling and thermal management
• Compact SMT package for streamlined system integration

Qorvo’s existing Ka-band ground solutions are already enabling global connectivity, and a next-generation, higher-performance lineup is scheduled to debut this summer. Paired with the QPA1722 and Qorvo’s full portfolio of SATCOM products, these enhancements will deliver a more powerful, efficient end-to-end ground-to-space link that reinforces Qorvo’s commitment to connecting the world through space. Additional offerings can be found on our SATCOM solutions page.

The QPA1722 is sampling now, with volume production planned for the Fall of 2025. Qorvo also provides evaluation kits upon request.

The QPA1722 helps us meet the rising demand for LEO constellation deployment,” said Doug Bostrom, general manager of Qorvo’s Defense and Aerospace business. “According to Gartner® research, the most obvious opportunity for LEO satellites is the ubiquitous provision of broadband services to consumers and businesses, reinforcing the demand for compact, high-efficiency payload solutions in space-based networks.”

Qorvo® (Nasdaq: QRVO) has also introduced two, high-performance, S-Band, switched filter bank (SFB) modules designed to meet the rising demand for agile, compact and efficient radar systems in aerospace and defense applications.

As radar platforms evolve to support multi-function capabilities in compact form factors, designers need faster frequency agility and tighter spectral control. Qorvo’s new QPB1034 and QPB1036 modules meet these needs with integrated BAW filtering and fast-switching logic in a compact 6 x 6 mm package—reducing size while enhancing performance.

The QPB1034 and QPB1036 modules, sampling now, integrate high-selectivity BAW filters and bypass paths into compact packages, supporting S-Band radar systems that require rapid tuning and precise signal control. The QPB1034 is optimized for lower S-Band frequencies, while the QPB1036 offers broader coverage and higher channel density, while keeping the same fast switching speed.

Qorvo’s switched filter bank modules enable radar designers to reduce size and complexity without sacrificing performance,” said Dean White, senior director of Defense and Aerospace Market Strategy at Qorvo. “Our BAW technology enables unmatched rejection and channel density in a fully integrated form factor—making these solutions ideal for agile radar front ends.”

Qorvo provides scalable, high-performance RF solutions that meet the rigorous demands of the aerospace and defense industries. For more information on Qorvo’s wide-ranging radar solutions, including land, sea and airborne radar platforms, please visit Qorvo’s Radar Technology page.

Qorvo® (Nasdaq: QRVO) has launched their new Ka-band power amplifier (PA) that is designed to improve the performance and integration of Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites.

Developed to meet the evolving demands of next-generation payloads, Qorvo’s newest PA further expands its proven GaN-on-SiC SATCOM portfolio, giving system designers a more efficient, compact and scalable option for space-based payloads.

Qorvo’s QPA1722 PA offers customers three times the instantaneous bandwidth, a 38% smaller footprint and 10% higher efficiency than competing devices. These enhancements enable greater data throughput and more flexible payload architectures, critical for meeting global connectivity goals in size- and power-constrained satellite platforms.

Key Features of the QPA1722:

• Frequency Range: 17.7–20.2 GHz
• Output power: 10W (saturated); 6W (linear)
• 1 GHz instantaneous bandwidth for high data-rate applications
• 36% efficiency for improved power handling and thermal management
• Compact SMT package for streamlined system integration

Qorvo’s existing Ka-band ground solutions are already enabling global connectivity, and a next-generation, higher-performance lineup is scheduled to debut this summer. Paired with the QPA1722 and Qorvo’s full portfolio of SATCOM products, these enhancements will deliver a more powerful, efficient end-to-end ground-to-space link that reinforces Qorvo’s commitment to connecting the world through space. Additional offerings can be found on our SATCOM solutions page.

The QPA1722 is sampling now, with volume production planned for the Fall of 2025. Qorvo also provides evaluation kits upon request.

The QPA1722 helps us meet the rising demand for LEO constellation deployment,” said Doug Bostrom, general manager of Qorvo’s Defense and Aerospace business. “According to Gartner® research, the most obvious opportunity for LEO satellites is the ubiquitous provision of broadband services to consumers and businesses, reinforcing the demand for compact, high-efficiency payload solutions in space-based networks.”

Qorvo® (Nasdaq: QRVO) has also introduced two, high-performance, S-Band, switched filter bank (SFB) modules designed to meet the rising demand for agile, compact and efficient radar systems in aerospace and defense applications.

As radar platforms evolve to support multi-function capabilities in compact form factors, designers need faster frequency agility and tighter spectral control. Qorvo’s new QPB1034 and QPB1036 modules meet these needs with integrated BAW filtering and fast-switching logic in a compact 6 x 6 mm package—reducing size while enhancing performance.

The QPB1034 and QPB1036 modules, sampling now, integrate high-selectivity BAW filters and bypass paths into compact packages, supporting S-Band radar systems that require rapid tuning and precise signal control. The QPB1034 is optimized for lower S-Band frequencies, while the QPB1036 offers broader coverage and higher channel density, while keeping the same fast switching speed.

Qorvo’s switched filter bank modules enable radar designers to reduce size and complexity without sacrificing performance,” said Dean White, senior director of Defense and Aerospace Market Strategy at Qorvo. “Our BAW technology enables unmatched rejection and channel density in a fully integrated form factor—making these solutions ideal for agile radar front ends.”

Qorvo provides scalable, high-performance RF solutions that meet the rigorous demands of the aerospace and defense industries. For more information on Qorvo’s wide-ranging radar solutions, including land, sea and airborne radar platforms, please visit Qorvo’s Radar Technology page.

Muon Space has closed their oversubscribed $89.5 million Series B1 round, bringing total Series B funding to $146 million—this new capital includes $44.5 million in equity and $45 million in credit facilities, and follows the company’s initial Series B close in August of 2024.

The B1 round was led by Congruent Ventures and included existing investors—Activate Capital, Acme Capital, Costanoa Ventures, and Radical Ventures. Muon also welcomed new investor ArcTern Ventures to the syndicate.

The new capital is fueling a major scale-up of Muon’s operations—including expanded satellite production; vertical integration of key components such as propulsion and IR and RF instruments; deployment of Muon’s full-stack automated constellation operations platform; and the expansion of the company’s global ground station network.

The company has grown its team by 50% since December and has surpassed $100 million in new contracts signed in 2024, including a landmark agreement with SNC to develop next-generation satellites supporting its Vindlér commercial RF sensing constellation.

Muon has also acquired Starlight Engines, a propulsion startup pioneering the first commercially available solid propellant Hall-effect thruster systems—a safe, affordable, and scalable alternative to traditional propulsion systems. The acquisition further extends Muon’s vertically integrated Halo platform by bringing in-house propulsion capabilities into its end-to-end satellite technology stack.

Founded in 2022 by veteran propulsion experts Todd Bailey and Mark Hopkins, Starlight developed a novel zinc-fueled thruster system that eliminates the high costs and supply chain vulnerabilities of xenon and krypton-based systems. By eliminating high pressure fluids management—the Achilles heel of every space propulsion system—Starlight’s technology enables a dramatically improved supply chain, highly available and low-cost propellant, simplified integration, and more compact thruster and tank designs. The thruster system scales modularly supporting spacecraft ranging from 100kg to 500kg+. Integration of Starlight’s propulsion technology is already underway as Muon scales satellite production.

Muon has opened a 130,000-square-foot facility in San Jose, California that will serve as its production center, housing manufacturing and test operations from raw material through finished spacecraft. Purpose-built for full vertical integration and high-throughput satellite production, the facility can support up to 500 satellites annually in the 100kg to 500kg+ class.

The site features 70,000 square feet of manufacturing facilities including 30,000 square feet of cleanroom space across Class 10, 1,000, 10,000, and 100,000 environments—a 10x expansion from Muon’s first facility. The flexible layout accommodates production, assembly, and lab operations, with dedicated areas for secure integration, spacecraft assembly, optical instrument integration (three zones), propulsion integration, and a mission operations center. A 300 kW solar array powers the majority of operations, while the facility meets UL 2050 security standards for defense programs.

Comprehensive environmental testing capabilities include thermal vacuum chambers, vibration tables, and thermal chambers for both unit- and system-level qualification.

Propulsion remains one of the most persistent cost and supply chain challenges in satellite manufacturing,” said Paul Day, VP of Spacecraft Production at Muon Space. “What Todd and Mark have achieved at Starlight is a fundamentally more elegant and practical solution – solid-state, scalable, throttleable, and safer to handle. By bringing this technology in-house and integrating it into our Halo platform, we can accelerate delivery timelines while improving both schedule reliability and overall mission performance.”

We’re focused on delivering mission-optimized satellite constellation systems to customers at unprecedented speed,” said Jonny Dyer, CEO of Muon Space. “High-performance constellations require the speed, cost, consistency, and performance of volume production – they can’t be built one satellite at a time. We are building the world’s first automated, high-mix, high-volume constellation manufacturing system. It’s always been about the mission – now we’re delivering it at scale.”

Muon is building the high-performance scale solution the space industry has been missing,” said Joshua Posamentier, Managing Partner at Congruent Ventures. “By fulfilling mission requirements with a configurable, vertically integrated platform spanning hardware, software, and operations, they deliver a unique path to on-orbit capabilities – at a pace and price point that commercial, civil and national security customers urgently need.”

SFL Missions Inc. is a member of the team led by NUVIEW GmbH that has been contracted by the European Space Agency (ESA) to conduct a Pre-Phase A study, within a new scheme for Small Exploration Missions, for the Moonraker lunar mapping mission—the Moonraker satellite will carry a laser scanner to create a detailed elevation map of the Moon’s surface.

The Moonraker mission will consist of a single orbiter operating in a low-altitude polar orbit around the Moon. The orbiter will host a Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) payload to capture highly accurate elevation points of the terrain. These points will be used to generate 3D elevation models that will be relied upon to assess and select future landing sites.

Moonraker’s LiDAR data will also serve a broader scientific purpose, including scanning permanently shadowed regions for water ice and providing valuable insights into the Moon’s geological and interior composition. The Moonraker LiDAR will operator in two modes—one for broad-area scanning of the Moon’s polar regions and the other for high-resolution surveys of specific areas of interest.

The mission analysis evaluates possible launch options and trajectories for efficiently entering into lunar orbit, and it studies how the operational orbit parameters impact the spacecraft design and payload data collection. The system design focuses on payload accommodation, spacecraft layout, and sizing of the various subsystem components.

In particular, the propulsion system is sized with the appropriate amount of fuel to complete the transit phase and then maintain the operational orbit while counteracting perturbations caused by the Moon’s irregular gravity field. Detailed mission and system requirements are also developed to guide future design phases for the project.

NUVIEW GmbH of Berlin, Germany, serves as prime contractor for the Pre-Phase A study team, which includes several members in addition to SFL Missions. NUVIEW GmbH is a wholly owned subsidiary of NUVIEW Inc. which is developing the world’s first commercial space-based LiDAR constellation for 3D mapping of the Earth.

As part of the Pre-Phase A contract led by NUVIEW, SFL Missions is supporting the mission concept by contributing to transit trajectory analysis, orbit design, and satellite platform conceptual design for Moonraker,” said Jesse Eyer, NUVIEW Space Missions Architect.

Synspective Inc., a provider of Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) satellite data and analytics solutions, is pleased to announce that the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) has selected the company as the data service provider for the Advanced Radar Satellite, Daichi-4 (ALOS-4).

To expand access to SAR data, we are committed to delivering comprehensive analysis and solutions. Building on our experience with Daichi-2 (ALOS-2), we aim to grow satellite data distribution network across Japan and international markets. Together with our SAR satellite, StriX, this initiative will enhance SAR imagery availability for customers and foster new opportunities.

ALOS-4 is JAXA’s satellite launched via the H3 Launch Vehicle No. 3 from the Tanegashima Space Center. Equipped with an advanced L-band synthetic aperture radar, it builds on ALOS-2’s foundation to deliver world-leading resolution and observation coverage.

While both StriX and ALOS-4 employ SAR technology, they offer distinct characteristics. StriX utilizes X-band radar, which provides high-resolution imagery through its short wavelength, interacting with surface features like vegetation. This makes it excellent for detecting structural changes in buildings and roads, delivering detailed ground surface information beneficial for urban infrastructure and rapid disaster assessment.

ALOS-4 operates in the L-band, which has a longer wavelength that performs well even through vegetation. This makes it ideal for forested regions and grasslands. These attributes also make ALOS-4 advantageous for long-term monitoring of ground deformation and embankments.

The European Union has “unconditionally” approved the SES purchase of Intelsat (for €3.1 billion plus debt) and joins the UK’s decision to permit the acquisition to go through. Approvals from the U.S., including permissions to reassign Intelsat’s frequency licences to SES, are still outstanding.

“The Commission concluded that the transaction would not raise competition concerns in the European Economic Area,” EU’s executive arm said in a statement.

The combined businesses would be—by far—the world’s most powerful and comprehensive satellite operator, and provide the scale to compete with Starlink and the upcoming Project Kuiper broadband systems.

The UK’s Competition & Markets Authority (CMA) approved the deal in May, emphasizing the in-flight competition, saying: “The CMA found that the Merged Entity would face significant competitive pressure in the supply of broadband IFC services to commercial airlines, including from vertically integrated companies such as Starlink and Viasat Inmarsat,” the British regulator said.