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HTS Market Projected to Reach $76 Billion as NGSO Constellations Reset Industry Benchmarks

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On March 24, 2026, Novaspace released the 8th edition of its High Throughput Satellites (HTS) report, detailing a seismic shift in satellite communication economics driven by the rapid maturation of Non-Geostationary Orbit (NGSO) constellations. The study projects that HTS service revenues will more than double over the next decade, rising from just under $31 billion in 2025 to $76 billion by 2034.

This growth is anchored by a fundamental redistribution of market share. While NGSO systems accounted for 36% of service revenues in 2025, they are anticipated to capture 80% of total revenues by 2034. This transition marks the end of the “Capacity Era” and the beginning of a service-centric market where vertical integration and integrated user experience are the primary drivers of value.

The Starlink Effect and Capacity Economics

The report identifies Starlink as the primary catalyst for the industry’s current structural transformation. By combining lower-cost capacity—with pricing benchmarks now falling below $0.30 per GB—with rapid global scaling, the SpaceX-owned constellation has reset competitive thresholds for both commercial and government operators.

This massive influx of supply is reflected in global demand forecasts, which are set to reach 218 Terabits per second (Tbps) by 2034. Critically, NGSO systems are expected to supply 98% of this total capacity, forcing traditional Geostationary (GEO) operators to pivot their long-term infrastructure strategies.

GEO Adaptation: Flexibility and Sovereignty

To remain competitive in a market dominated by low-latency NGSO supply, GEO operators are shifting toward software-defined payloads and lower-CAPEX Small GEO platforms. These technologies allow operators to reallocate throughput dynamically to high-value areas like Aero IFC (In-Flight Connectivity) and Maritime Satcom, where GEO still maintains a significant role in hybrid network architectures.

Beyond pure economics, the report highlights that differentiation is increasingly tied to security and sovereignty. As geopolitical tensions rise, defense and government agencies are prioritizing resilient, mission-critical connectivity that utilizes novel spectrum and hardened network architectures. This trend is accelerating a 160% projected surge in defense-aligned satellite launches through the mid-2030s.

Executive Perspective

“Starlink’s impact has been catalytic,” said Dimitri Buchs, Managing Consultant at Novaspace. “The combination of lower-cost capacity, rapid scaling, and improved service quality has set new competitive thresholds. This shift is pushing the entire satcom ecosystem to innovate, differentiate, and redefine their strategic positioning. Operators that can combine scale with flexibility will be best positioned to capture this expanding market.”

The Terabit Era and Ecosystem Coordination

The transition to a 200+ Tbps market requires a higher degree of coordination across the space and terrestrial ecosystems. Novaspace underscores that success in the next decade will depend on multi-orbit interoperability and the adoption of converged network standards like 5G-NTN.

  • 2025–2027: High-growth focus on Land Mobility and tactical MilSatCom.
  • 2028–2030: Plateauing of laser terminal costs enabling broader NGSO democratization.
  • 2034 Target: HTS market maturation at $76 billion with NGSO-dominant supply chains.

The report concludes that the winners in this transformed landscape will be those that innovate at the terminal and user-experience layers, effectively blending satellite connectivity into a seamless global telecommunications fabric.

GomSpace Joins Danish LUNA Consortium to Advance Nanosatellite Antenna Performance

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GomSpace has announced its participation in the LUNA (Low-loss Multiband Nanosatellite Antennas with High Gain and Mechanical Beam Steering) project, a Danish flagship initiative aimed at developing next-generation communication hardware for the SmallSat market. Supported by Innovation Fund Denmark, the three-year project seeks to overcome current limitations in nanosatellite connectivity by integrating low signal loss and high gain with advanced mechanical beam steering.

The project addresses the growing complexity of SmallSat missions, which increasingly require high-data-rate links and precise navigation within highly constrained form factors. By developing a multiband antenna capable of handling communication, navigation, and data transmission on a single integrated platform, the LUNA consortium aims to reduce integration overhead for satellite operators while significantly improving link reliability and energy efficiency.

Industrial Collaboration and Regional Excellence

LUNA is a strategic collaboration between Aalborg University (AAU), Pri-Dana Elektronik A/S, and GomSpace A/S. The partnership combines AAU’s recognized research in wireless communication and antenna design with Pri-Dana’s specialized high-reliability PCB manufacturing and GomSpace’s experience in end-to-end satellite system execution.

The initiative reinforces Denmark’s position as a center of excellence for space technology. Aalborg University recently announced a 530 million DKK investment in its Space Tech Center and Tech Lab facilities, scheduled to break ground in late 2026. This academic-industrial cluster currently supports approximately 40 companies and 1,100 staff, positioning the North Jutland region as a major European hub for nanosatellite innovation.

Technical Objectives and Performance Metrics

The LUNA project focuses on three primary technical pillars to enhance the performance of 1U to 12U satellite platforms:

  • Signal Integrity: Reducing insertion loss to ensure maximum power reaches the radiated beam, critical for battery-constrained SmallSats.
  • Multi-Mission Integration: Supporting simultaneous communication and navigation frequencies in a single multiband aperture.
  • Intelligent Steering: Utilizing mechanical beam steering to provide high-gain connectivity without requiring the entire satellite to reorient, preserving power and mission uptime.
  • Form Factor: Ensuring the high-performance array fits within standard CubeSat deployer constraints while maintaining structural rigidity for high-reliability environments.

Executive Perspective

“Participation in LUNA strengthens GomSpace’s leadership in advanced communication systems and aligns with our strategic focus on expanding our technology portfolio toward high-value, scalable solutions,” said Carsten Drachmann, CEO of GomSpace. “This project reinforces our competitive position in the global small satellite market by providing our customers with more integrated, ready-to-use communication solutions with less complexity and better performance.”

Funding and Project Timeline

The LUNA project is supported by a total budget of 21.1 million DKK over a three-year development cycle.

Financial Metric Amount (DKK)
Total Project Budget 21.1 Million
Innovation Fund Denmark Investment 14.9 Million
GomSpace Project Share 8.0 Million (11.4 M.SEK)

Rocket Lab Emerging as Potential Bus Provider for 2,800-Satellite Equatys Constellation

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In the wake of Mobile World Congress 2026, industry speculation has intensified regarding a potential partnership between Rocket Lab (Nasdaq: RKLB) and Equatys, the newly detailed Direct-to-Device (D2D) joint venture between Viasat and Space42. The venture aims to deploy a massive LEO constellation of up to 2,800 satellites to provide seamless 3GPP-aligned connectivity to standard smartphones and IoT devices globally.

Reports from late March 2026 suggest that Rocket Lab is a primary candidate for the satellite bus manufacturing contract. Analysts point to Rocket Lab’s recent $1 billion capital raise as a potential strategic fund for an equity stake in the venture, mirroring its successful vertical integration strategy as a prime contractor for the U.S. Space Development Agency (SDA).

The Equatys ‘Space TowerCo’ Model

Announced in September 2025 and detailed in Barcelona on March 2, 2026, Equatys is designed as an independent, neutral infrastructure platform—an “industry-first space tower company.” The model allows multiple Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) to share the same LEO infrastructure, significantly reducing the capital expenditure (Capex) required for standalone D2D networks.

Space42, the UAE-based AI SpaceTech entity formed by the merger of Bayanat and Yahsat, has already committed $600 million in Capex for the 2026–2027 period to initiate the constellation’s build-out. The project leverages over 100 MHz of globally harmonized L- and S-band Mobile Satellite Services (MSS) spectrum held by Viasat and its partners.

Technical Specifications

The Equatys architecture is designed for “densification,” allowing the network to scale from an initial tactical layer to full global capacity without a fundamental redesign.

  • Constellation Size: Up to 2,800 satellites.
  • Orbits: 60 orbital planes across three distinct altitude layers.
  • Spectrum: L-band and S-band (3GPP Non-Terrestrial Network Release 17+).
  • Bus Platform: If awarded to Rocket Lab, the satellites would likely utilize the “Lightning” or “Photon” bus, tailored for high-cadence manufacturing.
  • Interoperability: Designed for automatic transition between terrestrial and satellite networks for billions of underserved users.

Executive Perspective

“Equatys is establishing an industry-first tower company model that can deliver the lowest unit cost of satellite capacity while preserving each partner’s spectrum rights,” said Mark Dankberg, CEO and Chairman of Viasat. “By sharing infrastructure, we can achieve ubiquitous, affordable, and scalable mobility for the entire ecosystem.”

“Demand for resilient, scalable, and affordable space systems continues to grow,” noted Peter Beck, CEO of Rocket Lab, in a recent update regarding the company’s SDA prime contracts. “Our vertically integrated approach isn’t just a competitive advantage—it’s enabling a fundamental shift in how large-scale constellations are executed.”

Commercial Rollout and Partnerships

While definitive agreements for the satellite bus have not yet been finalized, Equatys has already secured commercial momentum through MoUs with e& UAE and Telkomsat (Indonesia).

The roadmap targets an initial technical demonstration in late 2026, with a phased commercial rollout beginning in 2027. If Rocket Lab is confirmed as the bus provider, it would solidify the company’s transition from a launch specialist to a top-tier satellite prime for the world’s largest commercial LEO constellations.

Amazon Leo Targets Five-Market Launch as Constellation Ramps to 200+ Satellites

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As Amazon Leo (formerly Project Kuiper) approaches its end-of-Q1 commercial deadline, the company is accelerating its launch cadence to challenge Starlink’s market dominance. On March 29, 2026, United Launch Alliance (ULA) is scheduled to launch the LA-05 (Leo Atlas 5) mission, carrying 29 broadband satellites into Low Earth Orbit (LEO) from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.

This mission follows the successful February deployment of 32 satellites aboard the first Ariane 6 heavy-lift flight of 2026. With over 200 production satellites now in orbit, Amazon is transitioning from technical validation to service delivery, having initiated an Enterprise Preview for select business customers in late 2025.

Strategic Rebrand and Commercial Rollout

In November 2025, Amazon rebranded the initiative to Amazon Leo to align with its broader consumer and enterprise service identity. The company aims to offer continuous broadband coverage in its five initial markets—the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Germany, and France—by March 31, 2026.

While the constellation is currently a fraction of the size of SpaceX’s Starlink, Amazon is leveraging its vertically integrated retail and AWS ecosystems to secure early partnerships. Recent milestones include a deal with JetBlue for high-speed in-flight Wi-Fi and a commitment of $19.5 million to expand satellite processing facilities at Florida’s Kennedy Space Center.

The FCC Deadline and Launch Bottlenecks

Despite the aggressive schedule, Amazon faces significant regulatory pressure. Under its FCC license, the company must launch and operate 1,618 satellites (50% of its planned Gen1 constellation) by July 30, 2026.

In January 2026, Amazon filed for a 24-month extension of this milestone, projecting it will only reach approximately 700 satellites in orbit by the original deadline. The company cited a global shortage of heavy-lift launch vehicles and manufacturing disruptions as the primary drivers for the shortfall. To mitigate these risks, Amazon secured an additional 10 Falcon 9 and 12 New Glenn launch contracts earlier this year.

Technical Specifications

The Amazon Leo Gen1 satellites are manufactured at a high-volume facility in Kirkland, Washington, designed to produce up to four satellites per day.

  • Mass: Approximately 600–700 kg per satellite.
  • Architecture: Software-defined payloads with inter-satellite optical links.
  • User Terminals: Three models, including the 100 Mbps Standard and the gigabit-speed Ultra antenna.
  • Orbits: Operational altitudes of 590 km, 610 km, and 630 km.

Executive Perspective

“We are moving as fast as the launch market will allow us,” said a spokesperson for Amazon Leo. “By the end of this month, we will have established the foundational capacity needed to serve our first five international markets. Our focus is now on scaling production at our Kirkland facility to match the increased launch availability coming from our multi-provider strategy.”

Launch Schedule to July 2026

Mission Rocket Date Status
LE-01 Ariane 64 Feb. 12, 2026 Success (32 Sats)
LA-05 Atlas V 551 March 29, 2026 Scheduled (29 Sats)
LE-02 Ariane 64 H1 2026 Planned (32 Sats)
LV-01 Vulcan Centaur Mid-2026 TBD (Pending Investigation)
LN-01 New Glenn Late 2026 Planned (48 Sats)

SFL Missions Selected to Build Eight Node Spacecraft for NASA HelioSwarm

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On March 24, 2026, during the Satellite 2026 conference in Washington, D.C., SFL Missions Inc. (formerly Space Flight Laboratory) announced it has been awarded a competitive-bid contract to develop eight small satellites for NASA’s HelioSwarm science mission.

The satellites, designated as “Nodes,” will form a transformative swarm observatory designed to capture the first simultaneous, multiscale measurements of plasma turbulence in the solar wind.

The HelioSwarm mission, a part of NASA’s Medium-Class Explorers (MIDEX) program, utilizes a hub-and-spoke architecture. SFL Missions will manufacture the eight 150-kg Node satellites, which will be carried into a high-Earth orbit aboard a larger “Hub” spacecraft before being deployed in a series of complex formations.

Mission Architecture and “DAUNTLESS” Platform

The Node satellites will be built on SFL’s DAUNTLESS platform, a high-performance bus designed for missions requiring significant power generation and precise propulsion. Because the swarm will operate in a lunar resonant orbit—reaching apogees near the Moon—the Nodes will utilize onboard ranging transponders rather than GPS for positioning.

The Hub spacecraft, an adaptation of Northrop Grumman’s ESPAStar bus, will act as the central communications relay, managing data flow between the eight Nodes and NASA’s Deep Space Network (DSN). This distributed system allows the observatory to measure magnetic field fluctuations across scales ranging from 10 to 1,000 kilometers.

Technical Specifications

  • Quantity: 8 Node Spacecraft.
  • Mass: 150 kg per Node.
  • Platform: SFL DAUNTLESS (SmallSat class).
  • Propulsion: Integrated cold-gas or green propellant for formation flying.
  • Instrument Suite: Faraday cup, fluxgate magnetometer, and search coil magnetometer (provided by UNH and international partners).
  • Navigation: Onboard ranging transponders (non-GPS).

Executive Perspective

“HelioSwarm is an important science mission that will provide critical insights into how turbulent energy moves through our protective magnetic bubble and impacts technological assets out to the Moon,” said Dr. Robert E. Zee, Director and CEO of SFL Missions. “We are leveraging our 27-year legacy of successful small satellite missions and our DAUNTLESS platform to achieve the demanding performance required for this first-of-its-kind multiscale observatory.”

Timeline to 2029 Launch

The HelioSwarm mission is currently in Phase B (Design & Technology Completion). SFL Missions will conduct the development, integration, and testing of all eight Nodes at its Toronto facility, with support from its Flex Production program for scalable manufacturing.

  • Project Management: NASA Ames Research Center.
  • Principal Investigator: University of New Hampshire (UNH).
  • Launch Date: Currently scheduled for 2029.
  • Mission Duration: One-year primary science phase in a 2-week resonant orbit.

China satellite investment soars as SpaceX sparks race for space

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China’s commercial space sector has transitioned from a series of experimental startups into a massive, state-backed industrial engine. Driven by the strategic competition sparked by SpaceX’s Starlink, China has surged investment into sovereign constellations and reusable launch technologies as of March 2026.

Surge in Investment and Market Scale

Investment in China’s commercial space industry reached record highs in 2025 and early 2026, shifting from speculative venture capital to “patient capital” provided by regional governments. The industry output value has surpassed 2.5 trillion yuan, which is approximately $350 billion, maintained by an annual growth rate of 20 percent. Approximately 60 percent of funding now originates from sub-national government funds in major aerospace hubs like Shanghai, Beijing, and Wuxi.

In 2025 alone, sector financing reached 18.6 billion yuan, representing a 32 percent year-on-year increase. Satellite manufacturing has simultaneously entered a “smart factory” era where companies like GalaxySpace and Gesi Aerospace can produce hundreds of satellites annually, effectively cutting traditional development cycles by up to 80 percent.

The “Thousand Sails” versus Starlink

China’s primary response to Starlink is the Qianfan constellation, also known as the Thousand Sails or G60 Starlink, which is designed to provide global internet coverage. The project plans to deploy 15,000 satellites by 2030, and deployment is currently accelerating following a successful series of launches in late 2025 and early 2026.

As of March 13, 2026, China successfully deployed its 20th group of internet satellites, bringing the total number of operational satellites in this specific network to approximately 160. International expansion is also a key priority, as evidenced by Brazil’s telecom regulator authorizing the Qianfan constellation to operate within its borders in February 2026. Beyond commercial internet, these networks are prioritized for strategic resilience and integrated “Space Cloud” architectures that incorporate AI processors directly into orbital nodes.

China’s ability to meet the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) deployment milestones is one of the most significant challenges facing its aerospace sector. Under the “Milestone-Based Approach” adopted at WRC-19 (Resolution 35), the regulatory clock begins after the initial seven-year “Bring-into-Use” (BIU) period. For China’s most recent December 2025 filings, the first milestone that by December 2032 (BIU + 2 years) they must deploy 10% of the constellation

The Reusability Hurdle and Launch Race

The “SpaceX effect” has forced Chinese firms to prioritize reusable liquid-fueled rockets to lower launch costs, though they still face technical hurdles in achieving routine recovery. China is targeting over 100 orbital launches in 2026, with commercial missions expected to account for more than 60 percent of the total volume.

Several private firms are reaching critical milestones in this race. LandSpace is scheduled for a critical recovery test of its methane-fueled Zhuque-3 rocket in the second quarter of 2026, with a full reuse flight targeted for the end of the year. Meanwhile, Deep Blue Aerospace is preparing the Nebula-1 for its first orbital attempt in mid-2026. Significant progress has also been made in the state-run sector, where a prototype of the Long March-10 crewed lunar rocket successfully executed a controlled vertical ocean landing on February 11, 2026.

Future Trends in Orbital AI and 6G Integration

The next phase of competition centers on “Space Plus,” which is a five-year roadmap for 2026 through 2030 aimed at integrating satellite systems with artificial intelligence and high-speed digital infrastructure. Major operators are positioning next-generation fleets to function as orbital computing networks that perform real-time edge computing to bypass terrestrial bottlenecks. The ultimate goal of this investment is ensuring an independent presence in cislunar space. Upcoming missions like Chang’e-7 are expected to advance these objectives by working toward sustained lunar resource utilization and sovereign orbital connectivity.

The Pentagon’s SmallSats Have An Amnesia Problem

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By Danny Sabour, VP of Sales and Marketing at Avalanche Technology Inc.

The aerospace and defense industry has universally accepted that the future of orbital superiority lies in proliferated, software-defined constellations. The mandate from the Space Development Agency (SDA), with support from the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU), is clear: move away from vulnerable, exquisite “battlestars” and build agile, interconnected data networks in Low Earth Orbit (LEO). But while our architectural theory has evolved, the hardware foundation we are building it on is trapped in a dangerous compromise.

What Amnesia Looks Like at Mach 20

Consider a proliferated LEO constellation tasked with tracking hypersonic glide vehicles. In this architecture, raw infrared and radar data can’t be downlinked to a terrestrial station for processing. The latency alone would break the kill chain. The tracking, targeting, and handoff must be calculated autonomously, in real-time, on the satellite itself.

Now, introduce a contested environment. Whether it’s a directed energy attack, an electromagnetic pulse (EMP), or simply a severe solar weather event, power disruptions in orbit are an operational reality.

If that tracking satellite is relying on standard, charge-based memory for its in-situ processing, a momentary loss of power is catastrophic. The millisecond the power drops, the electrical charges dissipate. The satellite effectively wakes up with total amnesia. It must spend precious seconds, possibly minutes, rebooting, pulling its operating system from slower storage, recalibrating its star trackers, and attempting to reacquire the hypersonic target. By the time the node is back online, the threat has traveled hundreds of miles. The network has failed.

This isn’t a theoretical risk. Standard commercial silicon, whether Flash, SRAM, or DRAM, fundamentally relies on microscopic electrical charges to store data. In the high-radiation environment of orbit, these electrical states are inherently fragile, highly susceptible to bit flips and catastrophic latch-ups from cosmic rays. And yet this is exactly what we’re building proliferated constellations on.

The COTS Compromise: A Napkin Math Reality Check

To understand why the industry is making this hardware choice, and why it’s the wrong one, we have to do the system-level napkin math.

Consider a standard proliferated LEO constellation designed for a 5-year mission. To survive the Van Allen belts and solar weather, the SDA and prime contractors generally require components to withstand a Total Ionizing Dose (TID) of roughly 30 krad(Si).

Standard commercial memory (like SRAM) typically begins experiencing severe bit flips or failure between 5 and 10 krad. To bridge this gap, engineers take the “Careful COTS” middle road: they use the cheap commercial memory, but wrap it in shielding and implement Triple Modular Redundancy (TMR). Here is where the math destroys the economics of the SmallSat:

The TMR Power Tax: TMR dictates that you must use three identical memory chips to do the job of one, utilizing a “voting” circuit to correct radiation-induced bit flips. You’ve instantly tripled your memory component footprint and power draw.

The Volatility Tax: Standard SRAM is volatile. It requires a continuous flow of electricity just to hold data, plus extra processing power to constantly “scrub” the memory for errors.

The System-Level Cascade: On a satellite, power is a zero-sum game. As a general aerospace rule of thumb, every 1 Watt of continuous power draw requires roughly 2 to 4 Watts of total system overhead (including solar array sizing, battery mass, and power conditioning) to survive the eclipse phase of the orbit.

When you combine the tripled power draw of TMR, the constant electrical drain of volatile memory, and the physical weight of shielding, the compounded effects are severe. At current launch costs of thousands of dollars per kilogram, adding structural mass for larger batteries and heavy shielding entirely erases the upfront cost savings of using commercial silicon. Worse, every watt of power dedicated to keeping memory alive is a watt stolen from the primary payload.

The entire operational advantage of a proliferated architecture relies on optimizing Size, Weight, and Power (SWaP). If a contractor must dedicate a massive percentage of a SmallSat’s mass and power budget simply to prevent its memory from wiping itself, the agility of the constellation evaporates. We’re effectively putting heavy medieval armor on modern infantry and expecting them to sprint.

A Better Foundation

When we run this same math using a true Space-Grade, non-volatile architecture, the equation flips, but precision matters here. MRAM is a more modern and optimal alternative that overcomes these innate vulnerabilities seen in traditional legacy memories. However, not all STT-[1] MRAM is created equal. The magnetic memory cell itself is radiation-immune, storing data via a Magnetic Tunnel Junction rather than fragile electrical charges. But generic industrial MRAM still carries radiation-vulnerable support circuitry: the read/write logic, power delivery, and peripheral circuits that can fail just as readily as any other chip under particle bombardment. The difference with a purpose-built Space Grade device is that TMR is integrated directly into the logic on the die at the deep submicron level, and the power delivery circuitry is hardened as well. Error detection and correction (EDAC) functionality is built in. The system integrator doesn’t add any of that externally. It’s already solved at the component level.

The result: no external TMR boards, no bolt-on shielding, no battery backup for volatile states. And because the memory itself is non-volatile, it draws zero power at rest. By avoiding the “Careful COTS” compromise and choosing a memory architecture where radiation hardening is a feature of the chip rather than a burden on the system designer, satellite engineers aren’t just buying better memory. They’re buying back critical mass, power, and engineering margin for the mission.

And the satellite that loses power in a contested environment? When data is stored via magnetic states rather than trapped electrons, the system is immune to power-loss amnesia. If power drops, the data is frozen in place. When power is restored, the system experiences “instant-on” recovery, picking up the tracking algorithm exactly where it left off. No reboot. No recalibration. No lost target.

A New Foundation for Orbital Superiority

The Department of Defense’s vision for a proliferated, AI-driven Hybrid Space Architecture is the correct path forward for national security. But we can’t achieve next-generation orbital superiority using last-generation terrestrial hardware compromises.

Continuing to force fragile, charge-based memory into the hostile environment of space and attempting to mitigate the inevitable failures with heavy shielding or redundant software is a losing battle against physics and SWaP constraints. To build true “data centers in space” that can process hypersonic threats in real-time and survive contested environments, the aerospace industry must adopt a new hardware baseline.

We must transition to inherently radiation-immune, non-volatile memory architectures from the ground up. While many technologies claim to be “Space Grade”, it requires that 5 objective criteria be met simultaneously. Space Grade memory must:

1️⃣ Survive radiation without disruption

2️⃣ Retain data for the full mission lifetime

3️⃣ Endure unlimited writes

4️⃣ Commit data instantly with non-volatile persistence

5️⃣ Demonstrate real space heritage

The afforded resilience and adaptability from employing truly Space Grade MRAM also happens to provide the most elegant hardware and software framework for enduring innovation. Only by building on an uncompromising foundation can we deliver the processing density of commercial silicon with the absolute reliability required for national security. It’s time to cut the terrestrial cord and deploy autonomous constellations that don’t merely survive the modern space domain but dominate it.

Danny Sabour is VP of Sales and Marketing at Avalanche Technology Inc., which manufactures Space Grade STT-MRAM. Avalanche’s devices integrate TMR, EDAC, and radiation-hardened power delivery on-die, achieving an SEU threshold 84 times higher than Flash and an expected time to first event in LEO of 500 years. Learn more at avalanche-technology.com.

NewSpace Systems Opens Africa’s Largest Commercial Space Hardware Manufacturing Facility

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On Thursday, March 19, 2026, NewSpace Systems (NSS) officially opened its new 5,200 m² manufacturing hub in Somerset West, South Africa. The facility is now the largest commercial space component and sub-systems manufacturing site on the African continent, significantly expanding the region’s capacity to support the global satellite supply chain.

The purpose-built facility is designed to meet the high-volume production requirements of modern satellite constellations. As Africa’s largest exporter of space-utilized hardware, NSS currently supports the majority of commercial spacecraft manufacturers globally, including several blue-chip companies with constellations exceeding 500 satellites.

Context: Scaling for Global Constellation Demand

The expansion marks a major milestone in NSS’s transition from a specialized component provider to a high-cadence industrial manufacturer. Since breaking ground on the advanced facility in October 2024, the company has focused on scaling its Guidance, Navigation, and Control (GNC) product lines.

NSS’s growth has been fueled by the rapid expansion of Low Earth Orbit (LEO) constellations, which require flight-proven hardware that can be produced at scale without compromising on quality. The company’s products, ranging from sun sensors to reaction wheels, currently fly on spacecraft weighing up to six tons.

Technical Specifications and Infrastructure

The new Somerset West hub features one of the most advanced commercial cleanrooms in the Southern Hemisphere, engineered to meet stringent IPC and ECSS aerospace standards.

  • Total Footprint: 5,200 m² of operational space.
  • Cleanroom: 1,260 m² state-of-the-art facility (ISO 14644-1 certified).
  • Laboratories: 120 m² dedicated engineering lab for R&D.
  • Specialized Zones: Helmholtz coil calibration areas for magnetically sensitive hardware, dark rooms for optical testing, and thermal/vibration testing zones.
  • Production Environment: 6S LEAN-certified assembly lines for repeatable, high-precision manufacturing.

“Big, beautiful, and built for space manufacturing,” said Tanya Lerm, CEO of NewSpace Systems. “Every corner of this cleanroom reflects our commitment to quality, reliability, and mission success. From the controlled air environment to the precision our customers demand, every aspect of this facility was engineered to deliver hardware that performs flawlessly in space.”

Integration and Quality Assurance

By consolidating design, qualification, and manufacturing under one roof, NSS maintains vertical integration that allows for competitive pricing while adhering to the highest international standards. The company is currently upgrading its digital systems to enhance data visibility and operational efficiency across its global offices in the U.S., UK, and New Zealand.

TVAC Testing and Future Innovation

Following the successful opening of phase one, NSS plans to integrate Thermal Vacuum (TVAC) testing capabilities into the facility shortly. This will allow for end-to-end environmental qualification on-site. The company is also developing its next generation of intelligent subsystems, which will feature built-in diagnostics and AI-driven capabilities to meet the evolving requirements of the 2027-2030 launch manifest.

Telesat Optimizes Lightspeed Constellation with Dedicated Military Ka-Band Spectrum

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On Tuesday, March 17, 2026, Telesat (Nasdaq and TSX: TSAT) announced a major strategic update to its Lightspeed Low Earth Orbit (LEO) constellation, adding 500 MHz of military Ka-band (Mil-Ka) spectrum to its initial 156 satellites. The decision, revealed during the company’s Q4 2025 earnings call, targets the surging demand from NATO and allied defense departments for secure, sovereign, and interoperable communications.

The reallocation represents 25% of the total spectrum on which Lightspeed will operate. Because the Mil-Ka frequencies are immediately adjacent to the constellation’s existing commercial Ka-band, Telesat confirmed the change will not impact the deployment schedule and carries a modest incremental cost of approximately $25 million—less than 0.5% of the total program budget.

Strategic Pivot to Sovereign Defense

The move signals Telesat’s aggressive pursuit of the “Sovereign-Commercial Nexus,” where commercial LEO networks are increasingly integrated into national defense architectures. This shift is highlighted by Telesat Government Solutions’ recent award in February 2026 under the U.S. Missile Defense Agency’s $151 billion SHIELD IDIQ program.

By dedicating 500 MHz to Mil-Ka, Telesat is positioning Lightspeed as a LEO-based alternative or supplement to traditional Geostationary (GEO) Mil-Ka systems, which allied governments have historically relied upon for mission-critical command and control.

Technical Implementation and Hardware Compatibility

The integration of Mil-Ka spectrum will specifically replace an equivalent amount of commercial Ka-band on the user link, while the gateway links remain unaffected.

  • Spectrum Reallocation: 500 MHz of dedicated Mil-Ka.
  • Compatibility: Designed for interoperability with national networks, enabling coalition partners to maintain shared mission-critical connectivity.
  • User Terminals: Military-compatible terminals, including the ALL.SPACE multi-orbit terminals currently under collaboration, will be available concurrently with commercial hardware at service commencement.

Schedule Adjustments and ASIC Development

Despite the spectrum change not affecting the timeline, Telesat did announce a slight delay in its overall global commercial service launch. Initially expected by late 2027, the company now targets Q1 2028 for full global service.

The three-month shift is attributed to the development timeline for the SatixFy Application-Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs) that power the satellite payloads. Following MDA Space’s acquisition of SatixFy’s digital payload division, Telesat noted that MDA has significantly bolstered the technical resources available to finalize the chip design.

“The addition of Mil-Ka to Telesat Lightspeed will result in a substantial increase to the current global supply of Mil-Ka capacity,” said Dan Goldberg, Telesat’s President and CEO. “By integrating it with the already highly advanced Telesat Lightspeed network, the Telesat Mil-Ka capability is expected to have meaningfully superior performance characteristics relative to the Mil-Ka platforms that allied governments have historically relied upon.”

Timeline to Orbit

The launch cadence for Telesat Lightspeed remains on track for a high-intensity deployment cycle:

  • December 2026: Launch of the first two production satellites.
  • Throughout 2027: High-cadence launch schedule with a target of 96 satellites in orbit by year-end.
  • Q1 2028: Commencement of full global commercial and military service.

Flexell Space and Kongsberg NanoAvionics Partner on Solar Arrays for Korean National Security Program

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On Wednesday, March 18, 2026, South Korean space energy firm Flexell Space and Lithuania-based Kongsberg NanoAvionics (NanoAvionics) announced the signing of a multi-million euro contract for the supply of kilowatt-class solar arrays.

The agreement supports a sovereign Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) national security satellite program currently under development by Hanwha Systems.

The partnership integrates NanoAvionics’ heritage in satellite bus manufacturing with Flexell’s specialized quality assurance and technical validation infrastructure. Under the terms of the deal, NanoAvionics will design and manufacture the deployable solar arrays, while Flexell—an in-house venture of Hanwha Systems—will perform final quality inspections and acceptance testing to meet the rigorous standards of the Republic of Korea (ROK) military.

Context: The 40-Satellite SAR Constellation

The contract is a critical component of South Korea’s broader push for domestic orbital reconnaissance capabilities. Hanwha Systems is currently competing for a 1.2 trillion won ($850 million) contract to build a 40-satellite Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) constellation for the ROK military.

This program, often referred to as the “K-LEO” constellation, aims to reduce the revisit rate for monitoring the Korean Peninsula to under 30 minutes. To meet the military’s strict mass requirements—targeted at sub-150 kg per unit—Hanwha has proposed an integrated “panel-type” design where the solar arrays are fused into a compact structure to maximize launch fairing density.

Advancing Next-Generation Photovoltaics

Beyond the immediate hardware supply, the two companies are exploring the integration of Flexell’s proprietary solar cell technology into NanoAvionics’ existing CubeSat and microsatellite platforms. Flexell is currently developing Copper Indium Gallium Selenide (CIGS) and perovskite solar cells, which offer:

  • Large-area scalability: Optimized for high-volume manufacturing.
  • Ultra-lightweight characteristics: Reducing total satellite mass without sacrificing power.
  • Cost Efficiency: Aiming to match the lifetime efficiency of traditional Gallium Arsenide (GaAs) cells at a lower production cost.

“This collaboration goes beyond simple component procurement and represents an important opportunity to further strengthen our quality verification capabilities,” said Taehun (Tim) Ahn, CEO of Flexell Space. “It will also serve as a meaningful milestone in accelerating the integration of our next-generation solar cells into actual satellite array systems.”

Strategic International Cooperation

For NanoAvionics, the deal solidifies its expanding presence in the South Korean market. The company has previously collaborated with the Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI) and the Institute for Basic Science. Atle Wøllo, CEO of Kongsberg NanoAvionics, noted that the contract serves as a model for strategic collaboration between domestic space technology firms and global platform providers.

The delivery of the flight-ready solar arrays is expected to begin in the second half of 2027. This timeline aligns with the scheduled deployment of the ROK military’s SAR constellation, which plans to launch its first units as early as late 2026 or 2027 following final hardware evaluations in October 2026.