News

Plan-S, the manufacturer and operator of Türkiye’s first LEO satellite constellation, has been authorized—through its subsidiary Connecta—by the Information and Communication Technologies Authority (BTK) to provide satellite-based Internet of Things (IoT) communication services in Türkiye.

These services will be delivered through the Connecta IoT Network, which is designed and manufactured in-house, with more than 90% of its sub-systems developed internally. These developments mark the first time a LEO satellite operator has been authorized in the country, underscoring both Plan-S’s leadership and Türkiye’s growing role in global space communications.

Plan-S oversees every stage of its satellite development in-house, from design and production to testing and integration, and has launched 17 satellites since the company’s founding in 2021. Its Connecta IoT Network, currently operating 12 satellites, will expand to 200 in the coming years. With the growing constellation, Plan-S will provide global coverage along with enhanced service capacity and quality.

This authorization paves the way for IoT services across industries such as agriculture, energy, logistics, mining, water management, and disaster responses, particularly in regions where terrestrial networks are limited or unavailable. Leveraging LoRaWAN-based technology for low-power connectivity, the Connecta IoT Network ensures scalable, energy efficient, cost effective, interoperable, secure and reliable data transmission for both fixed and mobile applications.

The company has incorporated 3GPP standard-based NB-IoT technology into its roadmap to enable seamless coverage for networks built on 3GPP standards, with the first satellites supporting this technology scheduled for launch next year. This positions the company as the first satellite operator to deliver IoT services based on both NB-IoT and LoRaWAN, two of the most widely adopted technologies for IoT services in the terrestrial domain.

The company has already advanced its global market strategy with authorization in Australia. This new authorization from Türkiye now acts as a catalyst for further global expansion, reinforcing the Plan-S’s position as a strategic player in satellite-based IoT communications.

In addition to IoT, Plan-S is developing its Observa constellation to deliver high-resolution Earth Observation and advanced data analytics. By 2030, the company aims to operate more than 200 satellites, building a comprehensive and independent space infrastructure to serve industries worldwide.

Plan-S CEO, Özdemir Gümüşay, said, “Being recognized as Türkiye’s first authorized LEO satellite operator is a historic turning point, not only for our company, but also for our nation’s space and satellite communications ecosystem. At a time when the global satellite industry is undergoing profound transformation and countries are reshaping their strategies, this achievement marks an important step forward for Türkiye. Beyond enabling us to deliver IoT services at home, this authorization will significantly accelerate our investments in next-generation, strategic satellite communication technologies for international markets.”

The launch schedule of MICHIBIKI No.5, Quasi-Zenith Satellite System (QZS-5) that will be aboard the 8th H3 Launch Vehicle (H3 F8: Flight No.8) is as follows…

• Launch date: December 7, 2025
• Launch Window: 1:30 (JST) through 12:30 (JST)*
• The time is the 24-hour clock
• Reserved Launch Period: December 8, 2025 through January 31, 2026
• Launch site:Yoshinobu Launch Complex at the JAXA Tanegashima Space Center
• Note: Launch time during the reserved launch period will vary.

QZSS (Michibiki) has been in operation since November of 2018 to develop a stable, satellite positioning service that can be used in all locations at all times. This system is compatible with GPS satellites and can be used with them in an integrated fashion. In this way, the satellite positioning service environment was dramatically advanced. QZSS can be used even in the Asia-Oceania regions with longitudes close to Japan, so its usage will be expanded to other countries in these regions, as well.

Synspective Inc., a synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellite data and analytic solutions provider, has the launch schedule for the company’s seventh StriX SAR satellite.

The seventh StriX mission is scheduled to launch during a 14-day window that opens on October 14 at 16:30 (UTC). The launch may be postponed or canceled due to unforeseen weather conditions or complications.

The mission will launch on Rocket Lab’s Electron vehicle from Launch Complex 1 on the Mahia Peninsula, New Zealand.

For the latest information, please visit Rocket Lab’s infopage at this direct link…

Silicon Sensing Systems Ltd. has announced the production of the firm’s 30 millionth inertial sensor.

Since it was established in 1999, the company has supplied inertial sensors and systems to many markets worldwide, including robotics, industrial production, marine, aerospace, defence, transport and space.

The company’s focus is on high-performance gyros, accelerometers, inertial measurement units and combi-sensors, all based on Silicon Sensing’s own unique, patented, micro electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) technology.

Products include market-disrupting inertial measurement units (IMUs) and gyros offering the highest levels of performance and challenging far larger, heavier and less robust fiber optic (FOG) and dynamically tuned gyro (DTG) -based systems and sensors.

The company’s in-house production facilities manufacture these precision products at high volume, whilst meeting the, often complex, needs and rigorous standards of multiple markets.

David Somerville, General Manager of Silicon Sensing, said, “The production of 30 million sensors is an immense accomplishment for our team. Achieving this milestone has required substantial engineering expertise, continuous process refinement, sustained innovation, clear long-term commitment and considerable financial investment. Together, these factors have enabled us to maximise production whilst maintaining exceptional product performance.”

Firefly Aerospace (Nasdaq: FLY) has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire SciTec, Inc., a leader in advanced national security technologies, for approximately $855 million through a combination of $300 million in cash and $555 million in Firefly shares issued to SciTec owners at a price of $50 per share.

The acquisition will advance Firefly’s comprehensive space services by adding mission-proven defense software analytics, remote sensing, and multi-phenomenology data expertise. SciTec’s core capabilities – which include missile warning, tracking and defense, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR), space domain awareness (SDA), and autonomous command and control – will supplement Firefly’s launch, lunar, and in-space services.

SciTec further adds ground and onboard data processing as well as AI-enabled systems designed for low latency operations to support advanced threat tracking and response across multiple domains.

SciTec generated revenues of approximately $164 million for the 12-month period ending June 30, 2025, driven by robust contracts supporting the intelligence community, defense and national security agencies, and commercial customers. Earlier this year, SciTec was awarded a $259 million contract by the U.S. Space Force to further enhance the Future Operational Resilient Ground Evolution (FORGE) framework. SciTec is delivering a scalable, cyber-secure ground processing capability to strengthen the Space Force’s missile warning and tracking mission and accelerate threat-responsive solutions for warfighters.

SciTec is headquartered in Princeton, N.J., and maintains five additional facilities strategically positioned near key space and defense customers.

The acquisition is expected to close by year end 2025, subject to regulatory approvals and customary conditions. Once finalized, SciTec will be operated as a Firefly subsidiary under its current business model led by Jim Lisowski, current CEO of SciTec, who will report to Firefly’s CEO, Jason Kim.

The acquisition of SciTec enhances our ability to support a growing number of defense missions and provides us with a significant operational advantage,” said Jason Kim, CEO of Firefly Aerospace. “SciTec’s mission-proven software and big data processing capabilities provide warfighters with rapid, accurate information to enable informed decisions that protect our homeland from emerging threats. These capabilities significantly enhance our ability to deliver integrated, software-defined solutions for critical national security imperatives, particularly Golden Dome. We are excited to welcome the SciTec team to the Firefly family and look forward to working together to continue to deliver leading edge solutions to advance our country’s strategic advantage in space.”

We believe Firefly is the best home for our business and people,” said Jim Lisowski, CEO SciTec. “In addition to the strong strategic fit, our cultures are similar. Both teams are empowered, rapid innovators who are passionate about our critical missions and willing to take on near impossible tasks to ensure we protect our country from future threats. We share a unique focus on providing differentiated, leading-edge solutions to our customers.”

Exolaunch will deploy 13 satellites for global customers on the upcoming SpaceX Bandwagon-4 mission—the flight is scheduled to lift off no earlier than November 2025 from Cape Canaveral Space Force Base, Florida, aboard a Falcon 9 rocket.

Following a remarkable year of Exolaunch’s biggest missions to date, Bandwagon-4 builds on the company’s steady growth, enabling launch access for cubesats and microsatellites supporting Earth observation, IoT as well as science and technology demonstration missions with customers originating from Argentina, Czechia, Finland, the Netherlands, Turkey and the United States.

Exolaunch will deploy more than a dozen customer satellites using its flight-proven CarboNIX separation systems, EXOpod Nova CubeSat deployers and modular multi-satellite adapter EXOport. The company’s industry-leading deployment systems are designed to ensure safe, reliable and precise separation for all spacecraft. Exolaunch has successfully deployed satellites on every previous Bandwagon mission.

Building on the proven performance of CarboNIX, Exolaunch will also use its latest CarboNIX NEO separation system to deploy a customer satellite. NEO is designed and built on the basis of the flight-proven CarboNIX and is an off-the-shelf separation system available in 8-inch, 15-inch and 24-inch, 31.6-inch and 38.81-inch sizes. It is scalable to any custom diameter for satellites of more than 1,000 kilograms. While NEO uses the same lock mechanism and pusher arm subsystems as CarboNIX, NEO employs a new clamp ring system which is stronger, stiffer, can withstand higher loads and launch heavier spacecraft than any other separation system on the market.

The Bandwagon-4 mission will take place in the runup to the Transporter-15 mission with SpaceX, Exolaunch’s largest to date, supporting 59 satellites for 30 commercial, institutional and government customers from 16 countries aboard a Falcon 9 rocket.

In May of 2025, Exolaunch announced new, multiyear contracts to continue launching aboard SpaceX rideshare missions through 2028 and securing launch capacity for Exolaunch customers for years ahead. Exolaunch remains the only launch integrator with payloads manifested on every Transporter mission with SpaceX since their rideshare program began in 2020.

In 2025 alone, Exolaunch has completed eight missions for 125 customer satellites across multiple global launch vehicles, representing the biggest missions in the company’s history, and demonstrating exponential growth. With every successfully executed mission to date, Exolaunch is uniquely positioned as the launch integrator of choice for satellite deployment at global scale.

We are deeply grateful to SpaceX for our strong collaboration, with every mission reflecting our shared vision of making space accessible globally,” said Robert Sproles, chief executive officer at Exolaunch. “With Bandwagon-4, we can deploy our customers in a unique mid-inclination orbit and add extra capacity to our launch manifest, supporting both new and long-standing customers as they advance Earth observation, connectivity and scientific discovery.”

Rocket Lab Corporation (Nasdaq: RKLB) has secured a second, multi-launch contract with Synspective, a leading Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) satellite data and analytics company.

The new contract for a further 10 dedicated Electron launches brings the total number of upcoming Synspective missions to 21 – marking the largest order of dedicated Electron missions with a single customer to date.

Following the first launch agreement announced in June of 2024, this second multi-launch contract within 18 months further solidifies Electron’s international expansion and leadership of the small lift launch market globally. This latest contract secures the launch of 21 StriX SAR satellites across multiple missions through to the end of the decade.

Rocket Lab has been Synspective’s sole launch provider to-date, successfully deploying six StriX satellites across six dedicated launches from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1 in New Zealand. The next 21 Synspective launches will occur from the same launch site, with Rocket Lab’s schedule flexibility, tailored launch service, and streamlined operations central to Synspective’s decision to extend its previous, multi-launch contract.

Electron’s reliability, proficiency at executing against rapid timelines, and satellite deployment accuracy to within meters of its target, has made it the commercial launch vehicle of choice for satellite operators wanting to build out their constellations with precision. The majority of Electron launches this year have either been the continuation of multi-launch contracts with commercial constellation customers, or have completed the entire deployment of a constellation in less than a year.”

Rocket Lab founder and CEO, Sir Peter Beck, said, “Regular and reliable launch on a flexible schedule is essential to the build out of Synspective’s constellation, and Electron has been integral to this from the start as the sole launcher of all StriX satellites in space today. It’s an honor to add another 10 StriX satellites to Electron’s launch manifest and continue our long-standing partnership with Synspective.

Synspective founder and CEO, Dr. Motoyuki Arai, said, “Rocket Lab’s precision and track record have consistently enabled us to stay on schedule and achieve our mission objectives. As we move forward with 21 launches, our continued collaboration is crucial to accelerating the deployment of our SAR satellites and the growth of our data platform.”

Beyond Gravity will develop and build electric propulsion pointing mechanisms for five, SWISSto12 HummingSat satellites, small, GEO telecommunications satellites that will use Beyond Gravity’s pointing mechanisms in the form of a multi-axis robotic arm to control the satellites’ electric thrusters to keep them exactly on track 35,786 kilometers above Earth.

The Beyond Gravity multi-axis mechanism for HummingSat satellites is based on the company’s proven product family of APPMAX pointing mechanisms.

For SWISSto12, Beyond Gravity also provides solar array drive mechanisms from its Zurich site, with sliprings from its Nyon site. The company’s solar array drive mechanisms precisely orient solar arrays towards the sun, making sure the spacecraft receives sufficient solar energy for its operations. A slip ring is an electromechanical device that enables the transmission of power and electrical signals from a stationary to a rotating structure.

With this thruster pointing mechanism, we are setting a new industry standard. We have developed a product that clearly stands out from the competition thanks to its high flexibility based on modular elements, as well as its scalability, and series production based on our industrial processes,” said Oliver Grassmann, Executive Vice President Satellites at Beyond Gravity, headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland. “New robotic arm is based on APPMAX family of pointing mechanisms and the pointing mechanisms are being developed and built at the company’s site in Vienna, Austria, with deliveries between 2026 and 2027.“

Wolfgang Pawlinetz, Vice President Thermal & Mechanisms at Beyond Gravity, said, “After launch and deployment into space, satellites still face the critical challenge of reaching their final orbit. Our thruster pointing mechanism gives satellites the ability to maneuver and hold their position exactly where they need to be, saving fuel and time, while maximizing performance. That’s where our technology comes in. It allows orbit raising to be carried out in the most efficient way possible. With orders for more than 100 electric thruster pointing mechanisms, Beyond Gravity is one of the world’s leading suppliers in this field. We have a long track record of successful deliveries, extensive flight heritage and we have the industrial capacity for a high cadence production.”

About Beyond Gravity
Beyond Gravity, headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland, is the first space company to combine a startup mindset, agility, speed and innovation with decades of experience and proven quality. Approximately 1800 employees at 12 locations in six countries (Switzerland, Sweden, Austria, USA, Finland and Portugal) develop and manufacture products for satellites and launch vehicles with the goal of advancing humankind and enabling the exploration of the world and beyond. Beyond Gravity is the preferred supplier of structures for all types of launch vehicles and a leading provider of selected satellite products and constellation solutions in the New Space sector. In 2024, the company generated a revenue of around CHF 359 million.