“We’re actually using substantially less than the max capability of a Falcon 9,” Astranis CEO and founder John Gedmark explained. “This is just four small satellites that [will be] on there. So we’re actually able to use all of that extra performance to put those four satellites much closer to GEO than you would normally be able to do with with this kind of launch.”...The four satellites that will launch on the Falcon 9 next summer also have dedicated customers: one will deliver broadband internet access to rural Peru in a $90 million agreement with Latin American telecom company Grupo Andesat; and two will be leased to Anuvu, a company that provides internet connectivity on airplanes and cruises. A separate customer that has yet to be announced will lease the bandwidth from the fourth satellite.
"Astranis’ first satellite, called Arcturus, will launch on a SpaceX Falcon Heavy ride-share mission sometime this spring.
Quote"Astranis’ first satellite, called Arcturus, will launch on a SpaceX Falcon Heavy ride-share mission sometime this spring.USSF-44?
We're just months away from our flagship satellite, Arcturus, launching on a Falcon Heavy. A few months after that we'll be back on the pad launching a Falcon 9. We're just getting started.
https://twitter.com/Astranis/status/1586056890043301888QuoteWe're just months away from our flagship satellite, Arcturus, launching on a Falcon Heavy. A few months after that we'll be back on the pad launching a Falcon 9. We're just getting started.
NextSpaceflight, updated May 27:Launch NET July 2023I suspect the launch month will advance one month per month until Astranis releases new information, such as announcing shipping the satellites to Florida.
Astranis launched its first satellite in May. Its currently preparing to launch two more batches of satellites – which Astranis calls “Block 2” and “Block 3.” Block 2 is launching in the fourth quarter and will feature four satellites, one of of which is for Peru, and Block 3 is launching in mid-2024 and will feature five satellites, one of which is for the Philippines.
Astranis internet satellite malfunctions before beginning Alaska service, backup planned for springJUL 21 2023[...]Astranis will launch the previously unannounced “UtilitySat” as part of its batch of four satellites that are set to fly later this year. Gedmark described it as “the Swiss Army Knife of satellites.”[...]
Final satellite will be "UtilitySat", which will temporarily replace Arcturus, which suffered a solar array malfunction.QuoteAstranis internet satellite malfunctions before beginning Alaska service, backup planned for springJUL 21 2023[...]Astranis will launch the previously unannounced “UtilitySat” as part of its batch of four satellites that are set to fly later this year. Gedmark described it as “the Swiss Army Knife of satellites.”[...]
Any new news? 4th quarter is days away.
We are moving forward with a backup plan and this plan is unique in our industry — it involves a special, multipurpose satellite that can operate as an on-orbit spare and bridge us to a full replacement satellite. We call this satellite UtilitySat. It can operate anywhere in the world, on multiple frequency bands, with the flexibility of a software-defined satellite. UtilitySat has been in the works for over a year, is in the final stages of integration, and is manifested on our very next launch that will take place at the end of this year.
A vendor-supplied component for our Arcturus satellite has had an anomaly, so we'll have to delay starting service in Alaska and repurpose the satellite for secondary missions. All Astranis-designed hardware on the spacecraft works perfectly.UtilitySat is our backup plan.
https://www.cnbc.com/2023/07/11/astranis-satellite-internet-coming-to-the-philippines-next-year.htmlQuoteAstranis launched its first satellite in May. Its currently preparing to launch two more batches of satellites – which Astranis calls “Block 2” and “Block 3.” Block 2 is launching in the fourth quarter and will feature four satellites, one of of which is for Peru, and Block 3 is launching in mid-2024 and will feature five satellites, one of which is for the Philippines.
