QUILTY QUICKTAKES
Quilty QuickTakes provide short-form analysis on the latest developments in the space sector as they unfold. Click on any QuickTake below to enjoy these complimentary, five-minute reads.
SpaceX flight rate continues to climb
If SpaceX achieves VP of Flight Kiko Dontchev’s recently established goal of another 26 launches by the end of the year, the company will not only notch a new record, but set the stage for an even higher flight rate in 2025.
A new era of GPS competition
in September, the U.S. Space Force selected four companies – Astranis, Axient, L3Harris and Sierra Space – to submit design concepts for a layer of “Resilient GPS” (R-GPS) aimed at producing smaller, more affordable spacecraft to supplement the existing GPS system.
Evaluating SES’s case for a proliferated MEO constellation
On Oct. 21, United Launch Alliance began integrating its third Vulcan rocket on a mission that, if done this year, positions the company to make good on an ambitious launch cadence in 2025.
ULA’s quest to reset industry precedent
On Oct. 21, United Launch Alliance began integrating its third Vulcan rocket on a mission that, if done this year, positions the company to make good on an ambitious launch cadence in 2025.
Quilty’s takeaways from World Space Business Week
Every year at the perennial Paris pilgrimage, one or more trends emerge as the dominant theme of the show, and 2024 was no different.
GEO Satellite Manufacturing Death Spiral?
If the GEO satcom industry is to survive, GEO satellite manufacturers will need to up their game and reverse a troubling trend of ever-longer time to bring new GEO capacity online.
A New Benchmark for Launch Vehicle Robustness
A New Benchmark for Launch Vehicle Robustness
SDA needs a spiral development plan for user terminals
SDA needs a spiral development plan for user terminals
An Airbus-TAS Space Merger: good, bad, or none of the above?
Press leaks on M&A discussions typically aren’t helpful (remember EchoStar’s attempt at buying Inmarsat?), but there was probably no good way to hide the fact that Airbus and Thales Alenia Space (TAS) are in early discussions about a potential merger of their space businesses.
Broader Implications of Airbus’ Struggling Space Business
Last week, Airbus announced it was taking a €900 million charge in its Space Systems business.
No slowdown in Falcon 9 Starlink launches in 2025
A change in the winds of European defense spending
Rocket Lab, Synspective and the art of the multi-launch deal
Rocket Lab, Synspective and the art of the multi-launch deal
DoD’s ULA Dilemma
What Quilty Space identified as a risk for Amazon’s Project Kuiper two years ago is now a concern the U.S. military shares.
Sierra Space goes for all orbits
Sierra Space on April 5 announced a trio of satellite platforms meant to meet the needs of any orbit.
The (Laser) Shot Heard Around the World.
SpaceX is eyeing another segment of the space economy for disruption.
Major space players likely largest beneficiaries of Japan’s new $1T Yen fund
On March 12, Japan’s cabinet approved a 10-year fund of $6.7 USD billion (1 trillion yen) to promote satellites, space exploration, and transportation.
Rocket Lab returns to the M&A playground
Companies are often coy about when they want to do acquisitions, but not Rocket Lab.
Sierra Space’s Return to LEO Constellations
Amid all the new entries into LEO small satellite manufacturing, there has been one prominent legacy manufacturer that seemed focused on chasing other dreams.
Quilty QuickTake’s cover earth observation, satcom, space hardware, and government & defense. Register here for email notifications on sector-specific QuickTakes or all to stay up to date.
