SpaceNews This Week | Layoffs at SSL; House debates Space Corps; SecAF Wilson speaks on space issues; OneWeb gets FCC approval

06.23.17 View this email in your browser sponsored by   Lack of satellite orders triggers layoffs at Space Systems Loral Jeff Foust — Citing a long-term drought in satellite orders, Space Systems Loral has laid off a number of employees at its California satellite manufacturing facility, the company confirmed June 22. In a statement to SpaceNews, SSL President John Celli said an "extended slowdown" in orders for geostationary orbit communications satellites led the company to this round of layoffs. "We have seen an extended slowdown in orders for GEO satellites across the industry," he said. "With fewer satellites coming into the factory we have to make reductions to remain competitive." Company spokesperson Wendy Lewis said SSL was not disclosing the number of people laid off. A source familiar with the layoffs said about eight percent of the company's workforce was affected, which would be on the order of 200 employees. Wilson talks milspace priorities at national security space budget forum Jacob Trask — "We are heavily dependent on space, and our adversaries know it. In any future conflict, space will be contested," Heather Wilson, who was sworn in last month as the 24th secretary of the U.S. Air Force, told a Capitol Hill audience June 16. Wilson, an Air Force academy graduate who represented New Mexico in the House from 1998 to 2009, spoke about what it will take for the United States to continue to hold the ultimate high ground. Speaking at the Strategic National Security Space FY18 Budget Forum hosted by Jacques & Associates,  FiscalTrak and the Air Force Association's Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies, Wilson addressed the steps that the Air Force is taking to prepare for a military conflict that extends into space. If America wants to succeed, it needs to learn to fail, top general says Phillip Swarts — If the United States is going to stay a preeminent world power, it's going to require failure, said Gen. John Hyten, the head of U.S. Strategic Command. "We've lost the ability to go fast, test, and fail," Hyten said. "We tie the hands of our engineers and acquisition folk because we expect every test to work and if it doesn't work it's on the front page of the newspaper. We have got to get back to where we accept risk." Speaking to the Air Force Association's Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies breakfast Tuesday, Hyten noted that failure teaches more than success, and that learning from failures can be a much faster way of learning than repeated small tests. FCC approves OneWeb for US market as it considers other constellations Caleb Henry — The U.S. Federal Communications Commission voted June 22 to make OneWeb the first of what will likely be several new non-geosynchronous orbit (NGSO) satellite constellations granted regulatory approval to operate in the United States. In an open commission meeting June 22, the FCC approved OneWeb's request, filed more than a year ago, to provide broadband internet service to the United States with a constellation of 720 low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellites using Ku- and Ka-band spectrum.  OneWeb's FCC application, submitted under the name WorldVu, triggered a flood of 11 other applicants that all surfaced during the company's processing round. Other contenders include SpaceX, which is proposing a system of more than 4,000 LEO satellites; Boeing, with up to 3,000 satellites; and ViaSat and Telesat, among others.   House panel takes first step towards military "Space Corps" Phillip Swarts — Lawmakers on Tuesday took the first step towards establishing a 'Space Corps' within the Air Force — similar to the way the Marine Corps functions in the Navy — by drafting legislation that would require the new organization to be set up by January 1, 2019. As the House Armed Services Committee prepares to vote on the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), the strategic forces subcommittee — which oversees military space matters — released its proposed additions to the bill. The subcommittee has scheduled a formal legislative mark-up session for its portions of the bill on Thursday. The subcommittee's top Republican, Rep. Mike Rogers of Alabama, and top Democrat, Rep. Jim Cooper of Tennessee, said the subcommittee's mark would require the Air Force to establish the Space Corps to serve "as a separate military service within the Department of the Air Force and under the civilian leadership of the Secretary of the Air Force."   Iridium open to reused Falcon 9s if it means SpaceX can speed up schedule Caleb Henry — Mobile satellite services provider Iridium is willing to use pre-flown Falcon 9 first stage boosters for missions during the second half of its fleet replacement if SpaceX can show that reuse will shorten Iridium's wait for launches. Iridium is launching 75 of its 81 second-generation Iridium Next satellites using eight Falcon 9 launches, the first of which took place Jan. 14. In a conference call with reporters June 19, Desch said Iridium's original contract with SpaceX calls for new Falcon 9s for each mission, but if SpaceX can improve its launch schedule with pre-flown stages, Iridium would consider them for missions in 2018. "While we are currently flying first flown launches, I'm open to previously flown launches, particularly for the second half of our launch schedule," said Desch. Twitter LinkedIn Facebook Advertise with Us | Privacy Policy | Subscribe Copyright © 2017 SpaceNews Inc., All rights reserved. Our mailing address is: SpaceNews Inc. 1414 Prince St, Suite 204 Alexandria, VA 22314