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Vodafone Achieves First-Ever Satellite Video Call Using Standard Smartphone

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Vodafone has announced the successful completion of the world’s first video call via satellite using a standard smartphone from a remote location. The call was made from the Welsh mountains, an area with no network signal, and the technology is set to be rolled out across Europe later this year and into 2026. The CEO of Vodafone, Margherita Della Valle, received the video call on Monday from company engineer Rowan Chesmer, who was in the remote location.

“We were using the only satellite service that offers a full mobile experience with a standard device, which allows for voice, text, and video data transmission, making a full video call possible,” Della Valle explained in an interview. The company’s goal is to bring this service to its customers as soon as possible.

Vodafone’s video call success is powered by AST SpaceMobile’s five BlueBird satellites in low-Earth orbit, enabling data transmission speeds of up to 120 megabits per second for regular smartphones. Vodafone is an investor in AST SpaceMobile, alongside companies like AT&T, Verizon, and Google.

The move is part of a growing effort by mobile operators and smartphone manufacturers to use satellite technology to close network coverage gaps. Apple’s iPhones have been able to send emergency texts and share locations using satellites since the iPhone 14, and other tech companies like Google and Samsung are providing similar services.

T-Mobile U.S. and SpaceX are testing Starlink satellites for text services, with plans to include voice and data in the future. Apple’s latest iPhones and some Android devices are eligible for these services.

British astronaut Tim Peake joined Della Valle at the launch of Vodafone’s space-to-land gateway at its headquarters in Newbury, UK. This gateway facilitates communication between a user’s smartphone and the satellite network, connecting signals into Vodafone’s core network. Peake, who spent 186 days in space and became the first Briton to conduct a spacewalk in 2015, praised the ability to provide mobile coverage through space technology.

“Having spent time in space, I understand the importance of staying connected with family and friends, especially in isolated environments,” Peake said. He also expressed his enthusiasm for future missions, saying he would “put his hand in the air” if another opportunity arose.

Google-backed Pixxel Launches India’s First Private Satellite Constellation

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Indian space tech startup Pixxel achieved a significant milestone on Tuesday with the successful launch of three of its six hyperspectral imaging satellites aboard a SpaceX rocket. The launch took place at 1915 GMT from the Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, marking a major step forward for India’s burgeoning private space industry and for the five-year-old, Google-backed company.

The satellites will utilize hyperspectral imaging technology, which captures detailed data across hundreds of light bands. This technology is poised to revolutionize various sectors, including agriculture, mining, environmental monitoring, and defense. In India, where agriculture plays a critical role in the economy, Pixxel’s technology can enhance crop yield predictions, monitor environmental changes like oil spills, and provide detailed insights on geographical boundaries and resource tracking.

The remaining three satellites are expected to be launched in the second quarter of the year. In addition to Pixxel’s satellites, the SpaceX rocket also carried a satellite from Indian space company Diganatara.

Pixxel’s founder and CEO, Awais Ahmed, projected that the satellite imagery market could reach $19 billion by 2029, with hyperspectral imaging capturing $500 million to $1 billion of this market. Pixxel has already attracted 65 clients, including major players such as Rio Tinto, British Petroleum, and India’s Ministry of Agriculture, with some clients purchasing data from its demonstration satellites.

Although the U.S. dominates the global satellite launch industry, India holds just a 2% share of the global commercial space market, despite its established space capabilities.

 

China’s Secretive Space Plane Returns After Eight-Month Mission

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China’s covert space plane, a “reusable experimental spacecraft,” has safely returned to Earth following an eight-month mission in orbit. The spacecraft, which launched last December, is part of China’s ongoing efforts to advance space technology and compete with the United States in the realm of reusable spacecraft.

Mission Details and Significance

The spacecraft’s return was announced by state news agency Xinhua on September 6, describing the mission as a “complete success.” This mission follows the December 2022 launch of the US military’s Boeing X-37B, another uncrewed space plane. The Chinese spacecraft’s mission lasted approximately 268 days, making it one of the longest-duration flights for such a vehicle.

The precise identity and capabilities of the Chinese spacecraft remain classified. Observers suspect it is the “Shenlong” space plane, which has been under development for two decades, though China has not confirmed this or provided detailed information about its functions.

Understanding Space Planes

Space planes, unlike traditional spacecraft, combine features of both airplanes and spacecraft. They can operate in Earth’s atmosphere and in space, offering versatility for a range of missions. Both China’s spacecraft and the US X-37B are launched into space by rockets and land on runways, a design intended to facilitate reuse and operational flexibility.

Space planes are valued for their potential to carry out various missions in orbit and advance reusable spacecraft technology, which could become crucial for regular human space travel in the future. US Space Force chief of operations Gen. Chance Saltzman has highlighted the strategic advantage of being able to put a spacecraft in orbit, conduct missions, and return it to Earth for analysis.

Chinese Space Plane Program

China has maintained a high level of secrecy about its space plane program. Since the spacecraft’s initial launch in 2020, there has been limited public information available. A video announcing the spacecraft’s return featured a banner stating the technology was “too advanced to be shown.”

The purpose of the spacecraft remains unclear, although it is suspected to be the Shenlong space plane. Other Chinese space plane projects have been publicly described as civilian, but the official use of Shenlong remains unconfirmed. Analysts suggest that the spacecraft could have applications for inspecting space assets or clearing space debris, though it could also be used for more controversial purposes.

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Military and Strategic Implications

The development of space planes is part of a broader trend of nations enhancing their space capabilities, including potential counterspace technologies. While China has officially stated that its space plane is intended for peaceful purposes, analysts believe that the technology could have dual-use applications, including potential military or counterspace uses.

Clayton Swope of the Aerospace Security Project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies points out that any advancements made in space plane technology could benefit China’s counterspace capabilities. The skills and technologies developed for space planes could potentially be adapted for military purposes.

Comparison with US X-37B

Comparing China’s space plane with the US X-37B is challenging due to the secrecy surrounding both programs. The X-37B has been operational for longer and has completed missions lasting up to 908 days. It is described by the US Space Force as a reusable spacecraft conducting technology experiments to advance next-generation capabilities.

The X-37B’s missions include tests in new orbital regions, space domain awareness technologies, and investigating the effects of space on various materials. Like the Chinese spacecraft, the X-37B has been involved in deploying small satellites, which some observers speculate could be related to covert or offensive technologies.

Conclusion

China’s successful return of its space plane underscores its growing capabilities in space technology and its competitive stance with the US. The development and deployment of space planes by both nations highlight the strategic importance of space as a domain for technological advancement and potential military applications.