by Elisabeth Tweedie
Los Angeles, Calif., March 15, 2024-In recent years the satellite industry has undergone a profound change–and one that is still continuing. High Throughput Satellites (HTS) have been joined by Very- and Ultra-High Throughput Satellites (VHTS and UHTS), and more recently by software defined satellites. Thousands of Non-Geostationary Orbit (NGSO) satellites are in operation. At the same time, new applications are constantly emerging. In-orbit Servicing (IoS) is a reality and Space Situational Awareness (SSA) is becoming a necessity, the Internet-of-Things (IoT) extends its reach on a daily basis. The range of frequency bands in regular use is expanding. L, C, Ku and Ka-bands are being joined by greater use of S, X and now V-band. Space tourism is a reality and in the next few years there will be satellites orbiting the moon, as well as earth.