GoKawiil
Tech News
Four major European carriers have launched a joint initiative to deliver direct-to-device satellite connectivity, aiming to extend coverage to underserved areas and bolster network resilience. The operators will build ground infrastructure and coordination systems in Europe, but will not fund a satellite constellation themselves; instead they plan to select a satellite partner to supply that technology.
A new satellite constellation called FireSat has been deployed specifically to detect the earliest signs of wildfires from space. It is described as the first constellation built solely for this purpose, aiming to identify fires before they spread widely.
Google will send a satellite carrying its Tensor Processing Units into low Earth orbit aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket on October 1st, as part of Project Suncatcher. The mission aims to test how the chips withstand spaceflight stress, radiation, and thermal extremes, with a cooling system using heat pipes and radiators also being trialed. Google plans to launch two more satellites next year as part of a broader effort toward a constellation of chip-equipped satellites.