Arlington, Virginia, January 9, 2024 – The Boeing Company (NYSE: BA) announced today major program deliveries across its commercial and defense operations for the fourth quarter of 2023.
The company will provide detailed fourth-quarter financial results on January 31. Major program deliveries during the fourth quarter were as follows:
This press release may contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including expected delivery dates. Such statements are based on current expectations and projections about our future results, prospects and opportunities and are not guarantees of future performance. Such statements will not be updated unless required by law. Actual results and performance may differ materially from those expressed or forecasted in forward-looking statements due to a number of factors, including those discussed in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
ARLINGTON, Virginia, July 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ – The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] announced today major program deliveries across its commercial and defense operations for the second quarter of 2023.
The company will provide detailed second quarter financial results on July 26. Major program deliveries during the second quarter were as follows:
Major Programs
2nd Quarter 2023
Year-to-Date 2023
Commercial Airplanes Programs
737
103
216
747
—
1
767
8
9
777
5
9
787
20
31
Total
136
266
Defense, Space & Security Programs
AH-64 Apache (New)
5
12
AH-64 Apache (Remanufactured)
16
29
CH-47 Chinook (New)
2
7
CH-47 Chinook (Renewed)
3
4
F-15 Models
4
6
F/A-18 Models
6
13
KC-46 Tanker
—
1
P-8 Models
2
5
Commercial and Civil Satellites
—
3
Note: Delivery information is not considered final until quarterly financial results are issued.
Contact Matt Welch Boeing Investor Relations (312) 544-2140
David Dufault Boeing Investor Relations (312) 544-2140
The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] announced today major program deliveries across its commercial and defense operations for the second quarter of 2021.
“We continue the work to deliver on our commitments to our commercial, defense, space and services customers, while positioning our business for a stable and strong recovery from the pandemic. In the second quarter, we made progress in safely returning the 737 MAX to service in more international markets and increasing the pace of 737 deliveries,” the company said.
As Boeing has previously shared, the company has been engaged in detailed discussions with the FAA on verification methodology for 787 fuselages, and conducting associated inspections and rework. In connection with these efforts, the company has identified additional rework that will be required on undelivered 787s. Based on our assessment of the time required to complete this work, Boeing is reprioritizing production resources for a few weeks to support the inspection and rework. As that work is performed, the 787 production rate will temporarily be lower than five per month and will gradually return to that rate. Boeing now expects to deliver fewer than half of the 787s currently in inventory this year.
“We will continue to take the necessary time to ensure Boeing airplanes meet the highest quality prior to delivery. Across the enterprise, our teams remain focused on safety and integrity as we drive stability, first-time quality and productivity in our operations,” the company added.
Major program deliveries during the second quarter were as follows:
Major Programs
2nd Quarter 2021
Year-to- Date 2021
Commercial Airplanes Programs
737
50
113
747
1
2
767
8
13
777
8
14
787
12
14
Total
79
156
Defense, Space & Security Programs
AH-64 Apache (New)
6
15
AH-64 Apache (Remanufactured)
16
31
CH-47 Chinook (New)
3
6
CH-47 Chinook (Renewed)
1
4
F-15 Models
5
8
F/A-18 Models
7
11
KC-46 Tanker
2
4
P-8 Models
3
6
Commercial and Civil Satellites
—
—
Military Satellites
—
—
Note: Delivery information is not considered final until quarterly financial results are issued.
Paris, France 4 March 2020 – Within the Syracuse IV programme, Airbus (Paris: AIR.PA) has been awarded a 10-year framework agreement called Copernicus for the construction and upgrading of part of the ground segment for the telecommunications satellites used by the French Armed Forces. As part of Copernicus, the French Directorate General of Armaments (DGA) has placed an initial order worth more than € 100 million.
Dominique Maudet, Head of French Defence Sales at Airbus Defence and Space said: “We are building the future broadband and multi-satellite ground segment for France’s Armed Forces. It will be fully integrated, intelligent and dynamic, giving operators access to a decision-making tool unique to satellite communications management.”
This first order specifically covers the development of the future satellite communications management system for the French Ministry of Defence. This unique portal called Pegasus, accessible to all units, will enable the French Armed Forces to optimise use of the available capacities on military and commercial satellites. It will make it possible to coordinate requests entered by central military staff or any unit deployed on the ground, at sea or in the air. Allocation of satellite capacities will be optimised in terms of operational criteria completed by the units, such as the type of terminals used, ground cover, level of cyber security, jamming resistance, as well as the need for availability.
The Copernicus project also aims to increase the operability of Comcept, the multi-satellite communications network designed by Airbus and commissioned by the French armed forces in 2017. Comcept uses the broadband Ka-band transmission capacities of the Franco-Italian military satellite ATHENA-FINDUS, in addition to the Ku- and C-band capacities of commercial satellites. Thanks to these developments, Comcept will also be able to use the high-speed Ka-band of future satellites SYRACUSE 4A and 4B.
Different elements of the SYRACUSE IV programme’s future ground segment and the Pegasus portal will enable the French armed forces to use the entire spectrum of satellite capacities efficiently and dynamically, from the most secure and resilient to the high-speed and wide coverage capacities, in all areas of operations.
– Financial results continue to be significantly impacted by COVID-19 and the 737 MAX grounding
– Proactively managing liquidity and transforming for the future
– Revenue of $14.1 billion, GAAP loss per share of ($0.79) and core (non-GAAP)* loss per share of ($1.39)
– Operating cash flow of ($4.8) billion; cash and marketable securities of $27.1 billion
– Total backlog of $393 billion, including more than 4,300 commercial airplanes
Table 1. Summary Financial Results
Third Quarter
Nine Months
(Dollars in Millions, except per share data)
2020
2019
Change
2020
2019
Change
Revenues
$14,139
$19,980
(29)%
$42,854
$58,648
(27)%
GAAP
(Loss)/Earnings From Operations
($401)
$1,259
NM
($4,718)
$229
NM
Operating Margin
(2.8)%
6.3%
NM
(11.0)%
0.4%
NM
Net (Loss)/Earnings
($466)
$1,167
NM
($3,502)
$374
NM
(Loss)/Earnings Per Share
($0.79)
$2.05
NM
($6.10)
$0.66
NM
Operating Cash Flow
($4,819)
($2,424)
NM
($14,401)
($226)
NM
Non-GAAP*
Core Operating (Loss)/Earnings
($754)
$895
NM
($5,773)
($864)
NM
Core Operating Margin
(5.3)%
4.5%
NM
(13.5)%
(1.5)%
NM
Core (Loss)/Earnings Per Share
($1.39)
$1.45
NM
($7.88)
($1.13)
NM
*Non-GAAP measure; complete definitions of Boeing’s non-GAAP measures are on page 5, “Non-GAAP Measures Disclosures.”
The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] reported third-quarter revenue of $14.1 billion, GAAP loss per share of ($0.79) and core loss per share (non-GAAP)* of ($1.39), reflecting lower commercial deliveries and services volume primarily due to COVID-19 (Table 1). Boeing recorded operating cash flow of ($4.8) billion.
“The global pandemic continued to add pressure to our business this quarter, and we’re aligning to this new reality by closely managing our liquidity and transforming our enterprise to be sharper, more resilient and more sustainable for the long term,” said Boeing President and Chief Executive Officer Dave Calhoun. “Our diverse portfolio, including our government services, defense and space programs, continues to provide some stability for us as we adapt and rebuild for the other side of the pandemic. We remain focused on the health and safety of our employees and their communities. I’m proud of the dedication and commitment our teams have demonstrated as they continued to deliver for our customers in this challenging environment. Despite the near-term headwinds, we remain confident in our long term future and are focused on sustaining critical investments in our business and the meaningful actions we are taking to strengthen our safety culture, improve transparency and rebuild trust.”
Following the lead of global regulators, Boeing made steady progress toward the safe return to service of the 737 MAX, including rigorous certification and validation flights conducted by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration, Transport Canada and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency. The Joint Operational Evaluation Board, featuring civil aviation authorities from the United States, Canada, Brazil, and the European Union, also conducted its evaluations of updated crew training. The 737 MAX has now completed around 1,400 test and check flights and more than 3,000 flight hours as it progresses through the robust and comprehensive certification process.
To adapt to the market impacts of COVID-19 and position the company for the future, Boeing continued its business transformation across five key areas including its infrastructure footprint, overhead and organizational structure, portfolio and investment mix, supply chain health and operational excellence. As the company resizes its operations to align with market realities, Boeing expects to continue lowering overall staffing levels through natural attrition as well as voluntary and involuntary workforce reductions, and recorded additional severance costs in the third quarter.
Table 2. Cash Flow
Third Quarter
Nine Months
(Millions)
2020
2019
2020
2019
Operating Cash Flow
($4,819)
($2,424)
($14,401)
($226)
Less Additions to Property, Plant & Equipment
($262)
($465)
($1,038)
($1,387)
Free Cash Flow*
($5,081)
($2,889)
($15,439)
($1,613)
*Non-GAAP measure; complete definitions of Boeing’s non-GAAP measures are on page 5, “Non-GAAP Measures Disclosures.”
Operating cash flow was ($4.8) billion in the quarter, reflecting lower commercial deliveries and services volume primarily due to COVID-19, as well as timing of receipts and expenditures (Table 2).
Table 3. Cash, Marketable Securities and Debt Balances
Quarter-End
(Billions)
Q3 20
Q2 20
Cash
$10.6
$20.0
Marketable Securities1
$16.5
$12.4
Total
$27.1
$32.4
Debt Balances:
The Boeing Company, net of intercompany loans to BCC
$59.1
$59.5
Boeing Capital, including intercompany loans
$1.9
$1.9
Total Consolidated Debt
$61.0
$61.4
1Marketable securities consists primarily of time deposits due within one year classified as “short-term investments.”
Cash and investments in marketable securities decreased to $27.1 billion, compared to $32.4 billion at the beginning of the quarter, primarily driven by operating cash outflows (Table 3). Debt was $61.0 billion, down from $61.4 billion at the beginning of the quarter due to the repayment of maturing debt.
Total company backlog at quarter-end was $393 billion.
Segment Results
Commercial Airplanes
Table 4. Commercial Airplanes
Third Quarter
Nine Months
(Dollars in Millions)
2020
2019
Change
2020
2019
Change
Commercial Airplanes Deliveries
28
62
(55)%
98
301
(67)%
Revenues
$3,596
$8,249
(56)%
$11,434
$24,793
(54)%
Loss from Operations
($1,369)
($40)
NM
($6,199)
($3,813)
NM
Operating Margin
(38.1)%
(0.5)%
NM
(54.2)%
(15.4)%
NM
Commercial Airplanes third-quarter revenue decreased to $3.6 billion, reflecting lower delivery volume primarily due to COVID-19 impacts as well as 787 quality issues and associated rework. Third-quarter operating margin decreased to (38.1) percent, primarily driven by lower delivery volume, as well as $590 million of abnormal production costs related to the 737 program.
Commercial Airplanes added the final 777X flight test airplane to the test program and the GE9X engine received FAA certification. In October, the company decided it will consolidate 787 production in South Carolina in mid-2021, which did not have a significant financial impact on the program in the third quarter. Commercial Airplanes delivered 28 airplanes during the quarter, and backlog included over 4,300 airplanes valued at $313 billion.
Defense, Space & Security
Table 5. Defense, Space & Security
Third Quarter
Nine Months
(Dollars in Millions)
2020
2019
Change
2020
2019
Change
Revenues
$6,848
$7,002
(2)%
$19,478
$20,168
(3)%
Earnings from Operations
$628
$754
(17)%
$1,037
$2,581
(60)%
Operating Margin
9.2%
10.8%
(1.6) Pts
5.3%
12.8%
(7.5) Pts
Defense, Space & Security third-quarter revenue decreased to $6.8 billion, primarily due to derivative aircraft award timing, partially offset by higher fighter volume (Table 5). Third-quarter operating margin decreased to 9.2 percent reflecting less favorable performance, including a $67 million KC-46A Tanker charge.
During the quarter, Defense, Space & Security received an award for eight F-15EX advanced fighter aircraft for the U.S. Air Force and a contract extension for the International Space Station for NASA, as well as contracts for nine additional MH-47G Block II Chinook helicopters for the U.S. Army Special Operations and four additional 702X satellites. Also in the quarter, the U.S. Air Force and Boeing team was awarded the Collier Trophy for aerospace excellence for the X-37B autonomous spaceplane. Significant milestones included inducting the 20th U.S. Navy F/A-18 into the Service Life Modification program as well as delivering the firstBell Boeing V-22 Osprey to Japan and the first MH-47G Block II Chinook to the U.S. Army Special Operations.
Backlog at Defense, Space & Security was $62 billion, of which 30 percent represents orders from customers outside the U.S.
Global Services
Table 6. Global Services
Third Quarter
Nine Months
(Dollars in Millions)
2020
2019
Change
2020
2019
Change
Revenues
$3,694
$4,658
(21)%
$11,810
$13,820
(15)%
Earnings from Operations
$271
$673
(60)%
$307
$2,013
(85%)
Operating Margin
7.3%
14.4%
(7.1) Pts
2.6%
14.6%
(12.0) Pts
Global Services third-quarter revenue decreased to $3.7 billion, driven by lower commercial services volume due to COVID-19, partially offset by higher government services volume (Table 6). Third-quarter operating margin decreased to 7.3 percent primarily due to lower commercial services volume and additional severance costs.
During the quarter, Global Services signed an agreement with GECAS for 11 737-800 Boeing Converted Freighters, secured a six-year P-8A support contract for the Royal Australian Air Force, and was awarded F-15EX training and services support contracts by the U.S. Air Force. Global Services also delivered the first P-8A Operational Flight Trainer for the United Kingdom Royal Air Force.
Additional Financial Information
Table 7. Additional Financial Information
Third Quarter
Nine Months
(Dollars in Millions)
2020
2019
2020
2019
Revenues
Boeing Capital
$71
$66
$205
$207
Unallocated items, eliminations and other
($70)
$5
($73)
($340)
Earnings from Operations
Boeing Capital
$30
$29
$47
$86
FAS/CAS service cost adjustment
$353
$364
$1,055
$1,093
Other unallocated items and eliminations
($314)
($521)
($965)
($1,731)
Other income, net
$119
$121
$325
$334
Interest and debt expense
($643)
($203)
($1,458)
($480)
Effective tax rate
49.6%
0.8%
40.1%
(350.6)%
At quarter-end, Boeing Capital’s net portfolio balance was $2.0 billion. The change in revenue and earnings from other unallocated items and eliminations was primarily due to the timing of cost allocations. Earnings from other unallocated items and eliminations was also impacted by lower enterprise research and development expense. Interest and debt expense increased due to higher debt balances. The third quarter effective tax rate reflects tax benefits related to the five year net operating loss carryback provision in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act as well as the impact of pre-tax losses.
Non-GAAP Measures Disclosures
We supplement the reporting of our financial information determined under Generally Accepted Accounting Principles in the United States of America (GAAP) with certain non-GAAP financial information. The non-GAAP financial information presented excludes certain significant items that may not be indicative of, or are unrelated to, results from our ongoing business operations. We believe that these non-GAAP measures provide investors with additional insight into the company’s ongoing business performance. These non-GAAP measures should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for the related GAAP measures, and other companies may define such measures differently. We encourage investors to review our financial statements and publicly-filed reports in their entirety and not to rely on any single financial measure. The following definitions are provided:
Core Operating Earnings, Core Operating Margin and Core Earnings Per Share
Core operating earnings is defined as GAAP earnings from operations excluding the FAS/CAS service cost adjustment. The FAS/CAS service cost adjustment represents the difference between the FAS pension and postretirement service costs calculated under GAAP and costs allocated to the business segments. Core operating margin is defined as core operating earnings expressed as a percentage of revenue. Core earnings per share is defined as GAAP diluted earnings per share excluding the net earnings per share impact of the FAS/CAS service cost adjustment and Non-operating pension and postretirement expenses. Non-operating pension and postretirement expenses represent the components of net periodic benefit costs other than service cost. Pension costs, comprising service and prior service costs computed in accordance with GAAP are allocated to Commercial Airplanes and BGS businesses supporting commercial customers. Pension costs allocated to BDS and BGS businesses supporting government customers are computed in accordance with U.S. Government Cost Accounting Standards (CAS), which employ different actuarial assumptions and accounting conventions than GAAP. CAS costs are allocable to government contracts. Other postretirement benefit costs are allocated to all business segments based on CAS, which is generally based on benefits paid. Management uses core operating earnings, core operating margin and core earnings per share for purposes of evaluating and forecasting underlying business performance. Management believes these core earnings measures provide investors additional insights into operational performance as they exclude non-service pension and post-retirement costs, which primarily represent costs driven by market factors and costs not allocable to government contracts. A reconciliation between the GAAP and non-GAAP measures is provided on pages 12-13.
Free Cash Flow
Free cash flow is GAAP operating cash flow reduced by capital expenditures for property, plant and equipment. Management believes free cash flow provides investors with an important perspective on the cash available for shareholders, debt repayment, and acquisitions after making the capital investments required to support ongoing business operations and long term value creation. Free cash flow does not represent the residual cash flow available for discretionary expenditures as it excludes certain mandatory expenditures such as repayment of maturing debt. Management uses free cash flow as a measure to assess both business performance and overall liquidity. Table 2 provides a reconciliation of free cash flow to GAAP operating cash flow.
Caution Concerning Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as “may,” “should,” “expects,” “intends,” “projects,” “plans,” “believes,” “estimates,” “targets,” “anticipates,” and similar expressions generally identify these forward-looking statements. Examples of forward-looking statements include statements relating to our future financial condition and operating results, as well as any other statement that does not directly relate to any historical or current fact. Forward-looking statements are based on expectations and assumptions that we believe to be reasonable when made, but that may not prove to be accurate. These statements are not guarantees and are subject to risks, uncertainties, and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict. Many factors could cause actual results to differ materially and adversely from these forward-looking statements. Among these factors are risks related to: (1) the COVID-19 pandemic and related government actions, including with respect to our operations, our liquidity, the health of our customers and suppliers, and future demand for our products and services; (2) the 737 MAX, including the timing and conditions of 737 MAX regulatory approvals, lower than planned production rates and/or delivery rates, and increased considerations to customers and suppliers, (3) general conditions in the economy and our industry, including those due to regulatory changes; (4) our reliance on our commercial airline customers; (5) the overall health of our aircraft production system, planned commercial aircraft production rate changes, our commercial development and derivative aircraft programs, and our aircraft being subject to stringent performance and reliability standards; (6) changing budget and appropriation levels and acquisition priorities of the U.S. government; (7) our dependence on U.S. government contracts; (8) our reliance on fixed-price contracts; (9) our reliance on cost-type contracts; (10) uncertainties concerning contracts that include in-orbit incentive payments; (11) our dependence on our subcontractors and suppliers, as well as the availability of raw materials; (12) changes in accounting estimates; (13) changes in the competitive landscape in our markets; (14) our non-U.S. operations, including sales to non-U.S. customers; (15) threats to the security of our or our customers’ information; (16) potential adverse developments in new or pending litigation and/or government investigations; (17) customer and aircraft concentration in our customer financing portfolio; (18) changes in our ability to obtain debt financing on commercially reasonable terms and at competitive rates; (19) realizing the anticipated benefits of mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures/strategic alliances or divestitures; (20) the adequacy of our insurance coverage to cover significant risk exposures; (21) potential business disruptions, including those related to physical security threats, information technology or cyber-attacks, epidemics, sanctions or natural disasters; (22) work stoppages or other labor disruptions; (23) substantial pension and other postretirement benefit obligations; and (24) potential environmental liabilities.
Additional information concerning these and other factors can be found in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it is made, and we assume no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as required by law.
SpaceX is targeting Thursday, October 1 at 9:17 a.m. EDT for a Falcon 9 launch of 60 Starlink satellites from Launch Complex 39A (LC-39A) at Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
Falcon 9’s first stage previously supported launch of Crew Dragon’s first flight to the International Space Station with NASA astronauts onboard and the ANASIS-II mission. Following stage separation, SpaceX will land Falcon 9’s first stage on the “Of Course I Still Love You” droneship, which will be stationed in the Atlantic Ocean. One of Falcon 9’s fairing halves supported two previous Starlink launches.
The Starlink satellites will deploy approximately 1 hour and 1 minute after liftoff.
Expanded SES constellation to deliver enhanced global connectivity services
Boeing [NYSE: BA] has received a contract to build four additional 702X satellites from SES as the leading global content connectivity provider increases the number of O3b mPOWER satellites in its Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) to 11.
These four additional O3b mPOWER satellites will enhance SES’s next-generation MEO constellation throughput and efficiency as well as expand its unique capabilities to deliver connectivity services ranging from 50Mbps to multiple gigabits per second to a single user. The system will allow telecommunications companies, mobile network operators, governments, enterprises, aircraft and ship operators, and more, to connect with their core network or extend cloud access worldwide.
Boeing is currently building the first seven O3b mPOWER satellites for SES. The first set of satellites will be launched in late 2021.
SES’ O3b mPOWER software-defined satellites are based on Boeing’s multi-orbit 702X satellite portfolio, which employs Boeing’s most advanced digital payload to date. The O3b mPOWER satellite constellation will integrate with existing network architectures to deliver global, end-to-end managed network services on land, sea and in the air.
Additionally, Boeing and SES have agreed to collaborate to develop commercially-based service offerings and capabilities that can be derived from current and future SES MEO satellites. Working together, the companies will develop resilient, interoperable MILSATCOM-COMSATCOM architectures to provide U.S. and other government users with robust connectivity across mission domains.
The 702X is a family of software-defined satellites that incorporates digital processors, advanced thermal management, optimized manufacturing technologies and simplified ground resource management tools. With thousands of beams that are formed in real time and can be pointed and shaped where needed, 702X allows operators the flexibility to specifically distribute power and bandwidth among users, maximizing useable capacity and eliminating wasted energy.
The Airbus built BepiColombo mission will make a fly-by past Earth on 10th April 2020 as it continues on its epic journey to Mercury.
The joint European Space Agency and Japanese Space Agency spacecraft will swing past Earth at about 13,000 km away, closer than navigation satellites (GPS, Galileo). It will be BepiColombo’s final glimpse of Earth before it continues on its seven year, 8.5 billion kilometre journey to the Solar System’s innermost, smallest and least explored planet, Mercury. The last time the spacecraft saw Earth was 18 months ago in October 2018, when it was launched on an Ariane 5.
BepiColombo is not due to arrive at Mercury until 05th December 2025, but to get there safely and at the right speed to be captured by Mercury’s gravity, it must do nine flybys of the inner planets, one past Earth, two at Venus and six flybys at Mercury. After arrival, the spacecraft will capture data for a year with the possibility of extending the mission.
BepiColombo will collect measurements to study the composition, geophysics, atmosphere, magnetosphere and history of Mercury as well as testing Einstein’s theory of general relativity. The 16 scientific instruments will also provide insights into the characteristics of Mercury’s magnetic field and how it interacts with the solar wind.
Philippe Pham, Head of Earth Observation, Navigation and Science said: “This flyby marks a great achievement and major milestone for Airbus. Teams across five countries worked together to successfully develop and launch the spacecraft on a complex mission to Mercury.”
The journey will total some 8.5 billion km, completing 18 orbits around the Sun before entering the spacecraft’s operational orbit and beginning scientific exploration of the planet Mercury.
Global defence company Nova Group is maintaining its projections of over $200 million revenue this financial year with longer-term goals to continue expanding its global reach. A newer focus on space is continuing to diversify the portfolio of the South Australian headquartered company that has invested more than $20 million on eight acquisitions across the globe to cement its footprint.
In South Australia, the company’s new Nova IGS Network is providing space ground connectivity for small satellite operators with the site now being used by international clients including Tyvak USA and RBC USA. Nova is also in talks with an Italian-based space company wanting to expand its presence in Australia.
Based on a 21 hectare site in Peterborough in South Australia’s mid north, the site is used to track low earth orbit satellites through customer’s own terminals and Nova has plans to attract further European companies over upcoming years. “Nova is also planning to utilise the site as a ground station test bed for emerging Space 2.0 technologies and support future defence projects,” a spokesman said. “Peterborough provides the vital ground segment element in order to allow satellite operators to downlink/download their data.”
Nova Group is marking 20 years in business, with Nova Systems founded by Jim Whalley and Peter Nikoloff and originally offering flight-testing services in South Australia’s capital city of Adelaide. It has since grown to having 600 employees working on projects around the world including with the Australian Defence Force, United Kingdom Ministry of Defence, Royal Norwegian Air Force and the Republic of Singapore Air Force. “With a solid foundation in the defence markets in Australia and the UK, and a footprint in space, transport and energy, I am very proud to be exporting Australian capability and know-how to the world and look forward to positioning to our next growth phase,” Whalley said. Nova was recently awarded one of four industry leads in the Major Service Provider consortium providing integrated support contracts to the Australia Defence Force over the next 10 years.
SpaceX successfully targeted Monday, February 17 at 10:05 a.m. EST, or 15:05 UTC, for its fifth launch of Starlink satellites from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida. A backup launch opportunity was available for Tuesday, February 18 at 9:42 a.m. EST, or 14:42 UTC.
Falcon 9’s first stage previously launched the CRS-17 mission in May 2019, the CRS-18 mission in July 2019, and the JCSAT-18/Kacific1 mission in December 2019. Following stage separation, SpaceX will land Falcon 9’s first stage on the “Of Course I Still Love You” droneship, which will be stationed in the Atlantic Ocean. Approximately 45 minutes after liftoff, SpaceX’s two fairing recoveryvessels, “Ms. Tree” and “Ms. Chief,” will attempt to recover the two fairing halves.
The Starlink satellites will deploy in an elliptical orbit approximately 15 minutes after liftoff. Prior to orbit raise, SpaceX engineers will conduct data reviews to ensure all Starlink satellites are operating as intended. Once the checkouts are complete, the satellites will then use their onboard ion thrusters to move into their intended orbits and operational altitude of 550 km.
PAYLOAD DESCRIPTION
SpaceX is leveraging its experience in building rockets and spacecraft to deploy the world’s most advanced broadband internet system. With performance that far surpasses that of traditional satellite internet and a global network unbounded by ground infrastructure limitations, Starlink will deliver high speed broadband internet to locations where access has been unreliable, expensive, or completely unavailable.
Each Starlink satellite weights approximately 260 kg and features a compact, flat-panel design that minimizes volume, allowing for a dense launch stack to take full advantage of Falcon 9’s launch capabilities. With four powerful phased array and two parabolic antennas on each satellite, an enormous amount of throughput can be placed and redirected in a short time, for an order of magnitude lower cost than traditional satellite-based internet.
Starlink satellites are on the leading edge of on-orbit debris mitigation, meeting or exceeding all regulatory and industry standards. At end of their life cycle, the satellites will utilize their on-board propulsion system to deorbit over the course of a few months. In the unlikely event their propulsion system becomes inoperable, the satellites will burn up in Earth’s atmosphere within 1-5 years, significantly less than the hundreds or thousands of years required at higher altitudes. Further, Starlink components are designed for full demisability.
Starlink is targeting service in the Northern U.S. and Canada in 2020, rapidly expanding to near global coverage of the populated world by 2021. Additional information on the system can be found at starlink.com.
