Deloitte is now officially in space!

With the support of SpaceX and Spire, our first satellite — DELOITTE-1 — has reached orbit. This marks an exciting milestone in our commitment to innovation and expanding Deloitte’s capabilities in space technology to better support our clients and partners.

It’s a small satellite with a big purpose. Huge credit to everyone who made it happen — a proud moment for our growing global space practice!

SpinLaunch has selected NanoAvionics as an exclusive supplier to build its 280-satellite Meridian Space broadband constellation in LEO under a 122,5M contract that includes two prototype satellites with an IOD mission planned for 2026.   SpinLaunch will utilize our standard, flight-proven MP42 microsatellite bus for the IOD mission and MP42's subsystems for the tailored constellation satellites.   Meridian Space is SpinLaunch's next-generation satellite communication solution, offering global Tbps capacity with a single launch thanks to the satellite's compact flat-pack design, efficient payload technology, and our high-performance, mass-efficient MP42 microsatellite avionics.   At approximately 70 kilograms each, the 280 constellation satellites are much lighter than currently operational SatCom platforms, providing significant performance advantages per kilogram.   Using SpinLaunch's proprietary suite of groundbreaking technologies, including ultra-efficient reflectarray antennas, first-of-its-kind orbital architecture featuring a repeating ground track, and simplified user terminals and gateways, Meridian Space will provide a low-cost, reliable, high-speed broadband service to global enterprises.   To meet the 280-satellite constellation production schedule, we will ramp up our manufacturing capabilities by adding a new assembly and testing facility to our European headquarters in Vilnius, Lithuania. Meridian Space plans to grow the constellation to at least 1,200 satellites, as outlined in the company's 2021 spectrum filings, and NanoAvionics aims to continue supporting SpinLaunch in scaling the initial network through our experience in serial production and system customization.   "The value and scale of the contract is a fantastic demonstration of our capabilities to build satellite constellations and bring them to orbit fast, allowing customers to generate revenue quickly," said Atle Wøllo, CEO of Kongsberg NanoAvionics.   Learn more about this next chapter of the NewSpace industry in our blog below.

Given SpinLaunch hasn't put a payload into orbit, I'm not sure how to process this.

Keep in mind the initial tranche of 280 satellites will be deployed using a traditional launch vehicle.

In an unusual twist, SpaceX has proposed setting up its role in Golden Dome as a "subscription service" in which the government would pay for access to the technology, rather than own the system outright.
The subscription model, which has not been previously reported, could skirt some Pentagon procurement protocols allowing the system to be rolled out faster, the two sources said. While the approach would not violate any rules, the government may then be locked into a subscription and lose control over its ongoing development and pricing, they added.

Imagining OneWeb as a Starlink replacement is like trying to swap out a Tesla Supercharger network with a handful of rusty extension cords.

The real question isn’t whether OneWeb can replace Starlink, it can’t. The real question is whether Europe will ever stop talking and actually build something meaningful.