Software Defined Radio Hardware Intern - Winter 2027

stc group and Astranis advance Saudi Arabia's connectivity with dedicated satellite. Space Technologies September 10, 2026 Dedicated satellite capacity to deliver enterprise-grade connectivity across Saudi Arabia's networks in 2027. The partnership gives stc group full authority over payload configuration, coverage, and in-region data security. SAN FRANCISCO AND RIYADH, September 10, 2026 - stc group, a leading digital enabler, and Astranis today announced an agreement to deploy a dedicated satellite serving the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The satellite, part of Astranis' Block 3 scheduled to launch in 2027, will expand stc group's portfolio of satellite communication services and enhance connectivity across the Kingdom. Countries around the world are increasingly investing in dedicated communications infrastructure, prioritizing ownership and control over shared capacity. Saudi Arabia's investment reflects the same shift, with expanded satellite coverage adding a further layer of redundancy alongside the Kingdom's existing fiber network and reinforcing communications infrastructure that is already a national priority alongside other key sectors. "As stc plays a key role in advancing Saudi Arabia's digital infrastructure, space has become a critical layer of our ecosystem, with dedicated satellite capacity central to how we deliver resilient, reliable, and secure connectivity across the country," said Mohammad Alabbadi, Group Chief Carrier & Wholesale Officer at stc group. "Astranis' speed and flexibility made them the right partner for this stage of that work. Together, we are setting a new benchmark for secure and reliable connectivity supporting the Kingdom's digital vision." This partnership gives stc group full authority over payload configuration and coverage, with data remaining in-region under enterprise-grade security. The model complements stc group's capacity in other orbits, further expanding the reach and resilience of its network. Astranis' satellite offering is built for rapid deployment, providing stc group with capacity on an unmatched timeline. "It's an honor to work with stc group to deliver dedicated, secure networks that support the expansion of Saudi Arabia's broader digital infrastructure program," said John Gedmark, CEO and co-founder of Astranis. "Countries require national control over critical networks and data, and we built Astranis to deliver it." This dedicated satellite is part of a broader wave of digital infrastructure investment already underway at stc group. The company has committed significant investment to a national network agreement, with phase one deployments already underway. About stc group stc group is a digital enabler, offering advanced solutions and driving a role in the digitalization process. The group provides a comprehensive suite of services encompassing digital infrastructure, cloud computing, cybersecurity, Internet of Things (IoT), digital payments, digital media, and digital entertainment. The group comprises 13 subsidiaries across the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Middle East, North Africa, and Europe. About Astranis Astranis builds advanced satellites for high orbits, expanding humanity's reach into the solar system. Today Astranis satellites provide dedicated, secure networks to highly-sophisticated customers across the globe - large enterprises, governments, and the US military. With five satellites on orbit and many more set to launch soon, the company is servicing a backlog of more than $1 billion of commercial contracts. Astranis is the preferred satellite communications partner for buyers with stringent requirements for uptime, data security, network visibility, and customization. Astranis has raised over $1.2 billion from some of the world's best investors, including Andreessen Horowitz, Baillie Gifford, BlackRock, Fidelity, Franklin Templeton, and Snowpoint, and employs a team of 500 engineers and entrepreneurs. Astranis designs, builds, and operates its satellites out of its 153,000 sq. ft. headquarters in Northern California, USA. Astranis Media Contact Kati Dahm: [email protected]

Astranis unveils perceptor, an SDA product for GEO. Thursday August 13, 2026 Waxing Crescent Payload in your inbox. In-depth research, exclusive data, and expert analysis on the business and policy of space. Get ahead of the competition.

New private 'Perceptor' probes will keep an eye on satellites high above Earth. Published 3 hours ago "There are blind spots that will be used against us if not eliminated." Satellites high above Earth may soon have fewer places to hide. San Francisco-based company Astranis announced today (Aug. 13) that it's developing a line of spacecraft called Perceptor, which will keep an eye on satellite activity in geostationary orbit (GEO). GEO lies 22,236 miles (35,786 kilometers) above Earth, an altitude at which orbital speed matches our planet's rotational velocity. It's therefore a popular destination for communications, weather and reconnaissance spacecraft - and, increasingly, an arena for off-Earth spying, as space powers seek to keep tabs on their competitors' activities. SpaceX launches secret US spy satellite - nails landing in Florida A SpaceX Falcon 9 launched the NROL-95 mission for the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida on July 30, 2026. Credit: SpaceX 0 seconds of 8 minutes, 59 seconds Volume 0% Astranis currently operates five satellites in this distant orbital realm, which "support the U.S. military, bring connectivity to remote areas and provide critical capabilities like GPS," according to the company's website. It plans to leverage and extend this expertise with Perceptor, helping the U.S. government and other potential customers learn more about what's happening high above our heads. The new line will be based on Astranis' "MicroGEO" satellite platform, so named because it's smaller than typical GEO craft. "Astranis provides mission-critical infrastructure for strategic higher orbits. What we found is our means to detect and respond to emerging threats to this infrastructure are sorely lacking," John Gedmark, Astranis' CEO and co-founder, said in a statement today. "There are blind spots that will be used against us if not eliminated," he added. "With Perceptor, we're meeting the increasing demand for security in GEO with our proven on-orbit platform and ability to produce at scale." Perceptor spacecraft will sport a variety of sensors, which will allow them to take the measure of other satellites and their broader GEO surroundings. "Multi-angle flybys can assess spacecraft capabilities, help troubleshoot anomalies on friendly spacecraft, and provide additional eyes in a domain where awareness has historically been limited," Astranis' statement reads. Each Perceptor will also be highly maneuverable, using electric propulsion "to traverse the full GEO arc, repositioning dozens of times over its mission lifetime," company representatives added. The statement does not provide a target timeline for the first Perceptor missions. But the need for such a capability already exists, as the activities of certain Russian and Chinese satellites show. In 2020, for example, officials with the U.S. Space Force announced that two Russian spacecraft got within 100 miles (160 kilometers) of an American spy satellite, behavior the branch's then-chief described as "unusual and disturbing." And, in 2023, experts announced that China's TJS-3 GEO spacecraft had taken close looks at USA 233 and USA 298, both of which are thought to be Space Force spy satellites. Spaceflight and Tech Editor Michael Wall is the Spaceflight and Tech Editor for Space.com and joined the team in 2010. He primarily covers human and robotic spaceflight, military space, and exoplanets, but has been known to dabble in the space art beat. His book about the search for alien life, "Out There," was published on Nov. 13, 2018. Before becoming a science writer, Michael worked as a herpetologist and wildlife biologist. He has a Ph.D. in evolutionary biology from the University of Sydney, Australia, a bachelor's degree from the University of Arizona, and a graduate certificate in science writing from the University of California, Santa Cruz. To find out what his latest project is, you can follow Michael on Twitter.