RF Engineer - Frequency Synthesis

Viasat launches Maxwell spacecraft to demo NASA satellite communications. Viasat will showcase its multi-band, multi-orbit space relay solutions offering resilient, always-on LEO connectivity for government and commercial missions. Viasat has advanced its satellite communications demonstration programme for NASA with the successful launch of the Maxwell spacecraft, marking a key milestone in efforts to deliver faster, more reliable connectivity for low Earth orbit (LEO) missions. The spacecraft lifted off from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida on October 20. ET aboard SpaceX's Bandwagon-5 rideshare mission. Built by Rocket Lab, Maxwell will support Viasat's work under NASA's Communications Services Project (CSP), which aims to demonstrate commercial satellite communication services for future space missions. The mission forms part of two CSP contracts awarded to Viasat, with a combined value of $81m. It supports NASA's transition towards commercial communications solutions as the agency prepares to retire its Tracking and Data Relay Satellite (TDRS) fleet. Over the next five months, with testing scheduled to continue through March 2027, Viasat's government space team will conduct on-orbit tests to demonstrate the capabilities of its Ka-band and L-band satellite relay services. The technology is designed to provide low-latency communications, allowing spacecraft operators to access mission data, issue commands and manage operations with fewer delays. The demonstration will target the growing demand for reliable, on-demand connectivity as low Earth orbit satellite constellations, Earth observation programmes, scientific missions and military space activities expand. By enabling faster data transfers and continuous spacecraft communications, the services could support time-sensitive operations for both government and commercial customers. Viasat's payload includes a space-qualified Ka-band terminal designed to access its high-capacity ViaSat-3 satellite network, alongside an L-band terminal that connects to the company's global L-band network. These geostationary orbit relay systems are intended to provide on-demand access to mission-critical data and enable real-time telemetry, tracking and command (TT&C) operations throughout a spacecraft's orbit. The demonstration will also test direct-to-ground communications through Viasat's Real-Time Earth Ground-Station-as-a-Service platform, which supports S-, X- and Ka-band frequencies. Together, the systems are designed to give operators greater flexibility in managing spacecraft and retrieving data for analysis and distribution. John Reeves, Vice President of Space and Mission Systems, Viasat Government, said: "Yesterday's launch represents the culmination of years of innovation, engineering and collaboration across Viasat, NASA and our industry partners. As LEO constellation operations, Earth observation and scientific missions, and military space activities continue to expand, the need for resilient, high-performance space-based communications to keep data flowing has never been greater. Our demonstration will show how new commercial services can transform LEO operations with continuous access and command and control of the spacecraft, enabling dynamic re-tasking and real-time data collection for government and commercial missions." Rocket Lab manufactured the Maxwell spacecraft at its facility in Long Beach, California, incorporating in-house components and subsystems, including solar panels, reaction wheels, star trackers, and flight and ground software. The company also supplied the spacecraft's power, communications, propulsion and attitude-control systems to support the mission. In addition, Rocket Lab provided a new L-band radio to facilitate the testing of various TT&C applications through Viasat's L-band network. The Maxwell launch marks Viasat's second demonstration mission under NASA's Communications Services Project. The company previously demonstrated its launch telemetry relay solution during the launch of Blue Origin's New Glenn rocket in November 2025. Through the latest mission, Viasat aims to demonstrate how commercial satellite relay networks can help meet the communications needs of increasingly complex space operations while supporting NASA's longer-term shift towards commercially provided communications services.

Viasat launched its Maxwell spacecraft on Tuesday for a NASA communications demonstration, part of two NASA Communications Services Project awards totalling $81 million. Rocket Lab built the spacecraft, which flew on SpaceX's Bandwagon-5 rideshare mission. Viasat will run five months of on-orbit tests through March 2027. They cover Ka- and L-band relay services and S-, X- and Ka-band direct-to-ground links. Rocket Lab built Maxwell at its Long Beach facility and supplied an L-band radio for telemetry, tracking and command tests. NASA is evaluating commercial services as it prepares to retire its Tracking and Data Relay Satellite fleet. It is Viasat's second demonstration under the project. Rocket Lab shares rose 4.8% on Wednesday, and Viasat gained 3%.

Abu Dhabi-based Space42 has committed about $1.7 billion to new projects as it seeks customers beyond the UAE. The satellite and AI company wants to double revenue to $600 million by 2030. Today, 90% of its revenue comes from the UAE and about 80% from government clients. Managing director Karim Sabbagh expects both ratios to move toward 70/30 within five years. In the first half of 2026, revenue rose 15% year-on-year to $260 million, with $18 million in profit. Last month, Space42 signed a binding deal with US firm Viasat to create Equatys, a shared platform linking phones directly to satellites. Space42 will commit $600 million and Viasat $400 million. It is due to launch by 2029. Sabbagh said the company may raise its spending plan, with a decision due at its investor day next month.