Accessing Satellites from your Mobile Phone, and A Curveball is Thrown at OSC

The FCC has approved a joint request from T-Mobile USA and SpaceX to waive several regulatory requirements, allowing more consumer smartphones to access satellite-based services under the Supplemental Coverage from Space (SCS) initiative.

The waiver permits handsets certified before June 29, 2024—but not yet authorized under satellite-specific rules—to connect to the Starlink satellite network via T-Mobile’s terrestrial infrastructure. This move aims to extend emergency and basic messaging services to remote and disaster-affected areas where traditional cellular coverage is unavailable.

T-Mobile and SpaceX argued that many compatible devices are already in use, but those devices can't access SCS because manufacturers have not updated their equipment certifications. The FCC agreed that denying access would be against the public interest, especially during emergencies, and emphasized that the waiver applies only to non-security-risk devices not listed on the FCC’s Covered List.

The decision follows successful emergency deployments of SCS services during hurricanes in Florida and North Carolina and wildfires in California, where no harmful interference was reported.

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NASA has awarded a contract to Momentus to support the demonstration of a Power Processing Unit (PPU) for Hall Thrusters. Based upon CisLunar Industries’ Modular Configurable Electric Power Converter (MCEPC) technologies, the PPU is designed to advance high Delta V Dynamic Maneuver and in-space assembly (ISAM) operations.

Under the new contract, managed by NASA’s Flight Opportunities program based at the Armstrong Flight Research Center, Momentus will host a payload from CisLunar Industries to conduct in-orbit testing of next-generation PPU technology and power management systems. This payload will be among several that Momentus will carry aboard its Vigoride 7 Orbital Service Vehicle, scheduled for launch no earlier than February 2026 on a SpaceX Transporter mission to Low Earth Orbit.

The mission will validate the technology’s performance, with real-time data transmissions to Momentus mission operations, enabling updates to PPU operating conditions in support of NASA’s ISAM objectives.

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The CubeSat market size is projected to reach $1.65 billion by 2033, growing at a CAGR of 15.6% from 2025 to 2033. According to a new report from Grand View Research, the market growth is primarily driven by the increasing demand for low-cost satellite missions, rising adoption of CubeSats for Earth observation and remote sensing, and advancements in miniaturized satellite technologies.

The surge in demand for earth observation and remote sensing is unlocking new revenue streams for the CubeSat industry. Government agencies and private firms are investing in compact satellites to monitor agricultural patterns, climate change, and urban development.

Rising interest in space-based Internet of Things (IoT) applications is also expected to accelerate the development of CubeSat constellations. Industries like agriculture, maritime, and energy are increasingly relying on satellite connectivity for asset tracking in remote locations.

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The first deployment test for a Redwire Roll-Out Solar Array (ROSA) for the lunar Gateway’s Power and Propulsion Element (PPE) has been completed. The Gateway ROSAs will generate an unprecedented 60kW - making these the most powerful ROSAs ever built.

The robust power supply will allow Gateway to offer extensive capabilities f