John Holst
@illdefined.space
Analyzing the activities, business, and outcomes of the space sector (and more). Sometimes my writing makes sense.
But it shouldn't be used very often. Ask Daniel.
September 28, 2025 at 9:28 PM
But it shouldn't be used very often. Ask Daniel.
(Interstellar Mapping and Acceleration Probe) satellite on a SpaceX Falcon 9 on the morning of September 24th (about 0730). That launch also deployed two other satellites with United Kingdom ties...
Read more at: www.illdefined.space/wither-europ...
3/End
Read more at: www.illdefined.space/wither-europ...
3/End
Wither, European Launch?
I have no answers, only more questions, about Europe’s launch rate.
www.illdefined.space
September 28, 2025 at 3:50 PM
(Interstellar Mapping and Acceleration Probe) satellite on a SpaceX Falcon 9 on the morning of September 24th (about 0730). That launch also deployed two other satellites with United Kingdom ties...
Read more at: www.illdefined.space/wither-europ...
3/End
Read more at: www.illdefined.space/wither-europ...
3/End
Three for the Price of One
While working at Florida’s Space Coast during the past few days, it’s hard not to notice launches happening at literally all hours of the day. I was there to support the launch of the IMAP...https://science.nasa.gov/mission/imap/?ref=illdefined.space
2/3
While working at Florida’s Space Coast during the past few days, it’s hard not to notice launches happening at literally all hours of the day. I was there to support the launch of the IMAP...https://science.nasa.gov/mission/imap/?ref=illdefined.space
2/3
September 28, 2025 at 3:49 PM
Three for the Price of One
While working at Florida’s Space Coast during the past few days, it’s hard not to notice launches happening at literally all hours of the day. I was there to support the launch of the IMAP...https://science.nasa.gov/mission/imap/?ref=illdefined.space
2/3
While working at Florida’s Space Coast during the past few days, it’s hard not to notice launches happening at literally all hours of the day. I was there to support the launch of the IMAP...https://science.nasa.gov/mission/imap/?ref=illdefined.space
2/3
Except for beer. One must have standards...
June 13, 2025 at 9:40 PM
Except for beer. One must have standards...
Long thread/END
However, the plethora of communications services in 2024 demonstrates that if companies perceive a need, they...
Read the article in full at: www.illdefined.space/making-life-....
20/20
However, the plethora of communications services in 2024 demonstrates that if companies perceive a need, they...
Read the article in full at: www.illdefined.space/making-life-....
20/20
Making Life Better? 2024 Communications and Remote Sensing
So many satellites... Does more mean better products and services? Or is there tunnel vision going on?
www.illdefined.space
April 13, 2025 at 5:13 PM
Long thread/END
However, the plethora of communications services in 2024 demonstrates that if companies perceive a need, they...
Read the article in full at: www.illdefined.space/making-life-....
20/20
However, the plethora of communications services in 2024 demonstrates that if companies perceive a need, they...
Read the article in full at: www.illdefined.space/making-life-....
20/20
Long thread/19
...were exploiting space in the 1990s. Better, the business case for either service (terrestrial television and internet) was already established. The service delivery technologies merely differed from their Earthbound counterparts.
19/20
...were exploiting space in the 1990s. Better, the business case for either service (terrestrial television and internet) was already established. The service delivery technologies merely differed from their Earthbound counterparts.
19/20
April 13, 2025 at 5:12 PM
Long thread/19
...were exploiting space in the 1990s. Better, the business case for either service (terrestrial television and internet) was already established. The service delivery technologies merely differed from their Earthbound counterparts.
19/20
...were exploiting space in the 1990s. Better, the business case for either service (terrestrial television and internet) was already established. The service delivery technologies merely differed from their Earthbound counterparts.
19/20
Long thread/18
Commercial markets served by communications satellites reflect the consumer demands of the period–television entertainment in the 1990s and global internet access in the 2020s. Of course, other types of communications businesses...
18/20
Commercial markets served by communications satellites reflect the consumer demands of the period–television entertainment in the 1990s and global internet access in the 2020s. Of course, other types of communications businesses...
18/20
April 13, 2025 at 5:11 PM
Long thread/18
Commercial markets served by communications satellites reflect the consumer demands of the period–television entertainment in the 1990s and global internet access in the 2020s. Of course, other types of communications businesses...
18/20
Commercial markets served by communications satellites reflect the consumer demands of the period–television entertainment in the 1990s and global internet access in the 2020s. Of course, other types of communications businesses...
18/20
Long thread/17
But by 2024, spacecraft deployments almost reached 3,000–for the year. Even when SpaceX’s Starlink satellite deployments were excluded, spacecraft deployments for 2024 still exceeded 800.
17/20
But by 2024, spacecraft deployments almost reached 3,000–for the year. Even when SpaceX’s Starlink satellite deployments were excluded, spacecraft deployments for 2024 still exceeded 800.
17/20
April 13, 2025 at 5:10 PM
Long thread/17
But by 2024, spacecraft deployments almost reached 3,000–for the year. Even when SpaceX’s Starlink satellite deployments were excluded, spacecraft deployments for 2024 still exceeded 800.
17/20
But by 2024, spacecraft deployments almost reached 3,000–for the year. Even when SpaceX’s Starlink satellite deployments were excluded, spacecraft deployments for 2024 still exceeded 800.
17/20
Long thread/16
Again, the markets focused on seem similar. However, the scale of satellite deployments in the last several years to serve those markets is impressive. A few years in the 1990s might have exceeded 100 spacecraft deployments.
16/20
Again, the markets focused on seem similar. However, the scale of satellite deployments in the last several years to serve those markets is impressive. A few years in the 1990s might have exceeded 100 spacecraft deployments.
16/20
April 13, 2025 at 5:09 PM
Long thread/16
Again, the markets focused on seem similar. However, the scale of satellite deployments in the last several years to serve those markets is impressive. A few years in the 1990s might have exceeded 100 spacecraft deployments.
16/20
Again, the markets focused on seem similar. However, the scale of satellite deployments in the last several years to serve those markets is impressive. A few years in the 1990s might have exceeded 100 spacecraft deployments.
16/20
Long thread/15
Great for their competitors but not so much for U.S. companies. And, like in 2024, the biggest imagery customers still appear to be governments. Regular consumers didn’t seem to have an appetite for imagery. It still seems that way today.
15/20
Great for their competitors but not so much for U.S. companies. And, like in 2024, the biggest imagery customers still appear to be governments. Regular consumers didn’t seem to have an appetite for imagery. It still seems that way today.
15/20
April 13, 2025 at 5:09 PM
Long thread/15
Great for their competitors but not so much for U.S. companies. And, like in 2024, the biggest imagery customers still appear to be governments. Regular consumers didn’t seem to have an appetite for imagery. It still seems that way today.
15/20
Great for their competitors but not so much for U.S. companies. And, like in 2024, the biggest imagery customers still appear to be governments. Regular consumers didn’t seem to have an appetite for imagery. It still seems that way today.
15/20
Long thread/14
...most were government-run. A few companies deployed commercial versions, but almost all used optical sensors. U.S. companies had the dubious bonus of being limited to delivering products of lesser quality to their non-government customers.
14/20
...most were government-run. A few companies deployed commercial versions, but almost all used optical sensors. U.S. companies had the dubious bonus of being limited to delivering products of lesser quality to their non-government customers.
14/20
April 13, 2025 at 5:08 PM
Long thread/14
...most were government-run. A few companies deployed commercial versions, but almost all used optical sensors. U.S. companies had the dubious bonus of being limited to delivering products of lesser quality to their non-government customers.
14/20
...most were government-run. A few companies deployed commercial versions, but almost all used optical sensors. U.S. companies had the dubious bonus of being limited to delivering products of lesser quality to their non-government customers.
14/20
Long thread/13
...gain market share. Iridium died, then started again. Teledesic, however, never became operational. But all were communications businesses that used space to serve customers.
Similarly, Earth observation satellites existed in the 1990s, but...
13/20
...gain market share. Iridium died, then started again. Teledesic, however, never became operational. But all were communications businesses that used space to serve customers.
Similarly, Earth observation satellites existed in the 1990s, but...
13/20
April 13, 2025 at 5:08 PM
Long thread/13
...gain market share. Iridium died, then started again. Teledesic, however, never became operational. But all were communications businesses that used space to serve customers.
Similarly, Earth observation satellites existed in the 1990s, but...
13/20
...gain market share. Iridium died, then started again. Teledesic, however, never became operational. But all were communications businesses that used space to serve customers.
Similarly, Earth observation satellites existed in the 1990s, but...
13/20
Long thread/12
...insurmountable challenge for some residents. For those residents seeking basic entertainment, or even more than the local option, DTH improved their lives.
A few examples of other communications services (Globalstar, Iridium, Teledesic) attempted to...
12/20
...insurmountable challenge for some residents. For those residents seeking basic entertainment, or even more than the local option, DTH improved their lives.
A few examples of other communications services (Globalstar, Iridium, Teledesic) attempted to...
12/20
April 13, 2025 at 5:07 PM
Long thread/12
...insurmountable challenge for some residents. For those residents seeking basic entertainment, or even more than the local option, DTH improved their lives.
A few examples of other communications services (Globalstar, Iridium, Teledesic) attempted to...
12/20
...insurmountable challenge for some residents. For those residents seeking basic entertainment, or even more than the local option, DTH improved their lives.
A few examples of other communications services (Globalstar, Iridium, Teledesic) attempted to...
12/20
Long thread/11
...more entertainment and information for far less than the cable company (which may or may not have even been available). The local and free over-the-air broadcasts likely paled in comparison, and reception might have been an...
11/20
...more entertainment and information for far less than the cable company (which may or may not have even been available). The local and free over-the-air broadcasts likely paled in comparison, and reception might have been an...
11/20
April 13, 2025 at 5:07 PM
Long thread/11
...more entertainment and information for far less than the cable company (which may or may not have even been available). The local and free over-the-air broadcasts likely paled in comparison, and reception might have been an...
11/20
...more entertainment and information for far less than the cable company (which may or may not have even been available). The local and free over-the-air broadcasts likely paled in comparison, and reception might have been an...
11/20
Long thread/10
For example, space communications in the 1990s relied generally on satellites in geosynchronous orbit, typically for broadcasting (including direct-to-home) only. If a person lived in the middle of Wyoming, satellite television offered...
10/20
For example, space communications in the 1990s relied generally on satellites in geosynchronous orbit, typically for broadcasting (including direct-to-home) only. If a person lived in the middle of Wyoming, satellite television offered...
10/20
April 13, 2025 at 5:06 PM
Long thread/10
For example, space communications in the 1990s relied generally on satellites in geosynchronous orbit, typically for broadcasting (including direct-to-home) only. If a person lived in the middle of Wyoming, satellite television offered...
10/20
For example, space communications in the 1990s relied generally on satellites in geosynchronous orbit, typically for broadcasting (including direct-to-home) only. If a person lived in the middle of Wyoming, satellite television offered...
10/20