Former NASA chief Jim Bridenstine joins satellite internet firm Viasat’s board
Concerned about the digital divide, Bridenstine steps into the world of satellites
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Former NASA administrator Jim Bridenstine is joining space-based broadband firm Viasat’s board of directors as his latest post-NASA gig, after joining a space-focused private equity firm in January. Wading into the world of satellite internet, he says he’s concerned about the digital divide and the future of humanity, and he wants to try something new.
“When I left NASA I had a lot of different phone calls and texts on what I should be doing next or what I could be doing next,” Bridenstine told
Intelsat is evolving towards software-defined, reconfigurable satellite assets that will allow the company to direct high-throughput capacity “precisely where and when an airline needs it”, the satellite operator tells Runway Girl Network.
As part of this strategy, the McClean, Virginia-based company has contracted Airbus to build two OneSat satellites operating in multiple frequency bands. The OneSat product line is Airbus’ latest generation of fully flexible, in orbit reconfigurable, software defined satellites. Intelsat inked the contract with Airbus on 31 December 2020. The two software-defined satellites will be delivered in 2023.
“The Airbus Software Defined satellites will deliver powerful performance and a ground-breaking experience for Intelsat customers across multiple geographic regions,” explains Intelsat in a statement.
Delta Air Lines has inked a partnership with communications company Viasat that will deliver a new branded high-speed wi-fi portal to passengers on more than 300 of its narrowbody aircraft.
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