Satellite Surge: Eutelsat's LEO Gains & Google's Orbital Ambitions

Eutelsat's revenue met forecasts due to its growing low Earth orbit (LEO) business. Meanwhile, Google plans an orbital data center with SpaceX and others. US scientists warn Congress about the termination of the National Science Board. SES reports soaring sales driven by airline demand.

Eutelsat, a European satellite operator, announced that its third-quarter revenue has met market forecasts. This result is attributed to the company's low Earth orbit (LEO) internet business, which provided substantial growth and helped counteract a decline in its traditional video services. Investors remain keenly interested in when LEO gains will entirely offset Eutelsat's legacy broadcast losses, especially following its recent $3.4 billion acquisition of OneWeb.

Google has revealed that it is in discussions with Elon Musk's SpaceX and other companies for Project Suncatcher, an ambitious plan to create an orbital data center. This project aims to establish solar-powered satellites integrated with Google's Tensor Processing Units, creating a space-based AI cloud network. The tech giant targets a prototype launch with Planet Labs by 2027.

Meanwhile, a cohort of over 2,000 scientists sent a letter to the U.S. Congress expressing concern over the Trump administration's decision to dismantle the National Science Board. The scientists stressed that this move hinders America's competitive stance against nations like China. On a related note, satellite operator SES reported a significant 80% increase in its constant-currency sales, driven by robust demand from airlines, sending its shares to the highest levels since July 2022.