Open Cosmos seeks deadline extension for broadband constellation

Open Cosmos says multiple ConnectedCosmos satellites are standing by for launch. Credit: Open Cosmos

TAMPA, Fla. — British small satellite specialist Open Cosmos is seeking more time to deploy its proposed sovereign broadband constellation for Europe after running into launch issues.

The company said Liechtenstein, which holds the Ka-band spectrum filings it is using for the network, has submitted an extension request to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) for the 144 satellites tied to a June deadline.

There “has been a Force Majeure situation, due to the removal from service of the PSLV launcher,” an Open Cosmos spokesperson told SpaceNews, referring to the Indian rocket’s grounding after a launch failure in January destroyed 16 unrelated spacecraft.

The constellation is also subject to a second ITU deadline requiring another 144 satellites in low Earth orbit by September. Together, the deadlines represent the 50% deployment milestone for the 576-satellite constellation, spread across two 3ECOM regulatory filings.