Telesat Seeks Milestone Extensions for Lightspeed LEOs

Telesat is seeking additional time to meet the milestones set for its Lightspeed low earth orbit constellation. In an FCC Space Bureau application last week, it requested an extension of its Nov. 3 milestone, by which it is to launch and put into operation 50% of its 117 first-round satellites, to March 19, 2028. It also asked for an extension of its 2026 deadline for putting into operation the remainder of the 117 to June 10, 2028. It said COVID-19 supply chain issues resulted in contractor Thales saying costs and delivery lead times would be significantly increased "beyond anything that Telesat had anticipated or budgeted for the project." It said that resulted in Telesat's decision to instead sign a contact in August with MDA for construction of the constellation. Absent those milestone extensions, Telesat asked that its first processing round grant be terminated and its second processing round application -- which seeks a modification of the first-round grant -- be converted to a second processing round application. It also said the total size of the Lightspeed constellation would be 300 satellites, instead of 1,671.