The solar cycle, a heartbeat of stellar energyThe Sun follows a roughly 11-year rhythm of waking up and becoming very active before calming down again, a stellar beat known as the solar cycle. This affects Earth because it shapes space weather, determining how much radiation, magnetic field and particles the Sun flings out into space and towards our planet.
Japan launches Kirameki 3 military communications satellite with H3 rocketHELSINKI — Japan launched the Kirameki 3 communications satellite for defense purposes early Monday with the fourth flight of the H3 rocket. The Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) H3 rocket lifted […]
Globalstar soars on Apple’s $1.7 billion satellite investmentSatellite operator Globalstar stock closed up more than 30% Nov. 1 after disclosing Apple’s plans to inject $1.7 billion for a new constellation to improve space-based communications for iPhones.
Apple commits $1.5 billion to Globalstar for expanded iPhone satellite servicesApple committed about $1.5 billion to satellite communications company Globalstar to fund the expansion of iPhone services, the companies disclosed in a securities filing on Friday.
European Commission Accepts ‘Best-and-Final Offer’ for IRIS2 ConstellationThe European Commission has announced that it has awarded the contract to build its IRIS2 satellite communications megaconstellation to the SpaceRISE consortium, led by SES, Eutelsat, and Hispasat. IRIS2 (Infrastructure for Resilience, Interconnectivity, and Security by Satellite) is a European Union satellite project aimed at providing sovereign, secure, and resilient communication services across Europe and […]
International SWOT Satellite Spots Planet-Rumbling Greenland TsunamiData from space shows water tilting up toward the north side of the Dickson Fjord as it sloshed from south to north and back every 90 seconds for nine days after a 2023 rockslide. The international Surface Water and Ocean Topography (SWOT) satellite mission, a collaboration between NASA and France’s CNES (Centre National d’Études Spatiales), […]
Korean SAR satellite firm Lumir goes public; Shares slide after initial rallySEOUL, South Korea — South Korean satellite developer Lumir saw its share decline steadily following a brief rally on its first day of trading. Since going public on South Korea’s […]
SpaceX launches 4th batch of Starshield satellites for the NRO on its 100th Falcon 9 rocket of 2024The NROL-167 mission is the fourth launch to add satellites to the National Reconnaissance Office’s so-called “proliferated architecture” constellation. Liftoff happened at 10:13 a.m. PDT (1:13 p.m. EDT, 1713 UTC).
U.S. eases export rules for space tech, but high-resolution radar satellites remain under tight controlNewly announced reforms promise to ease restrictions on space technologies but strict controls remain on cutting-edge synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellites
NRO pushes back on criticism of satellite intelligence delaysThe NRO's new constellation of satellites, equipped with a range of sensors, is generating more information than ever before
China Roundup: reusable satellites, lunar EVA suits, and expanding spaceportsAs China prepares to increase its launch cadence further, there are plans to expand the facilities at both Xichang and Haiyang. Meanwhile, the first launch from the new Hainan commercial spaceport is expected very soon. Preparations are underway to launch the next crew to the Tiangong space station and return the trio of Shenzhou-18 taikonauts to Earth. Meanwhile, a reusable satellite capsule has also returned with experimental payloads and will be refurbished before flying again.
HydRON: Satellites using lasers for faster data sharingAt the International Astronautical Congress (IAC) in Milan this week, ESA signed a contract for Element #1, the first phase of the HydRON Demonstration System. HydRON, which stands for High thRoughput Optical Network, is set to transform the way data-collecting satellites communicate, using laser technology that will allow satellites to connect with each other and ground networks much faster.
Ciseres: AI-powered satellites for rapid disaster responseThis week, at the International Aeronautics Congress in Milan, ESA officially kicked off a new project called Ciseres, a small satellite mission designed to significantly improve crisis response times using artificial intelligence (AI). Part of ESA's Civil Security from Space (CSS) programme, Ciseres aims to enhance satellite capabilities to alert first responders and government officials within minutes of the occurrence of a disaster – such as floods, fires, landslides. The project is led and co-financed by Deimos, a European space tech company specialising in small satellite missions.
EarthDaily buys analytics specialist amid imagery constellation deployment delayAntarctica Capital has sold geospatial analytics provider Descartes Labs to EarthDaily Analytics, a company the private equity firm also owns, which has delayed its optical imagery constellation by two years to improve artificial intelligence compatibility.
How to prevent space collisions: the challenging journey of satellite deploymentsThe rapid expansion of satellite networks is one of the most exciting developments of our time, bringing high-speed internet and advanced communication capabilities to even the most remote corners of […]
U.S. Space Force taps commercial satellites for Hurricane Helene disaster reliefTacSRT operates as a marketplace where organizations can request specific data on disaster-affected regions from commercial satellite providers
ViaSat-3 satellite begins service for U.S. Marine CorpsThe satellite, which covers the Americas, is now supporting the Marine Wing Communications Squadron 38 and the 3rd Marine Littoral Regiment
Bridgit Mendler’s startup Northwood passes first test, linking prototype antenna to Planet satellitesNorthwood Space, the startup led by former television star and singer Bridgit Mendler, passed its first major development test last week by connecting with Planet Labs imagery satellites in orbit.
Backing the Backups: Ensuring satellites are ready to restore communications when ground systems failSatellites are the defacto communications technology when disaster strikes because of their resilience, broad coverage and speed to deploy. Space-based connectivity serves as a critical lifeline when natural disasters disrupt […]
Brightness of first Chinese broadband constellation satellites alarms astronomersThe first satellites of a Chinese broadband constellation are significantly brighter than those of Western systems, posing a new challenge for astronomers.




















