Amazon Plans to Launch Satellite Internet in Mid-2026
Amazon announced its home‑internet service, “Leo,” will launch in mid‑2026. The rollout will feature three antenna models—Nano, Pro, and Ultra—delivering up to 1 Gbps download and 400 Mbps upload speeds. Revenue commitments have been secured from partners such as Delta Air Lines, AT&T, Vodafone, and NASA, and the service will integrate with AWS for business and government users. Amazon currently operates 200 low‑orbit satellites and plans to expand the constellation to thousands, promising significantly higher uplink and downlink performance at lower prices than rivals.
Crew of Tiny Worms Readies for April 11 Launch to International Space Station
British scientists are sending dozens of *Caenorhabditis elegans* worms to the International Space Station aboard Northrop Grumman’s Cygnus XL cargo vehicle, launched on a SpaceX Falcon 9 on April 11. The worms will spend up to 15 weeks on an external ISS platform where automated...
Infleqtion and NASA Deploy Upgraded Quantum Hardware to International Space Station
Infleqtion, in partnership with NASA’s JPL, delivered an upgraded physics package to the International Space Station aboard the Northrop Grumman‑24 cargo flight. The new hardware enhances the Cold Atom Laboratory’s ability to generate record‑large atom clouds and reach ultracold temperatures in...
Space Force Awards Kratos $447 Million Contract for Missile Warning Tracking
The U.S. Space Force awarded Kratos Technology & Training Solutions a $447 million Other Transaction Agreement to build a ground‑management integration system for its missile‑warning satellites. The contract will initially support the 12‑satellite Epoch 1 constellation slated for launch in 2027‑28, followed...
Artemis II’s Success Sparks Excitement for Future Missions
I’m really happy to see all the love for Artemis II. I hope we can keep it going for the following missions. The fly by was great mission, but there is some spectacular stuff coming.
Space Force Awards GPS Ground Contract Amid OCX Uncertainty
The U.S. Space Force awarded Lockheed Martin a $105 million contract to sustain and enhance its interim GPS ground system, known as the Architecture Evolution Plan (AEP). The funding adds capabilities for launch, early‑orbit and disposal operations of the upcoming GPS...
Vancouver’s EarthDaily Analytics Secures Eight-Figure US Defence Contract
Vancouver‑based EarthDaily Analytics has landed an eight‑figure (roughly $10‑99 million) data‑subscription deal with an undisclosed U.S. defence and intelligence technology firm. The contract provides daily, AI‑ready satellite imagery covering tens of millions of square kilometres, sourced from the upcoming EarthDaily Constellation....
European Union to Restructure Its Space Bureaucracy
The European Commission announced that the European Union Agency for the Space Programme will be renamed the European Union Space Services Agency (EUSPA). The rebranded agency will take charge of operating Galileo, upcoming communications constellations, and security‑focused satellite projects from...
For 40 Minutes, the Greatest Solitude Humans Have Known
During Artemis II’s lunar flyby, the four‑person crew spent 40 minutes behind the Moon, completely out of radio contact with Earth. Commander Reid Wiseman and his teammates watched the far side with the naked eye, a first for humans, while sharing...
Advanced Solar Power Systems for Satellites in 2026
In January 2026 NASA’s Gateway Power and Propulsion Element successfully started a roll‑out solar array capable of 60 kW, underscoring the shift from traditional rigid wings to high‑power, low‑mass deployable systems. Multi‑junction III‑V cells remain the efficiency benchmark, delivering over 32 % conversion...
Space and Satellite Futures: Randy Segal Is at the Table When Space Law Gets Written. Now the Cohort Gets a...
In this 42‑minute episode of Orbited, veteran space‑law partner Randy Siegel discusses how she navigates the rapidly evolving legal and regulatory landscape for commercial space ventures, from satellite contracts to commercial space stations and mega‑constellations. She explains the challenges of...
Global Policies Governing Earth Observation Applications
Global earth‑observation (EO) policies are diverging as the United States clings to a Cold‑War‑era licensing regime, while the EU’s Copernicus programme champions free, open‑access data. China’s data‑sovereignty laws tightly control geospatial exports, and India’s 2023 space policy opens the market...
ESA Paid Arianespace About $96 Million for an Ariane-6 Launch
The European Space Agency has paid Arianespace €82 million (about $96 million) to launch the Sentinel‑1D Earth‑observation satellite on an Ariane‑62 rocket in November 2025. This is the first public disclosure of an Ariane‑6 launch price, positioning the vehicle against SpaceX’s Falcon 9, which...
TRAI Floats Satellite Spectrum Framework, Seeks Industry Views on Direct-to-Mobile Services
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) released a consultation paper proposing a Satellite Communication Network framework that would permit Direct‑to‑Device (D2D) satellite services using either Mobile Satellite Service (MSS) or International Mobile Telecommunications (IMT) spectrum. The initiative aims to...
TJ Green LLC Announces 29th Annual CMSE Conference & Exhibition
The 29th annual Components for Military & Space Electronics (CMSE) conference will take place April 28‑30, 2026 at the Renaissance Los Angeles Airport Hotel, featuring over 35 high‑reliability component suppliers. The program highlights keynote addresses from IBM Research, the Defense...
Is Space Exploration Worth the Money and Effort? | Letters
The Guardian published a letters page reacting to Zoe Williams’s claim that the U.S. space race is wasteful. Critics highlight the Artemis program’s roughly $100 billion price tag, arguing it could fund the UN World Food Programme for a decade. Supporters counter...
Artemis 2 Crew Discusses Spaceflight Risks and Canadian Collaboration with Prime Minister Mark Carney
On Flight Day 8 of NASA’s Artemis 2 mission, the Orion crew held a live dialogue with the Canadian Space Agency, Prime Minister Mark Carney, Industry Minister Mélanie Joly, and students across Canada. Canadian astronaut Colonel Jeremy Hansen, the first CSA member aboard Artemis 2,...
SpaceX Files Confidential IPO Paperwork, Eyes up to $2 Trillion Valuation
SpaceX has quietly submitted confidential IPO paperwork that could value the company at as much as $2 trillion, the largest public offering ever contemplated. The filing has triggered a wave of secondary‑market activity, a $5 million investment from Jet.AI, and an unprecedented...
Saxavord Spaceport Lost About $7 Million in Both ’23 and ’24; Andoya Launch Scheduled for Today
Saxavord spaceport on the Shetland Islands reported a pre‑tax loss of about $7.25 million in both 2023 and 2024, even as revenue rose 32 percent to £2.5 million (≈$3.2 million). The losses are tied to prolonged licensing delays by the UK Civil Aviation Authority,...
SmallSat Europe Speaker Focus: Daniel Bock, Morpheus Space
Morpheus Space, founded by TU Dresden researchers, commercialized NanoFEEP electric propulsion for CubeSats and larger platforms. After an in‑orbit qualification in February 2019, the startup raised a diverse 2020 round led by Vsquared Ventures with investors such as Airbus Ventures and...
Starlink Clears Security Hurdle, DCC Nod Likely Next Week
Starlink has satisfied India’s law‑enforcement security requirements, clearing the biggest regulatory hurdle for its commercial launch. The Digital Communications Commission is slated to meet next week, after which the proposal will move to the Union Cabinet for final approval. Executives...
Firefly Aerospace Prepares for Blue Ghost Mission 2 Following Historic Lunar Success
Firefly Aerospace announced accelerated assembly and testing for Blue Ghost Mission 2, its second lunar delivery slated for no earlier than late 2026 on a SpaceX Falcon 9. The mission follows the historic March 2025 soft‑landing of Mission 1, the first commercial spacecraft to touch...
Canada’s Spotty Support for Innovation Is Grounding Its Space Ambitions
Canada’s space sector is contracting despite recent high‑profile achievements, as the government cancelled the $43 million Canadian Lunar Rover and paused the $1 billion Canadarm3 program tied to the stalled Lunar Gateway. The cancellations expose a systemic flaw: the Canadian Space Agency...
The Space Force Might Get Its Biggest Budget Ever. Now What?
The episode examines the FY 2027 presidential budget request for the U.S. Space Force, a $71.24 billion proposal that more than doubles the prior year’s funding and includes major investments in classified R&D, missile‑defense architecture, and manpower growth. Guests Sean Barnes,...
India Takes a Step Closer to Direct-to-Device with Spectrum Consultation
India’s Telecom Regulatory Authority (TRAI) has launched a consultation on how to allocate spectrum for direct‑to‑device (D2D) satellite services. The regulator is weighing whether providers should use Mobile Satellite Services (MSS) spectrum or International Mobile Telecommunications (IMT) spectrum, a decision...
Lockheed Martin Outlines Strategic Space Technology Roadmap for 2026
Lockheed Martin released a 2026 space technology roadmap that emphasizes proliferated satellite constellations, high‑rate small‑sat production, and advanced defense payloads. The company’s Small Satellite Processing & Delivery Center can build up to 180 spacecraft annually, supporting the launch of 18...
Russia’s Latest Plans for Its Post-ISS Space Station
Russia’s Roscosmos unveiled a roadmap to transition from the International Space Station to a standalone Russian Orbital Station (ROS). The plan calls for attaching a new module to the ISS, then in 2030 detaching it along with the Prichal and...
All Operational, Underdevelopment, or Planned Human Crewed Space Capsules
In April 2026 Orion’s Artemis II carried four astronauts beyond low‑Earth orbit, confirming that crew capsules now serve lunar missions as well as orbital ferry work. The active capsule fleet includes SpaceX’s Crew Dragon, Russia’s Soyuz MS, China’s Shenzhou, NASA’s Orion, and Blue Origin’s...
The Role of Defense Spending in Expanding the Space Economy
Defense spending is reshaping the space economy by providing a reliable launch market, fueling large‑scale satellite constellations, and driving demand for data and analytics services. The U.S. Space Force’s Phase 3 launch manifest and the Space Development Agency’s Tranche programs have...
Orion Heat Shield Faces Critical Test as Artemis II Nears Reentry
NASA’s Orion crew capsule is set to splash down tomorrow, marking the final re‑entry phase of the Artemis II mission. Engineers have been monitoring the vehicle’s ablative heat shield since pre‑launch, when experts warned that the shield’s performance could be a...
SpaceX IPO Signals Rising Investor Focus on Space Economy
What SpaceX’s IPO Means For The Space Economy | @Forbes “While that prospect poses significant technical hurdles, it’s an idea that may appear more urgent to investors this week after Iran claimed to have hit an Oracle data center in Dubai...
OneWeb UK Cuts Costs, Boosts Revenue, Secures Eutelsat Backing
.@EutelsatGroup OneWeb UK reports 44.5% rev boost in FY 2025; opex down 17%; staff costs down 33%; operating loss, at $456M, down sharply from 2024. Letter from Eutelsat guarantees financial backing through June 2027 if needed. @AirbusSpace @defis_eu.https://t.co/m1k5YGix9u https://t.co/iTbKQhShKk
Planetary Science Caucus Rejects NASA FY 2027 Budget Request
President Trump’s Office of Management and Budget released the FY 2027 budget request that slashes NASA’s total budget by 23% and trims the Science Mission Directorate by 47%. The proposal would cancel more than 40 planetary missions, including the high‑profile Mars...
Unexpected Celestial Glitch Becomes Artemis II’s Greatest Gift
It was an accident of celestial mechanics, but ended up becoming one of the "greatest gifts" of the Artemis II mission. https://t.co/Tg8VGfIpjl
Board Liquidated Teledesic Despite $4/Share Payout, Shaping NGSO Regulation
Wrong. A decision was made by the board In 2002 to liquidate Teledesic even though there was enough capital to pay out shareholders almost $4 a share. Hundreds of millions paid. No bankruptcy. Teledesic's win at WRC created regulatory category...
228 - What Hidden Factors Decide Whether Space Missions Succeed?
In this episode, John Gilroy and Melanie Strickland discuss how modern space missions are less about individual satellites and more about orchestrating complex, cyber‑physical ecosystems that span space, ground, and cloud. They highlight that the real competitive edge now lies...
Senator Cantwell to Address Artemis II Crew Tonight
Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Ranking Member of the Senate Commerce Committee that oversees NASA, will speak to the Artemis II astronauts at 7:50 pm ET tonight (Apr 9). https://t.co/I7NKrWIWQG
Intuition Foresight Enables Seamless LEO Integration in Multi‑Orbit Satcom
ST Engineering iDirect's launch of Intuition Foresight underscores the rapid changes occurring in satcom since LEO broadband came on the scene. With Foresight, ST uses standard APIs to integrate LEO into multi-orbit networks in a 'fundamental shift' https://t.co/evhgolvaok
CBS News to Present "Artemis II Return to Earth" A One-Hour Special, Friday, April 10
CBS News will broadcast a live, one‑hour special titled “Artemis II Return to Earth” on Friday, April 10, from 7:30‑8:30 PM ET. Anchor Jericka Duncan will be joined by astronaut Suni Williams, Lt. Col. Dave Mahan and other reporters from New York, Houston, Washington, D.C., and San Diego. The program...
Moon Base Will Ignite New Space Economy Opportunities
We Are Going Back to the Moon to Stay “Establishing a permanent presence on the Moon will push the space economy into cislunar space, creating business opportunities for a new generation of American dreamers and entrepreneurs.” https://t.co/RpCm5sc77e #SpaceEconomy https://t.co/VPw2LVqmkX
SpaceX Poised to Own Every Layer of Tech Stack
SpaceX, across Musk’s constellation of assets, has a plausible path to owning every single layer. Chips. Models. Data. Internet delivery. And the rockets to put it all wherever physics allows. No other company has that opportunity. https://t.co/W4WPXCFNsz
Earth and Moon, Then and Now
In December 1968, Apollo 8 astronauts reoriented their spacecraft and witnessed the first colour view of Earth rising above the Moon’s far‑side horizon, a moment captured by Bill Anders and instantly became an iconic image. The photograph, known as “Earthrise,” symbolized...
Amazon Leo's Claimed Speed Edge Lacks Clear Benchmark
.@amazon CEO @ajassy's April 9 shareholder letter on @Amazonleo performance. Unclear what his point of reference is when comparing Amazon Leo to competing services available today - 6x-8x faster uplink, 2x better downlink and lower cost. @Starlink is a moving...
April 9, 1959: The Mercury 7 Debut
On April 9, 1959 NASA introduced the Mercury 7, America’s first astronaut corps, after a rigorous selection from 508 candidates. The seven pilots—Scott Carpenter, Gordon Cooper, John Glenn, Gus Grissom, Walter Schirra, Alan Shepard, and Deke Slayton—became the public face of...
Starlink 'Carving Out a Niche' In Urban US – Ookla
Ookla’s Speedtest data for the second half of 2025 shows Starlink shedding its rural‑only image, with five states—Florida, Massachusetts, Hawaii, New Jersey and Connecticut—recording more urban than rural subscribers. At the same time, the share of Starlink users achieving the...
This Founder Helped Build SpaceX’s Most Powerful Rocket Engine. Now He’s Building a ‘Fighter Jet for Orbit.’
Portal Space Systems, founded by former SpaceX Raptor engineer Jeff Thornburg, announced a $50 million Series A round that values the startup at $250 million. The company is developing solar‑thermal propulsion, which concentrates sunlight to heat propellant and deliver high‑speed thrust for satellites...
Portal Closes $50M Series A
Portal Space Systems announced a $50 million Series A round led by Geodesic Capital and Mach33, with participation from Booz Allen Ventures, Ark Invest, AlleyCorp and FUSE. The capital will fund the first flight of its Starburst spacecraft on Transporter‑18 and a...
Deutsche Telekom Upgrades Industry 4.0 with Starlink Backhaul
Deutsche Telekom has introduced a managed satellite broadband service for enterprise customers, leveraging SpaceX’s Starlink low‑Earth‑orbit constellation as backhaul for remote sites. The LEO connection delivers 30‑50 ms latency, far lower than GEO satellites, enabling real‑time industrial protocols for applications such...
Intellian Unveils Dual-Band Military Flyaway Antenna
Intellian Technologies unveiled a 2.4‑meter dual‑band tactical flyaway antenna at Satellite 2026 in Washington, D.C. The system can simultaneously operate on X‑band and Mil Ka‑band, making it the first Wideband Global SATCOM (WGS) flyaway capable of dual‑band connectivity. Designed for military and...
The State of Launch 2026
The launch market is hitting a capacity crunch as a million‑satellite data‑center constellation and monthly lunar missions drive unprecedented demand. Rocket Lab, Firefly Aerospace and ULA all report back‑logged customers and limited range availability on Florida’s Eastern Range, which supported...