ASTS Clears Technical Hurdle, Targets Six Satellites Monthly
$ASTS just crossed the Rubicon With the largest commercial antenna ever deployed now operational, the technical risk is gone. Focus shifts to a production cadence of 6 satellites per month. Pitch by @CrossroadsOnX https://t.co/djAsgaqhct
Mars Missions Hinge on 26‑month Launch Windows
𝗠𝗮𝗿𝘀 𝗶𝘀𝗻’𝘁 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗯𝗶𝗴𝗴𝗲𝗿 𝗿𝗼𝗰𝗸𝗲𝘁𝘀. 𝗜𝘁’𝘀 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴. One thing that always fascinates me about space missions is this: SpaceX’s Starship does not fly to Mars in a straight line. It follows a Hohmann transfer orbit, an elliptical path around the Sun that...
Nvidia Launches Orbital AI Chip to Bypass Earth’s Energy Limits
Nvidia announces Vera Rubin Space-1 chip system for orbital AI data centers “Orbital data centers have been an increasingly popular proposition as AI demand tests Earth's energy constraints.” https://t.co/fWrKyLiAij #SpaceEconomy https://t.co/SBqD6vmYbz
Falcon 9 Reaches Parking Orbit, 10,020 Starlinks Deployed
Falcon 9 now in parking orbit. There are now 10020 Starlinks in orbit (although 25 of them are still attached to the Falcon 9 for another 50 min or so, until the stage's circularization burn and satellite deployment).
Most KZ-11 Payloads
Seven of the eight payloads from the KZ-11 launch cataloged in a 528 x 541 km x 97.5 deg sun synch orbit with 1030LT plane. The upper stage is in a 284 x 1059 km x 97.3 deg...
Yaogan 50‑02 Adjusts Orbit After Launch
Yaogan 50-02 cataloged in a 731 x 945 km x 142.0 deg orbit; upper stage did an orbit lowering burn to 573 x 836 km.
Italy Seeks ITU Extension After 2025 Gapfiller Loss
Italian @MinisteroDifesa to launch Sicral 3A & 3B milsatcom satellites on @SpaceX Falcon 9s in mid- and late-2027, asks @ITU for deadline extension following loss of gapfiller sat in 2025 that was to have reserved the spectrum. @Thales_Alenia_S @telespazio.https://t.co/JAq9HbXWwy https://t.co/fNQxtLFeoI
NVIDIA Teams Up to Deploy AI Computing in Orbit
Space computing is moving from concept to reality 🛰️ #NVIDIAGTC news: NVIDIA is collaborating with @AetherfluxUSA, @Axiom_Space, @KeplerComms, @planet, Sophia Space and Starcloud to bring AI and accelerated computing into orbit, powering geospatial intelligence and autonomous space operations. Learn more → https://t.co/YLdtwTat7C @nvidianewsroom @NVIDIAGTC
Satellite Show's Shortlist Overlooks Key Industry Leader Charlie Ergen
This shortlist for Satellite Executive of the Year makes me feel that SatShow no longer has its finger on the pulse of the most significant industry developments... (yes the SES-Intelsat merger is a big deal but shouldn't Charlie Ergen be...
Lynk Seeks Partnerships to Build World’s Cheapest Constellation
Lynk: "We want to build the most cost-effective constellation in the world. We need to build partnerships to compete against some of the bigger guys who seem to have endless money and ambition" https://t.co/HQZGajsIqU via Michelle Donegan
Spain Eyes Airbus Space for NG3 After NG2 Failure
Spain's @Defensagob, #Hisdesat on verge of selecting @AirbusSpace to replace Airbus SpainSat NG2 sat, which failed 5 wks after launch from 'impact of high-energy space particle in critical area of satellite.' SpainSat NG3 replacement could launch in 2030.https://t.co/l5TJ7Tc01C https://t.co/nHIzh6iWXD
T‑Mobile’s T‑Satellite Adds Starlink Support, Ready for AST SpaceMobile
"Operations on T-Mobile’s T-Satellite service powered by Starlink will be supported immediately, but it also is designed to work with AST SpaceMobile—the satellite D2D provider for AT&T and Verizon in the U.S." https://t.co/FBUFQLhMfg Noteworthy that enterprise devices have this
Chinese Astronauts Install Debris Shields During 7‑hour Spacewalk
Astronauts Zhang Lu and Wu Fei made a spacewalk from the Chinese Space Station from about 0430 UTC until 1135 UTC Mar 16, continuing installation of external debris protection panels https://t.co/GKPg66uFEF
Progress MS-31 Departs ISS, Paving Path for Next Resupply
Progress MS-31 undocks from ISS to clear the way for the next resupply mission: https://t.co/8NFAf26ZvR https://t.co/rvJcBU6rTq
A Century-Old Secret Space Dream Ignored by Everyone
100 years since someone had a crazy idea and believed in it. Only Goddard, his wife Esther, and a couple of assistants witnessed it. It didn't even make the local newspapers, and Goddard kept details secret for years afterward due to...
Progress MS-31 Undocks From ISS Poisk Module
The Progress MS-31 cargo ship undocked from the ISS Poisk module at about 1324:12 UTC Mar 16
United Leads with Starlink‑powered Seatback IFE
Connected seatback IFE is on the horizon and @united, which is installing @Starlink across its fleet, is leading the charge. "They're starting to lead this industry in digital engagement," says Andy Masson of @PanasonicAero, United's IFE provider. https://t.co/WJIZdT2yiC #PaxEx https://t.co/LrBgB4gR44
Astroscale Shifts Focus to Military, Secures 2028 Deorbit Contract
@astroscale_HQ: record rev, reduced loss for 9 months to Jan. 31; commercial GEO life-extension mission looks uncertain; contract w/@isaraerospace for ELSA-M to deorbit @EutelsatGroup OneWeb sat, in 2028. Security/military is where main market is now.https://t.co/qQthiO1SI0 https://t.co/8lBc4kQgMD
Kuaizhou-11 Deploys Eight Commercial Satellites
LAUNCH at 0412 UTC Mar 16 of a Kuaizhou-11 from Jiuquan, putting eight commercial sats in orbit: Juntian-1-04A, Dongpo-11, Dongpo-12, Dongpo-16, Weitong-1-01, Xiguang-1-06, Yuxing-3-05, and Yuxing-3-06.
Starlink’s First 100K Terminals Cost $2,500 Each
Starlink is a good example of this, everyone now seems to forget that the first 100K+ terminals cost ~$2500 each to make...
Starlink Stats Updated, Dummy Simulators Removed From Totals
Starlink stats pages updated at https://t.co/m5QkzkhI2u By popular demand I have now excluded the dummy Starlink simulators from the grand totals.
SpaceX IPO Targets June 9, Citing Cash Flow Limits
SpaceX potentially IPO’ing on 6/9 (69). Musk wanted to keep his companies private as long as possible so the IPO will set off rumors that private markets can’t shoulder the cashflow needs of SpaceX’s spending. The IPO is allegedly time to align...
China Launches Second Yaogan‑50 on CZ‑6A
LAUNCH at 1322 UTC Mar 15 of a Chang Zheng 6A from Taiyuan with the second Yaogan-50 satellite. The first Yaogan-50 is in a 950 km retrograde (142 deg inclination) orbit.
Space Launches Surge: 4,500 Objects in 2025
As many of you know, I’m thinking more about the Space-Tech intersection with national defense and physical AI era we are about to be entering in. SpaceX’s IPO is symbolic. The race of rocket launches is about to accelerate wildly in...
GITAI Unveils Centaur Robot for Lunar Terrain
GITAI’s Centaur-Like #Robot Is Built to Work on the Moon’s Harsh Terrain by @CyberRobooo #Robotics #MachineLearning #ArtificialIntelligence #ML https://t.co/DxdXcnoGMB
Honda Leverages Decades of Combustion Mastery for Reusable Rocket
The Ascent of Precision: Why Honda’s Reusable Rocket Isn’t Just a Car Company’s Hobby - This wasn’t merely a Japanese automotive giant dabbling in space; this was Honda applying the rigorous, decades-long mastery of combustion and control systems.. https://t.co/MBZjOVVkSC
Iridium’s Rapid Downpayment Saved SpaceX’s Payroll
The second time was June 2010 when Iridium had to wire the downpayment immediately after signing the launch contract so SpaceX could make payroll the next day https://t.co/UeIt4PAY4O
Starlink Dominates D2D; Terrestrial Networks Still Superior
Good to see the #cluelesscult finally acknowledging that my Feb 2023 predictions that 1) Starlink would dominate the D2D market and 2) D2D performance will never match terrestrial networks were both totally correct...
Chinese Ceramic Endures 3272°F, Transforming Space Heat Shields
#WhatsNext? Scientists in China created ceramics that survive 3272°F, 1800°C! Could revolutionize how heat shields are used by spacecraft. (Engineering Post) #NewMaterials https://t.co/Wr6wLsUfxe
Starlink Count Corrected to 9,967, Not 9,969
I've spent the evening chasing down errors in my data files. Please be aware that the total number of Starlinks currently in orbit is actually only 9967, and not 9969 as shown right now on my web page (should update...
Doc Shoemaker's First XB-1 Taxi Test Delivers Golden Audio
Back when “Doc” Shoemaker had fun doing XB-1’s first (baby) taxi test. The audio is gold. https://t.co/BgoVqX0zOd
Shiyan and CZ-2D Upper Stages Cataloged; Others Untracked
Shiyan 30-03, 30-04 and the CZ-2D upper stage cataloged in 587 x 593 km x 35.0 deg orbits following their launch on Mar 12. No orbit data yet for SatNet-LEO12 or Tenkoh-2.
Progress MS-33 Sealed in Fairing for March 22 ISS Launch
Progress MS-33 cargo ship was encapsulated inside its fairing in preparation for an ISS resupply mission scheduled to lift off on March 22: https://t.co/mN4Hi2mIUG https://t.co/13WiUz4NSF
Ariane 6 Poised as Amazon Leo’s Workhorse
Who had Ariane 6 as the booster that would emerge from the Vulcan/New Glenn/Ariane 6 triumvirate of new rockets to become a workhorse for Amazon Leo?
Chinese AI Turns Commercial Satellite Data Into Intelligence
Chinese AI Startup Watching US Military Assets in Middle East From Space So are a lot of actors... “The value of MizarVision’s output is not the raw satellite image. Any government can purchase commercial satellite passes. The value is the AI...
Space Community Unites Behind NASA Authorization Act
Senate Commerce "WTAS" (What They are Saying) press release about the broad support in the space community for the NASA authorization act. https://t.co/6F7LmDkbDe
Guardian ISR Constellation to Lead Missile Defense, Launches 2027
.@Leonardo_live: Guardian ISR constellation a centerpiece of missile-defense dome; launches start 2027/28; space division CAGR >20% 2026-2030. @telespazio @thalesgroup @AirbusSpace @defis_eu @NATO.https://t.co/2TbiKQFFQ5 https://t.co/Z2WRU6VQv9
Space
In this week's Rocket Report: • Artemis II clears flight readiness review • SpaceX activates second Starbase launch pad • Firefly successfully returns to flight • Pentagon orders high-altitude missile interceptors https://t.co/MhSVS4wljv
U.S. Aims for Permanent Moon Base by 2030
The US Plans to Break Ground on a Permanent Moon Base by 2030. Here's What It Will Take. https://t.co/iFMEKPvEh5 https://t.co/ba8zh0uL7V
Astroscale UK Plans 2028 ELSA-M Satellite Deorbit Mission
.@Astroscale_UK to launch ELSA-M mission to deorbit @EutelsatGroup OneWeb sat on @isaraerospace Spectrum rocket in Japan's FY ending April 2028 "or later," @astroscale_HQ told investors. Launch to be from @AndoyaSpace Norway or Europe's Guiana Space Center. @esa @spacegovuk https://t.co/JrgZkgjmMZ
Wi‑Fi Can't Instantly Fix Indoor Satellite D2D Issues
No, Wi-Fi isn’t a simple overnight solution to solve the problem of satellite D2D not working indoors: https://t.co/CuHz7rOGwU
Cygnus NG-23 Unberthed by Canadarm‑2 at 1106 UTC March 12
The Cygnus NG-23 cargo ship was released into orbit by Canadarm-2 at 1106 UTC Mar 12; it has been at ISS since Dec 1. [I don't have the unberthing time, anyone have it?]
Xichang CZ-2D Launch Deploys Shiyan‑30‑03/04
LAUNCH at 2233 UTC Mar 12 of a CZ-2D from Xichang with the 试验三十号卫星03、04星 (Shiyan 30-03 and 30-04) satellites
NASA Plans March 18 Spacewalk Before Crew Return
NASA astronauts Jessica Meir and Chris Williams will do a spacewalk (#94) on March 18. Spacewalk 95 will be soon after, crew TBA. NASA bfg on March 16, 2:00 pm ET These are the EVAs Crew-11 intended to do before...
China Resumes Launches with CZ‑8A, Nine LEO Satellites
LAUNCH at 1948 UTC of a Chang Zheng 8A from Hainan Commercial Spaceport of nine Xingwang Digui (SatNet LEO) Group 20 satellites, the first Chinese orbital launch in a month after an unusual stand-down
Voyager Expands Infrastructure to Meet Soaring Demand
Important new piece of infrastructure for Voyager in response to increasing demand for our technology. Also great to be alongside great partners like @anduriltech and @The_TrueAnomaly $VOYG
Lynk Architecture Cuts Costs by Splitting Functions
“we like the Lynk architecture. It’s a unique design which puts certain functions up in the satellite, certain functions on the ground and this will deliver an overall lower-cost business case,” via @malleven33 https://t.co/QPfqnMP3XF
Avio Posts Record 2025 Earnings, Fuels US Defense Expansion
Space-launch, defense propulsion manufacturer @Avio_Group reports record rev, profit, EBITDA for 2025 w/ Vega-C & Ariane 6 rocket successes . Launcher profit to fund buildup of US defense business. @esa @ASI_spazio @ArianeGroup @Arianesace.https://t.co/pdVgkR5CeO https://t.co/xHn1y6vHnp
Firefly Alpha Launch Successful, Satellite Placed in Precise Orbit
The Firefly Alpha launch appears to have been fully successful. The LM-400 test satellite is being tracked in a 401 x 405 km x 123.0 deg orbit, and the Alpha second stage made a perigee lowering burn at about...
Defining a Lunar Base: Landers, Proximity, Night Survival
This does get to the question of what is a “lunar base”. Is one CLPS lander the first element of a lunar base? Two, near each other? Do they have to survive the lunar night??
