Transporter 6 TLE Data Released; Qian
TLE orbit data now out for the Transporter 6 launch (Mar 30); nothing yet for last week's Qianfan launch.
Pad 2’s 33‑engine Plume Differs Noticeably From Pad 1
The exhaust plume from 33 engines on Pad 2 looks noticeably different than on Pad 1.
ESA Pushes Tb/S Optical Links; KeplerComms Lands Second Prime Contract
.@esa advances Tb-per-second HydRON program; multiple optical terminal providers, space and ground; @KeplerComms signs 2nd contract as system prime. @mynaric @mbryonics @Tesat @Vyoma_space #Astrolight @DLR_SpaceAgency @csa_asc.https://t.co/12Dn9ijeda https://t.co/6HfkJV0MWl
Progress MS-34 Fueled for April 26 ISS Resupply
Roskosmos reports completion of propellant and pressurized gases loading aboard Progress MS-34 spacecraft in preparation for ISS resupply mission on April 26: https://t.co/RJw3e4HJ5Y https://t.co/LELndrx6iy
NASA Picks Voyager for Seventh Private Astronaut ISS Mission
NASA has chosen Voyager Technologies for the 7th Private Astronaut Mission (PAM) to the ISS. Axiom Space got the first five, but it's expanding now. Vast got the 6th and now Voyager the 7th. https://t.co/2wNTeOpJYU Axiom, Vast and Voyager each are...
Voyager Secures Seventh Private ISS Mission for 2028
Just in: Voyager gets the 7th private astronaut mission to the ISS, joining Axiom Space and Vast Space. Launching NET 2028. https://t.co/m3wiSmrnkx
German Space Command Outlines Capability Development Decision Process
German @bundeswehrInfo Space Command: Here's how we decide if a capabiilty is best developed inside @defis_eu, @NATO or in a German national program. @esa @SpaceFoundation. https://t.co/UZ3q0oSTXA https://t.co/GQIi88DvEO
Space‑Based Solar Power: The Next Clean Energy Frontier
What if the future of clean energy isn’t on Earth… but in orbit? ☀️⚡ The sun sets. The wind stops. Demand doesn’t. On April 21, during SF Climate Week, we’re bringing together the people building the future of space-based solar power and...
Starlink Drives 75%‑80% of SpaceX’s $1.75T Value
Here's what most people miss about SpaceX: 75–80% of its value isn't rockets. It's Starlink. The satellite internet business that nobody believed in is now the backbone of a $1.75 trillion company.
United's Starlink Shift Leaves Flights Wi‑Fi Dead
A bunch of anecdotes making me think that as @united moves the fleet over to Starlink their ground station partner has cut them off. I know of 5 people on 5 EWR-SFO flights who haven't had wifi in the last...
SpaceX Targets Unprecedented $75B IPO, Dwarfing Records
SpaceX is chasing the largest IPO in human history. Approx $1.75 trillion. Raising $75 billion. The previous record? Saudi Aramco at $29 billion. We're in a different era.
Amazon Leo to Launch LEO D2D Network by 2028
A logical, but still unconfirmed, conclusion is that this is what @Amazonleo referenced by having its own LEO D2D constellation starting in 2028 and operating alongside Globalstar's network.
Iran Secures Chinese Spy Satellite, Enables US Base Targeting
‚Iran secretly acquired a Chinese spy satellite that gave the Islamic republic a powerful new capability to target US military bases across the Middle East during the recent war, according to a Financial Times investigation. Leaked Iranian military documents show the...
SpaceX Rocket Lights Up Concert Sky at SB Bowl
Watching the @SpaceX rocket launch over the @DBtodomundo concert at the @sbBowl - pretty epic https://t.co/VDta8rY2sz
Starlink Failure Creates Uncatalogued Debris, Orbit Now Decaying
Starlink 34343 failed on Mar 29 in a fatal energetic event which raised its apogee by 30 km and generated observed (but so far uncataloged) debris. Since then the orbit has undergone natural decay. Current orbit is...
Live on Mars with Elon: Tech Fanatics' Paradise
Go live on Mars with Elon @andrewsun_83 That's the land of milk and honey for insane tech fanatics
Ship 39’s V3 Achieves First Full Six‑engine Static Fire
Nice to finally see Ship 39 (and the first V3) having the first full 6 engine static fire. Looked great.
Rare Photos Reveal N1 Prototype Assembly and Pad Tests
A few new photos of the 1M1 non-flying prototype of the N1 rocket had surfaced on the Internet, documenting the vehicle during experimental assembly and on-pad fit tests. CONTEXT: https://t.co/LXWHDWCazM https://t.co/AwX1iqo78x
Hubble's Legacy: Long-Term Data Still Outshines New Tech
Is Hubble obsolete? With JWST now in space, it’s easy to assume Hubble is outdated. But long-term data is where Hubble shines.
Rigid Belief in Relativity May Stifle Space Exploration
🤔A question that touches my soul... Are we "demotivated" by our cognitive rigidity that accepts Einstein's equation of time dilation as the final arbitor of space travel? @ericweinstein @elonmusk
Precise Data Shows CSS Farther From Artemis than ISS
A more precise calculation gives a max CSS-Artemis distance as 419643 km at 2220:08 UTC; max ISS-Artemis was 419581 km at 2222:05 UTC. My earlier calculation neglected a coordinate frame precession between the Artemis and ISS/CSS data...
Soyuz‑5 Launch Window Slips as Issues Persist
Launch opportunities for the inaugural flight of the Soyuz-5 rocket are reported to be open until April 20, but more than a day after the first window, there is no official word on the status of the mission, as specialists...
Trump Pledges U.S. Lead in Next‑gen Satellite Connectivity
President Trump is restoring U.S. leadership in technology & connectivity. America will be first out of the gate with multiple competitors offering fast, next-gen connectivity straight from satellites to your smartphone anywhere in the country. Starlink, Amazon, & others are now empowered...
Europe Questions Gateway's End, Doubts Post‑ISS Station
An interesting view from Europe of the dissolution of Gateway, what it means for European boots on the Moon, and a discussion of working with JAXA and Canada on a post-ISS space station with Gateway elements. The latter idea seems...
Russia Claims Moon Territories Tied to Rosatom’s Selena Project
Russian officials began talking about "setting aside sovereign territories" on the Moon for Moscow. These seemingly far-fetched claims are linked to the Selena nuclear-power station project from Rosatom which we profile for our subscribers today: https://t.co/DJXLghOrrU https://t.co/SB4D5byjTG
NASA Announces Crew‑13 Lineup for Nov 21 Launch
Not sure when NASA will make it official, but Crew-13 will consist of: • Jessica Watkins • Luke Delaney • Josh Kutryk (CSA) • Sergey Teteryatnikov (Russia) Great crew. Launch date is NET Nov 21, 2026. (Which would be happy 24th anniversary to the lovely...
Amazon to Operate Globalstar Satellites, Launch Own System by 2027
Amazon told PCMag: “We expect the transaction to close in 2027, and at that point we plan to operate Globalstar’s existing satellite fleet, and their upcoming low Earth orbit satellites being manufactured by MDA Space, before deploying a next-generation DTD...
Seeking Fresh Questions on Starship HLS Beyond Usual Topics
Just so I don't miss anything in my deep dive on Starship HLS, let me know what questions you have BESIDES the dozen plus refilling tankers, height / tippiness of it, and using methalox as those topics are greatly covered.
Higher-Frequency Ka-Band Boosts Bandwidth, Shrinks Antennas, Worsens Propagation
To understand the Amazon acquisition of Globalstar start with physics. The wavelength becomes shorter as you move from L-band up to Ka-band spectrum which provides more hertz for moving bits and enables smaller antennas, but higher frequency means worse propagation. https://t.co/YcG2qfwol2
TaaraConnect Expands Free-Space Optics to Video Distribution and Data Centers
. @TaaraConnect , a Google X Moonshot Factory grad focusing on free space optics, has opened up a new video distribution use case and is exploring its role in both terrestrial and orbital data centers. @Light_Reading https://t.co/SzaYL7n8uq
Amazon to Power Apple Devices via Satellite Networks
re Truist note Amazon$AMZN to power satellite services for Apple devices. As part of the agreement, Amazon struck a partnership with Apple (APPL, NR), which currently holds a ~20% stake in Globalstar $GSAT, to continue to power satellite...
NASA's Nuclear‑Powered SR‑1 Targets Mars Launch by 2028
NASA has announced SR-1, the first-ever nuclear-reactor-powered interplanetary spacecraft, with a planned Mars launch before the end of 2028—a timeline experts call aggressive but exciting.
Rocket Lab Ramps up NZ-Built Gauss Thrusters for Constellations
.@RocketLab says its Gauss electric thruster is built in New Zealand, so no US tech-export control issues; now producing the thrusters at 200-per-year rate.
Space Force Secures Long‑Term Funding Stability Beyond FY28
After combing through the budget documents released so far, it looks like the increase in Space Force funding is enduring. While the service was highly dependent on reconciliation funding in FY26, and somewhat less dependent in FY27, the increases are...
Orbital Targets 2027 Launch of Space AI Data Centers
Orbital, a startup led by Euwyn Poon, aims to develop a system comprising thousands of space-based data centers focused on AI inferencing. Its first space-based test is slated for 2027. @Light_Reading https://t.co/rNIQfxf17B
From Bras to Space: Seamstresses Redesign NASA Suit
When a bra maker got the job of making the first NASA spacesuit In 1966, when seamstresses at the International Latex Corporation arrived at its new Apollo Suit shopfloor in Frederica, Delaware, they were essentially “taught to sew again from scratch.”...
GCL Optoelectronic Plans 2026 IPO, US Plant, Space Solar
GCL Optoelectronic targets 2026 IPO, US plant, space solar rollout #energysky -- via pv magazine global: https://t.co/rdA4GxUdCl
Apple Skips C‑3 Services as Amazon Plans 2028 Constellation
This doesn't specifically say what's happening to the C-3 constellation, but Apple is not getting the more advanced services intended as part of that constellation and Amazon is building its own constellation in 2028. Looks to me like C-3 may...
Amazon Leo to Enable Satellite Service on iPhone, Apple Watch
AMAZON X APPLE PARTNERSHIP Amazon $AMZN and Apple $AAPL just announced a new agreement for Amazon Leo to power satellite services for supported iPhone and Apple Watch models
Tanzania Urges More Spectrum for Satellite D2D, Cites Interference Concerns
.@GSMA @GSOA_SAT @Ofcom Tanzania #TCRA on @ITU proposal to release more terrestrial spectrum for satellite D2D at @ITU #WRC27. Cross-border signal interference remains an issue for many nations.https://t.co/8WrxIctTmQ https://t.co/s2CjjJDPSe
Ready to Fill Last‑Minute Artemis III Spot
Standing by, @NASA 👨🚀 If someone drops out last minute for Artemis III, I’m ready.
SpaceX to Reuse Booster Now, Engines Later
Interesting. So they will re-fly the booster itself on this mission, and the re-fly the engines in the future one. https://t.co/tHgcEEzzag
NASA Unveils ERNEST, Rover for Extreme Planetary Missions
Meet ERNEST: NASA’s Smart Rover Designed for Extreme Planetary Exploration by @spaceandtech_ #SpaceTech #Tech #Technology #EmergingTech #Space https://t.co/BmO3uxBCmv
SpaceX IPO Looms as Anthropic Tops OpenAI
SpaceX may be headed for a $2T public debut just as Anthropic takes the ARR crown from OpenAI. Add in lunar missions, orbital data centers, and AI that’s getting cheaper and more dangerous at the same time, and this week...
NASA Finds Humor Key for Mars Mission Crews
NASA ran a study on a potential trip to Mars and found the most important trait for team dynamics was humor https://t.co/tB3gQlKZPL
Questioning SpaceX, Starlink Subscriber Numbers for BEAD Program
Aren't @SpaceX and @Starklink behind trend in reporting new subscriber totals, @elonmusk ? Asking for @NTIAgov's BEAD program. https://t.co/mqR6fUsklF
Starlink Poised to Eclipse Combined Windows, Netflix, Spotify Users
Starlink will be the largest subscription product ever created. Bigger than windows (400m) Netflix (300m) and Spotify (260m) — combined. @grok remind me of this is ten years @grok build a model that shows the path of a 1B...
NASA Releases Moon Base Guide for Permanent Off‑world Living
NASA just quietly published something incredible. A map of how we build a permanent human presence off Earth. It’s called the Moon Base User’s Guide. Here's what's in it! 🧵 https://t.co/oMEKKo5O8Q
Better In‑Flight Wi‑Fi Will End Guilt‑Free Reading
starlink/leo competition is going to solve airline wifi and that means i will no longer be able to simply read a novel sans guilt while flying
Solar-Powered Satellites Enable Space‑Based AI Compute
Orbital outlines its vision for space-based AI infrastructure, using solar-powered satellites to overcome energy and cooling limits and scale compute beyond Earth’s grid. https://t.co/v0QjYh9BQC
