All articles tagged with #leolabs
A new, unidentified object was released from China’s secret Shenlong space plane, tracked by LeoLabs and later logged by the U.S. Space Force; the exact purpose is unknown but the event highlights growing space warfare capabilities, with possible uses like reconnaissance or disruption via rendezvous and proximity operations, amid a history of Shenlong’s secretive missions.
LeoLabs observed an unknown object near China's Shenlong spaceplane on June 22, 2026, concluding it was released from the vehicle and cataloging it as a subsatellite. The event mirrors prior Shenlong missions that conducted sub-satellite deployments and rendezvous tests, though public mission objectives remain undisclosed and the implications—peaceful servicing versus potential strategic use—are a topic of discussion among observers.
China’s Shenlong reusable spaceplane, on its fourth orbital mission, released an unidentified object in Earth orbit. LeoLabs confirmed the deployment near the spacecraft on June 22, 2026, noting the object did not match any catalog entry. Past Shenlong missions included long-duration orbits and sub-satellite deployments, but China has disclosed little about the program, fueling speculation about potential military, surveillance, or early-warning roles. Observers will monitor the object’s trajectory and any further spaceplane activity as the secrecy around Shenlong continues.
LeoLabs says China’s secretive Shenlong reusable spaceplane released an unknown object into a roughly 593-km circular low Earth orbit during its fourth mission, with the object first seen by Kiwi Space Radar in New Zealand and not yet catalogued in Space Force’s database as of reporting.
SpaceX says Starlink satellite 34343 suffered an on-orbit anomaly on March 29 at about 560 km (348 miles) altitude and is no longer in one piece; LeoLabs detected a fragment-creation event. SpaceX will monitor debris and pursue a root-cause fix, with no expected risk to the International Space Station, Artemis II, or Transporter-16.
Starlink-34343 suffered an in-orbit anomaly on March 29 at about 560 km altitude, losing communications. LeoLabs detected tens of debris fragments nearby and warned more could exist, though SpaceX and LeoLabs downplayed risk to the ISS and Artemis 2, noting the debris should deorbit within weeks due to the low altitude. SpaceX followed the event with a Falcon 9 Transporter-16 launch carrying 29 Starlink satellites roughly six hours later, while the company works to determine the root cause and implement corrective actions.
Two satellites, including NASA's TIMED spacecraft and Russia's inoperative Cosmos 2221, narrowly avoided a collision in space, highlighting the growing issue of space debris. The potential collision could have created thousands of fragments of space junk, posing a threat to future spaceflight and the International Space Station. With the increasing number of objects in low-Earth orbit, efforts to clean up space debris are underway, including innovative technologies and missions planned by various space agencies and private companies.
NASA's TIMED spacecraft and the defunct Russian Cosmos 2221 narrowly avoided a collision in low Earth orbit, coming within 66 feet of each other. The incident highlights the growing concerns over space debris and the need for improved monitoring and mitigation strategies to ensure the safety of current and future space missions. With the potential for significant debris generation and increased collision risks, there is a pressing need for better space traffic coordination processes and technologies. This near miss underscores the importance of addressing space debris and implementing measures to reduce the risk of future collisions.
Tony Frazier, former Maxar Technologies executive, is set to become the CEO of LeoLabs on March 1, while LeoLabs co-founder Dan Ceperley will transition to the role of chief operations officer. Frazier aims to leverage his experience in commercial space and national security to drive the company's growth, as LeoLabs expands its space traffic coordination system and develops a software platform for tracking objects in space. With over $120 million raised, LeoLabs operates a global network of ground-based radars to monitor objects in low-Earth orbit.
The Russian military satellite Kosmos-2570 has released two unidentified objects, Object C and Object D, according to observations by LeoLabs. This is not the first time such an event has been recorded, with a similar occurrence observed in 2022. The American authorities have expressed difficulty in distinguishing these objects from the satellites and have noted that they interfere with the operations of other satellites. The nature of Object C and Object D remains undisclosed, but Russian experts suggest they are part of the Lotos-S1 payload, conducting electronic reconnaissance for the Russian military.