Tag

Low Earth Orbit

All articles tagged with #low earth orbit

technology3 days ago•13 min saved

Starlink Tops 11,000 Satellites, Accounting for About Two-Thirds of All Active Spacecraft

SpaceX’s Starlink network pushed past 11,000 satellites on 19 August 2026, roughly two-thirds of all active spacecraft. Counts depend on definitions (in orbit vs. operational vs. launched) and cataloging methods, but the milestone marks a major concentration of space assets in low Earth orbit and signals ongoing launches to refresh and expand the network amid increasing traffic and regulatory considerations.

via Space Daily|

#low-earth-orbit #orbital-congestion #satellites

science8 days ago•14 min saved

Starlink’s Dominance Grows: SpaceX Controls About Two-Thirds of Active Orbits by 2026

Look Up’s June 2026 space index counted 15,711 active satellites, with 10,365 of them belonging to SpaceX’s Starlink (about 66%), signaling an eightfold rise since 2019. The piece emphasizes that ‘active’ counts are snapshot-based and vary by catalog, noting more than 33,000 objects are tracked overall. The rise reflects a shift to industrial-scale, concentrated low-Earth-orbit usage, giving Starlink outsized influence on launch demand and orbital norms, while automation (ESA’s CREAM) seeks to streamline collision avoidance as fleets grow.

via Space Daily|

#low-earth-orbit #orbital-traffic #satellites

technology1 month ago•12 min saved

Xona readies a 258-satellite Pulsar network for centimeter-precision PNT from space

Xona Space Systems aims to deploy a 258-satellite Pulsar constellation in low-Earth orbit to deliver GPS-like PNT with signals up to 100 times stronger than traditional GNSS, enabling centimeter-level positioning and robust timing even indoors or in jammed areas. Six production satellites are planned for launch in Oct 2026 with commercial service starting in 2027, building on Pulsar-0’s 2025 flight and live jamming tests. The system is designed to work with existing L1/L5 receivers, and Xona is rolling out a Pulsar Verified program to onboard hardware partners, while competitors like TrustPoint pursue similar LEO-PNT efforts.

via Ars Technica|

#gps-alternative #low-earth-orbit #pnt

science1 month ago•13 min saved

US approves giant space-mirror test to beam sunlight on demand, sparking concerns about crowded low-Earth orbit

The FCC has approved Reflect Orbital to test Earendil-1, a satellite designed to reflect sunlight back to Earth for solar energy and broad lighting, with plans for a 50,000-satellite fleet by 2035. The initiative raises safety and ethical concerns including health and circadian disruptions, interference with telescopes and pilots, and significant environmental costs from launches and debris, all amid a crowded near-Earth space with SpaceX’s Starlink megaconstellations. The piece frames this as an innovation challenge requiring careful assessment of risks vs. benefits and potentially stronger governance to manage orbital resources and avoid harm to astronomy, aviation, and the atmosphere.

via The Conversation|

#earendil-1 #low-earth-orbit #reflect-orbital

technology1 month ago•6 min saved

NASA opens door to private space stations as ISS horizon narrows

NASA released a draft RFP outlining requirements and funding for privately operated space stations in low-Earth orbit, aiming to fill the post-ISS gap by around 2030. Industry players such as Axiom Space, Vast, Voyager, Blue Origin, and SpaceX welcome the clarity but express concern about the heavy requirements (thousands of items), funding levels (possibly up to $1.5 billion over five years), and how many winners will win contracts. The final RFP could arrive by September with bids next spring, signaling a race to establish a commercial space station market with NASA as a key customer.

via Ars Technica|

#draft-rfp #low-earth-orbit #nasa

technology1 month ago•4 min saved

Amazon’s Leo Satellite Network Edges Toward Global Internet Service

Amazon says its Leo (formerly Project Kuiper) constellation has surpassed 390 satellites after 29 new spacecraft, moving toward commercial service later this year. The project aims to deliver high-speed, low-latency internet with up to about 7,700 LEO satellites, a major challenge to SpaceX’s Starlink. Launches involve ULA, Arianespace, Blue Origin, and SpaceX, with a shift from Atlas V to Vulcan to enable larger satellite batches. Despite supply chain delays and a Blue Origin test-vehicle explosion, Amazon has built ready-to-fly spacecraft and an integration center to speed deployments, and initial service will roll out in limited geographies while AWS integration could open enterprise use. Expansion is planned to span dozens of countries as the network scales.

via | Cord Cutters News|

#amazon #broadband #low-earth-orbit

space1 month ago•13 min saved

ISS retirement could place Tiangong as Earth’s only permanently crewed orbital outpost

The Wolf Amendment of 2011 blocked NASA-Chinese cooperation, steering China to build its own space station, Tiangong, while the ISS remains the international hub. With the ISS planned to retire around 2030 and no proven commercial crewed replacement ready, Tiangong could become the only permanently crewed outpost in low Earth orbit—though that outcome depends on whether commercial stations can reach readiness in time and on how NASA shifts to private operators. Tiangong’s ongoing crew rotations and infrastructure contrast with the ISS’s multi-country governance, creating a real strategic reshuffle in who occupies and controls the near-Earth space lab landscape.

via Space Daily|

#commercial-space-station #iss #low-earth-orbit

space1 month ago•15 min saved

Megaconstellations shrink Low Earth Orbit’s safety margin from months to days

Researchers introduce the CRASH Clock to estimate how long low Earth orbit could remain safe if satellites could no longer dodge each other; the margin fell from 164 days in 2018 to 5.5 days in 2025 as megaconstellations expanded, underscoring that LEO is now an infrastructure-like shared space requiring continuous coordination, accurate tracking, and robust data to prevent a rapid cascade of near-misses.

via Space Daily|

#collision-avoidance #crash-clock #low-earth-orbit

space-and-spaceflight2 months ago•16 min saved

Shenlong Spaceplane Deploys Mysterious Object in Orbit

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.

via Gizmodo|

#china #leolabs #low-earth-orbit

science2 months ago•15 min saved

Tiny Solar Storm, Big Starlink Loss: 40 Satellites Burn Up

A February 2022 G1 geomagnetic storm briefly thickened Earth's thermosphere, increasing drag at the 210 km deployment altitude and causing 40 of 49 Starlink satellites from a single launch to reenter and burn up within days. The event prompted SpaceX to adjust deployment and attitude strategies, pushed space-weather forecasting to the forefront of risk planning for LEO assets, and led insurers to reassess satellite risk under variable solar activity.

via Space Daily|

#drag #geomagnetic-storm #low-earth-orbit

space-exploration2 months ago•96 min saved

Ariane 6 lifts 36 Amazon Leo satellites, setting a new payload record

An Ariane 6 rocket from Europe’s Spaceport in Kourou launched on June 17 with 36 Amazon Leo broadband satellites—the heaviest payload ever lofted by an Ariane launcher and the 100th Amazon Leo satellite—advancing Amazon’s planned low‑Earth‑orbit megaconstellation. The upgraded four P160C solid-rocket boosters boosted the launcher’s capacity by more than two tons, with the 36 satellites weighing about 45,900 pounds (roughly 20,820 kg) in total. Deployment is expected about 289 miles (465 km) up, roughly 1 hour 51 minutes after liftoff. This was Ariane 6’s eighth flight and Amazon Leo’s 14th launch overall, though SpaceX’s Starlink remains far larger in total satellites.

via Space|

#amazon-leo #ariane-6 #low-earth-orbit

technology2 months ago•6 min saved

SpaceX Wins $2.29B Space Force Contract to Build Military Space Internet Backbone

The U.S. Space Force awarded SpaceX a $2.29 billion contract to build the SDN Backbone, a low‑Earth‑orbit satellite system that will serve as the military’s space‑based internet and enable real‑time, high‑capacity, secure communications for joint forces worldwide. SpaceX must deliver a fully operational prototype by the end of 2027, and the backbone will operate in concert with the Space Development Agency’s Transport Layer within an open‑architecture framework. The move underscores SpaceX’s central role in U.S. space and defense programs as NASA expands crew missions with SpaceX amid Boeing delays.

via Teslarati|

#low-earth-orbit #military-communications #space-data-network

space2 months ago•10 min saved

Atomic Oxygen: The Hidden Material Menace in Low Earth Orbit

Atomic oxygen in low Earth orbit aggressively erodes carbon-based polymers, carbon composites, and optical surfaces on spacecraft such as the ISS. NASA tests exposed material trays outside the station to study damage and variations in material properties, leading to protective coatings like silicon dioxide or aluminum oxide to mitigate reactions with single oxygen atoms. In LEO, the atmosphere is a thin, UV-driven environment rather than a hard vacuum, so long-duration missions require careful material selection and protective measures; very low orbits demand extra care for satellites. Deep space exposure to atomic oxygen is much less of a concern, making this primarily a LEO issue.

via Hackaday|

#atomic-oxygen #coatings #low-earth-orbit

science3 months ago•14 min saved

Atomic Oxygen’s Subtle Attack: How the ISS Survives Through Coatings and Upkeep

In low Earth orbit, reactive atomic oxygen slowly erodes exposed spacecraft materials, especially carbon-based polymers and coatings. NASA’s MISSE experiments on the ISS provide real flight data to guide protective coatings, material choices, and maintenance practices. The station endures decades of exposure by thoughtful design, orientation, inspections, and replacements, a living example of how space weather shapes durability.

via Space Daily|

#atomic-oxygen #low-earth-orbit #materials-degradation

technology3 months ago•5 min saved

SpaceX lofts 29 Starlink satellites from Cape Canaveral

SpaceX launched a Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on May 21, 2026, delivering 29 Starlink broadband satellites into low-Earth orbit.

via Florida Today|

#cape-canaveral #falcon-9 #low-earth-orbit