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Satellite

All articles tagged with #satellite

SpaceX fires off 27 Starlink satellites on 2026’s 100th Falcon mission
space2 days ago

SpaceX fires off 27 Starlink satellites on 2026’s 100th Falcon mission

SpaceX launched 27 Starlink satellites from Vandenberg aboard a Falcon 9, marking the year’s 99th Falcon 9 liftoff and the 100th Falcon mission overall; the first stage landed on the droneship “Of Course I Still Love You” about 8.5 minutes after liftoff, and the Starlink satellites deployed roughly 62 minutes later, as SpaceX’s constellation surpasses 11,000 satellites and the company eyes future expansion (including Starship-era plans).

via Space|
#falcon-9#rocket-landing#satellite
Swift Rescue Mission Faces Setbacks as LINK Aims to Reboost Observatory
space16 days ago

Swift Rescue Mission Faces Setbacks as LINK Aims to Reboost Observatory

NASA and its partner Katalyst Space Technologies are attempting to save the Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory by sending LINK, a dedicated rescue satellite, to grapple and boost the observatory back to its original orbit. After early spin and communications hiccups, LINK’s spin has been reduced to about 1.5 degrees per second and a flight software update is planned to enable grapple maneuvers and a multi-month ion-thruster boost. Swift is at risk of reentering the atmosphere this fall if not raised, so the mission remains risky and time-sensitive.

via CNN|
#nasa#orbital-mechanics#satellite
Private rescue mission targets NASA Swift with on-orbit grapple
space24 days ago

Private rescue mission targets NASA Swift with on-orbit grapple

Katalyst Space Technologies’ Link is attempting to save NASA’s Swift gamma-ray observatory by grabbing and boosting its orbit after Swift spun out of control and lost two reaction wheels. Link’s remaining thruster and one wheel are being used to slow the spin and regain attitude control, with engineers reworking control algorithms and aiming for a late‑August rendezvous and capture of Swift. This marks NASA’s first commercial satellite-servicing effort.

via Ars Technica|
#nasa#rescue#robotics
Sunlight on Demand: FCC Approves Earendil-1 to Beam Light from Space
space1 month ago

Sunlight on Demand: FCC Approves Earendil-1 to Beam Light from Space

The U.S. FCC approved the Earendil-1 satellite by Reflect Orbital to test a thin-film reflector that can direct sunlight to targeted spots on Earth, potentially extending solar-energy collection and providing on-demand illumination. Reflect Orbital envisions a future daylight-on-demand network, but critics warn about glare risks to pilots and drivers and impacts on astronomy. The approval covers only Earendil-1; the company plans a rapid fleet expansion, while stressing they will ensure precise control and coordination with affected communities and scientific groups.

via The Jerusalem Post|
#astronomy#energy#satellite
US Approves 60-Foot Orbital Mirror to Light Night Sky, Sparks Astronomical Backlash
technology1 month ago

US Approves 60-Foot Orbital Mirror to Light Night Sky, Sparks Astronomical Backlash

The US FCC has approved Reflect Orbital’s plan to launch Eärendil-1, a 60-foot square mirror satellite that will unfurl in orbit about 400 miles up to reflect sunlight onto a targeted three-mile-wide patch on Earth. Users could pay about $5,000 per hour for access, with a requirement of 1,000 annual hours, though the company also envisions a fleet of up to 1,000 much larger mirrors. While the tech could aid nighttime illumination for photographers or emergencies (and benefit solar farms at night), scientists warn it could drastically alter the night sky and disrupt circadian rhythms, animal migrations, plant cycles, and oceanic ecosystems.

via PetaPixel|
#astronomy#circadian-rhythms#light-pollution
technology1 month ago

SpaceX Preps Sunday Starlink Launch From Vandenberg to Grow Its Constellation

SpaceX is planning the Starlink 17-40 mission from Vandenberg Space Force Base on Sunday at 9:09 a.m. PT, deploying 24 Starlink satellites into low Earth orbit aboard Falcon 9 booster B1088, which will attempt a landing on the drone ship 'Of Course I Still Love You' about eight minutes after liftoff; this year SpaceX will have logged 75 Falcon 9 launches, with 59 of those for Starlink, as the company continues to grow its satellite constellation now numbering more than 10,700 satellites.

via Spaceflight Now|
#falcon-9#satellite#spacex
AT&T Downgraded as Satellite LEO Rivalry Threatens Its Broadband Lead
markets2 months ago

AT&T Downgraded as Satellite LEO Rivalry Threatens Its Broadband Lead

Oppenheimer downgrades AT&T, arguing satellite low‑Earth‑orbit constellations like Starlink could lure customers away from AT&T’s broadband and pressure ARPU, given its massive wireline footprint. The analysis suggests increased subscriber migration to rival services as satellite competition rises, with mixed views from Wall Street vs. quant ratings on AT&T stock.

via Seeking Alpha|
#arpu#atandt#leo
space2 months ago

SpaceX closes May with 50th Starlink launch of 2026, deploying 24 satellites from Vandenberg

SpaceX launched its 50th dedicated Starlink mission of 2026 from Vandenberg Space Force Base, deploying 24 Starlink satellites on the Starlink 17-41 flight; the Falcon 9 first stage, booster B1082, landed on the droneship 'Of Course I Still Love You' after its 199th landing on that vessel and 617th booster landing to date, as the constellation now exceeds 10,000 satellites in orbit.

via Spaceflight Now|
#falcon-9#satellite#space
EU moves to reserve majority of crucial satellite spectrum for European operators
technology3 months ago

EU moves to reserve majority of crucial satellite spectrum for European operators

The European Commission intends to reserve about two-thirds of a coveted 2 GHz satellite spectrum band for European operators when licenses reopen next year, splitting the spectrum into three blocks for secure government use, European startups, and a remaining portion that could go to European or non-European players. The plan would reduce access for U.S. firms like SpaceX and Amazon’s space ventures, risking U.S. retaliation while advancing Europe’s tech and security sovereignty ahead of a broader sovereignty package. Final rules must be approved by the European Parliament and Council, with current licenses held by U.S. operators expiring in 2027.

via politico.eu|
#eu#satellite#sovereignty
Cryogenic fix clears Blue Origin's New Glenn for next launch
space3 months ago

Cryogenic fix clears Blue Origin's New Glenn for next launch

Blue Origin has been cleared for another New Glenn launch after investigators traced the April 19 anomaly to a cryogenic leak that froze a hydraulic line, causing insufficient thrust on the second stage and placing AST SpaceMobile's BlueBird 7 satellite in an off-nominal, too-low orbit. The FAA grounded the mission pending fixes, the booster Never Tell Me The Odds landed successfully on its first reflight, and Blue Origin says corrective measures are in place as it plans to ramp production to around 60 upper stages by 2028 to boost launch cadence.

via Gizmodo|
#blue-origin#new-glenn#rocket-launch
US Carriers Team Up for Rural Wireless Expansion Using Shared Spectrum and Satellites
technology3 months ago

US Carriers Team Up for Rural Wireless Expansion Using Shared Spectrum and Satellites

AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon announced an agreement in principle to form a joint venture that would pool ground-based spectrum and invest in satellite-based, direct-to-device connectivity to close wireless dead zones, aiming to create a unified standard with satellite operators; the plan is still under negotiation and subject to closing conditions, but could improve coverage in rural and hard-to-reach areas.

via The Verge|
#coverage#joint-venture#rural