Tag

Satellites

All articles tagged with #satellites

space1 hour ago•105 min saved

Guarding the Night Sky: Critics Push for Environmental Review of Space-Based Data Centers

Environmental and scientific groups are pressing the FCC to require environmental reviews for licenses to deploy space-based data centers, citing SpaceX’s plan to launch up to a million satellites in low-Earth orbit and concerns about dark skies, wildlife, climate impacts from rocket launches and debris. The FCC has not yet mandated such reviews, prompting a coalition led by Earthjustice to urge regulatory scrutiny before licenses are granted.

via Space|

#environmental-impact #fcc #orbital-debris

science14 hours ago•202 min saved

Musk’s Kardashev Dream: Could SpaceX Satellites Spark a Type II Civilization?

Elon Musk cites the Kardashev scale—the energy-based framework for classifying civilizations—to frame SpaceX’s plan for up to a million satellites as a first step toward a Type II civilization powered by space-based solar energy; the piece explains the scale’s history (Kardashev’s original three types and Carl Sagan’s refinements), notes humanity is currently around Type 0.7, and cautions that achieving Type II would require enormous mass and infrastructure (think Dyson-sphere-like concepts), making it a provocative but speculative goal.

via CNN|

#dyson-sphere #elon-musk #kardashev-scale

technology20 hours ago•2 min saved

Orbital Sunbeam: FCC greenlights Reflect Orbital's demo mirror satellite

The FCC has granted approval for Reflect Orbital’s Eärendil-1 demonstration satellite, which will deploy an 18-by-18 meter aluminized Mylar reflector to direct sunlight onto Earth from a near-polar orbit around 625 km up. The test aims to prove “sunlight on demand” for solar farms and other uses, with a broader constellation contemplated in the future, but the agency only approved radio operations for the demo and did not authorize a full constellation. Critics warn about potential interference with ground-based astronomy, wildlife, aviation, sky brightness, and the growing debris risk, while disposal within 25 years is required; SpaceX is slated to carry the first two demos, and further approvals will be needed for expansion.

via TechSpot|

#astronomy #reflective-mirror #satellites

science22 hours ago•7 min saved

Disco-ball satellite nails Einstein’s relativity test to 0.2%

A dense, thruster-free satellite named LARES-2, paired with the older LAGEOS, was laser-tracked from Earth to isolate the frame-dragging effect predicted by general relativity. By canceling Earth’s oblateness and tidal perturbations over a 1,050-day cycle, the team measured the Lense-Thirring precession to about 0.2% accuracy, confirming Einstein and narrowing alternatives like Chern-Simons theory, while also delivering a more precise Earth-tide benchmark.

via Ars Technica|

#frame-dragging #gravity #lares-2

technology1 day ago•6 min saved

FCC Clears Earendil-1 Space Mirror Test to Reflect Sunlight Back to Earth

The FCC approved a single demonstration satellite, Earendil-1 by Reflect Orbital, which uses a 60-by-60-foot mirror to reflect sunlight onto Earth over a ground area roughly 3 miles wide. The company envisions benefits like powering solar farms at night or aiding disaster relief, but astronomers and environmental groups raised concerns, contributing about 1,800 public comments. The agency says this is a limited, short-term test and did not require an environmental review; Reflect Orbital plans to launch later this year and pursue independent research and NSF coordination.

via PCMag|

#astronomy #light-pollution #regulation

defense1 day ago•3 min saved

NATO to knit eight allies’ satellites into HALO space network

Eight NATO allies—Denmark, Canada, Finland, Germany, Norway, the Netherlands, Sweden and Turkey—will form the Hybrid Alliance Layered Operations in Space (HALO), a multi-nation satellite constellation to enable high-speed communications, intelligence and missile tracking by linking transport satellites, sensors and shared software/standards, with plans to expand; the effort aligns with NATO’s APSS program and other allied space initiatives, and mirrors related US Space Force concepts like the Space Data Network.

via Breaking Defense|

#apss #defense #halo

technology2 days ago•3 min saved

First Commercial Nuclear Satellite Signals New Era in Space Power

City Labs’ BOHR cubesat, launched on SpaceX’s Transporter-17, tests NanoTritium betavoltaic power in orbit—the first commercial nuclear satellite—demonstrating continuous power for instruments without sunlight while solar power handles general operations; the mission also earned FAA approval under a nuclear-launch pathway, signaling a regulatory milestone for future commercial nuclear space power.

via Gizmodo|

#betavoltaic #commercial-spaceflight #faa-authorization

science2 days ago•4 min saved

MIT Plan to Detect Hidden Nuclear Weapons in Space With a Neutron-Sensor Satellite

MIT physicist Areg Danagoulian proposes a proof-of-concept “inspector” satellite that would orbit beneath a suspect spacecraft and use a specialized neutron detector to pick up signals from uranium in a thermonuclear warhead as it traverses the inner Van Allen belt, while filtering out protons and Earth-originating background neutrons through directional detection. The concept aims to verify Outer Space Treaty commitments by detecting potential space-based nukes, but it remains theoretical and would require prototypes and further development to address practical challenges.

via Gizmodo|

#neutron-detection #nuclear-weapons #outer-space-treaty

space3 days ago•16 min saved

SpaceX's Transporter-17 lift spotlights uncertainty around rideshare program's future

SpaceX launched Transporter-17 on July 7, extending its rideshare missions, but industry rivals warn the future of the Transporter program is unclear, describing the outlook as panicked.

via SpaceNews|

#rideshare #satellites #space

space4 days ago•4 min saved

SpaceX's Transporter-17: Midnight Falcon 9 Carries 81 Small Satellites, FireSat and 3D-Printing Demos

SpaceX will launch the Transporter-17 mission from Vandenberg at 12:12 a.m. PDT, sending 81 small satellites from around the world into a Sun-synchronous orbit as part of the Smallsat Rideshare Program. Exolaunch-manifested payloads account for 49 satellites, including Muon Space’s FireSat trio for wildfire detection (Earth Fire Alliance), along with other satellites such as Iceye SARs and UAE’s Leonav-1; Maverick Space Systems contributes Osiris-A, while Orbital Matter’s Replicator-2 demonstrates onboard 3D printing and deployable solar arrays. The first stage (B1097) will land on the drone ship Of Course I Still Love You after ascent, and SpaceX will perform additional upper-stage burns to deploy satellites over roughly 2.5 hours.

via Spaceflight Now|

#launches #rideshare #satellites

technology4 days ago•4 min saved

FireSat launches to deliver near real-time, high-resolution wildfire detection from space

Three FireSat satellites lift off from Vandenberg to begin a global 50-satellite network that will detect fires as small as a beach bonfire with 20-minute revisit times, providing high-resolution infrared data to fire agencies and researchers to improve early detection, differentiate cool from hot fires, and inform response and evacuation planning.

via Los Angeles Times|

#earth-fire-alliance #firesat #muon-space

technology4 days ago•104 min saved

Fuel-Free Boost: Orbital Test Validates Superconducting Supertorquer

Zenno Astronautics’ Supertorquer, a compact superconducting-magnet thruster, was tested in orbit aboard the Mira satellite to demonstrate propulsion and attitude control using Earth’s magnetic field with no propellant. Powered by solar energy and cooled by space-based heat rejection, energizing the superconducting coils creates a controllable magnetic thrust. The first orbital test succeeded, and the company envisions larger systems for docking, close-proximity operations, and even radiation shielding via magnetic fields.

via Space|

#propulsion #satellites #space

technology7 days ago•16 min saved

Amazon's Leo internet service moves toward first rollout as satellite fleet nears 400

Amazon says its Leo broadband satellite network is on track to begin initial internet service later this year after boosting the constellation beyond 390 satellites (roughly 394 in orbit of 398 launched since April 2025), with more than 3,200 satellites planned overall. The rollout is expected to start near Earth’s poles and expand inward as more satellites join, targeting consumers with ground terminals as well as governments and airlines. The company, which has roughly 100 launches booked to build the network, has relied on ULA’s Atlas V for now while Blue Origin’s New Glenn and ULA’s Vulcan face launch issues and repairs. Amazon aims for a mid-2026 service start, positioning Leo as a rival to SpaceX’s Starlink.

via Yahoo Finance|

#amazon #internet #leo

technology8 days ago•3 min saved

Amazon’s Leo hits milestone, ready to launch initial service this year

Amazon says its Leo satellite broadband constellation now has enough satellites—over 390 after a 29-satellite launch—to begin initial service later this year, with coverage rolled out to select geographies while more satellites are added to expand reach; Leo aims to compete with SpaceX’s Starlink, which has roughly 10,000 satellites and millions of subscribers, and future missions will use ULA’s Vulcan to boost capacity despite past launch delays and Blue Origin setbacks.

via CNBC|

#amazon #leo #satellites

science9 days ago•4 min saved

ESO warns 1.7 million satellites could ruin ground‑based astronomy

A European Southern Observatory study warns that plans to launch up to 1.7 million satellites—by SpaceX, Reflect Orbital, E-Space and others—could darken and brighten the night sky to levels that degrade ground‑based astronomy, potentially making data from major observatories like the Vera C. Rubin Observatory unusable. The researchers urge a cap around 100,000 satellites and efforts to minimize glare near observatories, highlighting broader concerns from light pollution to space debris and a looming FCC decision on various constellations.

via Euronews|

#astronomy #fcc #light-pollution