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Satellites News 29 June 2025 - 14 August 2025

Space Race Heats Up: Vulcan’s Milestone Launch, Ariane 6 Success, and Mega-Constellations Surge (Aug 13-14, 2025)

Space Race Heats Up: Vulcan’s Milestone Launch, Ariane 6 Success, and Mega-Constellations Surge (Aug 13-14, 2025)

Vulcan Centaur debuted on its first national security mission, USSF-106, launching from Cape Canaveral on August 12, 2025 at 8:56 p.m. EDT and is powered by two BE-4 engines while carrying the NTS-3 satellite. The USSF-106 mission deployed the Navigation Technology Satellite-3 (NTS-3) and marks the Defense Department’s shift to flying critical military satellites on domestic rockets powered by U.S.-made engines. Ariane 6 mission VA264 delivered MetOp-SG A1 to a 800 km polar sun-synchronous orbit after a 2:37 a.m. CEST launch from Kourou on August 13. MetOp-SG A1 is Europe’s next-generation polar-orbiting weather satellite, built by Airbus for ESA/EUMETSAT and
14 August 2025
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See Your House from Space? Inside the World of Live Satellite Maps and Weather from Orbit

See Your House from Space? Inside the World of Live Satellite Maps and Weather from Orbit

Google Earth was downloaded over one billion times in its first six years. Google Earth’s Time Machine covers 1984 to 2022 in a 4D interactive map built from millions of satellite photos. The Landsat program began in 1972 and offers a 50+ year global land-surface data record, with Landsat 8 and 9 providing 30-meter resolution imagery. Sentinel-2A and 2B image the entire Earth’s land every 5 days at 10-meter resolution (20 meters for some infrared bands). Maxar’s WorldView-3 and WorldView-4 offer 30-centimeter imagery, and the upcoming WorldView Legion aims for up to 15 revisits per day at 30 cm. Planet
28 July 2025
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Lasers vs Radio: Inside the Laser Satellite Communication Revolution (2025)

Lasers vs Radio: Inside the Laser Satellite Communication Revolution (2025)

NASA’s TBIRD CubeSat achieved a 200 Gbps laser downlink in 2023, transmitting 4.8 terabytes in under five minutes. SpaceX’s Starlink had over 4,000 satellites in orbit by early 2024, with inter-satellite laser links moving about 42 petabytes per day (roughly 5.6 terabits per second). Amazon’s Project Kuiper demonstrated 100 Gbps inter-satellite laser links in late 2023 over distances of about 1,000 km, with production satellites planned to launch in 2025 and each carrying multiple laser terminals. Europe’s European Data Relay System (SpaceDataHighway) uses Tesat laser terminals on two GEO satellites, delivering up to 1.8 Gbps links and as much as
28 July 2025
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Starlink Outage, New Launches and Space Alliances – Major Space Developments (July 25–26, 2025)

Starlink Outage, New Launches and Space Alliances – Major Space Developments (July 25–26, 2025)

On July 25, 2025, Russia’s Roscosmos launched a Soyuz-2.1b from Vostochny with two Ionosfera-M satellites into polar orbit as part of the Ionozond program, and deployed 18 secondary payloads (17 Russian CubeSats and Iran’s Nahid-2). Europe’s Vega-C rocket lifted off from Kourou on July 25, 2025, delivering MicroCarb and four CO3D satellites into orbit, with MicroCarb mapping global CO₂ sources and sinks to within 1 ppm accuracy and CO3D producing ~50 cm land-surface resolution. SpaceX launched 28 Starlink satellites on a Falcon 9 booster (tail number B1078) from Cape Canaveral on July 26, 2025, marking the booster’s 22nd mission and
26 July 2025
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Internet Access in Gabon 2025: Fiber, Mobile Networks, and the Satellite Revolution

Internet Access in Gabon 2025: Fiber, Mobile Networks, and the Satellite Revolution

Gabon’s internet usage reaches about 72% of the population in January 2025, with roughly 1.84 million internet users out of a ~2.57 million population. Over 91% of Gabon’s population is urban, yet about 1,253 villages lacked any mobile coverage as of early 2024, with 200 additional villages planned for Phase 2 in 2024. Moov Africa Gabon Telecom and Airtel Gabon dominate the mobile market in 2025, each with roughly half the subscribers, offering 2G/3G/4G nationwide and no commercial 5G yet. CanalBox FTTH from Group Vivendi Africa (GVA) launched in 2017, with Libreville fiber passing over 130,000 homes and businesses and
25 July 2025
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Space Race Heats Up: Russia’s 21-Satellite Launch, Amazon’s $140 M Bet, and a New Artemis Ally

Space Race Heats Up: Russia’s 21-Satellite Launch, Amazon’s $140 M Bet, and a New Artemis Ally

On July 25 at 1:54 a.m. ET, a Soyuz-2.1b from Russia’s Vostochny Cosmodrome lofted 21 satellites into orbit, including two Ionosfera-M space weather satellites, Iran’s Nahid-2, and 18 rideshares. The four Ionosfera-M satellites will provide three-dimensional near-Earth space coverage to study solar wind effects on radio communications and satellites, with the first two launched in late 2024. Amazon announced a $139.5 million investment to accelerate Project Kuiper, including a new 100,000-square-foot payload processing facility at Kennedy Space Center that opened in April. Senegal joined the Artemis Accords on July 24, becoming the 56th signatory to commit to peaceful, transparent space
25 July 2025
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No Signal? No Problem – T-Mobile’s Starlink Satellite Service Launches to End Dead Zones

No Signal? No Problem – T-Mobile’s Starlink Satellite Service Launches to End Dead Zones

T-Mobile’s satellite service, T-Satellite, is now live nationwide and out of beta, making it the first major U.S. carrier to offer direct satellite coverage for ordinary smartphones. The service piggybacks SpaceX’s Starlink satellites and requires no extra antenna or app, automatically connecting when the phone can see the sky. T-Satellite relies on a constellation of over 650 Starlink satellites and initially supports SMS and location sharing, with MMS partially supported and iPhone MMS to follow. Intro pricing is $10 per month for a limited time, rising to $15 later, with top-tier plans such as Experience Beyond at $100/month and Go5G
23 July 2025
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Galactic Gold Rush: Global Satellite & Space Industry Soars Toward $1 Trillion

Galactic Gold Rush: Global Satellite & Space Industry Soars Toward $1 Trillion

In 2024 the global space economy was valued at roughly $550–600 billion, with projections to approach $1 trillion within 10–15 years. North America, led by the U.S., accounted for about 60% of world space spending in 2024, with American firms building 83% of all commercial satellites launched that year and earning 69% of global satellite manufacturing revenue, while capturing about 65% of commercial launch revenues. 2024 set a record with 259 orbital launches and 2,695 satellites deployed, driven largely by SpaceX’s activity. Global satellite manufacturing revenues in 2024 reached about $20 billion, up 17% from 2023, with the U.S. responsible
16 July 2025
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From Battlefields to Space: How Ukraine’s Satellite Program Skyrocketed in 2024-2025

From Battlefields to Space: How Ukraine’s Satellite Program Skyrocketed in 2024-2025

In March 2025 Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense created a Space Policy Directorate to coordinate military space efforts. The crowdfunded ICEYE SAR satellite nicknamed the “People’s Satellite” remained Ukraine’s only satellite under national control, since 2022. Deputy Defense Minister Kateryna Chernohorenko outlined a 2030 roadmap to deploy Ukrainian defense satellites and an air-launch early-warning system. In June 2025 the European Space Agency council reinforced collaboration with Ukraine’s SSAU, providing technical assistance on Earth observation, space weather, and exploration. In April 2025 the EU Commission and Ukraine signed an agreement enabling participation in the EU Space Programme with access to Copernicus data
16 July 2025
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Space Race Heats Up: Secret Satellite Launches, Mega‑Mergers & Cosmic Breakthroughs (July 14–15, 2025 Roundup)

Space Race Heats Up: Secret Satellite Launches, Mega‑Mergers & Cosmic Breakthroughs (July 14–15, 2025 Roundup)

Commercial Space & Satellite Industry Updates Government & Space Agency Highlights Military & National Security Space Developments Space Science & Exploration Breakthroughs Space Policy & International Developments Sources: Spaceflight Now spaceflightnow.com spaceflightnow.com nasaspaceflight.com nasaspaceflight.com nasaspaceflight.com; Reuters reuters.com reuters.com reuters.com; SpaceNews spacenews.com spacepolicyonline.com spacepolicyonline.com; NASASpaceflight nasaspaceflight.com nasaspaceflight.com; Reuters/AP reuters.com apnews.com; NASA/ESA releases science.nasa.govsciencedaily.com.
15 July 2025
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Satellite Surprises and Space Shake-Ups: Weekend Roundup (July 12–13, 2025)

Satellite Surprises and Space Shake-Ups: Weekend Roundup (July 12–13, 2025)

SpaceX conducted a secret Falcon 9 launch from Florida on July 13, 2025 carrying Israel’s Dror-1 communications satellite into geostationary transfer orbit, a $200 million “smartphone in space” project that will provide Israeli communications for 15 years, with the first stage landing on a droneship for the rocket’s 13th successful reuse. China rolled out Long March-7 Y10 and Tianzhou-9 to the Wenchang launch pad on July 12, 2025 to deliver about 6.5 tons of supplies to Tiangong for the Shenzhou-20 mission, including two upgraded spacesuits and a backup Long March-7 within three months. Rocket Lab launched its HASTE suborbital rocket
13 July 2025
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Space News Shockers: Satellite Wars, NASA Upheaval, and the Next Celestial Wonders Revealed / Updated: 2025, July 11th, 12:01 CET

Space News Shockers: Satellite Wars, NASA Upheaval, and the Next Celestial Wonders Revealed / Updated: 2025, July 11th, 12:01 CET

Over 2,000 senior NASA employees have resigned amid budget cuts, with a potential 25% funding reduction threatening missions, while Sean Duffy, a former congressman and reality TV star, was named interim NASA administrator and serves as both NASA administrator and Secretary of Transportation. An alleged Iranian missile strike destroyed a $15 million U.S. communications radome at Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, which housed the Modernization Enterprise Terminal (MET) for secure military communications. Russia’s secret Nivelir project drew attention after Cosmos 2558 released a small object in orbit, a move interpreted as a possible anti-satellite test signaling space-arms concerns. The
11 July 2025
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Space in Crisis and Glory: NASA Shakeup, Starlink Expansion & Buck Moon Spectacle! / Updated: 2025, July 10th, 12:01 CET

Space in Crisis and Glory: NASA Shakeup, Starlink Expansion & Buck Moon Spectacle! / Updated: 2025, July 10th, 12:01 CET

The Buck Moon on July 10, 2025 will reach peak illumination at 4:37 p.m. UTC and appear as a micromoon due to its distance, coinciding with Earth’s aphelion and a Major Lunar Standstill. President Trump appointed Sean Duffy as interim NASA Administrator in July 2025, replacing Jared Isaacman amid a backdrop of budget cuts that could eliminate more than 2,000 senior NASA jobs, including 279 at Marshall Space Flight Center. NASA’s DART mission altered Dimorphos’ orbit and ejected more than 100 boulders, adding momentum almost as large as the spacecraft itself. China’s Chang’e-6 mission returned Moon far-side rocks, including 2.8-billion-year-old
10 July 2025
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Space News Roundup: July 2025 / Updated: 2025, July 9th, 12:02 CET

Space News Roundup: July 2025 / Updated: 2025, July 9th, 12:02 CET

SpaceX operates over 7,000 satellites and posted $4.2 billion in revenue for 2024, with a target valuation of $400 billion to $4 trillion in upcoming funding rounds. Starlink aims for 22,000 satellites by 2030 and could capture 15% of global communications spending. Ovzon secured a SEK 72 million order from Sweden’s FMV for mobile satellite terminals, with deliveries starting in Q3 2025. MEASAT received IN-SPACe approval to provide satellite services in India, expanding access to over 600 TV channels and 11 million DTH customers. EarthDaily Analytics launched the first of its ten-satellite EarthDaily Constellation, delivering daily AI-ready, scientifically calibrated global
9 July 2025
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Space & Satellite Deep Dive – 8th July 2025: Starlink Expansion, Interstellar Visitor, AI in Orbit & Global Policy Shifts / Updated: 2025, July 8th, 12:00 CET

Space & Satellite Deep Dive – 8th July 2025: Starlink Expansion, Interstellar Visitor, AI in Orbit & Global Policy Shifts / Updated: 2025, July 8th, 12:00 CET

SpaceX’s Starlink 10-28 mission launched from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on July 8, 2025, deploying 28 broadband Starlink satellites into low-Earth orbit and marking the Falcon 9 booster’s 22nd flight, with the booster landing on the drone ship A Shortfall of Gravitas about 8 minutes and 14 seconds after liftoff. The 500th Falcon 9 launch occurred with the Starlink 10-25 mission, deploying 27 Starlink V2 Mini satellites and marking booster B1067’s 29th flight. 3I/ATLAS, discovered by NASA’s ATLAS survey in July 2025 in Chile, is about 20 km wide and travels up to 68 km/s, making it the third
8 July 2025
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China’s Bold Advances: Space-Based AI, Deep Space Ambitions, and Satellite Networks – Space News Roundup (Updated July 8, 2025 0:00 CET)

China’s Bold Advances: Space-Based AI, Deep Space Ambitions, and Satellite Networks – Space News Roundup (Updated July 8, 2025 0:00 CET)

China launched the Three-Body Computing Constellation, with each satellite delivering 744 TOPS and the network targeting 1 EOPS for in-orbit AI and real-time data processing. China proposes a Neptune Orbiter for 2033 powered by radioisotope thermoelectric generators to study Neptune, its moon Triton, and deep-space propulsion capabilities. BeiDou-3 has been completed with 30 operational satellites providing global high-precision geolocation services for civil, commercial, and military users. Harbin Institute of Technology’s Gongda Satellite aims to deliver over 20 satellites in 2025, enabling software-defined remote sensing with data turnaround as fast as 8 minutes. Li Deren’s Eastern Eye constellation targets more than
8 July 2025
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This Week in Space: Interstellar Visitors, Satellite Breakthroughs, and the Future of Space Policy / Updated: 2025, July 5th, 11:59 CET

This Week in Space: Interstellar Visitors, Satellite Breakthroughs, and the Future of Space Policy / Updated: 2025, July 5th, 11:59 CET

NASA’s ATLAS telescope identified the interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS, currently about 420 million miles from Earth, with closest approach to the Sun on October 30, 2025, and it will pass safely between Mars and Earth as the third confirmed interstellar visitor after 1I/ʻOumuamua and 2I/Borisov. July marks Aphelion Day, when Earth is about 94.5 million miles from the Sun, but axial tilt, not distance, drives seasonal heat, with northern summers lengthened as Earth moves slower in its orbit at aphelion. Earth’s rotation is speeding up, shortening days by milliseconds, with scientists warning that a leap second may be subtracted by 2029,
5 July 2025
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Space News Roundup: Strategic Satellites, Interstellar Visitors, Quantum Networks, and More / Updated: 2025, July 4th, 12:00 CET

Space News Roundup: Strategic Satellites, Interstellar Visitors, Quantum Networks, and More / Updated: 2025, July 4th, 12:00 CET

Boeing won a $2.8 billion U.S. Space Force contract to develop two Evolved Strategic Satellite Communications (ESS) satellites, with options for two more, for NC3 in geostationary orbit, with first delivery targeted for 2031. MethaneSAT, a $134 million satellite funded by the Environmental Defense Fund and Jeff Bezos’ Earth Fund, was lost after 15 months in orbit, ending methane-emission monitoring that had revealed some regions emit up to 10 times higher than prior estimates. ESA launched MTG-S1, the first geostationary meteorological sounder, alongside Copernicus Sentinel-4 to deliver real-time high-resolution atmospheric data for Europe. NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, in operation since
4 July 2025
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Space News Roundup: Satellite Internet, Climate Monitoring, and the Expanding Role of Space Technology (June 30, 2025) / Updated: 2025, June 30th, 14:21 CET

Space News Roundup: Satellite Internet, Climate Monitoring, and the Expanding Role of Space Technology (June 30, 2025) / Updated: 2025, June 30th, 14:21 CET

Starlink, SpaceX’s satellite internet constellation, now has over 5 million customers in 125 countries, with rivals including Eutelsat OneWeb, Globalstar, and Amazon’s Project Kuiper and government-led IRIS2 and QianFan programs. Vodafone and AST SpaceMobile formed SatCo, a Luxembourg-based joint venture aiming to deliver direct-to-device satellite connectivity across Europe by 2026, integrating with 4G/5G networks. MTG-S1, Europe’s next-generation Meteosat Third Generation Sounder, carries the Sentinel-4 payload for air quality and atmospheric monitoring over Europe and North Africa, and will launch on a SpaceX Falcon 9 with major European industry partners Thales Alenia Space, Airbus, GMV, and SENER. Japan’s GOSAT-GW climate satellite
30 June 2025
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Latest Satellite News / Updated: 2025, June 29th, 16:39 CET

Latest Satellite News / Updated: 2025, June 29th, 16:39 CET

Vera C. Rubin Observatory released its first images in Chile, capturing 10 million galaxies in a single frame and previewing the Legacy Survey of Space and Time (LSST) to map billions of galaxies. Curiosity rover on Mars captured a 360-degree panorama of boxwork ridges at Gale Crater using 291 Mastcam images. China’s Tianwen-3 Mars Sample Return mission targets a 2028 launch and a 2031 return. Japan’s final H-2A rocket launch deployed the GOSAT-GW climate satellite, as the country transitions to the H3 rocket with an overall 98% success rate over 50 launches. Amazon launched its second Kuiper internet satellite batch,
29 June 2025
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Stock Market Today

Walmart stock jumps 3% to $131 as Dow clears 50,000 — what to watch before Monday

Walmart stock jumps 3% to $131 as Dow clears 50,000 — what to watch before Monday

7 February 2026
Walmart shares climbed 3.34% to $131.18 Friday, pushing its market value to about $1.05 trillion as the Dow closed above 50,000 for the first time. Retail stocks mostly gained, with Target up 4.24% and Costco up 1.20%, while Amazon dropped 5.55%. Investors await Walmart’s fiscal Q4 results on Feb. 19 and key U.S. economic data next week.
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