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Space 20 June 2025 - 24 June 2025

Space Superpower Play: How ICEYE’s Radar Satellites Are Turbo-Charging NATO’s ‘Aquila’ Constellation – and Why It Could Change Intelligence Forever

Space Superpower Play: How ICEYE’s Radar Satellites Are Turbo-Charging NATO’s ‘Aquila’ Constellation – and Why It Could Change Intelligence Forever

NATO signed a multiyear deal for 24/7 Synthetic Aperture Radar imagery from ICEYE, integrating data into the APSS Aquila constellation, officials announced 24 June 2025. ICEYE’s 54-satellite fleet offers 25 cm ground resolution and can be tasked within one to eight hours. Contract value was not disclosed; analysts estimate a seven-figure sum. An operational test of Aquila-1 is set for Q4 2025.
24 June 2025
Jeff Bezos vs. Elon Musk: How Amazon’s New Kuiper Satellites Could Disrupt a $100 Billion Space‑Internet Gold Rush

Jeff Bezos vs. Elon Musk: How Amazon’s New Kuiper Satellites Could Disrupt a $100 Billion Space‑Internet Gold Rush

A United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket launched 27 Amazon Kuiper satellites from Cape Canaveral on June 23, doubling the operational fleet to 54. The mission is the second of eight Atlas V Kuiper flights, with ULA contracted for 44 Kuiper launches in total. Amazon aims to begin beta service by late 2025 as it races to meet an FCC deadline requiring half the constellation—1,618 satellites—operational by July 2026.
Space‑Laser Shockwave: Inside China’s 2‑Watt Orbital Beam That Claims to Outgun Starlink and Reshape the Security Balance in Space

China’s ‘Night‑Light’ Laser Satellite Leaves Starlink in the Dust—What It Means for the Future of Space Internet and Warfare

On June 17, 2025, Chinese scientists down-linked 1 Gbps from a GEO satellite 36,705 km above Earth using a 2-watt laser and adaptive optics, surpassing typical Starlink down-link speeds by fivefold. The AO-MDR technique boosted signal reliability from 72% to 91% in heavy turbulence. Analysts highlight GEO power efficiency, while military sources note security and weaponization concerns. Limitations include single-satellite testing and reliance on clear skies.
23 June 2025
Laser vs. Radar: Shocking Secrets of Earth’s Shrinking Ice Revealed from Space

Laser vs. Radar: Shocking Secrets of Earth’s Shrinking Ice Revealed from Space

NASA’s ICESat-2 and ESA’s CryoSat-2 satellites measure polar ice thickness and elevation using laser and radar altimetry. A 2020 orbital alignment enabled near-simultaneous Arctic snow-depth measurements. Combined data show Greenland lost ~2,347 km³ of ice from 2010–2023, with global glacier volume dropping 2% from 2010–2020. CryoSat-2 and ICESat-2 Greenland height changes agree within about 3%.
23 June 2025
Global Space Launch Roundup (June 2025): SpaceX, ULA, Blue Origin, Rocket Lab, Honda, CNSA and More

Global Space Launch Roundup (June 2025): SpaceX, ULA, Blue Origin, Rocket Lab, Honda, CNSA and More

Texas granted Starbase authority to close State Highway 4 and Boca Chica Beach during launches, shifting control from county officials to SpaceX-aligned city officials. The FAA raised Starbase’s launch cap to 25 per year. On June 23, SpaceX launched two Falcon 9 missions, including Transporter-14 from Vandenberg with over 45 satellites and two reentry capsules. Blue Origin’s NS-33 flight was scrubbed twice due to high winds.
Mauritius Online: How a Paradise Island is Beaming Broadband (Even from Space)

Mauritius Online: How a Paradise Island is Beaming Broadband (Even from Space)

About 1.01 million Mauritians, or 79.5% of the population, used the internet in early 2025. The country had over 2.2 million internet subscriptions by 2024, with 100% fiber-to-the-home coverage since 2017 and average fixed broadband speeds of 55 Mbps. Five major undersea cables connect the island, and 5G covers about 60% of the population. Mauritius Telecom holds around 60% of mobile subscribers.
22 June 2025
Space‑Laser Shockwave: Inside China’s 2‑Watt Orbital Beam That Claims to Outgun Starlink and Reshape the Security Balance in Space

Space‑Laser Shockwave: Inside China’s 2‑Watt Orbital Beam That Claims to Outgun Starlink and Reshape the Security Balance in Space

In June 2025, Chinese scientists sent a 1 Gbps laser data link from geostationary orbit to Earth using a 2-watt beam, surpassing Starlink’s typical speeds by five times. The AO-MDR system boosted signal quality to 91% despite turbulence. No Starlink satellites were affected; the test was a demonstration. U.S. officials warn such technology could threaten satellites if power levels increase.
Mind‑Blowing Satellite Images Reveal Fordow’s Cavernous Crater: Inside the High‑Resolution Photo Forensics that Exposed the Collapse of Iran’s Underground Nuclear Fortress

Shock From Space: Commercial Satellite Photos Reveal How U.S. Bunker‑Busters Crushed Iran’s Fordow Nuclear Mountain

At 2:14 a.m. on June 22, B-2 bombers dropped at least twelve 30,000-lb GBU-57 bombs on Iran’s Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan nuclear sites. Satellite images later showed haze and impact scars at Fordow’s tunnel portals. No off-site radiation was detected, but analysts say Fordow’s centrifuge halls will be offline for months. Iran’s foreign minister warned of “everlasting consequences” and met with Russia’s president hours later.
22 June 2025
Sky Watchers: The 2025–2033 Boom in Weather & Climate Satellite Constellations

Sky Watchers: The 2025–2033 Boom in Weather & Climate Satellite Constellations

More than 5,400 Earth observation satellites are expected to launch worldwide from 2024 to 2033, nearly triple the previous decade. NOAA awarded Lockheed Martin a $2.27 billion contract in 2024 for at least three GeoXO satellites. Europe’s MTG and MetOp-SG programs will deliver eight new satellites by 2025. Spire Global, Planet Labs, and GHGSat are expanding commercial fleets for weather and emissions monitoring.
Rocketing Satellite Stocks: Global Space Industry Performance & Bold 2025 Forecasts

Rocketing Satellite Stocks: Global Space Industry Performance & Bold 2025 Forecasts

Rocket Lab shares surged over 360% in 2024 before falling back 40–60% along with other space stocks as investors reassessed valuations. Rocket Lab reported Q1 2025 revenue of $122.6 million and won a $5.6 billion U.S. Space Force contract. Iridium posted Q1 revenue of $214.9 million and announced a $469 million buyback. Eutelsat reported €300 million in quarterly revenue after merging with OneWeb.
10,000 Satellites and 5 Million Users: Inside the Satellite Internet Revolution of 2025

10,000 Satellites and 5 Million Users: Inside the Satellite Internet Revolution of 2025

Starlink has launched over 8,000 satellites since 2019 and serves more than 5 million users in 125 countries. Amazon’s Project Kuiper began deploying its constellation in April 2025, while China launched 64 of 13,000 planned Guowang satellites by late 2024. The EU’s IRIS² network targets 300 satellites by 2030. The global satellite internet market is projected to grow from $5 billion in 2024 to $24.6 billion by 2030.
Space Force’s Secret 480-Satellite MILNET: Inside SpaceX’s New Military “Starlink” Revolution

Space Force’s Secret 480-Satellite MILNET: Inside SpaceX’s New Military “Starlink” Revolution

The U.S. Space Force announced in June 2025 it will fund MILNET, a secret LEO satcom constellation of about 480 satellites built and launched by SpaceX using the Starshield platform. Space Force Delta 8 will oversee operations, with the NRO managing the program. MILNET aims for near-global coverage and will interoperate with Starlink and allied satellites. The project follows a $1.8 billion NRO contract and over 150 Starshield launches by early 2025.
21 June 2025
Zombie Satellite! Defunct NASA Orbiter Emits Blazing Radio Burst After 60 Years

Zombie Satellite Awakens: Defunct 1960s NASA Orbiter Blasts Earth with Mysterious Radio Pulse

On June 13, 2024, the Australian Square Kilometre Array Pathfinder detected a 30-nanosecond radio burst peaking over 300,000 Jy from the vicinity of NASA’s defunct Relay 2 satellite. The signal matched Relay 2’s predicted orbit at about 20,000 km altitude. Relay 2, silent since 1967, was launched in 1964 to relay television and study radiation belts. Scientists suspect an electrostatic discharge or micrometeoroid impact caused the burst.
21 June 2025
France Tightens Grip on Space: Inside the €1.35 Billion Eutelsat Power Play

France Tightens Grip on Space: Inside the €1.35 Billion Eutelsat Power Play

France announced a €1.35 billion capital injection into Eutelsat in June 2025, raising its stake to 29.99% and making it the company’s largest shareholder. Eutelsat’s shares surged 28% on June 20 after the news. The recapitalization includes up to €2.2 billion in further funding for its LEO satellite fleet. France’s defense agency also signed a 10-year contract with Eutelsat worth up to €1 billion.
21 June 2025
Pentagon’s Space Internet Nightmare: Why the Unified Satellite Network Keeps Stalling

Pentagon’s Space Internet Nightmare: Why the Unified Satellite Network Keeps Stalling

The Pentagon is building a software-defined SATCOM network linking DoD, allied, and commercial satellites across LEO, MEO, and GEO. Space Force awarded Sev1Tech a $188 million contract in September 2024 for meshONE-T ground infrastructure. MILNET, a 480-plus satellite LEO constellation built by SpaceX and managed by the NRO, was disclosed in June 2025. All SDA Tranche 1 satellites are expected in orbit by early 2027.
Solar Tempests & Orbital Guardians: The Secret Life of Space-Weather Satellites

Solar Tempests & Orbital Guardians: The Secret Life of Space-Weather Satellites

In 1859, the Carrington Event triggered global telegraph failures and equatorial auroras, marking the largest recorded geomagnetic storm. Modern satellites—GOES, SOHO, ACE, DSCOVR, SDO, STEREO-A, and Aditya-L1—monitor solar activity and warn of space weather threats. The 1989 Quebec blackout and 1994 Anik satellite failures highlighted ongoing risks to power grids and satellites. ESA’s Vigil mission is planned for 2031.
Inside Israel’s Space Power: Satellites, Services, and the Secret Strength of the Israel Space Agency

Inside Israel’s Space Power: Satellites, Services, and the Secret Strength of the Israel Space Agency

Ofek-1, Israel’s first home-built satellite, launched on September 19, 1988, making Israel the eighth nation to orbit its own spacecraft. Ofek-13, an advanced radar satellite, was launched in March 2023, marking the 10th successful Israeli orbital launch. The VENμS satellite, built with France, operated from 2017 to 2023 for environmental monitoring. Israel joined the Artemis Accords in 2022.
20 June 2025
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