The Artemis I mission lifts off in a spectacular night launch on November 16, 2022, marking the first flight of NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS) mega-rocket. Artemis I sent an uncrewed Orion spacecraft around the Moon and back, laying the groundwork for future crewed lunar missions nasa.gov. This milestone exemplifies the rapid resurgence of lunar…
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The push to bridge 5G and space is rapidly becoming a strategic priority for France and Europe. By integrating non-terrestrial networks (NTN) – essentially satellite communication links – into terrestrial 5G infrastructure, operators hope to achieve truly global connectivity. Under the France 2030 investment plan, an ambitious end-to-end NTN pilot has been launched, leveraging dual…
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Chinese researchers have achieved a record-breaking 1 gigabit-per-second (Gbps) data downlink from a satellite in geostationary orbit (36,000 km above Earth) using an optical laser link – with a laser device as weak as a “night light” or candle in power scmp.com scmp.com. In a recent demonstration, a 2-watt laser beam transmitted data to a…
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Satellites have long been treated as disposable assets – after completing their missions, they either burn up during reentry or become lifeless space junk in “graveyard” orbits. This paradigm is now being challenged by a new generation of spacecraft designed for multiple missions. Lux Aeterna, a Denver-based startup emerging from stealth mode in mid-2025, has…
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ADS-B and Its Evolution Automatic Dependent Surveillance–Broadcast (ADS-B) is an aircraft surveillance technology that has transformed how air traffic is monitored. In simple terms, ADS-B equips aircraft with GPS-based transponders that automatically broadcast their precise position, identity, altitude, velocity and other data to anyone with the proper receiver faa.gov aireon.com. The system is dependent on…
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High-resolution Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) imaging – the technology that enables “x-ray vision” from space through clouds and darkness – is poised for explosive growth this decade. Governments and industries worldwide are embracing SAR’s unparalleled all-weather, day/night surveillance capabilities for defense, environmental monitoring, precision agriculture, urban planning, and disaster response. The global SAR imaging market…
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James Webb Space Telescope Captures Images of Newly Discovered Exoplanet TWA 7b NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope has captured images of a newly discovered exoplanet, TWA 7b, orbiting the young star TWA 7. Using high-contrast imaging and a coronagraph, scientists detected this Saturn-mass planet, marking a significant achievement in exoplanet research since Webb’s 2021 launch.…
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The Satellite Data Downlink & Cloud Integration market is experiencing a boom, driven by surging demand for geospatial data and real-time insights across sectors. Marrying satellites (“eyes in the sky”) with cloud computing infrastructure has unlocked unprecedented scalability and accessibility for space-derived data. Key highlights of this market outlook include: In summary, the Satellite Data…
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Space-Based Quantum Revolution – In a historic milestone for space and quantum technology, a photonic quantum computer no larger than a shoebox has been launched into Earth orbit. Riding aboard SpaceX’s Transporter-14 mission on June 23, 2025, this miniature quantum processor – the first of its kind in space – promises to rewrite how satellites…
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A New Radar Eye for Forest Carbon The European Space Agency’s Biomass satellite, launched on April 29, 2025, is a groundbreaking mission designed to map the world’s forests in 3D and measure their carbon content with unprecedented accuracy defensetalks.com airbus.com. It is the first satellite ever to carry a P-band synthetic aperture radar – a…
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