Introduction A recent viral report claimed that Elon Musk “bypassed” Iran’s total internet blackout by activating Starlink for 20,000 hidden satellite terminals inside the country. The dramatic story – emerging amid an escalating conflict involving Iran and Israel – suggests that Musk’s SpaceX satellites beamed uncensored internet to Iranians after the regime tried to cut…
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Iranian Space Agency (ISA) History and Founding Timeline Iran’s involvement in space activities dates back to the late 1950s, when it became a founding member of the U.N. Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space in 1958 en.wikipedia.org. Early efforts focused on satellite communications and remote sensing: by 1976, Iran had established a “Remote…
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Satellites play a vital role in modern society, supporting communications, navigation, Earth observation, scientific discovery, and security. This comprehensive report highlights 100 of the most important currently operational satellites across five major categories: Communications, Earth Observation, Navigation/Positioning, Scientific & Exploration, and Military/Intelligence. Each entry includes the satellite’s name (and launch year), operating organization, purpose and…
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Kyrgyzstan, a mountainous and landlocked nation often dubbed the “Switzerland of Central Asia,” has made steady strides in expanding internet infrastructure despite challenging terrain. The country relies on a mix of fiber-optic backbones and satellite links for connectivity, with major transit routes passing through neighboring Kazakhstan, China, and Russia en.wikipedia.org en.wikipedia.org. A key initiative is…
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Modern militaries rely on robust communication networks to coordinate operations, from secure battlefield radios to satellites and smartphone-based systems. Precise and secure communications are the sinews of good decision-making on the battlefield – a decisive factor in warfare that enables effective command and control of forces othjournal.com. This report explores the history of military telecommunications…
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Introduction to Spy Satellites Spy satellites – officially known as reconnaissance satellites – are orbiting spacecraft used by governments to secretly monitor activities on Earth for national security purposes. They serve as high-tech “eyes in the sky,” peering down from space to collect intelligence on foreign military forces, weapons developments, missile launches, and other strategic…
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Introduction AI text and writing assistants have surged in popularity, evolving from simple autocorrect and grammar checkers into sophisticated co-writers. In 2025, these tools leverage cutting-edge large language models (LLMs) to help with everything from catching typos to drafting entire articles. They can improve grammar and style, brainstorm ideas, translate languages, optimize for SEO, and…
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Introduction to Quantum Technologies Quantum technology is a cutting-edge field that harnesses the laws of quantum mechanics – the physics of the very small – to unlock new capabilities in computing, communication, sensing, and more spinquanta.com. Unlike classical technologies based on bits and Newtonian physics, quantum technologies exploit uniquely quantum phenomena like superposition (quantum bits…
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Governments worldwide are entering a “Sky Wars” satellite arms race – a contest to secure robust military satellite communications (Satcom) for the coming decade. From 2025 to 2035, defense agencies are pouring resources into Satcom as warfighters demand resilient, everywhere-connectivity. The Ukraine conflict underscored Satcom’s importance (e.g. Starlink kept forces online), spurring militaries to accelerate…
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Introduction The pace of internet connectivity has accelerated to truly insane speeds, from experimental lab links transferring petabits per second to gigabit-grade services available in homes. Around the world, researchers and providers are continually breaking speed records and rolling out ultra-fast networks. This report explores the extremes of internet speed in three realms: cutting-edge laboratory…
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