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Payload • Douglas Gorman

Planet extends commercial access restrictions on Middle East imagery from 96 hours to two weeks

Planet Labs announced it will extend commercial access restrictions for Earth-observation imagery over the Middle East from an earlier 96-hour pause to a two-week delay. The policy prevents immediate commercial distribution of newly captured imagery, widening a recent temporary withholding of Gulf-area data.

2026-03-11T05:53:37.836752-07:00

Universe Today

Nanoengineered light sail overcomes thermal limits, advancing propellant‑free space propulsion

2026-03-11T04:53:25.493640-07:00

SpaceWatch Global

BlackSky’s fourth Gen‑3 satellite delivers first‑light imagery within hours of launch

2026-03-11T04:18:46.970757-07:00

SpaceNews.com

BlueStar Optical Domain raises ≈$70M Series C as China scales laser satellite communications

2026-03-11T03:32:22.947404-07:00

News Timeline

Payload

Planet extends commercial access restrictions on Middle East imagery from 96 hours to two weeks Planet Labs announced it will extend commercial access restrictions for Earth-observation imagery over the Middle East from an earlier 96-hour pause to a two-week delay. The policy prevents immediate commercial distribution of newly captured imagery, widening a recent temporary withholding of Gulf-area data.

2026-03-11T05:53:37.836752-07:00

Planet extends commercial access restrictions on Middle East imagery from 96 hours to two weeks

Universe Today

Nanoengineered light sail overcomes thermal limits, advancing propellant‑free space propulsion Researchers Dimitar Dimitrov and Elijah Taylor Harris (Tuskegee University) report in the Journal of Nanophotonics a nanoengineered light sail that mitigates key thermal constraints of current designs, improving feasibility of solar‑ or laser‑driven, propellant‑free maneuvering for long‑duration space missions.

2026-03-11T04:53:25.493640-07:00

Nanoengineered light sail overcomes thermal limits, advancing propellant‑free space propulsion

SpaceWatch Global

BlackSky’s fourth Gen‑3 satellite delivers first‑light imagery within hours of launch BlackSky Technology Inc. (NYSE: BKSY) delivered first‑light imagery from its fourth Gen‑3 satellite within hours of launch, completing rapid on‑orbit activation for the newest unit in its Gen‑3 constellation and demonstrating the company’s ability to bring imaging capacity online quickly after deployment.

2026-03-11T04:18:46.970757-07:00

BlackSky’s fourth Gen‑3 satellite delivers first‑light imagery within hours of launch

SpaceNews.com

BlueStar Optical Domain raises ≈$70M Series C as China scales laser satellite communications Shanghai-based laser communications startup BlueStar Optical Domain has raised about $70 million in a Series C round. The large financing signals a scale-up of China’s laser satellite communications sector and rising demand from domestic satellite‑internet constellation builders seeking high‑capacity intersatellite and ground links.

2026-03-11T03:32:22.947404-07:00

BlueStar Optical Domain raises ≈$70M Series C as China scales laser satellite communications

CNBC

Anduril moves into space to pursue contracts tied to Trump’s 'Golden Dome' initiative Anduril, the defense‑tech firm founded by Palmer Luckey, is expanding into space to compete for contracts linked to President Trump’s 'Golden Dome' missile‑defense initiative. The move positions the company as a potential prime for on‑orbit intercept and lunar infrastructure elements underpinning Golden Dome.

2026-03-10T21:20:01.293777-07:00

Anduril moves into space to pursue contracts tied to Trump’s 'Golden Dome' initiative

Payload

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Anduril to acquire ExoAnalytic Solutions to boost space‑domain awareness and Golden Dome missile‑defence capabilities Anduril has signed a definitive agreement to buy ExoAnalytic Solutions, adding the small business's global space‑sensing network of more than 400 sensors. The acquisition expands Anduril's space surveillance and missile‑defence data capabilities and directly supports its Golden Dome efforts to detect and track threats.

2026-03-10T21:04:15.119417-07:00

Anduril to acquire ExoAnalytic Solutions to boost space‑domain awareness and Golden Dome missile‑defence capabilities

SpaceNews.com

Starlab Space sells out commercial payload capacity ahead of NASA's next LEO program phase Starlab Space has fully booked the commercial payload capacity on its planned low‑Earth‑orbit station, locking in customer manifests as it awaits the next phase of NASA's LEO program that will guide agency engagement and scheduling. The sell‑out underscores commercial demand for private orbital platforms.

2026-03-10T16:27:21.976002-07:00

Starlab Space sells out commercial payload capacity ahead of NASA's next LEO program phase

NASA Spaceflight

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Falcon 9 to dominate global launch manifest as eight missions scheduled this week Eight orbital launches are scheduled worldwide this week, with SpaceX's Falcon 9 again accounting for the largest share of missions across the global manifest. The slate underscores Falcon 9’s continued operational cadence and market presence, and will shape this week's orbital-transport dynamics.

2026-03-10T14:19:44.137996-07:00

Falcon 9 to dominate global launch manifest as eight missions scheduled this week

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Commercial Space News

Planet extends commercial access restrictions on Middle East imagery from 96 hours to two weeks

Nanoengineered light sail overcomes thermal limits, advancing propellant‑free space propulsion

BlackSky’s fourth Gen‑3 satellite delivers first‑light imagery within hours of launch

BlueStar Optical Domain raises ≈$70M Series C as China scales laser satellite communications

News Timeline