SpaceNews.com
• Wesley Wark
The Canadian government is providing a major financial lifeline to Telesat Canada to support its planned Lightspeed telecommunications satellite constellation. The move underscores Ottawa’s effort to build sovereign space capabilities and strengthen the project’s prospects amid rising defense and strategic reliance on space-based connectivity.
Commercial Space
Latest source-backed stories
NOAA has selected Muon Space, Orbital Micro Systems—doing business as Weather Stream—and Spire Global to develop weather satellite instruments for the Temperature and Moisture Advanced Technology Evolution project, advancing a multi-company effort to strengthen future temperature and moisture measurement capabilities.
Small-satellite manufacturer GomSpace reported higher revenue and EBITDA for the three months ended June 30, alongside an increased cash balance. The company also said it had taken additional steps to limit exposure to a major constellation customer that has not paid its outstanding bills.
The Canadian government is providing a major financial lifeline to Telesat Canada to support its planned Lightspeed telecommunications satellite constellation. The move underscores Ottawa’s effort to build sovereign space capabilities and strengthen the project’s prospects amid rising defense and strategic reliance on space-based connectivity.
French startup Miratlas is seeking investors to expand technology that monitors atmospheric conditions and helps operators identify suitable locations for weather-sensitive optical ground stations. The effort reflects the growing need for reliable site-selection and operational data as space-to-ground laser communications move toward commercial deployment.
High activity
China rolled back the Long March 5 rocket for the delayed Chang’e-7 lunar mission even as a Long March 6C returned to flight with seven Earth-imaging satellites. Elsewhere, CAS Space outlined a 2027 debut for its Kinastra upper stage, while Japan’s Sarmony booked a Kairos demonstration launch.
Belgian manufacturer Simera Sense has delivered 10 hyperspectral imaging payloads to U.S. satellite services provider Loft Orbital over the past year. The disclosure underscores efforts to expand advanced Earth-observation capabilities for smaller spacecraft and broadens Simera Sense’s position in the smallsat imaging market.
High activity
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy awarded Elon Musk Ukraine’s Order of Freedom, citing his contributions to protecting life and freedom, as Kyiv seeks broader access to SpaceX’s Starlink terminals for battlefield communications and potentially drone strikes deep inside Russia—an expansion Musk has been reluctant to approve.
High activity
SpaceX has completed its 260th and final Falcon 9 Starlink launch from Florida, with future East Coast deployments shifting to Starship. The transition comes as the company expands Starbase Louisiana, planned with more than 12 launch towers and a reported $100 billion investment target for 2029.
Create a free account to see more recent Commercial Space stories and keep bookmarks in one place.
