SpaceWatch Global
• Joshua Faleti
The U.S. Space Force has postponed procurement of commercial communications services from maneuverable geostationary-orbit satellites, extending a series of delays. In parallel, the Defense Innovation Unit and Space Force are advancing demonstrations of rendezvous and proximity operations to monitor GEO and support future orbital-warfare missions.
Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation
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The U.S. Space Force has postponed procurement of commercial communications services from maneuverable geostationary-orbit satellites, extending a series of delays. In parallel, the Defense Innovation Unit and Space Force are advancing demonstrations of rendezvous and proximity operations to monitor GEO and support future orbital-warfare missions.
Meridian Space is separating from kinetic launch technology developer SpinLaunch to independently pursue flat, reflect-array satellites designed to launch up to 250 at a time on a Falcon 9. The company is targeting governments, regional satellite operators and telecom companies with turnkey networks priced below $1 billion.
Star Catcher says its prototype orbital power node is prepared for launch on a SpaceX Transporter mission targeted for no earlier than Oct. 1. The mission will demonstrate the company’s power-beaming technology in orbit.
Chinese launch startup Deep Blue Aerospace has secured nearly $300 million to support development of its reusable Nebula rocket family. The company is also testing an upgraded rocket engine, combining fresh capital with propulsion work as it advances its commercial launch ambitions.
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Starship reached orbit for the first time on its 14th test flight and deployed 26 V3 Starlink satellites using its “Pez dispenser” system. An engine shutdown forced SpaceX to end the planned 10-hour mission early, bringing the fully reusable vehicle home ahead of schedule.
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Indian startup TakeMe2Space plans to launch its sub-50-kilogram MOI-1A satellite on SpaceX’s Transporter-18 rideshare mission on Oct. 1. Equipped with Nvidia Orin NX processors, the spacecraft is designed to run AI models in orbit and process Earth-observation data before transmission to ground stations.
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SpaceX is targeting Sept. 28 for the first orbital launch attempt of its 124-meter (407-foot) Starship-Super Heavy rocket, carrying the first Starlink V3 satellites. The milestone comes 18 years after SpaceX’s Falcon 1 reached orbit for the first time.
High activity
After more than a decade of development and 13 test flights, SpaceX plans to launch Starship on its first orbital mission from Texas on Sept. 28, pending regulatory approval. The 75-minute window targets six Earth orbits, deployment of 26 Starlink V3 satellites and a Pacific Ocean landing.
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