Low Earth Orbit News

Space.com • Mike Wall

SpaceX launches 28 Starlink satellites from Vandenberg as Italy reevaluates reliance after California breakup

SpaceX launched 28 Starlink satellites from Vandenberg on Sept. 28, 2025, expanding the constellation as Italy reassesses growing dependence on Starlink services. A Starlink satellite broke up over California during the mission, producing visible streaks while experts say no debris reached the ground.

2025-09-25T23:02:46.663040-07:00

Space.com

Tiny asteroid C15KM95 discovered hours before 250‑mile flyby, passed below ISS and satellites

2025-10-03T07:36:21.051145-07:00

Space.com

Amazon Launches First Kuiper Internet Satellites, Competes with SpaceX's Starlink

2025-04-28T16:16:02.129632-07:00

Payload

Ex-Shuttle Commander Warns NASA’s CLD Pivot Could Cede LEO and Mars Leadership to China

2025-08-08T08:08:24.454446-07:00

Low Earth Orbit News Timeline

Space.com

SpaceX to launch next‑gen Starlink V3 tranche carrying the constellation's 10,000th satellite SpaceX will launch a Falcon 9 from Vandenberg on Oct. 20 in a four‑hour window opening at 2:24 a.m. ET, carrying 28 Starlink satellites that will include the constellation's 10,000th spacecraft. The flight is part of a rollout of next‑generation Starlink V3 hardware to boost global broadband capacity.

2025-10-18T03:02:44.680112-07:00

SpaceX to launch next‑gen Starlink V3 tranche carrying the constellation's 10,000th satellite

Space.com

Vast targets 2026 launch for Haven‑1, aiming to field the first standalone commercial LEO station Vast plans to launch Haven‑1 in 2026, positioning it as the first standalone commercial low‑Earth‑orbit platform and an "amazing inflection point for human spaceflight." The company says Haven‑1 will be a crew‑tended commercial LEO station if it sticks to its schedule.

2025-10-16T09:02:43.824791-07:00

Vast targets 2026 launch for Haven‑1, aiming to field the first standalone commercial LEO station

Space.com

South Atlantic Anomaly grew by area roughly half of continental Europe in 10 years, raising radiation risk to satellites Satellite data show the South Atlantic Anomaly — a long‑known region of weak geomagnetic shielding — has grown by roughly half the area of continental Europe in the past 10 years. Its expansion increases radiation exposure for LEO satellites and raises operational risks to space systems and services.

2025-10-15T07:04:54.051692-07:00

South Atlantic Anomaly grew by area roughly half of continental Europe in 10 years, raising radiation risk to satellites

Space.com

❗️

NASA to deorbit International Space Station in 2030, accelerating shift to commercial LEO stations NASA will deorbit the International Space Station in 2030, driving the complex into a remote region of the Pacific Ocean. The agency says retirement will accelerate a planned transition to commercially operated low‑Earth‑orbit stations, shifting program responsibilities and industry opportunity to private operators.

2025-10-13T10:04:59.589163-07:00

NASA to deorbit International Space Station in 2030, accelerating shift to commercial LEO stations

SpaceNews.com

Momentus and Solstar team up to deliver communications, transport and infrastructure in LEO Momentus and Solstar have formed a partnership to provide integrated communications, orbital transportation and on‑orbit infrastructure services in low‑Earth orbit. The tie-up pairs Momentus’s in‑space transport and logistics capabilities with Solstar’s satellite communications expertise to serve commercial and government LEO customers.

2025-10-13T05:08:35.468238-07:00

Momentus and Solstar team up to deliver communications, transport and infrastructure in LEO

Via Satellite

Septentrio and Xona sign MoU to co-develop high-precision GNSS and LEO PNT and timing solutions Septentrio, a maker of high‑precision GNSS receivers, and Xona Space Systems, developer of LEO satellite navigation, signed a memorandum of understanding to deepen collaboration on next‑generation positioning, navigation and timing (PNT) and timing solutions that integrate terrestrial GNSS with LEO services.

2025-10-07T13:07:24.601338-07:00

Septentrio and Xona sign MoU to co-develop high-precision GNSS and LEO PNT and timing solutions

Space.com

❗️

Tiny asteroid C15KM95 discovered hours before 250‑mile flyby, passed below ISS and satellites Asteroid C15KM95, a sub‑2‑meter object discovered only hours before, made an extremely close flyby of Earth, passing roughly 250 miles (≈400 km) above the surface. The rock traversed beneath numerous satellites — including the ISS — and posed no risk to life or property.

2025-10-03T07:36:21.051145-07:00

Tiny asteroid C15KM95 discovered hours before 250‑mile flyby, passed below ISS and satellites

Space Intel Report

❗️

US–China tensions seen as the biggest near‑term threat to LEO sustainability A rising mass of derelict rocket upper stages in low Earth orbit, driven by booming launch activity, heightens concern that worsening US–China tensions are the biggest near‑term threat to LEO sustainability. A breakdown in cooperation or counterspace actions could spur debris growth and raise collision risk for satellites and crewed spacecraft.

2025-10-01T13:24:42.432355-07:00

US–China tensions seen as the biggest near‑term threat to LEO sustainability

Create a free account to see more recent Low Earth Orbit stories.