Universe Today
• Matthew Williams
NASA is testing technologies aimed at reducing dependence on Earth-based infrastructure and improving mobility beyond Earth. The agency demonstrated GPS-free optical navigation on its Starling CubeSat swarm, evaluated wheel designs for lunar bases, and developed a fabric-based ground-penetrating-radar antenna for SkyFall Mars helicopters.
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NASA is testing technologies aimed at reducing dependence on Earth-based infrastructure and improving mobility beyond Earth. The agency demonstrated GPS-free optical navigation on its Starling CubeSat swarm, evaluated wheel designs for lunar bases, and developed a fabric-based ground-penetrating-radar antenna for SkyFall Mars helicopters.
Telesat says it is pursuing good-faith negotiations with bondholders suing to reverse a 2025 transfer of funds to its dedicated Telesat LEO subsidiary. The satellite operator is also confronting a $1.7 billion debt payment due in December, adding financial pressure to its LEO strategy.
SpaceMD will use Starfall for a space-based pharmaceutical manufacturing mission, positioning low Earth orbit as a potential production environment for treatments targeting diseases including cancer and Alzheimer’s. The effort underscores the expanding commercial-space sector’s interest in translating orbital manufacturing into medical applications.
The push to build data centers is extending into lower Earth orbit, creating a potential new market for insurers. Orbital facilities would introduce unfamiliar exposure across launch, spacecraft operations, infrastructure resilience and the increasingly complex risk environment of commercial space.
High activity
Bluebox and SkyFive are partnering to help airlines convert air-to-ground connectivity into stronger ancillary revenue and passenger-experience offerings. Separately, Blue Origin has selected RBC Signals to support its Quartz global ground-station network, which is expected to include nine sites by year-end for missions in low Earth orbit and beyond.
The U.S. Space Force is funding five companies to demonstrate interoperability across commercial satellite systems for its open-architecture Space Data Network, whose proliferated low-Earth-orbit backbone is being supplied by SpaceX. Separately, Impulse Space received a $28 million SBIR Phase III extension supporting two VICTUS SALO missions.
U.S. Space Command has identified offensive space capabilities and systems to counter proliferated low Earth orbit constellations as its two highest-priority capability needs for fiscal years 2029 through 2033. The ranking highlights perceived gaps in preparing for future conflict in space, according to Gen. Stephen Whiting.
AST SpaceMobile says it expects to expand its low Earth orbit constellation from 13 to 45 satellites by early next year, supporting beta direct-to-device service in the U.S. this year with roughly half-day coverage. Continuous service is targeted for 2027, with 10 missions booked across two launch providers.
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