LEO News

SpaceNews.com

SDA fills out Tranche 1 as Northrop Grumman satellites prepare for launch into Pentagon’s first operational LEO military data ne

Northrop Grumman satellites are preparing to launch into the Pentagon’s first operational military data network in low Earth orbit, helping complete the Space Development Agency’s Tranche 1 constellation. The program is moving toward deployment while confronting challenges that could affect delivery and operational execution.

Space.com

SpaceX launches 27 Starlink satellites on Falcon family’s 100th mission of the year

SpaceX launched 27 Starlink satellites from California on Aug. 22, marking the 100th mission of the year for its Falcon rocket family. The milestone highlights the continued operational tempo of SpaceX’s launch program and the ongoing expansion of its low-Earth-orbit broadband constellation.

Space.com

High activity

SpaceX launches 29 Starlink satellites from Florida and lands Falcon 9 booster at sea

SpaceX launched 29 Starlink broadband satellites to low Earth orbit from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. The Falcon 9’s first stage completed another recovery by landing on a droneship at sea, extending the company’s high-cadence deployment model.

SpaceNews.com

High activity

White House Targets 1,000 U.S. Space Launches by 2030 as SpaceX Reaches 100 Missions in 2026

President Trump’s new National Space Transportation Policy calls for government support to scale U.S. launch and reentry activity to 1,000 missions annually by 2030. The policy arrives as SpaceX reaches 100 launches in 2026, Starlink approaches 11,000 operational satellites and Globalstar advances its LEO replenishment.

Via Satellite

Sypris Electronics wins power-processing contract for unnamed LEO constellation

Sypris Electronics will manufacture power processing units for an unnamed next-generation low-Earth-orbit satellite constellation under a newly announced award. Protoflight production is scheduled to begin in the third quarter of 2026, with deliveries expected to continue through 2028, signaling a multi-year manufacturing commitment.

New York Times

High activity

NASA and Katalyst Space Cancel LINK Mission to Reboost Swift Gamma-Ray Observatory

NASA and Katalyst Space have abandoned an attempt to dock with and raise the orbit of the aging Swift observatory after persistent attitude-control problems disabled the LINK servicing spacecraft. The decision ends a low-cost effort to extend Swift’s operational life and preserve its gamma-ray science mission.

SpaceNews.com

High activity

Satellite connectivity buildout advances with Globalstar deployment, IRIS² milestone, Viasat- Rocket Lab contract and ReOrbit R&

Globalstar deployed all eight replacement satellites built by Rocket Lab and MDA Space, while Eutelsat completed the first rendez-vous for Europe’s IRIS² programme. Separately, Viasat selected Rocket Lab for a U.S. Space Force GEO satellite, and Finland’s ReOrbit launched a €4.6 million connectivity R&D programme.

Universe Today

NASA advances autonomous navigation and planetary mobility for Moon and Mars missions

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.