LEO News

Reuters

❗️

NASA launches (and briefly holds) orbital-rescue mission to raise the Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory’s orbit before reentry NASA has launched a robotic LINK spacecraft to rendezvous with the aging Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory and boost it into a higher orbit ahead of a dangerous atmospheric reentry risk. The mission was executed by a U.S.-China–era tech supplier effort led by Arizona startup Katalyst after a last-minute launch issue delayed takeoff.

2026-07-03T02:00:40.584972-07:00

NASA launches (and briefly holds) orbital-rescue mission to raise the Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory’s orbit before reentry

SpaceNews.com

26 sources

❗️

Amazon’s Leo LEO broadband constellation nears 400 satellites after ULA launch, setting up initial service later this year to ch Amazon says its Leo low-Earth-orbit satellite broadband network is now large enough for continuous service across initial latitudes, following a United Launch Alliance mission that pushed the orbiting satellite count over 390. Amazon plans to begin initial internet service later this year as it competes with SpaceX’s Starlink dominance.

2026-07-02T03:01:45.560867-07:00

Amazon’s Leo LEO broadband constellation nears 400 satellites after ULA launch, setting up initial service later this year to ch

New York Times

29 sources

❗️

NASA’s Swift Observatory orbital rescue: Katalyst Space Tech mission to be air-launched on Northrop Grumman’s Pegasus XL from a NASA and Katalyst Space Technologies will launch an orbital-servicing mission on June 30, 2026 to arrest the atmospheric decay of the Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory. The Pegasus XL rocket will be released from a Lockheed L-1011 TriStar Stargazer on a racetrack approach from Kwajalein Atoll—its final operational flight.

2026-06-29T10:55:39.248124-07:00

NASA’s Swift Observatory orbital rescue: Katalyst Space Tech mission to be air-launched on Northrop Grumman’s Pegasus XL from a

SpaceNews.com

4 sources

SatVu restarts commercial operations with HotSat-2 after 2023 in-orbit failure UK thermal-imaging startup SatVu has begun commercial services for HotSat-2 on June 29, resuming revenue generation after the debut HotSat mission failed in low Earth orbit in 2023. HotSat-2’s rollout signals the company’s path back to market with its Earth-observation product.

2026-06-29T04:25:17.136852-07:00

SatVu restarts commercial operations with HotSat-2 after 2023 in-orbit failure

SpaceNews.com

3 sources

China launches a national VLEO industry alliance as satellites sustain sub-300km operations China has established a national Very Low Earth Orbit (VLEO) industry alliance, backed by recent evidence that satellites are demonstrating sustained operations below 300km. The move also reflects growing investment interest in propulsion startups aimed at making low-orbit operations more viable.

2026-06-29T02:04:09.779514-07:00

China launches a national VLEO industry alliance as satellites sustain sub-300km operations

SpaceWatch Global

113 sources

❗️

Rocket Lab to buy Iridium Communications for $8B in cash-and-stock deal to build an end-to-end satellite services network Rocket Lab agreed to acquire Iridium Communications in a cash-and-stock transaction valued at about $8 billion—at $54 per share—aiming to expand into satellite telecommunications services and challenge SpaceX’s Starlink. The deal would give Rocket Lab control of Iridium’s satellite fleet and access to wireless resources to compete in space-based connectivity.

2026-06-29T00:06:44.285921-07:00

Rocket Lab to buy Iridium Communications for $8B in cash-and-stock deal to build an end-to-end satellite services network

Space.com

2 sources

❗️

China to expand Tiangong with three new modules—aiming to double station size as ISS approaches end of service China plans to add three new modules to its Tiangong space station and introduce a co-orbiting space telescope, effectively doubling Tiangong’s size as the ISS heads toward a Pacific splashdown. The upgrade underscores a transition toward a larger Chinese-led LEO presence.

2026-06-26T11:12:18.743778-07:00

China to expand Tiangong with three new modules—aiming to double station size as ISS approaches end of service

Space.com

None source

China plans to double the size of its Tiangong space station while the ISS nears its end

2026-06-26T11:12:18.743778-07:00

China plans to double the size

Menu

LEO News

NASA launches (and briefly holds) orbital-rescue mission to raise the Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory’s orbit before reentry

Amazon’s Leo LEO broadband constellation nears 400 satellites after ULA launch, setting up initial service later this year to ch

Rocket Lab to buy Iridium Communications for $8B in cash-and-stock deal to build an end-to-end satellite services network

NASA’s Swift Observatory orbital rescue: Katalyst Space Tech mission to be air-launched on Northrop Grumman’s Pegasus XL from a

Low Earth Orbit News Timeline