LEO News

SpaceNews.com • Jeff Foust

ULA’s Atlas V completes final Leo delivery as Amazon adds 29 more broadband satellites (396 total)

United Launch Alliance successfully launched an Atlas V carrying 29 Amazon Leo broadband satellites from Space Launch Complex-41 on July 2, 2026, marking the final Atlas V mission for the vehicle’s most powerful configuration. The constellation now totals 396 satellites, keeping Amazon on track for commercial service later this year.

9 Sources

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

SpaceWatch Global

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

113 Sources

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

New York Times

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

29 Sources

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

SpaceNews.com

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

3 Sources

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

Low Earth Orbit News Timeline

SpaceNews.com

9 sources

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ULA’s Atlas V completes final Leo delivery as Amazon adds 29 more broadband satellites (396 total) United Launch Alliance successfully launched an Atlas V carrying 29 Amazon Leo broadband satellites from Space Launch Complex-41 on July 2, 2026, marking the final Atlas V mission for the vehicle’s most powerful configuration. The constellation now totals 396 satellites, keeping Amazon on track for commercial service later this year.

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

ULA’s Atlas V completes final Leo delivery as Amazon adds 29 more broadband satellites (396 total)

New York Times

29 sources

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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

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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

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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

SpaceNews.com

2 sources

York Space Systems demonstrates two-way tactical UHF comms from low Earth orbit for the U.S. Space Force York Space Systems said a satellite it built for the U.S. Space Force successfully demonstrated two-way tactical communications using ultra-high-frequency (UHF) links from low Earth orbit. The test validates LEO-to-user bidirectional connectivity using UHF for tactical communications needs.

2026-06-24T06:12:20.497794-07:00

York Space Systems demonstrates two-way tactical UHF comms from low Earth orbit for the U.S. Space Force

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