LEO News

SpaceWatch Global

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Türkiye outlines sovereign space ambitions at IAC 2026, including a 198-satellite LEO network and lunar mission

Day two of the International Astronautical Congress featured Aselsan’s planned 198-satellite low Earth orbit network, Fergani’s navigation constellation, a proposed spaceport in Somalia and Türkiye’s Moon mission. Together, the announcements span satellite infrastructure, navigation, launch access and exploration, presenting a broad national space agenda.

SpaceNews.com

Meridian and NanoAvionics activate LEO communications payload, target broadband spacecraft production in mid-2027

Meridian Space and Kongsberg NanoAvionics said Oct. 5 they had successfully activated Meridian’s First Customer Link communications payload in low Earth orbit. The companies aim to begin producing flat broadband spacecraft in mid-2027, following in-orbit antenna tests.

SpaceNews.com

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Open Cosmos targets 96 ConnectedCosmos satellites by 2028, 192 by 2030

The UK company says more than 50 satellites are complete and plans to put 96 in orbit by late 2028, building toward a 192-satellite low Earth orbit network offering secure connectivity and real-time intelligence with global coverage by 2030. The schedule follows difficulties securing launches and meeting regulatory deployment deadlines.

actualidadaeroespacial.com

Airbus delivers first 32 next-generation satellites for Eutelsat’s OneWeb constellation

Airbus Defence and Space has delivered the first batch of next-generation satellites for Eutelsat’s OneWeb low Earth orbit constellation. The batch comprises 32 satellites, marking the start of deliveries for the upgraded spacecraft fleet.

Space.com

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Google, startups push toward AI computing and data centers in orbit

Google is testing tensor processing units aboard Planet Labs satellites after a SpaceX launch, advancing its Project Suncatcher concept for orbital AI infrastructure. The effort arrives alongside Satlyt’s $8 million funding round for virtual on-orbit data centers and Foundational’s $11 million plan to commercialize satellite laser ranging.

Bloomberg

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U.S. Space Force and industry advance military, sovereign satellite communications and in-space ISR capabilities

The Space Force selected Northrop Grumman and True Anomaly to build “space-to-space” ISR satellites by 2028, while L3Harris secured a $461.9 million executive-aircraft satcom contract. Separately, Nokia and ICEYE are developing sovereign low-Earth-orbit communications systems for governments, defense contractors and emergency services.

SpaceNews.com

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ESA selects Airbus and OHB-led consortia to study European-led crewed space stations

The European Space Agency has selected consortia led by Airbus Defence and Space and OHB to conduct parallel studies of a future European-led space station in low Earth orbit. The effort marks an early step toward defining Europe’s potential post-ISS human-spaceflight architecture and industrial roles.

SpaceNews.com

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Pentagon commits billions to accelerate AMRAAM, JDAM Long Range and F-35 production

The Pentagon awarded RTX’s Raytheon business a provisional $20.7 billion multiyear AMRAAM contract aimed at nearly doubling output, alongside Boeing’s $75 million JDAM Long Range production award and a $123.8 million Northrop Grumman contract for F-35 APG-85 radar components.