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SpaceNews.com • Jason Rainbow

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

SpaceWatch Global

Space financing surge and consolidation: SpaceX $25B bond sale, Rocket Lab-Iridium $8B deal, and fresh Starlink launches for air

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

SpaceNews.com

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

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

Space.com

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

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

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SpaceNews.com

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

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

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Space financing surge and consolidation: SpaceX $25B bond sale, Rocket Lab-Iridium $8B deal, and fresh Starlink launches for air SpaceX drew heavy demand for a reported $25 billion bond sale, with analysts flagging capital-spending and refinancing/investor-concentration risks. Rocket Lab agreed to acquire Iridium in an ~$8 billion cash-and-stock transaction to combine launch, satellite manufacturing and a global mobile communications network. Separately, new Starlink deployment milestones are in the wake of airlines adopting the service, with additional inaugural launches expected soon.

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

Space financing surge and consolidation: SpaceX $25B bond sale, Rocket Lab-Iridium $8B deal, and fresh Starlink launches for air

Space.com

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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

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

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

Space.com

SpaceX debuts Starlink “Starfall” reentry vehicle as Starlink surpasses 10,000 operational satellites SpaceX says its disk-shaped Starfall reentry vehicle is debuting as Starlink reaches 10,671 working satellites in low Earth orbit. The milestone reinforces the company’s rapidly widening gap in launches and raises the operational stakes for end-of-life disposal and collision risk in a denser LEO shell.

2026-06-22T05:09:06.282451-07:00

SpaceX debuts Starlink “Starfall” reentry vehicle as Starlink surpasses 10,000 operational satellites

Space.com

SpaceX Falcon 9 launches 24 Starlink satellites into low Earth orbit from Vandenberg A SpaceX Falcon 9 lifted off from Vandenberg Space Force Base carrying 24 Starlink satellites into low Earth orbit on June 21, 2026. The deployment continues SpaceX’s high-cadence expansion of its LEO broadband constellation from the West Coast spaceport.

2026-06-21T11:46:33.471106-07:00

SpaceX Falcon 9 launches 24 Starlink satellites into low Earth orbit from Vandenberg

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

Space financing surge and consolidation: SpaceX $25B bond sale, Rocket Lab-Iridium $8B deal, and fresh Starlink launches for air

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

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

News Timeline