LEO News

Via Satellite • Mark Holmes

Space Development Agency restarts Falcon 9 launch campaign, placing 21 data-transport satellites into low Earth orbit

SpaceX launched 21 satellites for the Space Development Agency (SDA) aboard a Falcon 9 on July 16, resuming the Pentagon’s first operational low-Earth-orbit military data network after a months-long pause. SDA cited software and hardware issues discovered on in-orbit units and delayed launches to address known problems.

8 Sources

2026-07-16T09:14:01.263011-07:00

SpaceNews.com

SWISSto12, Apex, Space Pioneer and Impulse Space pull in fresh funding to scale small GEO satellites, high-rate bus production a

10 Sources

2026-07-16T00:04:43.512436-07:00

Inflight Online

Atlas V completes Amazon Leo’s final mission as constellation grows to 396 satellites

1 Source

2026-07-16T02:46:41.654651-07:00

Associated Press

Amazon Leo targets South Africa rollout by 2027 via Herotel deal

12 Sources

2026-07-15T08:30:36.897441-07:00

Low Earth Orbit News Timeline

Via Satellite

8 sources

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Space Development Agency restarts Falcon 9 launch campaign, placing 21 data-transport satellites into low Earth orbit SpaceX launched 21 satellites for the Space Development Agency (SDA) aboard a Falcon 9 on July 16, resuming the Pentagon’s first operational low-Earth-orbit military data network after a months-long pause. SDA cited software and hardware issues discovered on in-orbit units and delayed launches to address known problems.

2026-07-16T09:14:01.263011-07:00

Space Development Agency restarts Falcon 9 launch campaign, placing 21 data-transport satellites into low Earth orbit

Ars Technica

1 source

Xona targets 258-satellite low Earth orbit constellation as a GPS alternative Xona says it plans to deploy 258 satellites in low Earth orbit to provide navigation services intended to function as an alternative to GPS. The announcement frames LEO constellations as a renewed approach to positioning and timing, leveraging scale and distributed coverage.

2026-07-16T04:17:53.011696-07:00

Xona targets 258-satellite low Earth orbit constellation as a GPS alternative

Inflight Online

1 source

Atlas V completes Amazon Leo’s final mission as constellation grows to 396 satellites Amazon’s Project Leo constellation expanded to 396 satellites following a 29-satellite Atlas V launch, which marked the completion of Atlas V’s final Leo mission. The deployment sequence is positioned to transition toward Vulcan-powered high-rate rollout and initial service operations.

2026-07-16T02:46:41.654651-07:00

Atlas V completes Amazon Leo’s final mission as constellation grows to 396 satellites

SpaceNews.com

10 sources

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SWISSto12, Apex, Space Pioneer and Impulse Space pull in fresh funding to scale small GEO satellites, high-rate bus production a SWISSto12 closed a $70M Series C to scale “sovereign hardware” for small GEO satellite development. Apex said it raised over $200M and nearly doubled its valuation to $2.3B to ramp productized, configurable satellite bus production. Space Pioneer raised $29M (200M CNY) and Impulse Space secured $500M in a Series D to build in-space mobility infrastructure.

2026-07-16T00:04:43.512436-07:00

SWISSto12, Apex, Space Pioneer and Impulse Space pull in fresh funding to scale small GEO satellites, high-rate bus production a

Space Intel Report

1 source

Eutelsat FCC filing suggests its 440-satellite Airbus OneWeb order could add new capabilities Eutelsat’s FCC filing tied to its Airbus Defence and Space order for 440 OneWeb satellites indicates the batch may not be a straight continuation of the current 640-satellite fleet. The filing points to potential additional features—such as optical inter-satellite links—that are not present across today’s satellites.

2026-07-15T11:14:01.105739-07:00

Eutelsat FCC filing suggests its 440-satellite Airbus OneWeb order could add new capabilities

Associated Press

12 sources

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Amazon Leo targets South Africa rollout by 2027 via Herotel deal Amazon’s low-Earth-orbit satellite internet venture, Amazon Leo, has agreed with South Africa’s Herotel to distribute connectivity to residential customers under a new broadband offering. The service is positioned for a 2027 launch in South Africa, underscoring intensifying competition with providers such as Starlink.

2026-07-15T08:30:36.897441-07:00

Amazon Leo targets South Africa rollout by 2027 via Herotel deal

SpaceNews.com

39 sources

SDA awards $1.75B for Golden Dome Tranche 3 tracking satellites; L3Harris gets $955M for 18 spacecraft The U.S. Space Development Agency awarded $1.75 billion for Tranche 3 Tracking Layer satellites supporting the Golden Dome missile defense shield. L3Harris received $955 million to produce 18 satellites, with Sierra Space getting $798 million, under fixed-price OTA rapid-prototyping contracts targeting Tranche 3 by end-2028.

2026-07-13T14:19:46.091532-07:00

SDA awards $1.75B for Golden Dome Tranche 3 tracking satellites; L3Harris gets $955M for 18 spacecraft

Reuters

32 sources

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SpaceX targets July 16 for Starship Flight 13, deploying Starlink from a v3 vehicle after schedule slips SpaceX is preparing Starship’s 13th test flight later this week, with a target no earlier than July 16. Flight 13 will use the rocket’s Version 3 configuration and is intended to be similar to Flight 12, while SpaceX also plans to test new Starlink satellites in orbit. The launch has seen at least one T-0 pushback.

2026-07-13T07:45:06.737977-07:00

SpaceX targets July 16 for Starship Flight 13, deploying Starlink from a v3 vehicle after schedule slips

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