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• Andrew Jones
China’s telecommunications regulator has issued a roadmap for expanding the country’s satellite network through the end of the decade, building on a national five-year plan released in March. The plan signals continued government direction for satellite communications and related space infrastructure.
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China’s telecommunications regulator has issued a roadmap for expanding the country’s satellite network through the end of the decade, building on a national five-year plan released in March. The plan signals continued government direction for satellite communications and related space infrastructure.
Cryptographic systems relied on for decades to secure sensitive communications and critical infrastructure could become vulnerable to sufficiently powerful quantum computers. Satellite operators and space-system developers face a long-term security challenge involving the protection of command, control and data links against future quantum-enabled attacks.
Two spacecraft operated by Impulse Space came within less than 650 feet of one another in orbit, showcasing what the company described as advanced capabilities. The maneuver highlights the growing role of commercial spacecraft in proximity operations, with implications for in-space servicing, inspection and other emerging orbital missions.
Australian Earth-observation company LatConnect 60 has signed two strategic agreements in India covering satellite mission infrastructure and access to the country’s defense and geospatial-intelligence markets. Announced at the Bengaluru Space Expo 2026, the deals support the company’s expansion of its SWIRSAT business in India.
A SpaceX executive confirmed that the next Starship flight will carry its first orbital payloads, including Starlink satellites. The mission is expected to advance the company’s direct-to-device connectivity ambitions and provide an initial testbed for future orbital data-center concepts.
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Korean Air and Asiana Airlines plan to begin offering free Starlink inflight connectivity on selected services from Sept. 15, 2026. Korean Air’s initial rollout covers three Airbus A350-900s and one Boeing 777-300ER, with broader plans to equip the Hanjin Group airlines’ fleets.
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Austrian Airlines has begun operating its first aircraft equipped with Starlink connectivity, while SAS completed a substantial portion of its own deployment earlier this month. The updates mark further progress in bringing high-speed satellite internet to European airline fleets and passengers.
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NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope successfully launched Aug. 30 from Kennedy Space Center aboard a SpaceX Falcon Heavy. After reaching space, the observatory deployed its solar array and communications systems and powered on its Coronagraph Instrument, marking early progress in commissioning the mission.
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