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Unmanned Airspace • Philip Butterworth-Hayes

Iridium to acquire Aireon in $166M deal, bringing space-based ADS-B fully in-house

Iridium Communications has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Aireon LLC, which operates space-based ADS-B for aircraft surveillance. NAV Canada will sell its entire equity stake in Aireon Holdings to an Iridium subsidiary for $166 million. The move consolidates Aireon’s tracked-aircraft capability inside Iridium’s satellite network business.

2026-05-14T05:23:44.186869-07:00

SpaceNews.com

Earth-observation data bottlenecks: rising imagery volumes collide with on-orbit collection, secure storage and AI-ready analyti

2026-05-14T04:20:51.336205-07:00

SpaceNews.com

LandSpace’s improved Zhuque-2E Y5 debuts on China launches; Qianfan adds a new batch of constellation satellites

2026-05-14T03:09:16.277854-07:00

Space Intel Report

AST SpaceMobile’s investor push hinges on launch contracts as direct-to-device broadband scales in LEO

2026-05-14T02:25:01.920192-07:00

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Unmanned Airspace

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Iridium to acquire Aireon in $166M deal, bringing space-based ADS-B fully in-house Iridium Communications has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Aireon LLC, which operates space-based ADS-B for aircraft surveillance. NAV Canada will sell its entire equity stake in Aireon Holdings to an Iridium subsidiary for $166 million. The move consolidates Aireon’s tracked-aircraft capability inside Iridium’s satellite network business.

2026-05-14T05:23:44.186869-07:00

Iridium to acquire Aireon in $166M deal, bringing space-based ADS-B fully in-house

SpaceNews.com

Earth-observation data bottlenecks: rising imagery volumes collide with on-orbit collection, secure storage and AI-ready analyti As Earth-observation satellite deployments expand and sensors become more sophisticated, the data generated is outpacing the infrastructure needed to store, secure and analyse it. The result is a growing “data-in-orbit” problem—where access, processing pipelines and governance matter as much as launch cadence.

2026-05-14T04:20:51.336205-07:00

Earth-observation data bottlenecks: rising imagery volumes collide with on-orbit collection, secure storage and AI-ready analyti

SpaceNews.com

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LandSpace’s improved Zhuque-2E Y5 debuts on China launches; Qianfan adds a new batch of constellation satellites LandSpace launched the upgraded Zhuque-2E Y5 into orbit on China’s Dongfeng commercial space pilot zone, positioning the vehicle for a higher-capability commercial manifest. Separately, China lofted another satellite group for the Qianfan megaconstellation, extending the constellation’s ongoing replenishment cadence.

2026-05-14T03:09:16.277854-07:00

LandSpace’s improved Zhuque-2E Y5 debuts on China launches; Qianfan adds a new batch of constellation satellites

Space Intel Report

AST SpaceMobile’s investor push hinges on launch contracts as direct-to-device broadband scales in LEO AST SpaceMobile is raising cash for a multibillion-dollar direct-to-device satellite network, aligning terrestrial spectrum and partners’ plans with its space segment. The company’s pitch underscores that each satellite’s 223-square-meter antenna is in place, but stresses that launch contracts remain the near-term gating factor.

2026-05-14T02:25:01.920192-07:00

AST SpaceMobile’s investor push hinges on launch contracts as direct-to-device broadband scales in LEO

politico.eu

Europe’s case for a 1,000-satellite security constellation Europe is arguing for scaling to a 1,000-satellite constellation to underpin national security by improving what European forces can see—linking sensing, communications and defense-relevant intelligence to independent space access. The push reflects the shift of commercial space assets toward national power.

2026-05-13T21:32:30.807155-07:00

Europe’s case for a 1,000-satellite security constellation

AeroTime

Google in talks with SpaceX to launch “Project Suncatcher” tests for space-based AI data centers Reports say Google and SpaceX are in discussions to launch orbital AI data centers, advancing “Project Suncatcher” as a route to space-hosted compute. The effort would position SpaceX as a preferred launch partner for on-orbit testing that could reshape AI infrastructure requirements and architectures.

2026-05-13T13:57:47.751602-07:00

Google in talks with SpaceX to launch “Project Suncatcher” tests for space-based AI data centers

Via Satellite

Logos Space moves toward enterprise and government-secure LEO network design after FCC clearance, selecting a satellite bus manu Logos Space, a new entrant in LEO constellations, says it has secured FCC approval this spring and is now progressing to choose a bus manufacturer later this summer. The company is positioning its architecture around private, secure networks for enterprises and governments rather than mass-market connectivity.

2026-05-13T13:36:31.093076-07:00

Logos Space moves toward enterprise and government-secure LEO network design after FCC clearance, selecting a satellite bus manu

SpaceNews.com

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Northrop Grumman’s LR-450 targets GPS-denied navigation for mid-size satellites Northrop Grumman is rolling out the LR-450, a compact inertial positioning and navigation system derived from James Webb Space Telescope guidance technologies. The LR-450 is designed to provide continuous, precise spacecraft tracking and orientation even when external satellite signals are unavailable, addressing weakened navigation coverage beyond Earth orbit.

2026-05-13T07:26:11.975612-07:00

Northrop Grumman’s LR-450 targets GPS-denied navigation for mid-size satellites

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Satellite News

Iridium to acquire Aireon in $166M deal, bringing space-based ADS-B fully in-house

Earth-observation data bottlenecks: rising imagery volumes collide with on-orbit collection, secure storage and AI-ready analyti

LandSpace’s improved Zhuque-2E Y5 debuts on China launches; Qianfan adds a new batch of constellation satellites

AST SpaceMobile’s investor push hinges on launch contracts as direct-to-device broadband scales in LEO

News Timeline