Space Intel Report
• Peter B. de Selding
South Korea’s Kompsat-6 radar-observation satellite has become an example of the risks of launching as a co-passenger rather than buying a dedicated mission. The case highlights the tradeoff satellite operators face between the lower cost of a shared ride and the greater control of a dedicated launch.
Satellite
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President Vladimir Putin praised Elon Musk as a genius, saying Russia is only beginning to roll out its answer to Starlink. The comments underscore the early stage of Russia’s effort to field a satellite internet system positioned as a counterpart to Musk’s network.
South Korea’s Kompsat-6 radar-observation satellite has become an example of the risks of launching as a co-passenger rather than buying a dedicated mission. The case highlights the tradeoff satellite operators face between the lower cost of a shared ride and the greater control of a dedicated launch.
South Korea’s Flexell Space and Singapore-based Satoro have agreed to demonstrate and validate next-generation space solar cells in orbit, with missions planned aboard SpaceX Falcon 9 launches in 2027 and 2028. Flexell will supply solar cells and test modules; Satoro will provide a satellite-as-a-service solution.
Rendezvous Robotics has raised $20 million to develop technology for satellites launched in separate pieces that can assemble themselves in space. The effort targets a different approach to spacecraft deployment, with the company developing the technology needed to make on-orbit assembly possible.
A Pentagon report has published an unclassified Maxar image of China’s Shenlong spaceplane in orbit, captured in 2024. The image shows upward-opening doors over a central payload bay and a tail extension with solar panels on either side, offering unusually clear visual detail of a spacecraft whose missions and capabilities remain closely guarded.
ABS Jets has joined Starlink’s authorized dealer network and completed its first installation, equipping an Embraer Legacy 650 with the satellite connectivity service. The announcement marks the business aviation provider’s entry into Starlink installations; the available report does not specify the system’s performance, pricing or rollout plans.
The U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency says counterspace weapons, strategic cooperation and growing reliance on commercial satellites are increasing threats to space security. The assessment highlights how military capabilities and commercial infrastructure are becoming central to the security risks facing the orbital environment.
Dr. Volker Pötzsch of the Bundeswehr’s Cyber and Information Domain Service discusses how space-based sensing can inform military decisions, the role of AI-driven data fusion and the human constraints in turning information into action. The interview frames data-to-decision capability as a central challenge for the German Armed Forces.
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