Satellite News

SpaceWatch Global

Riyadh space forum highlights Europe’s challenges on IRIS², direct-to-device links, spectrum and space security

Day-one discussions in Riyadh offered five lessons for Europe, drawing on perspectives from France’s ANFR, the UK’s Ofcom, Ookla, the UN Office for Outer Space Affairs and Foradori. The issues included the IRIS² satellite program, direct-to-device connectivity, spectrum negotiations ahead of the 2027 World Radiocommunication Conference and space security.

SpaceWatch Global

STAR.VISION unveils four AI satellites for orbital computing and Earth observation

STAR.VISION has unveiled four satellites combining orbital computing with Earth-observation capabilities at the 2026 International Astronautical Congress. The program includes a partnership with Oman Lens, linking the satellite deployment to an Omani Earth-observation effort.

SpaceWatch Global

Opinion: Spacecraft AI needs human authority before autonomous action

Michael T. Neely examines accountability when artificial intelligence makes decisions aboard spacecraft faster than operators on Earth can respond. He argues that human authority must be built into autonomous systems before they act, putting control and responsibility at the center of space-AI design.

European Spaceflight

High activity

Norway proposes funding a second orbital launch pad at Andøya Spaceport

Norway’s proposed 2027 budget allocates funding for a second orbital launch pad at Andøya Spaceport. The plan would expand the site’s launch infrastructure, though the available report does not specify the amount, schedule or launch vehicles the additional pad would support.

Reuters

CSG enters space sector as largest shareholder in Canada's MDA Space

Reuters

High activity

Czech defense group CSG takes 9.5% stake in MDA Space, adding space to its portfolio

Czechoslovak Group has acquired a 9.5% equity position in Canada’s MDA Space, becoming its largest shareholder at the time of the announcement. The investment marks CSG’s entry into the space sector as it seeks to build capabilities alongside its defense and aerospace businesses.

Space.com

SpaceX launches 27 Starlink satellites, resuming Falcon 9 missions after a three-week gap

A Falcon 9 launched 27 Starlink broadband satellites on Oct. 12, the first Starlink mission flown by the rocket since Sept. 19. The launch resumes a cadence of Falcon 9 missions to build out SpaceX’s low Earth orbit broadband constellation.

SpaceNews.com

Reveal Technology upgrades Army geospatial platform combining satellite and drone imagery

Reveal Technology introduced an upgraded platform that fuses satellite and drone imagery into 3D terrain models for U.S. Army soldiers. The software is designed to support terrain analysis and mission planning even when military communications are disrupted.