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PaxEx.Aero • Seth Miller

Virgin Atlantic fast-tracks Starlink inflight Wi‑Fi, aiming to fit first A350 by early May 2026 and launch on VS153 London–JFK

Virgin Atlantic says it will accelerate its fleetwide rollout of free, high-speed Starlink Wi‑Fi, with the service debuting on VS153 from London to JFK at an unnamed date next month. The carrier now targets Starlink installation on its first A350 by early May 2026.

2026-04-12T06:01:17.170001-07:00

SpaceNews.com

Long March 7A launches Shiyan-12 classified satellites on China space mission

2026-04-11T06:17:50.815417-07:00

Via Satellite

BryceTech: SpaceX captured ~50% of global launch activity in 2025 as the market pivots to smallsats

2026-04-10T12:53:22.530933-07:00

SpaceNews.com

Spacety raises $190M to scale vertically integrated satellite manufacturing and data services; targets IPO

2026-04-10T10:22:24.967320-07:00

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SpaceNews.com

Rocket Lab locks in three more Electron launches for Japan’s iQPS, extending multi-year partnership to 15 missions Rocket Lab has signed a multi-launch agreement with Japan’s Institute for Q-shu Pioneers of Space (iQPS) for three additional Electron launches. The follow-on deal extends a partnership that now totals 15 Electron missions, underscoring repeat customer confidence and sustained small-launch cadence.

2026-04-12T06:16:02.267419-07:00

Rocket Lab locks in three more Electron launches for Japan’s iQPS, extending multi-year partnership to 15 missions

PaxEx.Aero

Virgin Atlantic fast-tracks Starlink inflight Wi‑Fi, aiming to fit first A350 by early May 2026 and launch on VS153 London–JFK Virgin Atlantic says it will accelerate its fleetwide rollout of free, high-speed Starlink Wi‑Fi, with the service debuting on VS153 from London to JFK at an unnamed date next month. The carrier now targets Starlink installation on its first A350 by early May 2026.

2026-04-12T06:01:17.170001-07:00

Virgin Atlantic fast-tracks Starlink inflight Wi‑Fi, aiming to fit first A350 by early May 2026 and launch on VS153 London–JFK

SpaceNews.com

Long March 7A launches Shiyan-12 classified satellites on China space mission China’s Long March 7A carried classified Shiyan-12 satellites into orbit in a new launch mission. The flight adds to Beijing’s steady cadence of secretive payload deployments and underscores how China continues to expand national space capability through routine heavy-lift operations.

2026-04-11T06:17:50.815417-07:00

Long March 7A launches Shiyan-12 classified satellites on China space mission

SpaceNews.com

GeoOptics and Spire Global win NOAA contracts for weather data GeoOptics and Spire Global have each secured NOAA weather data contracts, expanding the use of commercially sourced satellite information in U.S. weather services. The awards reinforce demand for space-derived atmospheric observations that can be operationalized for forecast and decision-support workflows.

2026-04-10T21:13:18.652789-07:00

GeoOptics and Spire Global win NOAA contracts for weather data

Via Satellite

BryceTech: SpaceX captured ~50% of global launch activity in 2025 as the market pivots to smallsats BryceTech’s 2025 Year in Review shows launch demand increasingly concentrated in small satellites, alongside SpaceX’s continued dominance—accounting for about half of launches in 2025. The findings reinforce a market shift toward frequent, lower-cost access to orbit and intensifying competitive pressure on non-vertically integrated providers.

2026-04-10T12:53:22.530933-07:00

BryceTech: SpaceX captured ~50% of global launch activity in 2025 as the market pivots to smallsats

Space Intel Report

Sateliot raises $117M Series C to build 16 Gen 2 IoT satellites, targeting a summer close IoT satellite constellation operator Sateliot has launched a plan for its next-generation network and is raising a $117-million C-round, the company says it expects to close this summer. The funding is intended to build 16 Gen 2 satellites to expand its connectivity offering.

2026-04-10T11:39:01.046288-07:00

Sateliot raises $117M Series C to build 16 Gen 2 IoT satellites, targeting a summer close

Via Satellite

Amazon Leo (Project Kuiper) exits beta, targets mid-2026 commercial satellite internet launch Amazon says its rebranded LEO broadband service, Amazon Leo (formerly Project Kuiper), entered enterprise beta on April 8 and is aiming to go live by mid-2026. CEO Andy Jassy frames the service as “on the verge” of going live, supported by three terminal tiers and 22 new rocket contracts.

2026-04-10T11:18:12.475052-07:00

Amazon Leo (Project Kuiper) exits beta, targets mid-2026 commercial satellite internet launch

SpaceNews.com

HawkEye 360 files for an initial public offering as it scales space-based RF geolocation and intelligence services HawkEye 360 has filed to go public, advancing plans to fund continued scale-up of its satellite-based RF geolocation and related intelligence services. The move follows recent commercial and defense-facing traction, including partnership and forecasting deals tied to mission planning and operations.

2026-04-10T10:58:22.766587-07:00

HawkEye 360 files for an initial public offering as it scales space-based RF geolocation and intelligence services

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Satellite News

Virgin Atlantic fast-tracks Starlink inflight Wi‑Fi, aiming to fit first A350 by early May 2026 and launch on VS153 London–JFK

Long March 7A launches Shiyan-12 classified satellites on China space mission

BryceTech: SpaceX captured ~50% of global launch activity in 2025 as the market pivots to smallsats

Spacety raises $190M to scale vertically integrated satellite manufacturing and data services; targets IPO

News Timeline