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SpaceNews.com • Andrew Jones

China debuts reusable Long March 12B with surprise first flight, delivering Qianfan satellites to orbit

China conducted the maiden launch of the reusable Long March 12B without advance warning, placing operational payloads into orbit on its debut flight. The mission delivered Qianfan satellites, underscoring continued expansion of China’s reusable launch capability and near-term satellite deployment cadence.

2026-06-01T03:58:16.476284-07:00

SpaceWatch Global

Marble Imaging signs Taiwan MoU and Japan partnership to expand dual-use Earth observation for maritime security

2026-06-01T03:19:24.579933-07:00

SpaceNews.com

China launches Long March-2D test satellites for direct-to-device mobile phone broadband and space-ground connectivity

2026-06-01T02:58:54.203300-07:00

SpaceWatch Global

Rocket Lab clears System Requirements Review for SDA Tracking Layer Tranche 3 missile-defense constellation

2026-06-01T00:19:59.887627-07:00

News Timeline

SpaceNews.com

China debuts reusable Long March 12B with surprise first flight, delivering Qianfan satellites to orbit China conducted the maiden launch of the reusable Long March 12B without advance warning, placing operational payloads into orbit on its debut flight. The mission delivered Qianfan satellites, underscoring continued expansion of China’s reusable launch capability and near-term satellite deployment cadence.

2026-06-01T03:58:16.476284-07:00

China debuts reusable Long March 12B with surprise first flight, delivering Qianfan satellites to orbit

SpaceWatch Global

Marble Imaging signs Taiwan MoU and Japan partnership to expand dual-use Earth observation for maritime security Marble Imaging is expanding its footprint in Asia via a Taiwan memorandum of understanding and a Japan partnership with JSI. The effort targets growing demand for maritime security and dual-use Earth observation services, linking regional partners to Marble’s remote-sensing capabilities.

2026-06-01T03:19:24.579933-07:00

Marble Imaging signs Taiwan MoU and Japan partnership to expand dual-use Earth observation for maritime security

SpaceNews.com

China launches Long March-2D test satellites for direct-to-device mobile phone broadband and space-ground connectivity China has put four direct-to-device (D2D) test satellites into orbit on Long March-2D missions to validate upgrades and new connectivity technologies. The payloads support research into phone-to-satellite broadband and integrated space-ground network concepts ahead of future communications constellations.

2026-06-01T02:58:54.203300-07:00

China launches Long March-2D test satellites for direct-to-device mobile phone broadband and space-ground connectivity

SpaceWatch Global

Xona R&D partnership with Canada to bolster national timing resilience Xona says it has entered an R&D collaboration with the Canadian government aimed at strengthening the resilience of Canada’s timing infrastructure. The effort focuses on R&D to support more robust timing services, building on the company’s broader satellite navigation network development.

2026-06-01T00:59:58.473134-07:00

Xona R&D partnership with Canada to bolster national timing resilience

SpaceWatch Global

Rocket Lab clears System Requirements Review for SDA Tracking Layer Tranche 3 missile-defense constellation Rocket Lab has passed the System Requirements Review for the Space Development Agency’s Tracking Layer Tranche 3 constellation. The milestone advances design assurance for the missile-tracking architecture within SDA’s broader layered missile-defense tracking effort, building on prior Tranche 3 supply-chain and integration steps.

2026-06-01T00:19:59.887627-07:00

Rocket Lab clears System Requirements Review for SDA Tracking Layer Tranche 3 missile-defense constellation

Wall Street Journal

Earth’s rotation is slowing, forcing updates to timekeeping to protect GPS, navigation apps and satellite operations New reporting highlights that Earth’s day is getting longer as the planet’s rotation slows, requiring periodic adjustments to maintain precise time. Even millisecond-level shifts can ripple through systems that depend on accurate clocks, including GPS, navigation apps and satellite operations.

2026-05-29T13:51:17.301452-07:00

Earth’s rotation is slowing, forcing updates to timekeeping to protect GPS, navigation apps and satellite operations

Runway Girl

Kymeta taps JDI to build multi-band Ku/Ka metasurface aperture for civil-aviation ESA Kymeta says it has selected Japan Display Inc (JDI) to develop the multi-band metasurface aperture for its Ku/Ka-band, multi-beam electronically steered antenna (ESA) targeting multi-beam satellite connectivity. The company is positioning the effort as a pathway to entry into the civil aviation market.

2026-05-29T13:51:14.085794-07:00

Kymeta taps JDI to build multi-band Ku/Ka metasurface aperture for civil-aviation ESA

Via Satellite

Telenor IoT and Sateliot expand global satellite-based IoT coverage via new partnership Sateliot has won a new deal with Telenor IoT to scale resilient, global IoT connectivity by combining terrestrial mobile coverage with satellite connectivity. The parties position the agreement as a “best of both worlds” approach, extending service reach where mobile networks are unavailable or insufficient.

2026-05-29T12:24:28.840471-07:00

Telenor IoT and Sateliot expand global satellite-based IoT coverage via new partnership

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Satellite News

China debuts reusable Long March 12B with surprise first flight, delivering Qianfan satellites to orbit

Marble Imaging signs Taiwan MoU and Japan partnership to expand dual-use Earth observation for maritime security

China launches Long March-2D test satellites for direct-to-device mobile phone broadband and space-ground connectivity

Rocket Lab clears System Requirements Review for SDA Tracking Layer Tranche 3 missile-defense constellation

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