Satellite Programs & Technology News

Associated Press • Mari Yamaguchi

Japan’s H-IIA Rocket Retires after 50th Launch with GOSAT-GW Climate Satellite

Japan successfully launched its GOSAT-GW (Ibuki GW) greenhouse-gas and water-cycle observation satellite on the H-IIA’s 50th and final mission, capping two decades of service for the workhorse launcher. The retirement paves the way for the more cost-competitive H3 vehicle, set to debut later this year.

2025-06-28T10:03:00.053295-07:00

Space.com

SpaceX Launches Axiom Mission 4, Sending First Indian, Polish and Hungarian Astronauts to ISS in 40 Years

2025-06-24T23:59:35.425004-07:00

Fox Weather

Vera C. Rubin Observatory Unveils First Images, Captures Nebulae and Thousands of Asteroids

2025-06-23T04:39:34.140481-07:00

Space.com

ULA Launches Second Batch of Amazon’s Project Kuiper Satellites on Atlas V

2025-06-23T04:38:05.195961-07:00

Satellite Programs & Technology News Timeline

m.economictimes.com

India Accelerates Space-Based Surveillance with 52 Defence Satellites by 2029 India’s Defence Ministry has approved a ₹26,968-crore Space-Based Surveillance (SBS) programme to deploy 52 dedicated defence satellites by 2029, bolstering ISR coverage across China, Pakistan and the Indian Ocean Region. The initiative, spurred by Operation Sindoor, runs alongside plans to acquire high-altitude platform system (HAPS) aircraft for extended missions.

2025-06-29T21:39:28.841611-07:00

India Accelerates Space-Based Surveillance with 52 Defence Satellites by 2029

satnews

Arianespace to launch CO3D and MicroCarb climate satellites on July 25 via Vega C On July 25, 2025, Arianespace will launch a pair of climate-monitoring satellites – Airbus Defence and Space’s CO3D constellation and CNES’s MicroCarb – aboard its Vega C rocket to map atmospheric CO₂ sources and sinks globally, with MicroCarb’s spectrometer integrated by Thales Alenia Space UK under a UK Space Agency partnership.

2025-06-29T20:22:19.357467-07:00

Arianespace to launch CO3D and MicroCarb climate satellites on July 25 via Vega C

Space.com

Blue Origin flies six tourists, including space’s 750th traveler, on 13th crewed New Shepard mission Blue Origin on June 29 launched a reusable New Shepard booster from its West Texas site, carrying six paying passengers – including the 750th person ever to fly to space – on a 10-minute suborbital trip. It marks the 13th crewed flight and third in under three months.

2025-06-29T08:14:41.507150-07:00

Blue Origin flies six tourists, including space’s 750th traveler, on 13th crewed New Shepard mission

CNBC

France Bets on Eutelsat as Europe’s Starlink Challenger France positions Eutelsat as a strategic EU asset in satellite broadband sovereignty, aiming to rival Starlink’s global dominance. The plan hinges on state backing and industry consolidation, but Eutelsat’s smaller constellation and funding gaps pose steep competitive challenges.

2025-06-28T23:15:08.362741-07:00

France Bets on Eutelsat as Europe’s Starlink Challenger

Associated Press

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Japan’s H-IIA Rocket Retires after 50th Launch with GOSAT-GW Climate Satellite Japan successfully launched its GOSAT-GW (Ibuki GW) greenhouse-gas and water-cycle observation satellite on the H-IIA’s 50th and final mission, capping two decades of service for the workhorse launcher. The retirement paves the way for the more cost-competitive H3 vehicle, set to debut later this year.

2025-06-28T10:03:00.053295-07:00

Japan’s H-IIA Rocket Retires after 50th Launch with GOSAT-GW Climate Satellite

European Spaceflight

ICEYE Secures Three Defence SAR Contracts with Portugal, the Netherlands and NATO in Two Weeks Commercial SAR satellite operator ICEYE secured three defence-focused Earth observation contracts in the past two weeks, signing agreements with Portugal, the Netherlands and NATO to supply synthetic-aperture radar imagery and analytics, highlighting growing demand for all-weather geospatial intelligence across Europe.

2025-06-28T08:23:32.433488-07:00

ICEYE Secures Three Defence SAR Contracts with Portugal, the Netherlands and NATO in Two Weeks

Universe Today

Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope Core Passes Shock and Vibration Testing Ahead of 2027 Launch NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope has successfully completed shock and vibration tests on its core hardware, marking a major milestone in validating the observatory’s resilience to the violent forces it will face during launch on its scheduled 2027 mission.

2025-06-28T05:14:13.376924-07:00

Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope Core Passes Shock and Vibration Testing Ahead of 2027 Launch

SpaceNews.com

SpaceX Secures $81.6 Million Space Force Contract to Launch Weather Satellite in 2027 SpaceX has been awarded an $81.6 million U.S. Space Force contract to launch a critical military weather satellite in 2027, reinforcing its role in national security space missions. The award underscores the Space Force’s continued reliance on commercial launch providers for key defense infrastructure.

2025-06-28T04:46:14.188945-07:00

SpaceX Secures $81.6 Million Space Force Contract to Launch Weather Satellite in 2027

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