SpaceNews.com
• Meidad "Mayday" Pariente
Small-satellite operators targeting a 2029 launch may already be struggling to secure a ride, while the lowest-cost rideshare option is no longer accepting bookings. The shift puts renewed focus on whether dedicated small-launch providers can attract anchor customers and establish viable demand.
Satellite
Latest source-backed stories
Small-satellite operators targeting a 2029 launch may already be struggling to secure a ride, while the lowest-cost rideshare option is no longer accepting bookings. The shift puts renewed focus on whether dedicated small-launch providers can attract anchor customers and establish viable demand.
Planet Labs has opened a major manufacturing hub in Berlin and secured a contract to provide data and analytics to civil government agencies through Germany’s Federal Agency for Cartography and Geodesy. The moves deepen the Earth-observation company’s presence in Germany amid demand for sovereign data capabilities.
Day two of Germany’s ND conference focused on dual-use systems, launch, the IRIS² satellite network and intelligence needs. An industry panel identified security clearances as the central constraint on progress, shifting attention from satellite availability to the ability to access and use space capabilities.
High activity
The European Space Agency has released Earth Virtual Expert (EVE), an AI platform designed to make Earth-observation knowledge more accessible and answer Earth science questions. ESA plans to add satellite imagery search in 2027; the release does not specify further capabilities or deployment details.
High activity
EQT has completed its acquisition of Exolaunch, a German company providing launch and satellite deployment services. The deal backs Exolaunch as it expands its services portfolio and global reach.
Under the European Space Agency’s NAVISP Element 2 Programme, UAV Navigation-Grupo Oesía is researching whether signals of opportunity from low Earth orbit communications constellations can support resilient navigation for unmanned aircraft systems. The work explores an alternative navigation input for UAS operations.
High activity
Day Four of the International Astronautical Congress in Antalya featured discussions by ESA, Astroscale and UKSA on low Earth orbit congestion and debris removal, alongside debate over U.S. and Chinese space networks. Separately, ispace, Leonardo and Telespazio agreed to explore lunar communications and transport, while Telespazio BeNeLux will lead ground-infrastructure work for ESA’s 2027 PROSPECT mission.
High activity
SpaceX says recent close approaches involving Starlink satellites produced predicted miss distances ranging from tens to hundreds of meters, prompting the company to call for better coordination in orbit. The warning underscores the operational risks posed by increasingly crowded orbital traffic.
Create a free account to see more recent Satellite stories and keep bookmarks in one place.
