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Payload • Jacqueline Feldscher

Apex wins first Japanese bus contract as NEC buys an Aries for a communications demo next year

Apex has signed its first Japanese satellite-bus contract: NEC Corporation will purchase one Aries bus to fly a communications demonstration mission next year. The deal commits a single Aries unit to a near-term LEO comms validation between Apex and NEC.

2026-03-19T00:04:42.883256-07:00

Via Satellite

Satellogic unveils Merlin constellation for daily global 1‑meter Earth‑observation mapping

2026-03-18T13:20:00.955353-07:00

Via Satellite

Ligado tells FCC SkyTerra Next proposal won't cause interference

2026-03-18T13:20:00.657867-07:00

Universe Today

NASA's SPARCS CubeSat returns first-light images, launches M‑dwarf habitability campaign

2026-03-18T12:40:41.290441-07:00

News Timeline

Payload

Apex wins first Japanese bus contract as NEC buys an Aries for a communications demo next year Apex has signed its first Japanese satellite-bus contract: NEC Corporation will purchase one Aries bus to fly a communications demonstration mission next year. The deal commits a single Aries unit to a near-term LEO comms validation between Apex and NEC.

2026-03-19T00:04:42.883256-07:00

Apex wins first Japanese bus contract as NEC buys an Aries for a communications demo next year

Via Satellite

Connectivity Under Fire: Satcom Terminals Meet EMC and EMP Survivability for Airborne Operations Satcom terminals engineered with survivability as a core design requirement have demonstrated compliance with stringent electromagnetic compatibility and electromagnetic pulse standards while sustaining reliable communications in demanding airborne military environments. The findings highlight terminal-level hardening as essential to preserving airborne satellite links under contested conditions.

2026-03-18T13:20:01.036137-07:00

Connectivity Under Fire: Satcom Terminals Meet EMC and EMP Survivability for Airborne Operations

Via Satellite

Satellogic unveils Merlin constellation for daily global 1‑meter Earth‑observation mapping Satellogic unveiled its Merlin constellation, a next‑generation smallsat system designed to deliver one‑meter spatial resolution and daily global mapping. The company says Merlin's architecture will enable consistent, planet‑wide 1 m imagery with daily revisits, positioning it as a high‑cadence commercial EO service.

2026-03-18T13:20:00.955353-07:00

Satellogic unveils Merlin constellation for daily global 1‑meter Earth‑observation mapping

Via Satellite

Ligado tells FCC SkyTerra Next proposal won't cause interference Ligado filed a response with the FCC defending its SkyTerra Next plan to host an L‑band payload on AST SpaceMobile satellites, arguing the design will operate within Ligado’s existing L‑band coordination agreements and comply with FCC rules and interference limits.

2026-03-18T13:20:00.657867-07:00

Ligado tells FCC SkyTerra Next proposal won't cause interference

Space Intel Report

NATO says it can rapidly partner with commercial space sector across multi‑orbit, multi‑frequency architectures At a Luxembourg meeting, NATO — a 32‑nation alliance — said it can rapidly partner with the commercial space sector to field multi‑orbit, multi‑frequency architectures that bolster alliance resilience and operational connectivity. The announcement signals intent to integrate commercial satcom and constellation services into NATO defence architectures quickly.

2026-03-18T13:18:38.213427-07:00

NATO says it can rapidly partner with commercial space sector across multi‑orbit, multi‑frequency architectures

Universe Today

NASA's SPARCS CubeSat returns first-light images, launches M‑dwarf habitability campaign NASA's Star-Planet Activity Research CubeSat (SPARCS) has returned first-light images and begun an observing campaign targeting M‑dwarf stellar activity. The smallsat will chart ultraviolet output and energetic flares from the galaxy’s most common stars to inform assessments of exoplanet habitability.

2026-03-18T12:40:41.290441-07:00

NASA's SPARCS CubeSat returns first-light images, launches M‑dwarf habitability campaign

Space Intel Report

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Flexell and Kongsberg NanoAvionics to supply solar arrays for South Korea's K-LEO national-security constellation Flexell Space has signed a multi-million euro contract with Lithuania-based Kongsberg NanoAvionics to supply solar arrays for K-LEO, South Korea’s sovereign low-Earth-orbit national-security constellation. Hanwha Systems is developing the satellites, and NanoAvionics says the award advances its global smallsat expansion strategy.

2026-03-18T05:40:57.977788-07:00

Flexell and Kongsberg NanoAvionics to supply solar arrays for South Korea's K-LEO national-security constellation

SpaceWatch Global

Space Forge’s ForgeStar-1 Demonstrates In-Orbit Plasma Subsystem, Underscoring UK Supply-Chain Strength Space Forge reported a successful in-orbit operational demonstration of a plasma subsystem aboard its ForgeStar-1 satellite, a milestone the company says validates critical hardware performance in space and highlights the strength of the UK supply chain supporting its spacecraft systems.

2026-03-18T02:41:08.872763-07:00

Space Forge’s ForgeStar-1 Demonstrates In-Orbit Plasma Subsystem, Underscoring UK Supply-Chain Strength

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Satellite News

Apex wins first Japanese bus contract as NEC buys an Aries for a communications demo next year

Satellogic unveils Merlin constellation for daily global 1‑meter Earth‑observation mapping

Ligado tells FCC SkyTerra Next proposal won't cause interference

NASA's SPARCS CubeSat returns first-light images, launches M‑dwarf habitability campaign

News Timeline