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• Jason Rainbow
The Federal Communications Commission approved Amazon’s acquisition of satellite operator Globalstar, clearing a key regulatory hurdle for the roughly $11.5 billion deal. Amazon Leo plans to use the acquisition to build a communications network, including direct-to-device connectivity, and compete with SpaceX’s Starlink.
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A Defense Intelligence Agency assessment offers its clearest image yet of China’s reusable spaceplane, describing reported rendezvous and proximity operations on flights two and three of three missions flown from 2020 to 2023. The spacecraft launched again in February 2026, as the report warns of wider Chinese and Russian military and dual-use space capabilities.
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The European Space Agency has awarded Airbus Defence and Space and Thales Alenia Space contracts for two additional Galileo satellites apiece. The Airbus award brings its total number of Galileo second-generation satellites under contract to eight, adding capacity to the European navigation and timing constellation.
The European Space Agency has extended contracts with Airbus Defence and Space and Thales Alenia Space for four additional Galileo Second Generation satellites. Airbus’s separate award for two spacecraft brings its Galileo G2G order to eight; the new satellites are described as having stronger anti-jamming protection.
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The Federal Communications Commission approved Amazon’s acquisition of satellite operator Globalstar, clearing a key regulatory hurdle for the roughly $11.5 billion deal. Amazon Leo plans to use the acquisition to build a communications network, including direct-to-device connectivity, and compete with SpaceX’s Starlink.
The Federal Communications Commission has approved Amazon Leo’s $11.57 billion deal to acquire Globalstar. The decision marks a regulatory milestone for the transaction, bringing the satellite businesses under a proposed combination with a value of more than $11.5 billion.
European officials are intensifying discussions about reducing dependence on the United States and American defense contractors, according to people familiar with the matter. The debate follows a recent dispute over restrictions on Starlink in Ukraine, highlighting how access to privately operated space infrastructure can become a strategic vulnerability for allies.
Craft Prospect is working with Fraunhofer Centre for Applied Photonics and Vector Photonics on PERSEUS, a project exploring next-generation laser technology for high-performance optical communications in space. The announcement identifies the partners and research focus, but provides no technical specifications, schedule or funding details.
A Falcon 9 lifted off from California overnight on Oct. 27, carrying 27 additional Starlink satellites to low Earth orbit. The launch adds another batch to SpaceX’s constellation, extending its deployment cadence through a mission launched in the early morning hours.
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