Universe Today
• Andy Tomaswick
Astronomers used “blind stacking” to detect faint, previously unseen objects in geosynchronous orbit, highlighting debris risks in GEO—an increasingly critical environment for GPS, weather tracking, and communications satellites. The reporting underscores the need to keep GEO clear of collision hazards that could disable key services.
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Astronomers used “blind stacking” to detect faint, previously unseen objects in geosynchronous orbit, highlighting debris risks in GEO—an increasingly critical environment for GPS, weather tracking, and communications satellites. The reporting underscores the need to keep GEO clear of collision hazards that could disable key services.
SES says it will provide multi-orbit in-flight connectivity for LATAM Airlines under a new multi-year agreement, connecting more than 60 Airbus and Embraer aircraft over the next few years. The contract expands LATAM’s satellite-based connectivity footprint across its Airbus and Embraer fleets.
Spain will invest up to $2.3 billion in a national secure satellite broadband constellation, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said July 29. The system is intended to integrate into Europe’s IRIS2 multi-orbit network as part of Spain’s broader defense capability buildup.
Beijing is steadily narrowing the advantage held by U.S. space capabilities by expanding and upgrading its satellite systems to gain a clearer view of American activities. The shift signals accelerating competition across space-based intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance.
LatConnect 60 (LC60) says it is executing a multi-geography industrial strategy to accelerate its SWIRSAT constellation. The company plans to anchor core technology development and payload manufacturing in Western Australia while expanding spacecraft production capacity in Malaysia and the United Arab Emirates.
Satellite operators are preparing for changes as SpaceX moves to phase out Falcon rocket configurations used for commercial payload rides. The shift raises near-term questions for manifesting, launch availability, and how operators continue relying on SpaceX’s “workhorse” vehicle for routine access to orbit.
SpaceX plans to launch the National Reconnaissance Office’s NROL-95 mission from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. Rocket Lab also secured up to $266 million from the U.S. Space Force for as many as 18 suborbital missile-defense launches from Alaska.
NATO officials have emphasized the need for additional satellite capacity to meet alliance requirements, including through the existing capacity-sharing framework under NATO Satcom Services 6. The approach depends on national satellite contributions from the US, France, Britain, Italy, Spain and Luxembourg—raising questions about scalability for emerging surveillance and telecom needs.
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