Satellite News

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NorthStar to deploy 11 optical sensors on Kepler relay satellites after tracking-spacecraft failure

NorthStar Earth & Space plans to place 11 optical space-domain-awareness sensors on Kepler Communications data-relay satellites in 2028, shifting its orbital-tracking architecture after the failure of its first four spacecraft. The deployment would expand NorthStar’s planned ability to monitor objects in orbit without relying solely on dedicated tracking satellites.

Payload

Solar Storm Losses Forecast to Reach $44.27B Annually by 2035

A Mission Space report estimates that solar storms will generate $20.65 billion in losses in 2026, with annual costs more than doubling to $44.27 billion by 2035. The forecast underscores the growing economic exposure of space-based and terrestrial systems to severe space-weather events.

SpaceNews.com

Infleqtion wins $20 million NASA contract to advance space-based quantum gravity sensor

Colorado-based quantum technology company Infleqtion will continue developing a mission to launch what NASA describes as the world’s first space-based quantum gravity sensor under a $20 million contract. The work advances quantum sensing for space applications, with the mission’s objective and launch timing not disclosed in the article.

SpaceNews.com

Katalyst Space continues Swift spacecraft operations after abandoning NASA satellite reboost

Katalyst Space has dropped plans to reboost a NASA satellite but is continuing to operate its Swift spacecraft, using the mission to build experience for future on-orbit satellite servicing missions. The effort provides operational experience even without completing the originally planned reboost objective.

SpaceWatch Global

High activity

MTG-I2 and NASA’s Roman Space Telescope enter final launch preparations for late-August liftoffs

The Meteosat Third Generation Imager-2 is encapsulated inside an Ariane 6 fairing at Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana for a planned Aug. 27 launch. NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope has reached SpaceX’s Launch Complex 39A ahead of its targeted Aug. 30 launch from Florida.

Via Satellite

TraCSS remains in pilot phase as budget uncertainty slows U.S. space traffic management rollout

The Office of Space Commerce’s TraCSS system has onboarded more than 70 satellite owners and operators across more than 10 nations, but remains in pilot mode because of budget uncertainty. The status underscores the gap between growing demand for space traffic coordination and operationalizing the U.S. system.

SpaceNews.com

Space Force expands Starshield satellite service across military aircraft fleets

The Pentagon has awarded SpaceX a new fleet-level contract to expand Starshield satellite-network services aboard military aircraft, offering a clearer view of how the classified communications capability is being integrated across U.S. aviation fleets.

Via Satellite

NOAA awards Muon Space, Weather Stream and Spire contracts for TMATE weather-satellite instruments

NOAA has selected Muon Space, Orbital Micro Systems—doing business as Weather Stream—and Spire Global to develop weather satellite instruments for the Temperature and Moisture Advanced Technology Evolution project, advancing a multi-company effort to strengthen future temperature and moisture measurement capabilities.