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Associated Press

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Private Swift reboost/rescue mission derails: Link spacecraft faces reaction-wheel failures, thruster issues, and uncontrollable

Katalyst Space Technologies’ Link spacecraft—launched nearly a month ago to perform a high-risk reboost for NASA’s Swift Observatory—has developed attitude control problems. Preliminary findings indicate two of three reaction wheels are inoperable, and Link is experiencing thruster issues that have led to an uncontrollable spin, disrupting communications.

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Eutelsat signs MoU with Poland to support IRIS² secure satellite communications participation

Eutelsat says it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Poland to deepen cooperation in support of Europe’s secure satellite communications infrastructure under the IRIS² programme. The agreement is aimed at enabling Poland’s participation in the IRIS² effort alongside related cooperation commitments.

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SpaceNews.com

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ESA moves to assess repurposing Lunar Link for a dedicated lunar communications asset

The European Space Agency has opened a call to examine the feasibility of repurposing Lunar Link—a communications system originally developed for NASA’s now-paused Gateway space station—into a dedicated lunar communications capability. The effort targets a future-focused architecture for lunar connectivity.

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Skywave expands industrial IoT offering with Iridium Short Burst Data (SBD)

Skywave and Iridium/Orbcomm-backed services have formed a strategic partnership to embed Iridium Short Burst Data (SBD) into Skywave’s industrial IoT offering for heavy equipment OEM customers. The move brings Iridium’s satellite connectivity to a new OEM segment and marks the first collaboration between the two companies.

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Viasat discloses $291.4M in satellite construction payments due by 2031 and $509.8M in future capacity lease commitments

Viasat said in its 2026 annual report that, as of March 31, it had $291.4 million in satellite construction payments due over the next five years (through 2031). It also reported $509.8 million in future commitments to purchase satellite capacity from third-party fleet operators.

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China signals an offshore satellite-launch push while SpaceX expands Starlink cadence after Starship test activity

China is pursuing sea-based satellite launches, aiming to narrow the US orbital gap and broaden commercial launch options, according to a July 28, 2026 roundup. The competitive push lands as SpaceX executed a Starship flight test and continues deploying Starlink via Falcon 9—most recently lifting 24 satellites from Vandenberg on July 25.

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