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• Jacob Oakley
Researchers say they have spent eight years probing satellite systems and recently demonstrated that a commercial satellite could be compromised in orbit. The finding is part of a broader body of work aimed at showing the space industry where cybersecurity weaknesses may threaten spacecraft and mission operations.
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Researchers say they have spent eight years probing satellite systems and recently demonstrated that a commercial satellite could be compromised in orbit. The finding is part of a broader body of work aimed at showing the space industry where cybersecurity weaknesses may threaten spacecraft and mission operations.
NASA pursued an unconventional effort to preserve Swift, combining pressure on the Treasury and rapid, AI-assisted software development. The attempt produced notable technical work but ultimately could not take the observatory further, according to comments from a participant described as “absolutely gutted.”
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SpaceX is scheduled to launch 130 payloads into orbit on Oct. 1 aboard the Transporter-18 rideshare mission, including a prototype Google artificial-intelligence satellite. The mission underscores the continuing expansion of shared launch services for deploying diverse commercial and technology-demonstration spacecraft.
London-based Foundational has raised £8.2 million ($10.8 million; €9.6 million) in pre-seed funding, which it describes as Europe’s largest space-tech pre-seed round. The startup is developing satellite-mounted retroreflectors, automated ground stations and software to improve positioning data for satellites and orbital-debris tracking.
Nokia and ICEYE will jointly develop secure, broadband low Earth orbit satellite systems that governments can own and operate. The planned network is intended to support defense, border security, emergency services and disaster response, with the first satellites expected to launch in 2028.
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Rocket Lab has signed its largest Electron launch-services agreement to date, covering 20 missions for longtime Japanese customer Synspective. The deal follows Rocket Lab’s 97th Electron launch for the Earth-observation constellation operator and comes as launch providers reassess pricing and competition in the commercial market.
Ukraine is asking Washington to sanction several Russian entities it says are helping develop Rassvet, a domestic satellite network intended as an alternative to SpaceX’s Starlink. The appeal underscores the network’s strategic significance and Kyiv’s effort to constrain Russia’s access to space-based communications capabilities.
The FCC advanced its deregulation agenda with two decisions: exempting certain space activities from federal environmental regulations and making 1,000 megahertz of spectrum available. The actions could reduce regulatory requirements for affected space activities while expanding access to communications capacity.
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