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rocketlabcorp.com • Rocket Lab

Rocket Lab closes $155.3M Mynaric acquisition to bring optical laser communications into its space systems portfolio

Rocket Lab has completed its acquisition of Mynaric AG, paying $155.3 million ($5.3 million above the originally agreed price) for the optical communications terminal (OCT) supplier. The deal expands Rocket Lab’s space systems business with laser-based communications capability intended to scale for commercial and government customers.

2026-04-14T15:23:55.982820-07:00

SpaceWatch Global

LiveEO lands ESA InCubed funding to advance its Twinspector Earth-observation constellation

2026-04-14T23:34:53.740054-07:00

aboutamazon.com

Amazon to acquire Globalstar in $11.57B deal, pairing Amazon Leo direct-to-device ambitions with Apple iPhone SOS connectivity

2026-04-14T05:06:40.010217-07:00

Wall Street Journal

Bezos-backed satellites and rockets push into Starlink/SpaceX territory, intensifying the LEO broadband race

2026-04-14T21:24:04.824704-07:00

News Timeline

SpaceWatch Global

LiveEO lands ESA InCubed funding to advance its Twinspector Earth-observation constellation LiveEO has secured funding through the European Space Agency (ESA) InCubed program to support the next development phase of its Twinspector constellation. The award underlines how ESA incubation mechanisms are being used to move Earth-observation constellations from concept and early build toward operational readiness.

2026-04-14T23:34:53.740054-07:00

LiveEO lands ESA InCubed funding to advance its Twinspector Earth-observation constellation

Financial Times

Report alleges Iran used a Chinese-built surveillance satellite (TEE-01B) to track U.S. bases during March attacks The Financial Times reports Iran obtained access to the Chinese-built TEE-01B spy satellite (operated with support from Beijing-based Emposat) in late 2024, using it—via commercial ground-station access—to monitor and reportedly guide attacks on U.S. military sites across Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Bahrain, and Iraq. China denies the claims; leaked files cited by the report describe IRGC secret acquisition and targeting use.

2026-04-14T21:35:04.683763-07:00

Report alleges Iran used a Chinese-built surveillance satellite (TEE-01B) to track U.S. bases during March attacks

Wall Street Journal

Bezos-backed satellites and rockets push into Starlink/SpaceX territory, intensifying the LEO broadband race Bezos-founded space businesses are accelerating plans for satellite connectivity and rocket launches—directly challenging SpaceX’s long-standing dominance in LEO services. The push adds competitive pressure across launch cadence and constellation buildout, building on the broader fight over spectrum, deployment timing and market access.

2026-04-14T21:24:04.824704-07:00

Bezos-backed satellites and rockets push into Starlink/SpaceX territory, intensifying the LEO broadband race

Spaceflight Now

Live: SpaceX Falcon 9 from Vandenberg Space Force Base to launch 25 Starlink satellites SpaceX is targeting a 9:29:49 p.m. PDT liftoff from Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 4 East for a Falcon 9 mission carrying 25 Starlink satellites. The launch is part of SpaceX’s high-cadence constellation deployment tempo as Starlink continues expanding in low Earth orbit.

2026-04-14T18:53:26.258895-07:00

Live: SpaceX Falcon 9 from Vandenberg Space Force Base to launch 25 Starlink satellites

Aviation Week

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Kepler selected to lead ESA HydRON Element 3 interoperability tests for “fiber in the sky” optical laser communications ESA has awarded Kepler Communications a $30.1M prime contract to lead HydRON Element 3, progressing ESA’s faster, more secure laser communications “fiber in the sky” network. Kepler’s team—alongside Astrolight—will test terminal interoperability across multiple orbital planes as HydRON’s next phase moves forward.

2026-04-14T16:53:23.631178-07:00

Kepler selected to lead ESA HydRON Element 3 interoperability tests for “fiber in the sky” optical laser communications

rocketlabcorp.com

Rocket Lab closes $155.3M Mynaric acquisition to bring optical laser communications into its space systems portfolio Rocket Lab has completed its acquisition of Mynaric AG, paying $155.3 million ($5.3 million above the originally agreed price) for the optical communications terminal (OCT) supplier. The deal expands Rocket Lab’s space systems business with laser-based communications capability intended to scale for commercial and government customers.

2026-04-14T15:23:55.982820-07:00

Rocket Lab closes $155.3M Mynaric acquisition to bring optical laser communications into its space systems portfolio

Universe Today

Radar study reveals complex subsurface history near the Moon’s south pole—raising construction and landing-site risks A new radar-based investigation probes buried layers in one of the Moon’s most impact-battered regions, finding evidence of ancient impacts, frozen melt sheets, and billions of years of overlapping debris. The results suggest the geological environment underpinning south-pole outpost plans may be far more heterogeneous than expected.

2026-04-14T13:53:11.262768-07:00

Radar study reveals complex subsurface history near the Moon’s south pole—raising construction and landing-site risks

The War Zone

Angry Kitten jamming pod tests on HC-130J validate remote reprogramming using satellite threat updates Testing of the Angry Kitten jamming pod on the HC-130J focuses on receiving threat updates “via satellite” and rapidly reprogramming the pods based on the real-time threat environment. The objective is to enable faster adaptation of jamming behavior as threats evolve.

2026-04-14T11:34:51.194561-07:00

Angry Kitten jamming pod tests on HC-130J validate remote reprogramming using satellite threat updates

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Satellite News

Rocket Lab closes $155.3M Mynaric acquisition to bring optical laser communications into its space systems portfolio

LiveEO lands ESA InCubed funding to advance its Twinspector Earth-observation constellation

Amazon to acquire Globalstar in $11.57B deal, pairing Amazon Leo direct-to-device ambitions with Apple iPhone SOS connectivity

Bezos-backed satellites and rockets push into Starlink/SpaceX territory, intensifying the LEO broadband race

News Timeline