Satellite Programs & Technology News

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Rocket Lab launches USSF STP‑S30 mission five months early; Electron posts 100% success

Rocket Lab launched the U.S. Space Force STP‑S30 mission from Wallops Island, delivering DiskSat and other technology demonstrators into low Earth orbit and meeting all objectives. The flight finished five months ahead of schedule on Electron, with CEO Peter Beck confirming 100% mission success.

2025-12-17T22:43:11.938064-08:00

Washington Post

U.S. and Chinese satellites are 'dogfighting' up to 22,000 miles as orbital militarization escalates

2025-12-18T02:14:37.333263-08:00

Aviacionline

Bundeswehr awards €1.7bn to Rheinmetall–ICEYE JV for satellite ISR as Bundestag approves €50bn defence package

2025-12-17T12:13:59.764351-08:00

ESA

Ariane 6 lifts two Galileo satellites into orbit, reinforcing Europe’s navigation resilience

2025-12-16T21:52:08.293366-08:00

Satellite Programs & Technology News Timeline

Washington Post

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U.S. and Chinese satellites are 'dogfighting' up to 22,000 miles as orbital militarization escalates U.S. and Chinese spacecraft are increasingly conducting close‑proximity maneuvers — sometimes operating as far out as 22,000 miles from Earth — behavior described as 'dogfighting' as the militarization of orbit accelerates. This trend raises collision and mission‑risk concerns and signals a new phase of contested on‑orbit operations.

2025-12-18T02:14:37.333263-08:00

U.S. and Chinese satellites are 'dogfighting' up to 22,000 miles as orbital militarization escalates

lefigaro.fr

Airbus and Thales Alenia to deliver first reprogrammable next‑generation connectivity satellite Airbus Space and Thales Alenia Space are preparing to deliver their first reprogrammable, next‑generation connectivity satellite after more than six years of development. The platform is built to provide in‑orbit reconfiguration and flexible payload management to respond to the rapid rise of multi‑orbit connectivity constellations.

2025-12-17T23:24:52.690511-08:00

Airbus and Thales Alenia to deliver first reprogrammable next‑generation connectivity satellite

rocketlabcorp.com

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Rocket Lab launches USSF STP‑S30 mission five months early; Electron posts 100% success Rocket Lab launched the U.S. Space Force STP‑S30 mission from Wallops Island, delivering DiskSat and other technology demonstrators into low Earth orbit and meeting all objectives. The flight finished five months ahead of schedule on Electron, with CEO Peter Beck confirming 100% mission success.

2025-12-17T22:43:11.938064-08:00

Rocket Lab launches USSF STP‑S30 mission five months early; Electron posts 100% success

Air & Space Forces Mag

US Space Force Combat Forces Command establishes dedicated space EW and SATCOM operations centers The U.S. Space Force's Combat Forces Command has established dedicated space electronic warfare and satellite communications operations centers. The new organizations create focused operational hubs for space EW and SATCOM tasks, reflecting an institutional effort to elevate and streamline those mission areas.

2025-12-17T19:04:38.892982-08:00

US Space Force Combat Forces Command establishes dedicated space EW and SATCOM operations centers

spaceanddefense.io

Astroscale awarded U.S. patent for fuel‑efficient capture of tumbling satellites Astroscale has been granted a U.S. patent for a fuel‑efficient method to capture and service tumbling satellites, advancing techniques to rendezvous with, stabilize and attach to non‑cooperative objects in orbit. The invention targets a longstanding technical barrier for on‑orbit servicing and space sustainability.

2025-12-17T18:24:15.521379-08:00

Astroscale awarded U.S. patent for fuel‑efficient capture of tumbling satellites

Via Satellite

Airtel Africa to become first African MNO to offer Starlink Direct-to-Cell across 14 markets Airtel Africa will offer SpaceX’s Starlink Direct-to-Cell service across its 14 African markets under a new partnership, becoming the continent’s first mobile network operator to integrate satellite-to-mobile connectivity. The rollout is planned to reach customers by 2026 and targets underserved and remote regions.

2025-12-17T13:25:07.433126-08:00

Airtel Africa to become first African MNO to offer Starlink Direct-to-Cell across 14 markets

Space Intel Report

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Argentina regulator, Amazon Leo and FCC weigh easing LEO-to-GEO interference limits ahead of WRC‑27 Argentina’s telecom regulator, Amazon’s Leo team and the U.S. FCC are discussing proposals to relax limits on low‑Earth‑orbit emissions toward geostationary satellites. The potential change, raised ahead of the WRC‑27 review of EPFD rules, could alter spectrum protections for GEO services and broadcasters.

2025-12-17T12:47:14.005721-08:00

Argentina regulator, Amazon Leo and FCC weigh easing LEO-to-GEO interference limits ahead of WRC‑27

Aviacionline

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Bundeswehr awards €1.7bn to Rheinmetall–ICEYE JV for satellite ISR as Bundestag approves €50bn defence package The Bundeswehr has awarded €1.7bn to a Rheinmetall–ICEYE joint venture to build space‑based radar and satellite reconnaissance — including systems to monitor activity near Germany's deployed brigade in Lithuania. The award is part of a €50bn Bundestag defence package to accelerate ISR, air‑and‑missile defence, drones and military space.

2025-12-17T12:13:59.764351-08:00

Bundeswehr awards €1.7bn to Rheinmetall–ICEYE JV for satellite ISR as Bundestag approves €50bn defence package

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