Satellite News

Payload • Victoria Woodburn

NASA awards SpaceX Starlink contract for Artemis III laser communications in LEO

NASA has selected SpaceX to deliver laser communications capabilities for the Artemis III mission using Starlink. The contract supports ship-to-ship communications in low Earth orbit, aiming to improve how Earth-based observers view and monitor planned in-orbit activity in the 2027 timeframe.

2 Sources

2026-07-17T05:58:32.578049-07:00

Universe Today

FCC approves first test launch for Reflect Orbital’s Eärendil-1 satellite

1 Source

2026-07-17T04:51:29.219067-07:00

Space Intel Report

Ovzon reports 48% revenue growth and 38% EBITDA increase in Q2; company weighs timing for its second satellite

2 Sources

2026-07-17T04:45:24.393807-07:00

Space.com

Study warns extreme solar storms could be more damaging to satellites, power grids and communications than previously estimated

1 Source

2026-07-17T03:10:03.859346-07:00

Satellite Programs & Technology News Timeline

Payload

2 sources

NASA awards SpaceX Starlink contract for Artemis III laser communications in LEO NASA has selected SpaceX to deliver laser communications capabilities for the Artemis III mission using Starlink. The contract supports ship-to-ship communications in low Earth orbit, aiming to improve how Earth-based observers view and monitor planned in-orbit activity in the 2027 timeframe.

2026-07-17T05:58:32.578049-07:00

NASA awards SpaceX Starlink contract for Artemis III laser communications in LEO

Universe Today

1 source

FCC approves first test launch for Reflect Orbital’s Eärendil-1 satellite The US Federal Communications Commission has approved the first test launch of Reflect Orbital’s Eärendil-1 satellite, the initial step toward the company’s planned Reflect Orbital space reflector constellation. The approval clears the path for test-lifespan deployment under FCC authorization.

2026-07-17T04:51:29.219067-07:00

FCC approves first test launch for Reflect Orbital’s Eärendil-1 satellite

Space Intel Report

2 sources

Ovzon reports 48% revenue growth and 38% EBITDA increase in Q2; company weighs timing for its second satellite Swedish satellite operator and mobile satcom terminal manufacturer Ovzon said revenue for the three months ended June 30 rose 48% year over year and EBITDA increased 38%. Operating profit and cash flow also climbed materially, while the company said it is still considering its second-satellite plans.

2026-07-17T04:45:24.393807-07:00

Ovzon reports 48% revenue growth and 38% EBITDA increase in Q2; company weighs timing for its second satellite

Space.com

1 source

Study warns extreme solar storms could be more damaging to satellites, power grids and communications than previously estimated A new scientific study argues that “once-in-a-thousand-year” solar storms may pose higher-than-expected risks to space assets and critical terrestrial infrastructure. Researchers say worst-case geomagnetic conditions could translate into greater impacts for satellites, power grids and communications than earlier threat models suggested.

2026-07-17T03:10:03.859346-07:00

Study warns extreme solar storms could be more damaging to satellites, power grids and communications than previously estimated

Via Satellite

4 sources

Viasat-BMW demo shows first satellite voice call fully integrated into vehicle infotainment Viasat says it has demonstrated a satellite-enabled voice call capability integrated into a BMW Group vehicle platform, with the feature fully integrated into the infotainment system. The demonstration was shown during 5G Automotive Association (5GAA) Meeting Week in Munich, using the BMW iX3 platform as the commercial vehicle basis.

2026-07-16T15:57:19.833302-07:00

Viasat-BMW demo shows first satellite voice call fully integrated into vehicle infotainment

Via Satellite

3 sources

Keysight to lead ESA work on blockchain-based anomaly detection for 5G non-terrestrial networks Keysight Technologies will lead a European Space Agency (ESA) development program examining how blockchain technologies can be used to detect anomalies for 5G non-terrestrial networks (NTN). The effort includes evaluating blockchain frameworks aimed at improving security in NTN operations.

2026-07-16T14:27:03.090863-07:00

Keysight to lead ESA work on blockchain-based anomaly detection for 5G non-terrestrial networks

Via Satellite

2 sources

AST SpaceMobile pushes Direct-to-Device commercial launch to early 2027; raises $1B via share sale and flags potential vertical AST SpaceMobile has rescheduled its commercial Direct-to-Device (D2D) service launch to early 2027, moving it from a prior late-2026 timeline. The company also launched a share sale to raise $1 billion and said it may consider vertical integration in its launch efforts.

2026-07-16T13:50:47.084854-07:00

AST SpaceMobile pushes Direct-to-Device commercial launch to early 2027; raises $1B via share sale and flags potential vertical

SpaceNews.com

1 source

Nature Astronomy study proposes satellite method to detect thermonuclear warheads in orbit A study published in *Nature Astronomy* outlines a new satellite design and detection technique intended to identify thermonuclear warheads while they are in space. The work focuses on improving observational capability for nuclear-weapons monitoring beyond ground-based approaches.

2026-07-16T13:44:27.071907-07:00

Nature Astronomy study proposes satellite method to detect thermonuclear warheads in orbit

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