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NASA Spaceflight • Eleanor Day

Launch week outlook: SpaceX Falcon Heavy’s delayed return, ULA Atlas V, and Ariane 6 for Amazon Leo satellites

SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy is set for a first launch after an ~18-month gap, but a late scrub has pushed the ViaSat-3 F3 mission and raised immediate next-steps questions. In parallel, ULA’s Atlas V and Arianespace’s Ariane 6 are scheduled to fly Amazon Leo payloads from the U.S., California and French Guiana (32-satellite Ariane 64 configuration).

2026-04-27T13:34:36.097316-07:00

Satellite Evolution

Gatehouse Satcom and Rohde & Schwarz formalize 5G NTN validation and testing for GEO/LEO networks

2026-04-27T02:24:15.239229-07:00

emirates.com

Emirates retrofits first Airbus A380 with Starlink LEO inflight Wi‑Fi, sets 2 Gbps tier and free cabin rollout for 2026

2026-04-27T02:35:12.504805-07:00

Payload

Meta to secure up to 1 GW of space-based solar power from Overview Energy’s power-beaming satellites

2026-04-27T04:35:25.451500-07:00

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NASA Spaceflight

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Launch week outlook: SpaceX Falcon Heavy’s delayed return, ULA Atlas V, and Ariane 6 for Amazon Leo satellites SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy is set for a first launch after an ~18-month gap, but a late scrub has pushed the ViaSat-3 F3 mission and raised immediate next-steps questions. In parallel, ULA’s Atlas V and Arianespace’s Ariane 6 are scheduled to fly Amazon Leo payloads from the U.S., California and French Guiana (32-satellite Ariane 64 configuration).

2026-04-27T13:34:36.097316-07:00

Launch week outlook: SpaceX Falcon Heavy’s delayed return, ULA Atlas V, and Ariane 6 for Amazon Leo satellites

Payload

Meta to secure up to 1 GW of space-based solar power from Overview Energy’s power-beaming satellites Meta has agreed to secure up to 1 gigawatt of power capacity through Overview Energy’s planned solar power-beaming satellite system. The deal links a major technology user to the next step in space-based solar power commercialization: generating power in orbit and transmitting it for terrestrial use.

2026-04-27T04:35:25.451500-07:00

Meta to secure up to 1 GW of space-based solar power from Overview Energy’s power-beaming satellites

Bloomberg

HawkEye 360 launches IPO roadshow targeting up to a $2.4B valuation and ~$384M–$424M raised Satellite-based signals intelligence and RF geolocation provider HawkEye 360 has started its Nasdaq IPO roadshow, seeking to list on the Nasdaq Global Select Market. The company targets an offering valuation of up to $2.42 billion and plans to raise between roughly $384 million and $424.2 million (about $416 million in one filing figure).

2026-04-27T04:34:59.881313-07:00

HawkEye 360 launches IPO roadshow targeting up to a $2.4B valuation and ~$384M–$424M raised

emirates.com

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Emirates retrofits first Airbus A380 with Starlink LEO inflight Wi‑Fi, sets 2 Gbps tier and free cabin rollout for 2026 Emirates has returned the first retrofitted Airbus A380—equipped with next-generation SpaceX Starlink hardware—to Dubai after installation and certification in Newquay, UK. The airline says the aircraft features 2 Gbps onboard connectivity and that free inflight Wi‑Fi across cabins will roll out in 2026.

2026-04-27T02:35:12.504805-07:00

Emirates retrofits first Airbus A380 with Starlink LEO inflight Wi‑Fi, sets 2 Gbps tier and free cabin rollout for 2026

Satellite Evolution

Gatehouse Satcom and Rohde & Schwarz formalize 5G NTN validation and testing for GEO/LEO networks Gatehouse Satcom has announced a formalized collaboration with Rohde & Schwarz to expand 5G Non-Terrestrial Network (NTN) testing. The partnership combines Gatehouse’s 5G NTN software expertise with Rohde & Schwarz’s electronic test and measurement capabilities to support validation for standardized GEO and LEO satellite connectivity.

2026-04-27T02:24:15.239229-07:00

Gatehouse Satcom and Rohde & Schwarz formalize 5G NTN validation and testing for GEO/LEO networks

European Spaceflight

ESA reveals ~€51.65M launch bill for Sentinel-1C on Vega C return-to-flight ESA contract disclosures show the agency paid €51.65 million to place the Sentinel-1C Earth-observation satellite into orbit aboard a Vega C rocket, highlighting the cost and procurement specifics behind Europe’s Earth-imaging mission cadence and launch-service requalification efforts.

2026-04-26T23:20:36.846526-07:00

ESA reveals ~€51.65M launch bill for Sentinel-1C on Vega C return-to-flight

Runway Girl

Viasat advances aviation multi-beam satcom with ViaSat-3 F2 in-orbit testing and AERA ground/antenna system Viasat says ViaSat-3 F2 is now in the middle of in-orbit testing, with the operator expecting the satellite’s capabilities to materially improve inflight connectivity. Alongside the spacecraft test campaign, Viasat also unveiled AERA, a new multi-beam ESA platform positioned for aviation connectivity use cases.

2026-04-26T10:34:13.048904-07:00

Viasat advances aviation multi-beam satcom with ViaSat-3 F2 in-orbit testing and AERA ground/antenna system

Space.com

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SpaceX to relaunch Falcon Heavy on April 27 from LC-39A with Viasat-3.3 after 18-month hiatus SpaceX is targeting an April 27 launch of Falcon Heavy from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39A, marking a return to flight after more than 18 months. The mission is scheduled to place Viasat-3.3 into geosynchronous transfer orbit, with both side boosters slated for landing at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.

2026-04-26T09:20:22.706970-07:00

SpaceX to relaunch Falcon Heavy on April 27 from LC-39A with Viasat-3.3 after 18-month hiatus

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Satellite News

Launch week outlook: SpaceX Falcon Heavy’s delayed return, ULA Atlas V, and Ariane 6 for Amazon Leo satellites

Gatehouse Satcom and Rohde & Schwarz formalize 5G NTN validation and testing for GEO/LEO networks

Emirates retrofits first Airbus A380 with Starlink LEO inflight Wi‑Fi, sets 2 Gbps tier and free cabin rollout for 2026

Meta to secure up to 1 GW of space-based solar power from Overview Energy’s power-beaming satellites

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