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SpaceNews.com • Jeff Foust

Rocket Lab completes 9th Electron mission for Synspective, deploying a StriX radar imaging satellite

Rocket Lab has successfully launched its ninth dedicated Electron mission for Japan-based Earth-observation firm Synspective, deploying the latest StriX radar satellite. The flights underscore Rocket Lab’s sustained smallsat launch cadence as Synspective reportedly looks to raise up to $3 billion via stock sales to fund future initiatives.

2026-05-22T04:53:30.003790-07:00

SpaceNews.com

Rocket Lab lands $90M U.S. Space Force contract to design, build and operate first geostationary Heimdall satellites

2026-05-22T02:54:42.006132-07:00

Paddle Your Own Kanoo

British Airways Starlink inflight Wi‑Fi rollout stalls: only five aircraft equipped amid fleet-reliability cancellations

2026-05-22T02:39:40.912743-07:00

SpaceWatch Global

African Earth-observation startups and SMEs invited to apply for African–European ESA Business Innovation Program

2026-05-22T01:09:55.459183-07:00

News Timeline

SpaceNews.com

Rocket Lab completes 9th Electron mission for Synspective, deploying a StriX radar imaging satellite Rocket Lab has successfully launched its ninth dedicated Electron mission for Japan-based Earth-observation firm Synspective, deploying the latest StriX radar satellite. The flights underscore Rocket Lab’s sustained smallsat launch cadence as Synspective reportedly looks to raise up to $3 billion via stock sales to fund future initiatives.

2026-05-22T04:53:30.003790-07:00

Rocket Lab completes 9th Electron mission for Synspective, deploying a StriX radar imaging satellite

SpaceNews.com

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Rocket Lab lands $90M U.S. Space Force contract to design, build and operate first geostationary Heimdall satellites Rocket Lab says it has won a $90 million U.S. Space Force contract to design, manufacture and operate two geostationary (GEO) Heimdall satellites. The deal marks Rocket Lab’s first geostationary satellite production program and supports Space Systems Command work delivering two Heimdall prototype payloads in orbit for space domain awareness.

2026-05-22T02:54:42.006132-07:00

Rocket Lab lands $90M U.S. Space Force contract to design, build and operate first geostationary Heimdall satellites

Paddle Your Own Kanoo

British Airways Starlink inflight Wi‑Fi rollout stalls: only five aircraft equipped amid fleet-reliability cancellations British Airways’ rollout of free ultra-fast Starlink Wi‑Fi across its fleet has stalled, with only five aircraft equipped. The delay is linked to continuing fleet reliability problems, which are driving last-minute cancellations amid constrained aircraft availability.

2026-05-22T02:39:40.912743-07:00

British Airways Starlink inflight Wi‑Fi rollout stalls: only five aircraft equipped amid fleet-reliability cancellations

SpaceWatch Global

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African Earth-observation startups and SMEs invited to apply for African–European ESA Business Innovation Program The African and European space agencies are inviting applications from African Earth-observation (EO) startups and SMEs for the Business Innovation Program. The call targets early-stage EO companies looking to commercialize capabilities in an Africa–Europe innovation framework.

2026-05-22T01:09:55.459183-07:00

African Earth-observation startups and SMEs invited to apply for African–European ESA Business Innovation Program

SpaceWatch Global

The African and European Space Agencies are Calling for Applications from African Earth Observation Startups

2026-05-22T01:09:55.459183-07:00

The African and European Space

Bloomberg

Pentagon: Ukraine retook ~400 sq. km after Russia deactivated thousands of Starlink terminals The US Defense Intelligence Agency says a Ukrainian offensive earlier this year regained about 400 square kilometers after Russian forces “deactivated” thousands of portable Starlink internet terminals. The Pentagon frames the episode as a connectivity-and-communications disruption that altered battlefield outcomes.

2026-05-21T15:54:27.493477-07:00

Pentagon: Ukraine retook ~400 sq. km after Russia deactivated thousands of Starlink terminals

Bloomberg

SpaceX eyes 10-Gigawatt solar manufacturing facility near Austin to fuel space-based AI power plans SpaceX is planning a massive 10-gigawatt solar manufacturing site near Austin, aimed at supplying power for Elon Musk’s ambition to power AI data-center operations in space. The move ties industrial-scale solar production to next-step orbital compute infrastructure concepts already being discussed across the sector.

2026-05-21T12:39:56.382064-07:00

SpaceX eyes 10-Gigawatt solar manufacturing facility near Austin to fuel space-based AI power plans

Bloomberg

SpaceX plans 10-gigawatt solar manufacturing facility near Austin to feed space-based AI power ambitions SpaceX is planning a massive 10-gigawatt solar manufacturing facility near Austin, positioning it as industrial-scale supply for Elon Musk’s push to power artificial intelligence data centers in space. The move signals a vertical-integration strategy that links terrestrial solar production to on-orbit computing infrastructure.

2026-05-21T12:39:56.382064-07:00

SpaceX plans 10-gigawatt solar manufacturing facility near Austin to feed space-based AI power ambitions

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Satellite News

Rocket Lab completes 9th Electron mission for Synspective, deploying a StriX radar imaging satellite

Rocket Lab lands $90M U.S. Space Force contract to design, build and operate first geostationary Heimdall satellites

British Airways Starlink inflight Wi‑Fi rollout stalls: only five aircraft equipped amid fleet-reliability cancellations

African Earth-observation startups and SMEs invited to apply for African–European ESA Business Innovation Program

News Timeline