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Runway Girl • Mary Kirby

Amazon Leo, ThinKom Nexus and Starlink unveil new aero terminal antennas targeting gig-level speeds

Three new “aero” antenna offerings are being rolled out for high-throughput LEO connectivity, including Amazon’s Leo ESA kit, ThinKom Solutions’ ThinKom Nexus terminal, and new Starlink hardware. The announcements position aircraft-focused terminals to deliver gig-level performance as competing LEO broadband networks push into aviation use.

2026-05-01T15:06:34.658862-07:00

Via Satellite

CNES orders Loft Orbital and Magellium Artal Group to deploy 10-satellite Earth-observation constellation

2026-05-01T12:57:12.526351-07:00

Space Intel Report

EU Satellite Centre (SatCen) readies for expanded mission as EU scales security tasking for high-revisit constellations

2026-05-01T12:57:11.339180-07:00

SpaceNews.com

Starcloud seeks to raise $200M+ to double valuation for LEO orbital data centers

2026-05-01T06:15:06.373240-07:00

News Timeline

Runway Girl

Amazon Leo, ThinKom Nexus and Starlink unveil new aero terminal antennas targeting gig-level speeds Three new “aero” antenna offerings are being rolled out for high-throughput LEO connectivity, including Amazon’s Leo ESA kit, ThinKom Solutions’ ThinKom Nexus terminal, and new Starlink hardware. The announcements position aircraft-focused terminals to deliver gig-level performance as competing LEO broadband networks push into aviation use.

2026-05-01T15:06:34.658862-07:00

Amazon Leo, ThinKom Nexus and Starlink unveil new aero terminal antennas targeting gig-level speeds

SpaceNews.com

Investors eye “orbital data center” enablement beyond SpaceX-scale megaconstellations Investor interest is shifting toward space-enabled computing architectures—particularly orbital data center concepts—despite recognition that today’s proposed megascale systems from SpaceX and peers remain years from operational reality. The near-term focus is on what orbital compute networks could unlock, rather than just the scale of terminals or satellites.

2026-05-01T12:58:32.803645-07:00

Investors eye “orbital data center” enablement beyond SpaceX-scale megaconstellations

Via Satellite

CNES orders Loft Orbital and Magellium Artal Group to deploy 10-satellite Earth-observation constellation CNES has ordered a 10-satellite Earth-observation constellation to provide Earth data under France 2030, awarding a multi-year contract worth up to tens of millions of euros to Loft Orbital. Loft will partner with Magellium Artal Group for constellation deployment.

2026-05-01T12:57:12.526351-07:00

CNES orders Loft Orbital and Magellium Artal Group to deploy 10-satellite Earth-observation constellation

Space Intel Report

EU Satellite Centre (SatCen) readies for expanded mission as EU scales security tasking for high-revisit constellations The EU Satellite Centre (SatCen), which has spent more than two decades producing satellite-imagery security and military reporting for EU member states, is preparing for a major step-up in responsibility. The shift comes as the EU moves to manage a constellation of high-revisit satellite capabilities.

2026-05-01T12:57:11.339180-07:00

EU Satellite Centre (SatCen) readies for expanded mission as EU scales security tasking for high-revisit constellations

AINonline

Textron Aviation expands IFEC options: Starlink for Citation 560XL and Gogo 5G for Citation plus AVANCE LX5 STCs for Hawker Textron Aviation is broadening airborne connectivity for midsize business jets, adding Starlink availability for the Citation 560XL and expanding Gogo 5G options across Citation models. Separately, Yingling Aviation is finalizing FAA STCs for Gogo AVANCE L3, L5 and LX5 on the Hawker, extending network and terminal coverage in the retrofit-to-activation pipeline.

2026-05-01T11:40:35.453375-07:00

Textron Aviation expands IFEC options: Starlink for Citation 560XL and Gogo 5G for Citation plus AVANCE LX5 STCs for Hawker

SpaceNews.com

Starcloud seeks to raise $200M+ to double valuation for LEO orbital data centers Starcloud is seeking at least $200 million in new funding that would lift the two-year-old orbital data center startup’s valuation to about $2.2 billion, according to a source familiar with the matter. The raise would follow its recent “unicorn” status and signals continued investor push into on-orbit data infrastructure.

2026-05-01T06:15:06.373240-07:00

Starcloud seeks to raise $200M+ to double valuation for LEO orbital data centers

Spaceflight Now

SpaceX to launch Starlink V2 Mini batch on Falcon 9 from Cape Canaveral (May Day) SpaceX is scheduled to kick off May with a Falcon 9 launch carrying a batch of Starlink V2 Mini satellites into low Earth orbit from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. Liftoff is set for Friday afternoon, continuing a high-cadence Starlink deployment run.

2026-05-01T05:34:39.880748-07:00

SpaceX to launch Starlink V2 Mini batch on Falcon 9 from Cape Canaveral (May Day)

SpaceNews.com

Space Force advances laser crosslink flight hardware with K2 Space to test missile-defense data links The U.S. Space Force will use K2 Space-built satellites to evaluate a key, previously unresolved element for future missile-defense systems: moving large volumes of data quickly between spacecraft and down to Earth via laser communications. Separately, the Space Force’s Laser Crosslink program has cleared independent verification and entered Phase 3 development toward flight hardware production.

2026-04-30T18:11:55.729130-07:00

Space Force advances laser crosslink flight hardware with K2 Space to test missile-defense data links

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Satellite News

Amazon Leo, ThinKom Nexus and Starlink unveil new aero terminal antennas targeting gig-level speeds

CNES orders Loft Orbital and Magellium Artal Group to deploy 10-satellite Earth-observation constellation

EU Satellite Centre (SatCen) readies for expanded mission as EU scales security tasking for high-revisit constellations

Starcloud seeks to raise $200M+ to double valuation for LEO orbital data centers

News Timeline