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Space.com • Mike Wall

Ariane 6 A64 completes maiden flight, deploys 32 Amazon LEO (Kuiper) satellites

Ariane 6's A64 variant completed its maiden flight on Feb. 12 — the rocket's sixth flight overall and first with four boosters — deploying 32 Amazon LEO (Kuiper) satellites into orbit. The A64 lifts roughly 20 tonnes, making it Europe's most powerful launcher and accelerating commercial LEO deployments.

2026-02-12T09:24:43.456467-08:00

Runway Girl

Southwest to outfit entire fleet with SpaceX Starlink Ku‑band LEO, displacing Anuvu and Viasat

2026-02-12T08:15:54.394382-08:00

SpaceNews.com

The Case for Moving Astronomy Off Earth: why space-based observatories matter

2026-02-12T06:33:36.281969-08:00

SpaceNews.com

FCC Space Bureau chief outlines regulatory reform agenda

2026-02-11T21:13:50.981923-08:00

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Space.com

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Ariane 6 A64 completes maiden flight, deploys 32 Amazon LEO (Kuiper) satellites Ariane 6's A64 variant completed its maiden flight on Feb. 12 — the rocket's sixth flight overall and first with four boosters — deploying 32 Amazon LEO (Kuiper) satellites into orbit. The A64 lifts roughly 20 tonnes, making it Europe's most powerful launcher and accelerating commercial LEO deployments.

2026-02-12T09:24:43.456467-08:00

Ariane 6 A64 completes maiden flight, deploys 32 Amazon LEO (Kuiper) satellites

Runway Girl

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Southwest to outfit entire fleet with SpaceX Starlink Ku‑band LEO, displacing Anuvu and Viasat Southwest Airlines will equip its entire fleet with SpaceX's Starlink Ku‑band LEO inflight connectivity, replacing existing providers Anuvu and Viasat. The first Starlink‑fitted aircraft will enter service in summer 2026, with more than 300 Boeing 737s targeted for installation by year‑end 2026.

2026-02-12T08:15:54.394382-08:00

Southwest to outfit entire fleet with SpaceX Starlink Ku‑band LEO, displacing Anuvu and Viasat

SpaceNews.com

The Case for Moving Astronomy Off Earth: why space-based observatories matter Ground-based astronomy faces growing threats from light pollution, industrial development and proliferating satellite constellations. Moving major observatories into space would protect observations of faint galaxies and exoplanet atmospheres. The article argues for accelerated investment in space telescopes, launch capacity and international policy coordination.

2026-02-12T06:33:36.281969-08:00

The Case for Moving Astronomy Off Earth: why space-based observatories matter

Reuters

Italo to fit SpaceX Starlink across its high‑speed fleet — free service from mid‑2026, full rollout in 2027 Italo will install SpaceX Starlink on its high‑speed trains, beginning mid‑2026 with a fleetwide rollout completed in 2027. The operator says the service will be complimentary to passengers and will expand onboard connectivity, services and entertainment — the first major railway to adopt Starlink.

2026-02-12T04:15:30.825945-08:00

Italo to fit SpaceX Starlink across its high‑speed fleet — free service from mid‑2026, full rollout in 2027

SpaceNews.com

FCC Space Bureau chief outlines regulatory reform agenda The FCC's Space Bureau chief has set out a regulatory reform agenda focused on streamlining satellite licensing, tightening spectrum and interference rules, and removing procedural bottlenecks to accelerate commercial space services. The plan aims to modernize rules to support rapid satellite deployments and preserve U.S. competitiveness.

2026-02-11T21:13:50.981923-08:00

FCC Space Bureau chief outlines regulatory reform agenda

NASA Spaceflight

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Proton‑M to return after nearly three years, launching Elektro‑L No.5 on final Blok‑DM mission Russia's Proton‑M will make its first launch in nearly three years from Baikonur, carrying the fifth Elektro‑L weather satellite (Elektro‑L No.5). The flight is notable as the final mission to use the Blok‑DM upper stage and marks Proton's return to operations.

2026-02-11T18:14:08.888360-08:00

Proton‑M to return after nearly three years, launching Elektro‑L No.5 on final Blok‑DM mission

Aviation Week

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Southwest to outfit 300+ 737s with Starlink Wi‑Fi — first aircraft this summer, fleetwide by year‑end Southwest Airlines will retrofit more than 300 aircraft with SpaceX Starlink satellite Wi‑Fi, beginning with a first installation this summer and completing the rollout by year‑end 2026. The carrier says the service will be free to passengers as part of its ongoing onboard-experience upgrades.

2026-02-11T13:55:26.233024-08:00

Southwest to outfit 300+ 737s with Starlink Wi‑Fi — first aircraft this summer, fleetwide by year‑end

SpaceNews.com

Space companies back Golden Dome despite unresolved scope and funding Several commercial space firms have thrown their weight behind the Pentagon's Golden Dome missile‑defense initiative, positioning for prototypes and long‑term contracts even as the program's technical scope and funding profile remain unresolved. Companies are making investments and staffing bets ahead of clarified government requirements.

2026-02-11T13:37:21.939345-08:00

Space companies back Golden Dome despite unresolved scope and funding

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Satellite News

Ariane 6 A64 completes maiden flight, deploys 32 Amazon LEO (Kuiper) satellites

Southwest to outfit entire fleet with SpaceX Starlink Ku‑band LEO, displacing Anuvu and Viasat

The Case for Moving Astronomy Off Earth: why space-based observatories matter

FCC Space Bureau chief outlines regulatory reform agenda

News Timeline