Space Debris & Traffic Management News

Via Satellite • Rachel Jewett

SES and Infinite Orbits to conduct Europe’s first commercial GEO satellite life‑extension mission

SES has signed an agreement with Infinite Orbits for Europe’s first commercial geostationary satellite life‑extension mission. Infinite Orbits will use its Endurance docking vehicle to attach to and extend the operational life of an SES GEO satellite, a move described as improving sustainability in space operations.

2025-11-13T13:16:51.991098-08:00

South China Morning Post

China delays Shenzhou-20 crew return after suspected orbital debris strike on Tiangong

2025-11-04T18:35:26.912016-08:00

avbrief.com

Federal probe into possible space-debris strike after cockpit windshield shatters on United 737 MAX 8; captain injured

2025-10-18T17:11:31.380274-07:00

Ars Technica

Likely Weather Balloon Struck United 737 MAX Windshield, Injuring Captain

2025-10-20T20:13:57.159011-07:00

Space Debris & Traffic Management News Timeline

Payload

Slingshot detects uncataloged Russian satellite in MEO, exposes five‑week SDA gap Slingshot Aerospace identified a previously uncataloged Russian satellite operating in medium Earth orbit (MEO) that evaded the U.S. public Space Domain Awareness (SDA) catalog for five weeks. The detection underscores a gap in public SDA coverage and the growing role of commercial optical sensors in orbital tracking.

2025-11-17T04:52:47.455505-08:00

Slingshot detects uncataloged Russian satellite in MEO, exposes five‑week SDA gap

NASA Spaceflight

How Space Weather Affects Launches, Orbiting Spacecraft and the Future of Space Operations When Blue Origin scrubbed the NG‑2 launch of its New Glenn rocket amid elevated solar activity, it underlined how space weather can halt launches, disrupt spacecraft systems and narrow launch windows. The incident highlights growing operational risk for launch providers, satellite operators and range authorities.

2025-11-14T13:36:57.404679-08:00

How Space Weather Affects Launches, Orbiting Spacecraft and the Future of Space Operations

European Spaceflight

Exploration Company completes hypervelocity tests of Nyx micrometeoroid shielding The Exploration Company has completed hypervelocity impact testing of shielding for its Nyx spacecraft, validating materials and assembly against micrometeoroid strikes. The tests mark a hardware‑qualification milestone intended to reduce mission risk from high‑velocity particle impacts ahead of further flights.

2025-11-13T23:58:05.758670-08:00

Exploration Company completes hypervelocity tests of Nyx micrometeoroid shielding

Via Satellite

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SES and Infinite Orbits to conduct Europe’s first commercial GEO satellite life‑extension mission SES has signed an agreement with Infinite Orbits for Europe’s first commercial geostationary satellite life‑extension mission. Infinite Orbits will use its Endurance docking vehicle to attach to and extend the operational life of an SES GEO satellite, a move described as improving sustainability in space operations.

2025-11-13T13:16:51.991098-08:00

SES and Infinite Orbits to conduct Europe’s first commercial GEO satellite life‑extension mission

SpaceNews.com

Study: Spacecraft reentry injects harmful metals into upper atmosphere A new study finds spacecraft reentries release transition and other harmful metals into the upper atmosphere, potentially altering stratospheric chemistry and climate-relevant processes. Authors call the cumulative deposition an 'uncontrolled experiment' and warn the scale of reentries merits regulatory scrutiny and targeted mitigation.

2025-11-13T04:14:34.126441-08:00

Study: Spacecraft reentry injects harmful metals into upper atmosphere

SpaceNews.com

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China closes airspace as Shenzhou-20 prepares for landing after suspected debris strike China closed airspace and issued notices indicating preparations for the Shenzhou-20 crew's return, days after a suspected orbital-debris impact on Tiangong forced officials to delay undocking while conducting impact and risk assessments. Authorities are evaluating vehicle and station damage before clearing reentry.

2025-11-12T14:53:44.968382-08:00

China closes airspace as Shenzhou-20 prepares for landing after suspected debris strike

Ars Technica

Busiest spaceport sets new launch and payload records — pressure grows on range capacity and orbital congestion The busiest spaceport set new records for both launch cadence and total payload mass this year, increasing strain on range operations, ground infrastructure and orbital traffic-management systems as operators loft larger rideshare and constellation payloads into already crowded low Earth orbit.

2025-11-12T14:13:26.078550-08:00

Busiest spaceport sets new launch and payload records — pressure grows on range capacity and orbital congestion

Universe Today

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Cold‑War Liability Rules Leave Civilians Without Recourse After SpaceX Debris Strikes Polish Warehouse A chunk of SpaceX rocket debris that struck a Polish warehouse this year exposed a gap in liability rules written for state-only launches. Under the Cold War-era treaty, civilians cannot sue foreign commercial operators directly; damaged parties must wait for their governments to pursue state-to-state claims.

2025-11-12T11:24:48.768867-08:00

Cold‑War Liability Rules Leave Civilians Without Recourse After SpaceX Debris Strikes Polish Warehouse

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