Space Debris & Traffic Management News

Ars Technica • Eric Berger

Likely Weather Balloon Struck United 737 MAX Windshield, Injuring Captain

A United Airlines Boeing 737 MAX diverted to Salt Lake City after a high-altitude object shattered a cockpit windshield midflight and injured the captain. Federal investigators initially considered space debris, but WindBorne Systems says one of its weather balloons may have struck the aircraft.

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

Payload

Space Force selects Vantor to continuously track high‑interest satellites in 'blind spots'

2025-10-22T04:50:35.238932-07:00

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

CBS News

NTSB probes possible space-debris strike after United 737 windshield cracks midflight; UA1093 diverts to Salt Lake City

2025-10-19T11:46:45.664423-07:00

Space Debris & Traffic Management News Timeline

Universe Today

UT Dallas coating blocks atomic oxygen, could extend satellite life and enable very-low‑LEO operations Highly reactive atomic oxygen in low orbit corrodes spacecraft surfaces and adds drag, limiting many satellites to roughly five‑year lifespans. Engineers at the University of Texas at Dallas have developed a microelectronics‑derived protective coating that withstood conditions harsher than space and could extend satellite life and enable VLEO operations.

2025-10-27T01:48:09.779262-07:00

UT Dallas coating blocks atomic oxygen, could extend satellite life and enable very-low‑LEO operations

SpaceNews.com

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HEO images mystery Chinese tech‑test satellite and models hardware before reentry Australian firm HEO used satellite‑to‑satellite imaging to capture and reconstruct a previously unreported Chinese tech‑test satellite ahead of its reentry, uncovering structural and mission‑related details. The commercial reconstruction offers a rare view of on‑orbit activity and enhances space domain awareness prior to descent.

2025-10-26T22:12:43.512559-07:00

HEO images mystery Chinese tech‑test satellite and models hardware before reentry

Space.com

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ALBATOR wins multi‑million grant to study ion‑beam ‘touchless’ space debris removal ALBATOR has been awarded a multi‑million‑dollar grant to study an ion‑beam, 'touchless' method for removing orbital debris. The program will evaluate using ion beams to alter debris trajectories and deorbit objects without physical capture, aiming to reduce collision risk in crowded low Earth orbit.

2025-10-26T05:07:36.329409-07:00

ALBATOR wins multi‑million grant to study ion‑beam ‘touchless’ space debris removal

SpaceWatch Global

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7th Summit for Space Sustainability convenes in France to advance practical orbital sustainability measures Co-hosted by the Secure World Foundation, CNES and the French government, the 7th Summit for Space Sustainability is a multi-day international forum focused on practical solutions for long-term orbital sustainability — spanning on-orbit debris mitigation, reentry management and regional capacity-building, including leadership from Brazil.

2025-10-24T01:48:24.743056-07:00

7th Summit for Space Sustainability convenes in France to advance practical orbital sustainability measures

Payload

ESA’s Space Environment Health Index Flags Level 4 — Orbital Congestion 'Well Above' Sustainability Threshold The European Space Agency this week published a new Space Environment Health Index and placed orbital operations at Level 4 — well above the sustainability threshold — warning that rising congestion and contamination in Earth orbit require stronger mitigation, traffic-management and policy measures.

2025-10-23T21:00:38.749216-07:00

ESA’s Space Environment Health Index Flags Level 4 — Orbital Congestion 'Well Above' Sustainability Threshold

Payload

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Space Force selects Vantor to continuously track high‑interest satellites in 'blind spots' The U.S. Space Force has selected Vantor to provide continuous in‑space tracking of high‑interest objects located in 'blind spots' beyond the reach of ground‑based sensors. The contract expands Vantor's role in space‑domain awareness as on‑orbit observation and counterspace threats proliferate.

2025-10-22T04:50:35.238932-07:00

Space Force selects Vantor to continuously track high‑interest satellites in 'blind spots'

Leonard David

Philippine Navy Recovers Debris from China's Long March 8A Booster off Palawan The Philippine Navy's missile boat recovered debris from China's Long March 8A booster, launched Oct. 16, from waters off Barangay Rio Tuba, Bataraza, Palawan after maritime operations in the West Philippine Sea. Recovered fragments bore "made-in-China" markings; the booster lifted from Hainan's International Commercial Launch Center.

2025-10-21T17:42:40.673188-07:00

Philippine Navy Recovers Debris from China's Long March 8A Booster off Palawan

Universe Today

Asteroid 2025 SC79 — racing the Sun in a 128‑day orbit and hiding in sunlight Astronomers have identified asteroid 2025 SC79 orbiting the Sun in just 128 days, making it the Solar System's second‑fastest known asteroid. Detected hidden in the Sun’s glare, its discovery highlights detection blind spots for ‘twilight’ objects that can approach Earth unseen.

2025-10-21T12:30:45.728897-07:00

Asteroid 2025 SC79 — racing the Sun in a 128‑day orbit and hiding in sunlight

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