Space Debris & Traffic Management News

Space.com

Study warns extreme solar storms could be more damaging to satellites, power grids and communications than previously estimated A new scientific study argues that “once-in-a-thousand-year” solar storms may pose higher-than-expected risks to space assets and critical terrestrial infrastructure. Researchers say worst-case geomagnetic conditions could translate into greater impacts for satellites, power grids and communications than earlier threat models suggested.

2026-07-17T03:10:03.859346-07:00

Space.com

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SpaceX Starship Flight 13: launches 21 Tranche 1 Transport Layer satellites for U.S. military and deploys first Starlink V3 SpaceX carried out a Starship Flight 13 mission launching 21 U.S. military “Tranche 1 Transport Layer” satellites from California and said it would deploy the first Starlink V3 satellites for the first time. The mission also comes as SpaceX approaches 10,839 working satellites across its Starlink fleet.

2026-07-16T03:17:02.860166-07:00

Space.com

Rocket Lab completes full-duration static fire of Archimedes engine for Neutron’s second stage Rocket Lab conducted a full-duration static fire test of the Archimedes engine that will power the second stage of its new Neutron launch vehicle. The test campaign is positioned as a key step toward flight readiness for the powerful next-generation launcher.

2026-07-15T13:17:29.953260-07:00

Space.com

SpaceX Starlink logs 355,000+ collision-avoidance maneuvers in a year as satellites dodge other objects almost weekly SpaceX’s Starlink satellites have executed more than 355,000 collision-avoidance maneuvers over the past year, with each satellite dodging other objects almost weekly. The frequency underscores the growing operational burden from nearby objects and the risk environment experts say could worsen.

2026-07-15T05:14:12.048378-07:00

Space.com

2026-07-15T05:14:12.048378-07:00

Every SpaceX Starlink satellit

Space.com

SpaceX flies a Falcon 9 booster for the 600th time, launching Starlink satellites on two back-to-back missions July 13-14 SpaceX placed Starlink satellites into orbit using a flight-proven Falcon 9 rocket for its 600th launch. The July 14 mission followed a first Starlink launch about eight hours earlier on another Falcon 9 from the U.S. East and West coasts, respectively.

2026-07-14T15:14:01.119789-07:00

Breaking Defense

Space Force TacRS adds at least three more Victus demonstration projects, seeking $300M from FY2027–2031 The U.S. Space Force’s TacRS program has at least three additional Victus demonstration projects planned, including more Victus Haze activity. The effort includes a combined $300 million request spanning FY2027 through FY2031, aimed at operationally relevant spacecraft experimentation.

2026-07-13T08:16:13.069667-07:00

Reuters

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SpaceX targets July 16 for Starship Flight 13, deploying Starlink from a v3 vehicle after schedule slips SpaceX is preparing Starship’s 13th test flight later this week, with a target no earlier than July 16. Flight 13 will use the rocket’s Version 3 configuration and is intended to be similar to Flight 12, while SpaceX also plans to test new Starlink satellites in orbit. The launch has seen at least one T-0 pushback.

2026-07-13T07:45:06.737977-07:00

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