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SpaceNews.com • Sandra Erwin

Space Force picks 14 firms for $1.843B Andromeda GEO space‑domain awareness competition

The U.S. Space Force’s Space Systems Command awarded a ceiling $1.843 billion multiple‑award, firm‑fixed‑price IDIQ to 14 companies under the Andromeda program to develop maneuverable geostationary space‑domain awareness satellites. Selected primes include Lockheed Martin, Anduril, Northrop Grumman, BAE Systems and L3Harris.

2026-04-09T04:38:15.725714-07:00

SpaceNews.com

Commerce Department budget proposal revives doubts over TraCSS civil space traffic management program

2026-04-10T05:27:46.573994-07:00

SpaceNews.com

Portal Space raises $50M Series A to enter production of maneuverable on‑orbit spacecraft

2026-04-09T08:07:25.018387-07:00

SpaceNews.com

China conducts multiple Long March launches, adding 18 and five satellites to LEO internet constellations

2026-04-09T07:32:22.318213-07:00

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Via Satellite

Amazon Leo (Project Kuiper) exits beta, targets mid-2026 commercial satellite internet launch Amazon says its rebranded LEO broadband service, Amazon Leo (formerly Project Kuiper), entered enterprise beta on April 8 and is aiming to go live by mid-2026. CEO Andy Jassy frames the service as “on the verge” of going live, supported by three terminal tiers and 22 new rocket contracts.

2026-04-10T11:18:12.475052-07:00

Amazon Leo (Project Kuiper) exits beta, targets mid-2026 commercial satellite internet launch

SpaceNews.com

Commerce Department budget proposal revives doubts over TraCSS civil space traffic management program A U.S. Department of Commerce budget proposal raises renewed concerns about the future of TraCSS, a civil space traffic management system currently under development. The development reopens questions about continuity, funding, and the program’s path to operational deployment.

2026-04-10T05:27:46.573994-07:00

Commerce Department budget proposal revives doubts over TraCSS civil space traffic management program

SpaceNews.com

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Portal Space raises $50M Series A to enter production of maneuverable on‑orbit spacecraft Portal Space Systems raised $50 million in a Series A led by Geodesic Capital and Mach33. The Seattle startup is entering production of highly maneuverable on‑orbit spacecraft to scale its team and manufacturing, and has partnered with Paladin on debris‑capture demonstrations.

2026-04-09T08:07:25.018387-07:00

Portal Space raises $50M Series A to enter production of maneuverable on‑orbit spacecraft

SpaceNews.com

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China conducts multiple Long March launches, adding 18 and five satellites to LEO internet constellations China this week conducted multiple Long March launches, including a Long March‑8 from Hainan that placed 18 communications satellites into orbit and a modified Long March‑6/6A sortie from Taiyuan that delivered five more spacecraft as GuoWang/Thousand Sails megaconstellations continued deployment.

2026-04-09T07:32:22.318213-07:00

China conducts multiple Long March launches, adding 18 and five satellites to LEO internet constellations

SpaceNews.com

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Space Force picks 14 firms for $1.843B Andromeda GEO space‑domain awareness competition The U.S. Space Force’s Space Systems Command awarded a ceiling $1.843 billion multiple‑award, firm‑fixed‑price IDIQ to 14 companies under the Andromeda program to develop maneuverable geostationary space‑domain awareness satellites. Selected primes include Lockheed Martin, Anduril, Northrop Grumman, BAE Systems and L3Harris.

2026-04-09T04:38:15.725714-07:00

Space Force picks 14 firms for $1.843B Andromeda GEO space‑domain awareness competition

SpaceNews.com

Improved SSA accuracy and tighter conjunction thresholds could eliminate most LEO collision risk Improving space‑situational awareness (SSA) accuracy and adopting stricter thresholds for flagging potential conjunctions could eliminate the majority of satellite collision risk in low Earth orbit. The finding shifts the operational focus toward better sensing, tracking and data quality rather than continual avoidance maneuvers.

2026-04-08T13:27:24.398275-07:00

Improved SSA accuracy and tighter conjunction thresholds could eliminate most LEO collision risk

SpaceNews.com

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Starfish Space closes ~$110M Series B to fund first on‑orbit servicing missions and scale production Starfish Space closed a roughly $110 million Series B, led by Point72 Ventures and co‑led by Activate Capital and Shield Capital, to execute its initial on‑orbit satellite‑servicing missions and expand manufacturing of its servicing spacecraft, accelerating commercial life‑extension capabilities for LEO operators.

2026-04-07T06:32:23.412258-07:00

Starfish Space closes ~$110M Series B to fund first on‑orbit servicing missions and scale production

spaceanddefense.io

Korean Air and Exotrail sign MOU to develop orbital transfer vehicles for LEO transport and satellite life‑extension Korean Air and French space company Exotrail signed an MOU in Seoul on April 2 to develop orbital transfer vehicles (OTVs) for commercial in‑orbit services, including LEO satellite transport and payload hosting, multi‑orbit deployments and satellite life‑extension through on‑orbit servicing capabilities.

2026-04-06T21:39:55.232122-07:00

Korean Air and Exotrail sign MOU to develop orbital transfer vehicles for LEO transport and satellite life‑extension

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Space Debris & Traffic Management News

Space Force picks 14 firms for $1.843B Andromeda GEO space‑domain awareness competition

Commerce Department budget proposal revives doubts over TraCSS civil space traffic management program

Portal Space raises $50M Series A to enter production of maneuverable on‑orbit spacecraft

China conducts multiple Long March launches, adding 18 and five satellites to LEO internet constellations

News Timeline