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SpaceNews.com • Jeff Foust

ESA and JAXA lock in joint Apophis close-flyby mission for 2029

ESA and JAXA have finalized an agreement to collaborate on a mission to study the Apophis asteroid during its close Earth flyby in 2029. The partnership formalizes international cooperation on near-Earth asteroid characterization around a high-profile encounter timeline.

2026-05-10T10:47:18.759164-07:00

Space.com

Close-proximity maneuvering: two Russian satellites reportedly pass within 10 feet (3 meters) in orbit

2026-05-06T11:42:26.818665-07:00

SpaceNews.com

Odin Space to open first U.S. office in Los Angeles to scale sub-centimeter orbital debris mapping

2026-05-07T06:06:06.015254-07:00

NASA Spaceflight

Launch preview: SpaceX to fly two Falcon 9 missions and a Chang Zheng 7 to extend Starlink Group 17 by 48 satellites

2026-05-04T12:07:53.549383-07:00

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SpaceNews.com

ESA and JAXA lock in joint Apophis close-flyby mission for 2029 ESA and JAXA have finalized an agreement to collaborate on a mission to study the Apophis asteroid during its close Earth flyby in 2029. The partnership formalizes international cooperation on near-Earth asteroid characterization around a high-profile encounter timeline.

2026-05-10T10:47:18.759164-07:00

ESA and JAXA lock in joint Apophis close-flyby mission for 2029

SpaceNews.com

Odin Space to open first U.S. office in Los Angeles to scale sub-centimeter orbital debris mapping British startup Odin Space plans to establish its first U.S. office in Los Angeles on May 7. The company focuses on mapping and analyzing sub-centimeter orbital debris—an increasingly critical capability as low Earth orbit congestion and conjunction risk rise.

2026-05-07T06:06:06.015254-07:00

Odin Space to open first U.S. office in Los Angeles to scale sub-centimeter orbital debris mapping

Via Satellite

Verizon expands satellite fleet for “satellite-everywhere” disaster-response failover Verizon is expanding its satellite fleet to support a “satellite-everywhere” approach for disaster response, moving toward a satellite-enabled failover strategy. A Verizon representative told Via Satellite that the expansion is designed to improve resilience when terrestrial networks are disrupted.

2026-05-06T13:46:09.767886-07:00

Verizon expands satellite fleet for “satellite-everywhere” disaster-response failover

Space.com

Close-proximity maneuvering: two Russian satellites reportedly pass within 10 feet (3 meters) in orbit Reporting says two Russian satellites recently came within about 10 feet (3 meters) of each other, highlighting advanced on-orbit maneuvering and proximity operations capabilities. The episode adds to a broader pattern of deliberate close-range behavior in space—raising both operational and safety questions.

2026-05-06T11:42:26.818665-07:00

Close-proximity maneuvering: two Russian satellites reportedly pass within 10 feet (3 meters) in orbit

SpaceNews.com

Opinion: Resource scarcity and “orbital inflation” force a rethink of the space operating model The opinion argues the space sector’s boom is colliding with under-acknowledged constraints on shared resources and on-orbit capacity. It frames the challenge as more than technology—calling for a redesigned model for how investment, access, and operations scale amid rising competition and congestion.

2026-05-06T07:16:43.044476-07:00

Opinion: Resource scarcity and “orbital inflation” force a rethink of the space operating model

Space.com

ISRO study links the Sun’s 11-year cycle to faster orbital decay and more frequent debris re-entries An ISRO-led analysis finds that stronger solar activity—peaking near the 11-year sunspot cycle—accelerates orbital loss for low-Earth-orbit debris, causing older dead satellites to fall faster to Earth. The result is relevant for fuel planning and collision-risk assessments in congested orbits.

2026-05-06T03:55:29.858985-07:00

ISRO study links the Sun’s 11-year cycle to faster orbital decay and more frequent debris re-entries

Space.com

NASA radar (NISAR) shows Mexico City subsiding up to 25cm/yr, with impacts already visible on subway, roads and buildings NASA-ISRO’s NISAR radar imagery indicates Mexico City is sinking at rates up to 25cm per year. Some locations are dropping faster than expected—at times exceeding 0.5 inches per month—raising the risk profile for urban infrastructure and water- and ground-stability planning. Scientists and monitoring teams are calling for urgent tracking and mitigation.

2026-05-05T14:54:00.070250-07:00

NASA radar (NISAR) shows Mexico City subsiding up to 25cm/yr, with impacts already visible on subway, roads and buildings

NASA Spaceflight

Launch pad transition: Pad 1 demolished as conversion to Pad 2 design advances, with trench excavation imminent Six months after Flight 11 concluded operations for the former configuration, Pad 1 has been demolished. Crews are now converting the site to the newer pad design (Pad 2), with major progress reported—excavation of the trench is about to begin.

2026-05-05T12:02:39.325380-07:00

Launch pad transition: Pad 1 demolished as conversion to Pad 2 design advances, with trench excavation imminent

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Space Debris & Traffic Management News

ESA and JAXA lock in joint Apophis close-flyby mission for 2029

Close-proximity maneuvering: two Russian satellites reportedly pass within 10 feet (3 meters) in orbit

Odin Space to open first U.S. office in Los Angeles to scale sub-centimeter orbital debris mapping

Launch preview: SpaceX to fly two Falcon 9 missions and a Chang Zheng 7 to extend Starlink Group 17 by 48 satellites

News Timeline