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Ars Technica • Eric Berger

NASA’s photon-counting approach targets HDTV-quality sensing for Moon landings

NASA is working toward Moon landing imaging that can deliver HDTV-class video by “pushing a button” to initiate an automated capture pipeline over roughly three hours. The method emphasizes counting photons—an approach designed to turn faint light into usable onboard imagery for landing workflows.

2026-04-22T12:49:37.136072-07:00

Space Intel Report

FCC clears AST SpaceMobile’s 248-satellite direct-to-device constellation, setting deployment deadlines and interference/debris

2026-04-22T08:50:31.529068-07:00

SpaceNews.com

U.S. Commerce budget proposal would halt TraCSS work as office seeks new operating and financial structure

2026-04-22T02:06:34.962150-07:00

SpaceWatch Global

Atomic-6 space armor and ISS “Orbital Edge” accelerator push in-orbit compute toward scale

2026-04-22T01:20:34.641096-07:00

News Timeline

Ars Technica

NASA’s photon-counting approach targets HDTV-quality sensing for Moon landings NASA is working toward Moon landing imaging that can deliver HDTV-class video by “pushing a button” to initiate an automated capture pipeline over roughly three hours. The method emphasizes counting photons—an approach designed to turn faint light into usable onboard imagery for landing workflows.

2026-04-22T12:49:37.136072-07:00

NASA’s photon-counting approach targets HDTV-quality sensing for Moon landings

Space Intel Report

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FCC clears AST SpaceMobile’s 248-satellite direct-to-device constellation, setting deployment deadlines and interference/debris AST SpaceMobile received U.S. FCC commercial authorization to deliver direct-to-smartphone/direct-to-device cellular broadband using its partner MNO spectrum and a full 248-satellite LEO constellation. The grant follows a recently botched launch and includes deployment timelines, plus orbital debris mitigation, collision-avoidance, and interference-prevention requirements.

2026-04-22T08:50:31.529068-07:00

FCC clears AST SpaceMobile’s 248-satellite direct-to-device constellation, setting deployment deadlines and interference/debris

SpaceNews.com

U.S. Commerce budget proposal would halt TraCSS work as office seeks new operating and financial structure The U.S. Department of Commerce is proposing to stop work on its space traffic coordination system (TraCSS) while it develops a “new operating and financial structure.” The move reframes near-term TraCSS execution plans and shifts focus toward governance and funding before further system delivery.

2026-04-22T02:06:34.962150-07:00

U.S. Commerce budget proposal would halt TraCSS work as office seeks new operating and financial structure

SpaceWatch Global

COMSPOC at Space Symposium: scaling space traffic tracking for 35,000 objects—and converting orbital data into decisions COMSPOC used the Space Symposium stage to highlight the growing operational burden of space traffic management, citing the need to track roughly 35,000 objects. It also stressed the “data-to-decision” gap: turning orbital awareness outputs into actionable intelligence for operators.

2026-04-22T01:58:25.029388-07:00

COMSPOC at Space Symposium: scaling space traffic tracking for 35,000 objects—and converting orbital data into decisions

SpaceWatch Global

Atomic-6 space armor and ISS “Orbital Edge” accelerator push in-orbit compute toward scale Atomic-6 CEO Trevor Smith detailed how “space armor” and orbital data-center designs aim to make space-based computing more accessible and scalable, including satellite shielding approaches. Separately, the ISS National Lab launched the 2026 Orbital Edge Accelerator to connect early-stage startups with in-orbit validation and private capital.

2026-04-22T01:20:34.641096-07:00

Atomic-6 space armor and ISS “Orbital Edge” accelerator push in-orbit compute toward scale

Via Satellite

Eutelsat retires GEO communications satellite 139 West A to graveyard orbit after 22 years Eutelsat has retired its geostationary communications satellite 139 West A, ending 22 years of service. The operator says it will move the spacecraft to a graveyard orbit, following long-lived GEO operations and in-orbit end-of-life processing.

2026-04-21T12:50:57.679479-07:00

Eutelsat retires GEO communications satellite 139 West A to graveyard orbit after 22 years

SpaceWatch Global

Space Symposium 2026 spotlights pressure on space governance as traffic, security threats and lunar nuclear reactor plans outpac Space Symposium 2026’s central theme is accelerating mismatch between expanding space activity and the governance framework designed for earlier, lower-tempo operations—especially as space traffic risks and security pressures rise. The agenda also surfaces treaty erosion concerns and growing momentum for lunar nuclear reactor concepts.

2026-04-20T02:19:13.205159-07:00

Space Symposium 2026 spotlights pressure on space governance as traffic, security threats and lunar nuclear reactor plans outpac

Space Intel Report

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AST SpaceMobile BlueBird 7 declared lost after New Glenn NG-3 deploys satellite into an incorrect orbit Blue Origin’s New Glenn completed a third operational flight (NG-3) with AST SpaceMobile’s BlueBird 7 as the primary payload, following a milestone booster reflight. However, BlueBird 7 was inserted into a lower-than-planned, incorrect orbit and was declared lost, with AST SpaceMobile stating it will deorbit the satellite.

2026-04-19T11:55:54.993918-07:00

AST SpaceMobile BlueBird 7 declared lost after New Glenn NG-3 deploys satellite into an incorrect orbit

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Space Debris & Traffic Management News

NASA’s photon-counting approach targets HDTV-quality sensing for Moon landings

FCC clears AST SpaceMobile’s 248-satellite direct-to-device constellation, setting deployment deadlines and interference/debris

U.S. Commerce budget proposal would halt TraCSS work as office seeks new operating and financial structure

Atomic-6 space armor and ISS “Orbital Edge” accelerator push in-orbit compute toward scale

News Timeline