Space Debris & Traffic Management News

SpaceNews.com • Sandra Erwin

SDA backs commercial efforts to rendezvous with and remove defunct military satellites

The Space Development Agency is funding companies developing spacecraft that can approach, capture and move satellites out of orbit. The effort will test whether commercial providers can deliver an on-orbit servicing capability that the Pentagon may need routinely, while helping establish whether satellite removal can support a sustainable business.

2026-10-06T04:35:56.744391-07:00

Space Debris & Traffic Management

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SDA backs commercial efforts to rendezvous with and remove defunct military satellites

The Space Development Agency is funding companies developing spacecraft that can approach, capture and move satellites out of orbit. The effort will test whether commercial providers can deliver an on-orbit servicing capability that the Pentagon may need routinely, while helping establish whether satellite removal can support a sustainable business.

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The Air Current

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SpaceX shares rebound nearly 60% from August low as Morgan Stanley turns bullish; FAA eases aircraft exposure to space-debris ri

SpaceX stock has climbed to its highest close since June, recovering from its post-IPO slump as investors cite the company’s AI business and Starship progress. The rally followed a bullish Morgan Stanley call; separately, the FAA changed its safety policy to permit more aircraft in airspace with elevated risk from falling debris.

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Foundational emerges from stealth with £8.2M pre-seed for millimeter-precision satellite tracking

London-based Foundational has raised £8.2 million ($10.8 million; €9.6 million) in pre-seed funding, which it describes as Europe’s largest space-tech pre-seed round. The startup is developing satellite-mounted retroreflectors, automated ground stations and software to improve positioning data for satellites and orbital-debris tracking.

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Rising Launch Cadence Increases Risk of Fatal Space-Debris Reentries

Experts warn that continued growth in rocket launch frequency could increase the likelihood of uncontrolled space-debris reentries and, eventually, a fatality on the ground. The trend underscores the safety consequences of expanding launch activity and the need to manage debris generated by increasingly crowded orbital operations.

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NASA says satellite battery-passivation practices are inconsistent and insufficient to prevent orbital debris

A NASA workshop with satellite manufacturers and operators found that commercial practices for passivating spacecraft batteries—intended to prevent explosions after mission end—often fall short of NASA recommendations. The findings raise concerns as commercial satellite buses become increasingly common across government and civil space programs.

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