Satellite   Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation   Commercial Space  
Via Satellite • Rachel Jewett

SpaceX Twilight to deploy Kepler's first optical LEO comms tranche

SpaceX's Twilight rideshare will deploy the first tranche of Kepler Communications' next‑generation optical satellite constellation, a low‑Earth‑orbit network of laser-linked nodes. If launched, the deployment would be a potential world‑first optical comms network in LEO, preceding rival Amazon and Starlink plans.

Also: SpaceQ and betakit.com
2026-01-09T12:45:28.159018-08:00
defense   Satellite   Space Force   L3Harris   Defense Industry & Major Contractors   Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation   Space Defense & Militarization  
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Breaking Defense • Theresa Hitchens

SpaceX to launch SDA Tranche 2 missile-tracking layer — 36 satellites (L3Harris, Lockheed) plus 8 Millennium FOO Fighters

By Breaking Defense: SpaceX will launch 36 Tranche 2 Tracking Layer satellites — 18 built by L3Harris and 18 built by Lockheed Martin — plus eight FOO Fighter birds built by Millennium Space Systems.

2026-01-09T13:28:13.058173-08:00
China   Satellite   Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation   Commercial Space  
SpaceNews.com • Andrew Jones

Landspace wins launch contracts for China’s two major megaconstellations, easing domestic launch bottleneck

By SpaceNews.com: Landspace secures launch contracts for China’s megaconstellation projects Commercial launch startup Landspace has secured formal contracts to launch satellites for China’s two main megaconstellation projects, helping to address a launch capacity bottleneck.

2026-01-09T09:48:13.181815-08:00