Humanitarian organizations and journalists have expressed concern since, as a leading satellite imagery company has told its users, which restricts access to images of Iran and much of the Middle East at the request of the US government. California-based Planet Labs initially implemented a 14-day delay in providing new images from the region in March. Since then, the restriction has changed to "indefinite". This decision limited […]

14 April 2026 year Fr. 09:33 (UTC) from Cape Canaveral, Florida, USA, with the help of the "Falcon" launch vehicle 9 Block 5 ”was launched 29 US spacecraft "Starlink Group 10-24". Satellites "Starlink v2" – these are larger and more powerful communication satellites of SpaceX. They weigh approx 750 kg and have a design with two solar panels to increase the number […]

14 April 2026 year Fr. 04:03 (UTC) from the center of launch of Juzuan satellites, China was launched using the "Kinetica 1" launch vehicle 8 КА «Jilin-1 Gaofen 07 A». «Jilin-1 Gaofen 07 A» – this is a series of 8 Chinese optical satellites for remote sensing of the Earth, which are part of the large commercial group "Jilin-1" and are intended for receiving images […]

Publication date: 13 April 2026 year Author: Steven Chen, Beijing Chinese satellite, being at a height 35 800 km above the ground, recorded a Japanese oil tanker, which followed through the disputed waters of the South China Sea, north of the border of the Spratly Islands. The Towa Maru tanker is approx 340 meters (1115 feet) and widths 60 meters can be compared to an aircraft carrier in terms of its dimensions. […]

China has successfully launched a new experimental satellite, aimed at the development of space internet technology, as part of an ambitious plan to create a global satellite communication network. 11 April 2026 The satellite was launched into orbit aboard the Smart Dragon-3 rocket (also known as Jielong-3), which started from the water area near the coast of Yangjiang in Guangdong province in southern China. There is a mission […]

Sophia Space will begin deploying edge computing nodes on Kepler Communications satellites at the end 2026 year in accordance with the strategic agreement, announced 13 April 2026 year. As part of the partnership, Sophia Space will demonstrate its Orbital Data Center software (OTSOD), using Kepler's optical data relay network “to create a distributed, sustainable computing infrastructure in space". For reference: Sophia Space […]

10 April 2026 of the year HawkEye company 360 announced, that submitted an application for initial public offering of shares (IPO), becoming the last defense-oriented space company, which tests public markets. The company plans to trade on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker "HAWK", although it has not yet disclosed the number of shares, which will be offered, and price range. Founded in 2015 year, HawkEye 360 […]

Research, представлене 8 April at the 5th IAA Conference on Situational Awareness in Space in Madrid by COMSPOC, showed, that most satellite operators eliminate only 7% potential collision risk based on the current accuracy of SSA data and those thresholds, which they use to define, when a potential rapprochement calls for action. This analysis is based on simulations of objects in orbit […]

The US Space Force signed a contract with Lockheed Martin to 105 million dollars to support the ground control of next-generation GPS satellites. This is happening against the background of that, that the Pentagon is winding down a long-running replacement program, which was headed by the RTX company. Contract, signed 8 April 2026 year, provides support for the launch and on-orbit testing of GPS IIIF satellites until March 2030 year […]

11 April 2026 year Fr. 11:32 (UTC) from Haiyan East Spaceport, China, the "SatNet test satellite" communication test satellite was launched using the "Smart Dragon 3" launch vehicle. "SatNet test satellite" - officially described as "experimental satellite of satellite Internet technology". One possible test satellite for China's state-owned LEO SatNet group of communications satellites. RN "Smart Dragon 3" – […]

11 April 2026 year Fr. 11:41 (UTC) from Cape Canaveral, Florida, US with the help of a rocket launcher “Falcon 9 Block 5" launched the US Cygnus CRS-2 NG-24 cargo spacecraft. «Cygnus CRS-2 NG-24» – it's a cargo spaceship, built by Northrop Grumman and named after NASA astronaut S.S. Steven R. Nagel. This spacecraft is designed for […]

11 April 2026 year Fr. 05:04 (UTC) from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, USA, with the help of the "Falcon" launch vehicle 9 Block 5 ”was launched 25 US spacecraft "Starlink Group 17-21". Satellites "Starlink v2" – these are larger and more powerful communication satellites of SpaceX. They weigh approx 750 kg and have a design with two solar panels to enlarge […]

Albedo announced its second mission to ultra-low Earth orbit (VLEO) called Vicinity, the launch of which is planned for 2027 year. Here are the key features of this new mission and platform: New Vicinity platform: Unlike the first satellite Clarity-1 (Precision base), which had built-in solar panels, Vicinity is equipped with deployable solar panels. High power: This upgrade allows you to generate significantly more energy, which is necessary for an energy-consuming payload, such […]

Space security is moving from a narrow arms control issue to a central policy issue, as dependence on satellites deepens, and the tools for their violation are proliferating, says the new report of the "Safe World" Foundation (SWF). For reference: The Secure World Foundation is a private, non-profit think tank, engaged in the promotion of peace, sustainable and safe use of outer space. SWF cooperates with […]

8 April 2026 Bulgarian satellite manufacturer EnduroSat and British defense technology startup Shield Space announced plans to launch a cubesat into orbit next year, able to maneuver near other satellites for their inspection. This is the first step to creating a "mothership", which will be able to carry dozens of such devices to perform tasks on demand. Companies claim, what's new […]

Japanese private company Astroscale has completed a critical review of the project for two cubesats, which are scheduled to launch next year to help the British military monitor space weather and track objects in low Earth orbit. British subsidiary of Japanese Astroscale, which maintains satellites in orbit announced this stage 8 April 2026 of the year for the Orpheus mission. There was a mission […]

Mittens, operator of Earth observation satellites, formerly known as Maxar, is planning the first major overhaul of its space architecture in almost a decade, aiming to combine their signature high-resolution images with fast repeat visit rates, offered by constellations of small satellites. 8 the company announced in April, which will expand its current fleet of 10 electro-optical satellites of DZZ with two new ones […]

Italian launch service provider Avio has delayed the launch of the European Space Agency's SMILE mission aboard the Vega C rocket after discovering a problem on the production line of a subsystem component. Avio began preparations for the launch of SMILE in mid-February 2026 year from the transfer of the P120C first stage from the launch vehicle storage building to the ZLV launch pad. The transfer marked the beginning of the first flight […]

The European company The Exploration Company has completed the initial pressure testing of the pressurized structure of the Structural Test Model (STM) Nyx, own development. The structure was manufactured by the French company CNIM Systèmes Industriels in mid-February 2026 year. For reference: Aerospace company The Exploration Company, founded in 2021 year, develops reusable spacecraft. Her main project is the Nyx capsule, intended for the delivery of goods and, […]