HOW SMALLER SATELLITES ARE RESHAPING THE GEOSTATIONARY ORBIT MARKET - For decades, geostationary orbit (GEO) was the undisputed home of satellite communications. From television broadcasts to internet backhaul and voice services, GEO satellites formed the backbone of global connectivity, delivering vast coverage from their fixed position 36,000 kilometers above Earth.... More (Source: SpaceNews - May 13)
EUROPE'S PROBA-3 SATELLITES ACE LANDMARK FORMATION-FLYING TEST - A pair of spacecraft have demonstrated ultra-precise formation flying in orbit for the first time, marking a milestone with major implications for both science and future space missions. The European Space Agency's (ESA) Proba-3 mission, consisting of two spacecraft called the Occulter and the Co... More (Source: Space.com - May 13)
SPACEX LAUNCHES 26 STARLINK SATELLITES ON FALCON 9 ROCKET FROM VANDENBERG SFB - SpaceX launched a batch of Starlink satellites from Vandenberg Space Force Base Monday evening. The mission, dubbed Starlink 15-4, added another 26 Starlink V2 Mini Optimized satellites into low Earth orbit. Liftoff of the Falcon 9 rocket from Space Launch Complex 4 East happened 6:15 p.m. PDT (9... More (Source: SpaceFlight Now - May 13)
ROCKET LAB TO DEBUT POINT-TO-POINT CARGO TRANSPORTATION CAPABILITY ON 2026 AIR FORCE MISSION - Rocket Lab is looking to demonstrate the reusability of its forthcoming Neutron rocket next year with a so-called ‘return-to-Earth’ mission no earlier than 2026. Ahead of its first quarter 2025 earnings call on Thursday, the company announced a new contract for the mission signed with the U.S... More (Source: SpaceFlight Now - May 12)
CHINA TO LAUNCH NEW MODULES TO TIANGONG SPACE STATION - China is preparing to launch new modules to its Tiangong space station to meet growing demands for science and potentially boost international cooperation. The Long March 5B, currently China’s most powerful rocket, is slated to launch new Tiangong modules, according to an official with China’... More (Source: SpaceNews - May 12)
SPACEX LAUNCHES 900TH STARLINK SATELLITE OF 2025 DURING SATURDAY MORNING FLIGHT - SpaceX launched its 900th Starlink satellite of the year, overcoming some challenging weather moving through the area Saturday morning. The Starlink 6-91 mission adds another 28 Starlink V2 Mini Optimized satellites to the constellation of more than 7,400 satellites currently in low Earth orbit. ... More (Source: SpaceFlight Now - May 11)
FAILED SOVIET VENUS LANDER KOSMOS 482 CRASHES TO EARTH AFTER 53 YEARS IN ORBIT - A failed Soviet Venus lander's long space odyssey has come to an end. The Kosmos 482 probe crashed to Earth today (May 10) after circling our planet for more than five decades. Reentry occurred at 2:24 a.m. ET (0624 GMT or 9:24 a.m. Moscow time) over the Indian Ocean west of Jakarta, Indonesia, a... More (Source: Space.com - May 11)
SPACEX LAUNCHES 26 STARLINK SATELLITES FROM VANDENBERG - SpaceX launched its first Falcon 9 launch from Vandenberg Space Force of the month, after previously scrubbing the flight nearly a week ago. The Starlink 15-3 mission was previously scheduled to launch on Saturday, May 3, before SpaceX pushed it a day and then punted to Friday, May 9. The company... More (Source: SpaceFlight Now - May 10)
FAILED SOVIET VENUS PROBE KOSMOS 482 IS EXPECTED TO FALL TO EARTH TONIGHT, BUT WHEN AND WHERE? HERE'S WHAT WE KNOW - It's still quite uncertain just where and when the craft will fall, although it is expected to reenter around 2:26 am ET on May 10 +/- 4.35 hours. According to the European Space Agency, the current reentry window for the Kosmos 482 Venus probe is 2:37 a.m. ET (0637 GMT) on May 10 +/- 3.28 hours. Th... More (Source: Space.com - May 10)
VAST TO COMPLETE HAVEN-1 PRIMARY STRUCTURE IN JULY 2025, AHEAD OF TARGET MAY 2026 LAUNCH DATE - Space habitation company, Vast, is now one year away from being able to stake its claim as the first commercial space station in history. The company based in Long Beach, California, aims to launch its single-module Haven-1 space station on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket in May 2026. To that end, it co... More (Source: SpaceFlight Now - May 9)
NASA SCRAMBLES TO CUT ISS ACTIVITY DUE TO BUDGET ISSUES - NASA is considering scaling back its activities on the International Space Station, according to multiple sources. The changes, which are being considered primarily due to shortfalls in the space station budget, include: Reducing the size of the crew complement of Crew Dragon missions from fou... More (Source: Ars Technica - May 9)
MTG-S1 + SENTINEL-4 TAKE A STEP CLOSER TO SPACE - The second of the Meteosat Third Generation satellites and the first instrument for the Copernicus Sentinel-4 mission have arrived at Cape Canaveral harbor in the United States. The Sentinel-4 instrument, which will monitor air quality over Europe, sits on board the MTG-Sounder (MTG-S) satellite. Th... More (Source: SatNews - May 8)
OLD SOVIET VENUS LANDER'S FALL TO EARTH WILL BE NO ORDINARY SPACE JUNK CRASH. HERE'S WHY - This will be no ordinary space junk fall. The Soviet Union's failed Kosmos 482 spacecraft will crash to Earth in the coming days after more than 50 years in orbit. Its homecoming may not spark the sorts of artificial meteor showers we're used to seeing from falling rocket bodies and other pieces ... More (Source: Space.com - May 8)
FOREST SATELLITE’S BIG ANTENNA OPENS UP - Just a week after its launch, ESA’s Biomass mission has reached another critical milestone on its path to delivering unprecedented insights into the world’s forests and their vital role in Earth’s carbon cycle – the satellite’s 12-metre-diameter antenna is now fully deployed.... More (Source: European Space Agency - May 8)
SPACEX LAUNCH 28 STARLINK SATELLITES ON 470TH FALCON 9 ROCKET LAUNCH - SpaceX launched its latest batch of Starlink V2 Mini satellites to low Earth orbit on Tuesday night. The Starlink 6-93 mission was the company’s 470th Falcon 9 rocket launch to date and added another 28 satellites to the constellation of more than 7,300 currently on orbit. Liftoff from Space La... More (Source: SpaceFlight Now - May 7)
NASA BUDGET PROPOSAL DRAWS STRONG CRITICISM - he White House’s proposal to cut NASA’s budget by nearly 25% and cancel several major programs has drawn criticism from industry and members of Congress, while raising concerns among international partners. The top-level or “skinny” budget released by the White House’s Office of Managem... More (Source: SpaceNews - May 7)
A SOVIET SPACECRAFT WILL CRASH TO EARTH THIS MONTH - A Soviet space probe stuck in orbit since a failed 1972 launch is expected to crash to Earth this month. The spacecraft, dubbed Kosmos 482, is predicted to reenter Earth’s atmosphere sometime overnight between May 9 and May 10, according to the U.S. Space Force as well as satellite analyst Marc... More (Source: ScienceNews - May 7)
SPACEX TO LAUNCH 28 STARLINK SATELLITES ON FALCON 9 ROCKET FROM CAPE CANAVERAL - SpaceX is preparing to launch its latest batch of Starlink V2 Mini satellites to low Earth orbit on Tuesday night. The Starlink 6-93 mission will be the company’s 470th Falcon 9 rocket launch to date and will add another 28 satellites to the constellation of more than 7,300 currently on orbit. ... More (Source: SpaceFlight Now - May 6)
SCIENTISTS CHASED A FALLING SPACECRAFT WITH A PLANE TO UNDERSTAND SATELLITE AIR POLLUTION - A dramatic aircraft chase of a falling spacecraft has provided new insights into the fiery processes that accompany the atmospheric demise of retired satellites. The measurements will help scientists better understand how satellite air pollution affects Earth's atmosphere. In early September last... More (Source: Space.com - May 6)
