Author: starpathwp-production
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From Building Rockets to Mass-Producing Them, China’s Commercial Space Industry Is Catching Up on Digitalization
In the first half of 2026, China completed 44 space launches, up nearly 26% year on year. Rockets are moving from “a few launches a year” toward high-frequency launch operations, making large-scale production an increasingly urgent priority. And as the industry moves from building individual rockets to mass-producing them, China’s commercial space sector is now…
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Rwanda and Planet Labs Launch National Satellite Data Program for Government, Universities and Startups
The Government of Rwanda has partnered with Planet Labs to establish a national satellite data program that will provide near-daily Earth observation imagery to government agencies, public universities, selected startups and strategic development partners. Managed by the Rwanda Space Agency, the program is designed to make satellite imagery a more routine component of national decision-making,…
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China Achieves First Land-Based Recovery of an Orbital-Class Rocket Booster as Zhuque-3 Returns Upright
Source: LandSpace Technology Corporation Ltd. China has successfully completed its first land-based recovery of an orbital-class launch vehicle first stage using powered vertical landing and landing legs, marking a major milestone in the country’s reusable launch vehicle development. At 7:35 a.m. Beijing time on August 19, Zhuque-3 Y2, a reusable launch vehicle developed by LandSpace…
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HawkEye 360’s Shift to Operational RF Intelligence Reshapes the Commercial Space-Based SIGINT Market
The U.S. National Reconnaissance Office’s decision to move HawkEye 360 from experimental evaluation into an operational commercial radio-frequency intelligence role marks a significant step in the evolution of the commercial space-based intelligence market. The development is important not simply because HawkEye 360 has won another government contract. The larger change is institutional: the U.S. intelligence…
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Airtel Africa and Starlink Turn Direct-to-Device Connectivity Into a Commercial Network
The commercial launch of Starlink Mobile in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) marks a more important shift in satellite communications than the headline “Africa’s first commercial direct-to-device service” might suggest. On August 14, 2026, Airtel Africa and SpaceX began commercial Starlink Mobile operations in the DRC, allowing customers with compatible smartphones to connect…
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SpaceX Starship Ship 40 Towed Into Christmas Island Bay After Weeks Adrift in Indian Ocean
The recovery was not originally part of the plan. Ship 40 outperformed expectations as it re-entered the atmosphere and splashed down in the Indian Ocean. On July 29, Elon Musk announced on X that a ship had been dispatched to retrieve the vehicle, and space enthusiasts have tracked its progress ever since. Ship 40 is…
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US Air Force Antarctic Flight Returns to Christchurch After Space Hazard Warning
The Civil Aviation Authority confirmed it was aware of the flight reversing course after a NOTAM was issued advising pilots of space activity that could pose a hazard to aviation en route to Antarctica. A NOTAM is an official notice used to alert pilots and aircraft operators to hazards or other information that could affect…
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Sophie Adenot Becomes First French Woman to Conduct a Spacewalk
The pair were scheduled to begin their roughly 6.5-hour extravehicular activity at around 8:35 a.m. EDT (1235 GMT), with NASA coverage starting at 7 a.m. EDT (1100 GMT). NASA officials described the antenna as a critical communications link the agency uses to transmit data, enabling high-speed communications between the Mission Control Center in Houston and…
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Sovereign Data at Tactical Speeds: BlackSky CTO Patrick O’Neil on the Shifts in Adoption of Space-based Intelligence
As conflicts have erupted around the world, governments and MoDs are recognizing the urgent, immediate need for space-based intelligence. At the same time, the cost to build and launch satellites has dropped significantly, and it’s changing how governments acquire satellite imagery and Al-enabled intelligence capabilities, driving them to embrace sovereign solutions from commercial partners. This…
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L3Harris Technologies Appoints Sam Mehta as CEO and Lewis Hay III as Board Chairman
L3Harris Technologies has announced that its Board of Directors has appointed Sam Mehta as President and Chief Executive Officer and a member of the Board. In addition, Lewis Hay III, L3Harris’ Lead Independent Director, has been named Independent Chairman of the Board. Christopher Kubasik has stepped down as Chairman and CEO and as a member of…