Tag: LEO
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SpaceSail, China SatNet and Starlink: Why Satellite Internet Constellations Need So Many Satellites
On the morning of September 16, 2026, the Gravity-1 Y3 rocket lifted off from waters east of Shanghai and placed eight SpaceSail constellation satellites into orbit. China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology subsequently announced that 256 SpaceSail satellites had now been launched.[1] The data centers, fiber-optic cables and base stations underpinning terrestrial internet services…
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Space Computing Interview Series: GalaxySpace’s Zhang Shijie on the Problems Space Computing Is Meant to Solve
In 2026, space computing has emerged as a major new direction for the commercial space industry. But what problems is it actually intended to solve, and where is the industry heading? Hello Space has launched its Space Computing Interview Series, speaking with leading Chinese companies to examine the real progress being made in this emerging…
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How High and How Inclined Should a Satellite Fly? How Orbital Altitude and Inclination Are Determined
Why do some satellites skim relatively close to Earth and complete an orbit in just over 90 minutes, while others remain above the equator and appear motionless in the sky? And why do some Earth observation satellites designed for near-global coverage deliberately use “retrograde” orbits with inclinations greater than 90 degrees? The answer lies in…
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Pentagon Expands Starshield Satellite Internet to Military Aircraft Under Fleet-Wide SpaceX Contract
The U.S. Space Force has awarded SpaceX a fleet-level service contract to expand Starshield satellite connectivity to military aircraft, extending the Pentagon’s use of the low Earth orbit network from ground-based terminals to airborne platforms. The task order, awarded July 28 under the Starshield Custom Fleet Aviation Services requirement and posted by the Space Force’s…
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Who Is Powering China’s GW Constellation? A Look at the Five Leading Satellite Institutes and Companies Behind It
Advances in phased-array radar and synthetic aperture radar (SAR) technologies are not only enhancing Earth observation capabilities but are also becoming a cornerstone of low-Earth-orbit (LEO) broadband communications satellites. A satellite’s phased-array antenna is essentially a phased-array radar operating in communication frequencies. Key radar technologies such as rapid beam steering, parallel subarray operation, and grating…
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Shanghai Spacecom Secures $1.94 Billion Funding Round, Reaching $6.96 Billion Valuation as China Accelerates Starlink Rival
Chinese satellite internet operator Shanghai Spacecom Satellite Technology (SSST), also known as SpaceSail, has completed a 7 billion yuan ($1.94 billion) Series B financing round, valuing the company at approximately 50.1 billion yuan ($6.96 billion). The funding marks one of the largest capital raises in China’s commercial satellite sector and underscores the country’s determination to…
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SEOPS Expands Waymaker Program as First LEO Mission Nears Full Capacity
SEOPS has announced that its inaugural Waymaker dedicated rideshare mission to sun-synchronous orbit (SSO) was nearing capacity, with 90% of available payload mass already under contract just months after the program’s launch. To meet customer demand for dedicated rideshare opportunities to low Earth orbit (LEO), SEOPS has introduced a second Waymaker mission in early 2028.…
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MDA Space Deploys First Eight Globalstar Replenishment Satellites
MDA Space, a provider of technology and services to the global space industry, has confirmed the successful deployment of the initial eight replenishment satellites for Globalstar Inc.’s existing low Earth orbit (LEO) constellation. Developed and fully integrated and tested in Montréal, the satellites were launched on Aug. 15, 2026, at 9:12 p.m. ET aboard a…
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Vaxon Space Develops VLEO Bus with Air-Breathing Propulsion
Vaxon Space is developing the Vaxon Bus, a purpose-built Very Low Earth Orbit (VLEO) satellite platform engineered to operate in the 180–250 km altitude band, where conventional spacecraft face severe atmospheric drag and atomic oxygen exposure. The architecture combines air-breathing electric propulsion (ABEP), an atomic-oxygen-resistant airframe, a high-efficiency atmospheric inlet, and deployable solar arrays to…
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VinSpace Signs SpaceX Launch Contract for 2027 Satellite Mission
VinSpace Joint Stock Company (“VinSpace”) has announced the signing of a launch contract with U.S.-based SpaceX. The agreement marks a milestone in VinSpace’s roadmap to build comprehensive aerospace capabilities, advancing its mission to support the development of Vietnam’s space industry. Under the agreement, VinSpace’s satellites will launch aboard a Transporter rideshare mission in 2027 as…