Tag: Orbital Debris
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Starfish Loses Otter 24C as Fault Protection Error Ends $15M NASA Inspection Mission
Otter 24C launched on SpaceX’s Transporter-18 rideshare on October 1 and established contact with the ground shortly after deployment. The mission, formally the Small Spacecraft Propulsion and Inspection Capability mission, was designed to approach and inspect multiple defunct US satellites to gather data for potential future deorbit missions. The spacecraft was headed to a graveyard…
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Atomic-6 Space Armor Tiles Reach Orbit for First Time Aboard Portal’s Starburst-1
The launch took place on October 21, 2026, from Cape Canaveral, Florida, aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket as part of the Bandwagon-5 dedicated rideshare mission. The Space Armor tiles are designed to protect critical spacecraft systems against potentially catastrophic impacts from micrometeoroids and orbital debris, a problem tied to concerns over the Kessler Syndrome,…
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Space Force Plans Fall Prototype to Fuse Commercial and Military Orbital Tracking Data
The U.S. Space Force plans to launch a prototype software environment later this fall that will automate the integration of commercial and military space-tracking data. Led by Mission Delta 2, the effort is intended to provide faster indications of new satellite deployments, debris clouds and potentially threatening activity without disrupting the service’s high-accuracy collision-avoidance systems.…
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Lockheed Martin Ventures Backs Diffraqtion as Quantum Imaging Startup Tops $10 Million
Diffraqtion has secured strategic investments from Lockheed Martin Ventures and Presidio Ventures, the venture arm of Sumitomo Corporation, bringing the quantum imaging startup’s total funding to more than $10 million. Announced on August 31, 2026, the financing will support development of Diffraqtion’s first fielded camera and a planned hosted-payload mission intended to establish flight heritage.…
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FCC Approves New Part 100 Rules to Streamline Space Licensing
The U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has approved a broad overhaul of its satellite and earth station licensing framework, replacing its long-standing Part 25 rules with a new Part 100 regulatory structure. The agency said the updated framework is intended to create what it describes as a “licensing assembly line” aimed at improving the efficiency…
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UK Space Agency Delays £75.6 Million Active Debris Removal Contract Award
The UK Space Agency (UKSA) has delayed awarding a contract for the next phase of the United Kingdom’s first active orbital debris removal mission, missing its original deadline for the £75.6 million program. Astronomy The contract for Phase 3 of the Active Debris Removal (ADR) mission was initially scheduled to be awarded by March 30,…
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China Accelerates Launch of Backup Shenzhou Spacecraft After Damage to Docked Capsule
China is preparing to launch its next Shenzhou spacecraft to the Tiangong space station ahead of schedule after damage to a docked return capsule disrupted routine crew operations, state broadcaster CCTV reported on Saturday. The Shenzhou-22 spacecraft—originally planned for launch in mid-2026—will now be sent uncrewed roughly six months early to restore an emergency return…
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EU Consortium Develops Precision Sensors for Satellites and Drones
A consortium backed by the European Union revealed on Thursday its efforts to develop state-of-the-art sensors aimed at enhancing satellite navigation capabilities and extending drone operational ranges. The INPHOMIR project, supported by a 5 million euro ($5.38 million) investment from Horizon Europe, seeks to introduce two innovative ultra-low-power sensors—a specialized lidar sensor and an optical…
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Defunct European Satellite’s Reentry Highlights Orbital Debris Risks Amid Policy Shifts
The imminent reentry of the European Space Agency’s European Remote Sensing (ERS) 2 satellite serves as a stark reminder of the persistent hazards posed by existing space objects, even as agencies strive to curtail the proliferation of orbital debris. Expected to descend on February 21st after orbiting for nearly two decades, the European Remote Sensing…
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SpaceX takes a proactive step toward responsible behavior in orbit
SpaceX announced this week that it will voluntarily bring down about 100 of its first-generation Starlink satellites, which provide broadband Internet from low-Earth orbit, as part of its commitment to “space sustainability.” The satellites are presently operational and serving Internet customers. However, in a statement, the company said, “The Starlink team identified a common issue…