Tag: Satellite Constellations
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Starship Flight 14 Targets First Earth Orbit and 26 Starlink V3 Deployments
SpaceX is targeting Tuesday, September 22, 2026, for Starship’s 14th flight test from Starbase in South Texas. The mission would be Starship’s first attempt to enter Earth orbit and is planned to deploy 26 Starlink V3 satellites. A 75-minute launch window opens at 7:15 a.m. Central time, pending regulatory approval. Previous Starship tests followed suborbital…
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Long March 12 Successfully Launches the 25th Group of Low Earth Orbit Internet Satellites
At 8:32 a.m. Beijing time on September 17, 2026, China launched the 25th group of low Earth orbit satellite internet spacecraft aboard a Long March 12 rocket from the Hainan Commercial Space Launch Site. The satellites entered their planned orbit, completing the mission successfully. Developed under the leadership of the Eighth Academy of China Aerospace…
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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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Rocket Lab Raises $1.94 Billion to Fully Finance Iridium Acquisition
Rocket Lab has completed a $1.944 billion equity offering and secured lender consent to retain Iridium Communications’ existing term loan after its planned acquisition. Together with available cash, those steps provide sufficient funding for the transaction’s cash payments, specified debt repayments and closing costs. Rocket Lab has terminated a $3.6 billion bridge financing commitment, removing…
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China’s Private Rocket Sector Breaks Into the Satellite Internet Constellation Launch Market
At 2:26 p.m. on September 15, 2026, the ZhuQue-2E Y7 launch vehicle lifted off from the Dongfeng Commercial Space Innovation Pilot Zone at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, successfully deploying 10 SpaceSail Polar Orbit Group 19 satellites operated by Shanghai Spacesail Technologies into their designated orbits. Unlike previous missions, this launch warrants particular attention for…
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Zhuque-2E Y7 Launches 10 Qianfan Satellites in Single Mission (Video)
LandSpace successfully launched a Zhuque-2E Y7 carrier rocket at 2:26 p.m. on September 15 from the Dongfeng Commercial Space Innovation Pilot Zone, placing 10 satellites for Qianfan Polar Orbit Group 19 into their designated orbits. The successful one-rocket, 10-satellite mission advanced the deployment of the Qianfan constellation while reinforcing Zhuque-2E’s role in China’s expanding commercial…
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Xiopm SPACE’s Qin Jing: What Is the Real Commercial Value of Space-Based Computing?
In 2026, space-based computing emerged as a major new direction for the commercial space industry. What problems is it meant to solve, and where is the industry heading? Hello Space has launched the Space-Based Computing Interview Series, speaking with leading Chinese companies to examine the real progress being made in this emerging field. Our guest…
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Rocket Lab Deploys Confidential Earth Observation Satellite on 95th Launch
Rocket Lab launched a single Earth observation satellite for an undisclosed commercial customer on September 11, deploying the spacecraft into a 500-kilometer circular low Earth orbit during the company’s 95th launch. The dedicated “Happily Ever Faster” mission lifted off aboard an Electron rocket from Launch Complex 1 on New Zealand’s Māhia Peninsula at 3:28 p.m.…
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China’s First Open Shared TT&C Platform for Commercial Space Begins Operations in Beijing
China’s first open shared platform for commercial space tracking, telemetry and command (TT&C) services officially began operations Aug. 19 in Beijing, supporting the full measurement and control process for the launch of a Honghu-03 satellite and the recovery of a reusable rocket booster. The Beijing Rocket Street Commercial Space Intelligent TT&C Center, located in Beijing…
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Royal Group of Abu Dhabi Backs $1 Billion Expansion of Altair AI Imaging Constellation to 50 Satellites
Loft Orbital and UAE-based Marlan Space announced on September 9 a $1 billion commitment led by the Royal Group of Abu Dhabi to expand the Altair Earth observation constellation from 10 to 50 satellites. The spacecraft will combine optical and synthetic aperture radar imaging with onboard artificial intelligence, serving government and commercial customers in the…