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- Issue 66 | Breaking Space News: Aug 31 - Sept 06, 2025
Issue 66 | Breaking Space News: Aug 31 - Sept 06, 2025
We Now Have a Simpler Way to Make Oxygen in Space. This Week in Space: A Rectangular Telescope, 3I/ATLAS’ Growing Tail, ISRO’s Parachute Test, New NASA Administrator, and the US-China Lunar Race. Plus: Starship Launch Concerns in Florida, Space Force’s AI and Smallsat Strategy, China’s Military Parade, Kuiper’s First Airline Client, ExxonMobil’s Methane Monitoring, and More.
Lagrangian Despatch
September 07, 2025 • Estimated Reading Time: 49 minutes
Good to have you back Explorer!🚀
As always captivating images and updates from commerce, governance and defense in space abound. Also learn about the a comet’s coma this week.
If you’re publication is clipped at the end, click below for the full experience.
Hope you enjoy this Space!
PRIMER
A Comet’s Coma
Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/W. Reach (SSC-Caltech)
With all the fanfare a surrounding our latest (and only the third known) interstellar guest, 3I/ATLAS, we’ll take a moment to explore an intriguing cometary feature: its coma.
As a comet nears the Sun, solar heat causes its icy nucleus to release gas and dust, forming a glowing cloud around the core. This cloud, called the coma, is the bright, hazy envelope of gas and dust, can span thousands of kilometers, and often outshines the nucleus itself. It forms when solar radiation heats the comet’s icy core, causing volatile materials like water, carbon dioxide, and ammonia, to sublimate, or turn directly from solid to gas. This outgassing creates a diffuse cloud that can grow to be larger than planets, even though the nucleus itself may be just a few kilometers across.
The coma is what gives comets their distinctive “fuzzy” appearance and is the source of the comet’s tail, which forms as solar wind and radiation pressure push particles away from the nucleus. The word “coma” comes from the Greek kómē, meaning “hair,” which reflects its wispy, flowing look.
IMAGES
Pismis 24 Star Cluster, Lobster Nebula : James Webb Space Telescope
A near-infrared image of the young star cluster Pismis 24, captured by NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope in the heart of the Lobster Nebula, approximately 5,500 light-years away in the constellation Scorpius. The scene reveals thousands of stars at various stages of formation, with the most massive appearing as brilliant points with six-point diffraction spikes. Towering spires of gas and dust, some spanning over 5 light-years, are sculpted by intense radiation and stellar winds from infant stars, triggering new star formation within their dense cores. Cyan hues indicate hot, ionized hydrogen gas; orange traces dust molecules; red marks cooler molecular hydrogen; and black denotes the densest, light-blocking regions. At the center lies Pismis 24-1, once thought to be a single massive star but now known to be a multiple-star system. This image offers a vivid look into the dynamic processes shaping stellar nurseries. (Credit: NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI; Image Processing: A. Pagan (STScI))
This scientific visualization invites viewers into the vibrant core of the Lobster Nebula, where the young star cluster Pismis 24 sparkles amid clouds of gas and dust. Captured by NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope, the scene lies roughly 5,500 light-years from Earth and showcases the dynamic processes of star formation in stunning detail. (Video Credits: NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI; Visuals: Leah Hustak (STScI), Christian Nieves (STScI); Image Processing: Alyssa Pagan (STScI); Production: Greg Bacon (STScI); Acknowledgment: VISTA)
Soroya Ridge, Mars : Perseverance Rover
Martian terrain viewed by NASA’s Perseverance rover from atop Soroya Ridge, a light-toned outcrop rising above the surrounding landscape near Jezero Crater. Captured on Sol 1597 using the Left Navigation Camera, the image shows exposed bedrock selected for detailed analysis of surface textures and chemical composition. Soroya was identified from orbit as a promising science target due to its elevated structure and distinct coloration. (Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech)
Taken on Sol 1595 using the Left Navigation Camera, this image shows exposed bedrock ideal for close-up analysis. Scientists have planned a series of drives to reach this workspace, where instruments like SHERLOC, PIXL, and WATSON will investigate surface textures and chemical composition. (Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech)
Protoplanetary Disc IRAS 04302 : James Webb Space Telescope
Edge-on view of the planet-forming disc IRAS 04302, captured by the James Webb Space Telescope in the Taurus star-forming region, about 525 light-years from Earth. The dark vertical band is a dense protoplanetary disc surrounding a young protostar, blocking its light and revealing delicate reflection nebulas on either side. These dusty wisps, illuminated by scattered starlight, trace the vertical structure of the disc where dust grains settle and grow, key steps in planet formation. Webb’s infrared instruments highlight the fine distribution of dust, while complementary Hubble data reveal clumps and outflows, suggesting the star is still actively gathering mass. (Credit: NASA/ ESA/CSA/STScI)
A zoomed in image of the dusty disc. (Credit: ESA/Webb, NASA & CSA, M. Villenave et al.)
SCIENCE
NASA and US Army National Guard Partner on High‑Altitude Training, Use Colorado Helicopter Training for Artemis Missions
NASA astronaut Bob Hines (left) trains with Colorado Army National Guard HAATS instructor Ethan Jacobs in the Rocky Mountains in April 2025, rehearsing landing procedures under challenging terrain and visibility conditions. Seasonal snow or dust in the region can obscure visual cues—an effect comparable to the lunar dust astronauts may encounter during future missions to the Moon’s surface. (Credit: NASA)
18 August, 2025
NASA is partnering with the U.S. Army National Guard to prepare Artemis astronauts for the challenges of lunar descent by simulating landings in Colorado’s Rocky Mountains. At the High-Altitude Army National Guard Aviation Training Site (HAATS), crews fly military helicopters through rugged terrain and thin air—conditions that mimic the Moon’s South Pole, where steep slopes, deep craters, and harsh lighting complicate navigation.
The training emphasizes degraded visibility, visual illusions, and cross-cockpit communication, with astronauts piloting aircraft while teammates chart landing zones and identify hazards. Since 2021, 22 NASA astronauts and one ESA astronaut have completed the course, which blends Apollo-era insights with modern flight dynamics.
This program complements NASA’s broader three-pronged Artemis training strategy, which includes motion-based simulators and lunar lander mockups. As Artemis III targets a crewed landing no earlier than 2027, the Colorado exercises offer a rare terrestrial analog for the Moon’s extreme environment, reinforcing mission safety and operational readiness.
ISRO Conducts First Parachute Drop Test for Gaganyaan Crew Module Recovery
Mid-descent view of the crew module with drogue parachutes deployed, providing initial deceleration in the test of Gaganyaan’s recovery system. The parachute layout mirrors that planned for actual crewed missions. (Credit: ISRO)
24 August, 2025
India’s human spaceflight program, Gaganyaan, advanced a key milestone with the successful completion of its first Integrated Air Drop Test (IADT-01) on August 24, 2025. Conducted at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, the test validated the parachute-based deceleration system designed to safely return astronauts to Earth. A full-scale mock crew module weighing 4.8 tons was released from a Chinook helicopter at 3 km altitude, deploying ten parachutes in a precise sequence to simulate a launch pad abort scenario and ensure controlled splashdown.
A Chinook helicopter released the 4.8-ton simulated crew module from 3 km altitude during ISRO’s first Integrated Air Drop Test at Sriharikota. The drop initiates a sequence of ten parachutes designed to safely decelerate the module for splashdown. (Credit: ISRO)
Engineers and recovery personnel inspect the full-scale Gaganyaan crew module ahead of its air drop test at Sriharikota. (Credit: ISRO)
The test confirmed the system’s ability to reduce terminal velocity to 8 m/s, with onboard avionics recording telemetry and descent parameters. Recovery operations were carried out by the Indian Navy. This marks a critical step toward India’s first crewed mission, now slated for 2027 (from an earlier 2022 target), following four uncrewed flights. The Gaganyaan team includes four Indian Air Force test pilots, one of whom recently flew aboard Axiom-4 to the ISS. Further qualification tests are planned.
Circle versus Rectangle: Rethinking Telescope Geometry in the Search for Earth-Like Worlds
Concept illustration of a rectangular space telescope inspired by the Diffractive Interfero Coronagraph Exoplanet Resolver (DICER), a proposed infrared observatory, and design elements from the James Webb Space Telescope. (Credit: Leaf Swordy / Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute)
A new telescope concept could reshape the search for Earth-like exoplanets. Researchers at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute propose a rectangular mirror design, 20 meters long by 1 meter wide, that may outperform traditional circular apertures in imaging planets around nearby sun-like stars. Operating in the mid-infrared, the telescope would target wavelengths where water vapor emits, improving contrast between stars and planetary atmospheres.
Spotting an Earth-like planet next to its host star is like trying to see a firefly beside a searchlight. Even under ideal conditions, the star outshines the planet by a factor of a million in the infrared, and by over 10 billion in visible light. To resolve the two separately, a telescope must be both large and space-based. At the key wavelength of 10 microns, where water-rich planets emit most strongly, a 20-meter aperture is needed to distinguish Earth from a sun-like star 30 light-years away. Current telescopes, including JWST, fall short in size and contrast suppression.
Unlike large circular mirrors or complex interferometer arrays, the rectangular design offers a more cost-effective and technically feasible alternative. Simulations suggest it could detect up to half of all Earth-like planets within 30 light-years in under three years.
The proposal aligns with priorities outlined in the U.S. National Academies’ Decadal Survey, which calls for a next-generation observatory capable of directly imaging habitable-zone exoplanets. While no design has been finalized, the study takes an innovative approach to telescope architecture to meet scientific and budgetary constraints. The findings were published in Frontiers in Astronomy and Space Sciences.
ESA, NASA Prepare to Study Interstellar Comet 3I/ATLAS During Mars Flyby As Astronomers Capture Image of its Expanding Coma and Tail
02 September, 2025
Comet 3I/ATLAS, the third confirmed interstellar object to enter our solar system, is offering scientists a rare chance to study material potentially older than the Sun. Believed to originate from the Milky Way’s thick disk, the comet may be over 7 billion years old. As it approaches perihelion behind the Sun, Earth-based telescopes will lose visibility, prompting researchers to rely on spacecraft positioned elsewhere. ESA’s Mars orbiters, including Mars Express and the Trace Gas Orbiter, will attempt to image and analyze the comet during its close pass by Mars on October 3.
Meanwhile, missions like NASA’s Psyche and ESA’s JUICE may observe the comet from tens of millions of miles away. Real-time spectroscopy from Gemini South has already revealed high carbon dioxide levels, distinguishing 3I/ATLAS from previous interstellar visitors. Scientists hope to capture fragments or tail material, potentially unlocking insights into planetary systems formed during cosmic noon. The observational window remains narrow and uncertain.
Interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS, captured by Gemini South’s GMOS instrument, displays a broad coma and a growing tail as it nears the Sun. The deep image, taken during NOIRLab’s “Shadow the Scientists” program, reveals ancient material from beyond our solar system and includes faint trails from unrelated asteroids. (Credit: International Gemini Observatory /NOIRLab/NSF/AURA/Shadow the Scientist; Image Processing: J. Miller & M. Rodriguez (International Gemini Observatory/NSF NOIRLab), T.A. Rector (University of Alaska Anchorage/NSF NOIRLab), M. Zamani (NSF NOIRLab))
04 September, 2025
During a public observing session at Gemini South in Chile, astronomers captured detailed deep images of interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS, revealing a growing tail and bright coma as it nears the Sun. The session, part of NOIRLab’s “Shadow the Scientists” initiative, allowed students and researchers to analyze the comet’s spectrum in real time. Early results suggest its dust and ice resemble those of solar system comets, hinting at shared planetary formation processes. As only the third confirmed interstellar visitor, 3I/ATLAS offers a fleeting opportunity to study material from beyond our solar system before it exits on a hyperbolic trajectory.
In astronomy, a deep image refers to a photograph of the sky taken with a very long exposure time to capture extremely faint objects that would otherwise be invisible.
GOVERNANCE
NASA Names Moon to Mars Veteran, Amit Kshatriya, Associate Administrator
Amit Kshatriya: Kshatriya’s operational experience and policy fluency position him to navigate both technical challenges and interagency coordination. (Credit: NASA)
03 September, 2025
Amit Kshatriya, a veteran of NASA’s Moon to Mars initiative, has been appointed associate administrator by Acting Administrator Sean Duffy, signaling a strategic pivot toward sustained human exploration. Kshatriya, a former flight director and deputy for Exploration Systems Development, has overseen planning for Artemis missions and long-term crewed exploration strategies. He is expected to bring both technical depth and programmatic experience to the agency’s civil service leadership. His promotion signals a sharpened institutional focus on lunar return and Mars preparation, aligning with broader political priorities to reassert U.S. leadership in space.
Kshatriya is expected to streamline coordination across Artemis missions and strengthen NASA’s partnerships with commercial providers, whose vehicles and infrastructure are central to upcoming lunar operations. Duffy emphasized the need to reduce costs and accelerate timelines, particularly as Artemis 3 faces delays and questions persist around Starship’s readiness. The appointment comes amid heightened scrutiny of NASA’s lunar timeline and growing geopolitical pressure from China’s advancing space program.
The leadership shift reflects NASA’s effort to stabilize its exploration roadmap while navigating budget constraints and international competition. With lunar access increasingly tied to global influence, Kshatriya’s role may become pivotal in shaping the agency’s next phase.
US Senate Hearing Raises Concerns Over Losing Lunar Leadership to China
03 September, 2025
A Senate Commerce Committee hearing on September 3 raised concerns that the United States may lose the lunar race to China, with experts warning that delays in NASA’s Artemis program could undermine U.S. leadership in space exploration. Former NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine testified that China’s consistent strategy, evidenced by recent crew vehicle tests, Long March 10 rocket milestones, and a moon lander demonstration—positions it to reach the lunar surface ahead of the U.S. Witnesses emphasized that the first nation to establish a sustained lunar presence could shape international norms around resource use and governance.
NASA’s reliance on SpaceX’s Starship for its Human Landing System was flagged as a vulnerability, given the vehicle’s unproven in-orbit refueling and lunar landing capabilities. Artemis 2 is scheduled for launch next year, but Artemis 3’s timeline remains uncertain. The Gateway lunar station, once cut from the presidential budget, has regained congressional support, though its future remains politically fragile.
04 September, 2025
In response, NASA Acting Administrator Sean Duffy pushed back during an internal town hall, expressing frustration over Bridenstine’s remarks and reaffirming NASA’s commitment to beating China to the Moon. Duffy and newly appointed associate administrator Amit Kshatriya urged staff to prioritize Artemis and reduce mission costs, which currently exceed $4 billion per launch. However, neither addressed the technical concerns raised about Starship’s readiness.
Broader tensions between strategic urgency and programmatic fragility persist as NASA navigates budget constraints, shifting leadership, and the geopolitical stakes of lunar exploration. The outcome may shape global space policy for decades.
Public Meetings Highlight Concerns Over SpaceX Starship Launches in Florida: FAA Draft Statement Assesses Noise, Wildlife, Airspace Risks
SpaceX's Starship Flight 10 megarocket launched into space from Starbase, Texas on Aug. 26, 2025. (Credit: SpaceX)
03 September, 2025
SpaceX’s proposal to launch and land its Starship-Super Heavy vehicle from Kennedy Space Center has triggered a formal environmental review process led by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). It has sparked debate across Florida’s Space Coast, as residents and stakeholders weigh the environmental, economic, and social impacts of the plan. The FAA released a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) in August, outlining the potential consequences of up to 44 annual launches and landings at Launch Complex 39A. The review considers impacts on airspace, wildlife, coastal access, and local communities, and is required before any licensing decisions are made.
To gather public input, the FAA held four in-person meetings and one virtual session between August 26 and September 3, inviting comments from residents, conservationists, aviation officials, and business owners. Concerns ranged from beach closures at Playalinda (facing over 60 beach closures per year) and Canaveral National Seashore to noise, sleep disruption and damage to fragile ecosystems like the Indian River Lagoon. Aviation groups warned of possible delays at major Florida airports due to airspace closures during launches and reentries. Conservationists and commercial fishers warned of long-term harm to biodiversity and livelihoods. Others questioned the suitability of Launch Complex 39A, citing its historic significance and vulnerability to accidents.
While some residents support the expansion as a step toward technological progress, others argue that SpaceX must better address public health, land use, and coastal preservation before receiving launch approval. The public comment period remains open until September 22, with final decisions pending further analysis.
MILITARY
AI Strategy, Swarm Satellite Architecture Contracts, and Officer Training Mark New Phase in US Space Force Development
The U.S. Space Force is undergoing a strategic transformation, marked by new investments in artificial intelligence, satellite architecture, and officer training, all aimed at preparing for what defense planners call “great power competition.”
“My two top priorities for the United States Space Force is accelerating adoption of artificial intelligence and data capabilities, and my second is putting tools and capabilities into the hands of warfighters.”
01 September, 2025
The Space Force is accelerating its transformation into a digitally fluent, strategically agile service, guided by its FY2025 Data and Artificial Intelligence Strategic Action Plan. Released in March by Col. Nathan Iven, acting deputy chief of space operations for cyber and data, the plan outlines four lines of effort: governance, culture, technology adoption, and partnerships. It outlines efforts to modernize legacy systems and reduce information overload using enterprise-wide AI literacy, operational prototyping through hackathon-style “AI Challenges,” and integration with the Unified Data Library. The initiative could be seen as a response to the growing urgency in countering adversaries like China and Russia, whose space-based surveillance and electronic warfare capabilities are seen as rapidly advancing.
Credit: Astranis
04 September, 2025
Parallel to its digital modernization, the Space Force is rethinking satellite communications through the Protected Tactical Satcom-Global (PTS-G) program. Traditionally reliant on large, bespoke geostationary satellites (in GEO orbit at ~35,000 kilometers), the service is now embracing smaller, proliferated platforms to reduce vulnerability and cost. As part of the first phase of PTS-G, called “Swarm 1,” the Space Systems Command (SSC) awarded $37.5 million in initial contracts to Astranis, Boeing, Intelsat, Northrop Grumman, and Viasat. Production contracts are expected by 2026. These vendors will demonstrate small, jam-resistant satellites for geostationary orbit, using commercial designs to meet military needs. The program, part of the broader Protected Tactical Enterprise, aims to launch its first satellites by 2028 and fill capability gaps between legacy Advanced Extremely High Frequency (AEFH) systems and future PTS-Resilient platforms.
Advanced Extremely High Frequency is a satellite communications system operated by the U.S. Space Force that provides secure, survivable, and jam-resistant communications for high-priority military assets across land, sea, and air domains.
Guardians, instructors, and invited guests assembled at Peterson Space Force Base, Colorado, on August 28, 2025, to mark the graduation of the Officer Training Course. The Space Force currently comprises around 14,000 personnel, both military and civilian, with nearly 5,000 serving as uniformed officers. The OTC is designed to prepare more than one-third of all Guardians for operational roles across the service. Following graduation, roughly 60 percent of the cohort will begin their first assignments in the Colorado Springs region. (Credit: U.S. Space Force/Isaac Blancas)
02 September, 2025
On August 28, more than 80 officers graduated from the Space Force’s inaugural Officer Training Course (OTC) at Peterson Space Force Base in Colorado. The year-long program, overseen by Space Training and Readiness Command (STARCOM) and led by Lt. Col. Liam Conley, marks a shift toward multidisciplinary readiness, combining training in satellite operations, cyber warfare, intelligence, and acquisitions. Chief of Space Operations Gen. Chance Saltzman urged graduates to become “big-picture, multi-disciplinary thinkers,” capable of leading in contested domains. The OTC is part of a broader effort to institutionalize training pipelines for all Guardians, including civilians and enlisted personnel.
Trump Administration Moves US Military Space Operations Hub to Rocket City, Huntsville Alabama
Credit: US Space Command
02 September, 2025
President Donald Trump has announced the relocation of U.S. Space Command from Colorado Springs to Huntsville, Alabama, reversing a decision made under the previous administration. The move places the military’s space operations hub in “Rocket City,” home to Redstone Arsenal and NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center, historically linked to early U.S. missile and space programs. Trump cited concerns over Colorado’s mail-in voting policies as a factor in the decision, though defense officials framed the shift as a strategic enhancement of American space superiority.
Huntsville’s aerospace infrastructure includes facilities operated by Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, and Blue Origin, all of which are involved in missile defense and propulsion systems. The announcement drew support from Alabama Senator Tommy Tuberville, who suggested naming the new headquarters after Trump. Critics have raised questions about the politicization of military basing decisions, while supporters argue the move consolidates key defense and space assets in a historically significant region.
General Atomics and Kepler Achieve Bi-Directional Optical Link Between Aircraft and LEO Satellite
During a recent demonstration, a General Atomics optical communications terminal installed aboard a twin-engine De Havilland Canada DHC-6-300 aircraft successfully linked with a Tesat-built optical terminal on a Kepler Communications satellite in low Earth orbit. (Credit: General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems)
02 September, 2025
In a joint demonstration announced September 2, General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems (GA-EMS) and Kepler Communications successfully established bi-directional optical communications between an airborne terminal and a satellite in low Earth orbit. The test, conducted in July using a GA-EMS terminal mounted on a De Havilland Twin Otter aircraft, linked with a Kepler satellite equipped with a Tesat-Spacecom laser terminal. The achievement validates the Space Development Agency’s (SDA) Optical Communications Terminal (OCT) standard, designed to ensure interoperability across vendors within the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture (PWSA).
A General Atomics optical communications terminal, installed on an airborne platform, successfully established a data link with a satellite in low Earth orbit using laser-based transmission. (Credit: General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems)
The airborne terminal completed pointing, acquisition, tracking, and data exchange, marking a milestone in secure, high-throughput communications between air and space platforms. SDA Deputy Director Gurpartap “GP” Sandhoo called the test a breakthrough in building resilient space infrastructure. GA-EMS and Kepler plan further demonstrations, including future launches of GA-75 spacecraft in 2026, evidence of the growing momentum toward multi-domain, laser-based networks for defense and commercial applications.
China’s Military Parade Reveals New ICBMs, Hypersonic Weapons, Drone Arsenal and Space Interceptors
A stealth aircraft is highlighted as part of China's military parade. (Credit: Xinhua/Chen Cheng)
03 September, 2025
China showcased a broad array of advanced missile and drone systems during a military parade in Beijing on September 3, marking the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II. Among the systems revealed were the JL-1 (Jinglei-1) air-launched, long range missile, JL-3 (Julang-3) submarine-launched intercontinental missile, and the DF-61 and DF-31BJ land-based ICBMs, highlighting China’s expanding nuclear triad and global strike capabilities. In the uncrewed systems, the parade also featured stealth drones such as the GJ-11 and CS-5000T, as well as the AJX-002 submarine drone.
An anti-ship missile unit prepares to join the military parade held in Beijing on September 3, 2025. (Credit: Xinhua/Xu Bingjie)
A notable inclusion was the HQ-19 midcourse interceptor, which U.S. analysts believe may have anti-satellite capabilities. A variant of this system was reportedly used in China’s 2007 ASAT test, which generated widespread international concern over space debris. While state media framed the parade as a commitment to peaceful development, the display served as a strategic signal of deterrence and technological maturity in both terrestrial and orbital defense domains.
COMMERCIAL
South Korea’s SpaceEye-T Satellite Leased Under Multi-Year Agreement with Undisclosed European Client
SI Imaging Services' SpaceEye-T satellite view of Dubai, United Arab Emirates. (Credit: Satrec Initiative/SI imaging Services)
02 September, 2025
South Korea’s SI Imaging Services has secured a multi-year contract worth over €10 million (approximately $11.7 million) to lease capacity on its SpaceEye-T satellite to an undisclosed European customer. Launched in March 2025 aboard SpaceX’s Transporter-13, SpaceEye-T offers native 25-centimeter optical resolution which is considered among the highest in commercial Earth observation. There has been a growing demand for Satellite-as-a-Service (Sat-aaS) models, allowing clients to task satellites and receive encrypted, near real-time imagery without owning the hardware.
CEO Moongyu Kim emphasized the platform’s data security, noting that even SI Imaging Services cannot access customer tasking records due to automated deletion protocols. The agreement marks a milestone for South Korea’s space sector, traditionally overshadowed by U.S. and European providers. As global competition intensifies around high-resolution, on-demand imagery, SpaceEye-T’s success signals a shift in the Earth observation landscape, where precision, privacy, and flexible access increasingly define strategic value.
Amazon’s Project Kuiper Secures First Airline Partnership with JetBlue for Satellite-Based In-Flight Wi-Fi Starting in 2027
04 September, 2025
Amazon’s Project Kuiper has secured its first airline partnership, with JetBlue announcing plans to deploy Kuiper-powered in-flight Wi-Fi across approximately 75 aircraft starting in 2027. The move is a shift away from geostationary satellite providers like Viasat, which currently supports JetBlue’s Fly-Fi service, toward low Earth orbit (LEO) systems that promise lower latency and higher bandwidth. Kuiper’s phased array antenna reportedly achieved download speeds exceeding 2 Gbps in recent tests, though performance under full network load remains unverified.
JetBlue cited its longstanding relationship with Amazon, dating back to a 2015 streaming partnership, as a factor in the deal. The announcement follows Amazon’s April agreement with Airbus to integrate Kuiper connectivity into future aircraft catalogs. With only 102 of Kuiper’s planned 3,232 satellites currently in orbit, Amazon faces a regulatory deadline to launch half the constellation by mid-2026. The JetBlue deal intensifies competition with SpaceX’s Starlink, which has already signed multiple airline clients.
South Korea’s KT SAT Partners with AscendArc to Expand Internet Access in Asia-Pacific
AscendArc CEO Chris McLain (right) stands alongside KT SAT CEO Young-soo Seo after finalizing the anchor agreement for a small geostationary communications satellite. (Credit: AscendArc)
04 September, 2025
AscendArc, a U.S.-based satellite startup founded in 2023, has secured its first geostationary satellite order from KT SAT, the satellite arm of Korea Telecom. The deal, announced September 4, marks a strategic partnership aimed at expanding affordable internet access across the Asia-Pacific region, where over 200 million people remain unconnected. AscendArc’s high-throughput satellite, scheduled for launch in 2027, will be positioned in geosynchronous orbit and is designed to deliver up to 20 times lower cost-per-megabit than existing GEO and LEO systems.
CEO Chris McLain, a veteran of Boeing, Lockheed Martin, and SpaceX, emphasized the satellite’s modular, assembly-line design as key to reducing production costs and enabling sovereign satellite ownership. KT SAT CEO Young-soo Seo described the satellite as a cornerstone for regional expansion, citing stagnant fiber infrastructure and high costs as barriers to connectivity.
Spanish Startup Orbital Paradigm Prepares 2025 Reentry Capsule Demo with European Research Payloads
Orbital Paradigm is preparing its KID capsule for a test flight scheduled to take place before the close of 2025. (Credit: Orbital Paradigm)
04 September, 2025
Spanish startup Orbital Paradigm is preparing for its first reentry capsule demonstration, scheduled for late 2025. The KID (Kestrel Initial Demonstrator) capsule, developed in under a year for less than €1 million, will carry payloads for the French robotic space-station startup ALATYR, Leibniz University Hannover (Germany), and an undisclosed third customer. The brief flight will test guidance systems and ceramic thermal protection materials, with data transmitted via Iridium links; no recovery is planned.
KID serves as a subscale prototype for the company’s planned reusable Kestrel capsule, which aims to carry up to 120 kilograms of cargo and remain in orbit for three months. A second subscale mission is slated for 2026, alongside development of the full-scale vehicle. The French space agency, CNES, has committed to be an anchor customer for future missions, including biology and physiology experiments.
Orbital Paradigm positions itself as a transport-focused alternative to biotech-driven competitors like Varda, emphasizing modular design, onboard propulsion, and low-g reentry for sensitive payloads.
China Launches Experimental Shiyan-29 for Space Environment Monitoring while Galactic Energy Launches Ceres-1 with Three Payloads
A Long March-3C rocket lifts off from Xichang Satellite Launch Center, carrying China’s Shiyan-29 experimental satellite into geosynchronous orbit. (Credit: Xinhua via Rokna)
04 September, 2025
China conducted two separate launches on September 4 and 5, advancing both experimental and commercial satellite capabilities. The first, from Xichang Satellite Launch Center, deployed the Shiyan-29 satellite to geosynchronous orbit aboard a Long March 3C rocket with a Yuanzheng-1 upper stage. Developed by the Innovation Academy for Microsatellites under the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shiyan-29 is designed for space environment monitoring and technology validation, using the SECM3000 platform known for its lightweight structure and long lifespan. Western analysts suggest Shiyan satellites often serve dual-use roles, testing sensors, communications, and proximity operations. This launch marks the 592nd mission in the Long March carrier rocket series.
Hours later, commercial firm Galactic Energy launched a Ceres-1 solid rocket from Jiuquan, carrying three satellites: Kaiyun-1 for space traffic monitoring, Yuxing-3 (08) for material testing and remote sensing, and Yunyao-1 (27) for atmospheric profiling via GNSS occultation. The mission also included an on-orbit experimental platform.
GNSS occultation, also known as GNSS radio occultation (GNSS-RO), is a satellite-based remote sensing technique used to measure the Earth's atmosphere with high precision. It works by analyzing how radio signals from Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) satellites, like GPS, Galileo, or BeiDou, are bent or delayed as they pass through the atmosphere and are received by a satellite in low Earth orbit.
Canada’s GHGSat Satellites to Track Methane Leaks for ExxonMobil Operations in North America and Asia
05 September, 2025
ExxonMobil has partnered with Canadian satellite operator GHGSat to monitor methane emissions across its onshore operations in the U.S., Canada, Papua New Guinea, and Indonesia. The arrangement utilizes GHGSat’s fleet of 14 satellites, which can detect emissions at the equipment level with thresholds as low as 100 kg/hr. Data will be integrated into ExxonMobil’s Center for Operations and Methane Emissions Tracking (COMET), established in 2022 to consolidate satellite and ground-based observations.
ExxonMobil states that the initiative aligns with its goal to reduce methane emissions by up to 80% by 2030, following reported reductions since 2016 and changes to flaring practices in the Permian Basin. GHGSat, meanwhile, is developing AI-based analytics and multi-tiered sensing to improve detection and attribution. Methane remains a potent greenhouse gas, roughly 80 times stronger than CO₂ over 20 years.
RESEARCH SPOTLIGHT
Researchers Demonstrate Efficient Oxygen Separation Using Magnets in Microgravity
Oxygen and hydrogen bubbles stream off of electrodes towards magnets (left and right sides) in a microgravity environment. (Credit: Georgia Tech)
Researchers from Georgia Tech, the Center of Applied Space Technology and Microgravity (ZARM) at the University of Bremen, and the University of Warwick have developed a magnet-based system to improve oxygen production in space, addressing a longstanding challenge in crewed missions. Traditional life-support systems rely on bulky centrifuges to separate gas bubbles during electrolysis, a method that is energy-intensive and ill-suited for long-duration missions to the Moon or Mars. The new approach uses magnetic interactions, diamagnetism and magnetohydrodynamics, to guide oxygen and hydrogen bubbles away from electrodes in microgravity, eliminating the need for mechanical spinning.
Tested in microgravity at ZARM’s drop tower in Germany, the system showed a 240% increase in bubble detachment efficiency, significantly boosting electrolysis performance. The technology, first proposed in 2022 by Álvaro Romero-Calvo, now an assistant professor at Georgia Tech, under a NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts grant, is advancing toward suborbital and long-term testing under ESA and German Aerospace Center (DLR) support. If scalable, this method could reduce mass, complexity, and maintenance demands for future spacecraft, offering a more sustainable path to breathable environments beyond Earth.
Fourth Observing Run of Gravitational Wave Detectors Reveals Heaviest Binary Black Holes and Rare Mixed Mergers
Graphical summary of compact stellar remnants detected through gravitational waves and electromagnetic observations, showing mass distributions of black holes and neutron stars. Blue and yellow points represent LIGO-Virgo-KAGRA detections, while red and orange indicate masses measured via traditional telescopes. The chart highlights the growing catalog of mergers in the so-called stellar graveyard, where the heaviest black holes and lightest neutron stars challenge existing models of stellar evolution. (Credit: Aaron Geller / Northwestern / LIGO-Virgo-KAGRA)
An international team led by the University of Glasgow has released new results from the fourth observing run of the LIGO (Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory), Virgo and KAGRA (Kamioka Gravitational Wave Detector) gravitational-wave detectors, doubling the number of known black hole and neutron star mergers. The catalog includes 128 new events, among them the heaviest binary black holes detected to date and two rare black hole–neutron star collisions. These findings expand the known population of compact object mergers and offer insights into stellar evolution, particularly in dense environments where black holes may undergo successive mergers. The data analyzed comes from the observatory run between May 2023 and January 2024, the first nine months of its 18-month 4th operating run (O4).
Visualization of gravitational wave detections from LIGO-Virgo-KAGRA’s first four observing runs, showing the distribution of black hole and neutron star mergers by time, mass, distance, and signal strength. Each colored circle represents an individual event, with size and hue encoding key parameters. Insets highlight clustering patterns across the expanding catalog of compact object collisions. (Credit: Derek Davis / Rhiannon Udall / Caltech / LIGO-Virgo-KAGRA)
When massive stellar remnants collide, they generate ripples in spacetime, called gravitational waves, which are captured by the LIGO, Virgo, and KAGRA observatories operating across the U.S., Europe, and Japan.
“What we’ve observed in the first part of the two-year-long fourth observing run has broadened our understanding of the cosmic graveyard: we’ve seen the heaviest black holes yet.”
The enhanced sensitivity of the detectors—now 25% greater than in previous runs—has enabled clearer measurements and the loudest gravitational-wave signal yet, GW230814. Researchers also aim to refine estimates of the Hubble Constant using distance data from these mergers. While no electromagnetic counterparts were observed this time, upcoming telescopes like Vera Rubin may improve chances of detecting light from future events, deepening our understanding of cosmic expansion and stellar death.
Astronomers Detect Supernova Remnant and Runaway Pulsar Far Above Galactic Plane in Forbidden Stellar Zone
X-ray image showing the neutron star Calvera, marked by the yellow circle, and the surrounding region of diffuse emission under investigation, outlined by the white ellipse. The emitting material has an estimated temperature between 1 and 10 million degrees Celsius. (Credit: E. Greco/INAF)
Astronomers have identified a rare supernova remnant and runaway pulsar system, dubbed Calvera, located over 6,500 light-years above the Milky Way’s galactic plane. This region has long been considered too diffuse for massive star formation, where the conditions required to trigger a supernova and produce a neutron star, i.e. the core of a pulsar, are expected to be exceedingly rare. The pulsar appears to be fleeing the site of a stellar explosion that occurred 10,000 to 20,000 years ago, leaving behind a shell of hot gas and a neutron star emitting intense X-rays.
This discovery challenges assumptions that supernovae and their remnants are confined to dense regions near the galactic disk. Multi-wavelength data from the Low-Frequency Array (LOFAR) radio telescope, the ESA spacecraft XMM-Newton, and other observatories reveal that even in low-density environments, shock waves can trigger plasma emissions and gamma rays if they encounter local clumps of matter.
Calvera’s trajectory and the surrounding gas structure suggest a shared origin, offering new insight into how massive stars might migrate and explode far from their birthplaces. The findings, published in the journal Astronomy & Astrophysics, invite a reevaluation of stellar evolution in the galaxy’s outer reaches.
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