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- Issue 67 | Breaking Space News: Sept 07 - 13, 2025
Issue 67 | Breaking Space News: Sept 07 - 13, 2025
Most Compelling Evidence of Past Life on Mars and Earth's AI-Driven Digital Twin. This Week in Space: China’s Apophis Mission, Water on Ryugu, Black Hole Recoil, NASA Protests, and Kazakhstan Space Updates. Plus: Anduril's Defense Role, Rocket Cargo Delivery, Hypersonic Tracking, Mixed Reality Military Gear, Boeing's 3D Printed Solar Array Substrate, Apex Space's Unicorn Status, Retrofitting OneWeb, D2D Updates, Intense Solar Flares, and More.
Lagrangian Despatch
September 14, 2025 • Estimated Reading Time: 51 minutes
Explorer, welcome back!🚀
As always stunning images and plenty of new updates from commerce, governance and defense in space abound. Click the link below to read the unclipped publication. ↓
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SpaceX Acquires EchoStar Spectrum to Expand Direct-to-Cell Satellite Services; FCC Closes Probe
European Consortium to Begin 5G Direct-to-Device LEO Satellite Test with French Support
Japan’s IHI Partners with UK’s SatVu to Develop Sovereign Thermal Infrared Satellite Constellation
Boeing Develops 3D-Printed Solar Array Substrates to Accelerate Satellite Production
Eutelsat and Skynopy Partner to Retrofit OneWeb Ground Stations for Earth Observation Data
IMAGES
European Southern Observatory Antenna Assembly : ALMA
Technicians assemble a 12-meter or 39-foot antenna dish for the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) in Chile’s high-altitude desert. Part of a 66-dish radio observatory (each either 7 meters/23 feet or 12 m/39 feet in diameter), ALMA peers into cold, distant regions of space to study star and planet formation. The site’s dry air and elevation allow millimeter wavelengths to reach the array with minimal interference, making it one of the most powerful tools in deep-space astronomy. (Credit: ALMA Observatory via X)
Lunar Eclipse From the International Space Station : NASA Astronauts
NASA astronaut Jonny Kim took pictures of the eclipse from the ISS. (Credit: Jonny Kim/NASA via X)
NASA astronaut Zena Cardman captured images of the total lunar eclipse of September 7-8, 2025 from the International Space Station. (Credit: Zena Cardman/NASA via X)
NASA astronaut Zena Cardman captured images of the total lunar eclipse of September 7-8, 2025 from the International Space Station. (Credit: Zena Cardman/NASA via X)
A Stellar Jet : NIRCam, James Webb Space Telescope
NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope captured a rare, immense stellar jet erupting from a massive protostar, weighing as much as about ten of our Suns, in the Sharpless 2-284 nebula, located 15,000 light-years away on the outskirts of the Milky Way. Stretching across 8 light-years, the jet resembles a double-bladed lightsaber and is composed of highly collimated plasma outflows traveling at hundreds of thousands of miles per hour. Webb’s infrared imaging revealed detailed filamentary structures, bow shocks, and knots formed as the jet plows through interstellar dust and gas. The discovery supports the theory that protostellar jets scale with stellar mass, offering new insights into the formation of massive stars in low-metallicity environments. Researchers believe the jet’s symmetry and stability validate core accretion models, challenging previous assumptions about chaotic star formation. This observation not only sheds light on the birth of massive stars but also provides a local analog for conditions in the early universe. (Credit: NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI, Yu Cheng (NAOJ); Image Processing: Joseph DePasquale (STScI))
A Meteor in the Night Sky and the Vera Rubin Observatory : Gemini South
Gemini South, located atop Cerro Pachón in Chile, is one half of the International Gemini Observatory, operated by NSF’s NOIRLab and jointly funded by multiple countries. Alongside its twin in Hawai‘i, Gemini North, the observatory enables full-sky coverage for cutting-edge optical and infrared astronomy. The bright streak across the sky was captured by the Gemini South during a long-exposure observation session. While the stars appear as colorful trails due to Earth’s rotation, the meteor cuts a sharp, singular path through the frame, a transient visitor burning up in Earth’s atmosphere. This image highlights the observatory’s role in time-domain astronomy, where rapid follow-up is key to studying objects that change in seconds or hours. In the background, the newly operational Vera C. Rubin Observatory prepares to scan the southern sky nightly, detecting up to 10 million changes and triggering alerts within minutes. (Credit: International Gemini Observatory/NOIRLab/NSF/AURA/P. Horálek (Institute of Physics in Opava))
Starlink Satellite Over Secretive Chinese Airbase : WorldView Legion Earth-Observation Satellite, Maxar
A SpaceX Starlink satellite streaks across the frame during routine Earth observation, captured by Maxar Technologies’ WorldView Legion satellite as it passed over China’s secretive Dingxin Airbase. The rainbow effect, known as a pan-sharpening spectral artifact, occurred as the imaging system merged high-resolution black-and-white with color data while the Starlink zipped past at orbital velocity. (Credit: Maxar Technologies)
The image was taken on August 21 over the Dingxin Airbase in the Gobi Desert of western China. (Credit: Maxar Technologies)
SCIENCE
China Plans Mission to Observe Apophis Ahead of Historic 2029 Flyby
Asteroid Apophis, measuring 375 meters across, will pass within 32,000 km of Earth on April 13, 2029, closer than geostationary satellites and visible to the naked eye across parts of Europe, Africa, and Asia. ESA and other space agencies plan missions to study how Earth’s gravity alters its orbit, rotation, and surface. (Credit: ESA-Science Office)
09 September, 2025
China unveiled plans for a dual-spacecraft mission to asteroid 99942 Apophis ahead of its close Earth flyby on April 13, 2029, joining a growing international effort to study the near-Earth object during a rare and scientifically valuable encounter. The mission, led by the China National Space Administration (CNSA), may include a surface probe to analyze Apophis’s composition and internal structure, with pre- and post-flyby observations aimed at understanding how Earth’s gravity affects the asteroid’s orbit and rotation. The mission, dubbed CROWN/Apophis, is part of a broader initiative to study near-Earth objects in Venus-like heliocentric orbits.
Apophis, measuring between 375 meters across, will pass just 32,000 kilometers above Earth which is closer than many geostationary satellites. The flyby will be visible to the naked eye across parts of Europe, Africa, and Asia, marking the first time a potentially hazardous asteroid of this size can be observed without telescopes. Once considered a Level 4 impact threat, Apophis has since been ruled out as a collision risk for the foreseeable future, though its orbit will be measurably altered by Earth’s gravitational pull.
Apophis is expected to undergo surface shifts due to Earth’s gravitational influence. China’s spacecraft, one 44 kg probe and an 8 kg CubeSat, will launch as secondary payloads, travel to the Sun-Earth L1 point, and intercept Apophis post-flyby. Instruments include cameras, radar, and Doppler systems to assess surface changes and magnetospheric interactions.
NASA’s OSIRIS-REx, renamed OSIRIS-APEX, is scheduled to rendezvous with Apophis during the flyby to monitor surface changes in real time. ESA’s proposed RAMSES mission with JAXA would intercept the asteroid two months prior to study its response to tidal forces. Scientists anticipate that the flyby could trigger seismic activity, chaotic spin, and surface reshaping, making Apophis a live test case for planetary defense, orbital physics, and rapid-response space technologies.
China’s planned Apophis mission adds another layer to the growing international interest in near-Earth objects, which are increasingly viewed as valuable sites for scientific inquiry, technology testing, and strategic coordination.
Ancient Water Flow on Ryugu’s Parent Asteroid: University of Tokyo Study
Ryugu, seen in close detail, takes its name from a mythical underwater palace in Japanese folklore. Fittingly, new findings suggest it may have harbored water deep within—echoing its legendary namesake in unexpected ways. (Credit: JAXA, UTokyo & collaborators CC-BY-ND)
10 September, 2025
New research conducted by the University of Tokyo, in collaboration with international partners, has revealed that liquid water flowed through the parent body of asteroid Ryugu over a billion years after its formation, far later than previously assumed. This conclusion comes from isotopic analysis of lutetium and hafnium in samples returned by JAXA’s Hayabusa2 mission. Isotopic analysis involves measuring the ratios of different atomic forms of elements to determine the timing and conditions of geological processes.
The evolution of Ryugu: The diagram shows how the researchers think the evolution of Ryugu played out over at least a billion years. (Credit: Iizuka et al. CC-BY-ND)
The study suggests that an impact fractured the parent asteroid, melting buried ice and allowing water to circulate through its interior. This late-stage hydration implies that carbonaceous asteroids may have retained and delivered far more water to early Earth than standard models account for, challenging earlier models that restrict water activity to the solar system’s earliest epochs.
Researchers plan to compare these findings with samples from asteroid Bennu, returned by NASA’s OSIRIS-REx, to assess whether prolonged water retention is common. If confirmed, it could reshape theories about Earth’s primordial water sources and the role of asteroids in planetary habitability.
Potential Evidence of Ancient Life Found in Martian Rock by Perseverance Rover
Leopard Spot Patterns on Cheyava Falls Rock: Perseverance discovered distinct mineral patterns resembling leopard spots on the reddish Cheyava Falls rock in Jezero Crater in July 2024, possibly linked to ancient chemical reactions, billion sof years ago, that could have supported microbial life. However, scientists are considering other explanations as well. (Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS)
10 September, 2025
NASA’s Perseverance rover has identified what scientists are calling a “potential biosignature” in a Martian rock sample collected from Jezero Crater’s ancient riverbed. The sample, dubbed Sapphire Canyon, was extracted from a clay-rich formation known as Bright Angel, where the rover observed mineral patterns, specifically vivianite (hydrated iron phosphate) and greigite (iron sulfide), often associated with microbial activity on Earth. These minerals appear to have formed through redox reactions involving organic carbon, raising the possibility of ancient life.
A composite selfie made of 62 images taken by Perseverance on July 23, 2024, shows the rover near Cheyava Falls, a rock, left of the rover, with features that may relate to ancient microbial life. (Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS)
The Confidence of Life Detection (CoLD) scale, developed by NASA, defines seven distinct levels that represent increasing certainty that a given set of observations may indicate the presence of life. (Credit: NASA)
However, researchers caution that abiotic processes could also explain the findings. The rover’s onboard instruments have reached the limits of in-situ analysis, and definitive conclusions will require laboratory study on Earth. This finding adds to the urgency of NASA’s Mars Sample Return (MSR) mission, which has faced delays, budget overruns, and strategic redesigns. Originally slated for 2033, the MSR timeline now stretches into the 2040s, prompting calls for faster, more cost-effective alternatives.
The discovery adds weight to the hypothesis that Mars may have remained habitable longer than previously thought. Yet without sample return, the biosignature remains speculative, highlighting both the promise and limitations of robotic exploration in astrobiology’s search for extraterrestrial life.
Scientists Measure Black Hole Recoil Velocity and Direction for the First Time - Data Reveals Full 3D, 50 km/s Kick of Merging Black Hole
An artist’s impression of gravitational waves rippling out from a daughter black hole created by a black hole merger. (Credit: Galician Institute of High Energy Physics)
10 September, 2025
For the first time, scientists have fully measured the recoil, or “kick” of a newborn black hole following a merger, using gravitational wave data from the 2019 GW190412 event. Led by the Galician Institute of High Energy Physics (IGFAE), Spain, the study reconstructed the black hole’s three-dimensional motion, revealing that the remnant black hole was ejected at roughly 50 km/s, which is fast enough to escape its host star cluster.
The breakthrough was achieved by analyzing how gravitational waves vary depending on the observer’s position, a method likened to hearing different instruments in an orchestra depending on where one stands. They determined that the kick formed an angle of approximately 28° ± 11° with the system’s orbital angular momentum and 37° ± 12° with the line of sight from Earth. That is to say that it was ejected angled roughly 28° from its orbital axis and 37° from Earth’s line of sight, revealing its full 3D trajectory using gravitational wave data. This directional signal allowed researchers to determine both the speed and trajectory of the black hole, a feat previously thought to require future space-based detectors like LISA or Laser Interferometer Space Antenna.
LISA is a planned space-based observatory designed to detect low-frequency gravitational waves, ripples in spacetime caused by massive cosmic events like merging supermassive black holes or orbiting neutron stars. Unlike ground-based detectors such as LIGO, LISA will consist of three spacecraft flying in a triangular formation, separated by 2.5 million kilometers, trailing Earth in its orbit around the Sun. This configuration allows it to measure incredibly subtle distortions in space caused by gravitational waves that are otherwise undetectable from Earth. It’s a joint mission between the European Space Agency (ESA) and NASA, with a launch currently targeted for the early 2030s.
Beyond technical novelty, the findings open new avenues for studying black hole environments. Recoil measurements may help distinguish real electromagnetic counterparts, such as flares in active galactic nuclei, from coincidental signals, advancing multi-messenger astrophysics.
GOVERNANCE
Kazakhstan Signs $75 Million Satellite Manufacturing Agreements with Nigeria and Democratic Republic of Congo
Signing ceremony for the space investment agreement between the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Digital Development, Innovation and Aerospace Industry. (Credit: Ministry of Digital Development, Innovation and Aerospace Industry of Kazakhstan)
10 September, 2025
Kazakhstan’s national space agency, National Space Agency of the Republic of Kazakhstan or KazCosmos has signed satellite manufacturing agreements with Nigeria and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) valued at up to $75 million, marking a bid to expand its role in the African space sector. The deals, announced September 10, involve the production of Earth observation satellites at Kazakhstan’s facilities, with delivery and integration support for each partner nation. The spacecraft will be built by Galam LLP, a Kazakhstan-based manufacturer owned 72% by the state company Kazakhstan Gharysh Sapary and 27% by Airbus Defence and Space.
Nigeria’s agreement covers the development of a high‑resolution imaging satellite to support agriculture, environmental monitoring, and security applications. The DRC’s contract focuses on a similar platform tailored for natural resource management and infrastructure planning. Both projects include training programs for local engineers, aimed at building domestic capacity in satellite operations.
Kazakhstan is positioning itself as a competitive supplier for emerging space nations, leveraging Soviet‑era infrastructure and lower production costs. This agreement is one of many that hint at a broader trend of African governments seeking diversified partnerships to advance space capabilities beyond traditional suppliers in Europe, Russia, and China.
NASA Employees Protest Proposed Budget Cuts as Congress Moves to Protect Key Missions and Office of Space Commerce Faces 40% Funding Reduction
12 September, 2025
NASA employees and supporters are preparing for a third “Save NASA” protest on Sept. 15 outside the agency’s Washington, D.C. headquarters, opposing proposed FY 2026 budget cuts that would reduce NASA’s overall funding by 24% and science programs by 47%, while eliminating its Office of STEM Engagement. Organized by the NASA Needs Help group and endorsed by the Goddard Engineers, Scientists and Technicians Association, the demonstration follows layoffs, mission wind‑downs, and an Aug. 28 executive order disbanding employee unions at NASA and other agencies. Protesters argue that preemptive compliance with the administration’s budget request, before Congress finalizes appropriations, is already causing lasting damage to programs and workforce expertise.
In parallel, House appropriators have moved to protect several missions targeted for cancellation, including the Chandra X‑ray Observatory and the Mars Sample Return program, by restoring funding to FY 2025 levels in draft spending bills. These measures have yet to pass, leaving their fate uncertain ahead of the Sept. 30 fiscal deadline.
Credit: Office of Space Commerce
Separately, the Department of Commerce has rescinded 40% of the current‑year budget for the Office of Space Commerce, cutting into its $65 million allocation. The reduction will slow industry engagement on the Traffic Coordination System for Space (TraCSS), a civil space traffic management platform now in final testing, though core development will continue. The move comes amid a pending transfer of the office from NOAA to the Commerce Secretary’s office and broader debates over FY 2026 funding, in which the administration has proposed canceling TraCSS entirely.
MILITARY
Blue Origin and Anduril Awarded U.S. Air Force Contracts to Study Point-to-Point Rocket Cargo Delivery
An image of Roadrunner, Anduril’s reusable, autonomous air vehicle with vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL). With modular payload configurations it is designed for high-speed, high-maneuverability missions including surveillance and air defense interception. (Credit: Anduril)
07 September, 2025
The U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) has awarded contracts to Blue Origin ($1.3 million) and Anduril Industries ($1 million) under its Rocket Experimentation for Global Agile Logistics (REGAL) program, which explores point-to-point rocket cargo delivery within one hour. Blue Origin will study modifications to its launch vehicles, including New Glenn, for rapid transport applications. Anduril will focus on designing re-entry systems capable of integrating multiple government payloads.
There has been growing military interest in leveraging commercial launch capabilities for logistics, emergency resupply, and disaster relief. The program builds on prior agreements with Sierra Space and Rocket Lab, and follows Blue Origin’s 2021 cooperative agreement with U.S. Transportation Command.
AFRL cited advances in reusable launch systems and reduced cost-per-pound as drivers for reassessing space-based logistics. The contracts mark the first REGAL awards for Blue Origin and Anduril, both of which are expanding their defense portfolios amid rising demand for rapid, global delivery infrastructure.
Varda, LeoLabs, and Anduril Demonstrate Real-Time Tracking Ahead of Hypersonic Reentry
Varda Space Industries’ W-3 capsule captured during atmospheric reentry. (Credit: Varda Space Industries)
08 September, 2025
Space-life sciences research company Varda Space Industries, along with space domain awareness provider LeoLabs, and defense tech company Anduril Industries have completed a joint demonstration to track and monitor orbital maneuvers ahead of a hypersonic reentry. The demonstration integrated radar data and AI-enabled software for real-time situational awareness. Varda’s W-3 capsule, which reentered Earth on May 13, 2025 executed a series of maneuvers in low Earth orbit. LeoLabs’ Global Radar Network tracked the vehicle, and the data was fed into Anduril’s AI-enabled Lattice platform, which supports distributed sensor fusion and low-latency communications across defense networks.
The demonstration is evidence of emerging capabilities in space domain awareness, particularly for detecting and attributing potentially threatening activity. A follow-on test will use LeoLabs’ mobile Scout radar to monitor future hypersonic reentries, with data again integrated into Lattice for command and control applications. The effort was internally funded and executed in under a week.
The test coincides with growing interest in hypersonic defense under the $175 billion Golden Dome initiative, which envisions rapid detection and interception of high-speed threats. Varda’s capsule, capable of speeds exceeding Mach 25, is positioned as a low-cost, high-cadence testbed for validating hypersonic flight environments.
U.S. Army Modernizes Mixed Reality Combat System: Program Integrates Maxar 3D Terrain Data and Gentex Helmet Systems via Anduril Platform
Credit: Maxar Intelligence
09 September, 2025
Maxar Technologies has joined Anduril Industries as a key partner on the U.S. Army’s Soldier Borne Mission Command–Architecture (SBMC‑A) program, the software and integration backbone for the Army’s next‑generation mixed reality combat system under the Synthetic Training Environment (STE) initiative. SBMC‑A is designed to fuse live, virtual, and constructive training with operational mission systems, giving soldiers a unified, real‑time view of the battlefield.
Under the agreement, Maxar will provide its Precision3D satellite‑derived terrain data (imagery and elevation models), offering sub‑meter accuracy (50 cm resolution which is detailed enough to identify individual vehicles and structures) for realistic, global geospatial environments. Anduril will integrate this data into its Lattice platform, which supports AI‑enabled sensor fusion, simulation, and mission rehearsal. The combination is intended to enhance operational planning, and situational awareness by enabling soldiers to train in realistic digital replicas of operational environments.
Gentex Corporation is working with Anduril to integrate helmet and communications systems for the U.S. Army’s Soldier Borne Mission Command program. (Credit: Gentex)
Meanwhile, advanced protective electronics provider Gentex Corporation will supply integrated helmet and communications systems for the Army’s new heads‑up displays, designed to be incorporated into existing protective gear.
The SBMC‑A effort replaces legacy systems with a scalable architecture capable of rendering diverse terrains, from dense urban areas to remote regions, while linking to live sensor feeds and autonomous systems. The partnership is evidence of broader defense trend of leveraging commercial space‑based imaging and advanced visualization to enhance readiness, situational awareness, and decision‑making in both training and operational contexts.
SpaceX Falcon 9 Deploys First 21 Satellites for U.S. Military’s Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture
A SpaceX Falcon 9 lifts off from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California on Sept. 10, 2025, carrying the SDA Tranche 1 Transport Layer B mission. (Credit: SpaceX)
10 September, 2025
SpaceX has launched the first 21 satellites for the U.S. Space Development Agency’s (SDA) Tranche 1 Transport Layer (T1TL). A Falcon 9 lifted off from Vandenberg Space Force Base on September 10, deploying spacecraft built by York Space Systems. York, Northrop Grumman, and Lockheed Martin are each contracted to supply 42 satellites for this tranche. T1TL will ultimately comprise 126 transport satellites, 28 tracking satellites, and four missile defense demonstration spacecraft, all linked via optical inter‑satellite terminals and Ka‑band communications. Initial operational capability is targeted for 2027, providing regional persistence for tactical data channels such as Link 16 and demonstrating UHF and S‑band communications.
T1TL is part of the SDA’s Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture, a multi‑layered constellation designed to provide global, encrypted communications and persistent regional connectivity for military operations. It is a planned low Earth orbit constellation comprising hundreds of small satellites interconnected through optical links. The network is designed to include seven layers: battle management, custody, deterrence, navigation, missile tracking, transport, and support. The architecture will eventually include hundreds of small satellites linked via optical inter‑satellite communications, refreshed every two years in new “tranches.” The constellation will be operated from SDA Space Operations Centers in North Dakota and Alabama, supported by a global ground network. Monthly launches over the next nine months will complete deployment, reflecting SDA’s two‑year spiral development cycle.
The SDA, established in 2019 to accelerate space acquisition, withheld live payload views during the mission. The Falcon 9’s first stage successfully landed on the droneship Of Course I Still Love You, completing its sixth flight
COMMERCIAL
SpaceX Acquires EchoStar Spectrum to Expand Direct-to-Cell Satellite Services; FCC Closes Probe
08 September, 2025
SpaceX has agreed to acquire EchoStar’s AWS-4 and H-block wireless spectrum licenses in a $17 billion deal, split between cash and SpaceX stock. The transaction includes a long-term commercial agreement enabling EchoStar’s Boost Mobile users to access SpaceX’s next-generation Starlink Direct to Cell service. EchoStar will also receive $2 billion in interest support on its debt through 2027. The sale marks a strategic pivot for EchoStar. Facing regulatory pressure over underused spectrum and financial strain, EchoStar canceled its satellite contract with MDA and will use proceeds to reduce debt, signaling a shift away from building out its own infrastructure.
These mid-band frequencies, centered around 2 GHz, were originally allocated for Mobile Satellite Services (MSS) and offer favorable propagation characteristics for space-to-ground communication. Their relevance lies in enabling direct-to-device (D2D) satellite connectivity, a growing sector where satellites link directly to consumer phones without ground relays.
For SpaceX, the acquisition secures exclusive spectrum to expand its Direct to Cell capabilities, aiming to eliminate mobile dead zones and enhance global coverage. Owning licensed spectrum nationwide also means less reliance on borrowed terrestrial bands and smoother integration with global 5G standards. The acquisition marks a strategic shift: spectrum access is now central to satellite telecom competitiveness, blending orbital infrastructure with terrestrial mobile reach.
Meanwhile, MDA Space was caught off guard by EchoStar’s abrupt cancellation of their satellite contract, according to CEO Mike Greenley. He stated that MDA had already begun work on the satellite and was preparing for full-scale production, making the cancellation both unexpected and financially disruptive.
EchoStar and MDA Space signed their satellite contract on August 1, 2025. The agreement was part of EchoStar’s plan to build a large-scale low Earth orbit (LEO) direct-to-device (D2D) satellite constellation using MDA’s AURORA platform. The contract was valued at approximately $1.3 billion, with options that could have expanded it to $2.5 billion for over 200 satellites. MDA Space’s stock fell sharply following the cancellation. On September 8, 2025, shares dropped by approximately 20%, falling $8.76 to $35.25 on the Toronto Stock Exchange.
EchoStar said that this sale along with a previously announced $23 billion sale to AT&T, is expected to resolve the Federal Communications Commission’s inquiries into its spectrum use. The FCC, led by Chairman Brendan Carr, had opened an investigation and threatened to revoke EchoStar’s licenses after SpaceX alleged the company was under‑utilizing them. Rather than continue to contest the probe, EchoStar opted to sell the licenses, with both transactions still requiring regulatory approval.
European Consortium to Begin 5G Direct-to-Device LEO Satellite Test with French Support
A rendering of the 5G Skytower LEO demonstrator satellite for the U DESERVE 5G project. (Credit: Thales Alenia Space)
08 September, 2025
Europe is advancing multiple satellite-based 5G demonstrations as part of a broader push to reduce dependence on non-European providers like SpaceX. Under France’s 2030 innovation plan, the French space agency, CNES has awarded €31 million to Paris‑based startup UNIVITY and telecom operator TDF to test mmWave 5G connectivity from very low Earth orbit, with prototype satellites expected by 2027 and a full constellation by 2030.
Separately, Thales Alenia Space is leading a consortium that includes Capgemini, Orange, SES, Loft Orbital and Qualcomm, to demonstrate direct-to-device (D2D) 5G using an active antenna payload and a test satellite. It will be compatible with 3GPP 5G Release 17, offering an end-to-end test platform to evaluate 5G NTN/TN system performance and trial IoT use cases. The project called U DESERVE 5G, is also CNES‑backed under France 2030, but it focuses on enabling mobile phones or fixed terminals to connect directly to a satellite without routing via a ground station.
These efforts reflect growing urgency in Europe’s telecom strategy, especially as SpaceX expands its Starlink Direct to Cell service with the latest $19 billion investment. While Europe’s projects remain in early phases, they signal a shift toward sovereign infrastructure and integrated terrestrial–nonterrestrial networks. The goal is not just technical parity, but strategic autonomy in a domain where commercial, civil, and security interests increasingly overlap.
Aechelon's Synthetic Reality Platform, Orbion, Fuses Multisensor Data to Build Earth's AI-Driven Digital Twin: Partners Include ICEYE, BlackSky, and Niantic Spatial
Credit: Aechelon
08 September, 2025
Geospatial tech provider and U.S. defense contractor, Aechelon Technology has launched Project Orbion, a multi-partner initiative to build an AI-enabled digital twin of Earth using real-time satellite imagery, radar intelligence, and synthetic reality visualization. Partners include Niantic Spatial (geospatial reconstruction), ICEYE (space-based radar), BlackSky (high-cadence Earth observation), and Distance Technologies (3D light field displays). The system integrates Aechelon’s Skybeam platform to fuse multisensor data into dynamic 3D models capable of penetrating clouds, smoke, and darkness.
Applications range from disaster response and urban rescue to defense and autonomous system training. A key feature under development is Niantic’s Visual Positioning System (VPS), which enables centimeter-level localization in GPS-denied environments, critical for search-and-rescue missions. ICEYE will provide synthetic aperture radar for all-weather imaging, and BlackSky will add high-cadence Earth observation. The project aims to support dual-use scenarios by training both human operators and AI models on real-world conditions.
Orbion reflects a growing trend toward persistent, high-resolution Earth modeling, where commercial and defense technologies converge to enhance situational awareness and mission planning across domains.
Japan’s IHI Partners with UK’s SatVu to Develop Sovereign Thermal Infrared Satellite Constellation
Credit: SatVu
08 September, 2025
Japan’s heavy-industry manufacturer, IHI Corporation has signed a memorandum of understanding with UK-based SatVu to co-develop a sovereign thermal infrared satellite constellation. The agreement, formalized at the DSEI defense summit in London, initiates feasibility studies and business model evaluations for domestic satellite manufacturing and operations. SatVu, which launched its first HotSat-1 in 2023 and plans two more by 2026, brings high-resolution thermal imaging capabilities used in national security, industrial monitoring, and climate applications.
The collaboration aligns with Japan’s National Defense Strategy and the 2023 Hiroshima Accord, emphasizing bilateral cooperation between Japan and the United Kingdom in space and defense technologies. IHI expects to ensure sovereign control of Earth observation data while expanding its satellite portfolio to include optical, SAR, RF, VDES, infrared, and hyperspectral payloads. The thermal constellation will complement IHI’s existing partnership with ICEYE on SAR satellites, reinforcing Japan’s push for autonomous space infrastructure amid rising geopolitical tensions and growing demand for multi-domain surveillance capabilities.
Boeing Develops 3D-Printed Solar Array Substrates to Accelerate Satellite Production
A rendering of a Millennium Space Systems-built satellite flying Spectrolab solar cells. (Credit: Boeing)
10 September, 2025
Boeing has introduced a 3D-printed solar array substrate that reduces production cycle time by up to six months, representing a 50% improvement over conventional methods. The new approach prints structural features such as harness paths and attachment points directly into each panel, replacing dozens of components and complex bonding steps. Flight-representative hardware has completed engineering tests and is progressing through qualification for customer missions, Boeing reported.
The first arrays will fly Spectrolab solar cells aboard small satellites built by Millennium Space Systems, both subsidiaries of Boeing. The design is scalable from smallsats to Boeing’s 702-class platforms, with market availability targeted for 2026.
Boeing’s introduction of 3D-printed solar array substrates aligns with its ongoing efforts to expand additive manufacturing across its space programs, which currently incorporate over 150,000 printed components. The company is applying this approach to streamline satellite production workflows, including integration of solar technologies, inspection processes, and modular assembly. These changes are intended to reduce manufacturing timelines and support scalability for future satellite constellations, particularly as demand grows for rapid deployment in commercial and defense sectors.
Apex Space Becomes Unicorn as Rendezvous Robotics and Cailabs Raise Capital for In-Orbit Autonomous Assembly and Optical Links
This week, three space infrastructure startups, U.S.-based Rendezvous Robotics and Apex Space, and the French Cailabs, have secured major funding to emerge as key players in the evolving satellite and defense ecosystem.
10 September, 2025
Visualization of Rendezvous Robotics’ modular, autonomously assembling structure operating in orbit. (Credit: Rendezvous Robotics)
Rendezvous Robotics exited stealth with $3 million in pre-seed funding to develop reconfigurable orbital structures using TESSERAE, modular tiles that self-assemble via magnetic docking. Invented by Dr. Ariel Ekblaw and incubated at the Aurelia Institute, the tiles have flown on Blue Origin and the ISS, demonstrating autonomous reconfiguration. Co-founded by Ekblaw with Phil Frank (ex-Nokia) and Joe Landon (ex-Lockheed Martin), the startup expects to scale the technology for large antennas, solar arrays, and defense applications requiring adaptable infrastructure. Rendezvous plans to test its fifth-generation technology aboard the ISS in early 2026, marking its third in-orbit demonstration and a key step toward enabling the assembly of large, mission-tailored structures in space.
Rendering of a base configuration Aries model with different payloads. (Credit: Apex Space)
12 September, 2025
Apex Space, a U.S. spacecraft startup founded in 2022, has reached unicorn status with a $1 billion valuation following a $200 million Series D funding round led by Interlagos, a venture firm founded by former SpaceX finance executives. The company builds satellite buses for commercial and defense payloads, including Earth imaging and missile-tracking sensors.
Existing investors include Andreessen Horowitz, Point72 Ventures, and 8VC. The company claims its new funding will accelerate production by 50% and expand its manufacturing footprint. The Pentagon’s growing interest in space-based defense systems, particularly under the $175 billion Golden Dome missile defense initiative, has intensified demand for rapid satellite deployment. Apex has positioned itself as a potential contributor, though its exact role in Golden Dome remains undefined. The shift toward faster, modular spacecraft reflects broader changes in U.S. space security strategy, as geopolitical competition with China and Russia drives investment in low-Earth orbit constellations for surveillance, deterrence, and missile interception.
12 September, 2025
Meanwhile, French photonics firm Cailabs secured €57 million ($67 million) to scale production of optical ground stations, with backing from the European Investment Bank and defense-focused investors. Cailabs plans to produce up to 50 stations annually by 2027 and expand its portfolio to include 100+ Gbps laser communication systems and transportable units. Its technology has already been used in demonstrations with Kepler Communications and contracted by agencies like the Swedish Space Corporation and Contec.
Together, these companies reflect a shift toward modular, scalable, and dual-use space infrastructure. Rendezvous targets in-orbit adaptability, Apex accelerates spacecraft manufacturing for defense, and Cailabs enhances ground-based optical links, all responding to growing demand for flexible, high-throughput systems in contested and commercial orbital environments.
Eutelsat and Skynopy Partner to Retrofit OneWeb Ground Stations for Earth Observation Data
11 September, 2025
Eutelsat and French startup Skynopy have partnered to repurpose idle Ka-band capacity across OneWeb’s 42 global ground stations for Earth observation data downlinks. The initiative, called Akar, aims to retrofit existing antennas and add Skynopy’s own S-, X-, and Ka-band systems to support real-time, high-throughput connectivity to low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites, expanding the utility of OneWeb’s existing infrastructure beyond broadband connectivity. Skynopy currently operates 30 antennas across 15 sites and claims its network can reduce latency below 20 minutes, compared to the 30-minute minimum typical of legacy X-band systems.
Ka-band downlinks offer speeds up to 10 Gbps per pass, addressing growing data volumes from hyperspectral, radar, and video payloads. The hybrid model mirrors Skynopy’s existing arrangements with Kinéis and other operators, enabling backward compatibility with X-band while facilitating transition to Ka-band.
Eutelsat’s broader strategy has been to diversify OneWeb’s commercial applications following its full acquisition of the LEO operator in 2023. The partnership also follows Eutelsat’s move to divest most of its ground infrastructure to EQT Partners, signaling a shift toward ground-station-as-a-service models. A one-year beta program will begin soon, supported by French government funding.
Satellite communication relies on specific frequency bands to transmit data between orbiting spacecraft and ground stations:
S-band (2–4 GHz) is typically used for telemetry and tracking, offering reliability in poor weather but limited bandwidth.
X-band (8–12 GHz) is common in military and Earth observation missions, balancing moderate data rates with good atmospheric resilience.
Ka-band (26.5–40 GHz) supports much higher data throughput, up to 10 Gbps per pass, but is more vulnerable to rain and signal degradation.
While X-band remains standard in legacy systems, Ka-band is increasingly preferred for modern missions generating large volumes of data, such as radar and hyperspectral imaging.
RESEARCH SPOTLIGHT
Solar Flares Six Times Hotter Than Previously Thought, Reaching Temperatures of Over 60 Million°C / 108 Million°F
This high‑cadence, high‑resolution sequence from the Inouye Solar Telescope, accelerated 100‑fold, shows bright flare ribbons beneath dark, arching coronal loops. The field of view spans an area roughly four Earth‑diameters across. New research led by the University of St Andrews has revealed that solar flares may heat ions in the Sun’s atmosphere to over 60 million degrees Celsius (108 million°F), more than six times hotter than previously estimated. (Credit: NSF/NSO/AURA)
New research led by the University of St Andrews has revealed that solar flares may heat ions in the Sun’s atmosphere to over 60 million degrees Celsius (108 million°F), more than six times hotter than previously estimated. This challenges long-standing assumptions that ions and electrons in solar plasma reach similar temperatures during flare events. The study suggests that magnetic reconnection, a process where magnetic field lines snap and realign, preferentially heats ions far more than electrons, with temperature differences persisting for several minutes.
Credit: University of St. Andrews
This finding offers a new explanation for a decades-old mystery: the unusually broad spectral lines observed in solar flare emissions. Previously attributed to turbulence, the line widths may instead result from the extreme velocities of superheated ions. The implications extend beyond solar physics, calling for revised models of space weather forecasting. If flare energy has been systematically underestimated, current predictions may fall short in anticipating radiation risks to satellites and astronauts. This findings were published in a paper in The Astrophysical Journal Letters.
New Findings Complicate Interpretation of Organic Molecules on Saturn’s Moon Enceladus
Enceladus, imaged by the Cassini spacecraft. (Credit: NASA/JPL/Space Science Institute)
A new study presented at the EPSC–DPS2025 Joint Meeting in Helsinki and conducted at the HUN-REN Institute for Nuclear Research in Hungary suggests that some organic molecules found in Enceladus’s plumes may originate from surface ice chemistry rather than its subsurface ocean. Researchers simulated Enceladus-like conditions by freezing mixtures of water, methane, ammonia, and carbon dioxide to -200°C, then bombarding them with ions to mimic Saturn’s magnetospheric radiation. The resulting reactions produced compounds such as cyanate, ammonium, and amino acid precursors, some of which match molecules previously detected by NASA’s Cassini spacecraft.
Enceladus’s plumes seen spraying up from the tiger stripes. (Credit: NASA/JPL/Space Science Institute)
These findings complicate the interpretation of Cassini’s plume data, which had been widely cited as evidence of a habitable ocean beneath the moon’s crust. While the ocean may still be life-friendly, the study cautions against assuming that plume composition directly reflects subsurface conditions. The challenge of distinguishing between surface-born and ocean-sourced organics still persists, and suggests that future missions will need more targeted sampling strategies to resolve Enceladus’s astrobiological potential.
Despatch Out. 👽🛸
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