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- Issue 72 | Breaking Space News: Oct 12 - 18, 2025
Issue 72 | Breaking Space News: Oct 12 - 18, 2025
Low Earth Orbit Nears Satellite Congestion Tipping Point (Unsurprisingly). New Space Armor Promises Protection Against Debris at 17,000 MPH. This Week in Space: Dark Object Photographed, Record Ocean Swells, Expanding Magnetic Weak Spots, and Indian Citizen Scientists Spot a Massive ORC. Plus JPL Layoffs, EU and US Defense Updates, Impulse’s New Lander, and More.
Lagrangian Despatch
October 19, 2025 • Estimated Reading Time: 52 minutes
Explorer, welcome back!🚀
Welcome, and thanks for joining us this week! We have had a packed week. 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. ↓
Let’s dive in.
Momentus and Solstar Launch $15 Million Collaboration to Advance Space WiFi and Infrastructure
Rocket Lab Expands Japanese Partnerships With Synspective Launch and New Electron Missions for JAXA
K2 Space Targets LEO, MEO, and GTO With 2027 Trinity Multi‑Orbit Satellite Platform Demonstration
Impulse Space Plans Lunar Lander to Deliver Up to 6 Tons of Cargo
Atomic‑6 Unveils Space Armor Tiles to Protect Satellites and Astronauts From Orbital Debris
Dark Matter’s Potential Influence on Light Color Raises New Observational Possibilities
Pulsars Help Trace Ripples in Spacetime from Supermassive Black Hole Mergers
Heavy Water Detected in Planet-Forming Disk Around Young Star
Apollo 17 Samples Offer Clues to Moon’s Early Chemistry and Possible Theia Contributions
PRIMER
Iridium Satellite Constellation
The Iridium satellite constellation is one of the most distinctive communications networks in orbit, designed to provide global voice and data coverage, including in remote oceans, deserts, and polar regions where terrestrial networks cannot reach. Here’s a clear overview:
Origins and Development
Conceived in the late 1980s by Motorola engineers (Bary Bertiger, Ray Leopold, Ken Peterson).
Originally planned for 77 satellites (hence the name “Iridium,” after the element with atomic number 77), but optimized to 66 active satellites in low Earth orbit (LEO).
First launches began in 1997, with the system going operational soon after.
Structure and Operations
66 active satellites arranged in six near‑polar orbital planes (plus spares).
Altitude: about 780 km above Earth.
Each satellite is cross‑linked with four others, creating a mesh network that routes signals across the globe without relying solely on ground stations.
Provides continuous worldwide coverage, including poles — something geostationary satellites cannot achieve.
Applications
Voice and data communications for satellite phones, pagers, and IoT devices.
Widely used in maritime, aviation, defense, disaster response, and remote research.
Supports government and commercial customers, including the U.S. Department of Defense.
Upgrades
The Iridium NEXT program (2017–2019) replaced the original fleet with modern satellites built by Thales Alenia Space.
NEXT satellites support higher data rates and host secondary payloads, such as Aireon’s aircraft tracking system, which provides real‑time global flight monitoring.
In short, Iridium is unique because it’s the only truly global, low‑latency satellite communications network, made possible by its cross‑linked LEO constellation.
Here’s a side‑by‑side comparison of Iridium and Starlink, both low Earth orbit (LEO) constellations but designed for very different missions:
Feature | Iridium | Starlink |
|---|---|---|
Operator | Iridium Communications Inc. (originally developed by Motorola) | SpaceX |
Constellation Size | 66 active satellites (plus spares) | Over 6,000 satellites launched as of 2025, aiming for 12,000+ |
Orbit Altitude | ~780 km | ~550 km (varies by shell) |
Coverage | Truly global, including poles | Near‑global, but limited at extreme polar regions (coverage improving) |
Network Design | Cross‑linked satellites form a mesh, routing signals in space | Satellites connect to ground stations; limited inter‑satellite links being added |
Primary Use | Narrowband voice, text, IoT, and critical low‑data communications | Broadband internet for consumers, businesses, and mobility markets |
Data Speeds | Kilobits per second to low megabits (optimized for reliability, not speed) | 50–250 Mbps typical, with latency ~20–40 ms |
User Equipment | Small satellite phones, IoT modems, maritime/aviation terminals | Phased‑array “Dishy” terminals requiring more power and clear sky view |
Key Customers | Maritime, aviation, defense, emergency response, remote industries | Households, enterprises, schools, ships, planes, rural and underserved communities |
Strengths | Global reach, reliability, works anywhere on Earth, low power | High‑speed broadband, scalable capacity, consumer‑friendly pricing |
Limitations | Low bandwidth, not suited for streaming or heavy data | Requires larger terminals, higher power, not yet fully global at poles |
Takeaway
Iridium is essentially a global safety net: low‑bandwidth but ultra‑reliable, designed for voice, text, and mission‑critical communications anywhere on Earth.
Starlink is a broadband internet service: high‑speed, high‑capacity, but more infrastructure‑intensive and not yet as universally accessible in extreme environments.
Together, they represent two ends of the LEO spectrum: Iridium for always‑on connectivity in any location, and Starlink for high‑speed internet where terrestrial networks fall short.
IMAGES
Mysterious Dark Object, Possible Dark Matter, 10 Billion Light-Years Away
Astronomers have imaged a distant, dark object, X-155031, whose nature remains unclear. Located 12 billion light-years away, it appears unusually compact and opaque, defying classification as a galaxy or black hole. The discovery, made using the James Webb Space Telescope and ALMA, adds to growing evidence that early-universe structures may not conform to current models. Researchers determined that the object has a mass roughly one million times that of the Sun and lies about 10 billion light-years away, dating back to when the universe was just 6.5 billion years old. Remarkably, it is the least massive object ever detected using this gravitational lensing method, by a factor of nearly 100.
This image overlays infrared data (in black and white) with radio emission (in color), revealing a gap in the bright arc on the right. That gap marks the location of the compact, low-mass object, whose presence is inferred through gravitational effects rather than direct light detection.
It was detected through its gravitational effect on surrounding light. It caused a visible distortion, a “pinch” in a luminous radio arc, by bending the path of light from a more distant source behind it. This gravitational lensing allowed astronomers to infer the presence and mass of the object, even though it emits no detectable light itself. Sophisticated modeling algorithms helped reconstruct its influence, revealing its location and compact nature despite its invisibility across optical, infrared, and radio wavelengths. (Credit: Keck/EVN/GBT/VLBA)
A close-up reveals a distortion in the luminous radio arc, where the gravitational influence of the dark object has been modeled using advanced algorithms. The object itself appears as a white spot at the arc’s pinch point, yet remains undetectable across optical, infrared, and radio wavelengths.
What makes it “dark” is its extreme absorption of light across multiple wavelengths, suggesting it’s either heavily shrouded in cosmic dust or composed of material that doesn’t emit or reflect light in expected ways. (Credit: Keck/EVN/GBT/VLBA)
Mazartagh Ridge Meets the Hotan River, China : Operational Land Imager-2 (OLI-2) on Landsat 9
In western China’s Tarim Basin, Landsat 9 captured a striking Y-shaped convergence of sand, rock, and glacial meltwater. The Mazartagh ridge, rich in iron and gypsum, acts as a natural barrier, reshaping dune fields and trapping sediment. The Hotan River, fed by the Kunlun Mountains, sustains vegetation in one of Earth’s driest deserts. This intersection of geology and hydrology also carries nephrite jade, linking the site to Silk Road trade and Tibetan-era fortifications. From orbit, the landscape reveals how wind, water, and mineral flows shape both terrain and human history. (Credit: NASA Earth Observatory images by Lauren Dauphin, using Landsat data from the U.S. Geological Survey)
In this image, Landsat 9 reveals the Mazartagh Ridge (running horizontally along the center of the image) rising around 600 feet (180 meters) above the surrounding sands, acting as a natural barrier against the relentless winds that sweep China's Takla Makan Desert. The Hotan River runs vertically along the right of the image. (Credit: NASA Earth Observatory images by Lauren Dauphin, using Landsat data from the U.S. Geological Survey)
A Part of ALMA's (Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array) 66-Antenna Radio System, Atacama Desert, Chile
Under the shadow of Chile’s Licancabur volcano, ALMA’s antennas scan the cold universe from the high-altitude Chajnantor Plateau. Operating at millimeter wavelengths invisible to the human eye, the array probes star-forming clouds, planet-forming discs, and distant galaxies. This image shows part of ALMA’s 66-antenna system, arranged to simulate a single large telescope through interferometry. The site’s dry climate and elevation, 5,000 meters above sea level—are critical for minimizing atmospheric interference. As commercial and defense satellites crowd low Earth orbit, ground-based observatories like ALMA remain vital for deep-space observation and scientific continuity. (Credit: Y. Villalon/ESO)
SCIENCE
Satellites Record Largest Ocean Swells Ever Observed from Space
During Storm Eddie, satellites recorded ocean waves nearing 20 meters—the highest ever measured from space. These swells, acting as storm messengers, can carry destructive energy across oceans even without landfall. (Credit: ESA/Planetary Visions)
12 October, 2025
Satellite data from ESA’s Surface Water and Ocean Topography (SWOT) mission and other Earth-observing platforms that include SARAL, Jason-3, Copernicus Sentinel-3A and -3B, Copernicus Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich, CryoSat and CFOSAT, have captured the largest ocean swells ever recorded from space, offering new insights into how storms propagate energy across vast distances. During Storm Eddie in December 2024, waves reached nearly 20 meters in the open Pacific, radiating across 24,000 km to the tropical Atlantic. These swells, once thought to distribute energy broadly, were found to concentrate power in shorter, high-energy waves, challenging long-held assumptions about wave dynamics.
Models also highlight Storm Hercules in 2014, which generated 23-meter waves that damaged coastlines from Morocco to Ireland. (Credit: ESA/Planetary Visions)
The findings, published in PNAS, suggest that dominant storm waves carry more energy than previously modeled, prompting revisions to global wave forecasts. By combining radar altimetry and wide-swath imaging, satellites now track wave origin, height, and direction with unprecedented precision. This data could improve coastal hazard prediction as climate variability intensifies. While rare, such storms, like Hercules in 2014 which produced 23-metre waves, emphasize the need for refined models linking wave behavior to climate and seabed conditions.
Satellites Detect Expanding Weak Spot in Earth’s Magnetic Field Over South Atlantic
Drawing on 11 years of data from ESA’s Swarm satellites, scientists report that the South Atlantic Anomaly, a weak zone in Earth’s magnetic field, has expanded since 2014. (Credit: ESA (Data source: Finlay, C.C. et al., 2025))
The weak zone in Earth’s magnetic field has expanded by an area nearly half the size of continental Europe. (Credit: ESA (Data source: Finlay, C.C. et al., 2025))
13 October, 2025
Recent measurements from the European Space Agency’s Swarm satellites show that the South Atlantic Anomaly (SAA), a weak region in Earth’s magnetic field stretching from South America to southern Africa, has expanded significantly since 2014, growing by an area nearly half the size of continental Europe. The anomaly, first identified in the 19th century, exposes satellites and spacecraft passing overhead to higher levels of radiation, increasing the risk of hardware malfunctions, data corruption, and even temporary blackouts.
The shifting nature of Earth’s magnetic field: In the northern hemisphere, two strong-field regions stand out, one over Canada and another over Siberia. Since Swarm’s launch in 2013, the Canadian region has weakened while the Siberian region has grown stronger. (Credit: ESA (Data source: Finlay, C.C. et al., 2025))
The Swarm mission, which has provided the longest continuous record of Earth’s magnetic field from space (11 years), reveals that the anomaly is not uniform. A particularly rapid weakening has been detected southwest of Africa since 2020, linked to unusual “reverse flux patches” at the boundary between Earth’s liquid outer core and mantle. These regions redirect magnetic field lines back into the core, undermining local field strength.
The magnetic field is generated by the motion of molten iron in Earth’s liquid outer core. This movement creates electric currents, which in turn produce magnetic field lines that extend outward and shield the planet. Normally, magnetic field lines flow outward from the core and loop around the planet. A reverse flux patch is a localized region at the core–mantle boundary where the field lines bend back inward instead of extending outward. Think of it as a “leak” or “eddy” in the magnetic field, where the usual outward flow is disrupted. When field lines are redirected back into the core, the protective strength above that region decreases. Over time, clusters of these patches can erode the field locally, creating weak spots like the South Atlantic Anomaly.
While the SAA poses operational challenges for satellites, scientists emphasize that Earth’s magnetic field is dynamic, with some regions strengthening even as others weaken. For example, the field over Siberia has grown stronger in recent years, offsetting declines elsewhere. Researchers caution that the anomaly does not signal an imminent pole reversal, but its evolution shows us the importance of long-term monitoring. As satellite reliance grows, understanding these shifts is critical for both space operations and navigation systems.
Citizen Science in India Helps Identify Most Powerful Odd Radio Circle Yet Detected in Deep Space
An artistic visualization of the rare twin‑ring Odd Radio Circle (RAD J131346.9+500320), expanding after an explosive galactic event. (Credit: Hemant Baghela, Ananda Hota, RAD@home Astronomy Collaboratory (India))
14 October, 2025
Astronomers at the University of Mumbai have identified the most distant and powerful “odd radio circle” (ORC) yet observed, adding to a class of mysterious cosmic structures first detected only six years ago. The newly catalogued system, RAD J131346.9+500320, lies at a redshift of ~0.94, when the universe was about half its current age. ORCs are vast, faint rings of radio emission, often 10 to 20 times the size of the Milky Way, surrounding galaxies and visible only at radio wavelengths. Their origins remain debated, with hypotheses ranging from shockwaves triggered by black hole mergers to superwinds driven by star formation.
Optical RGB image from the Legacy Surveys with red radio emission from the LOFAR Two-Metre Sky Survey (LoTSS), highlighting the odd radio circle RAD J131346.9+500320. (Credit: RAD@home Astronomy Collaboratory (India))
This discovery, published in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, is notable not only for its scale but also for its twin-ring structure, a feature seen in only one other ORC. It was identified through the RAD@home citizen science platform in India (founded by Dr. Hota), working with data from Europe’s LOFAR telescope. The collaboration also uncovered two other giant radio-emitting galaxies, suggesting ORCs may be part of a broader family of plasma structures shaped by jets and winds in dense galactic environments. Upcoming facilities like the Square Kilometre Array are expected to expand the census, offering a clearer picture of how such enigmatic rings form and evolve.
GOVERNANCE
Study Warns Low Earth Orbit Nears Satellite Congestion Tipping Point
13 October, 2025
A new study warns that low Earth orbit (LEO) is nearing a congestion tipping point. The number of active satellites has nearly doubled in just six years, rising from about 13,700 in 2019 to more than 24,000 by early 2025. Much of this growth comes from commercial megaconstellations, which now account for the majority of new deployments. The European Space Agency’s 2025 Space Environment Report also notes that more than 36,000 tracked debris objects larger than 10 cm are already in orbit, with hundreds of thousands of smaller fragments posing additional risks. According to Starlink’s latest report filed to the U.S. Federal Communications Commission, in the six month period up to the end of May 2025 Starlink satellites performed 144,404 conjunction risk mitigation maneuvers, an increase of about 200% from the previous six months.
Researchers warn that the rapid increase in traffic is pushing orbital environments toward a critical threshold, raising the risk of collisions and long-term debris buildup. Collision‑avoidance maneuvers have increased sevenfold since 2019, underscoring the mounting strain on operators. While current operations remain manageable, the study suggests that without stronger international coordination, LEO could face cascading failures akin to the Kessler Syndrome, where one collision triggers a chain reaction of debris impacts.
The findings shed light on the gap between technological capability and governance. Launch costs continue to fall, and satellite lifespans are shortening, accelerating deployment rates. Yet regulatory frameworks for deorbiting, debris mitigation, and traffic management remain fragmented. The study echoes recent calls from space agencies and industry groups for clearer norms around satellite deorbiting, tracking, traffic management, and binding global standards and improved situational awareness to ensure LEO remains viable for communications, Earth observation, and science. Without such measures, orbital sustainability could be compromised for decades.
NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory Announces Layoffs: 550 Employees and 40 Contractors Impacted
The Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California is a NASA‑funded research and development center operated by Caltech. (Credit: NASA/JPL‑Caltech)
13 October, 2025
NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) has announced a significant workforce reduction, cutting approximately 550 employees and 40 contractors across technical, business, and support roles. The decision, described by JPL leadership as part of a broader “realignment,” follows months of budget uncertainty tied to the Mars Sample Return (MSR) program, which has faced delays and cost overruns. JPL Director Dave Gallagher emphasized that the restructuring is intended to create a leaner organization focused on core technical strengths, fiscal discipline, and competitiveness in an evolving space sector.
The layoffs, representing nearly 8% of JPL’s staff, mark one of the lab’s largest workforce adjustments in decades. While leadership stressed that the move is not connected to the ongoing U.S. government shutdown, the timing tells another story: the vulnerability of federally funded research centers to shifting political and budgetary priorities. Analysts note that the cuts could slow progress on flagship missions, particularly MSR, while also affecting JPL’s capacity to pursue new projects.
MILITARY
US Military Clears Higher Launch Rate as SpaceX Deploys 21 Lockheed Martin Satellites for Warfighter Space Architecture
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched 21 Lockheed Martin-built data transport satellites for the Space Development Agency from Vandenberg Space Force Base, California. (Credit: SpaceX)
15 October, 2025
The U.S. Space Development Agency (SDA) has advanced its Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture (PWSA) with the launch of 21 Lockheed Martin–built satellites aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 from Vandenberg Space Force Base. This marks the second deployment of the Tranche 1 Transport Layer, following September’s launch of 21 York Space Systems satellites. Tranche 1 will eventually comprise 154 spacecraft, designed to form a resilient, low Earth orbit mesh network for secure military communications and data transport.
Lockheed Martin, awarded a $700 million contract in 2022, is producing 42 satellites using buses from Terran Orbital. Equipped with optical inter-satellite links, the spacecraft are intended to extend the reach of the military’s Link 16 tactical network, with U.S. Indo-Pacific Command slated as the first operational user. Ground control hubs at Grand Forks Air Force Base, North Dakota and Redstone Arsenal, Alabama will oversee operations. Testing and “warfighter immersion” are expected within six months, as SDA prepares complementary launches of 28 missile warning and tracking satellites built by Northrop Grumman and L3Harris to integrate into the Pentagon’s planned “Golden Dome” missile defense architecture.
These deployments illustrate the rapid pace at which the SDA is fielding capabilities. By relying on smaller, commercially derived satellites launched in batches, the agency is pursuing a strategy of resilience through proliferation—accepting higher turnover and shorter lifespans in exchange for global coverage, redundancy, and faster integration into military operations.
Meanwhile, the U.S. military has approved SpaceX to conduct up to 100 Falcon rocket launches annually from California’s Vandenberg Space Force Base, a sharp increase from previous limits. Vandenberg’s location makes it well suited for polar and sun‑synchronous orbits, which are increasingly in demand for Earth observation and defense applications. The decision reflects growing demand for national security, commercial, and civil space missions, as well as the Pentagon’s reliance on rapid, repeatable launch cadence.
Officials cited the need to support a surge in military, civil, and commercial missions, particularly as the Space Development Agency and other defense programs expand proliferated satellite constellations in low Earth orbit. While SpaceX’s role expands within the U.S. launch infrastructure, this approval also raises questions about long‑term range capacity, environmental impacts, and balancing access for other providers.
Viasat Expands Role in US Defense With Next‑Gen Command and Control Tech, Wins Contract for Secure Satellite Design
Credit: Viasat
16 October, 2025
With the growing convergence of terrestrial and orbital communications, Viasat is positioning itself at the intersection of U.S. Army modernization and U.S. Space Force satellite resilience initiatives. At the 2025 Association of the United States Army (AUSA) meeting, the company showcased technologies supporting the Army’s Next-Generation Command and Control (NGC2) initiative. These include the Mobile Network Terminal, designed to connect across different satellite orbits, from LEO to GEO, and the Quicksilver free-space optical terminal, that provides fast, hard‑to‑detect data links even in areas where communications are under threat. The emphasis is on enabling on-the-move, resilient connectivity for decision-making in fast-paced battle conditions.
Recently, Viasat was awarded an initial design contract by the U.S. Space Force under the Protected Tactical SATCOM‑Global (PTS‑G) program, a multi‑billion‑dollar effort to strengthen the resilience of military satellite communications. The program, managed by Space Systems Command, aims to deploy a proliferated constellation of smaller geosynchronous satellites capable of withstanding jamming and electronic warfare threats. Viasat is one of five companies selected for Delivery Order 1, part of a larger $4 billion IDIQ contract that will shape the future of secure defense communications.
Under this award, Viasat will develop a dual‑band X/Ka‑band satellite and anchor station architecture, incorporating telemetry, command, cybersecurity, and network operations. The design phase will run seven months, culminating in a technical review and demonstration. First launches are projected for 2028, with operational service expected soon after. The award positions Viasat as a potential end‑to‑end satellite manufacturer, as defense planners seek to integrate, flexible communications architectures spanning ground, air, and space domains.
EU Unveils Defense Readiness Roadmap With Flagship Projects on Drones, Air, and Space Security
16 October, 2025
The European Commission has unveiled a Defense Readiness Roadmap aimed at strengthening the bloc’s ability to deter threats and respond to aggression by 2030, with a particular focus on Russia. The plan outlines four flagship projects: the European Drone Defense Initiative (previously known as the “drone wall”, ), the Eastern Flank Watch (meant to "fortify the EU's Eastern borders across land, air and sea"), the European Air Shield, and the European Space Shield. Each will be led by a member state and supported by the Commission, reflecting a push to coordinate efforts on projects too large for individual countries while preserving national sovereignty.
The roadmap responds to recent drone incursions over EU territory and broader concerns about hybrid threats along the eastern border. It also emphasizes support for Ukraine, described as integral to Europe’s security architecture. Coordination with NATO remains central, with additional initiatives on military mobility and defense industry modernization expected later this year. The effort is one in a number of Europe’s attempts to close capability gaps quickly while balancing urgency with long‑term industrial capacity. Approval of the flagship initiatives, along with decisions on project leadership, will rest with the heads of the EU’s 27 member states.
Planet Awarded $12.8 Million NGA Luno‑B Contract for AI Maritime Surveillance
The new contract highlights Planet's role as a commercial partner in defense intelligence. SkySat image of the HMAS Stirling, Royal Australian Navy Base, Perth, Western Australia captured on July 25, 2025. (Credit: Planet Labs)
16 October, 2025
Planet has been awarded the Luno‑B contract by the U.S. National Geospatial‑Intelligence Agency, marking a continuation of the agency’s effort to integrate commercial satellite data and artificial intelligence into defense intelligence workflows. The task order, known as Advanced Analytics for Maritime Operations and Reconnaissance (AAMOR), focuses on applying artificial intelligence to satellite imagery for maritime domain awareness. Working with partner SynMax, Planet will provide vessel detection and monitoring capabilities across the Asia‑Pacific region, an area of growing strategic concern.
The agreement builds on earlier NGA contracts with Planet and focuses on combining high‑resolution Earth observation imagery with machine learning tools to automate the detection of global changes, from infrastructure development to environmental shifts. The initial award is valued at $12.8 million, part of a broader $200 million indefinite‑delivery, indefinite‑quantity framework that multiple companies will compete under.
For the NGA, the contract reflects a broader strategy of accelerating analysis by leveraging commercial innovation. Traditional intelligence pipelines often struggle with the sheer volume of imagery generated daily, and AI‑enabled solutions are seen as a way to deliver faster, more actionable insights to decision‑makers. For Planet, the award reinforces its dual role as both a commercial data provider and a government partner. More broadly, the deal again illustrates how defense agencies are increasingly dependent on private space companies to supply scalable, data‑driven intelligence capabilities.
COMMERCIAL
Momentus and Solstar Launch $15 Million Collaboration to Advance Space WiFi and Infrastructure
13 October, 2025
In-space infrastructure provider, Momentus and space-based connectivity company Solstar Space have signed a three‑year reciprocal services agreement valued at up to $15 million, combining in‑space logistics with advanced communications to expand low Earth orbit capabilities. Under the deal, Momentus will integrate Solstar’s Deke Space Communicator/Wi-Fi system (inter‑satellite relay and space‑to‑ground connectivity systems) into its Orbital Service Vehicles, while Solstar will leverage Momentus’ launch, payload deployment, and on‑orbit services. The partnership aims to address persistent gaps in space communications, which often rely on legacy systems dating back decades.
Traditionally, satellites can only connect when passing over ground stations, leaving long gaps in coverage. Deke aims to close this gap by routing signals through the Iridium satellite constellation, enabling continuous two‑way contact with payloads. The system, hardened for space, builds on Solstar’s decade of work in orbital WiFi, including a 2018 demonstration that supported the first commercial tweet from above the Kármán line. Real‑time connectivity could improve rendezvous and docking operations, reduce spacecraft wiring, and enhance satellite control. A first demonstration is planned for February 2026, when Solstar’s hardware will fly aboard a Momentus mission.
The collaboration is positioned to support missions requiring continuous connectivity, including intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance, in‑space assembly and manufacturing, and rendezvous and docking operations. The agreement follows a broader industry trend toward pairing logistics and communications to deliver end‑to‑end orbital infrastructure.
Rocket Lab Expands Japanese Partnerships With Synspective Launch and New Electron Missions for JAXA
An animation showing the payload deployment for Synspective’s seventh StriX synthetic aperture radar satellite. (Credit: Rocket Lab via X)
13 October, 2025
Rocket Lab has deepened its ties with Japan’s space sector through two parallel developments this month: a new contract with the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and the successful launch of another commercial Earth‑observation satellite for Synspective.
On October 14, Rocket Lab’s Electron vehicle lifted off from Launch Complex 1 in New Zealand, deploying Synspective’s seventh StriX synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellite. Branded “Owl New World,” the mission marked the first of a new generation of StriX spacecraft designed to deliver higher‑frequency, high‑resolution imaging for disaster response, national security, and environmental monitoring. To accommodate the satellite’s wider frame, Rocket Lab introduced a modified “arrowhead” payload fairing. The company has now launched all seven of Synspective’s satellites to date and is contracted for 21 more missions before the decade’s end, underscoring its role as the constellation’s sole launch provider.
Credit: Rocket Lab
JAXA’s RAISE-4 satellite will launch on a Rocket Lab Electron mission. (Credit: JAXA)
In parallel, JAXA confirmed it has ordered two dedicated Electron launches under its Innovative Satellite Technology Demonstration Program. The first, scheduled for December 2025, will carry the RAISE‑4 satellite to test eight experimental technologies. A second mission in 2026 will deploy eight small spacecraft, including an ocean monitoring satellite, educational small sats, a demonstration satellite for ultra-small multispectral cameras, and a deployable antenna that can be packed tightly using origami folding techniques and unfurled to 25 times its size.
K2 Space Targets LEO, MEO, and GTO With 2027 Trinity Multi‑Orbit Satellite Platform Demonstration
K2 Space's manufacturing facility in Torrance, California. (Credit: K2 Space)
14 October, 2025
Satellite bus maker, K2 Space has unveiled plans for its “Trinity” mission, a 2027 demonstration designed to validate the company’s multi‑orbit satellite platform. The mission will launch three spacecraft aboard a dedicated SpaceX Falcon 9, with deployments across low Earth orbit (LEO), medium Earth orbit (MEO), and geostationary transfer orbit (GTO). The effort is intended to prove that a single satellite bus can operate effectively in multiple orbital regimes, a departure from the industry’s norm of tailoring designs to specific altitudes.
Trinity follows K2’s Gravitas mission, scheduled for 2026, which will test the firm’s 20‑kilowatt electric propulsion system and carry both U.S. government and commercial payloads. Gravitas is also expected to support SES in evaluating software‑defined payloads and survivability in MEO’s high‑radiation environment. K2 argues that shifting constellations from LEO to higher orbits could reduce overall system costs by requiring fewer satellites for global coverage. With $180 million in venture funding and $50 million in contracts, the company is positioning its “Mega” class bus as a flexible, radiation‑hardened platform for both commercial and national security applications.
Impulse Space Plans Lunar Lander to Deliver Up to 6 Tons of Cargo
Impulse Space envisions a lunar delivery system that integrates its Helios tug with a yet‑to‑be‑developed lander. (Credit: Impulse Space)
14 October, 2025
Impulse Space, founded by former SpaceX propulsion chief Tom Mueller, is expanding its ambitions in cislunar logistics with a proposed lunar lander capable of delivering up to 6 metric tons of cargo annually to the Moon. The company plans to pair its Helios high‑energy kick stage with the new lander, enabling payload deliveries without the need for on‑orbit refueling. Depending on mission profile, the architecture could deliver around 3 tons in a single flight, with the goal of scaling to two missions per year by the late 2020s. The company emphasizes a modular architecture and high‑efficiency propulsion to support both commercial and government customers seeking access to the lunar surface. Its design aims to reduce mission costs by maximizing delivered mass, a critical factor for science, exploration, and eventual resource utilization.
The lander is designed to fill what Mueller describes as a “critical gap” in lunar transport: payloads between 0.5 and 13 tons. This range is too large for the small robotic landers flying under NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) program, yet too small for the forthcoming human‑rated landers being developed for Artemis. Potential customers include space agencies and commercial operators seeking to deploy rovers, power systems, communications relays, or scientific instruments.
With this new lander, Impulse is positioning itself as a mid‑tier cargo provider in the emerging lunar economy. If successful, the company could enable more frequent and cost‑effective deliveries of infrastructure critical to sustained lunar presence, from disaster‑resilient communications to surface mobility. As NASA and international partners focus on crewed Artemis missions, private firms are racing to establish themselves as the backbone of logistics and infrastructure in cislunar space.
China’s Space Pioneer, UAE’s e&, Space42, Polish Scanway Space and Germany’s HyImpulse Announce Major Funding and Partnership Moves
Europe’s small‑launch sector and Asia’s satellite ecosystem both saw significant developments this month.
14 October, 2025
China’s commercial launch boom continues, with Space Pioneer raising $350 million to expand production capacity. The funding is another evidence of Beijing’s push to cultivate private launch providers capable of competing with U.S. and European firms, intensifying price and cadence pressures across the global market.
Meanwhile, the Middle East is positioning itself in next‑generation connectivity. UAE telecom operator e& signed an MoU with Space42 to advance direct‑to‑device (D2D) satellite services through their Equatys joint venture with Viasat. The initiative aims to integrate 5.5G terrestrial and satellite networks under a 3GPP NTN framework, promising seamless smartphone and IoT connectivity across 180 markets.
15 October, 2025
In parallel, Poland’s Scanway Space is expanding its global footprint with contracts in both Europe and Asia. The company secured a €500,000 ESA ($560,000 USD) award to provide an optical instrument and data‑processing system for a 2026 lunar mission. That payload, developed in partnership with Intuitive Machines in the U.S., will map lunar minerals such as ilmenite, positioning Scanway as one of the first Polish firms to contribute directly to lunar resource prospecting. This is also its first American contract, supplying a multispectral telescope for lunar imaging. In parallel, it signed a €9 million ($10.1 million USD) deal with a South Asian operator to deliver high‑resolution telescopes for an Earth‑observation constellation through 2027. The contract, the largest in its history, will generate revenue exceeding half of its 2024 turnover. These wins mark Scanway’s transition from a niche optics supplier to a systems integrator with growing international reach.
HyImpulse launched their suborbital SR75 rocket on 3 May 2024 from Koonibba, Australia. (Credit: ESA)
17 October, 2025
In Germany, HyImpulse secured €45 million ($52.5 million) in fresh funding, combining equity and institutional support to accelerate work on its SL1 orbital rocket, slated to carry up to 600 kilograms to low Earth orbit by 2027. The company previously tested its SR75 suborbital vehicle in 2024 and plans a commercial suborbital flight in 2026. HyImpulse is betting on hybrid propulsion using paraffin‑based fuel, which it argues is safer and cheaper than conventional liquid engines, though less efficient. It is one of three German firms, alongside Isar Aerospace and Rocket Factory Augsburg, vying to deliver the country’s first private orbital launch.
Atomic‑6 Unveils Space Armor Tiles to Protect Satellites and Astronauts From Orbital Debris
Atomic‑6 has unveiled Space Armor tiles, a new composite material designed to protect spacecraft and astronauts. The tiles are engineered to resist fragmentation, shielding against orbital debris while minimizing the creation of secondary debris that could threaten other satellites. (Credit: Atomic-6)
16 October, 2025
A new approach to orbital safety is emerging as companies seek to mitigate the growing threat of space debris. Atlanta‑based Atomic‑6 has introduced a composite material, branded as Space Armor Tiles, designed to shield both satellites and astronauts from high‑velocity impacts. The tiles combine carbon and ceramic fibers in a lightweight structure that the company claims can withstand collisions with debris traveling at speeds up to 17,000 miles per hour. Unlike traditional Whipple shields, which rely on multiple layers of aluminum, the new composite is intended to offer comparable or greater protection at reduced mass, a critical factor for spacecraft design.
The technology is being marketed for use on critical communications satellites as well as potential integration into extravehicular activity suits. While Atomic‑6 has yet to demonstrate the system in orbit, laboratory testing suggests improved resilience against micrometeoroids and orbital fragments. This marks a major development as congestion in low Earth orbit intensifies, and private firms race to provide protective solutions that balance cost, weight, and reliability.
RESEARCH SPOTLIGHT
Dark Matter’s Potential Influence on Light Color Raises New Observational Possibilities
This composite image of the Bullet Cluster, formed by the collision of two galaxy clusters, combines data from NASA’s Hubble and Chandra observatories with the Giant Magellan Telescope. Pink regions trace normal matter, primarily hot gas, while blue areas mark the gravitational lensing signature of dark matter, which does not emit or absorb light. The spatial separation between visible and lensing components offers one of the most direct observational clues to dark matter’s existence and behavior. (Credit: X-ray: NASA/CXC/CfA/M. Markevitch; Optical and lensing: NASA/STScI, Magellan/U. Arizona/D. Clowe; Lensing map: ESO WFI)
New research from the University of York suggests that dark matter, long considered invisible, might subtly tint light red or blue as it passes through regions where the substance is present. This challenges the prevailing assumption that dark matter and light do not interact. The study proposes that indirect particle connections, such as through the Higgs boson or top quark, could allow light to pick up a faint “fingerprint” depending on the type of dark matter encountered. If confirmed, this effect could offer a new observational pathway for studying dark matter, which until now has only revealed itself through gravitational influence.
Researchers argue that next-generation telescopes might detect these color shifts, potentially narrowing the search for dark matter candidates like WIMPs, axions, or dark photons. The research is published in the journal Physics Letters B.
Pulsars Help Trace Ripples in Spacetime from Supermassive Black Hole Mergers
In the Crab Nebula, a fast-spinning neutron star (visible as a white dot) drives the energetic structures captured by Chandra. The inner X-ray ring marks a shock boundary where matter and antimatter flow from the pulsar. Jets from its poles extend perpendicularly, while high-energy particles brighten the outer ring and create a diffuse glow. The nebula’s outer filaments, fingers, loops, and bays, likely result from magnetic confinement of these particles. (Credit: Chandra X-ray Observatory)
Astronomers are refining techniques to detect ultra–low-frequency gravitational waves (ripples in spacetime caused by massive cosmic events such as supermassive blackholes colliding and merging in different galaxies), by monitoring pulsars. Pulsars are the remnants of collapsed stars that rotate rapidly, emitting highly regular beams of radiation from their magnetic poles. As these beams sweep past Earth, they appear as regular radio pulses. Notably, pulsars are exceptionally stable timekeepers, among the most precise known. Even slight irregularities in their pulse timing can indicate disturbances in spacetime or nearby gravitational influences.
Recent studies suggest that overlapping waves from supermassive black hole binaries may produce detectable “beats” in pulsar signals, offering clues to the wave sources. The international effort, involving collaborations like NANOGrav and the European Pulsar Timing Array, builds on 2023 findings that hinted at a stochastic gravitational-wave background. Researchers now aim to distinguish whether these signals stem from ancient cosmic inflation or nearby black hole mergers. If successful, pulsar timing arrays could become a key tool for probing the universe’s hidden structure, complementing observatories like LIGO and Virgo, which detect higher-frequency waves. The findings have been published in the Journal of Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics JCAP.
Heavy Water Detected in Planet-Forming Disk Around Young Star
Illustration showing how both regular and heavy water originate in giant molecular clouds and become part of planet-forming disks surrounding young stars. (Image credit: NSF/AUI/NSF NRAO/P. Vosteen, B. Saxton.)
Astronomers using ALMA have detected heavy water (D₂O) in the planet-forming disk around V883 Ori, marking the first time this isotopologue has been observed in such a setting. The finding suggests that some water in planetary systems, including Earth’s, may predate the stars they orbit, originating in ancient molecular clouds. This challenges assumptions that water forms anew during disk evolution and instead supports a model of chemical inheritance across cosmic timescales.
Heavy water contains deuterium, a form of hydrogen with an extra neutron in its nucleus, making it chemically similar but slightly heavier than ordinary water.
The water’s survival through star formation and disk heating implies a robust delivery mechanism for volatiles to young planets. Researchers used isotopic ratios to trace the water’s provenance, linking it to interstellar ice chemistry. The discovery adds a missing piece to the puzzle of how water travels from clouds to comets to planets, and may inform future studies of habitability. As telescope sensitivity improves, such detections could reshape our understanding of planetary system formation and the early conditions for life.
Apollo 17 Samples Offer Clues to Moon’s Early Chemistry and Possible Theia Contributions
Commander Eugene Cernan collects a drive tube from the Lunar Roving Vehicle during Apollo 17’s extravehicular activity. Decades later, Brown University researchers opened one of these sealed samples and uncovered unexpected sulfur isotope signatures. (Credit: NASA)
New analysis of sealed Apollo 17 samples has revealed sulfur isotope ratios in lunar volcanic rock that differ sharply from Earth’s, challenging assumptions about the Moon’s mantle composition. Using secondary ion mass spectrometry, unavailable in 1972, Brown University researchers found a depletion of sulfur-33, suggesting either early photochemical processes in a transient lunar atmosphere or remnants from the Moon’s formation. These findings complicate the prevailing theory that Earth and Moon share similar isotopic fingerprints due to a common origin.
James Dottin, assistant professor of Earth, Environmental and Planetary Sciences at Brown, and co-author Brian Monteleone review data from secondary ion mass spectrometry conducted on Apollo 17 lunar samples. (Credit: James Dottin/Brown University)
The samples, preserved under NASA’s ANGSA (Apollo Next Generation Sample Analysis) program, were extracted from the Taurus Littrow valley and remained untouched for over 50 years to be reexamined using modern techniques. Their pristine condition enabled precise measurements that may point to material exchange between the lunar surface and interior, despite the Moon’s lack of plate tectonics. Alternatively, the anomalous sulfur may reflect Theia’s distinct chemistry, the hypothesized impactor that formed the Moon. Further isotope comparisons with Mars and other bodies could clarify these origins.
Despatch Out. 👽🛸
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