All posts tagged: Satellites

ESA Space Environment Report warns of growing space debris

ESA Space Environment Report warns of growing space debris

Published by skeptic

The European Space Agency (ESA) has warned that Earth’s orbital environment is becoming increasingly congested, with rising numbers of satellites, rocket bodies and fragments creating greater risks for future space missions. Its latest Space Environment Report shows that the rapid expansion of space activity is outpacing efforts to keep the orbital environment sustainable. More than 300 launches took place during 2025, placing over 4,000 new payloads into orbit, according to the report. The growth of large satellite constellations and rideshare missions means significantly more spacecraft are now being deployed, while the space debris population continues to grow through both fragmentation events and defunct satellites. ESA’s assessment suggests the problem is moving beyond simply managing an increasing number of objects. The agency says the orbital environment is now showing signs of the self-reinforcing process associated with the Kessler syndrome, in which collisions generate debris that can trigger further collisions. Without stronger prevention and active debris removal, some orbital regions could eventually become increasingly difficult or unsafe to use. Space activity is expanding rapidly The latest Space …

Aerospacelab wins €2.4 billion deal to build majority of IRIS² satellites

Aerospacelab wins €2.4 billion deal to build majority of IRIS² satellites

Published by Sam Flores

Sept 10 : Belgium’s Aerospacelab said on Thursday it had won a €2.4 billion ($2.8 billion) contract to build 264 satellites for the European Union’s IRIS² network, which is due to offer secure communications for governments, security agencies and commercial users by 2030. Aerospacelab said it would be responsible for building 76 per cent of the planned 348 satellites, the single largest disclosed manufacturing allocation for IRIS², offering a clearer picture of how the work is being divided. At the contract value, the award translates to roughly €9.1 million per satellite. The company said it would design, manufacture and deliver fully integrated low-Earth-orbit satellites through the Eutelsat-led SpaceRISE consortium, which was chosen to develop and operate the network under a concession deal with the EU. The allocation to the 8-year-old company also offers a look into the evolving space supply chain in Europe. Last month, the European Space Agency selected Germany’s Isar Aerospace to provide launch services for parts of its institutional missions, in a sign that newer entrants are taking a growing role alongside Europe’s established contractors …

A Satellite Falling Out of Orbit Embarks on Its Final Mission

A Satellite Falling Out of Orbit Embarks on Its Final Mission

Published by skeptic

NASA has carried out some notable rescue missions over the past few years, including bringing home the astronauts stranded on the International Space Station last year. More recently, the agency sent up a probe in hopes of saving the Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory, a satellite first launched in 2004 that began falling out of our planet’s orbit. The plan was for robotic arms on the probe, known as LINK, to grab onto the aging satellite and—with a powerful set of thrusters—drag the observatory back into position. The rescue robot was launched into space this past July but soon after suffered issues with its altitude systems, a key set of controls for moving in space. The mission had to be canceled. “Swift wasn’t designed to be serviced,” Ghonhee Lee—CEO of Katalyst Space, the company that developed LINK—stated just before the probe’s launch. And as Shawn Domagal-Goldman, director of NASA’s astrophysics division, also noted at the time, this was “a high-risk, high-reward mission.” Now, Swift will continue sinking. Like all low-orbit satellites, the observatory experiences air resistance …

World’s Largest Gun Aims to Shoot Satellites Into Space

World’s Largest Gun Aims to Shoot Satellites Into Space

Published by skeptic

When a rocket launches a payload into orbit, the overwhelming majority of its weight at launch is just fuel. After decades of space travel, a company called Longshot Space hopes to unlock a more efficient way to launch satellites into orbit. The plan: Shoot satellites into space with the world’s biggest gun. To accomplish this, Longshot is designing its cannons to accelerate payloads using compressed gas. Unlike regular guns, which use one sudden burst, Longshot uses multiple bursts of gas to accelerate its projectiles through a barrel that, in its final form, will be miles long. Launching satellites this way also requires satellites capable of withstanding the shock. The company believes it is possible, but indicates that traveling by gunshot is probably not feasible for sensitive cargo, especially human beings. That didn’t stop our contributor Andy Altman from climbing inside the barrel of one of these guns. To see his in-depth tour of Longshot Space, check out the video in this article. Jesse Orrall Senior Video Producer Jesse Orrall (he/him/his) is a Senior Video Producer …

Copernicus Fire Emissions Watch maps global wildfire emissions

Copernicus Fire Emissions Watch maps global wildfire emissions

Published by skeptic

The summer of 2026 has brought an exceptional rise in wildfire emissions across parts of France, Spain, and Canada, with major fires producing widespread smoke and significantly affecting air quality. Data from the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS) shows particularly striking increases in France and the Canadian province of Ontario, where emissions reached levels well above historical norms. CAMS has launched Fire Emissions Watch, a new online application designed to show where wildfire emissions are being produced, how they develop over time and where the resulting smoke is likely to travel. The tool combines satellite observations, emissions estimates and atmospheric forecasts, giving researchers, policymakers, journalists and the public a way to examine individual fire events alongside more than two decades of historical data. The result is a clearer picture of the scale of this summer’s fire activity. By early August, France’s cumulative wildfire carbon emissions had passed one megatonne of carbon, making 2026 the third-highest annual total in the CAMS Global Fire Assimilation System (GFAS) record. In Ontario, July’s estimated emissions exceeded those recorded for …

Why satellite propulsion is becoming critical to the future of space

Why satellite propulsion is becoming critical to the future of space

Published by skeptic

Smaller, smarter, and more efficient propulsion systems are key to extending satellite life, enhancing maneuverability, and ensuring sustainable space operations in an increasingly crowded orbit. The satellite industry is entering an era in which simply reaching orbit is no longer enough. As constellations expand, spacecraft become smaller and missions become more sophisticated, satellites increasingly need to manoeuvre once they are in space. They may need to raise or lower their orbits, maintain precise positions, avoid other objects, extend their operational lives or safely leave orbit at the end of a mission. That is putting renewed focus on one of the most fundamental technologies in spaceflight: propulsion. For decades, propulsion has often been associated with the powerful chemical engines used to launch spacecraft away from Earth. But in orbit, the requirements are different. Satellites frequently need relatively small amounts of thrust applied over long periods, making efficiency, size, power consumption and propellant mass critical considerations. The result is a rapidly expanding field of satellite propulsion technologies, from increasingly capable electric thrusters to miniaturised systems and entirely …

Tiny satellite to listen to the universe from the dark side of the Moon

Tiny satellite to listen to the universe from the dark side of the Moon

Published by skeptic

CosmoCube is roughly the size of a small carry-on suitcase and will use the Moon as a shield to listen for a signal from the earliest period of the universe. The CosmoCube mission has received funding from the UK Space Agency and hopes to launch within the next five years, according to Nature Astronomy. Led by the University of Cambridge, the international team is seeking a signal from the first days of nuclear fusion in stars. Hearing the hydrogen line Also known as the 21 centimetre line, this refers to a radio frequency emitted by hydrogen atoms from the cosmological ‘dark ages’, between the Big Bang and Cosmic Dawn, where reionisation occurred. This signal is over 13.5 billion years old and is particularly difficult to pick up with Earth-based detection, due to interference from FM radio, satellites and telecommunications drowning it out. “This emission from hydrogen after the Big Bang, but before the first stars, will hopefully allow us to understand the role of dark matter in the early universe, how it worked to pull …

Powering the future of Canadian aerospace engineering

Powering the future of Canadian aerospace engineering

Published by skeptic

From advanced uncrewed aircraft and hybrid-electric aviation to small satellite missions, the Centre for Aerospace Research (CfAR) at the University of Victoria presents an integrated innovation ecosystem for the development of cutting-edge aerospace solutions while training the next generation of engineers through Western Canada’s first aerospace engineering graduate programme. The aerospace sector is undergoing a profound transformation. Electrification, autonomy, artificial intelligence (AI), and the rapid expansion of the space economy are reshaping how aircraft and spacecraft are designed, built, and operated. Meeting the associated challenges and reaping the benefits requires more than individual research projects – it demands organisations capable of bringing together multidisciplinary expertise, advanced infrastructure, and strong partnerships with industry and government. The University of Victoria Centre for Aerospace Research (UVic CfAR) has established precisely this model. Based in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, UVic CfAR has grown into one of Canada’s leading aerospace research centers, combining expertise in aeronautics and astronautics. Its philosophy is simple: follow a practical, ‘design-build-fly’ approach to transform innovative ideas into operational aerospace technologies by vertically integrating the complete …

Northrop’s robot space mechanic is a new way to keep satellites at work longer

Northrop’s robot space mechanic is a new way to keep satellites at work longer

Published by skeptic

High above the Earth, a new generation of robots designed to keep satellites working longer is replacing its predecessor — quite literally. This week, a spacecraft built and operated by Northrop Grumman called a Mission Extension Vehicle (MEV) unplugged from a communications satellite operated by the Australian firm Optus. For more than a year, the MEV spacecraft has been stuck to the back of the Optus satellite, keeping it in the right place in space so it can continue its mission. Now, the satellite life-extension spacecraft is leaving to make room for its replacement. In July, four new Northrop spacecraft launched into orbit on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. One is called the Mission Robotic Vehicle (MRV), a powerful satellite equipped with two advanced robotic arms that was developed by DARPA, the U.S. military research organization. The other three are called Mission Extension Pods, or MEPs, smaller, simpler satellites that are essentially modular propulsion systems. Those four spacecraft are currently headed for targets around 27,000 miles above the Earth. In 2027, the MRV will use …

Why Earth observation is a measurement, not a market

Why Earth observation is a measurement, not a market

Published by skeptic

RSS-Hydro considers how Earth observation (EO) should be viewed as a measurement tool that can be integrated into existing industries, emphasising the need for businesses to provide actionable solutions rather than just selling raw data The ‘New Space’ revolution has brought an unprecedented wave of innovation, commercial enthusiasm, and venture capital to the space sector. Constellations of small satellites now circle the globe, capturing petabytes of data daily. Yet, a fundamental strategic misalignment persists across the commercial landscape. Many emerging space businesses and market entrants continue to push Earth observation as an independent standalone market – a self-contained ecosystem expected to generate demand simply because the data exists. From a practical and economic standpoint, Earth observation has no market of its own. Treating it as one is a recipe for stagnation. To unlock its true economic potential, the tech and business communities must stop treating EO as a destination and start recognising it for what it actually is: just another type of measurement. The defence blueprint: Geospatial data as reconnaissance To understand how EO should …