ORBIT

Four environmental organizations filed a petition Thursday urging the Federal Communications Commission to reverse its approval of a startup's plan to beam on-demand sunlight from space to Earth. The groups argue the agency failed to consider the project's potential impacts on wildlife and astronomy, reigniting debate over regulating commercial uses of orbit and the environmental consequences of the growing space economy.

A full-length documentary on the weaponization of space and the international race for military power beyond Earth is drawing wide attention. It examines how major powers are developing satellites, anti-satellite weapons and space-based capabilities as strategic assets, turning orbit into a contested military domain and raising concerns about an arms race in space.

A report examines three classified US satellites known by the codenames URSALA, RAQUEL, and FARRAH, believed to have been launched in 2025. Their missions remain undisclosed, fueling speculation among space watchers about what the spacecraft are for and how they fit into US intelligence or military space programs. Details are scarce, with much of the discussion resting on analysis of orbital activity rather than official disclosure.

In July 1985, Space Shuttle mission STS-51-F suffered the failure of one of its three main engines shortly after launch, forcing the only abort-to-orbit in shuttle history. The mission continued in a lower-than-planned orbit and completed its Spacelab science objectives, with the two Saturn/Challenger... actually aboard Spacelab 2 experiments returning valuable data despite the anomaly.

A new study reported by 404 Media concludes that the solar system is in a state of terminal instability and will eventually be completely destroyed. The finding underscores that planetary orbits, long treated as a model of clockwork regularity, are in fact chaotic over vast timescales, with small perturbations compounding until the system's configuration breaks down entirely.

Google is working on Project Suncatcher, an initiative to run AI chips aboard satellites in space. The idea is that orbiting datacenters could harness continuous solar power and overcome Earth's energy and cooling limits for AI computing. Educators and technology commentators, including an instructor presenting under the Apni Pathshala banner, are explaining the concept to audiences, framing it as a development that could reshape how large-scale AI computation is powered and delivered.

The program intended to succeed the International Space Station is facing delays, raising concerns about the gap in low Earth orbit operations once the station is retired. Reports highlight worries over continuity of research, commercial station plans, and national capabilities in orbit. Observers are questioning timelines and whether replacement platforms will be ready in time.

The idea of placing data centers in orbit is drawing attention as a way to meet growing demand for computing power. Supporters point to unlimited solar energy and free cooling in space, while skeptics question launch costs, maintenance and radiation risks. The debate fits into wider discussion about the energy footprint of AI and how future cloud infrastructure might be built beyond Earth.

Clayton Swope, a space policy analyst, gives an interview discussing US national security, commercial aerospace innovation, and space defense. The conversation covers how commercial space developments intersect with American defense priorities and national security strategy. Interest in the discussion reflects ongoing attention to space as a growing defense and security domain.

The European Union has approved a joint response framework to address threats against satellites belonging to its member states. The decision reflects growing concern in Europe over the vulnerability of space infrastructure, including possible attacks or interference with orbital assets. Specific details of the measures and how they will be implemented remain to be announced.

The United States and its NATO allies are moving forward with plans to strengthen their military space architecture, according to a report by Aviation News. The effort points to growing coordination among Western allies on satellite resilience, space-based defence capabilities, and protection of critical orbital infrastructure at a time when military operations increasingly depend on space assets.

EarthSky has published a guided tour of the solar system's strangest moons, highlighting the most unusual satellites orbiting the planets. The piece walks readers through moons known for their odd shapes, wild orbits, extreme surfaces and other peculiar traits that set them apart from more familiar bodies like our own Moon. It offers a quick, accessible astronomy roundup for curious readers.

SpaceX has announced Starmind, a project described as a constellation of one million AI-equipped satellites alongside a new space safety initiative. Details beyond the announcement remain limited, with no independent confirmation of timelines, costs or regulatory review. The scale of the proposed constellation would dwarf existing satellite networks, raising questions about orbital congestion and collision risks that the safety push is intended to address.

NASA and SpaceX's Crew 12 mission is preparing to undock from the International Space Station, with the Dragon capsule scheduled to splash down off the coast of California to return its crew to Earth. The splashdown closes out the mission after months aboard the orbiting laboratory.

SpaceX has rescheduled its Falcon 9 launch of Space Development Agency Tranche 1 satellites at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, with liftoff now set for Thursday. The delay shifts the latest batch of military communication satellites into orbit, part of the Pentagon's growing proliferated low-Earth-orbit constellation effort.

An American Cold War-era spy satellite, reportedly nicknamed after actress Farrah Fawcett, has broken apart in orbit. The breakup adds new debris to Earth's crowded orbital environment and raises questions about what caused the event, with observers watching for possible follow-up from space agencies tracking the fragments.

SpaceNews explores whether deorbiting defunct military satellites could be turned into a commercial service. The question highlights growing interest in space debris removal as orbital congestion increases and space agencies and private companies look at ways to clear abandoned hardware from key orbits, including spacecraft left by armed forces.

Attention is turning to Moldova's bid to move out of Russia's orbit and join the European Union. The debate centres on whether the country can overcome Russian economic and political influence, domestic instability and unresolved territorial questions in Transnistria to complete EU accession. Commenters are weighing Moldova's reform progress against the obstacles ahead.

Commentary carried by multiple US regional newspapers argues that governments lack transparency about the space weapons they are developing and even about what is currently in orbit. The piece highlights growing concern among analysts and policymakers that military programs in space are proceeding with little public disclosure or international verification, leaving other nations and the public unable to assess the scale of the threat.

The SpaceX Crew-12 Dragon spacecraft is set to undock from the International Space Station on Wednesday, bringing an eight-month mission to a close. The capsule will carry its crew home from the orbital laboratory, capping a routine long-duration rotation that forms part of NASA's ongoing partnership with SpaceX for astronaut transport.