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- 1Amazon seeks FCC approval for 5,105 new satellites●# Amazon is asking the # FCC to approve 5,105 massive new # satellites while hiding their orbital debris risk models beh
Amazon has asked the US Federal Communications Commission to approve 5,105 additional satellites for its broadband constellation. Critics say the company is withholding the orbital debris risk models used in its safety case behind corporate confidentiality claims, and are demanding full public disclosure. Space sustainability advocates argue the growing congestion of low Earth orbit is a shared concern that should not be assessed behind closed doors.
- 2New Satellite Engine Could Use Earth's Atmosphere as Fuel●New Satellite Engine Could Use Earth's Atmosphere to Stay in Orbit Indefinitely
Researchers have developed a satellite propulsion concept that collects air from the upper atmosphere and uses it as propellant, potentially allowing satellites in very low orbit to maintain altitude indefinitely without carrying fuel. Readers are debating the physics, the feasibility of ingesting and ionizing thin air, and what it could mean for Earth observation and low-orbit missions if the technology works in practice.
- 3Vandenberg Prepares for SpaceX Falcon 9 Transporter-18 Launch●"Vandenberg SFB Launch Alert Space Launch Delta 30 Guardians and Airmen are scheduled to support the launch of a SpaceX
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket is scheduled to lift off from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, carrying the Transporter-18 rideshare mission to low-Earth orbit. Launch is targeted for Thursday, Oct. 1, with a 58-minute launch window. Guardians and Airmen from Space Launch Delta 30 are supporting the mission, which will carry multiple small payloads into orbit at once.
- 4SpaceX advances open orbit while debris risks mount▼SpaceX's advances are making orbit far more accessible even as debris risks accelerate. https://www. japantimes.co.jp/co
SpaceX's rapid progress with reusable rockets and Starship is making access to orbit cheaper and more frequent, but experts warn the growing number of launches and satellites is accelerating space junk risks. Commentary in The Japan Times argues that easier access to space is colliding with mounting debris concerns, prompting calls for better traffic management and cleanup efforts as more actors crowd low Earth orbit.