Orbit

The US Air Force secretary has publicly acknowledged that the United States has weapons in space, a rare and direct confirmation about American military capabilities in orbit. US officials have historically avoided detailing what weapons systems are deployed beyond Earth. The statement is drawing attention because of its implications for military competition in space, particularly with rivals like China and Russia.

The U.S. Federal Communications Commission can approve massive spaceflight projects on its own, potentially changing the view of the night sky for the entire world. Space law experts note that despite public outcry over satellite constellations and similar ventures, the FCC faces very little regulatory or legal constraint from other authorities, leaving a single agency with outsized influence over global orbital projects.

SpaceX is preparing to send its Starship megarocket to orbit for the first time today, September 28, with the flight being streamed live. The launch marks a milestone for the most powerful rocket ever built, a key vehicle in SpaceX's plans for deep space missions. Space enthusiasts and observers worldwide are watching closely to see whether the spacecraft completes its orbital attempt.

SpaceX is conducting the 14th test flight of its Starship rocket, with the vehicle heading toward orbit from its launch site in Texas. Live coverage of the launch is drawing large audiences as watchers follow the progress of the most powerful rocket ever built. The flight is part of SpaceX's iterative testing programme toward future Moon and Mars missions.

SpaceX launched 21 data-relay satellites for the US Space Development Agency, expanding a military constellation designed to pass data between spacecraft and ground forces in orbit. The mission, covered by Spaceflight Now, adds to a growing network of low-Earth-orbit satellites the Pentagon is building for faster communications and missile tracking.

SpaceX is preparing another launch attempt to carry 21 data-relay satellites for the US Space Development Agency into orbit. The mission, part of the Pentagon's proliferated low-Earth-orbit constellation effort, follows a previously scrubbed attempt. The launch is drawing attention because it supports expanding US military space communications infrastructure and reflects the growing cadence of national security launches on SpaceX rockets.

SpaceX is preparing another attempt to launch 21 data satellites for the US Space Development Agency from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. The mission follows an earlier attempt that did not go ahead, and attention is on whether the Falcon 9 can deliver the constellation satellites to orbit for the military's space network.

A new report suggests the Solar System may be destabilised and destroyed at a rate up to 100 times faster than previous scientific estimates indicated. The claim concerns the long-term orbital stability of the planets, a topic scientists have modelled for decades. The finding is drawing attention for dramatically revising how quickly cosmic processes could unravel our planetary system.

Russian officials have threatened to target Elon Musk's Starlink satellite network, raising fears of a full-scale conflict extending into orbit. The confrontation highlights how commercial satellite systems used in wartime, particularly in Ukraine, have become potential military targets. Commentators are also drawing lessons for India about the strategic risks of depending on foreign satellite infrastructure in future conflicts.

Scott Carpenter, the NASA Mercury astronaut who became the second American to orbit the Earth and the fourth American in space, died on this day in 2013. Space history enthusiasts are marking the anniversary by sharing tributes and recalling his 1962 Aurora 7 mission and his later work as an aquanaut.

The Hoover Institution has released a roundtable discussion titled 'Nerds of the Roundtable on the Distributed Space Age', bringing together experts to examine how space activity is shifting from a few government programs to a broad ecosystem of commercial companies, international players and distributed infrastructure. The conversation covers satellite networks, launch access and the policy questions raised by a more crowded orbital environment.

The outer lanes of the Rudolf Wissell Bridge, which carries the A100 motorway in Berlin, have been closed, Berliner Morgenpost reports. The bridge is a key link in the city's orbital motorway, and lane restrictions there typically cause significant congestion for commuters. No further details were given about the cause of the closure or how long the restrictions will remain in place.

Peter Watts' 2006 science fiction novel Blindsight is being discussed again online. The hard sci-fi novel, which follows a crew investigating an alien presence after thousands of probes appear in Earth's orbit, is praised for its exploration of consciousness and intelligence. Readers continue to cite it as one of the most thought-provoking first-contact stories in modern science fiction.

A full-length documentary on the weaponization of space and the race for military dominance beyond Earth is drawing significant attention. The film explores how major powers are developing satellite and anti-satellite capabilities, turning orbit into a strategic military domain. Viewers are engaging heavily with the topic, which touches on US, Russian and Chinese space programs and the lack of international rules governing conflict in space.

The US Space Development Agency has conducted its fourth Tranche 1 mission, launched aboard a SpaceX rocket. The Tranche 1 program is deploying a proliferated constellation of small satellites in low Earth orbit to provide missile tracking and communications capabilities to the military. The latest launch marks continued progress in building out the network.

SpaceX launched 21 satellites into orbit for the US military after a five-day postponement. The mission had been delayed before lift-off, and the successful launch puts the satellites into orbit on behalf of US defence customers. Space watchers and industry outlets are following the launch as another operational mission supporting national security payloads.

Clayton Swope, a space policy analyst, gives an interview covering US national security in space, the role of commercial aerospace innovation, and space defence. The discussion touches on how private-sector space technology is reshaping American defence strategy and the security challenges facing US assets in orbit.

Artemis II, NASA's upcoming crewed mission to fly around the Moon, is drawing fresh attention following annotated crew photos highlighting the four astronauts and their mission roles. The mission will be the first to carry humans beyond low Earth orbit since Apollo 17 in 1972. Interest is rising in Australia and Brazil as anticipation builds for the launch.

SpaceX is trying again to launch 21 data relay satellites for the US Space Development Agency after a previous attempt. The mission, flying from Florida, is part of the Pentagon's push to build a proliferated constellation in low Earth orbit for military communications and missile tracking. The launch is drawing broad attention as it is scheduled for today, with coverage from spaceflight outlets and searches spiking around the timing.

SpaceX launched 21 satellites into orbit for the US military following a five-day postponement. The mission adds to the company's growing record of national security launches for the Pentagon and US Space Force. Attention is focused on the cause of the delay and on SpaceX's increasingly central role in delivering military payloads to orbit.

The Hoover Institution has released a new episode of its Nerds of the Roundtable series focused on what it calls the Distributed Space Age, examining how space activity is spreading beyond governments to a broader mix of commercial companies and international actors. The discussion is drawing significant attention, with tens of thousands of people engaging with the episode, reflecting growing public interest in how access to orbit is being democratized.