Space News Mission Log — Satellite Launches, Orbital Events & Analysis
Daily space news, satellite launch reports, orbital debris analysis and weekly roundups — grounded in live tracking data from our network monitoring 33 published reports.
How Are Satellites Tested Before Launch?
Satellites face simulated launch loads and space conditions before flight. Thermal vacuum, vibration and acoustic tests expose faults that could otherwise end a mission.
Satellite Spotlight: COSMOS 1408 — The 2021 Russian ASAT Test Debris Field
COSMOS 1408, also known by its NORAD ID 13552, was a Soviet-era electronic signals intelligence satellite launched on 16 September 1982. It was part of the Tselina-D series, designed to monitor electronic communications and radar emissions from Earth.
Parts of a Satellite: Systems That Keep It Working
Discover the key components and systems inside a satellite that ensure its operation in space, including power, thermal control, and communication.
Satellite Radio Propagation: Finding the Best Contact Times
A satellite’s position is only part of a successful radio link. Learn how to interpret propagation heatmaps alongside pass predictions, space weather and your station’s limits.
Low Earth Orbit: Why Space Is Busiest Below 2,000 km
Low Earth orbit hosts space stations, broadband constellations and Earth-observation missions. Explore how it works, why it is crowded and what keeps satellites flying safely.
KH-11: inside the US imaging satellite family
The KH-11 family transformed American reconnaissance by sending electronic images from orbit rather than returning photographic film. Its capabilities remain classified, but its history and observable orbits reveal its enduring role.
How Solar Cycles Affect Satellite Operations
Solar cycles influence satellite operations by affecting space weather, which can disrupt communications and increase orbital decay.
Parker Solar Probe: 6.1 Million Kilometres from the Sun
NASA’s Parker Solar Probe flies through the Sun’s outer atmosphere, using a carbon-composite shield and a carefully shaped orbit to investigate coronal heating and the solar wind.
MMX launches towards Phobos: Orbital Briefing, 20 October
Japan's MMX mission is heading towards Mars to return samples of Phobos. Meanwhile, satellite close approaches and a busy launch schedule remain in focus.
How Solar Storms Threaten Satellites and Power Grids
Solar storms can disrupt satellites and power grids by inducing geomagnetic currents and radiation, posing risks to technology and infrastructure.
Rocket Lab's 'Ten Owl of Ten' Mission Lifts Off Amidst Close Satellite Encounters
Rocket Lab's 'Ten Owl of Ten' mission launches today for Synspective, while close satellite encounters are closely monitored.
Three launches in a day: Orbital Briefing, 24 October 2026
China and Rocket Lab recorded three successful launches on Friday. Today's briefing also covers Artemis lander testing, close approaches and the next flight dates.