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 20 published reports.
Understanding Planetary Defence: Strategies and Technologies
Planetary defence involves strategies and technologies to detect and mitigate potential asteroid impacts on Earth, ensuring global safety.
Military Satellites: Understanding Their Role and Impact
Military satellites are crucial for defence, providing communication, surveillance, and navigation capabilities. Learn how they function and their strategic importance.
US Military Confirms Space Weapons Deployment
The US military has confirmed the deployment of space weapons, marking a significant development in orbital defence.
NASA vs ESA vs CNSA: How the Space Agencies Compare
NASA, ESA and CNSA represent different ways of organising space exploration. Their budgets, responsibilities and partnerships matter more than a simple ranking.
How Many Satellites in Orbit? Counts, Types and Tracking
Earth has 15,870 active satellites, but the wider catalogue includes debris and inactive spacecraft. Here is what the counts mean and how to explore them.
Understanding the Torino and Palermo Scales for Asteroid Impact Risk
The Torino and Palermo scales quantify the risk of asteroid impacts, providing a framework for assessing potential threats from near-Earth objects.
Understanding Asteroid Close Approaches in 2023
Asteroid close approaches occur when an asteroid passes near Earth, posing potential risks. Learn about tracking and significance.
SpaceX Falcon 9 Launches Classified Mission for U.S. Space Force
SpaceX Falcon 9 launched a classified mission for the U.S. Space Force. JWST observes Chariklo's ring dynamics. Close approaches monitored in orbit.
Sputnik 1: the satellite that started the Space Age
Launched on 4 October 1957, Sputnik 1 became Earth's first artificial satellite. Its radio pulses announced a new technological era, while its brief mission helped scientists investigate the upper atmosphere.
This Week in Orbit: 2026-09-13
This week in orbit saw a rich tapestry of scientific insights and celestial events. A significant development was Japan's Hayabusa2 achieving the first-ever laser ranging experiment with an asteroid, marking a milestone in space exploration.
SpaceX Launches Classified Mission for US Space Force
SpaceX launches a classified mission for the US Space Force today. New insights into the origin of interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS emerge.
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.