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 35 published reports.
Understanding Polar Orbits: Key Facts and Uses
Polar orbits pass over the Earth's poles, allowing satellites to scan the entire surface. They are crucial for Earth observation missions.
Orbital Inclination: Why Satellites Fly at Different Angles
Orbital inclination determines which latitudes a satellite flies over, but not everything it can see. Learn how orbit angles shape coverage, launch choices and mission design.
How Weather Satellites Work: A Complete Guide
Weather satellites monitor Earth's atmosphere and surface, providing crucial data for forecasting. Learn how they operate and impact our daily lives.
Fengyun-1C debris: the legacy of China's 2007 ASAT test
China's destruction of the Fengyun-1C weather satellite in January 2007 created a long-lived debris cloud. Its fragments remain a case study in how one interception can change the orbital environment for decades.
Why Do Rockets Launch From Florida?
Florida combines an eastward boost from Earth's rotation with open Atlantic launch corridors and decades of infrastructure. But the best launch site depends on the mission.
Envisat: ESA’s 8-tonne satellite and its collision risk
ESA lost contact with Envisat in April 2012. The large Earth-observation satellite remains in orbit, unable to avoid collisions, making it a significant long-term concern for space debris monitoring.
Understanding RAAN: The Right Ascension of the Ascending Node Explained
RAAN, or Right Ascension of the Ascending Node, is an essential orbital parameter that defines a satellite's path relative to Earth's equatorial plane.
Landsat 9: Earth Observation from 705 km
Landsat 9 is the latest satellite in the long-running Landsat programme, a joint initiative by NASA and the United States Geological Survey (USGS) to monitor Earth's surface. Launched on 27 September 2021, Landsat 9 continues a legacy of Earth observation that began in 1972 with the launch of Landsa
Electron targets iQPS launch: Orbital Briefing, 2 November
Rocket Lab targets an Electron launch for iQPS today, while close-approach tracking and questions over NASA's Swift telescope put orbital safety in focus.
Landsat Satellites: Comprehensive Guide to Earth Imaging
Landsat satellites provide critical Earth imagery for monitoring natural resources and environmental changes, revolutionising remote sensing.
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.
Iridium NEXT: The Flash-Free Replacement Constellation
Iridium NEXT is a constellation of 66 active communication satellites, designed to replace the original Iridium network. Launched between 2017 and 2019, these satellites provide global voice and data coverage, enabling connectivity for satellite phones, pagers, and integrated transceivers.