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The Latest Breaking News from Jonathan McDowell

SpaceX wants to launch 100,000 Starlink satellites to orbit

SpaceX has applied for approval to operate a 100,000-member megaconstellation of next-gen Starlink satellites in Earth orbit. And each of the new spacecraft will weigh about 4,400 pounds.

Space

China's top-secret 'dragon' space plane just released another unidentified object over Earth

The Shenlong, or "divine dragon," space plane just deployed a mysterious payload above our planet. The top-secret spacecraft, which has never been properly photographed, has now released at least nine objects in low Earth orbit.

LiveScience

Artemis 2 and Tiangong space station astronauts set record for farthest distance between humans

For a few moments on April 6, the four Artemis 2 moon astronauts and the three crewmates aboard China's Tiangong space station were farther away from each other than any humans had ever been.

Space

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‘This feels fragile’: how a satellite-smashing chain reaction could spiral out of control

Today, the space around Earth can no longer be considered empty. More than 30,000 objects are in orbit, and that figure is rising exponentially

The Guardian - UK

SpaceX grounds its Falcon 9 rocket after a problem with its upper stage. Will the Crew-12 astronaut mission be affected?

SpaceX has temporarily grounded its Falcon 9 rocket after an upper stage failed to deorbit as planned during a Feb. 2 launch. Will the issue affect the company's Crew-12 astronaut mission?

Space

Russian 'inspector' satellite appears to break apart in orbit, raising debris concerns

Ground-based observations suggest the former geostationary inspector satellite suffered a fragmentation event months after retirement, raising new concerns about debris in high Earth orbit.

Space

Elon Musk now controls two thirds of satellites as 10,000th Starlink launches

The richest man on Earth is also the most powerful person in space

The Independent UK

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SpaceX launches Starlink satellites to orbit on Falcon 9 rocket's record-breaking 31st flight (video)

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket set a new reuse record today (Oct. 19) on a Starlink satellite launch, flying for the 31st time.

Space

Concerns grow after spate of social media posts showing SpaceX Starlink satellites burning in the sky — we are currently seeing a ‘couple of satellite re-entries a day,’ says respected astrophysicist

An astrophysicist interview underlines the growing risk of satellites, from the increasingly crowded skies, falling to Earth.

Tom’s Hardware

Elon Musk’s Starlink satellites are falling to Earth at an alarming rate

An average of one to two Starlink satellites are deorbiting each day in 2025

The Independent UK

China suggests lasers and stealth submarines to counter Elon Musk’s Starlink satellites

Teams are actively exploring methods to neutralise Elon Musk's Starlink satellite constellation

The Independent UK

Trump drops Nasa nominee Jared Isaacman, scrapping Elon Musk’s pick

‘Prior associations’ appear to cost billionaire the chance to be Nasa administrator, as US president says new nominee ‘will be mission aligned’

The Guardian - AU

How many satellites could fit in Earth orbit? And how many do we really need?

The number of satellites orbiting Earth is rising fast, thanks to private companies such as SpaceX. But just how big will these "megaconstellations" become? And what problems might they cause?

LiveScience

Mystery white plume streaks US sky after China dumps rocket fuel

Astronomers say new methane-powered Chinese rocket likely behind giant white streak

The Independent UK

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Space

Chinese rocket dumps fuel over US to paint colossal white streak in the sky (photos)

Skywatchers were left surprised, puzzled and awestruck by a mysterious streak of light slicing through the night sky.

The Independent UK

Outer Space around earth is already pretty crowded. Tech firms are racing to pack even more satellites in

Thousands of satellites in low-Earth orbit could create a doom loop of dangerous debris and Julia Musto details the problem

International Business Times UK

UK South of Cambridge, Ispwich, or Milton Keynes at Risk of Being Hit by Soviet Spacecraft: What's Going On?

A lost Soviet satellite, Kosmos 482, is predicted to crash back to Earth, with a 500kg fragment potentially hitting the planet between 9th and 13th May.

Space

3 big hunks of space junk crash to Earth every day — and it's only going to get worse

At least three old satellites or rocket bodies fall to Earth every day, a new report reveals. Some experts think it's a worrying trend.

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Texas Observer

Earth Orbit Is Filling Up with Junk. Greenhouse Gases Worsen the Problem.

By the end of the century, a shrinking atmosphere could create a minefield for satellites, like those deployed by SpaceX's Starlink.

The Independent UK

SpaceX rocket debris crash lands into man’s lawn in Poland

Strange object ‘resembling a tank’ reportedly landed on warehouse’s grounds

Space

How much did SpaceX's Starship Flight 7 explosion pollute the atmosphere?

The rapid unscheduled disassembly of SpaceX's Starship mega rocket may have released significant amounts of harmful air-pollution into the upper layers of Earth's atmosphere.

Space

When is an asteroid not an asteroid? When it's Elon Musk's Tesla Roadster, it turns out.

The discovery of a new asteroid this month has turned out to be Elon Musk's Tesla Roadster launched by SpaceX in 2018.

Space

SpaceX Starlink satellite sparks brilliant fireball as it falls from space over US (videos)

A SpaceX Starlink internet satellite fell from space in a blaze of glory overnight, lighting up the Midwest U.S. sky with a brilliant fireball.

Top News

Spacex Starship Debris Likely Fell Near Puerto Rico

Astrophysicist Jonathan McDowell's analysis of SpaceX Starship's disintegration provides crucial insights for future space missions.

LiveScience

Watch Chinese satellite burn up over US in spectacular 'fireball'

The GaoJing 1-02 imaging satellite burned up over the U.S. in a mesmerizing 'fireball' that some skywatchers mistook for a meteor shower.

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