BY Maia Davies, Published by the BBC, 31 January 2026 Elon Musk's SpaceX has applied to launch one million satellites into Earth's orbit to power artificial intelligence (AI). The application claims "orbital data centres" are the most cost and energy-efficient way to meet the growing demand for AI computing power.
The atmospheric reentry process generates extreme heat and mechanical loads, which lead to the satellite's disintegration at the altitude of about 45 miles. (Image credit: ESA) By Leonard David, Published by Space.com, 31 January 2026 "Understanding how different materials behave as they burn up could help engineers design satellites that
A United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket launches 27 Amazon Leo internet satellites to orbit on Dec. 16, 2025. (Image credit: ULA) By Tereza Pultarova, Published by Space.com, 25 January 2026 Amazon Leo satellites are generally not visible to the naked eye but still could obstruct astronomical observations. The satellites
A person looks on as SpaceX's huge Super Heavy-Starship is unstacked from the booster as it sits on the launchpad at Starbase in Boca Chica, Texas, on November 16, 2023. By Terrence McCoy, Published by The Washington Post, 7 January 2026 The saga of Playa Bagdad, just over the border
Artist’s concept shows a large satellite constellation in low Earth orbit. Image via IAU/ Daniëlle Futselaar. By Vishwam Samkaran, Published by The Independent, 2 January 2026 Beijing has warned the United Nations that the rapid expansion of Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite constellations in low-Earth orbit pose “pronounced safety and security”
Starlink satellites awaiting deployment into low Earth orbit (Image credit: SpaceX) By Neetika Walter, Published by Interesting Engineering, 1 January 2026 Starlink will lower satellites orbiting 550 km to 480 km in 2026, aiming to increase space safety. Starlink will begin lowering the orbit of its satellite constellation in 2026,
By Sarah Jones, Published by Daily Galaxy, 31 December 2025 A routine mission was derailed when a spacecraft suffered unexpected damage, the consequences were impossible to ignore. Microscopic space debris cracked the window of China’s Shenzhou-20 spacecraft in November 2025, delaying the crew’s return and triggering the country’s first emergency
Starship debris is seen streaking through the sky after the January 16 explosion. Captured from video by Brian Henry By Mike Wall, Published by Space.com, 29 December 2025 2025 was a very busy year for spaceflight, for better and for worse. We saw quite a few milestones notched in the
