The Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI) and the Korea Aerospace Science and Technology Institute (KATI) announced on Tuesday, September 23 that they signed a launch contract with SpaceX for the successful launch of the first KPS satellite scheduled for launch in September 2029.Through this, the Korea Aerospace Research Institute has taken full steps toward securing autonomous navigation services, which is expected to be a significant turning point for the establishment and operation of the entire KPS system.KPS-1, Korea's first navigation satellite, operates in an Inclined Geosynchronous Orbit (IGSO). The Korea Aerospace Science and Technology Administration (KASA) plans to launch KPS-1 in September 2029 and complete the KPS system by launching a total of eight satellites by 2035. Five of the eight KPS satellites will operate in an Inclined Geosynchronous Orbit, while the remaining three will operate in Geostationary Orbit.When the entire KPS system is successfully built and provides navigation services to the Korean Peninsula and its surrounding areas, our country will become the 7th country in the world to possess a navigation satellite system, following the United States (GPS), Russia (GLONASS), Europe (Galileo), China (BeiDou), Japan (QZSS), and India (NavIc).Kim Jin-hee, head of the satellite division at the Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI), said, “KPS is essential infrastructure not only for the convenience of the people, but also for public safety and future industrial competitiveness.” He added, “Starting with the first launch in 2029, we will successfully build the entire system by 2035 to provide stable services.”
Korea is also planning to build a Korea Positioning System (KPS) under the 3rd Basic Plan for the Promotion of Space Development, with a target date of 2035. The KPS will be a high-precision, highly reliable satellite navigation system that can provide centimeter-level positioning information to the Korean Peninsula and surrounding areas, such as Japan and India, rather than to the rest of the world, such as the United States, Russia, Europe, and China. In peacetime, the system will be compatible with U.S. commercial GPS to provide higher quality services than currently available, and in times of emergency when GPS use may be limited, the system will be able to provide PNT information using only our satellite navigation system to secure a stable PNT information system.
K2 Space announces plans for three-orbit demonstration missionThe company procured a dedicated Falcon 9 rocket to prove its “one satellite design for all orbits” conceptOctober 14, 2025Satellite manufacturer K2 Space announced plans to launch a three-spacecraft mission in 2027 on a dedicated SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, with each satellite deploying to a different orbital regime to prove out the startup’s bet on a multi-orbit satellite platform.The mission, dubbed Trinity, will see two spacecraft deployed in low and medium Earth orbits, with a third heading to geostationary transfer orbit.[...]In the 2027 mission, K2 will have two satellites dropped off in LEO. One will remain in that lower orbit for a period before raising itself to MEO, while the other will immediately begin climbing to MEO and will aim to complete the orbit raise within 90 days. The third satellite will fly directly to geostationary transfer orbit[...]
CesiumAstro@CesiumAstro·We’ve secured eight SpaceX rideshare missions. Flights begin as early as 2026.Let’s fly.
Besxar today announced they signed an agreement with SpaceX to launch its autonomous manufacturing pods—called Fabships—on 12 missions starting as soon as this year. Fabships will be integrated on Falcon 9 first stage boosters and retrieved post launch after the rocket safely returns to land. The campaign marks the first-ever reusable payload program to launch on a SpaceX rocket and will accelerate Besxar’s path toward building the world’s first orbital semiconductor foundry. This flight campaign will debut Besxar’s “Clipper-class” Fabship, engineered for short-duration, quick-turnaround sorties that enable rapid iteration and demonstrate the first phase in Besxar’s broader vision to establish scalable semiconductor production in orbit.Besxar is pioneering a new class of orbital manufacturing, using the ultra-high vacuum (UHV) of space to produce ultra-pure substrates and precursor materials—the foundational building blocks for AI data centers, quantum computing, nuclear systems, next-generation defense systems, and directed-energy applications. By manufacturing in orbit, Besxar can achieve purity levels and yield efficiencies impossible on Earth, effectively doubling the chip cost-efficiency for next-generation AI workloads.“We’re reaching the limits of what can be built on Earth. AI data centers are straining against power and cooling limits, silicon is nearing its physical edge, and fabrication plants can’t achieve the vacuum or yields that next-generation materials demand,” said Ashley Pilipiszyn, Founder and CEO of Besxar. “This agreement with SpaceX anchors the orbital industrial base we’re building to overcome those limits. With a regular cadence of launch and reentry missions, we can now iterate faster than ever—transforming space into a critical extension of America’s semiconductor supply chain.”Besxar’s Fabships are designed for full reusability, returning to Earth after each mission not just to offload materials, but to analyze results and refine performance—making each subsequent manufacturing run more efficient and precise. With its first Department of Defense contract underway and early support from leading AI hyperscalers such as NVIDIA’s Inception Program, Besxar is proving that the future of semiconductor manufacturing will be built beyond Earth—and that in-space manufacturing is American manufacturing.
Q: So you also said that the first launch for satellites is planned late next year. I thought that the satellites were going to start to be launched in Q3 2026.A: Nope. Nope. I think for many, many quarters now we’ve been talking about late next year.Q: Okay. All right. I guess I was incorrect on that one. Okay. I mean, you have a book of SpaceX, right? So can you give us an idea of what month you expect the satellites to start to go out?A: It’ll be late, as I expect. I mean, we’re probably looking at a December launch with a couple of Pathfinder satellites that we’ll use to do testing and validation and start to do that for our own purposes and make it available to meaningful customers as well to do their own testing and the like. And then 2027 should be a very busy launch cadence for us as we launch really all the rest of the satellites in the constellation.
Telesat has booked 14 SpaceX launches to get its constellation into orbit with each rocket carrying about 18 satellites.
Form 10Q for EchoStar Corp.Filed 11/06/2025[...]Satellites Under ConstructionEchoStar XXV.On March 20, 2023, we entered into a contract with Lanteris Space LLC for the construction of EchoStar XXV, a DBS satellite that is capable of providing service to the continental United States (“CONUS”) and is intended to be used at the 110 degree orbital location. During the fourth quarter of 2023, we entered into an agreement with SpaceX for launch services for this satellite, which is expected to be launched during 2026. EchoStar XXVI.On May 15, 2025, we entered into a contract with Lanteris Space LLC for the construction of EchoStar XXVI, a DBS satellite that is capable of providing service to the CONUS and is intended to be used at the 119 degree orbital location. During the third quarter of 2025, we entered into an agreement with SpaceX for launch services for this satellite, which is expected to be launched during 2028.(Page 27)[...]
Since 2020, the FINCH mission has gone through its mission scoping and high-level design phase. We are jumping into the detailed design phase now, full of rapid prototyping and proofs-of-concept in all areas of the team. FINCH is aiming to innovate with its novel payload design, and integrating high-performance components in all subsystems to make sure we get the best payload data we can.FINCH is projected to launch in Q3 2028.
Kepler Announces Launch Date for First Tranche of Optical SatellitesNovember 17, 2025Kepler Communications today announced it will launch ten 300-kilogram-class satellites for its optical data relay network aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 from Vandenberg Space Force Base, California, in Jan. 2026. The launch marks the beginning of Kepler’s next-generation operational constellation, designed to provide real-time connectivity, advanced on-orbit compute, and hosted payload services for government and commercial customers.[...]
This STA uses information from grant 1847-EX-ST-2025 and requests stage 2 frequency 2211 MHz for s2tx1 (instead of 2232.5 MHz). This STA is necessary for launch vehicle communications for the upcoming SpaceX Falcon 9 Mission 2229 from SLC-40 or SLC-39A and recovery operations following the launch. The application includes a sub-orbital first stage and orbital second stage. Trajectory data shall be provided directly to NTIA, USAF, and NASA. All downrange Earth stations are receive-only. SpaceX will pre-coordinate the launch under this STA directly with the Launch Range and relevant federal spectrum users. Launch licensing authority is FAA Office of Commercial Space Transportation.Operation Start Date: 01/15/2026Operation End Date: 07/15/2026Recovery Vessel: North 32 39 49 West 76 10 44
Mongolia’s MPP Taps Uchral Nyam-Osor as ChairNovember 18, 2025[...]Uchral’s dossier showcases pragmatic triumphs. As digital minister, he championed the “Chinggis Sat” project, partnering with SpaceX and France’s Thales Alenia Space for a 2027 satellite launch to provide remote steppes with broadband access, bolstering e-governance and disaster resilience.[...]
New satellite agreement to strengthen strategic partnership between France and MongoliaOct 13 2023A landmark agreement to construct a Mongolian national satellite telecommunications system has been reached which will strengthen the strategic partnership between Mongolia and France and boost connectivity for all Mongolians.The partnership agreement between Thales Alenia Space, a major European satellite specialist, and the Mongolia Ministry of Digital Development and Communications, has been signed today in the presence of the President of Mongolia, H.E. Mr Ukhnaagiin Khürelsükh and the President of France, Mr Emmanuel Macron, during the Mongolian President’s state visit to France.Thales Alenia Space will be responsible for construction of a high-performance Ku Band satellite, to be named “Chinggis Sat” after Mongolia’s national hero Chinggis Khan. Once launched, the satellite will make high-speed internet available throughout Mongolia, including to those in rural areas and underserved nomadic communities, enabling easier and wider access to services such as telemedicine, e-learning, e-government services and supporting the growth of high value add sectors of the economy.[...]This very high-performance Ku Band satellite, to be named Chinggis Sat after the national hero Chinggis Khan, is to be positioned at the 113.6° E orbital slot reserved for Mongolia by ITU. It will be based on the space-proven, cutting-edge SpaceBus 4000 solution developed by Thales Alenia Space and perfectly fitting national applications.[...]
SKY Perfect JSAT and SpaceX for the future of space communication! Signing of Launch Contract for Next-Generation Satellites "JSAT-31" and "JSAT-32"SKY Perfect JSAT Holdings Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo, President & CEO: Eiichi Yonekura), a 100% subsidiary of SKY Perfect JSAT Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo, President & CEO: Eiichi Yonekura, hereinafter referred to as SKY Perfect JSAT), announced that it will provide launch services (rocket procurement and satellite launch transportation services) for the communication satellites "JSAT-31" and "JSAT-32". We are pleased to announce that we have selected SpaceX as our partner and signed a contract. Three next-generation satellites, including the Superbird-9, which has already signed a contract, are scheduled to be launched sequentially from 2027.[...]Quote1) Overview of the communication satellite "JSAT-31"1. Satellite busSpace INSPIRE platform by Thales Alenia Space2. Main specifications of satellites(1) Frequency bands Ku, Ka bands(2) Major coverage Japan, Southeast Asia, Australia, New Zealand, Pacific Islands(3) Launch date 2028 (planned)(4) Lifespan of more than 15 yearsQuote2) Overview of the communication satellite "JSAT-32"1. Satellite busThales Alenia Space Spacebus 4000 B22. Main specifications of satellites(1) Frequency bands: Ku, Ka bands, (2) Major coverage: Japan and surrounding areas, (3) Launch date: 2027 (planned),(4) Lifespan: 15 years or more[...](Translated from Japanese)
1) Overview of the communication satellite "JSAT-31"1. Satellite busSpace INSPIRE platform by Thales Alenia Space2. Main specifications of satellites(1) Frequency bands Ku, Ka bands(2) Major coverage Japan, Southeast Asia, Australia, New Zealand, Pacific Islands(3) Launch date 2028 (planned)(4) Lifespan of more than 15 years
2) Overview of the communication satellite "JSAT-32"1. Satellite busThales Alenia Space Spacebus 4000 B22. Main specifications of satellites(1) Frequency bands: Ku, Ka bands, (2) Major coverage: Japan and surrounding areas, (3) Launch date: 2027 (planned),(4) Lifespan: 15 years or more
SKY Perfect JSAT selects Thales Alenia Space to build a new cutting-edge software-defined satellite “JSAT-31”May 27 2024Asia’s largest satellite operator SKY Perfect JSAT and Thales Alenia Space, the joint venture between Thales (67%) and Leonardo (33%), announced they have signed a contract to build JSAT-31, a new generation of software-defined satellite based on the Space INSPIRE (INstant SPace In-orbit REconfiguration) platform by Thales Alenia Space.Operating both in Ka and Ku frequency bands, JSAT-31 High Throughput Satellite will offer high speed broadband services over Japan, South-East Asia, Australia, New Zealand and Pacific islands. JSAT-31 will have the largest capacity in the history of SKY Perfect JSAT satellites and is expected to launch in 2027. JSAT-31, which is the 31st satellite procured by SKY Perfect JSAT counting from JCSAT-1, is the first satellite ordered from Thales Alenia Space. Additionally, starting with this JSAT-31, SKY Perfect JSAT will be calling their new satellites “JSAT” instead of “JCSAT” and “Superbird”.As the prime contractor, Thales Alenia Space is responsible for the design, manufacturing, tests and on-ground delivery of the satellite as well as for the ground segment and associated services. The development of the Space INSPIRE product line is supported by CNES.SKY Perfect JSAT’s newest satellite will rely on Space INSPIRE, a highly flexible and fully software-defined solution that offers instant in-orbit adjustment to broadband connectivity demand, while maximizing the effective use of the satellite resources. SKY Perfect JSAT will leverage the satellite’s extreme flexibility to offer enhanced communications services all along JSAT-31’s lifespan in orbit.[...]
SKY Perfect JSAT Selects Thales Alenia Space to build "JSAT-32” Communications SatelliteMar 10 2025Asia’s largest satellite operator SKY Perfect JSAT Corporation (SKY Perfect JSAT) and Thales Alenia Space, the joint venture between Thales (67%) and Leonardo (33%), have announced the signing of a contract to build geostationary communications satellite “JSAT-32”.Operating in the Ku and Ka frequency bands, JSAT-32 will provide coverage over Japan and its surrounding seas, with newly added spot beams for mobility applications. JSAT-32 will serve as a future replacement for existing SKY Perfect JSAT satellites that provide communication and distribution services in Japan. As prime contractor, Thales Alenia Space will be responsible for the design, manufacturing, testing and delivery of the satellite to the designated launch pad. The company will also provide the associated ground segment. With a launch mass of 3.7 tons, JSAT-32 will be built on Thales Alenia Space’s Spacebus 4000B2 platform, renowned for its robustness, reliability and time-to-market efficiency. The satellite is scheduled for launch in 2027, and will be designed to have an in-orbit lifetime of over 15 years.[...]
This STA is required for pre-launch customer payload RF testing for a commercial payload on Falcon 9 Mission 2064. Tests involve spacecraft stand-alone testing inside the SpaceX Payload Processing Facility. This STA is not for flight.Operation Start Date: 01/30/2026Operation End Date: 07/30/2026Manufacturer: NEC CORP T20
Falcon Watchers@Falcon9WatchersSpaceX Falcon 9 Booster Status Weekly Update (December 16, 2025) -Notable changes to ALL BOOSTERS -Upcoming mission on 17 Dec for B1094-6
Pressurized volume: 350m3Crew: 4 crew full time / Up to 8 for short staysLaunch Vehicle: Falcon 9Launch Date: 2029
Initial launch contract with SpaceX signed. First Thunderbird crew flights on Dragon.
Max Space Thunderbird Station [Dec 17]QuotePressurized volume: 350m3Crew: 4 crew full time / Up to 8 for short staysLaunch Vehicle: Falcon 9Launch Date: 2029QuoteInitial launch contract with SpaceX signed. First Thunderbird crew flights on Dragon.
KSAT has officially signed a contract for launch with SpaceX, securing the ride to orbit for the first satellites of Hyper.The mission is targeting launch in late 2027, marking a major milestone in the project’s journey from design to space.Hyper brings KSAT’s ground-station capability into orbit, extending the reach of the KSAT network even further. By deploying loops of high-performance relay satellites in Low Earth Orbit (LEO), Hyper will enable continuous, low-latency data delivery across the globe. This orbital layer augments KSAT's existing global network and ensures customers receive the connectivity they need, exactly when and where they need it, unlocking new possibilities for real-time operations, mission resilience, and data-driven decision-making.“This is a defining step for us,” says Edvard Foss, General Manager for Hyper. “Securing this first launch brings Hyper one step closer to space, and one step closer to delivering even lower latencies for our customers. This strengthens our commitment to building a world-leading in-orbit relay capability.”
Short duration satellite Telemetry and Command RF Functional Check at the launch site facility and in the fairing.Start Date: 03/27/2026End Date: 09/27/2026Bus: 702MP+
Locations:SpaceX Falcon Heavy Launch Pad SLC 39AKennedy Space Center (KSC), FL28-36-30.2 N, 80-36-15.6 WSpaceX Processing FacilityCape Canaveral SFS, FL28-29-20.9 N, 80-35-1.5 W
This spacecraft, which will serve the Asia-Pacific region, was originally scheduled to launch on an Ariane 6 rocket, but due to delays with that rocket’s debut Viasat decided to put out another bid for launch proposals.To date, Viasat has not publicly announced which rocket will carry its ViaSat-3 F3 satellite.
