Starlink initiates orbital lowering of 4,400 satellites to mitigate debris risks – SatNews
Original Publication Date: 2026-01-01 00:00
Starlink will lower approximately 4,400 satellites from 550 km to 480 km throughout 2026. The maneuver is designed to enhance space safety regimes as solar activity begins to wane. The move to a lower shell ensures that in the event of a bus failure, the spacecraft will clear the orbit rapidly.
NASA to Outline Future Flagship Mission Timelines at 247th AAS Meeting – SatNews
Original Publication Date: 2026-01-01 00:00
The 247th Meeting of the American Astronomical Society (AAS) is scheduled for January 4–8, 2026, at the Phoenix Convention Center in Arizona. The event will feature critical briefings on the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope launch preparation, continued science operations for the James Webb Space Telescope, and the technology maturation of the Habitable Worlds Observatory.
AT&T, AST SpaceMobile Advance Satellite-to-Cell Expansion Following BlueBird 6 Deployment – SatNews
Original Publication Date: 2026-01-01 00:00
AT&T and AST SpaceMobile announced several infrastructure milestones on December 30, 2025. The updates follow the December 23 deployment of BlueBird 6, the first of the company’s Block 2 satellites. AT&T is currently integrating these satellite capabilities into FirstNet, the dedicated communications platform for public safety.
Satellite Data Confirms Rapid Expansion of Sudan Displacement Camps Amid North Darfur Conflict – SatNews
Original Publication Date: 2026-01-01 00:00
Analysis of Planet Labs PBC high-resolution satellite imagery revealed the dramatic growth of two displacement camps in Sudan’s North Darfur and Northern states. The data tracks the humanitarian fallout following the fall of El Fasher to the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in late October 2025.