SpaceX launches four astronauts in first mission to polar orbit – SatNews
Original Publication Date: 2025-03-31 00:00
SpaceX’s Falcon 9 on Monday, March 31 at 9:46 p.m. ET launched Fram2 to a polar orbit from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. This will be the first human spaceflight for Mission Commander Chun Wang, Vehicle Commander Jannicke Mikkelsen, Vehicle Pilot Rabea Rogge, and Mission Specialist and Medical Officer Eric Philips. Fram2 is the world’s first astronaut mission to polar orbit. Named after the Norwegian polar research ship Fram, the Crew Dragon spacecraft will launch into a 90° circular orbit from Florida.
Forrester’s Digest: Intelsat suffers falling revenues – SatNews
Original Publication Date: 2025-04-01 00:00
Intelsat reports declining revenues across many of its key divisions. ‘Transponder Revenues’ vertical, which accounts for video services tumbled 10 per cent. In-Flight services division fell back 9 per cent (although 6 per cent when equipment sales were included)
SES + SpeQtral sign MoU to advance global quantum-secure comms – SatNews
Original Publication Date: 2025-03-31 00:00
SES and SpeQtral signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish long-distance satellite-based Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) between Asia and Europe. Under the agreement, the development of an interoperable OGS will enable SES to connect both companies’ current and future QKD satellite missions.
Satellogic EarthView dataset now openly accessible via registry of Open Data on AWS – SatNews
Original Publication Date: 2025-03-31 00:00
Satellogic has announced that the Satellogic EarthView dataset is now openly accessible on Amazon Web Services (AWS) cloud through the AWS Open Data Sponsorship Program. Satellogic images were captured between July 1, 2022, and December 30, 2022.
SpaceX to launch Starlink Group 11-13 smallsats on April Fool’s day from California – SatNews
Original Publication Date: 2025-03-31 00:00
SpaceX is targeting Tuesday, April 1 for a Falcon 9 launch of 27 Starlink smallsats to low-Earth orbit. Liftoff is targeted for 4:39 p.m. PT. A live webcast of this mission will begin about five minutes prior to liftoff, which you can watch on X @SpaceX.
University High Triumphs at JPL-Hosted Ocean Sciences Bowl
University High School in Irvine, California, wins regional ocean science competition. Eight teams from Los Angeles and Orange counties competed at the March 29 event. It was the last of about 20 regional competitions held across the U.S. This year in the lead-up to the National Ocean Sciences Bowl finals event in mid-May.
Launch Roundup: Falcon 9 to fly five missions during busy week
Original Publication Date: 2025-03-31 22:07
Five Falcon 9 missions are scheduled to launch this week, including the first-ever crewed mission to a polar orbit and several Starlink missions. The week kicked off with Falcon 9 launching Starlink Group 6-80 into low-Earth orbit on Monday. Approximately six hours later, SpaceX’s next private human spaceflight mission, Fram2, lifted off from Florida. Then, on April 1, China will launch its Chang Zheng 2D rocket, and SpaceX will launch Starlink Group 11-13 later that evening. Finally, SpaceX will close out the week with the launch of two Falcon 9s for the Starlink Group 11 -11 and Starlink Group 6 -72 missions on April 4 and April 6.