Satellites

SpaceX launches two Starlink satellite groups 19 hours apart

By Robert Z. Pearlman published 15 April 26

SpaceX launched two Falcon 9 rockets 19 hours apart, both carrying batches of Starlink satellites. The liftoffs took place from Florida and California on Tuesday, April 14, 2026 (by local time zone).

'It probably will start a precedent': Why satellite company's withholding of Iran imagery has this expert worried

By Chelsea Gohd published 9 April 26

In response to a request from the U.S. government, Planet Labs made a decision not to share photos of Iran as well as the larger conflict region in the Middle East indefinitely

A satellite just captured images of a tsunami being born. Here's why that's a big deal

By Stefanie Waldek published 7 April 26

Scientists used SWOT to observe the 2025 Kamchatka tsunami, and their resulting work gives an unusually clear view into tsunamigenesis.

Satellite spies SpaceX Starlink before it breaks apart | Space photo of the day for April 1, 2026

By Robert Lea published 1 April 26

SpaceX Starlink spacecraft was seen prior to breaking up in orbit by a satellite.

'This is really intolerable': Astronomers protest giant orbiting mirror project and SpaceX's million AI satellites

By Tereza Pultarova published 22 March 26

Proposed constellations of orbiting mirrors and data centers would completely destroy the night sky as humanity has known it for millions of years, experts say.

An AI cyberattack could trigger a satellite apocalypse in the next 2 years. Are we prepared?

By Tereza Pultarova published 19 March 26

AI could soon be able to hijack satellites and cause them to collide with other spacecraft, triggering a cascade that could render Earth orbit unsafe.

SpaceX plan for 1 million orbiting AI data centers could ruin astronomy, scientists say

By Tereza Pultarova published 13 March 26

SpaceX's plan to launch one million orbiting data centers to space worries astronomers, who say the satellite streaks caused by the proposed constellation would severely impair observations.

Incoming! 1,300-pound NASA satellite crashes back to Earth over eastern Pacific Ocean

By Mike Wall last updated 11 March 26

NASA's Van Allen Probe A crashed to Earth on Wednesday morning (March 11) after nearly 14 years in orbit, according to the space agency. Most of the spacecraft likely burned up in the atmosphere.

The Rubin Observatory will change the game for astronomy — if satellite companies don't get in the way

By Monisha Ravisetti published 5 March 26

Scientists gathered in a conference earlier this year in an effort to solve the issue of satellite streaks ruining a powerful new Earth-based observatory's data.

Satellites watch as bomb cyclone hits northeast U.S. with snow and lightning

By Monisha Ravisetti published 23 February 26

A major snow storm hitting the northeast U.S. has been captured in satellite imagery.