Latest news with #WorldViewLegion
Newsweek
16-07-2025
- Science
- Newsweek
US Satellites Capture China's Space Activities
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. United States satellites recently captured "crystal-clear" images revealing increased Chinese activity in space, as both powers race to dominate this domain beyond Earth's atmosphere. Maxar Technologies, a Colorado-based satellite imagery company, told Newsweek that its non-Earth imaging (NEI) capability provides what it describes as "advanced visual intelligence" of any object in Earth's orbit by capturing "very high-resolution" images. Newsweek reached out to the China National Space Administration for comment via email. Why It Matters China is advancing several programs as the East Asian power pushes for supremacy in space, including building a network of 16 space-enabling facilities in Latin America, operating the Tiangong Space Station, and planning to send astronauts to the moon by 2030. Facing growing challenges from China, the U.S. Space Force was established in 2019 to maintain American superiority in space. In April, a U.S. military satellite capable of maneuvering near objects in orbit was tracked buzzing a pair of Chinese satellites. What To Know Earlier this month, Maxar Technologies shared images of the Tiangong Space Station and the International Space Station, captured by one of its WorldView Legion satellites, on social media, saying that it is "unleashing a new era of high-fidelity, space-to-space imaging." The level of resolution and structural clarity in these images opens new possibilities for monitoring orbital activities, the company said. "This isn't just a technical achievement; it's a critical capability for space domain awareness and monitoring activity beyond Earth." These images of the ISS and China's Tiangong Space Station were collected by one of Maxar's WorldView Legion satellites—showcasing our ability to image mid-inclination orbits with unmatched clarity. With sub-10 cm SSD and rapid tasking, we're unlocking new capabilities in space… — Maxar Technologies (@Maxar) July 1, 2025 Susanne Hake, general manager of Maxar Intelligence's U.S. Government business, later shared on social media what she described as a "crystal-clear picture" of the Chinese optical remote sensing satellite ShiJian-26, captured on June 3 by the company's WorldView Legion satellites. "This type of resolution is revolutionary for space situational awareness," said Hake, adding that ShiJian-26 is one of China's latest-generation optical reconnaissance satellites, and that the ability to photograph it this clearly marks a new era in satellite-to-satellite observation. According to Chinese state media, the ShiJian-26—reportedly "mainly used" to provide information services supporting national economic development—was launched aboard a rocket on May 29, a few days before it was photographed in orbit by Maxar Technologies. Marco Langbroek, a lecturer at the Faculty of Aerospace Engineering at Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands, explained to Newsweek that space domain awareness, or space situational awareness, refers to "keeping an eye on what is happening in space." This includes activities ranging from tracking active payloads and space debris to analyzing collision avoidance, predicting reentries, and characterizing objects—the latter providing information about "satellite function, behavioral intent, and predicting future behavior." "We have to keep a close eye on what is happening in space to avoid problems, and to keep active parties in space accountable for what they are doing," said Langbroek, when asked about the importance of space situational awareness amid increasing space activities. Regarding the "clearest NEI" Maxar Technologies has ever collected, the images provide clues about the function and capabilities of the Chinese satellite, Langbroek said, and that differences from previously launched satellites may hint at upgrades in its capacity and technology. A Chinese Long March 2C rocket carrying the SJ-11-02 experimental orbiter of China's ShiJian satellite series blasts off from the Jiuquan satellite launch center in Jiuquan in northwest China's Gansu province on July 29, 2011. A Chinese Long March 2C rocket carrying the SJ-11-02 experimental orbiter of China's ShiJian satellite series blasts off from the Jiuquan satellite launch center in Jiuquan in northwest China's Gansu province on July 29, 2011. Liang Jie/Color China Photo/AP Images What People Are Saying Susanne Hake, general manager of Maxar Intelligence's U.S. Government business, wrote on LinkedIn: "As space becomes increasingly crowded with thousands of new satellites from multiple nations, we can now monitor satellite operations, detect modifications or threats, and provide near real-time intelligence on space-based assets in unprecedented detail." Maxar Technologies told Newsweek: "NEI supports critical missions such as satellite commissioning, anomaly resolution, orbital threat assessments, and rendezvous and proximity operations (RPO)." According to the U.S. Space Force, RPO enables the space vehicle to maneuver near a space object, allowing for characterization of anomalies and enhanced surveillance. Marco Langbroek, lecturer at the Faculty of Aerospace Engineering at Delft University of Technology, told Newsweek: "Space technology has become increasingly vital for both the military and civil society. Our modern society and economies could not function without, nor can the modern military. Both military and as a society, we have therefore become very vulnerable to anything going wrong in the space domain." What Happens Next China's increasing space activity remains under close observation. Recently, two Chinese satellites reportedly docked in high orbit for the first time to allow refueling and servicing, extending their operational lifespan and supporting sustainable long-term operations.
Yahoo
06-02-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Fog-cloaked: SpaceX launches Falcon 9 Tuesday morning at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station
(This story has been updated to include SpaceX's latest Tuesday evening launch target times.) The fog was so thick that the shrouded rocket was scarcely visible on SpaceX's own webcast. But a Falcon 9 lifted off in the predawn darkness Tuesday morning from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, marking Florida's 11th orbital rocket launch thus far this year. SpaceX's Starlink 12-3 mission launched at 5:15 a.m. EST from Launch Complex 40 during a National Weather Service dense fog advisory — with meteorologists warning motorists that visibility could dip below ¼ mile until hours after sunrise. The Falcon 9 deployed 21 Starlink satellites into low-Earth orbit, including 13 with direct-to-cell communications capabilities. Rumbling from the rising rocket reverberated for roughly 2½ minutes in Rockledge, Viera and nearby Space Coast communities, rattling homes amid unusual atmospheric conditions that thwarted launch photographers. Cape Canaveral: Is there a launch today? Upcoming SpaceX, Blue Origin, NASA rocket launch schedule in Florida Afterward, SpaceX continued targeting a Tuesday rocket launch doubleheader from the Cape. A second, 53-minute launch window was slated to open at 6:13 p.m. to launch a Falcon 9 from NASA's Kennedy Space Center. That mission was set to deploy the third pair of Maxar Space Systems-built WorldView Legion high-resolution imagery satellites into orbit. Before the Starlink liftoff, SpaceX crews kept the general public guessing Tuesday morning by not publicly announcing that rocket fueling had begun. Instead, thick fog obscured views of Launch Complex 40 and telltale signs of rocket fueling, namely billowing white vapor and frost forming near the rocket's base. The first-stage booster from Tuesday's Starlink mission completed its 21st flight by touching down for landing atop the SpaceX drone ship Just Read the Instructions in the Atlantic Ocean. The booster previously launched OneWeb 1, SES 18+19, Eutelsat HOTBIRD-F1, CRS-24 and 16 Starlink missions. Last week, Scandinavian Airlines officials announced Starlink high-speed Wi-Fi internet service will roll out fleet-wide late this year, free of charge to all passengers. "Starlink will soon be available on all @SAS flights for passengers and crew, even while flying over the Atlantic Ocean, North Sea and North Pole," SpaceX Vice President of Launch Kiko Dontchev said in a tweet. For the latest news and launch schedule from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station and NASA's Kennedy Space Center, visit Rick Neale is a Space Reporter at FLORIDA TODAY. Contact Neale at Rneale@ Twitter/X: @RickNeale1 Space is important to us and that's why we're working to bring you top coverage of the industry and Florida launches. Journalism like this takes time and resources. Please support it with a subscription here. This article originally appeared on Florida Today: SpaceX launches Starlink 12-3 mission Tuesday at foggy Cape Canaveral
Yahoo
05-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Maxar Successfully Launches Fifth and Sixth WorldView Legion Satellites
All six WorldView Legion Earth imaging satellites are performing well on orbit, marking a new era for geospatial insights WESTMINSTER, Colo., February 05, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Maxar Intelligence, a provider of secure, precise geospatial insights, today confirmed that its fifth and sixth WorldView Legion satellites are performing well after being launched into mid-inclination orbit from Kennedy Space Center, Florida, on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket earlier today. With this successful launch, Maxar now has seven satellites on orbit capable of collecting 30 cm-class imagery—representing a significant increase in very-high resolution imagery capacity and marking a new era for the geospatial industry. Once all six WorldView Legion satellites are fully operational, the Maxar constellation will be able to collect more than 6 million sq km of Earth imagery per day, including up to 3.6 million sq km of 30 cm-class imagery. These capabilities offer: More capacity for mission planning. The ability to collect more real-time imagery to support site monitoring, emergency response, maritime surveillance and civil government use cases. Foundational imagery to create fresher basemaps and 3D maps for commercial and operational mapmaking and telecommunications planning. Enhanced insights extracted on the global scale for informed decision-making. "This incredible achievement puts Maxar in a category of its own within the geospatial industry, and it's been made possible thanks to the hard work, dedication and talent of the many people who have supported this program over the years," said Dan Smoot, Maxar Intelligence CEO. "This is the just the beginning. This additional capacity enables us to collect more timely data over more locations, and it will further fuel the industry's most advanced 2D and 3D geospatial content products." "Combining this capacity with our AI-powered technologies and software platform puts Maxar in a unique position to deliver the ground truth in near real-time, empowering our government and commercial users to make mission-critical, time-sensitive decisions with confidence," Smoot said. In addition to increasing collection capacity, the WorldView Legion satellites enhance the capabilities of Maxar's industry-leading constellation by: Powering dawn-to-dusk image collection, with satellites in mid-inclination orbit and sun-synchronous orbit. Enabling up to 15 revisits per day of some locations on Earth, which is critical for use cases like site and change monitoring. The first two WorldView Legion launched in May 2024 and are currently supporting customer missions. The second pair launched in August 2024 and delivered first images late last year. Built by Maxar Space Systems, these six WorldView Legion satellites are the first Maxar 500™ series platforms to reach space, following the successful launches of the four last year. "Maxar Space Systems is committed to our Maxar Intelligence customer, delivering on our legacy of quality and reliability. The WorldView Legion spacecraft are built to be the most advanced commercial Earth observation systems, reflecting our team's dedication and hard work," said the CEO of Maxar Space Systems, Chris Johnson. Learn more about Maxar's next-generation WorldView Legion satellites. About Maxar Intelligence Maxar Intelligence is a leading provider of secure, precise geospatial insights. Operating the most advanced commercial Earth observation constellation on orbit, we use the power of very high-resolution satellite imagery and software technology to deliver mission success on Earth and in space. Our secure, AI-powered products and services deliver ground truth in near real-time to keep nations safe, improve navigation, protect our planet, speed up disaster response and more. For more information, visit About Maxar Space Systems Maxar Space Systems is a leading satellite manufacturer and provider of advanced solutions for space exploration and operations. We deliver innovative solutions to commercial and government customers helping them unlock the promise of space to solve problems on Earth and beyond. We address a broad spectrum of needs for our customers, including mission systems engineering, product design, spacecraft manufacturing, assembly, integration and testing. Maxar Space Systems is a trusted partner in commercial and government missions, combining more than 60 years of deep mission understanding and industry leading performance. For more information, visit View source version on Contacts Media Contacts: Tomi MaxtedMaxar Intelligence Media Eric GlassMaxar Space Systems Media Relations+ Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
05-02-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
SpaceX launches Maxar 3 mission, high-resolution commercial satellites
Feb. 4 (UPI) -- SpaceX launched its Maxar 3 mission, with two high-resolution commercial satellites on board, from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Tuesday after Monday's launch was scrubbed. The Maxar 3 mission, which carried both WorldView Legion satellites into mid-inclination Earth orbit, lifted off from Launch Complex 39A at about 6:13 p.m. EST. "SpaceX has confirmed that it is now set to launch our fifth and sixth WorldView Legion satellites from Kennedy Space Center on Feb. 4," Maxar Technologies wrote earlier Monday in a post on X, along with photos of the satellites. Launch update: @SpaceX has confirmed that it is now set to launch our fifth and sixth WorldView Legion satellites from Kennedy Space Center on February 4. The launch window opens at 6:07 p.m. ET. Watch the launch live at and Maxar Technologies (@Maxar) February 3, 2025 Approximately 47 minutes after liftoff, the first WorldView Legion satellite was to be deployed. The second satellite was to be deployed about an hour and 50 minutes into the flight. The two WorldView Legion satellites were shipped to Florida from Maxar Space Systems' factory in Palo Alto, Calif., in early January. The satellites will complete Maxar's first block of satellites, once released into orbit. This is the fourth flight for the Falcon 9 first stage booster 1086, which will support Tuesday's launch. The first stage booster previously launched GOES-U and two Starlink missions. Following stage separation eight minutes after launch, Falcon 9 will land on Landing Zone at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, which could cause a sonic boom across Central Florida. There are currently four WorldView Legion satellites operating in mid-inclination Earth orbit and six other satellites in a sun-synchronous orbit, according to Maxar Technologies. "With satellites now in sun-synchronous and mid-inclination orbits, the Maxar constellation has more capacity for tasking than ever before -- an increase of 85% over the mid-latitudes of Earth!" Maxar Technologies wrote in December in a post on X. With satellites now in sun-synchronous and mid-inclination orbits, the Maxar constellation has more capacity for tasking than ever before-an increase of 85% over the mid-latitudes of Earth! : This GIF illustrates the MIO orbits of four WorldView Legion satellites. Read more... Maxar Technologies (@Maxar) December 3, 2024 Earlier Tuesday, Falcon 9 launched 21 Starlink satellites to low-Earth orbit from SLC-40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. The satellites, which launched at 5:15 a.m., included 13 with Direct to Cell capabilities. Direct to Cell capabilities allow Starlink satellites to "function as space-based cell towers, providing cellular service directly to standard LTE phones," according to SpaceX. Direct to Cell will enable global data service, texting and voice calls while "enhancing connectivity in remote or underserved areas." Tuesday morning's flight was the 21st for the first stage booster, which previously launched OneWeb 1, SES 18+19, Eutelsat HOTBIRD-F1, CRS-24 and 17 Starlink missions. Falcon 9 delivers 21 @Starlink satellites to the constellation, including 13 with Direct to Cell capabilities SpaceX (@SpaceX) February 4, 2025
Yahoo
04-02-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
SpaceX launches Maxar 3 mission, high-resolution commercial satellites
Feb. 4 (UPI) -- SpaceX launched its Maxar 3 mission, with two high-resolution commercial satellites on board, from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Tuesday after Monday's launch was scrubbed. The Maxar 3 mission, which carried both WorldView Legion satellites into mid-inclination Earth orbit, lifted off from Launch Complex 39A at about 6:13 p.m. EST. "SpaceX has confirmed that it is now set to launch our fifth and sixth WorldView Legion satellites from Kennedy Space Center on Feb. 4," Maxar Technologies wrote earlier Monday in a post on X, along with photos of the satellites. Approximately 47 minutes after liftoff, the first WorldView Legion satellite was to be deployed. The second satellite was to be deployed about an hour and 50 minutes into the flight. The two WorldView Legion satellites were shipped to Florida from Maxar Space Systems' factory in Palo Alto, Calif., in early January. The satellites will complete Maxar's first block of satellites, once released into orbit. This is the fourth flight for the Falcon 9 first stage booster 1086, which will support Tuesday's launch. The first stage booster previously launched GOES-U and two Starlink missions. Following stage separation eight minutes after launch, Falcon 9 will land on Landing Zone at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, which could cause a sonic boom across Central Florida. There are currently four WorldView Legion satellites operating in mid-inclination Earth orbit and six other satellites in a sun-synchronous orbit, according to Maxar Technologies. "With satellites now in sun-synchronous and mid-inclination orbits, the Maxar constellation has more capacity for tasking than ever before -- an increase of 85% over the mid-latitudes of Earth!" Maxar Technologies wrote in December in a post on X. Earlier Tuesday, Falcon 9 launched 21 Starlink satellites to low-Earth orbit from SLC-40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. The satellites, which launched at 5:15 a.m., included 13 with Direct to Cell capabilities. Direct to Cell capabilities allow Starlink satellites to "function as space-based cell towers, providing cellular service directly to standard LTE phones," according to SpaceX. Direct to Cell will enable global data service, texting and voice calls while "enhancing connectivity in remote or underserved areas." Tuesday morning's flight was the 21st for the first stage booster, which previously launched OneWeb 1, SES 18+19, Eutelsat HOTBIRD-F1, CRS-24 and 17 Starlink missions.
