Earth orbit

Researchers report a new type of satellite propulsion that scoops the thin air in low Earth orbit and uses it as propellant, potentially letting satellites keep their altitude indefinitely without carrying finite fuel. The concept could cut the cost of missions that constantly fight atmospheric drag and extend the working life of Earth-observation spacecraft. Discussion is focused on how the engine works and how practical it would be in practice.

Four environmental organizations filed a petition Thursday urging the Federal Communications Commission to reverse its approval of a startup's plan to beam on-demand sunlight from space to Earth. The groups argue the agency failed to consider the project's potential impacts on wildlife and astronomy, reopening debate over regulating commercial uses of orbit and reflecting growing scrutiny of space-based ventures.

An astronomer is monitoring the gradual orbital decay of Starlink satellites, using how quickly they sink toward Earth as a kind of 'planetary barometer' for upper-atmosphere density. The approach could turn thousands of decommissioning satellites into a large-scale measuring instrument for space weather and atmospheric conditions, a novel reuse of the Starlink constellation that has caught the attention of the science community.

SpaceX's Starship returned to Earth ahead of schedule, ending its orbital test mission with a fiery splashdown in the Pacific Ocean. The early return came after the spacecraft abandoned part of its planned orbit, but the vehicle survived reentry and hit the water intact enough to conclude the flight. The splashdown marks another step in SpaceX's campaign to prove Starship is ready for future lunar and Mars missions.

Google is moving to put AI data centers in outer space, aiming to run computing infrastructure in orbit rather than on the ground. The announcement puts the company ahead in the intensifying race among tech giants to scale AI computing capacity, where power and land constraints on Earth are becoming major bottlenecks. The project, reported by the New York Times, signals a bold bet that space-based data centers could become commercially viable.

The European Space Agency has published a detailed overview of the Zero Debris Charter, its initiative to tackle the growing problem of space junk. The charter commits signatories to concrete steps toward debris-free space operations by 2030. Coverage is focused on explaining what the charter involves, who can join, and how it aims to shape responsible behaviour in Earth's increasingly crowded orbits.

SpaceX's Starship completed Flight 14, reaching Earth's orbit before the vehicle's reentry ended in an explosion over the Pacific Ocean. The test flight is part of SpaceX's iterative development program for the giant rocket, in which destruction during reentry or descent phases is an anticipated outcome providing engineering data. No injuries were reported.