A single destination for timely, editor-curated robotics news from around the world.
Google's Project Suncatcher satellite has successfully generated its first poem using an onboard Tensor Processing Unit (TPU) in orbit. This achievement follows approximately three weeks of commissioning, during which the satellite, launched on October 1 aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, completed in...
On October 28, 1971, the United Kingdom successfully launched its first satellite, Prospero, aboard a Black Arrow rocket from the Woomera Range Complex in Australia. This mission marked a significant milestone as it was the first and only satellite launched by the British space program using a domes...
Astroscale has proposed the development of a fleet of bodyguard spacecraft aimed at protecting critical satellites from potential adversarial attacks. This initiative leverages technologies proven in their previous missions, such as the ADRAS-J mission, which successfully inspected a discarded Japan...
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is exploring potential changes to its satellite communications regulations to facilitate easier access for drone operators. The agency is currently seeking public input on whether the existing rules sufficiently address unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) and...
Northrop Grumman has successfully launched 21 satellites into low Earth orbit on October 10, 2026, to assist the US military in missile detection and secure communications. This deployment marks the first set of satellites built for the Space Development Agency's Tranche 1 Transport Layer, contribut...
The Satellite Applications Catapult has announced the establishment of the National Autonomy and Drone Innovation Centre (NADIC) at Westcott Venture Park, supported by £2.25 million from Buckinghamshire Council. This facility aims to provide UK companies with a controlled environment to generate reg...
Satlyt, a startup based in Sunnyvale, California, and Nairobi, has announced an $8 million seed funding round led by Non Sibi Ventures. The funding will support the development of software that allows AI models to operate on satellites, facilitating the sharing of substantial computing workloads in...
China is drafting new technical standards aimed at enhancing autonomous satellite coordination in space. This initiative is part of a broader effort to improve the operational capabilities of satellites, particularly through the BeiDou refueling mission, which is expected to extend satellite lifespa...
Airborne intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) are crucial for achieving information superiority in modern warfare. As threats evolve, the integration of drone technology and satellite capabilities is essential for effective information gathering and sharing. The US Air Force plans to...
Northrop Grumman has successfully launched its advanced robotic spacecraft, the Mission Robotic Vehicle (MRV), designed to service satellites in orbit. The MRV, which took off from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on July 21 aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, aims to repair, upgrade, and relocate sa...
The U.S. Army is actively seeking new technologies to engage adversary satellites from the ground, as stated by Col. Joe Mroszczyk, a senior Army space official. This initiative aligns with the Army's expanding role in supporting U.S. Space Command in achieving space superiority, emphasizing the imp...
Northrop Grumman's Mission Extension Vehicle (MEV) has successfully detached from the Optus satellite after over a year of service, paving the way for the new Mission Robotic Vehicle (MRV) and Mission Extension Pods (MEPs). This transition marks a significant advancement in satellite life-extension...
Kapsch TrafficCom has successfully deployed its Geo Location Platform (GLP) for satellite-based tolling in the Netherlands, expanding its operations in Europe. This platform is already in use in Belgium and is designed to create tolling transactions through advanced map-matching and trip-building ca...
SpaceX and Nvidia have announced a partnership to develop the Starmind AI1 satellite, which will utilize Nvidia's Rubin GPUs and Vera CPUs for AI computing in low Earth orbit. This initiative aims to create a vast network of satellites, potentially reaching one million, forming a distributed AI supe...
HEBI Robotics has received a Phase I contract from NASA’s Small Business Innovation Research program to develop compact robotic actuators for small satellites. This initiative aims to design miniature actuators capable of generating significant force while fitting within the constraints of spacecraf...
On July 21, SpaceX launched a dual-arm space robot named MRV from Cape Canaveral, Florida. Its mission is to extend the lifespan of aging satellites by attaching jetpacks to them in geostationary orbit, preventing them from becoming space debris. The first clients for this service are Luxembourg's S...
Northrop Grumman successfully launched its robotic spacecraft designed to extend the operational lives of aging communications satellites without the need for refueling. The spacecraft, known as the Mission Robotic Vehicle (MRV), was launched aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral Space...
SpaceX is set to launch a groundbreaking satellite-servicing mission today, July 21, using a Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. The mission, named MRV-MEV, will deploy a Mission Robotic Vehicle (MRV) and three Mission Extension Pods (MEPs) to geostationary orbit (GEO) at an alt...
Starmind has announced that its satellite technology can save approximately 880 billion liters of cooling water annually at full scale. This figure is equivalent to the annual household water use of around 6.5 million Americans. The technology operates by utilizing a closed-loop liquid cooling syste...
SpaceX has officially named its orbital AI infrastructure project 'Starmind,' which aims to deploy a constellation of up to 1 million satellites. This initiative, confirmed by Elon Musk on June 22, 2026, will enable AI inference directly in space, utilizing solar energy rather than terrestrial power...
SpaceX has introduced the AI1 satellite, the inaugural component of its Starmind constellation, which stands 20 meters tall and has a wingspan of 70 meters. This orbital compute node is designed to deliver computing power equivalent to one NVIDIA GB300 server rack, utilizing a unique cooling system...
On January 30, 2026, SpaceX submitted a request to the FCC to launch up to 1 million satellites as part of its Starmind orbital compute constellation. This ambitious plan is unprecedented, as the total number of satellites ever launched globally is in the low tens of thousands. The proposal seeks a...
Tesla's Optimus robots will not be used to repair Starmind satellites in orbit, as confirmed by recent statements from Elon Musk. Instead, these robots are intended to assist in the construction and operation of the Terafab chip manufacturing facility in Texas. The AI1 satellites, designed to disint...
SpaceX has announced its ambitious Starmind project, which aims to deploy 1 million AI satellites in orbits between 500 and 2,000 km. This initiative, confirmed by Elon Musk on June 23, 2026, follows a merger with xAI, valuing the combined entity at $1.25 trillion. The satellites will function as or...
SpaceX's Starship V3 is set to revolutionize satellite deployment, aiming to launch 1 million Starmind satellites by 2030. The spacecraft can carry over 100 tonnes to low Earth orbit (LEO), significantly more than the Falcon 9's capacity. As of May 2026, Starship has completed 12 flights, with the n...
Ukraine's Ministry of Defence has signed a letter of intent with ICEYE and Nokia to explore the development of sovereign communications satellites. This initiative aims to enhance Ukraine's control over its communications infrastructure, which is increasingly recognized as vital for national securit...
The US Navy successfully established a remote control link with an MQ-25A Stingray unmanned refueling aircraft from the USS Ronald Reagan, located over 2,100 miles away. This milestone demonstrates the Navy's commitment to integrating drones into carrier operations, utilizing a satellite network for...
China has constructed a second specialized vessel for uncrewed underwater vehicles (UUVs) at Guangzhou Shipyard International. This new ship, identified through satellite imagery, appears smaller than a previously noted vessel in Shanghai and features similar design elements, including a flight deck...
Guoyu Xingchen has successfully completed a Series A financing round, raising nearly 100 million yuan. This funding will be directed towards the development of a cluster of space robots designed to manage satellites effectively. The significance of this financing lies in its potential to enhance sa...
AeroVironment is enhancing its Mayhem 10 autonomous military drone system by integrating Elsight's Halo technology. This partnership aims to ensure continuous communication during military operations, even when individual network links are disrupted. The Halo technology will bond various communicati...
Northrop Grumman is enhancing its peg-in-the-hole capability for its Mission Robotic Vehicle (MRV), designed to service satellites in geosynchronous orbit. Collaborating with Carnegie Mellon University's Robotics Institute, led by professor Howie Choset, the initiative aims to extend the operational...
An international team of researchers has reported a staggering loss of 12.5 trillion tons of polar ice from Greenland and Antarctica since the 1970s. This finding is based on the longest satellite record in history, which spans from 1972 to 2023 and incorporates data from 42 satellite surveys and 27...
MIT Lincoln Laboratory is developing the Light High-Orbit Utility Signal Emitter (LightHOUSE) to enhance navigation in cislunar space. This initiative aims to address the limitations of current navigation systems, which rely on NASA's Deep Space Network (DSN) and can take hours for orbit determinati...
During SpaceX's quarterly earnings call on August 4, Elon Musk announced plans to establish factories on the moon, utilizing robots for heavy lifting. This initiative aims to support the production of Starmind AI satellites, with a goal of deploying a million-satellite constellation in Earth's orbit...
Northrop Grumman is set to launch its Mission Robotic Vehicle (MRV) today, equipped with two robotic arms designed for satellite servicing. While the primary purpose of the MRV is to refuel and repair satellites in geosynchronous orbit, discussions have emerged regarding its potential use in offensi...
Sarah Downs, a graduate student at Texas A&M University, has developed an algorithm for NASA that enables robots to assemble satellites in space. This algorithm addresses the classic peg-in-hole problem by allowing robots to insert antennas accurately into designated spots. Downs's work is significa...
Skyroot Aerospace is on the verge of launching its first orbital rocket, Vikram-1, from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, with a launch window from July 12 to August 4. The rocket features a unique liquid-fueled upper stage that allows for multiple satellite deployments during a single mission, markin...
Starmind is a pivotal element in SpaceX's estimated $1.75 trillion IPO valuation, despite currently generating no confirmed revenue. The stock price reflects optimistic projections regarding AI infrastructure growth, which Starmind has yet to substantiate. As of early July 2026, SpaceX's stock has d...
On January 30, 2026, SpaceX filed with the FCC to launch up to 1 million AI compute satellites, positioning orbital data centers as a solution to the increasing demand for AI computing power. Ground data centers are facing significant challenges, with energy consumption projected to reach approximat...
SpaceX's Starmind project, aimed at deploying up to 1 million AI satellites, was filed with the FCC on January 30, 2026. The initiative is designed to minimize reliance on external suppliers, with CEO Elon Musk stating that current chip production capabilities only meet 2% of the projected needs. Th...
Starmind does not have a standalone stock or ticker; investors can gain exposure through SpaceX (ticker: SPCX), which began trading on Nasdaq after its IPO on June 12, 2026. Starmind is integrated within SpaceX, contributing to the company's AI and space initiatives, and its performance directly inf...
As Europe gears up for its largest coordinated response to wildfires, the use of drones is proving crucial for detecting fires, monitoring their progression, and providing real-time updates to emergency teams. However, a significant challenge arises when these drones operate beyond cellular coverage...
An experimental satellite has successfully mapped the extent of GPS jamming across Europe and the Middle East, marking a significant advancement in space-based monitoring technology. This groundbreaking achievement was reported recently, showcasing the satellite's ability to detect and analyze inter...
NASA has developed an artificial intelligence tool that utilizes satellite data to detect harmful algal blooms, a significant environmental concern for coastal communities. This innovative technology aims to enhance response times and improve protective measures for both local economies and ecosyste...
Chinese aerospace researchers have unveiled an innovative system that utilizes Large Language Models (LLMs) to enhance various aspects of aerospace engineering. This development was announced during a recent conference focused on advancements in aerospace technology, held in Beijing. The researchers...
The landscape of military navigation is undergoing a significant transformation as counterspace threats and electronic warfare challenge the previously uncontested dominance of GPS technology. Exail is at the forefront of this shift, introducing its Fiber Optic Gyro (FOG) technology, which offers en...
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is set to launch a mission this summer to extend the operational lifespan of geosynchronous satellites beyond their typical expiration dates. This initiative aims to address the growing need for sustainable satellite operations in space, allowing...
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is set to launch its Robotic Servicing of Geosynchronous Satellites (RSGS) program this summer. This initiative aims to enhance the capabilities of satellites in geosynchronous orbit by enabling robotic servicing, which includes maintenance, upgr...
A team of researchers has reached a significant milestone in the field of artificial intelligence applied to Earth observation. They successfully developed a compressed AI model that operates efficiently within the constraints of satellite hardware. This breakthrough was achieved through innovative...
ICEYE has successfully delivered the MikroSAR radar satellite reconnaissance system to the Polish Armed Forces, achieving this milestone in under a year following the contract signing. This swift deployment underscores ICEYE's commitment to enhancing Poland's defense capabilities through advanced sa...
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