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Latest news, analysis, and updates on Space from A47 News.
14 stories in Tech · Updated live
Musk Accuses Ukraine of Breaching Starlink Terms Over Offensive Drone Strikes as Kyiv Denies Claims
On October 26, 2026, Elon Musk publicly accused Ukraine of violating Starlink terms of service by using the commercial satellite service for lethal offensive drone operations, while Ukrainian officials denied the claim and asserted that commercial terminals technically cannot support such deep-strike use. The dispute followed SpaceX-imposed speed restrictions on Starlink and Starshield terminals in Ukraine that disrupted military drone and logistics operations during the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict. The episode is likely to intensify scrutiny of how commercial satellite infrastructure is governed and whitelisted in active conflict zones, with Starshield's U.S.-controlled role becoming a central point of accountability.
Musk Accuses Ukrainian Military of Starlink Terms Violation as Speed Restrictions Disrupt Frontline Drone Operations
In late October 2026, Elon Musk publicly asserted that Ukraine's military breached Starlink's terms of service by using the commercial network for offensive drone strikes, following temporary speed restrictions that disrupted Ukrainian operations against Russian forces. The accusation followed mid-October speed caps of roughly 100 mph imposed on Starlink and Starshield terminals, which Musk attributed to SpaceX enforcing civilian usage policies while Ukrainian officials denied that offensive use was technically possible with the commercial service. Given Starlink's role as a critical communications backbone in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, the dispute highlights the growing tension between private satellite providers' usage policies and the operational dependence of military forces on commercial space infrastructure.
Virgin Galactic Completes Maiden Captive-Carry Ferry Flight of Delta-Class Spaceplane Apeiron to Spaceport America
On October 28, 2026, Virgin Galactic completed the captive-carry ferry flight of its first Delta-class spaceplane Apeiron from Mesa, Arizona to Spaceport America, New Mexico, marking the shift from manufacturing to flight test preparation. The transition is driven by the program's need to move the next-generation vehicle, designed for higher flight cadence and durability than SpaceShipTwo, into integration, structural, and systems testing after avionics delays pushed timelines to 2027. The company is targeting paying passenger service in early Q2 2027, with a second Delta-class vehicle to follow in late Q2 or early Q3 2027 and a goal of twice-weekly flights per vehicle.
Israeli Ad-Tech Firm Discover-Tech Allegedly Used Ad Auctions to Track Starlink Users in 105 Countries
Cybersecurity researchers reported on October 27, 2026 that Israeli ad-tech firm Discover-Tech allegedly dominated bidding for Starlink-related ad traffic across 105 countries, accounting for roughly 13 percent of winning bids. The findings follow October 15 disclosures linking the firm to malicious ads that delivered spyware, including compromises of Al Jazeera employee devices, and platforms such as Google have since cut its access to ad exchanges. The episode is likely to accelerate scrutiny of ad-tech data exposure and push platforms and regulators toward tighter vendor vetting and auction transparency in sensitive regions.
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Virgin Galactic Completes Maiden Captive-Carry Ferry Flight of Delta-Class Spaceplane Apeiron to Spaceport America
On October 28, 2026, Virgin Galactic completed the captive-carry ferry flight of its first Delta-class spaceplane Apeiron from Mesa, Arizona to Spaceport America, New Mexico, marking the shift from manufacturing to flight test preparation. The transition is driven by the program's need to move the next-generation vehicle, designed for higher flight cadence and durability than SpaceShipTwo, into integration, structural, and systems testing after avionics delays pushed timelines to 2027. The company is targeting paying passenger service in early Q2 2027, with a second Delta-class vehicle to follow in late Q2 or early Q3 2027 and a goal of twice-weekly flights per vehicle.
Pentagon Releases Full-Resolution Image Confirming China's X-37B-Like Reusable Spaceplane in Orbit
The Defense Intelligence Agency released a full-resolution image of a Chinese winged spaceplane closely resembling the US X-37B, captured in 2024 by a commercial Vantor satellite and disclosed on October 29, 2026. The fourth Chinese spaceplane mission has been active in low-Earth orbit since February 2026, following demonstrated sub-satellite deployment and recapture operations. This signals accelerating reusable military space capability on both sides of US-China competition, likely driving further investment in space domain awareness and counterspace systems.
Vera C. Rubin Observatory Identifies Trans-Neptunian Object 2026 ED138 as Potential Dwarf Planet Candidate
Astronomers announced on October 27-29, 2026, the identification of trans-Neptunian object 2026 ED138, estimated at 600 to 1,500 kilometers in diameter and orbiting roughly 46 astronomical units from the Sun. The object was detected on October 13, 2026, in Vera C. Rubin Observatory data, with archival observations back to 2016 enabling reconstruction of its 281-year orbit that had previously been obscured against the Milky Way's stellar background. Confirmation as a dwarf planet would require verification of a nearly spherical shape, which could make it the sixth recognized dwarf planet alongside Ceres, Pluto, Haumea, Makemake, and Eris.
ISS Crew Completes 100th U.S. Spacewalk and Deploys Seventh iROSA Solar Array
On October 29, 2026, NASA astronaut Anil Menon and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Joshua Kutryk completed the 100th U.S. spacewalk from the International Space Station by installing and deploying the seventh iROSA solar array on the port-side 2A power channel. The EVA was triggered by degraded power output from the station's original eight legacy solar arrays, which the iROSA program is designed to offset by increasing total output from approximately 160 kW to 215 kW. The upgrade sustains station operations through the planned 2030 controlled deorbit, with the eighth and final array scheduled for installation on November 5, 2026.