📄Top Stories

SpaceX achieved its 450th successful Falcon booster landing, marking a significant milestone in reusable rocket technology. ATLAS Space Operations showcased their new secure software for improving military satellite operations. The “Golden Dome” initiative aims to develop a comprehensive missile defense system, blending land, sea, and space technologies.

📰Detailed Coverage

SpaceX Celebrates Landmark Booster Landing

SpaceX reached a major milestone with the 450th successful landing of a Falcon booster during a recent Starlink mission. The launch from Vandenberg Space Force Base was followed by a precise landing of booster 1075, marking another achievement in SpaceX’s push towards cheaper and more frequent space access through reusability.

This landing reinforces SpaceX’s leading position in the commercial space industry and continues their commitment to operational excellence. As the frequency of these missions increases, so does the coverage and capability of satellite networks, a feature available for tracking on our web app.

Read the full story: Spaceflight Now

ATLAS Enhances Military Satellite Operations

ATLAS Space Operations, in collaboration with Freedom Space Technologies, has successfully demonstrated their new Freedom software platform designed for secure and scalable satellite operations. This system was validated in collaboration with the U.S. Air Force Research Lab and the Defense Innovation Unit as part of the Hybrid Space Architecture initiative.

These advancements promise to enhance the security and operational efficiency of military satellite systems. The platform focuses on ensuring data integrity and operational continuity, illustrating ATLAS’s pivotal role in advancing national security satellite infrastructure.

Read the full story: Space War

Trump Revives Missile Defense with “Golden Dome”

President Donald Trump has announced the ambitious “Golden Dome” project, drawing inspiration from Israel’s Iron Dome. This initiative aims to develop a comprehensive missile defense system integrating land, sea, and space capabilities to counter complex missile threats.

The deployment of next-generation space-based elements will expand the United States’ defensive perimeter. This endeavor signifies a potential uptick in satellite launches and could influence tracking and monitoring strategies utilized by our web app.

Read the full story: Space Explored

UAE Advances Local Defense Production

In a significant push for defense localization, the UAE has partnered with French company Thales to establish a production facility for Ground Master series air surveillance radars. This collaboration is part of the UAE’s broader strategy to build and strengthen its defense capabilities locally.

This move underscores the nation’s commitment to technological advancement in defense, highlighting the increasing global trend of nations seeking to enhance self-sufficiency in military sectors.

Read the full story: Breaking Defense

Celebrating AFSOC’s 35 Years

Lt. Gen. Mike Conley, Commander of the Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC), reflects on the Command’s 35-year history of lethal and agile operations. This milestone celebrations highlighted AFSOC’s past achievements and future goals.

The narrative underscores the evolution and enduring importance of special operations within broader military strategies, showcasing their ongoing adaptability and readiness in dynamic global contexts.

Read the full story: Breaking Defense

🛰️Satellite Spotlight

• Satellite Name: YAOGAN-35 02A
• NORAD ID: 52907
• Launch Date: June 23, 2022
• Mission: Earth observation or SIGINT (Signals Intelligence)
• Orbit: Low Earth Orbit (LEO)
• Operator: ZZB
• Fun Fact: The YAOGAN series supports various missions, including military reconnaissance and potentially civil earth observation.

Track this satellite in real-time on our web app: Track YAOGAN-35 02A

🌌Space Weather

Space weather conditions are currently quiet.

R0 - S0 - G0

Next 24 Hours: In the coming day, satellite operators can expect stable conditions with no risk of radio blackouts or solar radiation storms. Ground-based radar and telescope operators will find their observations unobstructed, as no G1 (Minor) or greater geomagnetic storms are expected. This means that satellite communication users should experience uninterrupted services, and the likelihood of drag impacts to Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites remains minimal.

Beyond: From 19 May to 14 June 2025, solar activity is forecasted to remain low, although there is a potential for R1-R2 (Minor-Moderate) radio blackouts during this period. Notably, no proton events are anticipated at geosynchronous orbit, which is good news for satellite operators. However, the greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit is expected to reach high levels on specific dates (19-23 May, 29 May - 05 Jun, and 14 Jun) due to recurrent coronal hole activity.

The geomagnetic field activity is likely to remain elevated above quiet levels for most of the next 27 days. We can expect G2 (moderate) conditions on 29 May and 13 Jun, with G1 (minor) conditions likely on several other significant dates including 19 May and 28 May. Active conditions may arise from 30 May to 01 Jun, as well as 10 Jun, while unsettled levels are predicted on various dates throughout this period. Fortunately, quiet conditions are expected to return for the last few days of the forecast.

🚀Upcoming Space Launches

May 24

• SpaceX Falcon 9 Block 5:
  • Starlink Group 12-22 from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, FL, USA (17:19 UTC) A batch of 23 satellites for the Starlink mega-constellation, part of SpaceX’s project for space-based Internet communication.

May 27

• SpaceX Falcon 9 Block 5:
  • Starlink Group 17-1 from Vandenberg Space Force Base, CA, USA (16:14 UTC) A batch of 24 satellites for the Starlink mega-constellation, part of SpaceX’s project for space-based Internet communication.
• SpaceX Starship:
  • Flight 9 from SpaceX Starbase, TX, USA (23:30 UTC) 9th test flight of the two-stage Starship launch vehicle.

May 28

• Rocket Lab Electron:
  • Full Stream Ahead (BlackSky Gen-3 2) from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1, Mahia Peninsula, New Zealand (01:30 UTC) 2nd of the BlackSky Gen-3 high-resolution Earth-imaging satellites.
• SpaceX Falcon 9 Block 5:
  • Starlink Group 10-32 from Kennedy Space Center, FL, USA (13:30 UTC) A batch of satellites for the Starlink mega-constellation, part of SpaceX’s project for space-based Internet communication.
• China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation Long March 3B/E:
  • Tianwen-2 from Xichang Satellite Launch Center, People’s Republic of China (17:22 UTC) Tianwen-2 is a planned Chinese asteroid sample return and comet orbiter mission. The spacecraft will collect samples from the Near Earth asteroid 469219 Kamoʻoalewa and return them to Earth.

May 29

• China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation Long March 2D:
  • Unknown Payload from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, People’s Republic of China (04:03 UTC) Details TBD.

May 30

• SpaceX Falcon 9 Block 5:
  • GPS III SV08 from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, FL, USA (17:12 UTC) Eighth of ten GPS III missions.
• SpaceX Falcon 9 Block 5:
  • Starlink Group 11-18 from Vandenberg Space Force Base, CA, USA (20:24 UTC) A batch of satellites for the Starlink mega-constellation, part of SpaceX’s project for space-based Internet communication.

Note: Launch dates and times are subject to change due to technical or weather considerations.