Satellites | Astronomy.com

Robotic Spaceflight

Scientists watch as two satellites burn

What's Launching This Week

More Starlink satellites and two big launches for China

A black-and-white photograph shows a thick, brightly glowing white streak curving diagonally from the upper-right corner down toward the lower-left against a pitch-black background. The brilliant white band features smooth, brush-like streaks and jagged, feathery edges that taper outward along its inner curve, creating stark contrast with the surrounding dark void.

Robotic Spaceflight, Today in the History of Astronomy

Aug. 14, 1959: Explorer 6 images Earth

AI outgrows Earth

A complex, octagonal satellite wrapped in black panels and gold foil dominates the upper portion of the frame inside a large, dark circular testing chamber. Near the bottom left, a person wearing a white lab coat and blue surgical cap kneels while touching one of the satellite’s rectangular panels. A intense white light shines from the center of the structure, creating sharp highlights and high contrast against the dark background.

Today in the History of Astronomy

Aug. 8, 1989: The Hipparcos satellite launches

There are already 16,000 satellites in Earth’s orbit. How will we manage the next 100,000?

FCC approves Reflect Orbital filing for mirror in space

A black-and-white photograph shows a large, complex piece of machinery in an industrial setting alongside a tall, cone-shaped capsule suspended from above. Two men in white lab coats work on the equipment: One sits on a scaffolding platform to the left adjusting a multi-sided geometric sphere atop the machinery, while the other stands on the floor to the right touching the dark cone. The scene is evenly lit with clear contrast, set against a background of large, dark corrugated bay doors and workshop scaffolding.

Today in the History of Astronomy

July 2, 1967: The discovery of GRBs

Robotic Spaceflight

NASA’s Swift Boost mission delayed

A large, complex satellite stands vertically inside a dimly lit industrial facility, mounted atop a white, cone-shaped rocket component. The upper sections of the satellite are wrapped in crinkled gold and silver metallic foil, accented by flat, dark paneling along one side. In the foreground, a person wearing a white protective suit and mask stands on the right, providing a sense of scale to the brightly illuminated machinery.

Space Exploration, Today in the History of Astronomy

June 7, 1992: The Extreme Ultraviolet Explorer launches

A dense cluster of silver and gray spacecraft components, rocket parts, and satellite fragments floats against a black starfield, packed tightly on the left side of the frame and thinning into scattered individual pieces toward the right. The objects range from large cylindrical rocket stages and solar panel arrays to small bolts and twisted metal fragments.

Solar activity determines how fast space junk falls to Earth

An illustration of a satellite breaking apart as it plunges toward Earth's atmosphere, shown against a dark starfield with the white cloud layer of Earth visible at the lower right. The spacecraft's orange and tan body is engulfed in orange flame and brown smoke, with blue solar panels, a silver dish antenna, and other fragments flying outward in all directions.

Falling space debris poses an escalating risk as spacecraft get stronger and more heat-resistant