editorial

On July 25, 2025, Arianespace will place into orbit Airbus Defence and Space’s CO3D satellites, as well as the CNES’s MicroCarb satellite, with a Vega C rocket.

The CO3D mission is a constellation (Constellation Optique en 3D) composed of four small satellites which are set to map the globe in 3D from LEO, serving public and private sector needs.

The MicroCarb mission is designed to map sources and sinks of carbon dioxide (CO2) – the most important greenhouse gas – on a global scale.

This data will answer both the military need for precise and up-to-date cartography as well as civil applications such as hydrology, geology, civil security, urban planning and land and resource management.

The CNES’ MicroCarb mission is designed to map sources and sinks of carbon dioxide (CO₂), the most important greenhouse gas, on a global scale. The satellite’s dispersive spectrometer instrument will measure atmospheric concentration of CO₂ globally with a high degree of precision.

MicroCarb’s platform is based out of the lastest CNES Myriade model. Its instrument was built by Airbus Defence and Space, and the integration was realized by Thales Alenia Space UK through a dedicated partnership implemented with the UK Space Agency.

The VV27 launch at a glance:

• 354th launch by Arianespace, 5th Vega C launch
• 10% of the satellites launched by Arianespace are Earth observation satellites
• 147th-150th spacecraft built by Airbus Defence and Space launched by Arianespace (CO3D, 4 satellites)
• 108th spacecraft built by Thales Alenia Space launched by Arianespace (MicroCarb platform)

Rocket Lab Corporation (Nasdaq: RKLB) has been selected to launch a dedicated Electron mission for the European Space Agency (“ESA”) for the first time, to deploy the first pair of satellites for a future navigation constellation for Europe, LEO-PNT.

Rocket Lab will launch two “Pathfinder A” spacecraft for ESA, provided by European satellite prime contractors Thales Alenia Space and GMV, from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1 no earlier than December of 2025.

The spacecraft will be deployed to a 510 km LEO as part of a mission to test a new approach of providing location, direction, and timing services from satellites in low orbit—otherwise called LEO-PNT (Low Earth Orbit Positioning, Navigation, and Timing). ESA’s LEO-PNT demonstration mission will assess how a LEO fleet of satellites can work in combination with the Galileo and EGNOS constellations in higher orbits that provide Europe’s own global navigation system.

This latest launch contract underscores Electron’s international reputation as an industry-leading launcher, and reinforces Rocket Lab’s commitment to supporting the growing demand for space access by European constellation operators. Earlier this year Electron completed the deployment of an entire constellation of IoT satellites for French satellite operator Kinéis, before launching a global wildfire detection mission for Germany-based customer OroraTech. Missions for other European satellite operators on Electron date back to 2021.

Rocket Lab founder and CEO, Sir Peter Beck, said, “Launching a European mission on Electron that is integral to the future of Europe’s satellite navigation system is both an honor and a testament to our industry-leading launch service. An important constellation like LEO-PNT needs a strong foundation to grow from, and with Electron’s track record of precise orbital deployment, we’re excited to help secure the future of LEO-PNT for Europe with our launch of these first two satellites in the constellation.”

The bilateral agreement, signed at the Embassy of Sweden in Washington D.C., provides the legal and technical framework for U.S. commercial launches from Swedish spaceports while ensuring proper handling of sensitive technology. This agreement—only the sixth TSA signed by the United States with another country—allows SSC and Firefly Aerospace to continue building a comprehensive satellite launch service at Esrange Space Center and meet the increasing demand for orbital launch capabilities from mainland Europe.

Infrastructure development at SSC’s Esrange Space Center is progressing for Launch Complex 3C where Firefly’s Alpha rocket will launch. The tracking and control systems, security and depot facilities, and the Launch Control Center have already been stood up.

I could not be more excited that the U.S. and Sweden have now finalized the TSA,” said Ulrika Unell, President, Orbital Launch & Rocket Test division, at SSC. “This agreement enables us to move forward into the next important phase of the infrastructure establishment at the spaceport of our Esrange Space Center – allowing for this comprehensive launch service to soon enter the market.”

Finalization of the TSA gets us one step closer to launching our Alpha rocket from Sweden and filling a void for the European satellite market,” said Adam Oakes, Vice President of Launch at Firefly Aerospace. “In collaboration with SSC, we’re building on the existing infrastructure at Esrange to move quickly and meet the responsive space needs of our NATO partners and commercial customers. This TSA agreement removes the regulatory barriers and provides customers with additional assurance that the U.S. and Sweden are committed to an orbital launch capability from Esrange.”

Adding this capability in mainland Europe will strengthen Sweden’s and Europe’s capabilities and competitiveness in the space arena, as well as our relations with the U.S. and NATO,” said Charlotta Sund, CEO at SSC.

Blue Canyon Technologies, RTX’s (NYSE: RTX) launched a CubeSat in support of ARCSTONE, a NASA mission to measure lunar spectral reflectance, or the way sunlight is reflected back from the Moon’s surface at different wavelengths of light—the ARCSTONE mission will use the data it collects to help calibrate space-based imagers for earth observation.

Sunlight, reflected from Earth, carries a vast amount of information into space about the planet’s surface, atmosphere and its composition. ARCSTONE will use a spectrometer to precisely measure reflected sunlight from the entire lunar disk. This cannot be done as effectively from Earth’s surface due to interference from the atmosphere.

In addition to building the spacecraft, Blue Canyon Technologies will also provide mission operations support, making approximately three contacts with the satellite per day.

The ARCSTONE spacecraft is Blue Canyon’s 66th CubeSat to launch into orbit, bringing the company’s total number of CubeSat and microsatellite spacecraft launched to 84 units. The satellite was designed using the company’s guidance, navigation and control systems to enable high pointing accuracy and agility for targeting.

Pointing accuracy describes the process of orienting a spacecraft which is especially important in data collection missions. The spacecraft was assembled at Blue Canyon’s CubeSat factory in Boulder, Colorado, and mission operations will be conducted from the company’s Mission Operations Center in Lafayette.

One of the most challenging tasks in remote sensing from space is achieving required instrument calibration accuracy on-orbit,” said Dr. Constantine Lukashin, physical research scientist at NASA’s Langley Research Center and principal investigator for the ARCSTONE mission. “The Moon is an excellent and available source for calibration with the potential for high accuracy. ARCSTONE will enable multiple spaceborne assets to improve quality of measurements and data products for generations to come.”

Blue Canyon’s advanced spacecraft technology will support ARCSTONE in its efforts to enable high-accuracy lunar calibration standard for past, present, and future sensors in low-Earth and geostationary orbits,” said Chris Winslett, general manager of Blue Canyon Technologies.

HawkEye 360 Inc. has made successful contact with its Cluster 12 satellites following their launch from New Zealand aboard a Rocket Lab Electron rocket— Cluster 12 was launched on June 26 (ET) / June 27 (NZT) and includes three formation-flying satellites designed to detect, characterize, and geolocate radio frequency (RF) signals.

The mission also included Kestrel-0A, an experimental satellite designed to evaluate emerging capabilities and inform future technological advancements.

As the first HawkEye 360 cluster to operate in a dawn/dusk sun-synchronous orbit (SSO), Cluster 12 fills a critical coverage gap in polar orbit revisit and expands the company’s ability to deliver timely RF insights in strategically significant regions. The cluster continues the proven design of Clusters 9 through 11 and includes a demonstration of a Ka-band downlink to evaluate higher throughput for potential future use.

Cluster 12 further reinforces HawkEye 360’s commitment to advancing space-based RF capabilities in support of global security and situational awareness. The company continues to deliver multidimensional signals intelligence that equips allied governments and intelligence organizations with critical knowledge for informed, timely decision-making.

Successful contact with Cluster 12 is the result of meticulous engineering, rigorous testing, and seamless coordination with our launch and mission partners,” said Lorin Metzger, Senior Vice President of Engineering at HawkEye 360. “We’re proud of the team’s work in ensuring a smooth deployment and look forward to bringing this new cluster fully online in the coming weeks.”

Cluster 12 strengthens our mission to deliver timely, defense-relevant RF insights that empower our government and allied partners operating in complex, dynamic environments,” said Patrick Zeitouni, Chief Strategy Officer at HawkEye 360. “By extending coverage through a new orbital plane, this launch reflects our continued leadership in innovation and strategic growth, ensuring our customers have the trusted knowledge they need to achieve mission success.”

AST SpaceMobile, Inc. (NASDAQ: ASTS) has successfully demo’d the world’s first Non-Terrestrial Network (NTN) tactical satellite communications delivering high-throughput data, voice, and video using unmodified mobile devices in collaboration with Fairwinds Technologies (a privately held company).

The field test showcased key defense-related use cases, including real-time connectivity to the Tactical Assault Kit (TAK) over a VPN, multimedia streaming via TAK, and secure multi-party video calls, all executed on standard, unmodified smartphones.

This milestone demonstration was conducted near AST SpaceMobile’s gateway facility on Oahu, Hawaii, with active participation from U.S. Indo-Pacific Command (USINDOPACOM), including representation from the U.S. Navy, Marine Corps, Army, U.S. Space Command, and the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering (OUSD R&E) FutureG team.

AST SpaceMobile collaborated with Fairwinds Technologies on this demonstration. Fairwinds is a trusted partner providing program integration and military tactical network support as AST SpaceMobile explores direct-to-device satellite communications for U.S. government and defense applications.

This effort follows the recent award by the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) to the Fairwinds/AST SpaceMobile team under the Hybrid Space Architecture 2 initiative within DIU’s Space Portfolio. The project is jointly supported by DIU’s Cyber & Telecom Portfolio and aims to evaluate the viability of space-based direct-to-device communications for resilient, secure tactical networks in denied or austere environments.

This was the first in a series of planned prototype demonstrations to evaluate space-based mobile broadband for defense applications, with additional testing, including over open ocean environments, planned in the coming months as the team continues to push the boundaries of multi-domain, space-based tactical communications.

This demonstration represents a significant leap forward in advancing resilient, secure communications capabilities for the U.S. defense community,” said Chris Ivory, Chief Commercial and Government Business Officer at AST SpaceMobile. “We are proud to help enable a new layer of mobile connectivity—directly from space to standard smartphones, with no need for specialized equipment, in support of national security objectives.”

This is just the beginning,” said Timothy Hillner, Chief Technology Officer and Co-Founder of Fairwinds Technologies. “We’re honored to collaborate with AST SpaceMobile and the Defense Innovation Unit to deliver next-generation communications at the tactical edge – precisely where and when they’re needed most. Together, we’re enabling the future of command and control.”

IOD-2, Startical’s second demonstrator satellite and part of the EU-funded ECHOES project, will continue validating real-time VHF voice and data communications between aircraft pilots and air traffic controllers from space

Startical, the company created by ENAIRE and Indra, has successfully launched its second satellite, IOD-2, from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California.

The launch of IOD-2 follows the successful deployment of IOD-1 in March of 2025, that already made history by enabling the first-ever VHF voice communications between aircraft pilots and air traffic controllers via satellite, fully compliant with international aviation standards. These milestones accelerate the development of Startical’s future constellation of more than 200 Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites, designed to provide real-time VHF voice and data communications and aircraft surveillance, particularly in regions currently without coverage, such as oceans and remote areas.

With IOD-2, Startical intensifies its testing phase to demonstrate robust, real-time aeronautical communications and surveillance services from space. Additionally, it reflects Spain’s commitment and capabilities to innovate in the aerospace sector.

The mission is led by Startical ,while the engineering behind the mission systems and the satellite payload have been developed by Indra, with the support of ENAIRE.

Today, aircraft flying over oceans or remote regions must maintain wide separation due to the lack of real-time communication. Startical’s satellites will change that, enabling continuous monitoring and direct voice contact with pilots anywhere on Earth, allowing faster responses to storms, emergencies, or rerouting needs. It also paves the way for more direct and fuel-efficient routes, contributing to a greener aviation industry.

Like its predecessor, IOD-2 is part of ECHOES, a project co-founded by the European Union under the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF), managed by the European Climate, Infrastructure, and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA) and supported by the SESAR Joint Undertaking.

The project aims to demonstrate how satellite technology can enhance ATM services and reduce environmental impact. Both satellites will continue undergoing test over the South Atlantic, covering airspace managed by the Canary Islands, Azores, Dakar, Cape Verde, and Brazil. Beyond technological demonstration, these real-world tests will help define future international standards for satellite-based air traffic communications.1

The success of IOD‑1 proved that space-based VHF works. With IOD‑2, we advance Spain’s leadership in aerospace technology and reaffirm our mission to be the first company that will provide VHF voice and data global coverage for ATM,” said Juan Enrique González Laguna, General Manager of Startical.

Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace (’KONGSBERG’) has completed the N3X satellite constellation with the successful launch of two new microsatellites—ARVAKER 2 and 3—aboard SpaceX’s Transporter-14 mission from California—the N3X satellite constellation is designed to enhance Norway’s maritime domain awareness.

The N3X constellation is built for persistent monitoring of maritime activity. Its payloads include an Automatic Identification System (AIS) receiver and a navigation radar detector (NRD) both supplied by Kongsberg Discovery, and the NRD designed by Norwegian Defence Research Establishment (FFI).

This combination enables N3X to identify cooperative vessels broadcasting AIS, as well as “dark vessels” that disable AIS but continue emitting radar signals. N3X satellites capture these emissions, allowing authorities to geolocate suspicious vessels and support maritime law enforcement, environmental monitoring, and rescue operations among other applications.

The data from N3X will be used by the Norwegian Armed Forces, as well as other Norwegian government institutions involved in maritime security such as the Coastal Administration, the Directorate of Fisheries, and Norwegian Customs.

The development and deployment of the N3X constellation highlights KONGSBERG’s vertically integrated space capability: Kongsberg NanoAvionics manufactured three microsatellite platforms for the constellation, Kongsberg Discovery delivered payloads and KSAT (Kongsberg Satellite Services) are providing satellite operations and a global ground station network for low-latency data access.

KONGSBERG companies and subsidiaries cover the full value chain to offer next-generation satellite systems, from delivering our own micro satellites and ground stations to market-leading data processing and analytics. KONGSBERG is uniquely positioned to deliver complete system solutions combing space segment with the ground systems to enhance data delivery and reduce latency. A central part of KONGSBERG’s capability is the ability to assemble, integrate and test satellites with sensitive and nationally controlled payloads in our facilities.

In addition to the N3X satellites, KONGSBERG also successfully integrated and deployed four additional satellite missions aboard the same SpaceX launch. These satellites, delivered by Kongsberg NanoAvionics, serve customers from Germany, Spain, and New Zealand, and will conduct missions in air traffic surveillance, thermal intelligence, and fundamental space research.

In total, KONGSBERG has launched 10 satellite missions so far in 2025, continuing its year-over-year expansion from the 9 missions launched in 2024 ̑

With the initial N3X satellite constellation on-orbit, KONGSBERG’s role as one of Europe’s most integrated space system and surveillance providers has been proved again. With this and future constellations, we are ready to support Norway and other global customers with technology and services to enhance maritime security,” said Eirik Lie, President of Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace.

Exolaunch has successfully deployed 45 customer satellites on SpaceX’s Transporter-14 rideshare mission aboard the Falcon 9 launch vehicle. The mission marks a significant milestone for the company — its largest launch to date, further reinforcing its position as the premier launch integrator and deployment solution provider for global satellite missions.

The Transporter-14 mission carried satellites from 25 customers from 15 countries, including the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, France, Finland, Italy, South Korea, Canada, Japan, and Australia. Exolaunch managed the comprehensive launch campaign—from mission manifesting, global satellite logistics and environmental testing support to in-house deployment hardware and on-site satellite integration.

For this campaign, Exolaunch manifested and used the firm’s full suite of flight-proven deployment technologies for the following customers…

The company also provided its deployment technologies and satellite integration services to the following customers:

This is a landmark 37th mission for Exolaunch and an incredible testament to the trust placed in us by our customers and partners,” said Dr. Robert Sproles, Chief Executive Officer at Exolaunch. “Executing a deployment of this scale requires not just precision and reliability, but the kind of deep experience and collaboration that comes from dozens of successful missions.”

We’re incredibly grateful to SpaceX for their trust and strong collaboration, which now extends through 2028,” said Jeanne Allarie, Chief Commercial and Marketing Officer at Exolaunch. “Our new multi-year launch contracts with SpaceX enable us to support many new and existing satellite constellations well into the next decade, giving our customers reliable access to a wider range of orbits — including SSO, near-polar, mid-inclination and dawn-dusk missions. We’re energizing our future pipeline and unlocking new deployment opportunities as the industry scales rapidly.”

Exolaunch has launched with SpaceX since 2020, executing more than 160 contracts to date and successfully deploying over 450 diverse satellites (out of 575 in total) across 21 mission aboard Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy. Exolaunch has been the only launch integrator to have manifested satellites on every Transporter rideshare mission. The company integrates and deploys the full range of satellites — from cubesats up to 16U to microsatellites ranging from 20 to 800 kilograms and larger payloads constantly delivering the most reliable and convenient launch experience to global satellite operators. This was the 37th mission in the company’s flight heritage, the 6th launch in 2025 out of 15 launch campaigns Exolaunch is set to accomplish this year across different global launch vehicles.

GHGSat has successfully launched two new satellites—Pierre (C-12) and Valmay (C-13), pictured above—aboard SpaceX’s Transporter-14 rideshare mission, with the company now reaching a total of 14 launched satellites.

The satellites deployed from the Falcon 9 rocket approximately 55 minutes after liftoff, marking another milestone in GHGSat’s mission of equipping decision-makers with actionable data on methane emissions from around the world.

With this launch, GHGSat now has the unique capability to monitor methane emissions from carbon-intensive industries, such as oil and gas, coal mining, and waste, on a daily basis. This transformative frequency enables near real-time tracking and mitigation, helping companies and governments take faster, better-informed action to reduce emissions.

Operating the world’s largest fleet of satellites dedicated to methane, GHGSat provides comprehensive global coverage of methane emissions, surveying more than 4 million sites annually and tracing the source of leaks down to individual pieces of industrial equipment. In 2024 alone, GHGSat detected more than 20,000 emissions over the “super-emitter” threshold of 100 kg/hr. Drawing on unmatched revisit rates and delivering data within hours of a detected emission, GHGSat serves as a trusted partner to industry, government, and financial institutions around the world.

Speed is critical because, while methane is more than 80 times more potent than CO₂ over a 20-year period, it also breaks down in the atmosphere much faster—within about a decade. This means that cutting methane emissions quickly demonstrates benefits for the environment. As international focus sharpens on reducing short-lived greenhouse gases, access to timely, precise, and independent emissions data that pinpoints and quantifies them is foundational for action.

Reducing methane emissions isn’t just good for the planet-it’s also good for business. For the oil and gas sector, methane emissions represent a financial loss: every ton of methane that escapes from oil & gas infrastructure is lost potential revenue. By identifying and fixing leaks rapidly, operators can retain more gas, improve operational efficiency, and reduce regulatory and reputational risks stemming from methane emissions. Studies from organizations such as the International Energy Association have shown that methane mitigation is one of the most cost-effective sustainability actions the industry can take-and can often be done at no net cost to operators.

Moreover, reducing methane emissions bolsters domestic energy security goals. By minimizing losses across production and distribution systems, countries can get more value from their existing energy infrastructure without expanding output. This makes energy supplies more stable and predictable-critical in an era of geopolitical shifts and rising global energy demand. With satellite data, policymakers and energy producers alike can make better-informed decisions that support secure, resilient energy systems.

Now almost a decade since the launch of its first pioneering satellite, Claire, GHGSat continues to rapidly scale its monitoring and data services to meet the surging demand for facility-level emissions data, supporting informed emissions reduction across the public and private sectors worldwide.

This launch represents a turning point in our ability to combat methane, one of the fastest levers that the world has to make progress on sustainability targets,” said GHGSat CEO, Stéphane Germain. “The addition of Pierre and Valmay allows us to deliver a level of global insight and granularity that was unimaginable just a few years ago. Daily monitoring ensures that operators are swiftly alerted of emissions across their assets, enabling rapid mitigation that ultimately drives methane reduction.”

About GHGSat
GHGSat is a global technology leader with pioneering emissions-monitoring capabilities that drive industrial efficiency with positive impact. Harnessing the power of satellites and aircraft, GHGSat traces emissions directly to their source at an unmatched speed, delivering the data and insights required to take action. A trusted partner for organizations around the world, GHGSat empowers decision-makers to tackle emissions, accelerating progress towards a resilient energy future.