April 27 - May 3, 2026 | Vol 45, Week 17 | Hawai`i Island, USA
Amazon Leo Constellation to Gain 61 Additional Satellites this Week
Two launches, April 27 + 28, are planned for the Amazon Leo project for global internet, using different launch providers and vehicles. United Launch Alliance (ULA) will send 29 satellites via an Atlas V from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, and Arianespace will deploy 32 satellites using Ariane 64 from Guiana Space Centre. These are the 10th and 11th launches for Amazon Leo, previously known as Project Kuiper. If the deployment pattern is repeated, they will be released at altitude 465 km about 2 hours after launch, after which they will be tested and boosted to 630 km. After recent approval for an additional 4,500 satellites, Amazon LEO will consist of ~7,736 satellites across 98 orbital planes at altitudes of 590 km, 610 km and 630 km. Starlink currently has 10,000+ satellites in 150+ orbital planes at altitudes 340 km, 480 km and 550 km. Unlike Starlink, Amazon relies on multiple external launch providers. Amazon is merging with Globalstar and partnering with Apple for spectrum access and direct-to-device services. In meeting an FCC date to have 1,600+ in orbit, Amazon is working with ULA and Arianespace to increase the number of satellites per launch and has contracted New Glenn for launches. The ULA launch will be livestreamed. (Image Credits: Amazon, ESA-CNSA-Arianespace-ArianeGroup-Optique Vidéo du CSG, ULA)
IAU APRIM Advancing Astronomy from Earth, Space and the Moon
The next Asia-Pacific Regional IAU Meeting (APRIM) begins May 3, and is held ~3 years and second in size only to International Astronomical Union general assembly. Science, co-operation and friendship are overarching, with nine conference themes of Astronomy Education and Communication; Galaxies / AGN / Redshift; Gravitation Wave Astronomy; Life Cycle of Stars / Planets; Space Sustainability; Large Astronomical Facilities; Time Domain Astronomy; High Energy Astrophysics; and Radio / MM / Sub-MM Astronomy. Each has a theme-song with lyrics. Confirmed plenary speakers include 2 Nobel Prize winners, 5 Shaw Prize winners, and the 2025 Gruber Prize winner. To be held at the iconic waterfront Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre, previous conferences were in Japan, Korea, New Zealand and other countries. Lead in Hong Kong for organizing APRIM is Professor Quentin Parker, Director of Laboratory for Space Research at Hong Kong University (HKU). Parker partnered with International Lunar Observatory Association (ILOA), allowing for the ILO-C wide-field camera astronomical instrument to be developed by Beijing Institute of Space Mechanics & Electricity, a Chinese R&D organization specializing in space optical remote sensing. ILO-C will be carried to the Moon via Chang’E-7 lander of China National Space Administration, launching NET August, landing November-December. (Image Credits: ILOA, CNSA, APRIM, HKCEC)
Humans in Space
☆ International Space Station, ~415-km LEO: Expedition 74 seven members expecting resupply ship Progress MS-34 (95P) to arrive April 27 with ~7,280 kg of cargo. They are using blood stem cells and DNA-inspired nanomaterials in research for new treatments with aid of Canadian Space Agency’s Bio-Analyzer and a Microgravity Science Glovebox exploring long-term storage methods of cryogenic fluids. Chris Williams, Sergey Kud-Sverchkov and Sergei Mikaev practiced an emergency departure drill inside the Soyuz MS-28 spacecraft as Roscosmos mission controllers on the ground monitored in real time. Mikaev filled out a questionnaire continuing research on helping international crews work together.
☆ Tiangong Space Station, ~390-km LEO: Shenzhou-21 three-member crew will have their stay extended by one month to early June due to Shenzhou-21 use after Shenzhou-20 suffered damage; Shenzhou-22 will be used by the current crew after Shenzhou-23 arrives. One crew member of Shenzhou-23 is expected to spend 12 months in space, enabling a visit by a Pakistani Astronaut. Zhang Lu and Wu Fei installed more components of the external debris protection equipment on a 5.5-hour spacewalk, supported by Zhang Hongzhang inside the station. This 7th EVA by Zhang Lu is the most by a Taikonaut. Cargo vehicle Tianzhou-9 is currently docked, with Tianzhou-10 possibly launching in May.
◐ Lunar Enterprise News: Blue Origin re-flew a New Glenn 1st stage and again recovered it, 2nd stage 1-min+ burn failed; New Glenn to launch Blue Moon lander NLT September. | New NASA Moon base program manager Carlos Garcia-Galan spoke at Space Symposium about “100s of square miles” as base size. | Benchmark Space Systems will work on Lunar Assay via Small Satellite Orbiter (LASSO). | Latvia became 62nd signer of Artemis Accords. | Charania and Crouse presented at LPSC2026 on lunar nuclear-power using Americium-241. | ispace and Shimizu sign MOU to plan cislunar architecture and lunar surface data center. | Agreement with NASA has Italian Space Agency developing Moon base components. | Astrobotic partnering with Thales on rover wheels. | Artemis II purpose called out: A test mission, not a science mission. | Moon landing space suit readiness questioned.
Near-Earth Objects Close Approaches – Mon Apr 27: Apollo Asteroid 2026 HR (0.042 AU); Tue Apr 28: Amor Asteroid 2026 GU1 (0.031 AU); Tue Apr 28: Apollo Asteroid 2026 HW (0.024 AU); Sun May 3: Amor Asteroid 2026 GD1 (0.037 AU)
First Woman Lands on the Moon …
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