Two launches, April 27 / 28, are planned for the same Amazon Leo project for global internet, but 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. If a pattern is kept, they will be released at altitude 465 km about 2 hours after launch, after which they will be tested then 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 satellites-per-launch and has contracted to use New Glenn for launches. Amazon Leo was renamed from Project Kuiper. The ULA launch will be livestreamed. (Image Credits: Amazon, ESA-CNSA-Arianespace-ArianeGroup-Optique Vidéo du CSG, ULA)
Lead in Hong Kong is Dr Quentin Parker and he partnered with ILOA, allowing for the ILO-C to be developed by BISME. (Image Credits: )
☆ International Space Station, ~415-km LEO: Expedition 74 seven members expecting resupply ship Progress MS-34 (95P) to arrive with ~7,280 kg of cargo. …
☆ Tiangong Space Station, ~390-km LEO: Shenzhou-21 three-member crew will have their stay extended by one month to late May due to Shenzhou-21 use after Shenzhou-20 suffered damage; Shenzhou-22 will be used by the current crew. Zhang Lu and Wu Fei installed more components of the external debris protection equipment on a spacewalk. This 7th EVA by Zhang Lu is the most by a Taikonaut.
◐ 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.
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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