The European Space Agency is examining whether Ariane 6 launch cadence can be increased from its nominal nine launches per year to 12, 15, or 20 launches per year.

The third Ariane 6 flight of 2026 used an Ariane 64 rocket with upgraded P160C solid-fuel boosters.

The Ariane 64 rocket has four solid-fuel boosters.

The first satellite from the Ariane 64 mission was deployed into low Earth orbit 1 hour and 26 minutes after liftoff.

All 36 Amazon satellites were deployed less than half an hour after the first satellite deployment.

The next Ariane 6 launch is expected on 28 August with the MTG-I2 weather satellite for EUMETSAT.

The P160C boosters feature more than 14 tonnes of additional solid propellant compared with the P120C boosters.

The payload launched on the Ariane 64 mission was the heaviest ever launched by an Ariane rocket.

AST SpaceMobile expects the next three satellites to launch on another Falcon 9 as early as July.

AST SpaceMobile expects the three satellites to be fully unfolded over the coming weeks.

AST SpaceMobile’s BlueBirds 8, 9, and 10 completed a successful orbital launch.

AST SpaceMobile is preparing the next three satellites for shipment.

AST SpaceMobile confirmed acquisition of signal for all three satellites after launch.

CENTAURE includes a firm commitment of €138 million over four years.

The OneWeb constellation provides low-latency connectivity.

CENTAURE could increase to €350 million over eight years.

The DGA announced CENTAURE on 15 June as the first call-off contract under the €1 billion framework agreement.

Eutelsat secured a €138 million contract from France’s Ministry of the Armed Forces under a €1 billion framework agreement signed in June 2025.

The France-DGA framework agreement is intended to supplement the Syracuse IV military communications constellation.

The CENTAURE contract includes capacity for multiple areas of strategic interest to the French Armed Forces.

Eutelsat’s OneWeb constellation has more than 600 satellites in low Earth orbit.

France has made a direct investment in Eutelsat.

France’s 10-year framework agreement with the DGA covers priority access to capacity on Eutelsat’s OneWeb constellation.

The France-DGA framework agreement is intended to provide a bridging capability until Europe’s IRIS2 system comes online in the 2030s.

The CENTAURE contract allows enhancements to the security of the OneWeb service.

Starlink’s role in Ukraine demonstrated the value of commercial satellite connectivity and the vulnerability of relying on a network outside European control.

The acquisition strengthens Gilat’s presence in the United States aerospace and defense ecosystem.

Gilat Satellite Networks signed a definitive agreement to acquire a majority stake in Comtech Telecommunications Corporation’s Satellite & Space Communications division.

Comtech’s Satellite & Space Communications division provides Troposcatter Beyond Line of Sight communication systems.

Ken Traub is the president and CEO of Comtech Telecommunications Corporation.

The closing of Gilat Satellite Networks’ acquisition of Comtech’s Satellite & Space Communications division is expected by the end of 2026.

The boards of Gilat Satellite Networks and Comtech Telecommunications Corporation approved the acquisition unanimously.

Comtech’s Satellite & Space Communications division provides ground infrastructure for GEO, MEO, and LEO satellite constellations.

Customers of Comtech’s Satellite & Space Communications division include the U.S. Department of Defense, allied defense agencies, satellite operators, and energy companies operating in complex environments.

Comtech’s Satellite & Space Communications division provides engineering and support services for satellites, launch vehicles, and crewed space applications.

The Gilat acquisition of Comtech’s Satellite & Space Communications division is structured as a cash-free and debt-free transaction with a $157.5 million cash payment, subject to customary working-capital adjustments.

The Gilat acquisition of Comtech’s Satellite & Space Communications division requires approvals from CFIUS, the FTC, and the U.S. Department of Justice under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Act.

The acquisition expands Gilat’s access to customers including NASA, other space agencies, and military and defense organizations worldwide.

Ken Traub said that Gilat will be the ideal home for Comtech’s Satellite & Space division after the transaction.

The Long March 12 has a payload capacity of 12,000 kilograms to low Earth orbit and 6,000 kilograms to a 700-kilometer sun-synchronous orbit.

The June 17 Long March 12 mission carried a group of connectivity satellites into low Earth orbit.

GuoWang satellites launched on the Long March 5B and Long March 6A use a larger platform that is about 30% bigger and weighs up to 1,000 kilograms.

The Long March 12 first stage uses four YF-100K engines, and the second stage uses two YF-115 engines.

Starting with the June 17 mission, the Long March 12 uses a 5.2-meter-diameter fairing made of lighter carbon fiber composite material.

The Long March 12 is a two-stage launch vehicle from the Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology.

Up to 13,000 GuoWang satellites could be in operational orbit in the 2030s.

China Satellite Network Group is a state-owned enterprise that is wholly backed by the Chinese government.

The Long March 12 stands 62.6 meters tall on the launchpad and has a 3.8-meter diameter for its first and second stages.

China plans to deploy 310 satellites this year, 900 in 2027, and 3,600 satellites per year beginning in 2028 to expand the GuoWang constellation.

China Satellite Network Group plans to provide worldwide internet services, with China-focused services as the immediate priority.