Hera’s updated software prepares the spacecraft for close exploration of the Didymos and Dimorphos asteroids.

The Hera mission is the European contribution to an international planetary defense program developed with NASA.

The ESA mission team updated Hera’s onboard software from the European Space Operations Centre in Darmstadt.

Infostellar operates StellarStation, a cloud-based Ground Segment as a Service platform.

Mitsubishi Electric Corporation acquired all outstanding shares of Tokyo-based Infostellar Inc. on July 1.

Mitsubishi Electric Corporation plans to expand ground station services for commercial and government satellite operators.

Mitsubishi Electric Corporation plans to reduce up-front capital requirements for constellation operators seeking more frequent contact with spacecraft in low Earth orbit.

Infostellar became a wholly owned subsidiary of Mitsubishi Electric Corporation after the acquisition.

StellarStation virtualizes participating ground stations so operators of small satellite constellations can manage access through the cloud.

Mitsubishi Electric Corporation plans to use Infostellar to accelerate deployment of a global virtualized ground station network.

Infostellar provides satellite antenna hosting, dedicated antenna services, radio license acquisition, and frequency coordination.

StellarStation provides satellite operators with diverse contact opportunities through a centralized service by virtually networking ground stations around the world.

Infostellar employed 21 people as of July 2026.

Infostellar was established in 2016.

Mitsubishi Electric has developed antenna and satellite control technologies through ground stations for communication, satellite tracking and control, and optical and radio telescopes for astronomical observation.

All U.S. germanium supply is imported or recovered from secondary sources.

China tightened export restrictions on gallium, germanium, indium, and other critical materials in December 2024.

Spectrolab, SolAero Technologies, and Azur Space Solar Power are the three primary manufacturers of space-grade triple-junction solar cells serving the Western market.

Germanium substrates provide the mechanical and electrical foundation for space-grade triple-junction solar cells.

China’s share of global germanium production is approximately 60%.

China added antimony to its export controls in September 2024.

Space-grade solar cells used on commercial satellites, government spacecraft, and deep-space probes are triple-junction cells built on a germanium substrate.

China’s Ministry of Commerce required licenses for shipments of gallium and germanium compounds and related metals starting on August 1, 2023.

China produces approximately 60% of the world’s refined germanium.

SolAero Technologies was acquired by Rocket Lab in January 2022.

The United States has no domestic primary germanium production.

Umicore is the leading non-Chinese processor of germanium.

Iridium did not disclose detailed financial terms for the Aireon acquisition.

Aireon provides air traffic surveillance and data services.

Aireon offers commercial data products to airlines, regulators, and other stakeholders.

Iridium sees opportunities to expand Aireon into analytics, safety tools, and non-aviation applications that use persistent global tracking data.

Iridium says the acquisition supports its use of its low-Earth-orbit constellation for data products beyond traditional voice and narrowband connectivity.

Aireon's surveillance feed has been adopted in multiple regions for air traffic management.

Iridium now has direct control over a data platform that operates on its network.

Aireon uses ADS-B receivers hosted on Iridium's second-generation satellites to provide real-time aircraft position data over oceanic and remote regions without conventional radar coverage.

The acquisition makes Aireon a wholly owned subsidiary of Iridium Communications Inc.

Iridium has acquired Aireon and made it a wholly owned subsidiary of Iridium Communications Inc.

Aireon operates a global space-based ADS-B network using payloads hosted on Iridium NEXT satellites.

Aireon’s management team will remain in place after the acquisition.

Iridium has closed its acquisition of Aireon.

Iridium plans to focus on operational and commercial synergies rather than immediate restructuring of Aireon.

Aireon will continue to serve its existing aviation and data customers after the acquisition.

Aireon’s service uses ADS-B receivers hosted on Iridium’s second-generation satellites to provide real-time aircraft position data over oceanic and remote regions without conventional radar coverage.

Aireon will continue serving its existing aviation and data customers after the acquisition.

Integration of Aireon into Iridium is expected to proceed over the coming year.

Iridium says the acquisition supports its long-term strategy to expand recurring service revenue.

Aireon's management team will remain in place after the acquisition.

Iridium intends to integrate Aireon more closely with its satellite infrastructure and commercial organization.

Aireon supplies surveillance data to air navigation service providers and commercial data products to airlines, regulators, and other stakeholders.

Iridium’s acquisition of Aireon gives it direct control over a data platform that runs on its satellite network.