Eutelsat Signs Launch Deal With MaiaSpace for LEO Satellites

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European satellite operator Eutelsat has signed a multi-launch agreement with French startup MaiaSpace to deploy future low Earth orbit satellites, strengthening Europe’s push to reduce reliance on SpaceX.

The deal, which begins in 2027, adds MaiaSpace as a complementary launch partner alongside existing providers, Eutelsat said. MaiaSpace is a subsidiary of ArianeGroup and is developing a partially reusable mini-launcher, a first for Europe.

Eutelsat owns OneWeb, currently the only operational LEO constellation rivaling Starlink. OneWeb is considered strategically important by France and the UK, providing secure connectivity to governments, militaries and businesses.

The agreement comes as Europe seeks to accelerate its space capabilities. French President Emmanuel Macron has urged stronger use of LEO constellations to counter Starlink’s dominance.

Eutelsat plans to launch 440 Airbus-built LEO satellites in coming years, while MaiaSpace expects to start commercial operations in 2026.

FCC Approves SpaceX Plan to Deploy 7,500 Additional Starlink Satellites

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The U.S. Federal Communications Commission has approved SpaceX’s request to deploy an additional 7,500 second-generation Starlink satellites, significantly expanding the company’s satellite broadband network as it seeks to boost global internet coverage.

With the approval, SpaceX is now authorised to operate a total of 15,000 Gen2 Starlink satellites worldwide. The FCC also granted permission for the company to upgrade these satellites, operate across five frequency bands, and waived previous restrictions that limited overlapping coverage and network capacity.

According to the FCC, the newly authorised satellites will support direct-to-cell connectivity outside the United States and provide supplemental coverage within the U.S., enabling next-generation mobile services and internet speeds of up to 1 gigabit per second.

“This FCC authorisation is a game-changer for enabling next-generation services,” said FCC Chair Brendan Carr. “By authorising 15,000 new and advanced satellites, the FCC has given SpaceX the green light to deliver unprecedented satellite broadband capabilities, strengthen competition, and help ensure that no community is left behind.”

SpaceX had sought approval to deploy nearly 30,000 satellites in total, but the FCC said it is, for now, approving only half of that request. The remaining 14,988 proposed Gen2 satellites — including those intended to operate above 600 kilometres in orbit — will be reviewed at a later stage.

Under the decision, SpaceX must launch and operate at least 50% of the authorised Gen2 satellites by December 1, 2028, with full deployment required by December 2031. The company is also required to complete deployment of its 7,500 first-generation satellites by late November 2027.

The approval comes as Starlink continues to reconfigure its constellation. The company said last week it would begin lowering satellites orbiting at around 550 kilometres to 480 kilometres during 2026 to improve space safety. SpaceX disclosed in December that one satellite suffered an in-orbit anomaly that generated a small amount of debris — a rare kinetic incident for the satellite internet operator.

SpaceX, led by billionaire Elon Musk, has become the world’s largest satellite operator through Starlink, which currently consists of about 9,400 active satellites delivering broadband internet to consumers, governments and businesses. Former FCC Chair Jessica Rosenworcel had previously called for more competition in the satellite broadband sector, noting that Starlink controlled nearly two-thirds of all active satellites.

Earth’s Days Will Eventually Reach 25 Hours — but Not Anytime Soon, Scientists Say

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Scientists say claims that Earth’s days are about to become 25 hours long are misleading, though the underlying science is real. The length of a day is slowly increasing due to natural processes, but the change unfolds over hundreds of millions of years, not within any human timescale.

A standard day lasts about 24 hours, or 86,400 seconds, but its exact length varies by milliseconds. These tiny fluctuations are measured using atomic clocks and are known as the length of day (LOD). Variations are caused by factors such as Earth’s internal dynamics, ocean circulation and, most importantly, the Moon.

Researchers explain that the Moon’s gravity creates ocean tides, and the friction generated by those tides acts as a brake on Earth’s rotation. Over very long periods, this tidal interaction transfers rotational energy away from Earth, gradually slowing its spin and making days longer.

Scientists at the University of Toronto note that if the Earth–Moon system continues evolving as it has, days could eventually reach about 25 hours in length. However, this would likely take around 200 million years to occur.

In short, Earth is not about to experience longer days in any practical sense. While the planet’s rotation is slowing, the change is so gradual that it remains completely imperceptible to daily life and modern timekeeping.