Satellite in News 2025, Latest Science & Technology Current Affairs

In 2025, satellites have been making big headlines all around the world. From new launches to exciting discoveries, “Satellite in News 2025” covers the latest happenings in science and technology. Countries and companies send satellites for many reasons, like spying, exploring space, and watching over Earth.

They are also partnering to make amazing advancements. This year, we have seen everything from super-detailed Earth observation satellites to new projects aiming to understand space better. Let’s explore the most exciting satellite news and see how these high-tech tools shape our future!

What type of questions can be asked from this Topic? Here are some examples:-

Full-form (Ex:-  Full form of PSLV, LVM3, TESS, XPOSAT and DGNSS)

Any First Satelite (Ex:- "first Indonesian satellite to be launched into geosynchronous orbit)

Satellite Related to Specific Countries (Ex:- Spy Satellite “CarbSar” of United Kingdom)

Function of Satellite (Ex:- Aeolus Satellite to Study the Earth’s Wind.)

Space & Satellite Technology Current Affairs 2025

March 2025

• LPSC is developing a spark torch igniter for future LOX-Methane stages, successfully tested using GSLV’s Cryogenic Upper Stage vernier engine with gaseous oxygen and hydrogen.

• Airbus has built CSO-3, an Earth observation satellite for the French Armed Forces, recently launched aboard Ariane 6 from French Guiana.

• Assam to launch its own satellite ‘ASSAMSAT’ in collaboration with IN-SPACe to boost socio-economic data access and border surveillance.

• Digantara has begun operations of SCOT, the world’s first commercial space surveillance satellite to track orbital debris as small as 5 cm.

• Muon Space has launched the first satellite under the FireSat project, a constellation using AI to detect and track wildfires in low Earth orbit.

• Bellatrix Aerospace signed an MoU with Astroscale Japan for collaboration in debris removal, satellite servicing, and in-orbit mobility.

• HEX20 India successfully launched ‘Nila’, India’s first private payload hosting satellite, establishing contact post-launch.

February 2025

• Japan successfully launched the “Michibiki 6” navigation satellite using its H3 Launch Vehicle to enhance its precise location positioning system.

• China launched the “ChinaSat-10R” (Zhongxing-10R) communication satellite via the Long March-3B carrier rocket into Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO), replacing ChinaSat-10 (2011).

• The ChinaSat-10R satellite was developed by the China Academy of Space Technology (CAST).

January 2025

• 🇰🇷 South Korea successfully launched its third surveillance satellite with Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) technology using a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket.

• 🚀 ISRO’s LVM3 rocket will launch BlueBird Block-2 satellites for AST SpaceMobile, aiming to provide space-based cellular broadband on smartphones.

• 🌍 Pixxel signed an MoU with Korea-based SIIS to supply hyperspectral satellite data in Korea.

• 🔥 Pixxel successfully launched India’s first private satellite constellation (Firefly) aboard SpaceX’s Transporter-12 rideshare mission from Vandenberg Space Force Base, USA.

• 🇨🇳 China launched the ‘Shijian-25’ satellite into Geostationary Transfer Orbit (GTO) aboard a Long March 3B rocket, marking its first space mission of 2025.

• 🛰️ China launched Pakistan’s first indigenous Electro-Optical (EO-1) satellite, PRSC-EO1, from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center.

• 🏝️ Satellite images reveal a near-complete airstrip on Abd al-Kuri Island, linked to Yemen.

• 🛰️ ISRO rolled out its Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) with the NVS-02 Satellite, part of the NavIC navigation system, developed at UR Rao Satellite Centre (URSC), Bengaluru.

December 2024

• Shukrayaan Mission: ISRO’s Venus-orbiting satellite project “Shukrayaan” is set to launch in 2028, with government approval.

• AOMSUC-14 Conference: The 14th Asia-Oceania Meteorological Satellite Users’ Conference was hosted by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) in New Delhi.

• Proba-3 Satellite Launch: ISRO’s PSLV successfully launched the European Space Agency’s (ESA) Proba-3 satellites.

• Ananth Technologies Milestone: Ananth Technologies Limited became the first private company selected by IN-SPACe to build, launch, and operate a geostationary communication satellite in India.

• Copernicus Sentinel-1C: The third Copernicus Sentinel-1C satellite, associated with the European Space Agency (ESA), was successfully launched.

• China’s PIESAT-2 Launch: China launched four Earth-observation radar satellites named PIESAT-2 to enhance Earth monitoring.

• IRIS² Constellation Contract: The European Commission and the European Space Agency (ESA) signed a €10.6 billion contract for the IRIS² satellite constellation.

• NASA’s TOI-3261 b Discovery: NASA scientists discovered the exoplanet TOI-3261 b using the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS).

November 2024

• India’s first indigenously developed electric propulsion system for satellites will be tested with TDS-01, scheduled for launch by ISRO in December 2024.

• Japan has launched the world’s first wooden satellite, ‘LignoSat’, into space.

• Zimbabwe launched its second Earth observation satellite, ZIMSAT-2, from the Vostochny Cosmodrome in Russia.

• NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) satellite, focused on monitoring Earth’s surface movement, will scan most of Earth’s land and ice-covered areas twice every 12 days and is scheduled for launch in early 2025.

• Japan launched the ‘Kirameki No. 3’ satellite, designed for military communication and intelligence gathering.

• SpaceX launched Koreasat-6A, a South Korean communication satellite developed by Thales Alenia Space.

• ISRO collaborated with SpaceX for the first time to launch the GSAT-N2 (GSAT-20) communication satellite.

• PierSight unveiled its first all-weather maritime surveillance satellite, ‘Varuna,’ offering ocean coverage with revisit times of up to 30 minutes.

September – October 2024

ShakthiSAT

• Space Kidz India, an aerospace startup, has launched the global mission ShakthiSAT to train 12,000 girls across 108 countries in space technology, with plans for a satellite launch under ISRO’s Chandrayaan-4 mission to promote international collaboration in space exploration.

ISRO’s successful demonstration of GNSS-R technique

• Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has successfully demonstrated a satellite technique to study ocean and soil parameters using Global Navigation Satellite System Reflectometry (GNSS-R).

• Developed by: Space Applications Centre (SAC), Ahmedabad.

Copernicus Sentinel-2C satellite launch

• The third Copernicus Sentinel-2 satellite (Sentinel-2C) was recently launched on a Vega rocket from Kourou, French Guiana.

• Primary aim: To provide high-resolution imagery for land monitoring.

India’s 1st multi-sensor EOSC

• Nibe Space Private Limited (NSPL) announced plans to set up India’s first multi-sensor, all-weather, high-revisit Earth Observation Satellite Constellation (EOSC).

Iran’s Chamran-1 research satellite launch

• Iran recently launched its research satellite, Chamran-1.

Bellatrix Aerospace’s ‘Project 200’

• Bellatrix Aerospace unveiled ‘Project 200’, an innovative satellite designed to operate at an Ultra-Low Earth Orbit (180 km-250 km).

May to August 2024

🔘 GalaxEye Space became the world’s first private company to successfully test Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) technology on a subscale High Altitude Pseudo-Satellite (HAPS).

🔘 The United States Ambassador visited ISRO headquarters and proposed the idea of a “QUAD satellite” to strengthen space cooperation.

🔘Pakistan launched a multi-mission communication satellite, PakSat-MM1, aimed at improving internet connectivity across the country.

🔘 The Earth Cloud Aerosol and Radiation Explorer (EarthCARE) satellite was launched in collaboration between the European Space Agency (ESA) and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) to study the role of clouds and aerosols in reflecting solar radiation.

🔘Kyoto University in Japan developed the world’s first wooden satellite, LignoSat, designed to burn up entirely upon re-entry, reducing space debris.

🔘 Wipro 3D and ISRO successfully developed and tested a 3D-printed rocket engine for India’s Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV).

🔘 ISRO teamed up with the French Space Agency CNES for a satellite mission named TRISHNA (Thermal infraRed Imaging Satellite for High-resolution Natural resource Assessment) to monitor and combat climate change.

🔘 Jio Platforms, in partnership with Luxembourg’s Satellite Communication Service Provider SES, received clearance from IN-SPACe to operate satellites providing high-speed internet services.

🔘 Manav Rachna University became the first university in Delhi NCR to install a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) receiver and Space Weather Laboratory in collaboration with the National Atmospheric Research Laboratory (NARL).

🔘 China, in collaboration with France, launched the Space-based Multi-band Variable Object Monitor (SVOM) to capture gamma-ray bursts in distant space.

🔘 SpacePixxel Technologies Pvt Ltd partnered with Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX) to design a miniaturized satellite for the Indian Air Force capable of carrying advanced payloads up to 150 kg.

🔘 SpaceX launched the final satellite for NOAA’s GOES-U program to enhance weather monitoring across the Western Hemisphere in collaboration with NASA.

🔘 ISRO’s latest large satellite, GSAT 20, is set to be launched on SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket and will be owned by NewSpace India Limited (NSIL).

🔘 Japan launched its earth observation satellite, Advanced Land Observation Satellite-4 (ALOS-4), to monitor land use and environmental changes.

🔘ISRO’s Aditya-L1 mission completed its first halo orbit around the Sun-Earth L1 point, designed by the U R Rao Satellite Centre (URSC).

🔘 China launched the Tianhui 5-02 satellite group, used for geographic mapping, land resource surveys, and scientific experiments.

🔘 Türkiye launched its first indigenously developed communication satellite, TÜRKSAT-6A.

🔘 The all-electric propulsion communication satellite, APSTAR-6E, began operations, associated with China.

🔘 ISRO created the first undersea map of Ram Setu (Adam’s Bridge) using data from NASA’s ICESat-2 (Ice, Cloud, and land Elevation Satellite).

🔘 China launched the high-resolution optical Earth Observation Satellite Gaofen-11 05 for enhanced geographical monitoring.

🔘 China also launched its high-orbit internet-services satellite, Weixing Hulianwan Gaogui-02 (WHG-02), into space.

🔘 ISRO is set to launch Earth Observation Satellite-8 (EOS-8) using the Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV)-D3 from Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh.

🔘 NewSpace India Limited (NSIL) signed an agreement with the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) to support the launch of the Nepal-built Munal satellite.

🔘 ISRO successfully launched Earth Observation Satellite-8 (EOS-8), which did not carry Large Area X-ray Proportional Counters (LAXPC) among its payloads.

🔘 Dhruva Space collaborated with Zero-Error Systems (ZES) of Singapore to enhance its On-Board Computer (OBC) subsystem for future satellite missions.

🔘 United Arab Emirates (UAE) successfully launched its first Low Earth Orbit (LEO) Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) satellite in partnership with Bayanat AI PLC, Yahsat, and ICEYE Ltd.

🔘 The Tanager-1 satellite, launched by SpaceX, aims to detect major emitters of carbon dioxide and methane, crucial for climate monitoring.

April 2024

• Tata Advanced Systems Ltd (TASL), in collaboration with Satellogic, launched India’s first private sector-built sub-metre resolution earth observation satellite, TSAT-1A.

• Queqiao-2 relay satellite is the second communications relay and radio astronomy satellite designed to support the fourth phase of the Chinese Lunar Exploration Program.

• Tiantong Project, a satellite communication system, is associated with China.

• NASA is publicly distributing science-quality data from its Earth-observing Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, and Ocean Ecosystem (PACE) satellite.

• South Korea launched its second indigenous spy satellite on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket.

• Rocket Lab’s ‘Electron’ rocket launched ‘NEONSAT-1’, an Earth observation satellite associated with South Korea.

March 2024

• Iran successfully launched the “Pars-I” remote sensing and imaging satellite into orbit from Russia.

• The “MethaneSAT” satellite was launched aboard a SpaceX Falcon9 rocket from California, with Google as the mission partner.

• China National Space Administration (CNSA) launched its “Queqiao-2”, “Tiandu-1” and “Tiandu-2” satellites.

• China successfully launched the Yunhai-3 02 satellite.

• The SatCom Industry Association of India (SIA-India) and ABRASAT, Brazilian Satellite Communications Association, have partnered to propel advancements in the space sector.

February 2024

• IIT Indore received approval to open a satellite campus in Ujjain from the Union Ministry of Education.

• NASA’s TESS mission discovered the ‘super-Earth’ TOI-715 b.

• NASA launched the PACE (Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, ocean Ecosystem) satellite.

• The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) – National Aerospace Laboratories (NAL) successfully tested a prototype of an unmanned High Altitude Pseudo-Satellite (HAPS).

• The INSAT-3DS satellite on launch vehicle GSLV-F14 was fully funded by the Ministry of Earth Sciences.

• ISRO announced the completion of de-orbiting its high-resolution imaging satellite Cartosat-2.

• NASA and JAXA announced the launch of the world’s first wooden satellite “LignoSat” probe.

• SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket successfully launched the Merah Putih 2 communications satellite of Indonesia.

January 2024

• ISRO’s PSLV-C58 mission will launch the XPoSat (X-ray Polarimeter Satellite).

• NewSpace India Limited (NSIL) announced the launch of GSAT-20 satellite (GSAT-N2) on Falcon 9.

• The Union Cabinet approved the MoU between ISRO and the Mauritius Research and Innovation Council for joint small satellite development.

• China launched its “Einstein Probe” satellite mission.

• XRISM (X-ray Imaging and Spectroscopy Mission) satellite, providing the first images of the X-ray cosmos, is led by JAXA.

• Japan launched the IGS-Optical 8 (Information Gathering Satellite) optical reconnaissance satellite.

• Iran successfully launched its “Soraya satellite” with the Qaem 100 rocket.

• Union Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya laid the foundation stone for an AIISH Satellite Centre in Kanpur.

• INSAT-3DS satellite, developed by ISRO and India Meteorological Department (IMD), will be launched from Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh.

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