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The BBC reported that the UK's armed forces are actively jamming satellites belonging to other nations as part of efforts to protect Britain's own space-based infrastructure. Health Secretary Wes Streeting, commenting on the reliance on satellite systems, noted that Britain depends on them for weather forecasts, energy supplies, financial transactions, sat-navs, mobile networks and deliveries.
China's CAS Space launched the Kinetica 1 Y18 rocket on September 20, carrying nine satellites including the Supercomputing-1 (S-AIDC-1), built by S-AIDC. The satellite combines a high-resolution optical payload with an onboard AI computer to process Earth-observation data in orbit rather than transmitting raw data to ground-based data centers, reportedly cutting processing times from hours to minutes.
Amazon announced a partnership with Uzbek ISP Uztelecom to deploy its Leo satellite internet service in remote and hard-to-reach areas of Uzbekistan, including mountainous and desert regions where cabled infrastructure is difficult to install. The service will supplement Uztelecom's existing network, which already reaches 96 percent of communities, though Leo has not yet launched publicly and is still being tested internally and with select enterprise customers ahead of a rollout later this year.
WIRED's testing of the Apple Watch Ultra 4 found it shares nearly all core health and safety features with the new Series 12, thanks to the same Health Sensing System and S11 chip powering both devices. The Ultra 4 retains its multiday battery, Action button, and satellite messaging as its main distinctions, but pricing stays at $799 with no new case finishes this generation.
LeoLabs has built a transportable radar system called Scout-S, a shipping-container-sized unit that can be set up almost anywhere in a matter of hours using just a generator and a Starlink connection. The system is designed to monitor the rapidly growing number of satellites and debris fragments in low Earth orbit, which has swelled from roughly 2,000 objects in 2019 to nearly 17,000 today, with Starlink accounting for most of that growth.
A new system called the Transient Artifact and Continuous Learning System (TACLS) combines satellite data and machine learning to help the National Weather Service identify flood-prone areas faster and issue earlier alerts. The technology comes after incidents like the June flash flood in Lanesville, Indiana, where over 8 inches of rain fell in hours and residents received evacuation warnings only after flooding had already begun.
US Air Force Secretary Troy Meink stated in a speech that the military has already placed space control weapons in orbit capable of defending US forces against hostile action. He gave no details on what the weapons are, how they work, or how many exist, and the Air Force declined to comment further when asked.
A flash flood caused by a glacial collapse tore through Nepal's Bhotekoshi valley on August 26, killing more than 1,000 people with many still missing. Satellites captured the collapse and are now aiding recovery efforts, confirming that monitoring technology exists and works.
Concerns about artificial intelligence's risks and disruptions are increasingly showing up outside of specialized tech and policy circles, reaching everyday American conversation. The shift suggests AI has moved from an industry-insider talking point to a broader cultural and political issue.
Apple quietly confirmed in a footnote to its iPhone 18 Pro announcement that existing iPhone 14, 15, and 16 users will keep free access to its satellite connectivity features for an extra year beyond the standard two-year trial. The extension applies automatically to anyone who activated their device before midnight PT on September 9 in a supported country, marking the third time Apple has prolonged this free trial.
Apple confirmed in a footnote to its iPhone 18 Pro press release that it is once again extending free access to its satellite features, this time covering iPhone 14, 15, and 16 users for an additional year. The offer applies to devices activated in supported countries before midnight PT on September 9, and includes Emergency SOS, Find My, Roadside Assistance, and Messages via satellite.
Odin Space is selling adhesive vibration sensor strips that satellites can use to detect and measure debris impacts, addressing the mystery behind many small-satellite failures. Meanwhile, Atlanta-area company Atomic-6 is working on lighter alternative shielding to replace or improve upon traditional aluminum panels and Whipple shields used to protect spacecraft from high-speed debris strikes.