Qianfan constellation deployment hits 200 satellites with Long March 8 and 6A launches

China added 36 satellites to the Shanghai-led Qianfan broadband constellation through back-to-back Long March 6A and Long March 8 launches on June 4 and 5. The missions pushed the network to 200 satellites and marked the 11th and 12th launches for the program as Beijing accelerates deployment. SpaceNews reported that some earlier spacecraft experienced orbit-raising problems, but the latest launches show the effort regaining momentum. The expansion underscores how quickly China is scaling a sovereign low-Earth-orbit communications system with strategic and commercial implications.

Live updates: Senate OKs reconciliation bill; White House to defend ballroom in appeals court

The Senate approved a $69.5 billion reconciliation package after an overnight session, according to The Hill's live coverage. The bill would fund immigration-enforcement operations through 2029 and moved forward despite several Republican defections on amendments. The vote highlights how fiscal and immigration fights are shaping the administration's near-term legislative agenda.

Six Republicans vote no on FISA extension

Six Republican senators joined Democrats in voting against advancing an extension of warrantless surveillance powers that are set to expire next week. The procedural vote failed 47-52, complicating efforts to keep the authorities in place on the current timeline. The setback exposes a cross-party civil-liberties coalition and renewed friction inside the GOP over national-security authorities.

Satellite maker Apex’s valuation rises to $2.3 billion after latest $200 million raise

Apex announced a funding round of more than $200 million that it said nearly doubled the four-year-old satellite manufacturer's valuation to $2.3 billion. The company said the capital will expand in-house production capabilities as it scales spacecraft output. Apex has now raised more than $718 million to date, reinforcing investor appetite for industrial-space manufacturing plays.

Axiom Space adds more than $175 million to funding round

Axiom Space said it added more than $175 million to the funding round it announced in February, bringing the total raise to more than $525 million. The extension included MUFG Bank, Japan's largest bank, alongside existing investors. Axiom said the added capital will support its commercial space station plans and lunar spacesuit work for NASA's Artemis program.

HASC NDAA markup challenges Space Force on satellite programs

The House Armed Services Committee voted to preserve the Space Force's Next-Generation Overhead Persistent Infrared Polar missile-warning program, authorizing $415 million even though the Pentagon wants to cancel it. Lawmakers argued the polar coverage remains important as China and Russia field capabilities designed to threaten U.S. space systems. The committee also raised concerns about the Space Force's recent Protected Tactical SATCOM-Global procurement decisions and GPS oversight.

China builds institutional framework for space computing push

China is setting up new industry bodies to coordinate a national push into space-based computing infrastructure, according to SpaceNews. The effort spans radiation-hardened chips, power and thermal systems, data links, constellations and launch services, and aligns with the country's new five-year plan. The move signals that Beijing wants an organized industrial base behind orbital computing as part of a broader sky-Earth-ground architecture.