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Orbital mechanics, the space economy, and the gear that gets us there. Written by engineers, hobbyists, and curators who care about the details.
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Kessler Syndrome: The Cascading Debris Risk in Low Earth Orbit (2026 Reference)
Donald Kessler proposed the cascading collision idea in 1978. In 2026, with 7,500+ active satellites and 34,000+ tracked debris objects in LEO, the idea is no longer theoretical. A reference-grade explainer with the event timeline, the numbers, and what the FCC 5-year rule changes.
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How to Get Into Astrophotography in 2026 (Without Spending $5,000)
Astrophotography used to require a $5,000 setup and a year of learning. In 2026, you can capture publishable deep-sky images for under $500. Here's th…
Read →Kessler Syndrome: The Cascading Debris Risk in Low Earth Orbit (2026 Reference)
Donald Kessler proposed the cascading collision idea in 1978. In 2026, with 7,500+ active satellites and 34,000+ tracked debris objects in LEO, the id…
Read →Orbital Shells 101: Why LEO, MEO, and GEO Are Not Interchangeable
An accessible, concrete guide to the orbital shells — LEO, MEO, GEO, HEO, and cislunar — with altitudes, speeds, use cases, and the engineering tradeo…
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SpaceX Starship Reaches Orbit — and It's Cheap
Starship completed its first fully successful orbital flight test on June 3, 2026, with both stages returning to the launch site. The implications for…
Read →FCC Tightens Post-Mission Disposal Rules for LEO Satellites
The FCC's new 5-year post-mission disposal rule took effect May 20, 2026. We dig into what it means for operators and the orbital debris problem.
Read →Kuiper's First Production Satellites Reach Orbit
Amazon's Project Kuiper launched its first 27 production satellites on April 28, 2026. Here's what's different from Starlink and what to expect for th…
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Smart Telescope Head-to-Head 2026: Seestar S50 vs Dwarf 3 vs Vespera 2 vs Origin vs eVscope 2
Five real smart telescopes, tested side by side in a suburban backyard. The 2026 head-to-head covers the ZWO Seestar S50, DWARFLAB Dwarf 3, Vaonis Ves…
Read →Celestron NexStar 8SE Review: The Hobbyist's Workhorse, 20 Years On
The Celestron NexStar 8SE has been the most-recommended 8-inch Schmidt-Cassegrain for 20 years. Does it still hold up in 2026? A working astrophotogra…
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