Europe Confirms Plans for Multi-Orbit Satellite Constellation: IRIS²
Your Daily Update for August 10, 2026. Plus: The EU has released initial plans regarding IRIS², their very own satellite constellation for communications.
Welcome to today’s daily update for Monday, August 10, 2026. Here’s everything you need to know.
The Breakdown
The European Union is launching their very own satellite constellation, set to provide member nations with secure government communications and high-speed internet while reducing dependence on external powers.
A satellite constellation is a group of satellites launched by a particular agency or agencies that work together for a common purpose. Single satellites only pass over a particular region for a specific period of time, but groups of satellites within the same network ensure continuous, uninterrupted coverage across any point on Earth at any time.
Multi-orbit satellite constellations are those that are synchronized across different orbital planes around the Earth. Some satellites can be placed in low earth orbit (LEO), ideal for low-latency signals and communication; medium earth orbit (MEO), used in positioning systems and location services like GPS; or high earth orbit (HEO), a rarer orbital plane used to reach polar regions where the curvature of the Earth prevents low-orbit satellites from sending and receiving signals.
First proposed in 2022, the EU quickly approved the initial development of the program. In 2024, the bloc selected the Space Consortium for a Resilient, Interconnected and Secure Europe (SpaceRISE) private consortium, consisting of three companies: Luxembourg-based satellite operator SES, French satellite operator Eutelsat, and Spanish communications operator Hispasat.
Together, the three were handed a contract worth almost $18 billion to build IRIS² – the EU’s first satellite constellation.
The project – known as Infrastructure for Resilience, Interconnectivity and Security by Satellite (IRIS²) – is set to include 348 satellites across low earth orbit (LEO) and medium earth orbit (MEO), synchronized to provide maximum coverage.
Of the 348, 330 of them will be in LEO, 66 of which will be tailored, high-capacity satellites dedicated entirely to defense and military purposes. Together, this network of defense satellites will increase secure government communications capacity by 60% within the EU and 54% globally.
Placing satellites in multiple orbital planes also allows them to utilize the constellation for various purposes, from everyday internet to encrypted communications to hyper-precise location tracking.
In particular, IRIS² will be of great use to European militaries, supporting defense operations and maritime surveillance without depending on an external entity. Currently, the United States operates almost 75% of the 18,500 satellites orbiting the Earth, allowing them to maintain a tight grip over global communications. With IRIS², the EU will be able to harness the power of their very own network of satellites, reaching remote areas and improving connectivity across member nations.
Though specific data and further plans are yet to be released, the project is already kicking into high gear. Development was expected to wrap up by 2028, with the system coming online by 2030. However, the EU’s recent report, released several days ago, has fast-tracked the program, with the first launches scheduled to begin in 2029.
The Global Snapshot
Israel has officially rejected the United States’ 15-point plan to disarm Hamas and bring peace to Gaza. The plan, agreed upon by President Trump’s Board of Peace and Hamas, would see Hamas disarm immediately and hand over Palestinian authority to a new administration backed by the US. Meanwhile, Israel would withdraw from Gaza, where it currently controls more than 60% of Palestinian territory. However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced yesterday that the Jewish state would not accept the plan, arguing that they would only consider a withdrawal from Gaza after the disarmament of Hamas. The disagreement highlights a growing rift between the United States and Israel during a time where both are waging war on others – Israel continues to periodically bombard alleged Hamas bases in Gaza, while the US has persisted with their war against Iran.
Typhoon Dolphin has slammed eastern China, moving through the heavily-populated Zhejiang province as it continues its rampage. Just days ago, Dolphin hit Japan’s Ryukyu Islands, injuring six people and knocking out power to at least 50,000 others. Now, it is packing winds of more than 90 mph and dumping heavy rain over major cities like Wenzhou, Hangzhou, Ningbo, and Shanghai. Hundreds of thousands of people have been evacuated, and thousands of flights have been canceled. Neighboring provinces like Fujian and Anhui are also preparing for major rainfall, with some areas predicting as much as 10-20 inches of precipitation.
The summer of 2026 is continuing to break records in the movie industry, and movie theaters are reaping the benefits. Marvel Studios’ “Spider-Man: Brand New Day” has crossed $1.67 billion at the box office after a $144 million second weekend, putting it on track to become one of the highest-grossing films ever. Only 11 films have grossed higher, including major blockbusters like “Avatar,” “Avengers: Endgame,” and “Titanic,” and the latest Spider-Man installment still has some time to go in theaters. Meanwhile, Christopher Nolan’s “The Odyssey” has surpassed “The Dark Knight” and “The Dark Knight Rises” to become the highest-grossing film of the director’s career, and it is still yet to premiere in China – one of the world’s largest markets for movies.
Fact of the Day (The Fact Site): A group of horses will not go to sleep at the same time – at least one of them will stay awake to look out for the others.
Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): Go find your joy. It's what you're going to remember in the end. (Sandra Bullock)
Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Anecdote (noun, AN-ik-doht) - An anecdote is a short narrative about an interesting, funny, or biographical incident.
In a Sentence: Dinner with our uncles means lots of anecdotes involving the mischief they got into as kids.
Image: European Commission / CC BY-SA 4.0
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