Orbital Today

Orbital Today

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Independent UK/European space sector news and analysis.

Space Force Unveils Vision for Future Space Operations in 2040
NewsApr 15, 2026

Space Force Unveils Vision for Future Space Operations in 2040

U.S. Space Force chief Gen. B. Chance Saltzman introduced the Future Operating Environment 2040 at the Space Symposium, outlining a long‑term vision for space operations through the next decade and beyond. The strategy treats space as a contested domain, emphasizing...

By Orbital Today
Report: OCI TerraSus Of Malaysia And SpaceX In Talks For Polysilicon Supply
NewsApr 15, 2026

Report: OCI TerraSus Of Malaysia And SpaceX In Talks For Polysilicon Supply

OCI TerraSus, the Malaysian arm of South Korea's OCI Holdings, is reportedly in multi‑year talks with SpaceX to supply high‑purity solar‑grade polysilicon. The material is essential for both solar panels and the semiconductor components SpaceX plans to develop as it...

By Orbital Today
JAXA H3 Rocket Failed Due To A Weakened Component
NewsApr 15, 2026

JAXA H3 Rocket Failed Due To A Weakened Component

In December 2025 JAXA’s H3 launch suffered a catastrophic failure when an adhesive‑bonded component delaminated during fairing opening. The loss of the component caused the satellite to shift, rupturing a fuel pipe and delaying ignition, which led to the loss...

By Orbital Today
Sea Launch Revisited: Can We Launch Rockets From the Ocean Again?
NewsApr 15, 2026

Sea Launch Revisited: Can We Launch Rockets From the Ocean Again?

Sea‑based launch platforms are re‑emerging as a potential answer to crowded land‑based spaceports. The original Sea Launch venture, which operated from the converted Odyssey rig in the late 1990s and early 2000s, filed for bankruptcy after technical setbacks and geopolitical...

By Orbital Today
A Dimmer Blue Marble? What Artemis II Photo Really Shows About Earth
NewsApr 14, 2026

A Dimmer Blue Marble? What Artemis II Photo Really Shows About Earth

In April 2026 astronauts on Artemis II captured a full‑disk view of Earth that quickly went viral alongside the iconic 1972 Apollo 17 "Blue Marble." Observers noted the newer picture appears dimmer and less saturated, sparking debate over whether the change reflects...

By Orbital Today
Ukraine Lawmaker Claims Rockets Crossed The Kármán Line Twice in 2025
NewsApr 14, 2026

Ukraine Lawmaker Claims Rockets Crossed The Kármán Line Twice in 2025

Ukrainian MP Fedir Venislavskyi said Ukraine launched two vehicles in 2025 that crossed the Kármán Line, reaching 100 km and 204 km, to conduct purely military tasks. The flights used an air‑launch system from an Antonov An‑124 cargo plane at about 8,000 m altitude, a...

By Orbital Today
How Are UAV Systems Used in Defence Operations?
NewsApr 14, 2026

How Are UAV Systems Used in Defence Operations?

Unmanned aerial vehicles are now central to modern defence operations, delivering real‑time intelligence, surveillance and strike coordination while reducing personnel risk. Fixed‑wing, multirotor and hybrid VTOL platforms each address specific mission profiles, from long‑range area coverage to rapid, confined‑space inspections....

By Orbital Today
Algeria Is Offering Two Licences To Operate Non-Geostationary Orbit (NGSO) Satellite Networks
NewsApr 14, 2026

Algeria Is Offering Two Licences To Operate Non-Geostationary Orbit (NGSO) Satellite Networks

Algeria's Regulatory Authority of Posts and Electronic Communications (ARPCE) announced the issuance of two licences for operating Non‑Geostationary Orbit (NGSO) satellite networks. The licences grant holders the right to both operate and provide services linked to NGSO satellites within Algerian...

By Orbital Today
South Africa’s Politics Might Stifle The Growth Of Its Space Programme
NewsApr 13, 2026

South Africa’s Politics Might Stifle The Growth Of Its Space Programme

South Africa’s Portfolio Committee on Science, Technology and Innovation warned that political and fiscal missteps are jeopardising the nation’s nascent space programme. SANSA has poured $18.3 million into the EO‑Sat1 satellite, yet the project was stalled for six years due to...

By Orbital Today
UK’s SatVu Expands Thermal “Eyes in the Sky” With HotSat‑2 Launch
NewsApr 12, 2026

UK’s SatVu Expands Thermal “Eyes in the Sky” With HotSat‑2 Launch

SatVu, a UK‑based space data firm, launched HotSat‑2 on SpaceX’s Transporter‑16 rideshare from Vandenberg. The satellite carries mid‑wave infrared sensors that deliver high‑resolution thermal imagery capable of seeing heat signatures through roofs and other structures. HotSat‑2’s data is positioned for...

By Orbital Today
The Planets Most Likely to Host Alien Life Have a Serious Problem
NewsApr 12, 2026

The Planets Most Likely to Host Alien Life Have a Serious Problem

Researchers modeled a Mars‑like planet orbiting Barnard’s Star, a nearby red dwarf, and found its atmosphere would be stripped in about 50 million years—far shorter than geological timescales. The simulation placed the planet at 0.087 AU to match Mars‑level radiation, revealing that...

By Orbital Today
Regarding Those Worms Outside The ISS
NewsApr 11, 2026

Regarding Those Worms Outside The ISS

University of Exeter’s Fluorescent Deep Space Petri‑Pods (FDSPP) will carry millimeter‑long C. elegans worms outside the International Space Station for a 15‑week exposure. Launched on NASA’s CRS‑24 mission, the 3 kg Petri Pod contains 12 sealed chambers that independently control temperature,...

By Orbital Today
ESA’s Celeste Mission First Signal Sets New European PNT Records
NewsApr 11, 2026

ESA’s Celeste Mission First Signal Sets New European PNT Records

On 8 April 2026 ESA’s Celeste IOD‑1 transmitted the first dual‑frequency L‑ and S‑band navigation signal from a European low‑Earth‑orbit satellite, marking a historic milestone for Europe’s positioning, navigation and timing (PNT) ambitions. The Celeste pair, launched by Rocket Lab on...

By Orbital Today
Before the Space Age: Congreve and the Pioneers of Early British Rocketry
NewsApr 11, 2026

Before the Space Age: Congreve and the Pioneers of Early British Rocketry

William Congreve transformed early 19th‑century rockets from experimental curiosities into standardized weapons by introducing iron‑cased designs, launch racks, and systematic testing. His rockets saw combat in Copenhagen, the War of 1812 and elsewhere, demonstrating both destructive power and psychological impact....

By Orbital Today
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