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Deals•Feb 25, 2026
Ispace Raises $730M in Record-Breaking Funding Round to Develop Reusable Rocket
Ispace, a Chinese private aerospace firm, announced a record $730 million fundraising round, the largest in China’s private aerospace sector. The round was led by Cowin Capital and Jingming Capital, with participation from Spring Partners, Chengdu Industry Group and Qianlima Capital, and will fund the development of the reusable Hyperbola‑3 rocket and related launch capabilities. The company also indicated that a pre‑IPO advisory process is underway.
Orbital Today
Deals•Feb 9, 2026
The Exploration Company (TEC) in Advanced Talks to Acquire UK Rocket Maker Orbex
German‑French space startup The Exploration Company (TEC) is in advanced negotiations to acquire British rocket manufacturer Orbex, a move that would consolidate Europe’s small‑launch market. The potential acquisition has drawn scrutiny due to TEC’s leadership ties to Russian space entities,...
Orbital Today
News•Feb 3, 2026
ISRO Conducts Hot Test Of LOX-Methane Engine At Thrust Chamber
India's space agency ISRO successfully performed the first hot test of its high‑thrust LOX‑Methane engine at the thrust‑chamber level, achieving a chamber pressure of 56 bar with a single‑element injector fabricated via additive manufacturing. The sub‑scale test validates the engine design...
By Orbital Today
News•Feb 3, 2026
A New Era For Forest Carbon Tracking Begins As ESA Releases Biomass Data
The European Space Agency has opened free access to data from its Biomass satellite, which uses P‑band synthetic aperture radar to peer through forest canopies and directly measure woody carbon stores. After a lengthy commissioning phase that calibrated instrument stability...
By Orbital Today
News•Feb 2, 2026
December Saw More Satellites Falling Back To Earth, UK Space Data Shows
UK’s National Space Operations Centre reported that December 2025 saw record orbital congestion, with the US satellite catalogue listing 32,687 resident space objects, a net gain of 383. Re‑entry activity accelerated to 52 objects, a 21 % rise from November, while...
By Orbital Today
News•Feb 2, 2026
Bright Streak Lights Up New Zealand Sky: Was It A Meteor?
On 30 January 2026 a bright green fireball streaked across the night sky above Wellington, New Zealand, and was recorded by a webcam at the Heretaunga Boating Club. Eyewitness videos quickly spread on social media, prompting experts to debate whether the phenomenon was...
By Orbital Today
News•Feb 2, 2026
Singapore to Launch Its National Space Agency in April 2026
Singapore announced the creation of a National Space Agency (NSAS) that will begin operations on 1 April 2026. The agency will consolidate the duties of the Office of Space Technology & Industry and drive R&D, industry growth, and regulatory reform. Singapore’s space...
By Orbital Today
News•Feb 2, 2026
Indian FY27 Budget Pushes Space Companies to Look at Defence Sector for Demand
India’s FY27 Union Budget omitted direct fiscal incentives for the space sector, prompting private firms to pivot toward the defence market, which saw a 15% allocation increase to ₹7.85 lakh crore. While sector‑specific demands such as GST rationalisation and a dedicated...
By Orbital Today
News•Feb 1, 2026
Major Solar Flare Strikes as Giant New Sunspot Erupts
An unprecedented sunspot, designated 4366, emerged over the weekend and rapidly expanded to nearly ten times Earth's diameter. The region unleashed a prolonged flare sequence—M7, X1, and M6—lasting over six hours, delivering intense extreme ultraviolet radiation that triggered a shortwave...
By Orbital Today
News•Feb 1, 2026
₹1,200 Crore/£98.4 Million Pixxel Space-Led EOS Project Formalised with IN-SPACe
Indian private consortium led by PixxelSpace signed a formal agreement with IN‑SPACe to develop and operate a 12‑satellite Earth Observation constellation. The PPP project, valued at roughly ₹1,200 crore (£98 million) over five years, will deliver high‑resolution, multispectral, SAR and hyperspectral imaging...
By Orbital Today
Deals•Feb 1, 2026
IN-SPACe Provides ₹350 Crore Loan to PixxelSpace India-Led EOS Consortium
The Indian space regulator IN‑SPACe signed a PPP agreement with a consortium led by PixxelSpace India, providing a ₹350 crore loan to fund the development of a 12‑satellite Earth Observation constellation. The deal, announced on Wednesday, marks a major public‑private partnership...
Orbital Today
News•Jan 31, 2026
NASA Perseverance Rover Might Have Uncovered Proof Of Life On Mars
NASA's Perseverance rover drilled a mudstone core in Sapphire Canyon, Neretva Vallis, revealing the presence of Vivianite and Greigite—minerals on Earth commonly associated with microbial processes. The rover's SHERLOC and PIXL instruments identified these minerals, marking the closest detection of...
By Orbital Today
News•Jan 31, 2026
DSIT Says Gov’t Should “Provide Clarity” Regarding UK Launch
On 30 January the Department for Space, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) published a response to the House of Lords Engagement with Space Committee's 40‑point report on the UK space economy. The most debated item was Recommendation 13, which questioned the commercial...
By Orbital Today
News•Jan 31, 2026
The Chinese Space Industry Plagued By Launch Cancellations For February
China’s Wenchang Space Centre abruptly cancelled almost all February launches, leaving only the Long March‑10A test flight scheduled for 11 February. The move follows high‑profile failures of the Long March 3B and Ceres‑2 rockets, fueling speculation about safety reviews and a strategic shift toward...
By Orbital Today
News•Jan 31, 2026
EUMETSAT & ESA Next Step With EPS-Sterna
On 27 January, EUMETSAT and ESA signed a cooperation agreement to move the EPS‑Sterna microsatellite constellation from approval to development. The programme, funded by EUMETSAT and managed by ESA for satellite procurement, will deploy six sun‑synchronous microsatellites equipped with microwave sounders...
By Orbital Today
News•Jan 31, 2026
NASA Chandra X-Ray Observatory Catalogue Contains Over 1.3 Million Detections
NASA’s Chandra X‑ray Observatory, launched in 1999, has compiled over 1.3 million individual X‑ray detections into the Chandra Source Catalogue (CSC) 2.1. The catalogue, released in 2024, lists more than 400,000 unique compact and extended sources gathered through 2021. Data primarily stem...
By Orbital Today
News•Jan 30, 2026
An Uncontrolled Chinese Rocket Puts Europe On Alert
An uncontrolled upper stage of China’s Zhuque‑3 launch vehicle, weighing about 11 tonnes and 13 m long, re‑entered Earth’s atmosphere on Jan 30, 2026, ultimately crashing into the southern Pacific Ocean. European space agencies, including the EU’s SST system, monitored the object...
By Orbital Today
News•Jan 29, 2026
JAXA Taps Warpspace to Develop Open Laser Communications in Space
Japan’s Warpspace Inc. has been selected for JAXA’s Space Strategy Fund to develop open‑laser communication technologies that enable seamless inter‑satellite links across different vendors. The company will create the HOCSAI multi‑protocol optical modem to provide interoperability, and a Digital Twin...
By Orbital Today
News•Jan 29, 2026
UK Astronomy Faces Catastrophe Under Funding Cuts
The Royal Astronomical Society warns that proposed cuts from the Science and Technology Facilities Council could slash the combined budget for astronomy, particle physics and nuclear physics by roughly 30%, with some projects facing up to 60% reductions. The society...
By Orbital Today
News•Jan 27, 2026
James Webb Space Telescope Offers The Clearest View Of The Helix Nebula
The James Webb Space Telescope’s NIRCam has produced the sharpest infrared image yet of the Helix Nebula, one of Earth’s nearest planetary nebulae. The picture reveals distinct temperature layers—blue hot gas near the central white dwarf, yellow intermediate gas, and...
By Orbital Today
News•Jan 27, 2026
Lunar Outpost Will Be A Part Of The New In-Orbit Demonstration Mission
Lunar Outpost has been chosen by the European Commission and ESA for a new In‑Orbit Demonstration (IOD) mission. The project will launch, integrate, and operate its TACOS (Thermal Architecture ComponentS) technology in space. TACOS is designed to safeguard spacecraft against...
By Orbital Today
News•Jan 27, 2026
AI-Powered Video Processing Payload Moves Toward Flight on LizzieSat-4
Maris-Tech Ltd. and Sidus Space announced that Maris-Tech’s AI‑powered video processing payload will be integrated onto Sidus’s LizzieSat‑4 satellite, with a launch targeted for later this year. Joint hardware testing begins next week, marking a key integration milestone toward flight...
By Orbital Today
News•Jan 27, 2026
China’s Xuntian Telescope Clears Major Systems Test Ahead of Planned 2027 Launch
China’s Xuntian space telescope has passed a comprehensive systems-level simulation, confirming that its optical, imaging and data subsystems work together under realistic orbital conditions. The test moves the program from component-only verification to integrated flight readiness, clearing the way for...
By Orbital Today
News•Jan 26, 2026
CAS Space Prepares For China’s Crewed Spaceflight Operations
On 12 January CAS Space successfully completed its first Lihong‑1 suborbital flight, reaching an altitude of 120 km before parachuting back to the Jiuquan launch site. The mission collected critical data on re‑entry dynamics, deceleration and booster guidance, while carrying a microgravity...
By Orbital Today
News•Jan 26, 2026
NATO Space Centre of Excellence Reaches Full Operational Capability as New Facility Opens
NATO’s Space Centre of Excellence has been declared fully operational following the opening of its permanent facility in France on 19 January 2026. The centre consolidates three years of institutional build‑up into a standing capability that will shape alliance thinking,...
By Orbital Today
News•Jan 25, 2026
Hubble Shows Spectacularly Violent Scenes From a Massive Young Star
The Hubble Space Telescope captured vivid Herbig‑Haro objects produced by the massive protostar IRAS 18162‑2048, located about 5,500 light‑years away. Its bipolar jets blaze at over 1,000 km s⁻¹, the fastest ever recorded for a young stellar object, carving a 32‑light‑year cavity. The...
By Orbital Today
News•Jan 25, 2026
Inside South Korea’s Bold Move To Accelerate Its New Space Economy
South Korea has officially designated its first nationally recognised New Space technologies, shifting the focus from pure research to commercially ready systems. The Korea Aerospace Space Administration evaluated 52 proposals, rewarding technologies that can be manufactured, sold and operated at...
By Orbital Today
News•Jan 24, 2026
Elon Musk’s SpaceX Receives Praise From The Pentagon
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth visited SpaceX’s Starbase in Texas, praising the company’s rapid innovation and “risk‑averse‑free” culture compared with traditional defense contractors. He highlighted the Pentagon’s confidence in SpaceX, noting ongoing military contracts for Falcon launches and the upcoming...
By Orbital Today
News•Jan 23, 2026
A 13-Solar-Mass Star Just Vanished in Andromeda: What Happened?
Astronomers observed the yellow supergiant M31-2014-DS1 in Andromeda brighten in 2014 before fading completely by 2018, without the expected supernova explosion. Two recent studies offer competing explanations: a failed supernova that collapsed directly into a black hole, and a stellar...
By Orbital Today
News•Jan 23, 2026
NASA’s Antarctic Balloon Fleet Hits Record Heights in the Search for Dark Matter
NASA’s Antarctic balloon program completed its latest long‑duration campaign, deploying four zero‑pressure balloons that floated above 100,000 feet for up to 25 days. The flagship flight focused on detecting rare antimatter particles that could signal dark‑matter interactions, while a companion balloon...
By Orbital Today
News•Jan 23, 2026
Türkiye Aims for the Stars as Antalya Prepares to Host World’s Biggest Space Congress
Turkey is set to host the International Astronautical Congress in Antalya from October 5‑9, 2026, drawing over 10,000 scientists, astronauts, and industry leaders. The event underscores Ankara’s broader strategy to translate its expanding space budget, new satellite and launch projects,...
By Orbital Today
News•Jan 22, 2026
STARCOM Commander Outlines Strategic Vision for Space Force
On 8 January 2026 Maj. Gen. James E. Smith released STARCOM’s strategic vision, outlining how the Space Training and Readiness Command will forge combat‑ready space forces for the U.S. Space Force. The plan centers on three pillars: enhancing Guardian warfighting skills through realistic...
By Orbital Today
News•Jan 22, 2026
Forecasting Technology Group Tomorrow.io Announce AI-Enabled Constellation DeepSky
Tomorrow.io unveiled DeepSky, an AI‑enabled satellite constellation that delivers high‑revisit, radar‑based weather observations to close a long‑standing observation gap. The system feeds a proprietary AI engine trained solely on real sensor data, producing decision‑grade intelligence for clients such as Ford,...
By Orbital Today
News•Jan 22, 2026
NOAA Will Use Data From A Space Force Weather Satellite
The U.S. Space Force announced that data from its Weather Satellite Follow‑on Microwave (WSF‑M) platform will be shared with NOAA. The first WSF‑M launched in 2024, with a second unit slated for 2028, and both are part of a broader...
By Orbital Today
News•Jan 21, 2026
Blue Origin Readies New Shepard For Jan. 22 Space Tourism Launch
Blue Origin is set to launch its New Shepard NS-38 mission on Jan. 22, carrying six passengers on a suborbital flight from West Texas. The 10‑12‑minute ride will provide a few minutes of weightlessness before the capsule lands under parachutes. The...
By Orbital Today
News•Jan 21, 2026
UK Unveils £20m Westcott Space Hub for Industry and Startups
The UK government has launched the £20 million Westcott Space Hub in Buckinghamshire, a 62,000‑sq‑ft facility designed to accelerate space‑technology development. Backed by the UK Space Agency and a mix of public and private partners, the hub offers testing infrastructure, collaborative...
By Orbital Today
News•Jan 21, 2026
ClearSpace and ESA Will Launch PRELUDE Mission to Test In-Orbit Services
ClearSpace and the European Space Agency are developing the PRELUDE mission, slated for a 2027 launch, to demonstrate autonomous, close‑range satellite servicing in orbit. The program will fly two small spacecraft that use sensors and cameras to track each other...
By Orbital Today
News•Jan 21, 2026
From Bone Health to Space Debris: Crew-11’s Quietly Powerful ISS Legacy
SpaceX Crew‑11 returned after a long‑duration ISS stay, delivering a suite of experiments that span human health, orbital cleanup, and Earth observation. Astronauts logged over 850 hours of scientific work, including bone‑stem‑cell studies to combat microgravity‑induced bone loss and an...
By Orbital Today
News•Jan 19, 2026
UK Advances Navigation Security with New PNT Hub, Presents SPARK Report
The UK Space Agency has launched a new Position, Navigation and Timing (PNT) landing page that centralises information on the nation’s navigation initiatives. The site aligns with the UK’s broader PNT framework and the recently published Framework for Greater PNT...
By Orbital Today
News•Jan 19, 2026
Why Is SpaceX Lowering Its Starlink Satellites?
SpaceX will lower roughly 4,400 Starlink satellites from about 550 km to 480 km by 2026. The move leverages the upcoming solar minimum, which will contract the upper atmosphere and increase drag at higher altitudes, helping clear debris faster. A tighter orbital...
By Orbital Today
News•Jan 19, 2026
China And Algeria Strengthen Space Alliance With AlSat-3A Satellite Launch
China launched AlSat-3A, an optical Earth‑observation satellite for Algeria, on 15 January using a Long March‑2C rocket. Built by the China Academy of Space Technology, the spacecraft will deliver civilian imagery for land‑use planning and disaster mitigation. The launch fulfills the...
By Orbital Today
Deals•Jan 19, 2026
Mitsubishi Corporation Invests in Starlab Space, Becoming Key Customer and Board Member
Mitsubishi Corporation announced it will pre-purchase capacity on Starlab Space’s upcoming commercial space station and increase its equity investment in the company, joining Starlab’s board of directors. The partnership gives Mitsubishi rights to payload space and laboratory access, supporting Japanese...
Orbital Today