Transcelestial to Provide Satellite Laser Communication Terminals to Gilmour Space
Transcelestial has signed a strategic partnership with Australian launch‑vehicle maker Gilmour Space to integrate its optical‑laser communication terminal onto a Gilmour satellite launching on SpaceX’s Transporter‑18 rideshare later this year. The demonstration will test gigabit‑per‑second space‑to‑ground data links, a capability that could alleviate the bandwidth bottleneck of traditional RF systems. Success may lead to broader adoption across Gilmour’s fleet and the establishment of an optical ground station in Queensland. Leveraging its terrestrial production line, Transcelestial aims to deliver low‑cost‑per‑bit terminals while eyeing a future 40‑satellite constellation offering over 100 Gbps.
Saudi Space Agency Reveals DebriSolver Competition Winners
Saudi Space Agency Announces Winners of Global 'DebriSolver' Competition at Space Debris Conference https://t.co/7nShOVvrrl https://t.co/PfUOga8PFx
Varda’s W-5 Mission Lands in Australia
Varda Space Industries successfully completed its W‑5 mission, landing the capsule at Australia’s Koonibba Test Range on Jan. 29. The flight, launched on SpaceX’s Transporter‑15 rideshare in November, carried a U.S. Navy payload under the Air Force Research Laboratory’s Prometheus program...
China Launches AlSat-3B for Algeria, Further Launches Delayed Ahead of Key Human Spaceflight Test
China successfully launched Algeria's AlSat‑3B remote‑sensing satellite on a Long March 2C from Jiuquan, following the earlier AlSat‑3A mission. The launch adds to China’s aggressive 2026 schedule, which aims to exceed 100 orbital attempts. Meanwhile, Long March 7A and 8A flights have been postponed...
L3Harris Reaffirms Commitment to Space Business Amid Missile Sector Expansion
The Pentagon is committing $1 billion to L3Harris’s Missile Solutions unit through a convertible preferred security, paving the way for a spinoff IPO slated for the second half of 2026. Management projects the new entity will generate at least $4 billion in...
A Fireside Chat with Space Force Gen. Shawn Bratton
U.S. Space Force Vice Chief Gen. Shawn Bratton outlined the service’s 2040 vision, emphasizing a shift from organization building to war‑fighting capabilities such as space superiority, dynamic operations, and cislunar navigation. He highlighted the "objective force" – the capability set...
RBC Signals Partners with In-Orbit Relay Developer Apolink
RBC Signals has teamed up with Apolink to resell the startup’s in‑orbit relay services, aiming to close the connectivity gaps that leave LEO satellites out of range of ground stations for most of each orbit. Apolink will test its receive‑only...
Making the Unprecedented EU Space Act Effective for All
The European Commission’s proposed EU Space Act, unveiled on June 25, 2025, seeks to embed safety, resilience and sustainability requirements across all space services operating in Europe. It mandates debris tracking, cybersecurity standards and environmental impact reductions for both EU...
NASA Considering Alternatives for Gateway Logistics
NASA is at a crossroads over how to provide cargo services for the lunar Gateway, reassessing the original SpaceX Dragon XL contract and weighing a potential shift to SpaceX’s Starship. The agency authorized the first logistics mission for 2023 but...
Eutelsat’s Ground Infrastructure Sale Falls Through
Eutelsat announced that its planned €550 million sale of passive ground infrastructure to EQT Partners has been cancelled after regulatory and security approvals were not secured. The deal would have created SatPort Infrastructure, the world’s largest neutral ground‑station‑as‑a‑service platform. The cancellation...
Oxford Space Systems Wrapped Rib Antenna Successfully Deployed In-Orbit on CarbSAR Mission
Oxford Space Systems and SSTL announced the successful in‑orbit deployment of the Wrapped Rib Antenna on the CarbSAR demonstration mission launched by SpaceX on 11 January 2026. The antenna, a large deployable X‑band SAR reflector, unfolded in two stages, confirming its dual‑deployment...
What Would Artemis Participation Mean for Türkiye’s Space Industry and Space Diplomacy?
Turkey’s space ecosystem has matured, demonstrated by the indigenous Türksat 6A satellite, a growing Earth‑observation fleet, and an ambitious lunar‑mission program targeting a 2027 orbit and a 2030s surface landing. Private firms are advancing hybrid‑rocket propulsion and analog‑habitat research, while a...
Space Grove Ventures Announces Public Launch at SpaceCom | Space Congress, Signaling a New Commercial Model for Space and Defense...
Space Grove Ventures debuted at SpaceCom | Space Congress, unveiling a for‑profit platform that turns underutilized real‑estate into high‑performance innovation districts for space, defense, and advanced‑technology firms. The company will redevelop facilities, manage tenant operations, and coordinate public‑private programs to accelerate commercialization...
NOAA Seeks More Money and Flexibility for Commercial Weather Data Program
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration announced a plan to spend billions of dollars on commercial weather data over the next decade, expanding contract horizons from the current five‑year model to up to ten years. The strategy emphasizes greater transparency,...
GAO Flags Risks in Space Development Agency’s Missile-Tracking Satellite Program
The Government Accountability Office warned that the Space Development Agency’s Tracking Layer, part of a $35 billion low‑Earth‑orbit missile‑tracking constellation, is advancing faster than its technology and management can support. GAO says SDA overestimates technology readiness, lacks an architecture‑level schedule, and...
Space-Focused SPAC Goes Public After Pricing $200 Million IPO
Space Asset Acquisition Corp., a Nasdaq‑listed SPAC chaired by venture capitalist Raphael Roettgen, priced its $200 million IPO at $10 per unit, each including a share and a third‑worth warrant. The blank‑check vehicle aims to merge with companies operating in the global...
Reach Space Industry Talent Directly with Targeted Job Posts
Struggling to find the right talent in the space industry? Tap into a highly engaged audience of engineers, analysts, and specialists already working at the forefront of space innovation. Get your jobs in front of the people who matter most....
US Space Command Includes Industry in Classified Space Nuclear Wargame
U.S. Space Command to bring commercial firms into classified wargame on nuclear threats in space https://t.co/7TKTS5aGvh https://t.co/7GOzPcphLG
U.S. Space Command to Bring Commercial Firms Into Classified Wargame on Nuclear Threats in Space
U.S. Space Command announced that, for the first time, commercial space firms will join classified tabletop wargames addressing nuclear threats in orbit. The initial exercise, slated for March, will explore U.S. response options to a potential deployment of weapons of...
Pentagon Urged to Prioritize Orbital Logistics, Not Just Launches
Space Command’s case for orbital logistics: Why the Pentagon is being urged to think beyond launch https://t.co/dNiv94z7N9 https://t.co/0hkd5mGVDN
OQ Technology Plots Smartphone Test Amid SpaceX’s C-Band D2D Push
Luxembourg‑based OQ Technology is preparing its first dedicated C‑band direct‑to‑device (D2D) satellite, slated for launch mid‑year, to connect unmodified smartphones from low‑Earth orbit. The move follows successful S‑band IoT tests and a planned dual‑band S/C payload later this year. Simultaneously,...
China Targets 2026 Crewed Lunar Test and Reusable Rockets
China set for crewed lunar tests, record launches, moon mission and reusable rockets in 2026 https://t.co/SRz6ry5HmO https://t.co/wTtpwQaXpz
FAA Projects Continuing Growth in Commercial Space Transportation
The FAA’s Office of Commercial Space Transportation licensed 205 launches and re‑entries in 2025, a 25% rise over 2024 and 12% above its own forecast. The agency projects licensed operations could double by 2029, pushing the total past 1,000 within...
Terran Orbital to Deliver Nebula Bus for Mitsubishi Electric LEO Demo Mission
Terran Orbital announced it will supply the Nebula satellite bus for Mitsubishi Electric’s Low‑Earth‑Orbit (LEO) demo mission, featuring a Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) and optical terminal payload. The bus delivery is scheduled for 2027, with an 18‑month development window and...
What ‘Commercial Space’ Really Means Depends on Who’s Buying — and Why
A new study by the European Space Policy Institute and Aerospace Corporation’s Center for Space Policy and Strategy finds that the term “commercial” in space procurement has become a catch‑all, masking divergent practices in the United States and Europe. The...
Exotrail and Astroscale France Join Forces to Build Deorbiting Capability for LEO
Exotrail and Astroscale France announced a partnership to test deorbiting capabilities for low‑Earth‑orbit (LEO) satellites. The effort, backed by France 2030 and a CNES‑led study, aims to demonstrate an interface between Exotrail’s service vehicle and Astroscale’s rendezvous technology. Selection by the...
NOAA Solar Observatory Reaches Lagrange Point 1
NOAA’s Space Weather Follow‑On — Lagrange 1 (SOLAR‑1) completed its final engine burn on Jan 23 and arrived at Lagrange point 1, roughly 1.6 million km from Earth. Launched aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 in September, the satellite carries a solar‑wind plasma sensor, supra‑thermal ion sensor, magnetometer and...
Budget Remains Tight for Scaled-Back GeoXO Program
NOAA’s next‑generation GeoXO satellite constellation has been trimmed from six to four spacecraft after OMB budget guidance, with two satellites operating simultaneously. The first satellite, slated for a 2032 launch, will carry a resurrected Advanced Baseline Imager (ABI) to replace...
EU Launches Government Satcom Program in Sovereignty Push
The European Union launched GOVSATCOM, a government satellite communications program that aggregates capacity from eight geosynchronous satellites owned by France, Spain, Italy, Greece and Luxembourg. The service, now operational, offers member states a secure, encrypted marketplace of 35 communication programmes...
Space Debris 2026 Conference Launches with 75 Nations
Second Edition of Space Debris 2026 Conference Kicks Off with Participation from 75 Countries https://t.co/lmb1ysVcdL https://t.co/FRUZJzWczm
Second Edition of Space Debris 2026 Conference Kicks Off with Participation From 75 Countries
The Saudi Space Agency launched the second Space Debris 2026 Conference, drawing delegates from 75 countries. Backed by the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs and the International Telecommunication Union, the event underscores a global push to curb orbital...
EBAD PRM Payload Release Module Family Demonstrates Scalable, Low-Shock Separation Capability on Falcon 9 Twilight Rideshare Mission
Ensign‑Bickford Aerospace and Defense (EBAD) confirmed the successful actuation of its PRM9103 payload release module during SpaceX’s Falcon 9 Twilight rideshare on Jan. 11, deploying ten Kepler Communications satellites. The flight validates the low‑shock, precision‑separation capability of EBAD’s PRM family, which scales...
The “Stealth” Strategy Pays Off: UARX Space Emerges as Europe’s High-Reliability Powerhouse
UARX Space spent five years in stealth, delivering a full TRL 9 product line before announcing publicly. Its flagship OSSIE platform offers a modular, high‑performance in‑orbit validation bus, now partnered with Dawn Aerospace for a docking‑and‑refueling port slated for a 2026...
NASA Evaluation Lauds Quality of PlanetiQ Radio Occultation Data
An independent NASA evaluation has validated the quality of PlanetiQ’s GNSS radio occultation data, finding it comparable to benchmark missions like COSMIC‑2. The review highlighted PlanetiQ’s total electron content measurements as best‑in‑class, with high signal‑to‑noise and deep lower‑troposphere penetration. NASA...
Space Force Set to Choose Contractors for Next-Gen GEO Spy Satellites
The U.S. Space Force is nearing contractor selections for the Geosynchronous Reconnaissance & Surveillance (RG‑XX) program, its first large‑scale commercial‑first satellite acquisition. RG‑XX will replace the bespoke Geosynchronous Space Situational Awareness Program with a proliferated GEO constellation built from commercial...
Vega C to Launch Brazilian Satellite
Brazil’s National Institute for Space Research (INPE) will launch the 700‑kilogram Amazonia‑1B Earth‑observation satellite on a Vega C rocket in 2027. The mission is being arranged through Texas‑based launch broker SpaceLaunch, which secured a contract worth about 188.2 million Brazilian reais (~$35.6 million)....
Northwood Space Secures $100M Funding and $49M Defense Deal
Northwood Space raises $100 million Series B, lands $49 million Space Force deal https://t.co/3tpiIouSVt https://t.co/bm0UUoDKA6
Northwood Space Raises $100 Million Series B, Lands $49 Million Space Force Deal
Northwood Space announced a $100 million Series B round led by Washington Harbour Partners and co‑led by a16z, following a $30 million Series A nine months earlier. The funding supports the rollout of its multi‑beam phased‑array ground station, Portal, which can handle eight to...
NASA Seeks Partners for Earth Science Extended Missions
NASA’s Earth Science Division announced a call for external partners to sustain extended missions such as the Orbiting Carbon Observatory‑2 (OCO‑2) and the Cyclone Global Navigation Satellite System (CYGNSS). The agency seeks proposals that could assume part or all of...
Astranis Adds Oman Customer to Summer GEO Launch Lineup
Astranis has signed a nine‑figure contract with Oman’s MB Group for a small geostationary broadband satellite slated for a summer launch. The deal, part of a $200 million investment, includes ground stations and connectivity infrastructure to support Oman’s diversification away from...
We Need a ‘Planetary Neural Network’ for AI-Enabled Space Infrastructure Protection
The orbital environment now hosts over 11,000 active satellites and could swell to 30,000‑60,000 by 2030, creating a collision‑risk crisis known as Kessler syndrome. Traditional radar and optical tracking struggle to detect sub‑centimeter debris, prompting calls for AI‑driven space situational...
Golden Dome Is Forcing the Pentagon to Confront Missile Defense Economics
Gen. Michael Guetlein said Golden Dome’s success hinges on affordable, scalable missile defenses, emphasizing lower cost‑per‑kill and deeper magazine depth. He warned that today’s multi‑million‑dollar interceptors limit the number of shots the U.S. can field, making defenses vulnerable to volume attacks....
NASA and DOE to Collaborate on Lunar Nuclear Reactor Development
NASA and the Department of Energy have signed a memorandum of understanding to advance the Fission Surface Power program, which aims to develop a 100‑kilowatt nuclear reactor for lunar use. DOE will provide regulatory oversight, design support, and roughly 400 kg...
Launch Operators Are the Rocket Fuel Required to Galvanize Spaceports in Europe
Europe is poised to launch satellites from its own mainland, with new spaceports at SaxaVord, Andøya and Esrange reshaping the continent’s launch landscape. The article argues that infrastructure alone is insufficient; a vibrant launch‑operator sector is essential to generate sustained...
House Appropriator Sees ‘Room for Improvement’ in NASA Funding for 2027
The House Commerce, Justice and Science subcommittee approved a $24.438 billion NASA budget for FY2026, overturning a proposed 25% cut. Science funding was lifted to $7.25 billion, nearly matching FY2025 levels, and STEM education dollars were restored. Rep. Grace Meng, the subcommittee’s...
Space Force’s Acquisition Arm Races to Rebuild Contracting Workforce After Civilian Cuts
Space Systems Command (SSC), the Space Force’s acquisition arm, is scrambling to rebuild its contracting workforce after shedding roughly 780 civilian staff – about 14% of its civilian headcount – during last year’s federal downsizing. The loss of contracting officers...
Space Force Expands to Protect Vulnerable Satellites
As satellites become targets, Space Force plans for growth and a broader role https://t.co/yHrJxOA9eN https://t.co/uqcBL3BAUD
As Satellites Become Targets, Space Force Plans for Growth and a Broader Role
The U.S. Space Force is poised to double its personnel to roughly 20,000 within the next decade as the Pentagon treats space as a contested warfighting domain. General Shawn Bratton said the service is being pressed by the Army, Navy...
L3Harris to Supply Imager for Korean Geostationary Weather Satellite
L3Harris Technologies secured a contract to supply the primary 18‑channel GEO‑KOMPSAT Meteorological Imager for the Korean Meteorological Administration’s next‑generation geostationary weather satellite, awarded through LIG Nex1. The sensor will enhance detection of clouds, snow, moisture and fog, improving forecast accuracy across...
D-Orbit Raises $128 Million in First Tranche of Series D Funding
Italian space‑logistics firm D‑Orbit announced a $124 million first‑close of its Series D round on Jan. 22. The capital will fund strategic acquisitions, expand its orbital logistics infrastructure, and scale in‑orbit transportation services. D‑Orbit aims to increase industrial capacity for its ION satellite...