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Space science brought us some intriguing new research; some beautiful images and a lot of funding movement in defense and commercial space this week.
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IMAGES
Lenticular Clouds Over Lago Argentino : Astronaut Aboard the ISS
An astronaut aboard the International Space Station captured a photograph of Lago Argentino in December 2025, showing a cluster of smooth, fish‑shaped clouds lingering above the glacial lake in southern Patagonia. NASA scientists note that their lens‑like appearance and sharp edges are consistent with lenticular clouds, which typically form when strong winds are forced over mountains and generate lee waves in the atmosphere.
The lake’s position along the eastern flank of the Southern Patagonian Ice Field makes it a natural setting for these wave‑driven formations, where cold air, complex terrain, and persistent winds interact. (Credit: NASA)
Hazem Mahmoud, a data science lead at NASA’s Langley Research Center, said the clouds were likely lenticular and noted that MODIS data show cloud‑top heights near 9,200 meters, temperatures around 220 Kelvin, and particle sizes consistent with ice crystals. “The high altitude and microphysical properties suggest Cirrocumulus lenticularis,” he said.
Strong Patagonian winds likely pushed moist air over the Andes, forming the lens‑shaped clouds. Sublimation from nearby glacial ice may have added additional moisture to the air, contributing to their development. (Credit: NASA)
Helheim Glacier & Nearby Mountains, Greenland : Copernicus Sentinel‑2
In this Copernicus Sentinel‑2 image from 24 October 2025, sharp peaks and deep shadows define the rugged terrain near the Helheim Glacier in Greenland. The contrast between sunlit and shaded surfaces across the ice reveals marked shifts in elevation and the complexity of the landscape. Greenland’s mountain ranges play a central role in shaping local climate, controlling ice‑sheet behavior, and guiding meltwater toward the coast. They also anchor several of the planet’s largest outlet glaciers, which transport ice from the interior to the ocean and significantly influence sea‑level change. (Credit: European Union, Copernicus Sentinel-2 Imagery)
Rising Wildfires in the Far North : MODIS (Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer) Sensors on NASA’s Aqua, Terra Satellites
Satellite-based map showing fire detections across the far north from 2002–2012, derived from MODIS instruments on NASA’s Aqua and Terra satellites. Yellow circles mark locations of wildfires north of 60° latitude, with circle size indicating total detections ranging from fewer than 1,000 to more than 15,000.
Wildfires across the high northern latitudes are becoming more frequent and more intense, marking a clear break from patterns observed two decades ago. Satellite data show that fire detections north of 60° latitude have surged since 2012, with the sharpest increases in northern Eurasia. Areas that once saw scattered seasonal burns now record thousands of fire events, including several regions with more than 15,000 detections over the past decade. (Credit: NASA)
Fire detections across the same region from 2012–2024, highlighting a sharp increase in wildfire activity, especially in northern Eurasia. Orange circles represent MODIS‑detected fires, revealing more frequent and widespread high‑latitude burning as temperatures rise and lightning reaches higher latitudes.
Scientists attribute the rise to warmer temperatures and lightning reaching higher latitudes, conditions that dry vegetation and extend the fire season. The trend shows how Arctic and sub‑Arctic ecosystems which were long considered too cold and wet to sustain large fires, are becoming more vulnerable as the climate warms. (Credit: NASA)
Dwarf Galaxy, Sextans A : James Webb Space Telescope
Images from NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) of the dwarf galaxy Sextans A reveal polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), large carbon-based molecules that can be a signifier of star formation. The inset at the top right zooms in on those PAHs, which are represented in green.
JWST has identified unexpected dust‑production pathways in Sextans A, one of the most chemically primitive galaxies near the Milky Way, about 4 million light-years away. Webb detected metallic iron and silicon carbide, along with PAHs, despite the galaxy containing only 3–7% of the Sun’s metallicity. The findings challenge long‑held assumptions that early‑universe galaxies lacked the heavy elements needed to form solid dust grains. The results suggest that aging, low‑metallicity stars can still generate diverse dust types, offering a revised picture of how the first galaxies enriched their environments. Sextans A now serves as a local analog for studying early cosmic conditions, providing new constraints on how dust seeded later star and planet formation. (Credit: NASA, ESA, CSA, Elizabeth Tarantino (STScI), Martha Boyer (STScI), Julia Roman-Duval (STScI); Image Processing: Alyssa Pagan (STScI))
A James Webb Space Telescope view of a region within the nearby galaxy Sextans A is shown alongside a ground‑based image captured by the Nicholas U. Mayall 4‑meter Telescope at Kitt Peak National Observatory for context. The findings were published in two companion studies. (Credit: STScI, NASA, ESA, CSA, KPNO, NSF’s NOIRLab, AURA, Elizabeth Tarantino (STScI), Phil Massey (Lowell Obs.), George Jacoby (NSF, AURA), Chris Smith (NSF, AURA); Image Processing: Alyssa Pagan (STScI), Travis Rector (UAA), Mahdi Zamani (NSF’s NOIRLab), Davide De Martin (NSF’s NOIRLab))
Shock Wave Around a Dead Star : Very Large Telescope, ESO
Astronomers using ESO’s Very Large Telescope have identified a bow‑shaped shock wave surrounding the white dwarf RXJ0528+2838, a structure that should not exist around a stellar remnant that no longer produces energetic outflows. The shock emits in hydrogen, nitrogen, and oxygen, indicating gas is being pushed aside by a force stronger than any mechanism predicted for such a system.
The white dwarf orbits a Sun‑like companion, but observations show no accretion disk, ruling out the usual driver of powerful stellar winds. Researchers suggest an unseen energy source—possibly magnetic fields—may be sustaining the outflow. The discovery highlights gaps in models of late‑stage stellar evolution and suggests that even “quiet” remnants may interact with their environments in ways not previously recognized. (Credit: ESO/K. Iłkiewicz and S. Scaringi et al. Background: PanSTARRS)
The central square image, captured with the MUSE instrument on ESO’s Very Large Telescope, reveals shock structures surrounding the white dwarf RXJ0528+2838. As stars travel through space, they can sweep aside surrounding gas and form a bow shock, seen here glowing in red, green, and blue to indicate hydrogen, nitrogen, and oxygen emission. Such shocks are typically driven by powerful stellar outflows, yet RXJ0528+2838 shows no known mechanism capable of producing them. (Credit: ESO/K. Iłkiewicz and S. Scaringi et al.)
Herbig-Haro Objects 80/81 : Hubble Space Telescope
NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope has captured a detailed view of HH 80/81, a pair of Herbig–Haro objects formed where high‑velocity jets from a young star collide with slower material previously ejected from the same system. The new image shows bright pink and green emission regions, signatures of ionized gas, stretching across a dark molecular cloud. These jets span roughly 32 light‑years, making them among the largest known protostellar outflows. The patch to the upper left is part of HH 81, and the bottom streak is part of HH 80.
The structure highlights how forming stars can reshape their surroundings, carving channels through dense gas and triggering additional heating and shock fronts. Hubble first imaged HH 80/81 in 1995; the new observations provide sharper detail on how episodic outflows evolve over time, offering insight into the early stages of stellar growth and feedback in star‑forming regions. (Credit: NASA, ESA, and B. Reipurth (Planetary Science Institute); Processing: Gladys Kober (NASA/Catholic University of America))
SCIENCE
Artemis II Nears Launch as NASA Rolls Out SLS and Orion for Final Pre‑Flight Testing
NASA’s Artemis II SLS rocket and Orion spacecraft stand illuminated at Launch Complex 39B on January 17, 2026, at Kennedy Space Center in Florida. (Credit: NASA/Keegan Barber)
12, 17 January, 2026
NASA has moved the Artemis II rocket to Launch Pad 39B at the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, as teams work through the final pre‑launch campaign for the first crewed lunar mission in more than 50 years. The Space Launch System and Orion spacecraft completed their 4‑mile rollout on January 17, beginning a sequence of pad checks, interface tests, and a wet dress rehearsal, scheduled for no later than February 2, that must be completed before NASA commits to a launch attempt.
Agency officials continue to cite February 6 as the earliest possible target, but emphasize that the schedule remains tight and dependent on resolving outstanding technical items, including life‑support verification and final software reviews. NASA leadership has stressed that the mission will not proceed until all criteria are met, framing the timeline as readiness‑driven rather than deadline‑driven.
Artemis II will send four astronauts, NASA’s Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Christina Koch, and CSA (Canadian Space Agency) astronaut Jeremy Hansen, on a roughly 10‑day lunar flyby to validate deep‑space systems ahead of Artemis III. The rollout marks the program’s most visible milestone to date, but several critical tests still stand between the vehicle and launch.
China Submits ITU Filings for Nearly 200,000 Satellites Across Two Proposed Megaconstellations
12 January, 2026
China has submitted two massive non‑geostationary satellite network filings to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), signaling early moves to secure spectrum and orbital priority for potential next‑generation megaconstellations. The filings, CTC‑1 and CTC‑2, each list 96,714 satellites across 3,660 orbital planes—among the largest ever recorded. For comparison SpaceX wants to launch a total of around 42,000 Starlink satellites for its global constellation, with recent FCC approvals allowing for 7,500 more Gen2 satellites.
CTC‑1 includes both advance publication information (API) which is an early notice and a coordination request that includes detailed technical review and negotiations, while CTC‑2 remains at the API stage, but both appear to form a unified strategic effort rather than two independent systems. The filings provide priority dates but do not authorize deployment; they will undergo technical examination by the ITU Radiocommunication Bureau and potential coordination challenges from other administrations. The filings describe a notional Non‑Geostationary Orbit (NGSO) system, which is a placeholder design used to secure regulatory priority before any final constellation architecture is defined.
The filing, submitted in late December 2025, comes as China expands its broader constellation architecture, including Guowang and Qianfan, each planned to exceed 10,000 satellites. Additional filings from China Satcom, China Mobile, and Galaxy Space point to parallel commercial ambitions. The scale reflects intensifying global competition for LEO resources as SpaceX and Amazon expand their own filings. China’s record 92 launches last year, supported by new reusable‑launch initiatives and expanded spaceport capacity, underscores the country’s push to position itself for future large‑scale broadband networks.
ISS Microgravity Study Shows Viruses and Bacteria Evolve Differently in Space
In this illustration, a bacteriophage sits atop a host cell. Researchers at the University of Wisconsin–Madison developed an ISS experiment to examine how phage–bacteria interactions influence gut microbiome health. (Credit: University of Wisconsin–Madison)
13 January, 2026
Microgravity aboard the International Space Station appears to alter how viruses and bacteria interact, reshaping an evolutionary “arms race” that on Earth is well‑characterized. In parallel experiments using T7 bacteriophages and E. coli, researchers found that infections that normally occur within 20–30 minutes were significantly delayed in microgravity, with no measurable phage growth during the early incubation period. Despite this slowdown, the viruses ultimately succeeded in infecting and killing their hosts.
Genomic analysis showed distinct mutations emerging in both phages and bacteria, suggesting that microgravity pushes evolution along trajectories not typically observed on Earth. Some of these changes appeared to enhance viral fitness, potentially making certain phage variants more effective at breaching bacterial defenses. The experiment was conducted by a team at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, with samples flown to the International Space Station for in‑orbit incubation.
The findings, published recently in the journal PLOS Biology, highlight how the ISS’s closed, low‑gravity environment can reshape microbial behavior, with implications for astronaut health and for developing phage‑based tools against antibiotic‑resistant bacteria. They also underscore the overarching challenge of predicting biological responses as human activity expands into long‑duration spaceflight
Study Shows Astronauts’ Brains Move and Rotate During Extended Spaceflight
The effect of spaceflight, and trajectory of recovery in sagittal and coronal views. (Credit: Tianyi Wang et al, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (2026). DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2505682122)
13 January, 2026
Astronauts returning from long‑duration missions are showing measurable, persistent shifts in brain position, adding to evidence that microgravity reshapes human physiology in ways not yet fully understood. MRI scans from a study of 26 astronauts, found that the brain moves upward, backward, and slightly rotates inside the skull during spaceflight. Researchers compared the astronaut data with scans from 24 volunteers who spent 60 days in a six‑degree head‑down tilt, a bed‑rest model used to simulate how microgravity shifts fluids and organs toward the head.
Researchers, led by Rachel Seidler at the University of Florida observed stretching and compression in several regions, particularly those involved in balance and sensorimotor control, which may help explain why some astronauts experience prolonged disequilibrium after landing.
The displacement—typically a few millimeters—reflects how the loss of gravity alters cerebrospinal fluid distribution, reducing the downward pressure that normally stabilizes the brain. In astronauts who spent a year in orbit, the supplementary motor cortex, which is an area involved in movement control, shifted upward by roughly 2.5 millimeters. Some changes persisted for months after return, suggesting that recovery is slower than previously assumed.
The findings published in the journal PNAS, add to concerns about long‑term neurological risks as agencies plan multi‑month lunar missions and multi‑year Mars expeditions. Scientists note that while the shifts are subtle, they underscore the need for countermeasures to protect neural function during extended spaceflight
NASA–US Energy Department Partnership Targets 2030 Deployment of Nuclear Power System for the Moon
U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright and NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman meet at the Department of Energy headquarters in Washington on Jan. 8, 2026. (Credit: NASA/John Kraus)
13 January, 2026
NASA and the U.S. Department of Energy have renewed their long‑running partnership to develop a fission surface power system intended to operate on the Moon by 2030, framing it as essential infrastructure for sustained Artemis‑era activity. A new memorandum of understanding between the agencies formalizes the effort, which aims to produce a compact reactor capable of delivering continuous, multi‑year power independent of sunlight, an advantage for missions operating through the two‑week lunar night.
NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman said the agency views nuclear power as a prerequisite for a “future of exploration and discovery,” arguing that solar‑only systems cannot support long‑duration surface operations or future Mars missions. The reactor concept is being developed alongside plans for lunar habitats, mobility systems, and resource extraction.
The initiative is in line with President Trump’s vision of American space superiority to ensure that the United States leads the world in space exploration and commerce and reflects intensifying global interest in lunar nuclear power, with other nations pursuing similar concepts. NASA and DOE expect to complete design and ground testing before any deployment decision.
UC Berkeley SETI Team is Reviewing Final 100 SETI@home Radio Signals in Ongoing Search for “Technosignatures” from Extraterrestrials
David Anderson, co-founder of SETI@home, disusses the distributed computing project in 2003. (Credit: Robert Sanders/UC Berkeley)
15 January, 2026
SETI researchers are entering the final phase of a two‑decade effort to analyze unusual radio signals first flagged by volunteers through SETI@home, the distributed‑computing project run by UC Berkeley from 1999 to 2020. After sifting through billions of candidate detections, scientists have narrowed the list to 100 signals of interest, each requiring targeted follow‑up with modern radio telescopes. None are considered evidence of extraterrestrial technology, but they stand out from background noise strongly enough to merit re‑observation.
“In order to probe farther distances, you need bigger telescopes and longer observing times. It’s always best if you are able to control the telescope for your project. We weren’t able to control what the telescope was doing.”
Since July, researchers have used China’s Five‑hundred‑meter Aperture Spherical Telescope (FAST) to reobserve these locations in hopes of detecting the signals again. Although the FAST data have not yet been analyzed, scientists do not expect evidence of extraterrestrial origin. Still, the SETI@home results, detailed in two papers published last year in The Astronomical Journal, offer guidance for future searches and highlight potential weaknesses in current methodologies. The team is now using facilities to recheck each source, applying more advanced algorithms than were available when the signals were first logged. Many are expected to be dismissed as terrestrial interference or natural astrophysical phenomena. Researchers say the final analysis will help refine future search strategies, even if no technosignatures emerge.
Crew‑11 Astronauts Land Safely After First ISS Medical Evacuation and Nearly Six Months of Research
The SpaceX Crew‑11 astronauts arrived at Ellington Field’s Guppy Hangar in Houston on Jan. 16, 2026. From left to right: Roscosmos cosmonaut Oleg Platonov, NASA astronauts Mike Fincke and Zena Cardman, and JAXA astronaut Kimiya Yui. (Credit: NASA)
16 January, 2026
NASA’s Crew‑11 astronauts have returned to Earth following the first medical evacuation in the 25‑year history of the International Space Station, ending their mission several weeks earlier than planned. The four‑person crew—NASA’s Zena Cardman and Mike Fincke, JAXA’s Kimiya Yui, and Roscosmos’ Oleg Platonov—undocked on January 14 and splashed down safely off the California coast hours later. NASA has not identified the affected astronaut or disclosed the nature of the medical issue, noting only that the condition was non‑emergent but required diagnostics unavailable on orbit.
The agency emphasized that the evacuation unfolded smoothly, with recovery teams reporting the crew in good condition after landing. Crew‑11 had spent nearly six months aboard the ISS, conducting more than 140 investigations across biology, materials science, and technology demonstrations. Following 167 days on the ISS, the Crew‑11 astronauts are scheduled to hold a 2:15 p.m. EST news conference on January 21 at NASA’s Johnson Space Center to review their mission’s research activities. Despite the early return, the crew completed the majority of its planned research program.
China Reports Two Launch Failures While Expanding Long March and Ceres Reusable Rocket Efforts in 2026
The Long March 2C launch vehicle lifting off from Launch Site 94 at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center on January 15th 2026. (Credit: via China-in-Space)
15 January, 2026
China’s space sector is closing out the month with a mix of technical setbacks and incremental progress, highlighting both the scale of its launch ambitions and the fragility of its rapidly expanding ecosystem.
In a show of early-year cadence, China carried out its third and fourth launches of 2026 with back‑to‑back missions from Jiuquan and a sea platform off Shandong province. A Long March 2C lifted off from Jiuquan on January 14, shedding insulation tiles during ascent but ultimately placing AlSat‑3A, an Algerian remote‑sensing satellite, into a 489 by 627‑kilometer orbit, according to the U.S. Space Force. The spacecraft is the first of two high‑resolution optical satellites China is delivering under a 2023 contract with Algeria, extending a long‑running partnership that previously produced Alcomsat‑1.
Hours later, commercial firm Galactic Energy launched a Ceres‑1S from its offshore platform, deploying four Tianqi Internet‑of‑things satellites. The flight marked a return to operations after a 2025 failure involving the rocket’s fourth stage.
16 January, 2026
However, China’s launch campaign stumbled with two failures in less than 12 hours, disrupting what had been a steady start to 2026. A Long March 3B lifted off from Xichang carrying the classified Shijian‑32 satellite, but the mission was declared lost after a third‑stage anomaly. China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) confirmed the failure roughly half a day later, offering no details on the payload. It was the first complete Long March 3B failure since 2020 and could affect upcoming geostationary missions that rely on the vehicle and its related Long March 7A upper stage.
Later that night, commercial firm Galactic Energy second launch of the year saw the debut of its larger Ceres‑2 rocket end in failure shortly after launch from Jiuquan. The solid booster had been expected to significantly expand the company’s lift capacity, and the loss comes as Galactic Energy prepares its first liquid‑fuel rocket, Pallas‑1, and pursues an IPO.
The back‑to‑back anomalies follow China’s four successful launches earlier in January. The country still expects to exceed 100 orbital attempts in 2026, even as India also reported a PSLV failure this week.
The Long March 12B Y1 vehicle heading to its launch pad at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in January 2026. (Credit: via China-in-Space)
Despite the recent setbacks, China is pushing ahead with next‑generation launch systems. China conducted a static‑fire test of its new Long March 12B rocket on January 16 at the Dongfeng Commercial Space Innovation Test Zone, marking another step in the country’s push toward reusable launch systems. The state‑owned contractor CASC released few technical details but said the test simulated key pre‑launch procedures. The 12B follows December’s first flight of the related Long March 12A, whose second stage reached orbit while its reusable first stage failed to land.
The 12A and 12B programs sit within a broader national effort to field reusable vehicles as China prepares large LEO constellations such as Guowang and Qianfan. State and commercial firms are also advancing methane engines and planning test flights of additional reusable rockets in early 2026.
GOVERNANCE
Europe Hosts China in Paris for First High‑Level Space Cooperation Meeting Since 2017 as SMILE and Einstein Probe Advance
European Space Agency Director General Josef Aschbacher (left) with China National Space Administration Administrator Shan Zhongde (right) during a January 13th 2026 meeting in Paris, France. (Credit: ESA-D. Dos Santos)
14 January, 2026
European Space Agency and the China National Space Administration (CNSA) held their first high‑level meeting in nearly a decade, signaling a cautious reopening of institutional dialogue after years of limited engagement.
ESA Director General Josef Aschbacher and CNSA Administrator Shan Zhongde met in Paris on 13 January for the fifth Joint Committee session under the ESA–China cooperation agreement, the first since 2017. Both sides highlighted recent joint science activity, including the Tianguan/Einstein Probe, which launched with ESA‑supplied hardware, and progress on the Solar Wind Magnetosphere Ionosphere Link Explorer (SMILE) mission, scheduled to launch this year to study solar‑terrestrial interactions.
The discussion also touched on cooperation frameworks, with ESA emphasizing that collaboration remains limited to science and governed by internal safeguards designed to manage geopolitical sensitivities. Chinese officials, meanwhile, framed the meeting as part of a wider effort to maintain scientific ties with Europe amid expanding national programs.
The session did not announce new initiatives but marked a notable resumption of formal contact after years of political and export‑control constraints.
MILITARY
Orbion Delivers 33 Aurora Propulsion Systems to York Space for Military Satellite Constellation Ahead of York's $544M IPO Roadshow
Orbion’s Aurora Hall‑effect electric thruster. (Credit: Orbion Space Technology)
13 January, 2026
Orbion Space Technology has delivered 33 Aurora Hall‑effect electric propulsion systems to York Space Systems, marking the first time York has publicly identified Orbion as a supplier. The thrusters are expected to support spacecraft tied to the U.S. Space Force’s Space Development Agency, which is building the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture, a large low‑Earth orbit constellation of hundreds of satellites for data transport, tracking, and missile defense. York emphasized the need for partners with proven reliability, while Orbion noted that earlier units are already operating on orbit.
Hall‑effect thrusters enable small satellites to maneuver, maintain position, avoide collisions and de‑orbit, but propulsion remains a supply‑chain bottleneck as demand rises. Orbion’s Michigan facility currently produces about 12 units per month, with annual output near 150 and plans to expand by 50% in successive years. The company’s order book is evenly split between government and commercial customers, including international buyers, highlighting how subsystem suppliers are becoming central to sustaining proliferated defense constellations. Orbion did not disclose the customer, but York’s contracts are primarily with the Space Development Agency, making it likely the thrusters support SDA missions.
Separately, York Space Systems has launched the roadshow for its initial public offering, aiming to raise up to $544 million through the sale of 16 million shares priced between $30 and $34, with an option for 2.4 million more. The company has applied to list on the New York Stock Exchange under ticker YSS, with Goldman Sachs, Jefferies, and Wells Fargo leading the underwriting. The IPO follows York’s growing role in building satellites for U.S. defense programs, highlighting how private capital markets are increasingly tied to national security space infrastructure.
US Department of War Invests $1 Billion in L3Harris Rocket‑Motor Spinoff to Strengthen U.S. Missile Supply Chain
An advanced large solid rocket motor hot fire test conducted at L3Harris’ Camden, Arkansas, site. (Credit: L3Harris)
13 January, 2026
The Pentagon is making a $1 billion direct investment in L3Harris’s solid‑rocket‑motor business, marking the U.S. government’s first attempt to take an equity stake in a major munitions supplier. The funding will support the planned spin‑off and 2026 IPO of L3Harris Missile Solutions, the division formed after the company’s 2023 acquisition of Aerojet Rocketdyne. Officials describe the move as a response to persistent bottlenecks in the missile industrial base, with the investment intended to expand production capacity for systems such as PAC‑3, THAAD, Tomahawk, and Standard Missile interceptors.
The Department of War framed the deal as part of an effort to shift toward direct‑to‑supplier partnerships aimed at securing critical components amid rising global demand. The investment includes a convertible preferred security that will become equity once the new company goes public. While the Pentagon argues the arrangement strengthens supply‑chain resilience, questions about competition, oversight, and the precedent of government ownership in a prime contractor’s supplier network, still remain.
A “convertible preferred security” is an investment that starts out as a special class of shares with extra protections, in this case, giving the government preferred‑share status now, but can later be turned into regular stock once the company goes public.
The Pentagon’s investment lands amid a rapid reshaping of L3Harris’s portfolio earlier this year, following the propulsion divestment, internal consolidation, and new export clearances for its ISR terminals, all of which signal a company repositioning itself around mission‑focused segments and the evolving demands of the defense market.
SkyFi Raises $12.7 Million Series A to Expand Multi‑Sensor, Geospatial Data Marketplace, ThinkOrbital Secures Seed Funding for In‑Space Infrastructure Systems
New funding continues to flow into dual‑use space companies, with investors backing both data‑aggregation platforms and defense‑driven on‑orbit capabilities.
12 January, 2026
Colorado-based ThinkOrbital has closed a seed round led by TFX Capital to accelerate development of its defense‑oriented on‑orbit inspection, servicing, and construction technologies. The company frames its approach as enabling orbital infrastructure that cannot be launched fully assembled, arguing that space has become an operational domain central to national security and commercial activity. Its flagship Space‑to‑Space X‑ray system, designed for penetrating inspection and characterization of objects in orbit, is entering the next phase of trials ahead of demonstration missions in March and October 2026.
Alongside inspection capabilities, ThinkOrbital is pursuing in‑space construction methods aimed at large‑scale platforms for data processing, rapid‑response military assets, manufacturing, and habitation. Leadership emphasizes the need for resilient infrastructure as the United States and its allies grow more reliant on space‑based systems. Investors view scalable orbital construction and servicing as foundational to future defense, compute, and industrial applications, with ThinkOrbital positioning its dual‑use technologies to bridge orbital and terrestrial security markets.
Credit: SkyFi
14 January, 2026
Satellite imagery and geospatial data provider, SkyFi has raised $12.7 million in an oversubscribed Series A, reflecting sustained investor interest in geospatial data platforms that serve both commercial and defense markets. The Austin, Texas‑based company aggregates imagery and analytics from more than 50 providers, including Vantor across optical, SAR, hyperspectral, and aerial sensors, positioning itself as a “virtual constellation” that offers broad coverage without operating satellites.
The funding round, co‑led by Buoyant Ventures and IronGate Capital Advisors, brings in a mix of commercial‑tech and defense‑focused investors, mirroring how high‑resolution geospatial data is being adopted across sectors. SkyFi plans to expand partnerships with satellite operators as new constellations come online, aiming to deepen its on‑demand marketplace and streamline procurement traditionally handled through bespoke contracts.
Investors highlighted applications in energy, agriculture, climate monitoring, disaster response, and defense, underscoring the dual‑use relevance of Earth‑observation data as demand and capital flows continue to grow.
Capital is increasingly directed toward companies that can scale data access, enhance orbital awareness, and build or service infrastructure directly in space—capabilities that underpin both commercial growth and future defense architectures.
Slingshot Aerospace Wins $27 Million Space Force Contract for AI‑Based Training Environment Development
Slingshot will support the Space Force’s Operational Test and Training Infrastructure program by combining current training tools with AI‑based systems intended to model a wider range of evolving on‑orbit behaviors. (Credit: Slingshot Aerospace)
15 January, 2026
AI-powered space situational awareness, simulation, and analytics solutions provider Slingshot Aerospace has secured a $27 million U.S. Space Force contract to modernize scenario‑based training with AI‑driven tools that the company claims, ‘mirror the increasingly dynamic orbital threat environment.’ The award supports the Operational Test and Training Infrastructure (OTTI) program, which is integrating AI‑native systems to help operators train against machine‑speed, unpredictable adversary behaviors. Slingshot’s Thinking Agent for Logical Operations and Strategy (TALOS) agent, which is an AI system designed to replicate satellite maneuvers, evolving tactics, and space‑combat strategies, will form the core of this upgrade, enabling large‑scale repetitions and more realistic simulations of near‑peer capabilities .
The Space Force has been testing TALOS through its Space Training and Readiness Command (STARCOM) as it evaluates deeper AI integration into future training activities, reflecting broader concerns about autonomous spacecraft and rapidly shifting on‑orbit tactics. The 18‑month contract, awarded through a Commercial Solutions Opening, underscores the military’s push to expand digital training environments as space becomes a more contested operational domain.
Parsons Completes Up to $375 Million Acquisition of Altamira to Grow National‑Security Portfolio
15 January, 2026
Parsons has acquired Altamira Technologies in a deal valued at up to $375 million, expanding its portfolio across signals intelligence, missile warning, cyber operations, and space‑based mission support. The transaction includes $330 million in cash at closing and up to $45 million in earn‑outs tied to 2026 performance targets. Altamira brings more than 600 employees, the majority holding security clearances, and a customer base spanning the U.S. intelligence community and defense agencies.
Parsons, a technology-focused defense, intelligence, and infrastructure engineering firm frames the acquisition as a strategic move to accelerate growth in national‑security markets, citing Altamira’s work in advanced analytics, intelligence, surveillance and reconaissance, and rapid prototyping for government customers. The company has pursued similar expansion through recent acquisitions aimed at strengthening its all‑domain integration and Indo‑Pacific presence.
The deal positions Parsons to compete more directly in high‑demand areas such as space‑enabled intelligence and threat detection, where agencies are seeking faster development cycles and greater integration across cyber, space, and data‑driven missions.
COMMERCIAL
Kepler Begins Deploying Satellites Carrying OroraTech Sensors for World’s First, Near‑Real‑Time Thermal Livestream Constellation
The four SAFIRE imagers aboard Kepler satellites in orbit. (Credit: OroraTech)
12 January, 2026
German space-based wildfire tracking and monitoring service provider OroraTech and Canadian internet-of-space and satellite company, Kepler Communications have begun deploying the first components of a planned thermal livestream of Earth, following the launch of four SAFIRE Gen4 infrared sensor payloads aboard Kepler’s next‑generation satellites. The partnership combines OroraTech’s on‑orbit thermal processing with Kepler’s optical inter‑satellite links, enabling near‑real‑time delivery of infrared data to ground users. Both companies frame the system as a step toward persistent thermal monitoring, with wildfire detection highlighted as an early application due to the sensors’ ability to identify heat anomalies rapidly.
The initiative is a move toward low‑latency environmental intelligence, leveraging commercial communications networks to reduce the delay between observation and response. Kepler’s optical backbone is positioned as the enabling layer for continuous downlink, addressing a bottleneck that has historically limited thermal‑imaging constellations. OroraTech’s deployment also signals the company’s move toward higher‑frequency data collection as it scales its sensor architecture. While the system is still in early rollout, the collaboration illustrates how Earth‑observation firms are increasingly integrating sensing and communications infrastructure to deliver time‑critical data services.
CAS Space Conducts Lihong‑1 Suborbital Recovery Test as China Expands Reusable Spaceflight and Microgravity Research
Lihong-1 blasting off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center on January 12th 2026. (Credit: CAS Space)
12 January, 2026
China’s commercial launch firm CAS Space has completed the first suborbital flight and recovery test of its Lihong‑1 (Zhongke Aerospace Lihong-1 Y1) vehicle, marking a step toward reusable systems aimed at microgravity research and future space‑manufacturing applications. The solid‑propellant rocket, equipped with grid fins, lifted off from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center on January 12 and reached roughly 120 kilometers before its capsule returned under parachute. CAS Space said the mission validated reentry, deceleration, and booster‑descent control, providing early verification for technologies intended for a recoverable launcher.
The flight carried a laser additive‑manufacturing experiment from the Chinese Academy of Sciences’ Institute of Mechanics, named LAM-MG-R1, and rose seeds exposed to cosmic radiation for mutation studies, illustrating the company’s interest in long‑term on‑orbit manufacturing and space‑agriculture research. CAS Space plans to evolve the capsule into an orbital‑grade, reusable platform that could stay in orbit for at least one year and allow for a minimum of 10 reuses. CAS Space is also developing Lihong‑2, a seven‑passenger suborbital tourism vehicle. The effort unfolds amid other Chinese activity in reusable microgravity and crew‑capable systems, including projects by AZSpace, Interstellor, and state‑owned CASC.
Eutelsat Expands OneWeb Constellation With Airbus Satellite Order and MaiaSpace Multi‑Launch Agreement
13 January, 2026
European satellite operator, Eutelsat has initiated a major expansion and renewal phase for its OneWeb low‑Earth‑orbit constellation, awarding Airbus Defence and Space a contract to build 340 additional satellites. Combined with a previous order for 100 spacecraft placed in late 2024, the operator now has 440 next‑generation satellites in production. The new batch is intended to replace early OneWeb units approaching end‑of‑life and to support service continuity as demand for low‑latency connectivity grows. Airbus will manufacture the satellites on a new production line in Toulouse, shifting work back to Europe after earlier OneWeb spacecraft were built at a facility in Merritt Island, United States. The upgraded design incorporates digital channelizers and enhanced onboard processing to improve flexibility and long‑term performance.
The contract is Eutelsat’s first major industrial move since its €1.5 billion capital raise, signaling an early use of new funding to expand its LEO network and support its role in the EU’s IRIS2 program.
A render showing the stage 2 burn on a Maia launch vehicle. Eutelsat has entered a multi‑launch agreement with MaiaSpace to deploy its next set of OneWeb replenishment satellites. (Credit: MaiaSpace)
18 January, 2026
In parallel, Eutelsat has also secured launch capacity for the refreshed constellation, signing a multi‑launch agreement with MaiaSpace, the French launch services provider that is a wholly owned subsidiary of ArianeGroup. The contract covers multiple flights of the Maia launch vehicle, which is still in development and targeting its first mission in 2026. Eutelsat positions the deal as part of a wider strategy to diversify launch access and strengthen Europe’s industrial base, though the reliance on an unproven launcher introduces schedule risk. The operator has not disclosed the number of satellites assigned to MaiaSpace but indicated that the agreement complements other launch arrangements.
The company frames the expansion as necessary to sustain network performance, support enterprise and government customers, and reinforce Europe’s position in the global LEO communications market as new entrants accelerate deployment.
ClearSpace and ESA Launch PRELUDE Initiative to Demonstrate Autonomous Rendezvous and In‑Orbit Servicing Technologies in 2027
An animation showing two small spacecraft working together in orbit. (Credit: ClearSpace)
13 January, 2026
The European Space Agency and the Luxembourg-based ClearSpace have launched a new in‑orbit servicing initiative called PRELUDE, a two‑spacecraft mission intended to validate autonomous rendezvous and close‑proximity operations ahead of future life‑extension, repair, and debris‑removal services. Targeting a 2027 launch, the mission will test high‑accuracy tracking, navigation, and maneuvering using vision‑based and complementary sensors feeding fault‑tolerant guidance, navigation and control (GNC) software. ESA and ClearSpace describe PRELUDE as a structured campaign to demonstrate safe, repeatable maneuvers around another spacecraft without ground intervention.
ClearSpace will lead mission design, GNC development, and operations, while procuring platforms, propulsion, and sensors from industrial partners. The mission is expected to run seven to twelve months, depending on maneuver complexity. ESA frames PRELUDE as part of Europe’s push toward sustainable space operations, while ClearSpace positions it as a step in its gradual transition from demonstrations to commercial in‑orbit servicing. The company’s earlier ClearSpace‑1 debris‑removal mission meant for a VESPA launch adapter, now considered unsuitable for removal, has now been retargeted to Proba‑1, remains scheduled for 2029, with PRELUDE intended to reduce technical and operational risk across its portfolio.
Portal Space Systems Selects Atomic‑6 "Space Armor" to Shield 2026 Demontration Mission Against Micrometeoroids and Orbital Debris
Portal Space Systems has selected Atomic‑6’s composite shielding material, Space Armor, for its Starburst‑1 demonstration mission launching on SpaceX’s Transporter‑18 in October 2026. (Credit: Portal Space Systems)
15 January, 2026
Portal Space Systems has selected Atomic‑6’s composite shielding material, Space Armor, for its Starburst‑1 demonstration mission launching on SpaceX’s Transporter‑18 in October 2026. The tiles will serve as the spacecraft’s primary micrometeoroid and orbital‑debris protection system, marking the product’s first in‑orbit test after ground‑based validation. Atomic‑6 positions Space Armor as a lighter, thinner alternative to traditional Whipple‑style metallic shields, which have been the standard for decades but add mass, block radio‑frequency signals, and can generate secondary debris when struck.
Front, side, and back views of the Space Armor™ Lite tile (30cm x 30cm x 2cm), tested with a 3mm projectile traveling at 7.2 km/s, showing minimum deformation on the back side. (Credit: Atomic-6)
The startup offers its hexagonal protective tiles in two variants. The Lite version is intended to shield spacecraft from micrometeoroids and debris measuring 3 mm or smaller and is the configuration selected for Portal’s upcoming mission. The Max version is designed to withstand impacts from particles up to 12.5 mm and is aimed at applications that require higher protection levels, including human‑rated systems.
Portal said the reduced mass supports its focus on long‑endurance maneuvering satellites, where debris protection must avoid limiting propulsion or operational life. Starburst‑1, Portal’s ESPA-class rapid-maneuverability spacecraft will test the company’s architecture for rendezvous and proximity operations (RPO), rapid retasking, and rapid orbital changes for national security and commercial use cases.
Atomic‑6’s hypervelocity impact tests at the University of Dayton Research Institute and Texas A&M showed the tiles absorbing and containing impacts, a feature the company argues could support broader commercial and national‑security adoption.
The selection of Space Armor comes amid a growing number of debris‑related anomalies, including damage to China’s Shenzhou‑20 spacecraft and the loss of Spain’s SpainSat NG II military communications satellite, which suffered irrecoverable failure after being struck by a millimeter‑scale particle in early January 2026.
Luxembourg’s Hydrosat, Indian Aule and Japanese Interstellar Technologies Announce New Funding Rounds Across Satellite Data, Launch, and In‑Orbit Servicing
Hydrosat thermal infrared imagery of Shaybah in Saudi Arabia. (Credit: Hydrosat)
15 January, 2026
Luxembourg-based, geospatial intelligence provider, Hydrosat has closed a $60 million Series B round, marking a significant expansion phase for the thermal‑infrared data provider as demand grows for high‑frequency environmental intelligence. The round was led by Hartree Partners, Subutai Capital Partners, and Space 4 Earth, with new participation from Truffle Capital and follow‑on investment from several European and U.S. backers. The company said the capital will accelerate deployment of its thermal‑infrared satellite constellation and expand its AI‑driven analytics platform across commercial, civil‑government, and defense markets.
With two thermal satellites already in orbit and daily collection capacity exceeding 10 million square kilometers, the company is positioning its data as a core input for water‑resource management, agricultural forecasting, and climate‑risk modeling. Hydrosat also serves defense and intelligence customers that rely on thermal signatures for activity monitoring, and plans to expand its footprint across Central Asia, MENA, India, and Latin America as it develops next‑generation sensors and water‑management tools.
15 January, 2026
India‑based startup Aule Space has raised $2 million in a seed round led by Pi Ventures to advance its approach to satellite life‑extension using compact “jet‑pack” modules designed to attach to aging spacecraft. The company is developing small, autonomous propulsion units intended to provide station‑keeping, collision‑avoidance support, and limited orbital adjustments for satellites nearing end‑of‑life. Aule frames the system as a lower‑cost alternative to full servicing vehicles, targeting operators that need incremental life extension rather than complex repairs.
The funding will support development of flight‑ready hardware, ground testing, and early regulatory engagement. Aule says its architecture is designed for compatibility with multiple satellite buses, with the long‑term goal of enabling a scalable, on‑orbit servicing marketplace in low Earth orbit. The company is also exploring applications in debris‑mitigation support. While the concept aligns with broader industry interest in modular servicing, Aule has not disclosed timelines for an in‑orbit demonstration or commercial deployment.
Japan’s Interstellar Technologies is developing Zero, a small orbital launch vehicle. (Credit: Interstellar Technologies)
16 January, 2026
Meanwhile, in Japan, Interstellar Technologies, an aerospace company focused on infrastructure for affordable space access, has completed a 20.1 billion JPY (~$129.7 million) Series F round, one of the largest private fundraises in the country’s space sector. Led by Woven by Toyota with participation from SBI Group, Nomura Real Estate Development, B Dash Ventures, SMBC Edge, and others, the round brings the company’s cumulative funding to 44.6 billion JPY.
Interstellar also secured 5.3 billion JPY in debt financing and conducted secondary transactions to restructure its cap table. The company is developing ZERO, its orbital launch vehicle, which recently progressed to Phase 3 of the Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology's (MEXT) Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program and has eight contracted payloads for its first mission. Parallel work on communications satellites reflects Interstellar’s strategy to build a vertically integrated launch‑and‑satcom business, supported by manufacturing partnerships with Toyota and ongoing government‑funded R&D.
Despatch Out. 👽🛸
