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NASA Spaceflight • Martijn Luinstra

Space science in 2026: a crowded manifest of lunar explorers, Mars missions and next‑gen telescopes

2026's space‑science calendar features a dense launch manifest — multiple lunar landers and orbiters, at least one Mars mission and several next‑generation space telescopes — promising intensive scientific returns and a sustained high operational tempo for agencies, commercial launch providers and international partners.

2026-01-18T13:00:23.040662-08:00

Spaceflight Now

SpaceX Falcon 9 set to launch 29 Starlink broadband satellites from Cape Canaveral

2026-01-18T10:27:25.955428-08:00

Reuters

Nigeria grants seven-year satellite permits to Kuiper, BeetleSat and Satelio, joining SpaceX in broadband push

2026-01-17T16:05:45.942921-08:00

SpaceNews.com

China suffers dual launch failures as Long March 3B loses classified Shijian and Ceres‑2 maiden flight fails

2026-01-17T02:45:55.426807-08:00

News Timeline

NASA Spaceflight

Space science in 2026: a crowded manifest of lunar explorers, Mars missions and next‑gen telescopes 2026's space‑science calendar features a dense launch manifest — multiple lunar landers and orbiters, at least one Mars mission and several next‑generation space telescopes — promising intensive scientific returns and a sustained high operational tempo for agencies, commercial launch providers and international partners.

2026-01-18T13:00:23.040662-08:00

Space science in 2026: a crowded manifest of lunar explorers, Mars missions and next‑gen telescopes

Spaceflight Now

SpaceX Falcon 9 set to launch 29 Starlink broadband satellites from Cape Canaveral SpaceX will launch 29 Starlink broadband satellites aboard a Falcon 9 from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station’s pad 40 Sunday at 5:06:10 p.m. EST (2206:10 UTC). The mission continues the rapid buildout of Starlink’s LEO network; live coverage will track deployment and recovery.

2026-01-18T10:27:25.955428-08:00

SpaceX Falcon 9 set to launch 29 Starlink broadband satellites from Cape Canaveral

Reuters

Nigeria grants seven-year satellite permits to Kuiper, BeetleSat and Satelio, joining SpaceX in broadband push Nigeria's telecoms regulator has granted seven-year satellite permits to Amazon's Kuiper Systems, Israel's NSLComm (BeetleSat) and Germany's Satelio IoT Services, joining an earlier clearance for SpaceX and clearing multiple operators to expand space-based broadband services in the country, the regulator said on Thursday.

2026-01-17T16:05:45.942921-08:00

Nigeria grants seven-year satellite permits to Kuiper, BeetleSat and Satelio, joining SpaceX in broadband push

SpaceNews.com

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China suffers dual launch failures as Long March 3B loses classified Shijian and Ceres‑2 maiden flight fails China experienced two launch failures Friday: a Long March 3B lost a classified Shijian satellite, and the debut Ceres‑2 rocket failed on its maiden flight, with both missions failing to place their payloads into orbit. The twin setbacks affect both an established launcher and a new vehicle.

2026-01-17T02:45:55.426807-08:00

China suffers dual launch failures as Long March 3B loses classified Shijian and Ceres‑2 maiden flight fails

Via Satellite

Convergence Comes of Age: 2026 Turns Direct-to-Device Satellites and 3GPP NTNs into Commercial Reality With the first commercial direct-to-device constellations scaling into service and 3GPP non‑terrestrial network standards reaching maturity, 2026 marks the year connectivity between satellites and cellular networks begins to blur. Operators and telcos will increasingly deploy integrated NTN-D2D solutions that make terrestrial versus space links functionally indistinguishable.

2026-01-16T12:11:31.570302-08:00

Convergence Comes of Age: 2026 Turns Direct-to-Device Satellites and 3GPP NTNs into Commercial Reality

Via Satellite

Bipartisan Satellite and Telecommunications Streamlining Act introduced to speed satellite licensing Senators Ted Cruz and Peter Welch introduced the bipartisan Satellite and Telecommunications Streamlining Act to shorten federal satellite licensing timelines and deliver greater regulatory predictability. The Satellite Industry Association has endorsed the bill, saying it will strengthen the commercial satellite sector and accelerate approvals for space and ground infrastructure.

2026-01-16T12:11:30.808132-08:00

Bipartisan Satellite and Telecommunications Streamlining Act introduced to speed satellite licensing

SpaceNews.com

China completes static fire of reusable Long March 12B ahead of planned test flight China’s main space contractor performed a static fire test Friday of a new reusable Long March 12B rocket, completing a key ground check ahead of a planned test flight. The hot-fire verifies engine and stage systems as Beijing advances reusable-launch capabilities.

2026-01-16T10:26:20.173577-08:00

China completes static fire of reusable Long March 12B ahead of planned test flight

SpaceNews.com

Atomic-oxygen-resistant material could extend VLEO satellite lifetimes Researchers have developed an atomic-oxygen‑resistant material that significantly reduces surface erosion in very-low Earth orbit (VLEO). The coating could extend operational lifetimes for satellites operating in VLEO, enabling more persistent low-altitude missions and reducing AO-driven degradation.

2026-01-16T07:26:05.330871-08:00

Atomic-oxygen-resistant material could extend VLEO satellite lifetimes

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Commercial Space News

Space science in 2026: a crowded manifest of lunar explorers, Mars missions and next‑gen telescopes

SpaceX Falcon 9 set to launch 29 Starlink broadband satellites from Cape Canaveral

Nigeria grants seven-year satellite permits to Kuiper, BeetleSat and Satelio, joining SpaceX in broadband push

China suffers dual launch failures as Long March 3B loses classified Shijian and Ceres‑2 maiden flight fails

News Timeline