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SpaceNews.com • Kurt “Spuds” Vogel

If the U.S. Doesn’t Seize Space Leadership, China Will — Policy and Industry Imperatives

A policy-and-industry briefing warns the United States faces a stark choice: accelerate investments, regulatory action and industrial mobilization to maintain strategic leadership in space, or cede critical scientific, commercial and military advantages to China, and to shore up the U.S. industrial base.

2026-01-09T04:05:38.933767-08:00

Payload

Space in 2026: commercial build‑out, on‑orbit AI and sovereign partnerships set an inflection point

2026-01-08T20:56:48.333985-08:00

Via Satellite

Keysight, Samsung demonstrate 5G NR‑NTN connectivity in n252 S‑Band using next‑gen modem chipset

2026-01-08T13:32:29.398044-08:00

SpaceNews.com

Space Development Agency opens applications for Cohort 4 of TAP Lab accelerator

2026-01-08T13:32:38.416805-08:00

News Timeline

Payload

Space Canada urges Ottawa to speed defence procurement to open market for domestic space firms Space Canada released a 17‑page position paper Wednesday urging Ottawa to accelerate defence procurement to align with global practice and unlock defence and dual‑use contract opportunities for Canadian space companies. The paper proposes policy and acquisition reforms designed to shorten program timelines and improve industry access.

2026-01-09T05:28:03.206188-08:00

Space Canada urges Ottawa to speed defence procurement to open market for domestic space firms

SpaceNews.com

If the U.S. Doesn’t Seize Space Leadership, China Will — Policy and Industry Imperatives A policy-and-industry briefing warns the United States faces a stark choice: accelerate investments, regulatory action and industrial mobilization to maintain strategic leadership in space, or cede critical scientific, commercial and military advantages to China, and to shore up the U.S. industrial base.

2026-01-09T04:05:38.933767-08:00

If the U.S. Doesn’t Seize Space Leadership, China Will — Policy and Industry Imperatives

SpaceNews.com

Rhea Space Activity to use optical navigation for military on‑orbit rendezvous missions Rhea Space Activity will deploy optical navigation systems to support military on‑orbit rendezvous missions, using camera-based sensing to determine relative position and guide close‑proximity operations and docking. The announcement marks a commercial optical guidance supplier moving into defense rendezvous work with implications for orbital servicing and counter‑space activity.

2026-01-09T03:10:14.142795-08:00

Rhea Space Activity to use optical navigation for military on‑orbit rendezvous missions

Payload

Space in 2026: commercial build‑out, on‑orbit AI and sovereign partnerships set an inflection point 2026 could be an inflection year as commercial expansion, on‑orbit AI integration and sovereign partnerships converge to redefine the space economy. From private stations and constellation scale‑up to earth‑independent AI and national data‑sovereignty drives, these trends will reshape procurement, operations and market structure across civil, commercial and defense space.

2026-01-08T20:56:48.333985-08:00

Space in 2026: commercial build‑out, on‑orbit AI and sovereign partnerships set an inflection point

SpaceNews.com

Space Development Agency opens applications for Cohort 4 of TAP Lab accelerator The Space Development Agency has opened applications for Cohort 4 of its TAP Lab accelerator, a Catalyst Campus mini-accelerator that selects early-stage teams for participation. Interested companies can now apply to join the next cycle of SDA’s TAP Lab program.

2026-01-08T13:32:38.416805-08:00

Space Development Agency opens applications for Cohort 4 of TAP Lab accelerator

Via Satellite

Keysight, Samsung demonstrate 5G NR‑NTN connectivity in n252 S‑Band using next‑gen modem chipset Keysight Technologies reported a successful demonstration of a 5G radio non‑terrestrial network (NR‑NTN) connection in band n252 (S‑band), using Samsung Electronics' next‑generation modem chipset. The trial established an NR‑NTN radio link with Samsung's modem integrated into Keysight's test platform.

2026-01-08T13:32:29.398044-08:00

Keysight, Samsung demonstrate 5G NR‑NTN connectivity in n252 S‑Band using next‑gen modem chipset

Via Satellite

Satellogic wins seven-figure contract to supply high-frequency site‑monitoring imagery Satellogic has signed a seven‑figure contract with an unnamed customer to deliver high‑frequency satellite imagery for site monitoring, securing recurring collection and processing services to enable frequent‑revisit observation of designated locations. The award represents a near‑term commercial imagery sale into the company’s data services pipeline.

2026-01-08T13:22:16.784607-08:00

Satellogic wins seven-figure contract to supply high-frequency site‑monitoring imagery

Via Satellite

Hubble Network and Texas Instruments to embed satellite-enabled Bluetooth in TI chips Hubble Network, the startup building a Bluetooth network via satellite, is partnering with Texas Instruments to embed its satellite-enabled Bluetooth stack directly into TI's Bluetooth chips. The integration will let devices using TI silicon connect to Hubble's satellite network, broadening potential IoT reach.

2026-01-08T13:22:16.776520-08:00

Hubble Network and Texas Instruments to embed satellite-enabled Bluetooth in TI chips

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Commercial Space News

If the U.S. Doesn’t Seize Space Leadership, China Will — Policy and Industry Imperatives

Space in 2026: commercial build‑out, on‑orbit AI and sovereign partnerships set an inflection point

Keysight, Samsung demonstrate 5G NR‑NTN connectivity in n252 S‑Band using next‑gen modem chipset

Space Development Agency opens applications for Cohort 4 of TAP Lab accelerator

News Timeline