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SpaceNews.com • Andrew Jones

China to accelerate 2026 launch cadence with crewed-lunar tests, moon mission and reusable‑rocket trials

China plans a stepped‑up 2026 space manifest aiming for a record launch cadence while conducting tests tied to a future crewed lunar program, flying a major lunar mission and validating reusable‑rocket technologies — signalling a push toward operational lunar capability and higher domestic launch tempo.

2026-01-28T06:59:08.523252-08:00

SpaceNews.com

World Economic Forum and Space Futures Centre publish 'Space Debris Insights' report

2026-01-28T08:21:08.121775-08:00

SpaceNews.com

OQ Technology to test C‑band LEO direct‑to‑device smartphone connectivity amid SpaceX spectrum push

2026-01-28T07:24:21.480353-08:00

SpaceNews.com

Earth-observation adoption gap driven by supply-side product design

2026-01-28T06:16:55.253047-08:00

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SpaceNews.com

World Economic Forum and Space Futures Centre publish 'Space Debris Insights' report The World Economic Forum and its Space Futures Centre have published 'Space Debris Insights', a report assessing orbital debris trends, operational risks and governance gaps, and urging industry, policymakers and operators to accelerate mitigation, tracking and coordination to protect space activities.

2026-01-28T08:21:08.121775-08:00

World Economic Forum and Space Futures Centre publish 'Space Debris Insights' report

SpaceNews.com

OQ Technology to test C‑band LEO direct‑to‑device smartphone connectivity amid SpaceX spectrum push OQ Technology will launch a small LEO satellite to test using C‑band spectrum to connect standard smartphones directly to satellites, joining SpaceX’s push to repurpose part of the band for direct‑to‑device services. The trial will validate handset links and spectrum‑sharing approaches ahead of commercial D2D rollouts.

2026-01-28T07:24:21.480353-08:00

OQ Technology to test C‑band LEO direct‑to‑device smartphone connectivity amid SpaceX spectrum push

SpaceNews.com

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China to accelerate 2026 launch cadence with crewed-lunar tests, moon mission and reusable‑rocket trials China plans a stepped‑up 2026 space manifest aiming for a record launch cadence while conducting tests tied to a future crewed lunar program, flying a major lunar mission and validating reusable‑rocket technologies — signalling a push toward operational lunar capability and higher domestic launch tempo.

2026-01-28T06:59:08.523252-08:00

China to accelerate 2026 launch cadence with crewed-lunar tests, moon mission and reusable‑rocket trials

SpaceNews.com

Earth-observation adoption gap driven by supply-side product design The earth-observation sector’s slow commercial uptake is driven primarily by supply-side product design: how providers package, price and deliver data. Those supplier choices are creating friction for users trying to integrate imagery into workflows, keeping many potential operational customers from adopting EO services.

2026-01-28T06:16:55.253047-08:00

Earth-observation adoption gap driven by supply-side product design

Payload

Airbus selects Skynopy to host Pléiades Neo ground stations, cut OneAtlas latency Airbus Defence and Space has contracted French NewSpace ground‑station operator Skynopy to host and operate ground stations for its Pléiades Neo constellation, aiming to reduce downlink latency and accelerate delivery of very‑high‑resolution imagery into the OneAtlas geospatial platform.

2026-01-28T05:57:16.643686-08:00

Airbus selects Skynopy to host Pléiades Neo ground stations, cut OneAtlas latency

Reuters

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EU signs Ariane 6 launch contract for Galileo second‑generation pair (Galileo L18) The European Union Agency for the Space Programme (EUSPA) has contracted Arianespace to launch the second pair of second‑generation Galileo satellites (Galileo L18) aboard an Ariane 6 vehicle, under delegation from the European Commission. The deal secures a key GNSS deployment and a commercial mission for Ariane 6.

2026-01-28T03:58:08.553067-08:00

EU signs Ariane 6 launch contract for Galileo second‑generation pair (Galileo L18)

SpaceNews.com

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Terran Orbital to supply Nebula satellite bus for Mitsubishi Electric LEO demo mission Terran Orbital will supply its Nebula satellite bus for Mitsubishi Electric’s LEO demonstration mission, hosting advanced optical communications and quantum key distribution (QKD) payloads. The collaboration with Mitsubishi Electric Corporation and Mitsubishi Electric US aims to validate secure, high‑throughput LEO capabilities.

2026-01-28T03:16:12.606982-08:00

Terran Orbital to supply Nebula satellite bus for Mitsubishi Electric LEO demo mission

SpaceWatch Global

Baltic space ambitions sidelined as geopolitics reshapes a digitally advanced region Despite being among Europe’s most digitally advanced countries, the Baltic states remain largely absent from mainstream accounts of European space achievements. Rising geopolitical tensions are reframing their space ecosystems — influencing partnerships, funding priorities and the public debate over national capability and strategic alignment.

2026-01-28T01:57:28.150075-08:00

Baltic space ambitions sidelined as geopolitics reshapes a digitally advanced region

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Commercial Space News

China to accelerate 2026 launch cadence with crewed-lunar tests, moon mission and reusable‑rocket trials

World Economic Forum and Space Futures Centre publish 'Space Debris Insights' report

OQ Technology to test C‑band LEO direct‑to‑device smartphone connectivity amid SpaceX spectrum push

Earth-observation adoption gap driven by supply-side product design

News Timeline