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SpaceNews.com • Andrew Jones

China launches Algeria's AlSat‑3A from Jiuquan; CERES‑1 sea launch expands Tianqi constellation

China carried out consecutive launches in mid‑January 2026: a Long March 2C placed Algeria's AlSat‑3A surveillance satellite into orbit from Jiuquan on Jan. 15, and a commercial CERES‑1 Y7 sea launch on Jan. 16 (Galactic Energy/Taiyuan) deployed four Tianqi communications satellites to planned orbits.

2026-01-16T03:09:22.805358-08:00

European Spaceflight

Isar Aerospace schedules second Spectrum orbital launch for Jan. 20–23

2026-01-16T01:46:44.067218-08:00

Space Intel Report

Arianespace to begin Amazon Leo launches with maiden Ariane 64 on Feb. 12; targets 7–8 Ariane 6 flights in 2026

2026-01-15T11:08:13.203490-08:00

European Spaceflight

Eutelsat inks multi‑launch deal with MaiaSpace to speed OneWeb deployments

2026-01-15T10:33:37.771495-08:00

News Timeline

SpaceNews.com

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China launches Algeria's AlSat‑3A from Jiuquan; CERES‑1 sea launch expands Tianqi constellation China carried out consecutive launches in mid‑January 2026: a Long March 2C placed Algeria's AlSat‑3A surveillance satellite into orbit from Jiuquan on Jan. 15, and a commercial CERES‑1 Y7 sea launch on Jan. 16 (Galactic Energy/Taiyuan) deployed four Tianqi communications satellites to planned orbits.

2026-01-16T03:09:22.805358-08:00

China launches Algeria's AlSat‑3A from Jiuquan; CERES‑1 sea launch expands Tianqi constellation

European Spaceflight

Isar Aerospace schedules second Spectrum orbital launch for Jan. 20–23 Isar Aerospace plans the second orbital flight of its Spectrum rocket with liftoff targeted between 20 and 23 January. The mission represents a near-term return-to-flight attempt for the commercial small‑launcher as the company advances operational cadence and validation of Spectrum's performance.

2026-01-16T01:46:44.067218-08:00

Isar Aerospace schedules second Spectrum orbital launch for Jan. 20–23

Space Intel Report

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Arianespace to begin Amazon Leo launches with maiden Ariane 64 on Feb. 12; targets 7–8 Ariane 6 flights in 2026 Arianespace will begin launches for Amazon’s LEO broadband programs in February when the inaugural Ariane 64 — the four-booster Ariane 6 variant — is tasked to place 32 Amazon Leo satellites on Feb. 12, 2026. The operator plans 7–8 Ariane 6 flights in 2026, including 2–3 Amazon Kuiper missions.

2026-01-15T11:08:13.203490-08:00

Arianespace to begin Amazon Leo launches with maiden Ariane 64 on Feb. 12; targets 7–8 Ariane 6 flights in 2026

European Spaceflight

Eutelsat inks multi‑launch deal with MaiaSpace to speed OneWeb deployments Eutelsat has contracted ArianeGroup’s MaiaSpace for a multi‑launch package beginning in 2027 to accelerate deployment of OneWeb LEO satellites. MaiaSpace, a partially reusable French mini‑launcher targeting a first flight in late‑2026, will perform about ten missions—roughly half its early manifest.

2026-01-15T10:33:37.771495-08:00

Eutelsat inks multi‑launch deal with MaiaSpace to speed OneWeb deployments

SpaceNews.com

Atomic‑6 to Fly Space‑Armor Demonstrator on Portal Rideshare in October Atomic‑6 will fly a 'space‑armor' demonstrator on a Portal rideshare this October. CEO Trevor Smith said the company expects the satellite to be struck by orbital debris, and the mission will collect damage data to evaluate the armor's on‑orbit survivability.

2026-01-15T06:14:21.372167-08:00

Atomic‑6 to Fly Space‑Armor Demonstrator on Portal Rideshare in October

SpaceNews.com

CAS Space completes first Lihong-1 suborbital flight and capsule recovery Chinese commercial firm CAS Space flew the maiden Lihong‑1 suborbital mission and achieved a successful parachute descent and capsule recovery. The flight validated the vehicle's end‑to‑end suborbital flight and recovery sequence in the company's first integrated test campaign.

2026-01-14T13:43:53.118957-08:00

CAS Space completes first Lihong-1 suborbital flight and capsule recovery

SpaceNews.com

ESA advances Comet Interceptor launch after delay to another mission A delay to another European Space Agency mission has created an opening that allows Comet Interceptor to launch sooner than previously scheduled and under a more favourable profile. The change gives ESA an opportunity to enhance the spacecraft's performance and scientific return by exploiting the newly available launch slot.

2026-01-14T10:36:53.178108-08:00

ESA advances Comet Interceptor launch after delay to another mission

New York Times

2026 could be the year of mega IPOs — SpaceX, OpenAI and Anthropic loom large 2026 may bring mega IPOs from SpaceX, OpenAI and Anthropic. If they list, those offerings would unleash gushers of capital for Silicon Valley and Wall Street, reshaping public-market access, valuation benchmarks and financing across space systems, AI infrastructure and adjacent tech sectors.

2026-01-14T09:45:00.366354-08:00

2026 could be the year of mega IPOs — SpaceX, OpenAI and Anthropic loom large

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Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation News

China launches Algeria's AlSat‑3A from Jiuquan; CERES‑1 sea launch expands Tianqi constellation

Isar Aerospace schedules second Spectrum orbital launch for Jan. 20–23

Arianespace to begin Amazon Leo launches with maiden Ariane 64 on Feb. 12; targets 7–8 Ariane 6 flights in 2026

Eutelsat inks multi‑launch deal with MaiaSpace to speed OneWeb deployments

News Timeline