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European Spaceflight • Andrew Parsonson

ESA issues tender to study Falcon 9 upper-stage breakup and re-entry over Poland in early 2025

The European Space Agency has issued a call for tender for a technical study into the breakup and uncontrolled re-entry of a SpaceX Falcon 9 upper stage forecast to descend over Poland in early 2025. The work will model fragmentation, debris footprint and re-entry risks to inform mitigation and response planning.

2026-01-23T00:32:40.903556-08:00

SpaceWatch Global

WSW 2026: SSC's Armelle Frenea Schmidt on science and suborbital flights

2026-01-22T22:53:30.226021-08:00

SpaceNews.com

Blue Origin to reuse New Glenn booster on NG‑3 carrying AST SpaceMobile's BlueBird

2026-01-22T15:37:12.595782-08:00

Space Intel Report

Liechtenstein regulator clears Open Cosmos to meet 2026 and 2028 ITU broadband deadlines

2026-01-22T10:54:44.381986-08:00

News Timeline

European Spaceflight

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ESA issues tender to study Falcon 9 upper-stage breakup and re-entry over Poland in early 2025 The European Space Agency has issued a call for tender for a technical study into the breakup and uncontrolled re-entry of a SpaceX Falcon 9 upper stage forecast to descend over Poland in early 2025. The work will model fragmentation, debris footprint and re-entry risks to inform mitigation and response planning.

2026-01-23T00:32:40.903556-08:00

ESA issues tender to study Falcon 9 upper-stage breakup and re-entry over Poland in early 2025

SpaceWatch Global

WSW 2026: SSC's Armelle Frenea Schmidt on science and suborbital flights At WSW 2026, Daniela Jovic sits down with Armelle Frenea Schmidt, Business Development Director for Science Services at Swedish Space Corporation, to discuss SSC's role in science and suborbital flight services. The interview focuses on SSC's capabilities and market approach for research-focused suborbital missions.

2026-01-22T22:53:30.226021-08:00

WSW 2026: SSC's Armelle Frenea Schmidt on science and suborbital flights

Spaceflight Now

Eastern Range clears same-day fueling for SLS and Vulcan, enabling denser Space Coast cadence The Eastern Range approved same-day fueling for NASA's Space Launch System and ULA's Vulcan, removing a major operational constraint and enabling tighter sequencing of heavy rockets on Florida's Space Coast. The clearance supports a packed February 2026 manifest featuring Blue Origin, ULA, SpaceX and a potential SLS flight.

2026-01-22T19:12:07.053530-08:00

Eastern Range clears same-day fueling for SLS and Vulcan, enabling denser Space Coast cadence

SpaceNews.com

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Blue Origin to reuse New Glenn booster on NG‑3 carrying AST SpaceMobile's BlueBird Blue Origin will perform the first reuse of a New Glenn booster on the NG‑3 mission, scheduled NET late February, carrying AST SpaceMobile's next‑generation BlueBird direct‑to‑device satellite. The flight advances New Glenn's operational cadence and supports AST's rollout of space‑based cellular broadband; Blue Origin confirmed NG‑3 will not carry a lunar lander.

2026-01-22T15:37:12.595782-08:00

Blue Origin to reuse New Glenn booster on NG‑3 carrying AST SpaceMobile's BlueBird

Space Intel Report

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Liechtenstein regulator clears Open Cosmos to meet 2026 and 2028 ITU broadband deadlines Liechtenstein's regulator has approved Open Cosmos' priority Ka‑band filings, allowing the UK‑ and Spain‑based operator to meet ITU deadlines for 2026 and 2028 LEO broadband capacity. On Jan. 21 the company also launched two smallsats to begin on‑orbit validation of its planned network and services.

2026-01-22T10:54:44.381986-08:00

Liechtenstein regulator clears Open Cosmos to meet 2026 and 2028 ITU broadband deadlines

Associated Press

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Sonic booms from reentering spacecraft can be located by seismic networks to map debris fall New research demonstrates that sonic booms produced during hypersonic breakup of reentering spacecraft generate ground‑coupled signals detectable by seismic networks. Combining acoustic and seismic records lets researchers reconstruct descent paths and pinpoint where potentially hazardous debris has fallen, improving post‑reentry response and hazard mapping.

2026-01-22T08:13:48.058824-08:00

Sonic booms from reentering spacecraft can be located by seismic networks to map debris fall

Space.com

Rocket Lab's 80th Electron deploys first Open Cosmos smallsats; constellation to use spectrum reassigned from Rivada Rocket Lab’s 80th Electron — its first mission of 2026 — successfully deployed two Open Cosmos smallsats, marking the opening launch for a new Open Cosmos constellation. The constellation will operate using spectrum that was previously assigned to Rivada.

2026-01-22T07:57:18.603330-08:00

Rocket Lab's 80th Electron deploys first Open Cosmos smallsats; constellation to use spectrum reassigned from Rivada

SpaceNews.com

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Neutron Stage‑1 tank fails qualification testing, risking further delay to Rocket Lab maiden flight Rocket Lab reported a structural failure of a Neutron Stage‑1 tank during qualification testing, damaging hardware and threatening to push back the vehicle's inaugural flight. The anomaly affects the development of the medium‑lift, fully reusable Neutron and will require investigation before flight clearance.

2026-01-22T02:57:10.284010-08:00

Neutron Stage‑1 tank fails qualification testing, risking further delay to Rocket Lab maiden flight

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Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation News

ESA issues tender to study Falcon 9 upper-stage breakup and re-entry over Poland in early 2025

WSW 2026: SSC's Armelle Frenea Schmidt on science and suborbital flights

Blue Origin to reuse New Glenn booster on NG‑3 carrying AST SpaceMobile's BlueBird

Liechtenstein regulator clears Open Cosmos to meet 2026 and 2028 ITU broadband deadlines

News Timeline