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Bloomberg • Bruce Einhorn

Venezuela’s ouster of Maduro cuts China’s access to a key space partner

Venezuela’s ouster of Nicolás Maduro severs Beijing’s ties to a Venezuelan space partner that offered regional launch and ground‑support options, constraining China’s access to the Western Hemisphere. U.S. moves to restrict Chinese activity in the region could heighten industry concerns about reliance on American‑controlled access to orbit.

2026-01-12T20:39:37.884632-08:00

NASA Spaceflight

Eight orbital launches planned Jan. 12–18; SpaceX to fly classified NRO satellite plus three Starlink batches

2026-01-12T15:29:35.669006-08:00

SpaceNews.com

NASA rolls SLS/Orion to pad and opens launch windows as Artemis II targets Feb. 6 launch attempt

2026-01-12T05:07:28.583132-08:00

Airbus

Eutelsat orders 340 Airbus-built OneWeb satellites, taking total to 440

2026-01-12T01:29:23.622502-08:00

News Timeline

Bloomberg

Venezuela’s ouster of Maduro cuts China’s access to a key space partner Venezuela’s ouster of Nicolás Maduro severs Beijing’s ties to a Venezuelan space partner that offered regional launch and ground‑support options, constraining China’s access to the Western Hemisphere. U.S. moves to restrict Chinese activity in the region could heighten industry concerns about reliance on American‑controlled access to orbit.

2026-01-12T20:39:37.884632-08:00

Venezuela’s ouster of Maduro cuts China’s access to a key space partner

NASA Spaceflight

Eight orbital launches planned Jan. 12–18; SpaceX to fly classified NRO satellite plus three Starlink batches Eight orbital launches are scheduled Jan. 12–18, including SpaceX missions from the U.S. that will carry a classified National Reconnaissance Office payload and three Starlink batches. International activity this week includes planned launches from China and Norway, underscoring sustained high global launch cadence.

2026-01-12T15:29:35.669006-08:00

Eight orbital launches planned Jan. 12–18; SpaceX to fly classified NRO satellite plus three Starlink batches

Payload

GRU Space opens $1M-deposit bookings for planned lunar hotel targeting 2032 GRU Space has opened bookings requiring a $1 million deposit to reserve guest spots in its proposed lunar hotel, which the company says it plans to open by 2032. The deposit offer establishes a concrete price point and timetable for a commercial lunar-stay offering.

2026-01-12T06:09:56.267081-08:00

GRU Space opens $1M-deposit bookings for planned lunar hotel targeting 2032

SpaceNews.com

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NASA rolls SLS/Orion to pad and opens launch windows as Artemis II targets Feb. 6 launch attempt NASA will roll its Space Launch System and Orion stack to the launch pad this Saturday as it prepares Artemis II, the agency's crewed lunar mission. NASA opened formal launch windows and media accreditation; if the schedule holds, a launch attempt is targeted for Feb. 6 at 9:41 p.m. ET.

2026-01-12T05:07:28.583132-08:00

NASA rolls SLS/Orion to pad and opens launch windows as Artemis II targets Feb. 6 launch attempt

SpaceNews.com

Industry urges accelerated collaboration to tackle orbital congestion Industry and regulators must accelerate collaboration to confront growing orbital congestion, the article argues. Coordinated improvements in debris mitigation, tracking and traffic‑management are needed to protect operational safety, preserve orbital sustainability and maintain the economics of satellite deployments as launch and constellation activity expands.

2026-01-12T04:06:57.636028-08:00

Industry urges accelerated collaboration to tackle orbital congestion

Airbus

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Eutelsat orders 340 Airbus-built OneWeb satellites, taking total to 440 Eutelsat has contracted Airbus Defence and Space to build 340 additional OneWeb LEO satellites in a $2.56 billion follow‑on, raising its Airbus-built total to 440 spacecraft. Production is slated to begin in Toulouse in 2026 and launches are due to start the same year, with upgraded capabilities planned.

2026-01-12T01:29:23.622502-08:00

Eutelsat orders 340 Airbus-built OneWeb satellites, taking total to 440

European Spaceflight

ESA: 'No urgency' to fit P160C on Vega C as Ariane 6 production takes priority ESA has told stakeholders there is 'no urgency' to retrofit the Vega C launcher with the P160C booster, saying current launch manifest needs and early production priorities for Ariane 6 mean upgrades can be deferred. The decision preserves existing Vega C schedules while Ariane 6 units ramp up.

2026-01-11T23:32:34.813677-08:00

ESA: 'No urgency' to fit P160C on Vega C as Ariane 6 production takes priority

SpaceQ

SpaceX launches Kepler's first 10 high‑speed optical data‑relay satellites At 8:50 a.m. ET a SpaceX Falcon 9 placed Kepler Communications' first tranche of 10 high‑speed optical data‑relay satellites into orbit, starting deployment of the company’s optical inter‑satellite link constellation to accelerate low‑latency, high‑bandwidth data transfers.

2026-01-11T09:30:10.496631-08:00

SpaceX launches Kepler's first 10 high‑speed optical data‑relay satellites

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Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation News

Venezuela’s ouster of Maduro cuts China’s access to a key space partner

Eight orbital launches planned Jan. 12–18; SpaceX to fly classified NRO satellite plus three Starlink batches

NASA rolls SLS/Orion to pad and opens launch windows as Artemis II targets Feb. 6 launch attempt

Eutelsat orders 340 Airbus-built OneWeb satellites, taking total to 440

News Timeline