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Spaceflight Now • Will Robinson-Smith

SpaceX targets first West Coast Starlink launch of 2026, adds 25 V2 Mini Optimized satellites to polar LEO

SpaceX will launch its first West Coast Starlink mission of 2026, sending 25 Starlink V2 Mini Optimized satellites into a polar low Earth orbit. The flight continues rapid V2 Mini deployments to boost polar coverage and capacity for commercial and government users.

2026-01-21T15:22:02.662687-08:00

NASA Spaceflight

Latitude targets 2026 Zephyr maiden as French small‑launcher pursues market‑driven strategy

2026-01-21T14:12:38.912707-08:00

Reuters

Blue Origin unveils TeraWave: 5,400‑satellite LEO/MEO constellation aiming for 6 Tbps enterprise and data‑centre connectivity

2026-01-21T10:18:41.709346-08:00

Wall Street Journal

SpaceX IPO push driven by orbital data‑centres, sources say

2026-01-21T10:57:17.722292-08:00

News Timeline

Spaceflight Now

SpaceX targets first West Coast Starlink launch of 2026, adds 25 V2 Mini Optimized satellites to polar LEO SpaceX will launch its first West Coast Starlink mission of 2026, sending 25 Starlink V2 Mini Optimized satellites into a polar low Earth orbit. The flight continues rapid V2 Mini deployments to boost polar coverage and capacity for commercial and government users.

2026-01-21T15:22:02.662687-08:00

SpaceX targets first West Coast Starlink launch of 2026, adds 25 V2 Mini Optimized satellites to polar LEO

NASA Spaceflight

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Latitude targets 2026 Zephyr maiden as French small‑launcher pursues market‑driven strategy French small‑launcher Latitude is targeting a 2026 maiden flight for its Zephyr orbital rocket, advancing a market‑driven commercial approach to attract payload customers. The plan ties vehicle development and launch cadence to customer demand as Europe's small‑launcher sector ramps up.

2026-01-21T14:12:38.912707-08:00

Latitude targets 2026 Zephyr maiden as French small‑launcher pursues market‑driven strategy

Wall Street Journal

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SpaceX IPO push driven by orbital data‑centres, sources say Sources say Elon Musk's plan to deploy orbital data centres aboard an upgraded Starlink has accelerated SpaceX's push for an IPO. Company executives view public markets as the route to raise the capital and scale needed to build and operate large on‑orbit compute infrastructure.

2026-01-21T10:57:17.722292-08:00

SpaceX IPO push driven by orbital data‑centres, sources say

Reuters

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Blue Origin unveils TeraWave: 5,400‑satellite LEO/MEO constellation aiming for 6 Tbps enterprise and data‑centre connectivity Blue Origin announced TeraWave, a planned ~5,408‑satellite LEO/MEO constellation of optically linked satellites to serve enterprise, data‑centre and government customers. Deployments are expected to begin late next year, with the network targeting up to 6 Tbps of aggregate capacity as a Starlink competitor.

2026-01-21T10:18:41.709346-08:00

Blue Origin unveils TeraWave: 5,400‑satellite LEO/MEO constellation aiming for 6 Tbps enterprise and data‑centre connectivity

SpaceNews.com

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Starfish wins ~$52M SDA contract for first operational deorbit‑as‑a‑service; Otter launch planned for 2027 The Space Development Agency has awarded Starfish Space roughly $52–52.5 million to remove a Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture (PWSA) satellite at end-of-life, the first contracted operational ‘deorbit‑as‑a‑service.’ Starfish plans to fly its Otter disposal vehicle in 2027, with capability for multiple orbits.

2026-01-21T06:12:15.700958-08:00

Starfish wins ~$52M SDA contract for first operational deorbit‑as‑a‑service; Otter launch planned for 2027

European Spaceflight

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The Exploration Company in talks to buy Orbex as UK small‑launcher maker advances Proxima The Exploration Company has signed a letter of intent to acquire UK rocket builder Orbex. Founded in 2015, Orbex is developing the Prime small launch vehicle and began work on a larger, medium‑lift Proxima in December 2024—an LOI that would consolidate European launch capabilities.

2026-01-21T05:30:58.272551-08:00

The Exploration Company in talks to buy Orbex as UK small‑launcher maker advances Proxima

Space.com

Isar Aerospace's Spectrum to attempt historic orbital launch from Sweden today Isar Aerospace's Spectrum is scheduled to attempt a historic orbital launch from Sweden at 3 p.m. EST on Jan. 21. The company says the liftoff will proceed "if all goes according to plan", positioning the mission as a potential milestone for Europe's commercial launch sector.

2026-01-21T03:07:26.410850-08:00

Isar Aerospace's Spectrum to attempt historic orbital launch from Sweden today

SpaceWatch Global

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China’s Satellite Surge: Growth Curves and Strategic Implications China's annual satellite launches accelerated sharply from 111 in 2021 to 378 in 2025, driving rapid expansion of LEO constellations and national orbital assets. The surge increases China's on-orbit capacity and raises strategic questions for commercial market balance and defense-related capabilities.

2026-01-21T00:17:44.614725-08:00

China’s Satellite Surge: Growth Curves and Strategic Implications

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Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation News

SpaceX targets first West Coast Starlink launch of 2026, adds 25 V2 Mini Optimized satellites to polar LEO

Latitude targets 2026 Zephyr maiden as French small‑launcher pursues market‑driven strategy

Blue Origin unveils TeraWave: 5,400‑satellite LEO/MEO constellation aiming for 6 Tbps enterprise and data‑centre connectivity

SpaceX IPO push driven by orbital data‑centres, sources say

News Timeline