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Payload • Douglas Gorman

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

Reuters

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

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

Bloomberg

EU activates GOVSATCOM's first secure service in €10.6bn push to reduce reliance on Starlink/US

2026-01-28T03:09:32.750566-08:00

SpaceNews.com

Terran Orbital to deliver Nebula satellite bus for Mitsubishi Electric LEO demo with optical and QKD payloads

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

News Timeline

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 deliver Nebula satellite bus for Mitsubishi Electric LEO demo with optical and QKD payloads Terran Orbital will supply its Nebula satellite bus to Mitsubishi Electric for a low‑Earth orbit demonstration mission carrying advanced optical communications and a quantum key distribution (QKD) payload. The mission, developed with Mitsubishi Electric and Mitsubishi Electric US, aims to validate bus integration and payload performance in LEO.

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

Terran Orbital to deliver Nebula satellite bus for Mitsubishi Electric LEO demo with optical and QKD payloads

Bloomberg

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EU activates GOVSATCOM's first secure service in €10.6bn push to reduce reliance on Starlink/US The EU has activated initial elements of GOVSATCOM, switching on eight satellites contributed by five member states as part of a €10.6bn programme to field a homegrown secure satellite‑communications service — positioned as an alternative to Starlink and US systems amid rising geopolitical tension.

2026-01-28T03:09:32.750566-08:00

EU activates GOVSATCOM's first secure service in €10.6bn push to reduce reliance on Starlink/US

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

SpaceNews.com

Exotrail and Astroscale France partner to build LEO deorbiting capability Exotrail and Astroscale France announced a partnership to develop deorbiting capabilities for low Earth orbit satellites. The alliance seeks to create a commercial end-of-life removal service for operators in LEO, combining both companies' technical expertise to address growing orbital disposal needs.

2026-01-27T23:09:35.262095-08:00

Exotrail and Astroscale France partner to build LEO deorbiting capability

SpaceNews.com

NOAA solar observatory reaches Sun–Earth Lagrange point L1 NOAA's new solar observatory has reached the Sun–Earth Lagrange point L1, completing its transfer and assuming its on‑station position. The spacecraft will provide continuous sunward observations to support space‑weather monitoring, research, and operational services that inform satellite and aviation risk management.

2026-01-27T21:45:44.719478-08:00

NOAA solar observatory reaches Sun–Earth Lagrange point L1

SpaceNews.com

NOAA's GeoXO Program Faces Persistent Budget Constraints After Scale-Back NOAA’s GeoXO program, recently scaled back, continues to operate under tight budgetary constraints. Persistent fiscal pressure complicates program planning, maintaining uncertainty over procurement decisions, contractor commitments and the schedule for delivering remaining capabilities—heightening risk for agencies and industry stakeholders.

2026-01-27T20:17:00.583823-08:00

NOAA's GeoXO Program Faces Persistent Budget Constraints After Scale-Back

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Satellite News

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

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

EU activates GOVSATCOM's first secure service in €10.6bn push to reduce reliance on Starlink/US

Terran Orbital to deliver Nebula satellite bus for Mitsubishi Electric LEO demo with optical and QKD payloads

News Timeline