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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

Associated Press

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

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

Space.com

Shenzhou-20 lands after unplanned 270‑day mission following suspected debris strike; crew honoured

2026-01-21T08:22:45.362551-08:00

SpaceNews.com

Free warnings and better catalogs: practical fixes for space traffic safety

2026-01-20T06:19:19.851081-08:00

News Timeline

SpaceNews.com

Startups book 2027 Falcon 9 rideshares to offer low‑cost memorial 'ashes in orbit' services Two startups are turning funerary services into rideshare payloads: Space Beyond has booked a slot on SpaceX's October 2027 Falcon 9 rideshare and will begin building its first memorial cubesat next week, while AstroRemains plans to place the ashes of 1,000 people into orbit in 2027 for $2,500 each.

2026-01-23T10:01:47.000520-08:00

Startups book 2027 Falcon 9 rideshares to offer low‑cost memorial 'ashes in orbit' services

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

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

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Shenzhou-20 lands after unplanned 270‑day mission following suspected debris strike; crew honoured China's Shenzhou-20 capsule landed at the Dongfeng site on Jan. 19, ending an unplanned 270‑day mission after roughly nine months docked to the Tiangong space station. The return vehicle survived a suspected orbital‑debris strike, and the three crew received aerospace achievement medals and 'Heroic Astronaut' honours on Jan. 21.

2026-01-21T08:22:45.362551-08:00

Shenzhou-20 lands after unplanned 270‑day mission following suspected debris strike; crew honoured

SpaceNews.com

Free warnings and better catalogs: practical fixes for space traffic safety Providing free, timely conjunction warnings and improving public space‑object catalogs can materially reduce collision risk in crowded orbits; the piece argues these immediate, cost‑effective steps would boost situational awareness for operators, simplify avoidance decisions, and lower the likelihood of damaging encounters.

2026-01-20T06:19:19.851081-08:00

Free warnings and better catalogs: practical fixes for space traffic safety

SpaceNews.com

Atomic-oxygen-resistant material could extend VLEO satellite lifetimes Researchers have developed an atomic-oxygen‑resistant material that significantly reduces surface erosion in very-low Earth orbit (VLEO). The coating could extend operational lifetimes for satellites operating in VLEO, enabling more persistent low-altitude missions and reducing AO-driven degradation.

2026-01-16T07:26:05.330871-08:00

Atomic-oxygen-resistant material could extend VLEO satellite lifetimes

SpaceNews.com

ESA launches Zero Debris Charter, kicking off a countdown to clean orbits ESA has launched a Zero Debris Charter, initiating a coordinated effort to clean low Earth orbit and reduce collision risk. The charter establishes a timeline and commitments for member states, industry and international partners to accelerate debris mitigation and removal activities.

2026-01-16T06:11:52.712571-08:00

ESA launches Zero Debris Charter, kicking off a countdown to clean orbits

SpaceNews.com

Managing the Orbital Economy as Low Earth Orbit Becomes More Congested Low Earth orbit is rapidly shifting from a frontier to an operating marketplace: rising constellation deployments, commercial stations and on-orbit services are increasing traffic and collision risk. Managing an orbital economy will require integrated traffic-management, shared surveillance data, robust debris mitigation and clear commercial-regulatory rules to sustain operations.

2026-01-15T08:10:57.456203-08:00

Managing the Orbital Economy as Low Earth Orbit Becomes More Congested

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Space Debris & Traffic Management News

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

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

Shenzhou-20 lands after unplanned 270‑day mission following suspected debris strike; crew honoured

Free warnings and better catalogs: practical fixes for space traffic safety

News Timeline