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SpaceNews.com • Jason Rainbow

FCC greenlights SpaceX’s EchoStar spectrum purchase for US direct-to-device—ties approval to $2.4B escrow amid upper C-band tran

The FCC has approved SpaceX’s acquisition of EchoStar spectrum to expand U.S. direct-to-device services, contingent on a $2.4 billion escrow arrangement linked to disputes over EchoStar’s abandoned terrestrial 5G buildout. Separately, the FCC’s FCC 26-26 report formalizes a broader shift to spectrum sharing and mandates auctions of remaining Upper C-band by mid-2027.

2026-05-12T16:35:38.746696-07:00

Space Intel Report

SES and Eutelsat say IRIS2 secure connectivity negotiations with the European Commission need weeks to settle cost, configuratio

2026-05-12T16:35:28.169022-07:00

SpaceWatch Global

Lonestar signs NASA Space Act Agreement to pursue space-based lunar data storage, resilient off-world compute and next-gen comms

2026-05-12T01:42:03.834529-07:00

SpaceWatch Global

EU Space Act’s extraterritorial compliance could reshape Türkiye’s space operator compliance and EU–NATO regulatory alignment

2026-05-12T01:50:12.946576-07:00

News Timeline

SpaceNews.com

FCC greenlights SpaceX’s EchoStar spectrum purchase for US direct-to-device—ties approval to $2.4B escrow amid upper C-band tran The FCC has approved SpaceX’s acquisition of EchoStar spectrum to expand U.S. direct-to-device services, contingent on a $2.4 billion escrow arrangement linked to disputes over EchoStar’s abandoned terrestrial 5G buildout. Separately, the FCC’s FCC 26-26 report formalizes a broader shift to spectrum sharing and mandates auctions of remaining Upper C-band by mid-2027.

2026-05-12T16:35:38.746696-07:00

FCC greenlights SpaceX’s EchoStar spectrum purchase for US direct-to-device—ties approval to $2.4B escrow amid upper C-band tran

Space Intel Report

SES and Eutelsat say IRIS2 secure connectivity negotiations with the European Commission need weeks to settle cost, configuratio SES and Eutelsat said their negotiations with the European Commission on Europe’s IRIS2 multi-orbit secure connectivity constellation are not yet finalized, requiring several more weeks of work to lock cost, configuration and schedule. The operators are tying completion to resolving performance and final build details with the EC.

2026-05-12T16:35:28.169022-07:00

SES and Eutelsat say IRIS2 secure connectivity negotiations with the European Commission need weeks to settle cost, configuratio

SpaceWatch Global

EU Space Act’s extraterritorial compliance could reshape Türkiye’s space operator compliance and EU–NATO regulatory alignment A #SpaceWatchGL analysis says the EU Space Act may materially affect Turkish space operators via extraterritorial compliance duties, an “equivalence” pathway, and shifting EU–NATO regulatory dynamics. The article frames the changes as a legal and strategic risk that Türkiye’s space sector should monitor early.

2026-05-12T01:50:12.946576-07:00

EU Space Act’s extraterritorial compliance could reshape Türkiye’s space operator compliance and EU–NATO regulatory alignment

SpaceWatch Global

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Lonestar signs NASA Space Act Agreement to pursue space-based lunar data storage, resilient off-world compute and next-gen comms Lonestar has signed a NASA Space Act Agreement establishing a framework for collaboration aimed at space-based data storage tied to lunar operations, resilient off-world compute infrastructure, and next-generation space communications architectures. The pact formalizes cooperation focused on storing and processing data beyond Earth for cislunar/lunar mission needs.

2026-05-12T01:42:03.834529-07:00

Lonestar signs NASA Space Act Agreement to pursue space-based lunar data storage, resilient off-world compute and next-gen comms

SpaceNews.com

NASA plans to keep International Space Station crew rotations at ~six-month intervals NASA says it will continue exchanging International Space Station crews about every six months, after assessing whether longer stays would be workable. The approach preserves near-term rotation cadence while the agency evaluates staffing and operational risk for longer-duration missions.

2026-05-11T15:46:51.075045-07:00

NASA plans to keep International Space Station crew rotations at ~six-month intervals

SpaceNews.com

Space race warning: failing to pass defense budget, relying on Continuing Resolution would “crush progress” in space The cluster argues that delays in passing a defense budget are a self-inflicted setback for U.S. space capabilities, contending that a Continuing Resolution would undermine the ability to fight and win in space by slowing progress. The message frames budget uncertainty as directly harmful to strategic momentum in the space race.

2026-05-11T08:27:40.026216-07:00

Space race warning: failing to pass defense budget, relying on Continuing Resolution would “crush progress” in space

SpaceWatch Global

Satellite-data access initiatives won’t deliver climate resilience in Africa without coordinated government action and scalable Africa is expanding access to Earth-observation data through programs such as GMES & Africa and Digital Earth Africa. But climate resilience will hinge on converting that data into coordinated public-sector action, bolstering technical capacity, and deploying scalable national implementation rather than treating data access as an end goal.

2026-05-11T06:54:06.385531-07:00

Satellite-data access initiatives won’t deliver climate resilience in Africa without coordinated government action and scalable

SpaceNews.com

ESA and JAXA lock in joint Apophis close-flyby mission for 2029 ESA and JAXA have finalized an agreement to collaborate on a mission to study the Apophis asteroid during its close Earth flyby in 2029. The partnership formalizes international cooperation on near-Earth asteroid characterization around a high-profile encounter timeline.

2026-05-10T10:47:18.759164-07:00

ESA and JAXA lock in joint Apophis close-flyby mission for 2029

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Space Policy & International Cooperation News

FCC greenlights SpaceX’s EchoStar spectrum purchase for US direct-to-device—ties approval to $2.4B escrow amid upper C-band tran

SES and Eutelsat say IRIS2 secure connectivity negotiations with the European Commission need weeks to settle cost, configuratio

Lonestar signs NASA Space Act Agreement to pursue space-based lunar data storage, resilient off-world compute and next-gen comms

EU Space Act’s extraterritorial compliance could reshape Türkiye’s space operator compliance and EU–NATO regulatory alignment

News Timeline