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Via Satellite • Rachel Jewett

Europe Readies EPS‑Sterna Polar Satellite Constellation — Up to €30B Economic Upside

Europe will build EPS‑Sterna, a polar satellite constellation projected to generate up to €30 billion (~$35bn) in economic value over its lifetime. The programme signals a new continental investment in space infrastructure with implications for services and industrial activity across European supply chains.

2026-01-13T16:43:39.383677-08:00

NASA

NASA and DOE target lunar nuclear reactor by 2030 to power Artemis and Mars missions

2026-01-13T13:05:32.845586-08:00

Payload

Mars Sample Return cancellation exposes gaps in space law

2026-01-13T10:11:07.859652-08:00

SpaceNews.com

Space Force pushes competition in satellite buys as industry warns of industrial-base risk

2026-01-13T06:07:34.937961-08:00

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Via Satellite

Europe Readies EPS‑Sterna Polar Satellite Constellation — Up to €30B Economic Upside Europe will build EPS‑Sterna, a polar satellite constellation projected to generate up to €30 billion (~$35bn) in economic value over its lifetime. The programme signals a new continental investment in space infrastructure with implications for services and industrial activity across European supply chains.

2026-01-13T16:43:39.383677-08:00

Europe Readies EPS‑Sterna Polar Satellite Constellation — Up to €30B Economic Upside

NASA

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NASA and DOE target lunar nuclear reactor by 2030 to power Artemis and Mars missions NASA and the U.S. Department of Energy have renewed a partnership to develop and deploy a nuclear fission surface power system on the Moon by 2030 (reported as within four years), intended to provide continuous, high-capacity power for Artemis lunar operations and future missions to Mars.

2026-01-13T13:05:32.845586-08:00

NASA and DOE target lunar nuclear reactor by 2030 to power Artemis and Mars missions

Payload

Mars Sample Return cancellation exposes gaps in space law With Mars Sample Return canceled, the focus shifts from engineering the return to testing the limits of international space law: cached samples on Perseverance raise immediate questions about custody, liability and scientific access, and whether existing treaties can prevent legal or geopolitical disputes.

2026-01-13T10:11:07.859652-08:00

Mars Sample Return cancellation exposes gaps in space law

SpaceNews.com

Space "nuclear renaissance" accelerates — propulsion, power and defense implications A renewed global push for nuclear technologies in space — from reactors for spacecraft power to nuclear thermal and electric propulsion — is accelerating, with growing investment and program activity. The trend carries substantial implications for launch architecture, on‑orbit capabilities and military applications.

2026-01-13T08:11:07.539773-08:00

Space "nuclear renaissance" accelerates — propulsion, power and defense implications

SpaceNews.com

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Space Force pushes competition in satellite buys as industry warns of industrial-base risk The U.S. Space Force is pressing to inject more competition into satellite procurement, opening programs to new entrants. Satellite manufacturers warn that faster churn or fragmented contracts could unsettle investment, production continuity and the industrial base that underpins military space capability.

2026-01-13T06:07:34.937961-08:00

Space Force pushes competition in satellite buys as industry warns of industrial-base risk

European Spaceflight

ESA expands Phase 2 of LEO Cargo Return Services to include demonstrations to commercial space stations The European Space Agency has broadened Phase 2 of its LEO Cargo Return Services initiative to include demonstration missions to future commercial space stations. The change steers agency funding and technical support toward validating cargo-return systems, logistical interfaces and commercial cooperation with nascent private LEO platforms.

2026-01-13T04:19:22.107318-08:00

ESA expands Phase 2 of LEO Cargo Return Services to include demonstrations to commercial space stations

SpaceNews.com

2026: space nuclear power and surviving the lunar night set the agenda for a busy lunar year 2026 is shaping up as a turning point: space nuclear power and solutions for surviving the lunar night will drive mission architecture and payload priorities, even as governments and commercial players accelerate cislunar infrastructure, launch cadence and policy work to support expanded lunar activity.

2026-01-13T04:11:55.781016-08:00

2026: space nuclear power and surviving the lunar night set the agenda for a busy lunar year

SpaceWatch Global

ispace establishes Saudi Arabia subsidiary to deepen lunar exploration partnerships ispace has set up a new subsidiary in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to deepen partnerships and advance cooperation on lunar exploration. The local entity signals ispace’s intent to expand its commercial and government ties in the Middle East to support its lunar services and prospecting activities.

2026-01-13T02:45:12.504713-08:00

ispace establishes Saudi Arabia subsidiary to deepen lunar exploration partnerships

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Space Policy & International Cooperation News

Europe Readies EPS‑Sterna Polar Satellite Constellation — Up to €30B Economic Upside

NASA and DOE target lunar nuclear reactor by 2030 to power Artemis and Mars missions

Mars Sample Return cancellation exposes gaps in space law

Space Force pushes competition in satellite buys as industry warns of industrial-base risk

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