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Space.com • Mike Wall

2025 Review: 12 Rocket and Spacecraft Failures That Shaped the Year

Twelve rocket and spacecraft failures marked 2025, a year of intense launch activity and high-profile setbacks. This roundup examines each anomaly and its operational, programmatic and industrial repercussions for launch providers, national programs and commercial space initiatives, and investor confidence across the sector.

2025-12-29T07:45:01.004107-08:00

SpaceNews.com

Trump plan to dismantle NCAR threatens data and capabilities that support space science

2025-12-29T07:10:05.803516-08:00

Payload

China’s Space Industry: Advancements and Strategic Directions (podcast with Blaine Curcio)

2025-12-29T04:10:32.769068-08:00

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Space.com

2025 Review: 12 Rocket and Spacecraft Failures That Shaped the Year Twelve rocket and spacecraft failures marked 2025, a year of intense launch activity and high-profile setbacks. This roundup examines each anomaly and its operational, programmatic and industrial repercussions for launch providers, national programs and commercial space initiatives, and investor confidence across the sector.

2025-12-29T07:45:01.004107-08:00

2025 Review: 12 Rocket and Spacecraft Failures That Shaped the Year

SpaceNews.com

Trump plan to dismantle NCAR threatens data and capabilities that support space science The Trump administration's proposal to dismantle the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) threatens core atmospheric research infrastructure, with knock‑on impacts for space‑science capabilities that rely on NCAR's models, observations and data services. Curtailing NCAR would weaken climate research, satellite mission support and operational forecasting.

2025-12-29T07:10:05.803516-08:00

Trump plan to dismantle NCAR threatens data and capabilities that support space science

Payload

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Top 5 Space Policy Stories of 2025: Year Closes as Jared Isaacman Is Confirmed NASA Administrator The year in space policy closed with the Senate confirming Jared Isaacman as NASA's 15th administrator, ending an 11‑month interim after a protracted vetting process. Isaacman's 'Athena' agenda prioritizes accelerated crewed lunar missions, expanded public–private partnerships and nuclear propulsion, shifting program priorities heading into 2026.

2025-12-29T05:46:44.805743-08:00

Top 5 Space Policy Stories of 2025: Year Closes as Jared Isaacman Is Confirmed NASA Administrator

SpaceWatch Global

European Commission adds Belgium, Bulgaria, Lithuania and Luxembourg to EU Space Surveillance and Tracking partnership The European Commission has adopted an Implementing Decision making Belgium, Bulgaria, Lithuania and Luxembourg members of the EU Space Surveillance and Tracking partnership. The move formally expands the SST partnership's membership and completes the Commission's approval process for these four states.

2025-12-29T04:10:34.218715-08:00

European Commission adds Belgium, Bulgaria, Lithuania and Luxembourg to EU Space Surveillance and Tracking partnership

SpaceWatch Global

China’s Space Industry: Advancements and Strategic Directions (podcast with Blaine Curcio) Analyst Blaine Curcio joins Space Café Radio to assess technological advances, commercialisation and Beijing’s strategic priorities reshaping China’s space industry. The discussion highlights rising launch cadence, reusable-rocket efforts and policy steps intended to propel private firms and expand international cooperation.

2025-12-29T04:10:32.769068-08:00

China’s Space Industry: Advancements and Strategic Directions (podcast with Blaine Curcio)

SpaceWatch Global

Starlab secures investment from Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank to advance commercial space‑station technologies Starlab has received an investment from Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank to accelerate development and commercialization of its commercial space‑station technologies. The funding will support engineering and hardware progression as the programme advances toward market‑ready LEO habitat capabilities aimed at research and commercial customers.

2025-12-29T01:46:51.329211-08:00

Starlab secures investment from Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank to advance commercial space‑station technologies

European Spaceflight

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ESA cancels call to procure commercial ISS cargo services The European Space Agency has cancelled a planned procurement call to acquire commercial cargo services for the International Space Station, citing "programmatic adjustments." The unexpected cancellation pauses ESA's effort to contract additional commercial logistics capacity for ISS resupply and could reshape timing for European cargo access and procurement decisions.

2025-12-28T22:08:35.339766-08:00

ESA cancels call to procure commercial ISS cargo services

Stars and Stripes

Russia launches three Iranian satellites; Iran confirms first signals from Zafar‑2, Paya and Kowsar Iran confirmed receipt of first signals from three domestically developed satellites — Zafar‑2, Paya and Kowsar — after a Russian Soyuz rocket placed them into orbit. Tehran said the signal receptions mark the satellites' transition to operational status; the launch is the second Russia-assisted Iranian flight since July.

2025-12-28T13:44:36.022305-08:00

Russia launches three Iranian satellites; Iran confirms first signals from Zafar‑2, Paya and Kowsar

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Space Policy & International Cooperation News

2025 Review: 12 Rocket and Spacecraft Failures That Shaped the Year

Trump plan to dismantle NCAR threatens data and capabilities that support space science

Top 5 Space Policy Stories of 2025: Year Closes as Jared Isaacman Is Confirmed NASA Administrator

China’s Space Industry: Advancements and Strategic Directions (podcast with Blaine Curcio)

News Timeline