News

SpaceNews.com • Jeff Foust

Portugal becomes 60th signatory to the Artemis Accords

Portugal formally signed the Artemis Accords on Jan. 12 in Lisbon, becoming the 60th signatory. The ceremony featured Hugo Costa, executive director of the Portuguese Space Agency, and U.S. Ambassador John J. Arrigo; NASA welcomed the move as a commitment to responsible lunar and deep‑space exploration.

2026-01-12T15:49:43.937228-08:00

Space.com

Will U.S. budget cuts force NASA to withdraw from ESA’s next Venus mission?

2026-01-12T13:13:30.311191-08:00

Airbus

Eutelsat orders 340 Airbus-built OneWeb satellites, taking total to 440

2026-01-12T01:29:23.622502-08:00

Space Intel Report

EUMETSAT approves $1B EPS–Sterna polar microsatellite constellation to measure atmospheric temperature and humidity

2026-01-12T07:06:08.093304-08:00

News Timeline

SpaceNews.com

Portugal becomes 60th signatory to the Artemis Accords Portugal formally signed the Artemis Accords on Jan. 12 in Lisbon, becoming the 60th signatory. The ceremony featured Hugo Costa, executive director of the Portuguese Space Agency, and U.S. Ambassador John J. Arrigo; NASA welcomed the move as a commitment to responsible lunar and deep‑space exploration.

2026-01-12T15:49:43.937228-08:00

Portugal becomes 60th signatory to the Artemis Accords

Space.com

Will U.S. budget cuts force NASA to withdraw from ESA’s next Venus mission? ESA's planned Venus mission may lose NASA contributions under proposed U.S. budget cuts, raising questions about instruments, operations and timeline. ESA says it is "in constant contact with NASA" while partners evaluate the funding shortfall's implications for mission scope and schedule.

2026-01-12T13:13:30.311191-08:00

Will U.S. budget cuts force NASA to withdraw from ESA’s next Venus mission?

Space Intel Report

EUMETSAT approves $1B EPS–Sterna polar microsatellite constellation to measure atmospheric temperature and humidity EUMETSAT's Council has approved the EUMETSAT Polar System – Sterna, a $1 billion constellation of polar-orbiting microsatellites to deliver atmospheric temperature and humidity profiles. The 30-nation programme cleared funding after months of delay and targets operational meteorological soundings from polar orbits.

2026-01-12T07:06:08.093304-08:00

EUMETSAT approves $1B EPS–Sterna polar microsatellite constellation to measure atmospheric temperature and humidity

SpaceNews.com

Industry urges accelerated collaboration to tackle orbital congestion Industry and regulators must accelerate collaboration to confront growing orbital congestion, the article argues. Coordinated improvements in debris mitigation, tracking and traffic‑management are needed to protect operational safety, preserve orbital sustainability and maintain the economics of satellite deployments as launch and constellation activity expands.

2026-01-12T04:06:57.636028-08:00

Industry urges accelerated collaboration to tackle orbital congestion

SpaceWatch Global

Bulgaria signs MoU to provide institutional backing for EnduroSat’s new Space Center The Bulgarian government has signed a memorandum of understanding to provide dedicated institutional support for EnduroSat’s new Space Center, formalizing state backing for the Sofia‑based company's facility and underlining national commitment to develop domestic space capabilities.

2026-01-12T03:11:56.137060-08:00

Bulgaria signs MoU to provide institutional backing for EnduroSat’s new Space Center

SpaceNews.com

❗️

China submits ITU filings for two non‑GEO megaconstellations totaling nearly 200,000 satellites China has filed two submissions with the International Telecommunication Union proposing non‑geostationary satellite networks that together total nearly 200,000 satellites. The filings seek to secure spectrum and coordination rights for next‑generation megaconstellations and to reserve options for large‑scale future deployments.

2026-01-12T01:29:33.242733-08:00

China submits ITU filings for two non‑GEO megaconstellations totaling nearly 200,000 satellites

SpaceNews.com

China files to deploy up to 200,000 satellites, cites collision risk from Starlink as FCC clears 7,500 Gen2 launches China has filed plans to deploy up to 200,000 satellites, citing collision risks from SpaceX's rapidly expanding Starlink network. Beijing's regulator says such ITU filings are routine; the move comes as the US FCC approved 7,500 second‑generation Starlink satellites.

2026-01-12T01:29:33.242733-08:00

China files to deploy up to 200,000 satellites, cites collision risk from Starlink as FCC clears 7,500 Gen2 launches

Airbus

❗️

Eutelsat orders 340 Airbus-built OneWeb satellites, taking total to 440 Eutelsat has contracted Airbus Defence and Space to build 340 additional OneWeb LEO satellites in a $2.56 billion follow‑on, raising its Airbus-built total to 440 spacecraft. Production is slated to begin in Toulouse in 2026 and launches are due to start the same year, with upgraded capabilities planned.

2026-01-12T01:29:23.622502-08:00

Eutelsat orders 340 Airbus-built OneWeb satellites, taking total to 440

Menu

Space Policy & International Cooperation News

Portugal becomes 60th signatory to the Artemis Accords

Will U.S. budget cuts force NASA to withdraw from ESA’s next Venus mission?

Eutelsat orders 340 Airbus-built OneWeb satellites, taking total to 440

EUMETSAT approves $1B EPS–Sterna polar microsatellite constellation to measure atmospheric temperature and humidity

News Timeline