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Space Intel Report • Peter B de Selding

ITU again rebuffs Oman’s bid to register placeholder satellite at 73.5°E

Oman's effort to win International Telecommunication Union approval for a placeholder geostationary slot at 73.5°E has been rebuffed again by the regulator. The decision prolongs the government's challenge to secure orbital and spectrum rights needed to formalize its planned satellite capability and launch timeline.

2026-04-02T10:46:34.707783-07:00

SpaceWatch Global

IMCO Compromise Delivers Europe’s First Space Law: a Sweeping EU Space Act

2026-04-02T02:39:16.073203-07:00

European Spaceflight

Italy signs cooperation pact with NASA to support U.S.-led Artemis lunar surface base

2026-04-02T02:06:02.393046-07:00

SpaceWatch Global

ThrustMe wins €10M+ deals to equip 40 Japanese Earth‑observation satellites with iodine electric propulsion

2026-04-02T02:39:15.782557-07:00

News Timeline

Space Intel Report

ITU again rebuffs Oman’s bid to register placeholder satellite at 73.5°E Oman's effort to win International Telecommunication Union approval for a placeholder geostationary slot at 73.5°E has been rebuffed again by the regulator. The decision prolongs the government's challenge to secure orbital and spectrum rights needed to formalize its planned satellite capability and launch timeline.

2026-04-02T10:46:34.707783-07:00

ITU again rebuffs Oman’s bid to register placeholder satellite at 73.5°E

SpaceWatch Global

SpaceData and Look Up partner to build SSA and STM data platform in Japan SpaceData has partnered with Look Up to build a space situational awareness (SSA) and space traffic management (STM) data platform in Japan. The collaboration establishes a domestic capability intended to deliver authoritative SSA/STM information to Japanese operators, regulators and allied stakeholders as orbital activity rises.

2026-04-02T02:39:16.659707-07:00

SpaceData and Look Up partner to build SSA and STM data platform in Japan

SpaceWatch Global

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IMCO Compromise Delivers Europe’s First Space Law: a Sweeping EU Space Act The European Parliament’s IMCO committee has adopted compromise amendments to the EU Space Act that establish a sweeping regulatory architecture for the continent’s civil and commercial space activities. The package reshapes obligations for operators, suppliers and states and raises questions about industry capacity, compliance costs and implementation timelines.

2026-04-02T02:39:16.073203-07:00

IMCO Compromise Delivers Europe’s First Space Law: a Sweeping EU Space Act

SpaceWatch Global

ThrustMe wins €10M+ deals to equip 40 Japanese Earth‑observation satellites with iodine electric propulsion ThrustMe has signed commercial agreements worth more than €10 million to supply iodine electric propulsion systems for 40 Japanese Earth‑observation satellites, contracts announced during French president Emmanuel Macron’s visit to Japan. The deals broaden ThrustMe’s presence in Asia and accelerate iodine‑thruster adoption for LEO constellations.

2026-04-02T02:39:15.782557-07:00

ThrustMe wins €10M+ deals to equip 40 Japanese Earth‑observation satellites with iodine electric propulsion

European Spaceflight

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Italy signs cooperation pact with NASA to support U.S.-led Artemis lunar surface base Italy and NASA have signed an agreement to cooperate on development of the U.S.-led Artemis lunar surface base, formalizing Italian participation in surface infrastructure, science payloads and ground communications. The pact aligns Italian contributions with NASA's recently restructured, phased ~$20 billion lunar surface-base plan.

2026-04-02T02:06:02.393046-07:00

Italy signs cooperation pact with NASA to support U.S.-led Artemis lunar surface base

New York Times

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China’s moon program accelerates as U.S. launches lunar flyby The U.S. launched a lunar flyby Wednesday, while Beijing is pursuing its own moon program with formidable focus—releasing photos and videos and stepping up missions. These parallel moves highlight intensifying competition over lunar science, operations and strategic presence in cislunar space.

2026-04-01T21:21:40.967519-07:00

China’s moon program accelerates as U.S. launches lunar flyby

SpaceNews.com

Americans support space travel’s benefits but oppose higher public costs A new poll finds Americans broadly acknowledge the benefits of 21st‑century space travel — from scientific discovery to commercial opportunity — but clearly resist higher public spending to expand programs. That tension will shape debates over NASA budgets, commercial partnerships and taxpayer‑funded initiatives.

2026-04-01T21:01:57.813623-07:00

Americans support space travel’s benefits but oppose higher public costs

SpaceNews.com

From the Midwest to the Moon: Ohio’s Role in America’s Space Future Industry should spotlight Ohio's potential in America’s space future: the state’s industrial capacity, research institutions and skilled workforce could augment launch, spacecraft production and mission support. Raising Ohio’s profile would widen supplier networks and workforce pipelines, increasing resilience and scale for U.S. space programs.

2026-04-01T16:00:10.351911-07:00

From the Midwest to the Moon: Ohio’s Role in America’s Space Future

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Space Policy & International Cooperation News

ITU again rebuffs Oman’s bid to register placeholder satellite at 73.5°E

IMCO Compromise Delivers Europe’s First Space Law: a Sweeping EU Space Act

Italy signs cooperation pact with NASA to support U.S.-led Artemis lunar surface base

ThrustMe wins €10M+ deals to equip 40 Japanese Earth‑observation satellites with iodine electric propulsion

News Timeline