U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) has initiated market research to assess the feasibility of integrating SpaceX’s Starlink and Starshield satellite communications terminals onto the AC-130J Ghostrider fleet. In a Request for Information (RFI) released Dec. 30, the command outlined requirements for a “roll-on, roll-off” (RORO) system capable of delivering high-speed, low-latency connectivity in contested environments.
ESA Confirms Proba-3 Autonomous Formation Flying Milestone
The European Space Agency (ESA) released footage December 18 confirming its Proba-3 mission successfully achieved autonomous formation flying with millimeter-level precision, marking a critical validation for the agency’s “virtual giant […]
Space Forge Ignites Orbital Furnace, Hits 1,000°C Milestone on ForgeStar-1
Space Forge has successfully activated the manufacturing furnace aboard its ForgeStar-1 satellite, generating plasma and reaching a temperature of 1,000°C in Low Earth Orbit (LEO). Confirmed by the company on Wednesday, the milestone marks a critical step toward the commercial production of “super materials” in space.
The Pentagon’s Real Estate Play to Break the West Coast Launch Monopoly
In a move that signals a shift in the Pentagon’s long-term orbital logistics strategy, Space Launch Delta 30 (SLD 30) released a Request for Information (RFI) soliciting industry interest in Space Launch Complex 14 (SLC-14) at Vandenberg Space Force Base.
NASA Shutters ‘The Earth Observer’ Publication; EOS Flagships Face 2026 Retirement
NASA announced on Monday, Dec. 29, that it will cease publication of The Earth Observer, the agency’s long-running Earth Science newsletter, effective Dec. 31, 2025. The closure of the 36-year-old publication marks a symbolic transition for the agency, which also confirmed plans to retire its three major Earth Observing System (EOS) flagship satellites—Terra, Aqua, and Aura—possibly as early as the end of 2026.
DoD Report: China’s ISR Fleet Swells to 510+ Satellites, ‘Informatized’ Warfare Accelerates
The Department of Defense (DoD) released its mandated “2025 Military and Security Developments Involving the People’s Republic of China” report on Tuesday, confirming that Beijing’s operational satellite fleet has expanded to more than 1,189 spacecraft, with a specific emphasis on space-based intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR).
The Pentagon’s Faustian Bargain: Buying Speed, Building a Monopoly
The integration of xAI serves as a proof-of-concept for the DoW’s aggressive push to modernize its regulatory framework. By treating a foundational large language model (LLM) as a modular insertion rather than a monolithic program of record, the DoW has achieved true operational velocity. This shift mirrors a broader industry move away from bespoke, manual licensing toward automated, assembly line approvals.
Second Reusable Rocket Failure in One Month Leaves China Chasing U.S. Lead
BEIJING — China’s ambition to operationalize reusable launch vehicles encountered another setback on Tuesday, Dec. 23, as the state-owned Long March 12A successfully delivered its payload to orbit but failed […]
AST SpaceMobile Deploys BlueBird 6, Largest Commercial Array in LEO
AST SpaceMobile successfully deployed BlueBird 6 into low Earth orbit on Tuesday, marking the first successful launch of its next-generation Block 2 satellites. The spacecraft lifted off at 10:25 p.m. […]
The “Delete” Agenda Hits Space
In Washington, modernization is usually a euphemism for forming a committee to study a problem. For FCC Chairman Brendan Carr, it appears to be a euphemism for a demolition crew. In a statement released Tuesday, Carr summarized his first year at the helm with a metric that matters more than any policy speech: the Space Bureau processed 3,418 applications in 2025, a 21% increase over the previous year, effectively cutting the agency’s notorious backlog in half.