All Post

Terran Orbital has been selected by Lockheed Martin to supply satellite buses for SDA’s Tranche 3 Tracking Layer, supporting a proliferated low Earth orbit constellation designed to detect and track advanced missile threats, including hypersonic weapons. The award extends Terran Orbital’s multi-tranche collaboration on the PWSA Tracking Layer.

Synspective has been selected as a partner in Japan’s Ministry of Defense satellite constellation project, supporting a private-sector–led initiative to deliver persistent ISR capabilities. The program brings together leading Japanese aerospace and satellite firms to strengthen national security through advanced space-based imagery.

Orbit Communication Systems has secured a $2.4 million order from a leading European defense integrator to supply OceanTRx4 MIL SATCOM systems for a NATO navy. The advanced maritime systems will deliver resilient, multi-band satellite connectivity for military naval platforms, with deliveries starting in 2026.

Plug Power has officially launched its first-ever liquid hydrogen contract with NASA! Supplying up to 218,000 kg of high-purity hydrogen to NASA's Glenn and Armstrong facilities, this $2.8M deal marks Plug’s entry into the rapidly growing space industry. This milestone validates Plug’s ability to meet the most stringent reliability standards while expanding its low-carbon hydrogen network into mission-critical aerospace applications.

The Luxembourg Space Agency has awarded a contract to the Canadian Space Mining Corporation (CSMC) to develop QASM, a revolutionary quantum sensor. Designed to detect water and critical minerals from orbit, QASM uses cold-atom interferometry to map resources beneath the surface of Earth and other planets. This EU-Canada partnership marks a giant leap for sustainable space exploration and the future of resource discovery.

The Space Development Agency has awarded $3.5 billion to build 72 Tracking Layer satellites under Tranche 3 of the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture. Launching in 2029, the constellation will deliver near-continuous global missile warning, tracking, and fire-control quality data to counter advanced and hypersonic threats.

The European Investment Bank is lending €20 million to Sweden’s ECAPS to scale next-generation, non-toxic propulsion systems for space and defense. The investment, EIB’s first for a Swedish space company, advances Europe’s dual-use capabilities, strengthens supply chain resilience, and accelerates critical mobility technologies across space and emerging domains.

KONGSBERG and Helsing have formed a strategic alliance to build Europe’s sovereign space-based intelligence and targeting constellation by 2029. With sensor technology from HENSOLDT and launch support from Isar Aerospace, the partnership aims to deliver a resilient, AI-driven IST architecture that strengthens Europe’s deterrence and defense capabilities.

OHB Sweden has secured a major contract to deliver six electric propulsion systems for SWISSto12’s HummingSat, the first commercial SmallSat for GEO. The partnership strengthens European space sovereignty and promises to reshape the GEO market with agile, cost-effective satellite solutions.

Gogo has made a strategic investment in Farcast to accelerate next-generation aviation antennas that reduce SWaP-C while boosting bandwidth. Farcast’s full-duplex flat panel antenna and AESA technology will support Gogo’s multi-band, multi-orbit connectivity strategy for business, military, and government aviation.

Europe has committed nearly €1 billion to advance next-generation satellite navigation at ESA’s Ministerial Council. The funding boosts NAVISP and FutureNAV while launching new missions like Celeste, Genesis, OpSTAR, NovaMoon, and Future PNT Demonstrators, strengthening Europe’s PNT resilience, competitiveness, and strategic autonomy.

Proximus Global and Starlink have formed a strategic partnership to expand direct-to-cell satellite connectivity across Europe. Leveraging Proximus Global’s IPX network, Starlink will link European mobile operators and support next-generation satellite-to-smartphone broadband. Kyivstar is the first operator to benefit, highlighting the critical role of satellite resilience in crisis environments.

Russia’s space-industrial base hasn’t collapsed; it has rewired itself. Through new regional clusters, sanctioned electronics routed via shadow intermediaries, and deepening reliance on China, Moscow has built a sanctions-adapted system that is resilient but fragile. Here’s a forensic look at who is building what now, and where new chokepoints are emerging.

India has advanced its military space programs, but critical gaps persist, from persistent ISR and tactical SatCom to maritime surveillance and space domain awareness. This opinion-driven analysis argues that India must shift from incremental upgrades to a strategic, multi-orbit, resilient architecture if it wants credible deterrence in a contested Indo-Pacific.

Vodafone and AST SpaceMobile are launching a new EU satellite constellation with a European Sovereign Satellite Operations Centre in Germany (Munich or Hannover). The joint venture, SatCo, will deliver ubiquitous, secure mobile broadband across Europe starting in 2026, boosting digital sovereignty and critical disaster relief efforts via direct-to-smartphone connectivity.

5G NTN modems are rapidly moving from backhaul tools to frontline enablers of multi-domain operations. From convoy V2X to airborne ISR downlinks, these systems are reshaping how modern militaries fight, communicate, and maneuver in contested environments.

The Mobile Satellite Services Association (MSSA) has released a new Reference Architecture offering strategic recommendations to accelerate global Non-Terrestrial Network (NTN) integration. The framework outlines key technologies, interoperability guidelines, and high-impact use cases designed to support secure, reliable, and 3GPP-aligned satellite-to-terrestrial connectivity worldwide.

At Space Tech Expo Europe 2025, I saw an industry under pressure but filled with opportunity. Upstream R&D is shrinking, downstream applications are underdeveloped, and defense is becoming the stabilizing force across the space ecosystem. Despite the challenges, the sector is entering a more strategic and sustainable era.

IonQ is expanding its quantum leadership with the acquisition of Skyloom Global, bringing advanced space-based optical communications into its growing full-stack quantum ecosystem. Backed by $3.5B in funding, IonQ aims to build a global quantum key distribution platform linking ground and satellite networks for secure, planet-scale connectivity.

Amazon’s shift from Project Kuiper to Amazon Leo marks a strategic leap in the LEO broadband race. With more than 150 satellites in orbit and major enterprise partnerships forming, the rebrand reflects a sharpened focus on value creation, downstream market capture, and global growth.