Top Stories
Rocket Lab Protests NASA’s $700 Million Mars Orbiter Award to Blue Origin
Rocket Lab has filed a formal protest against NASA’s decision to grant Blue Origin a $700 million contract for a Mars orbiter mission. This protest questions the evaluation process behind a significant NASA planetary science procurement and could potentially delay the mission if the Government Accountability Office intervenes.
Antares Lands $161 Million DoD Contract for Space Nuclear Power
Nuclear microreactor startup Antares has secured a $161 million Strategic Breakthrough award from the Space Force’s acquisition office. This contract, the largest current DoD space nuclear contract, will involve ground demonstrations of its R1-S heat-pipe microreactor and powering an operational ground-to-space asset with its Mark-1 reactor.
Isar Aerospace Reaches Orbit, Energizes European Launch Market
Germany’s Isar Aerospace successfully launched a batch of CubeSats to low-Earth orbit from Norway’s Andøya spaceport with its Spectrum rocket, marking its second attempt at reaching orbit. This achievement positions Isar as a new operational launch provider in Europe, amidst a changing landscape that includes SpaceX’s reduced activity.
Canada and Ukraine Sign Long-Term Defense Deal on Drones, Counter-Drone Systems, and Air Defense
Canada and Ukraine have signed a defense production agreement focused on uncrewed systems, counter-drone technology, and munitions. This partnership aims to co-produce Ukrainian-designed drones, enhancing defense capabilities between the two nations.
NASA Kicks Off Bidding for US Space Academy, Targets 2028 First Class
NASA is inviting all 50 states to bid on hosting the proposed US Space Academy, seeking groundbreaking on a permanent campus by 2027 and beginning classes by 2028.
Satellite of the Day
STAR ONE C4 – This satellite holds a geostationary position at 70°W for Embratel Star One, delivering C-band and Ku-band coverage across Brazil since its launch in 2015.
By the Numbers
- Active satellites tracked: 15,993
- Cataloged debris objects: 14,952
- New objects cataloged yesterday: 62
- Orbital launches this year: 216 (209 successful)
- Next launch: Falcon 9 Block 5 | O3b mPower 11-13 in about 34 hours (Sep 13, 18:49 UTC)
Catalog Watch
Space-Track cataloged 62 new objects in its latest update, including several newly indexed satellites.
Reentry Watch
Several satellites are predicted to decay in the upcoming days, including STARLINK-2291 and STARLINK-4456.
Upcoming Space Launches
Schedule Changes
- Newly added launches for Indian Space Research Organization and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries scheduled for December 31.
Next 48 Hours
SpaceX Falcon 9 Block 5 – O3b mPower 11-13 mission from Cape Canaveral on Sep 13 at 18:49 UTC.
For a detailed schedule of upcoming missions, visit the live schedule linked above.
Note: Launch dates and times may change due to technical or weather issues.
