Top Stories
Joint Chiefs Chairman Declares Cislunar Space Part of the Battlefield
Gen. Dan Caine, the highest-ranking U.S. military officer, announced that the battlefield now extends to the moon during the Air and Space Forces Association conference on September 17. This emphasizes the military’s active planning for cislunar operations.
Read more: Space.com
SPACECOM Commander: U.S. Can’t Yet Target Adversary Satellites Effectively
At the AMOS conference, Gen. Stephen Whiting remarked on SPACECOM’s inadequate capability to pinpoint threats in orbit. He highlighted the need for improved space domain awareness (SDA) to enhance surveillance and operations against adversary spacecraft.
Read more: Breaking Defense
European NewSpace Funding Tops €1 Billion in September Alone
EnduroSat closed a $205 million round on September 16, driving total European NewSpace investment past €1 billion this month. The company plans to establish a factory in the U.S. and convert a military airbase in Bulgaria into a space manufacturing hub.
Read more: European Spaceflight
Hydrosat Reveals Osiris Thermal Imaging Constellation, First Launch 2027
Hydrosat launched its Osiris thermal infrared constellation, set for initial launch in 2027. The constellation will provide enhanced thermal imaging, improving detection capabilities for military ISR applications.
Read more: Payload
SEOPS Books Five Dedicated Launches on Isar’s Spectrum Rocket
SEOPS has signed a contract with Isar Aerospace for five dedicated launches between 2028 and 2030. The deal responds to the impending decline of SpaceX’s Transporter rideshare missions.
Read more: Payload
NASA Targeting 2028 for First U.S. Space Academy Class
NASA aims to establish the U.S. Space Academy by 2028, exploring locations to train the next generation of space professionals across civilian and military sectors.
Read more: Space.com
Curiosity Rover Marks 5,000 Days on Mars
NASA’s Curiosity rover has completed its 5,000th Martian sol, celebrating with a panoramic postcard from Gale Crater. Since its landing in 2012, the rover continues to exceed its initial mission length.
Read more: NASA
Satellite of the Day
COSMOS 962 – Launched in 1977, this Soviet naval navigation satellite remains in orbit at 990 km after almost 49 years.
Read more: Satellite of the Day: COSMOS 962
By the Numbers
- Active satellites tracked: 15,995
- Cataloged debris objects: 14,948
- New objects cataloged yesterday: 3
- Orbital launches this year: 220 (213 successful)
- Next launch: Electron | Owl By The Dozen (StriX Launch 12) in about 42 hours (Sep 19, 03:15 UTC)
Catalog Watch
Space-Track has recorded 3 new objects in its latest entry:
Reentry Watch
- STARLINK-1893 (46786) – Predicted decay Sep 18, 00:43 UTC
- STARLINK-2681 (48465) – Predicted decay Sep 18, 02:00 UTC
- STARLINK-1067 (44771) – Predicted decay Sep 18, 04:57 UTC
- STARLINK-1845 (47135) – Predicted decay Sep 18, 23:44 UTC
- STARLINK-1942 (46794) – Predicted decay Sep 19, 00:42 UTC
Upcoming Space Launches
Schedule Changes
- Newly added: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries H3-24 | Lunar Polar Exploration Mission (LUPEX), scheduled for Dec 31, 00:00 UTC.
- Next: Rocket Lab Electron – Owl By The Dozen (StriX Launch 12) at Sep 19, 03:15 UTC.
Note: Launch dates and times may change due to technical or weather considerations.
