Orbit & environment on Burn and Coast: Orbital debris and collision avoidance, Space traffic management, Deorbit rules and end-of-life disposal, Spectrum and orbital slots, Dark and quiet skies and Space weather.
European nations are developing defensive satellite capabilities to counteract threats without creating debris, following US confirmation of orbital weapons. Programs like BODYGUARD and UK initiatives focus on non-destructive effects, as ESA reaffirms its no-weapons stance.
Fortastra secured $30 million in Series A funding to scale production of its maneuverable orbital-defense spacecraft, responding to growing U.S. military demand for space-based security systems.
The FCC has granted SpaceX approval to deploy a 15,000-satellite Very Low Earth Orbit constellation for direct-to-device mobile services, enabling global smartphone connectivity.
Satlyt raised $8 million in seed funding to expand its virtual orbital data center network, using AI software on third-party satellites to process data in orbit.
Charter Space secured $5 million in seed funding to accelerate its AI-driven space insurance brokerage, CIRC.
EUMETSAT has completed the deployment of a full network of 56 PUMA-2025 reception stations across Africa, enabling real-time access to Meteosat Third Generation satellite data for forecasters, which improves early warning for extreme weather as the continent prepares for a strong El Niño.
Terran Orbital has named former Lockheed Martin executive Jamin Brown as its Chief Operating Officer, effective September 29, 2026.
The European Space Agency has commissioned Airbus Defence and Space and OHB to conduct parallel feasibility studies for a future European-led space station.
Lithuanian startup Blackswan Space raised €2.5 million in seed funding led by Iron Wolf Capital to finance the first in-orbit demonstration.
The Vaduz Space Dialogue 2026 positioned Liechtenstein's early Ka-band satellite spectrum filings as a strategic foundation for a federated European secure communications system.
Meridian Space is separating from SpinLaunch to operate as an independent company, taking the satcom infrastructure business.
SpaceX's Starship reached orbit and deployed 26 operational Starlink V3 satellites despite an upper stage engine failure.
UK Defence Secretary Wes Streeting told the UK Space Power Conference that control of space is central to national security.
Australian space imaging startup HEO has raised $25 million in Series B funding to expand its sensor network into geostationary orbit.
EUMETSAT has launched its Strategy 2040, focusing on enhancing secure satellite data services and preparing future weather and climate monitoring systems.
Multiple US states are campaigning to host the new US Space Academy, following an executive order from President Donald Trump.
European space startups secured major commercial, civil, and defense contracts at recent Paris summits.
Terran Orbital has promoted Margherita Cardi to Vice President of European Operations and Head of Strategic Programs.
The European Space Agency has contracted ICEYE and Leonardo to conduct parallel architecture studies for the EU's future Earth Observation Governmental Service.
Impulse Space added $308 million to its Series D funding, bringing the round to $808 million. The company's valuation reportedly rose to $5.4 billion for this extension.
Major European mobile network operators debated the commercial value of satellite direct-to-device services at World Space Business Week.
The U.S. State Department launched a new space diplomacy initiative, the Space Catalyst Partnership, using foreign aid to promote American space companies.
Following a $1 billion Series F funding round, Iceye is rapidly establishing local entities worldwide to meet government demand.
Orbital compute startup Sophia Space and leasing firm SLI have set terms for a $300 million deal to finance a 10-satellite edge computing constellation.
Antares secured a $161 million Department of Defense contract to advance nuclear power for space, marking the largest current DoD space nuclear award.
The European Space Agency has awarded The Exploration Company a €760 million contract for its Nyx spacecraft.
Australian satellite firm LatConnect 60 announced two Indian partnerships at the Bengaluru Space Expo 2026.
The UK's new Space Strategy defines 'assured access to space' as relying on allied launch partnerships, with German launch vehicles the near-term route to orbit from British soil.
A consortium led by Loft Orbital and Marlan Space is investing $1 billion to expand the Altair Earth observation constellation to 50 AI-equipped satellites.
Eutelsat has contracted Infinite Orbits to extend the operational life of at least one of its geostationary satellites.
Startup Eclipse Space has detailed its first three satellite platforms for constellations.
Hydrosat and Kazakhstan's national space company KGS have signed a memorandum to explore building a dedicated thermal infrared satellite constellation.
Munich-based Project-S has revealed its plans to develop a constellation of space-based radar satellites, powered by AI, to detect and track small orbital debris.
Stoke Space has raised an initial $1 billion in a Series E funding round, bringing total capital raised to $2.3 billion.
India's EOS-05 Earth observation satellite, launched on 4 September, has performed two orbit-raising manoeuvres en route to its final geosynchronous orbit.
Isar Aerospace successfully launched its Spectrum rocket from Norway, deploying five CubeSats. This marks the first privately funded European orbital launch and the first orbital launch from continental Europe.
Chinese commercial space firms must achieve orbital insertion with reusable medium-to-large launch vehicles to qualify for STAR Market listings.
Canadian space tech firm Galaxia has purchased the HyperScape100 hyperspectral imaging payload from Belgium's Simera Sense.
D-Orbit has ordered power systems from GomSpace for its ION orbital transfer vehicle missions in 2026-2027. The contract is worth 6.3 million Danish krone.
York Space Systems has introduced a new satellite platform, the LX/V-Class, designed for sustained Very Low Earth Orbit missions down to 200 km.
OHB won the first major IRIS² contract, a nearly €1 billion deal with SES to supply 18 medium Earth orbit satellite platforms.
Muon Space has raised $250 million in Series C funding to scale production of its dual-use spacecraft, capitalizing on a U.S.
MaiaSpace has completed a key test for its Maia rocket's upper stage, keeping the vehicle on track for its planned orbital debut in 2027.
President Trump has signed an executive order to study the creation of a US Space Academy, modeled on military service academies.
The European Space Agency has selected NorthStar Earth & Space to lead a study on uncontrolled atmospheric re-entry.
Quantum imaging startup Diffraqtion has added over $5 million to its pre-seed round, bringing total funding past $10 million.
The Commercial Space Federation welcomed Outlier and Rendezvous Robotics as new associate members on August 31, 2026.
The Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope launched Sunday morning, beginning a journey to L2 and a mission to study dark energy, dark matter, and exoplanets.
Blue Origin's Tory Bruno has been named Honorary Chair for World Space Week 2027, which will focus on lunar exploration under the theme 'To the Moon'.
NASA astronaut Anil Menon and ESA astronaut Sophie Adenot successfully installed a replacement for the failed Space-to-Ground Antenna 2 on August 25.
Indian space startup InspeCity has secured $10.5 million in a pre-Series A funding round led by Speciale Invest and Ashish Kacholia.
Spirit Electronics announced on August 24, 2026, that space-grade components from Texas Instruments and Microchip Technology are now available for direct purchase online.
Europe's Ariane 6 rocket successfully delivered the MTG-I2 weather satellite to geostationary transfer orbit on August 27.