📰Top Stories

Rocket Lab Set to Launch Space Force and NASA ‘DiskSat’ Experiment

Rocket Lab is scheduled to launch the STP-S30 mission, which is set to test a novel flat, disk-shaped small satellite design known as DiskSat. This experiment aims to demonstrate sustained operations in very low-Earth orbit, with a focus on enhancing satellite design for future missions. The collaboration with the Space Force and NASA underscores the strategic importance of this mission in innovating satellite technology.

Read the full story: SpaceNews

Digantara Raises $50 Million to Expand from Space Surveillance to Missile Defense

Digantara Industries, a prominent player in space situational awareness, has raised $50 million to expand its operations into the U.S. and enter the missile defense sector. This move will see the Indian company broaden its strategic capabilities, highlighting the growing convergence between space technologies and national defense initiatives.

Read the full story: SpaceNews

Autonomous DARPA Project to Expand Satellite Surveillance Network by BAE Systems

In a significant development, BAE Systems has received a $16 million contract from DARPA for Phase 2 of the Oversight program. This project will enhance the satellite surveillance network through new autonomous systems. The goal is to maintain global tracking of terrestrial assets, reflecting an advancement in military satellite technology.

Read the full story: Spacewar

How the Space Force Trains Guardians for the Future of Warfare

The U.S. Space Force is actively preparing its personnel, known as Guardians, for future conflicts in space. With training programs focused on operational readiness and adaptive strategies, the Space Force is shaping its future military endeavors. This initiative is crucial for maintaining national security in the evolving domain of space warfare.

Read the full story: SpaceNews

Vantor Partners with Niantic Spatial on GPS-Free Navigation for Defense Market

Vantor has teamed up with Niantic Spatial to develop GPS-free navigation technologies for the defense sector. By utilizing visual positioning, this partnership aims to revolutionize how air and ground platforms are linked, providing strategic advantages in environments where GPS signals may be unreliable or unavailable.

Read the full story: SpaceNews

Trump’s National Security Strategy Ignores Space

The latest national security strategy from the Trump administration has been critiqued for its omission of space considerations. Given the increasing importance of space in geopolitical strategies, this oversight highlights a critical gap in addressing both domestic and international space policies.

Read the full story: SpaceNews

🛰️Satellite Spotlight

• Satellite Name: COSMOS 1515
• NORAD ID: 14551
• Launch Date: December 15, 1983
• Mission: SIGINT (Signals Intelligence) satellite designed for intelligence collection.
• Orbit: Low Earth Orbit (LEO)
• Operator: GRU (Main Intelligence Directorate of the Russian Federation)
• Fun Fact: COSMOS 1515 was part of the Tselina-D series, which played a crucial role in electronic intelligence gathering during its operational lifetime.

Track this satellite in real-time on our web app: Track COSMOS 1515

🌌Space Weather

Next 24 Hours

• Radio Blackouts Probability

  • Minor: 15
  • Major: 1
  • Risk: None

• Solar Radiation

  • Probability: 1
  • Risk: None

• Geomagnetic Storming

  • Scale: 0
  • Impact: none
  • Activity: Low

• Impact Summary

  • Next 24 hours: No risk of radio blackouts and no solar radiation storms expected. The geomagnetic activity outlook indicates the possibility of G1 (Minor) geomagnetic storms on December 18 due to a coronal hole high-speed stream. Radio blackout outlook shows a slight chance for R1-R2 (Minor-Moderate) radio blackouts anticipated through December 18.

Long Term Forecast

• Forecast of Solar and Geomagnetic Activity (December 15 - January 10, 2026): M-class flares (R1-R2/Minor-Moderate) are likely, with potential for X-class (R3/Strong) flares depending on development of new active regions. The greater than 10 MeV proton flux is expected to remain below S1 (Minor) levels. Increased levels of the greater than 2 MeV electron flux are predicted for December 16-19, 25-29, and January 01-06, while normal to moderate levels are likely on December 15, 20-24, 30-31, and January 07-10. Geomagnetic activity might reach G1 (Minor) storm levels on December 18, 30-31, and possibly January 09, influenced by coronal hole high-speed stream activities. Other unsettled to active periods are expected as noted, with mostly quiet conditions anticipated on December 21 and January 04-08.

🚀Upcoming Space Launches

December 17

• Arianespace Ariane 62:

  • Galileo L14 (FOC FM33 & FM34) from Guiana Space Centre, French Guiana (05:01 UTC) Payload consists of two satellites for Europe’s Galileo navigation system.

• SpaceX Falcon 9:

  • Starlink Group 6-99 from Kennedy Space Center, FL, USA (12:19 UTC) A batch of 29 satellites for the Starlink mega-constellation - SpaceX’s project for space-based Internet communication system.

• SpaceX Falcon 9:

  • Starlink Group 15-13 from Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA (15:10 UTC) A batch of 27 satellites for the Starlink mega-constellation - SpaceX’s project for space-based Internet communication system.

• Innospace HANBIT-Nano:

  • Spaceward from Alcântara Space Center, Federative Republic of Brazil (18:45 UTC) Maiden orbital launch attempt for the South Korean startup Innospace. Onboard are five small satellites and additional payloads.

December 18

• Rocket Lab Electron:

  • Don’t Be Such A Square (STP-S30) from Wallops Flight Facility, Virginia, USA (05:00 UTC) The mission will deliver research experiments and technology demonstrations for the DoD and future space systems development.

• Blue Origin New Shepard:

  • NS-37 from Corn Ranch, Van Horn, TX, USA (14:30 UTC) NS-37 is the 16th crewed flight for the New Shepard program.

December 20

• SpaceX Falcon 9:

  • Starlink Group 6-88 from Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA (05:00 UTC) A batch of 29 satellites for the Starlink mega-constellation - SpaceX’s project for space-based Internet communication system.

• China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation Long March 5:

  • Unknown Payload from Wenchang Space Launch Site, People’s Republic of China (11:00 UTC) Details TBD.

December 23

• Russian Federal Space Agency (ROSCOSMOS) Soyuz 2.1a:
  • Obzor-R No.1 from Plesetsk Cosmodrome, Russian Federation (14:00 UTC) The Obzor-R is an X-band radar earth observation satellite with the BRLK X-band Synthetic Aperture Radar as the imaging instrument.

December 24

• Indian Space Research Organization LVM-3:
  • BlueBird Block 2 #1 from Satish Dhawan Space Centre, India (02:50 UTC) AST SpaceMobile’s Block 2 BlueBird satellites are designed to provide continuous cellular broadband service with significantly increased bandwidth capacity.

Note: Launch dates and times are subject to change due to technical or weather considerations.