📰Top Stories

Rocket Lab Launches Four Experimental ‘DiskSats’ for U.S. Military

Rocket Lab has successfully launched four “DiskSats” for the U.S. Space Force, marking another significant milestone for the company’s 2025 activities. The launch took place shortly after midnight on December 18, demonstrating Rocket Lab’s continued advancement and contribution to military capabilities in space.

Read the full story: Space.com

Speed, Risk, and National Security Space Management

A panel discussion at the Spacepower conference emphasized the critical intersection of commercial space innovation with national security, civil space, and military decision-making. Moderated by Mike Gruss, the dialogue encapsulated the evolving dynamics in space as a strategic asset in national defense.

Read the full story: SpaceNews

Rocket Lab and NASA ‘DiskSat’ Experiment on the Horizon

Rocket Lab is poised for another noteworthy launch, featuring a Space Force and NASA collaboration to test the DiskSat, a disk-shaped small satellite design aimed at enhancing operations in low-Earth orbit. This mission underscores the ongoing experimental efforts to optimize satellite technology.

Read the full story: SpaceNews

Digantara Secures $50 Million to Expand into Missile Defense

Digantara Industries, an emerging leader in space situational awareness, has successfully raised $50 million. This funding will facilitate the company’s expansion into the United States and its new venture into missile defense, reflecting its strategic growth and ambition in the sphere of space-based defense systems.

Read the full story: SpaceNews

Senate Approves $901B Defense Bill with Acquisition Reforms

The U.S. Senate has passed a comprehensive $901 billion defense authorization bill, which includes significant acquisition reforms. These changes are designed to streamline the Department of Defense’s dealings and foster a more conducive environment for commercial space firms entering the defense sector.

Read the full story: Breaking Defense

Advancements in Optical Nuclear Clocks with Thorium 229

A multidisciplinary team of researchers have made a breakthrough in optical nuclear clocks by exciting thorium 229 nuclei using laser light, while embedded in an opaque solid. This pioneering research paves the way for precise time-keeping advancements crucial for satellite navigation and other space applications.

Read the full story: Space Daily

🛰️Satellite Spotlight

• Satellite Name: JASON-3
• NORAD ID: 41240
• Launch Date: January 17, 2016
• Mission: JASON-3 is designed for altimetry, utilizing radar to measure sea surface height and contribute to climate studies.
• Orbit: LEO (Low Earth Orbit)
• Operator: CNES/NOAA
• Fun Fact: JASON-3 is the fourth satellite in the JASON series dedicated to monitoring the ocean’s health and has significantly contributed to our understanding of sea level rise.

Track this satellite in real-time on our web app: Track JASON-3

🌌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 shows no risk of radio blackouts, ensuring stable communications for satellite operators.
  • No solar radiation storms are expected, which is beneficial for sensitive satellite equipment and ground-based observatories.
  • Geomagnetic activity is low, minimizing disruption to satellite operations and communication systems.

Long Term Forecast

• Impact Summary
  • From 15 December to 10 January, M-class flares (R1-R2/Minor-Moderate) are likely, potentially affecting satellite operations.
  • X-class flares (R3/Strong) may occur if more complex solar regions develop, which could lead to increased radiation exposure for satellites.
  • The greater than 10 MeV proton flux is expected to remain below minor storm levels, reducing radiation risk for satellites throughout the period.
  • High levels of the greater than 2 MeV electron flux are anticipated from 16-19 Dec, 25-29 Dec, and 01-06 Jan, which could impact satellite drag and radiation exposure.
  • G1 (Minor) geomagnetic storms are expected on 18 Dec, 30-31 Dec, and possibly 09 Jan, likely causing minor disruptions in satellite communications.
  • Mostly quiet conditions on 21 Dec and from 04-08 Jan may provide relief from potential disturbances, beneficial for ground-based radars and telescopes.

🚀Upcoming Space Launches

December 18

• Rocket Lab Electron:

  • Don’t Be Such A Square (STP-S30) from Wallops Flight Facility, Virginia, USA (05:00 UTC) STP-S30 is a complex mission delivering research experiments and technology demonstrations to orbit for the DoD.

• Blue Origin New Shepard:

  • NS-37 from West Texas Suborbital Launch Site/Corn Ranch (14:30 UTC) This marks the 16th crewed flight for the New Shepard program and the 37th in the program’s history.

December 19

• Innospace HANBIT-Nano:

  • Spaceward from Alcântara Space Center, Federative Republic of Brazil (18:45 UTC) Maiden orbital launch attempt for Innospace’s HANBIT-Nano. Carries small satellites and payloads from multiple organizations.

• SpaceX Falcon 9:

  • Starlink Group 10-36 from Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA (22:46 UTC) This Starlink launch will feature a Falcon 9 booster landing within The Bahamas waters.

December 20

• China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation Long March 5:
  • Unknown Payload from Wenchang Space Launch Site, People’s Republic of China (12:22 UTC) Details TBD.

December 21

• SpaceX Falcon 9:
  • Starlink Group 6-88 from Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA (05:00 UTC) Launching a batch of 29 satellites for the Starlink mega-constellation.

December 23

• ROSCOSMOS Soyuz 2.1a:
  • Obzor-R No.1 from Plesetsk Cosmodrome, Russian Federation (14:00 UTC) The Obzor-R satellite is an X-band radar earth observation satellite.

December 24

• Indian Space Research Organization LVM-3:
  • BlueBird Block 2 #1 from Satish Dhawan Space Centre, India (02:50 UTC) Launching the largest Low Earth orbit satellites ever commercially deployed, designed for continuous cellular broadband service.

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