📰Top Stories

Japan’s Military Leverages Synspective for Satellite Imagery

Synspective has been selected to provide crucial satellite imagery for Japan’s new military constellation, marking a significant step in the global trend of using commercial remote-sensing satellites for national security. This partnership underscores the growing strategic importance of satellite imagery in defense operations and aligns with Japan’s expanding defense capabilities.

Read the full story: SpaceNews

SPHEREx Unveils its First All-Sky Infrared Map

NASA’s SPHEREx observatory, after its launch in March and a year of data collection, has produced its first all-sky map in near-infrared light. This groundbreaking map highlights the universe’s structure and composition, providing valuable insights into the cosmos.

Read the full story: NASASpaceFlight.com

MAVEN Recovery Efforts Underway Before Mars Solar Conjunction

NASA engineers are intensively working to restore contact with the MAVEN Mars orbiter, which last communicated with Earth on December 6. With the Mars solar conjunction approaching, the team is using the Deep Space Network to send recovery commands, hoping to revive communication with this vital science mission.

Read the full story: MarsDaily

CoDICE Instrument Delivers First Data for IMAP Mission

The Compact Dual Ion Composition Experiment (CoDICE) on NASA’s Interstellar Mapping and Acceleration Probe (IMAP) has successfully returned its first particle measurements. Launched in September, this mission aims to study the heliosphere’s boundaries, enhancing our understanding of the solar system’s protective magnetic bubble.

Read the full story: SpaceDaily

AST BlueBird 6 Marks Milestone in Low Earth Orbit Communications

AST SpaceMobile’s BlueBird 6 satellite, now the largest commercial communications array in low Earth orbit, has entered service to support mobile broadband from space. Launched from India, this array is set to provide cellular services to both commercial and government users, demonstrating the increasing viability of space-based telecommunications.

Read the full story: SpaceDaily

ESCAPADE Mission Showcases Low-Cost Space Exploration

NASA’s ESCAPADE mission exemplifies the opportunities and challenges of low-cost space missions. While delivering exciting scientific breakthroughs, these missions operate under greater risks and trade-offs compared to more traditional, high-budget endeavors.

Read the full story: Space.com

🛰️Satellite Spotlight

• Satellite Name: BEIDOU-2 G4
• NORAD ID: 37210
• Launch Date: October 31, 2010
• Mission: Navigation
• Orbit: Medium Earth Orbit (MEO)
• Operator: China National Space Administration (CNSA)
• Fun Fact: BEIDOU-2 G4 is part of China’s Beidou Navigation Satellite System, providing critical positioning and timing data essential for both civilian and military applications.

Track this satellite in real-time on our web app: Track BEIDOU-2 G4

🌌Space Weather

Next 24 Hours

• Radio Blackouts Probability

  • Minor: 45
  • Major: 10
  • Risk: None

• Solar Radiation

  • Probability: 10
  • Risk: None

• Geomagnetic Storming

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

• Impact Summary

  • Next 24 hours: No risk of radio blackouts.
  • No risk of solar radiation storms.
  • Geomagnetic outlook: No G1 (Minor) or greater geomagnetic storms are expected.
  • No significant transient or recurrent solar wind features are forecast.

Long Term Forecast

• Forecast of Solar and Geomagnetic Activity 29 December - 24 January 2026:
  • Solar activity is expected to be predominantly low through 24 Jan, with C-class flares expected.
  • M-class flares (R1-R2/Minor-Moderate) are likely at times as active regions evolve.
  • Slight chance for X-class flares (R3-Strong or greater) during enhanced active region complexity.
  • No proton events are expected at geosynchronous orbit.
  • Greater than 2 MeV electron flux is expected to reach high levels intermittently.
  • Geomagnetic field activity likely to reach active levels on key dates, particularly around 01 Jan and from 02-04 Jan. Periods of G1 (Minor) storming expected on 17-18 Jan.

🚀 Upcoming Space Launches

December 30

• China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation Long March 4B:
  • Unknown Payload from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, People’s Republic of China (04:04 UTC)
• China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation Long March 7A:
  • Unknown Payload from Wenchang Space Launch Site, People’s Republic of China (22:32 UTC)

December 31

• SpaceX Falcon 9 Block 5:
  • CSG-3 from Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA (02:09 UTC) CSG-3 is an Earth observation satellite for the Italian Space Agency, part of a reconnaissance constellation using synthetic aperture radars operating in the X-band.

January 3

• SpaceX Falcon 9 Block 5:
  • 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.

January 5

• SpaceX Falcon 9 Block 5:
  • Pandora / Twilight rideshare mission from Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA (00:00 UTC) The Pandora small satellite was selected in 2021 as an inaugural mission in NASA’s Astrophysics Pioneers Program. It includes a 0.45-meter telescope that will improve our understanding of exoplanet atmospheres by disentangling exoplanet signals from their host stars, as well as studying host star variability with long-duration observations of 20 unique planets through visible-light photometry and near-infrared spectroscopy. Also launching on this launch are ride-share payloads under the “Falcon 9 Twilight mission”, including satellites from Spire Global and Kepler Communications.

January 10

• Indian Space Research Organization PSLV-DL:
  • EOS-N1 and others from Satish Dhawan Space Centre, India (04:15 UTC) Small Earth observation satellite from NewSpace India Limited (NSIL) for an “Indian strategic user”, details TBD. This launch will also carry 18 other ride-share payloads.

January 17

• Isar Aerospace Spectrum:
  • Flight Two from Andøya Spaceport (00:00 UTC) Second test flight of the Isar Spectrum launch vehicle, carrying several cubesats as part of the European Space Agency’s “Boost!” program.

January 31

• Galactic Energy Ceres-2:
  • Demo Flight from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, People’s Republic of China (00:00 UTC) First test launch of Galactic Energy’s Ceres-2 rocket.
• Rocket Lab Electron:
  • Bridging The Swarm (NeonSat-1A) from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1, Mahia Peninsula, New Zealand (00:00 UTC) The NeonSat-1A, carrying a high-resolution optical camera, is designed to test the constellation capabilities of the South Korean government’s Earth observation micro-satellite constellation NeonSat (New-space Earth Observation Satellite), in particular technology improvements identified from operations of NeonSat-1 after its launch in April 2024. These technologies will in turn be incorporated into the next 10 NeonSat under construction, as well as providing more site re-visiting capabilities along with NeonSat-1. The NeonSat constellation is the first satellite system developed by the government using a mass-production approach for precise monitoring of the Korean Peninsula, led by the Satellite Technology Research Center (SaTReC) at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Korea’s leading university dedicated to science and technology. Designed to capture near-real-time natural disaster monitoring for the Korean peninsula, KAIST’s NEONSAT constellation is a collaboration across multiple Korean academic, industry, and research institutions, including SaTReC, which is leading the program’s system design and engineering. The NEONSAT program is funded by the Korean government’s Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT).

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