📰Top Stories

Space Force Displays New Alaska Radar Post

The United States Space Force has unveiled its snowy new radar installation in Alaska, reinforcing its commitment to enhancing space monitoring capabilities. This radar aims to improve orbital object tracking and management, vital for both military and civilian operations.

Read the full story: Space.com

Anysignal Raises $24 Million for Autonomous RF Sensing

Anysignal has secured $24 million in a Series A financing round to enhance its autonomous radio frequency sensing technologies. These systems are vital for identifying and managing electromagnetic signals in congested environments, crucial for national security and space missions.

Read the full story: Space War

Cyviz Wins Classified NATO Contracts for Visualization Systems

Cyviz has been awarded two classified defense contracts by NATO to deliver mission-critical visualization systems. The systems will support strategic command operations and enhance the alliance’s ability to conduct secure missions across global theaters.

Read the full story: Space War

MDA Space Partnership to Boost Canadian Military Satcom

In a strategic move, MDA Space is joining forces with the Canadian Department of National Defence and Telesat to provide advanced satellite communication capabilities. This partnership aims to deliver high-capacity, secure communications for Canada’s military operations.

Read the full story: Space War

SDA Expands Tracking Layer Satellite Awards

The Space Development Agency has expanded its Tracking Layer satellite initiatives by awarding contracts to four companies, including Lockheed Martin and Rocket Lab. These contracts, worth around $3.5 billion, will enhance missile defense capabilities via a new fleet of low Earth orbit satellites.

Read the full story: Space War

Muon Space Advances in SDA’s Missile Warning Mission

Muon Space has received a Direct to Phase II award supporting the Space Development Agency’s missile warning and tracking objectives. This award will further the development of Muon Space’s QuickBeam multispectral payload technology, essential for improving space-based sensing capabilities.

Read the full story: Space War

🛰️Satellite Spotlight

• Satellite Name: GSAT0205 (GALILEO 9)
• NORAD ID: 40889
• Launch Date: September 11, 2015
• Mission: This satellite is part of the Galileo navigation system, designed to provide accurate positioning services globally.
• Orbit: Medium Earth Orbit (MEO)
• Operator: European Union Agency for the Space Programme (GSAEU)
• Fun Fact: GSAT0205 is one of the first satellites in the Galileo constellation, enhancing the serious competition against GPS by offering precise navigation for civilian and commercial uses.

Track this satellite in real-time on our web app: Track GSAT0205 (GALILEO 9)

🌌Space Weather

Next 24 Hours

• Radio Blackouts Probability

  • Minor: 55
  • Major: 20
  • Risk: None

• Solar Radiation

  • Probability: 20
  • Risk: None

• Geomagnetic Storming

  • Scale: 1
  • Impact: minor
  • Activity: Moderate

• Impact Summary

  • Satellite operations should experience minimal disruption due to no immediate risk of radio blackouts.
  • Ground-based radars and telescopes may operate normally with no risk from solar radiation storms.
  • Communication users are likely to face minor impacts from moderate geomagnetic activity, primarily during this period and into early January.
  • LEO satellites may experience slight increases in atmospheric drag due to geomagnetic storming, but effects are expected to remain manageable.

Long Term Forecast

• Impact Summary
  • Forecasts indicate predominantly low solar activity through January 24, with C-class flares likely, creating potential communications disruptions.
  • M-class flares (R1-R2) may occur, which could increase chances for radio blackouts affecting satellite communications intermittently.
  • No proton events are expected, reducing radiation risks for satellite operators at geosynchronous orbit.
  • Expect high electron flux levels at geosynchronous orbit during specific periods (e.g., 29-31 Dec), which may influence LEO satellite operations.
  • Geomagnetic conditions are expected to fluctuate between active and minor storming phases, particularly influenced by coronal hole high-speed streams (CH HSS), impacting the performance of both satellite systems and ground-based facilities during those periods.

🚀Upcoming Space Launches

January 3

• SpaceX Falcon 9 Block 5:
  • CSG-3 from Vandenberg Space Force Base, 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 4

• SpaceX Falcon 9 Block 5:
  • Starlink Group 6-88 from Cape Canaveral, FL, USA (05:00 UTC) A batch of 29 satellites for the Starlink mega-constellation - SpaceX’s project for a space-based Internet communication system.

January 7

• SpaceX Falcon 9 Block 5:
  • Starlink Group 6-96 from Cape Canaveral, FL, USA (18:55 UTC) A batch of 29 satellites for the Starlink mega-constellation - SpaceX’s project for a space-based Internet communication system.

January 10

• SpaceX Falcon 9 Block 5:
  • Starlink Group 6-97 from Cape Canaveral, FL, USA (18:34 UTC) A batch of 29 satellites for the Starlink mega-constellation - SpaceX’s project for a space-based Internet communication system.

January 11

• 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.

• SpaceX Falcon 9 Block 5:

  • BlueBird Block 2 #2 from Cape Canaveral, FL, USA (00:00 UTC) AST SpaceMobile’s Block 2 BlueBird satellites are designed to deliver extensive cellular broadband service coverage in the United States, featuring the largest satellites ever commercially deployed in Low Earth orbit.

• SpaceX Falcon 9 Block 5:

  • Pandora / Twilight rideshare mission from Vandenberg Space Force Base, CA, USA (00:00 UTC) This mission includes the Pandora small satellite for NASA’s Astrophysics Pioneers Program and various rideshare payloads.

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