📰Top Stories

SDA Expands Tracking Layer Satellite Awards

The Space Development Agency (SDA) has announced significant expansions in their Tracking Layer network, awarding contracts for 72 new satellites as part of the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture. The contracts, worth approximately $3.5 billion, have been awarded to Lockheed Martin, Rocket Lab USA, and two other firms. This expansion aims to enhance missile defense capabilities in low Earth orbit.

Read the full story: Spacewar

Anysignal Secures $24 Million for Autonomous RF Sensing

Anysignal has successfully raised $24 million in a Series A financing round to advance its autonomous radio frequency sensing technology, crucial for space and national security. Their AI-driven systems are designed to manage radio frequency signals in challenging environments, providing strategic advantages in contested electromagnetic spaces.

Read the full story: Spacewar

Terran Orbital to Supply Satellite Buses for SDA

Terran Orbital has been selected by Lockheed Martin to provide satellite buses for the SDA’s Tranche 3 Tracking Layer initiative. This involves delivering key satellite components essential for the advanced missile-tracking system. The collaboration underscores the importance of cube-sized satellites in modern military infrastructure.

Read the full story: SpaceNews

MDA Space Partners for Next-Gen Military Satcom

MDA Space has partnered with the Canadian Department of National Defence and Telesat to enhance military satellite communication systems for the Canadian Armed Forces. The focus is on integrating MDA’s spacecraft and systems to achieve secure and high-capacity communication channels, crucial for defense operations.

Read the full story: Spacewar

Cyviz Wins Classified NATO Defense Contracts

Cyviz has secured two classified contracts with NATO for developing mission-critical visualization systems. These systems are designed to support NATO’s strategic operations through secure and scalable immersive technology, showcasing the growing intersection of technology and defense sectors.

Read the full story: Spacewar

Israeli Defense Industry Positioned for Growth in 2026

As 2026 unfolds, the Israeli defense industry eyes opportunities to leverage combat-proven technologies for international clients. In particular, European countries are seeking quick procurement of battle-tested systems, with Israel providing innovative solutions on modern battlefields.

Read the full story: Breaking Defense

🛰️Satellite Spotlight

• Satellite Name: FLTSATCOM 7 (USA 20)
• NORAD ID: 17181
• Launch Date: December 5, 1986
• Mission: This satellite is part of the FLTSATCOM system, primarily designed for secure and reliable military communication.
• Orbit: GEO (Geostationary Orbit)
• Operator: USNESC/AFSD
• Fun Fact: FLTSATCOM 7 is equipped with an experimental EHF (Extremely High Frequency) package, showcasing advancements in secure communication technology for military applications.

Track this satellite in real-time on our web app: Track FLTSATCOM 7 (USA 20)

🌌Space Weather

Next 24 Hours

• Radio Blackouts Probability

  • Minor: 50
  • Major: 10
  • Risk: None

• Solar Radiation

  • Probability: 10
  • Risk: None

• Geomagnetic Storming

  • Scale: 2
  • Impact: moderate
  • Activity: Moderate

• Impact Summary

  • No risk of radio blackouts.
  • No risk of solar radiation storms.
  • Moderate geomagnetic activity with G1-G2 (Minor-Moderate) geomagnetic storms expected on January 3 and G1 storms on January 4 due to a negative polarity coronal hole high-speed stream (CH HSS) and multiple anticipated coronal mass ejections (CMEs).
  • Slight chance for S1 (Minor) or greater solar radiation storms over January 3-5 due to eruptive potential from multiple complex regions on the visible disk.
  • Chance for R1-R2 (Minor-Moderate) radio blackouts and a slight chance for R3 (Strong) on January 3-5 from flare potential of multiple complex regions.

Long Term Forecast

• Forecast of Solar and Geomagnetic Activity (December 29 - January 24)
  • Solar activity is expected to be predominately low, with C-class flares throughout the outlook period and M-class flares (R1-R2/Minor-Moderate) possible as active regions evolve.
  • Slight to moderate chances for X-class flares (R3-Strong or greater) may occur during times of enhanced active region complexity.
  • No proton events are expected at geosynchronous orbit.
  • Expect high levels of greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit on December 29-31, January 3-6, and January 14-24, with normal to moderate levels prevailing at other times.
  • Geomagnetic activity likely to reach active levels on January 1 and again on January 2-4 due to influences from both negative and positive polarity CH HSS.
  • Active conditions anticipated on January 9-10 and January 12-14 due to negative polarity CH HSS influences.
  • G1 (Minor) storming likely on January 17-18, with additional active conditions expected on January 19-20 from positive polarity CH HSS.

🚀Upcoming Space Launches

January 4

• 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.

January 7

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

January 10

• SpaceX Falcon 9:
  • Starlink Group 6-97 from Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA (18:34 UTC) A batch of 29 satellites for the Starlink mega-constellation – SpaceX’s project for 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”, along with 18 ride-share payloads.
• SpaceX Falcon 9:
  • Pandora / Twilight rideshare mission from Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA (13:09 UTC) The Pandora small satellite is part of NASA’s Astrophysics Pioneers Program, aiming to improve our understanding of exoplanet atmospheres.

January 14

• SpaceX Falcon 9:
  • Starlink Group 6-98 from Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA (18:01 UTC) A batch of 29 satellites for the Starlink mega-constellation – SpaceX’s project for space-based Internet communication system.

January 17

• Isar Aerospace Spectrum:
  • Flight Two from Andøya Spaceport (00:00 UTC) Second test flight of the Isar Spectrum launch vehicle, carrying cubesats for 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 tests the constellation capabilities of South Korea’s Earth observation micro-satellite constellation, contributing to natural disaster monitoring.

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