📰Top Stories

Space Nuclear Renaissance: Fueling the Future

A significant surge in nuclear power demand is marking a “nuclear renaissance” in space, driven by needs for small modular nuclear reactors and lunar surface reactors. This trend is set to expand further in 2026, showcasing nuclear power’s strategic role in advancing space exploration and habitation.

Read the full story: SpaceNews

Military’s Heavy Reliance on NOAA Weather Data

In a recent congressional hearing, U.S. military branches underscored their dependence on NOAA’s weather datasets, emphasizing the critical collaboration between these entities for operational effectiveness and strategic planning.

Read the full story: SpaceNews

Pentagon’s $1 Billion Bet on Missile Technology

The Pentagon has committed a substantial $1 billion investment in L3Harris’s missile unit, positioning itself as an ‘anchor investor.’ This deal aims to bolster missile production capacity and is strategically tied to an impending public offering.

Read the full story: SpaceNews

Satellite Makers Call for Stability Amidst Competition

Tensions are rising as the Space Force promotes competition among satellite manufacturers, who argue that their industry needs stability to thrive. This debate reveals deeper issues concerning strategic planning and innovation in satellite technology development.

Read the full story: SpaceNews

Electric Thrusters Enhance Military Satellite Constellations

Orbion has successfully delivered 33 electric thrusters to York Space, playing a crucial role in supporting a U.S. military satellite constellation. This delivery highlights rising demand within government and commercial sectors, despite ongoing supply chain challenges.

Read the full story: SpaceNews

Space Nuclear Power and Lunar Night Survival in 2026

As space missions to the Moon grow, the ability to survive the harsh lunar night is becoming a necessity rather than a luxury. Emphasizing the ‘survive, operate, thrive’ ethos, 2026 will focus on innovations to sustain missions through these challenging periods.

Read the full story: SpaceNews

🛰️Satellite Spotlight

• Satellite Name: GLOBALSTAR M031
• NORAD ID: 25946
• Launch Date: October 18, 1999
• Mission: Communication
• Orbit: Low Earth Orbit (LEO)
• Operator: Globalstar
• Fun Fact: GLOBALSTAR M031 is part of the Globalstar satellite constellation, which provides voice and data communication services globally, especially in remote areas.

Track this satellite in real-time on our web app: Track GLOBALSTAR M031

🌌Space Weather

Next 24 Hours

• Radio Blackouts Probability

  • Minor: 25
  • 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.
  • No risk of solar radiation storms.
  • Geomagnetic outlook: No G1 (Minor) or greater geomagnetic storms are expected.
  • Radiation outlook: No S1 (Minor) or greater solar radiation storms are expected.
  • Radio blackout outlook: There is a chance (25%) of R1-R2 (Minor-Moderate) radio blackouts.

Long Term Forecast

• Forecast of Solar and Geomagnetic Activity (12 January - 07 February 2026):
  • Solar activity is likely to remain at low levels with a chance for R1 (Minor) conditions and a slight chance for R2/R3 (Moderate/Strong) due to multiple regions on the visible disk.
  • No proton events are expected at geosynchronous orbit.
  • Greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit is expected to reach high levels on specific dates due to recurrent coronal holes.
  • Geomagnetic field activity may reach G1 (Minor) levels on selected dates, with unsettled to active levels expected on multiple occasions throughout the forecast period.
  • Overall, the remainder of the outlook period is expected to be mostly quiet.

🚀Upcoming Space Launches

January 14

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

January 15

• China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation Long March 2C:
  • Unknown Payload from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, People’s Republic of China (03:53 UTC)
• China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation Long March 3B/E:
  • Unknown Payload from Xichang Satellite Launch Center, People’s Republic of China (16:00 UTC)
• Galactic Energy Ceres-1S:
  • Unknown Payload from Haiyang Oriental Spaceport (19:58 UTC)

January 17

• Galactic Energy Ceres-2:
  • Demo Flight from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, People’s Republic of China (03:57 UTC) First test launch of Galactic Energy’s Ceres-2 rocket.
• SpaceX Falcon 9:
  • NROL-105 from Vandenberg Space Force Base (04:18 UTC) Twelfth batch of satellites for a reconnaissance satellite constellation built by SpaceX and Northrop Grumman for the National Reconnaissance Office to provide imaging and other reconnaissance capabilities.

January 18

• SpaceX Falcon 9:
  • Starlink Group 6-100 from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station (22:04 UTC) A batch of 29 satellites for the Starlink mega-constellation - SpaceX’s project for space-based Internet communication system.

January 19

• China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation Long March 12:
  • Unknown Payload from Wenchang Space Launch Site, People’s Republic of China (07:41 UTC)

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