📰Top Stories

Space Force Shelves Resilient GPS Satellite Program

The U.S. Space Force has decided to end the Resilient GPS program, which aimed to bolster current GPS capabilities with smaller, lower-cost navigation satellites. Initiated in 2024, the program had been prioritized for enhancing the resilience of navigation systems but has now been suspended, leaving its future impact on satellite navigation an open question.

Read the full story: SpaceNews

GE and Lockheed Debut Hypersonic Missile Propulsion

In a significant development for missile technology, GE Aerospace and Lockheed Martin have validated a compact liquid fueled rotating detonation ramjet for hypersonic missiles. This marks the first success in their collaborative technology development efforts, potentially paving the way for advancements in military applications and aerospace innovation.

Read the full story: SpaceDaily

Atomic 6 Debris Shields to Fly on SpaceX Rideshare

Atomic-6’s Space Armor tiles have been selected to provide micrometeoroid and orbital debris protection on a SpaceX Transporter 18 mission scheduled for October 2026. This will be the first operational deployment of these advanced debris shields, representing a crucial step forward in protecting spacecraft in increasingly crowded orbital environments.

Read the full story: SpaceDaily

China Advances Reusable Rocket with Long March 12B Test

China successfully tested the first stage of its Long March 12B reusable rocket at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center. The test included a static firing, validating the rocket’s engines for potential future missions. This development underscores China’s commitment to advancing reusable rocket technology as a key component of its space exploration arsenal.

Read the full story: SpaceDaily

Breakthrough in Graviton Detection Research

A Keck Foundation-backed team has proposed the first concept for a graviton detector, aiming to reconcile quantum physics and general relativity. Detecting gravitons has been a long-standing challenge in theoretical physics, and this initiative could offer new insights into the fundamental forces of nature, pushing the boundaries of our understanding of the universe.

Read the full story: SpaceDaily

🛰️Satellite Spotlight

• Satellite Name: UOSAT 2 (UO-11)
• NORAD ID: 14781
• Launch Date: March 1, 1984
• Mission: This satellite is dedicated to radio amateur communication, serving as a platform for radio enthusiasts to communicate across various distances.
• Orbit: Low Earth Orbit (LEO)
• Operator: University of Surrey (UOS)
• Fun Fact: UO-11 is also known as UoSAT-OSCAR-11 and has been in operation for decades, showcasing the longevity of small satellites in the realm of space communications.

Track this satellite in real-time on our web app: Track UOSAT 2 (UO-11)

🌌Space Weather

Next 24 Hours

• Radio Blackouts Probability

  • Minor: 65
  • Major: 25
  • Risk: None

• Solar Radiation

  • Probability: 99
  • Risk: None

• Geomagnetic Storming

  • Scale: 3
  • Impact: strong
  • Activity: High

• Impact Summary

  • No risk of radio blackouts means reliable communication for satellites.
  • No risk of solar radiation storms enhances safety for satellite operations.
  • High geomagnetic activity indicates potential disruptions to satellite navigation and communication systems, especially for those in low Earth orbit (LEO).

Long Term Forecast

• Impact Summary
  • Solar activity is likely to remain low, with potential for R1-R2 (Minor-Moderate) radio blackouts, ensuring minimal long-term disruption for satellite operators.
  • S1 (Minor) levels of solar radiation may pose slight risks for sensitive equipment in space, particularly around 19-20 January.
  • Increased geomagnetic storm activity around specific dates (notably 29 January) will require monitoring for potential impacts on satellite communications and GPS signals.
  • Overall, the period is expected to be mostly quiet, easing concerns for ground-based radars and telescopes.

🚀Upcoming Space Launches

January 21

• Isar Aerospace Spectrum:
  • Onward and Upward from Andøya Spaceport (20:00 UTC) Second test flight of the Isar Spectrum launch vehicle. This launch will carry 5 cubesats and 1 non-separable experiment as part of European Space Agency (ESA)‘s “Boost!” program.

January 22

• SpaceX Falcon 9 Block 5:

  • Starlink Group 17-30 from Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA (02:43 UTC) A batch of 25 satellites for the Starlink mega-constellation - SpaceX’s project for space-based Internet communication system.

• Blue Origin New Shepard:

  • NS-38 from Corn Ranch, Van Horn, TX, USA (14:30 UTC) NS-38 is the 17th crewed flight for the New Shepard program and the 38th in the New Shepard program’s history.

January 25

• China Rocket Co. Ltd. Smart Dragon 3:

  • Unknown Payload from Haiyang Oriental Spaceport (04:00 UTC) Possibly an Earth observation satellite for the Pakistan government’s SUPARCO, details TBD.

• SpaceX Falcon 9 Block 5:

  • Starlink Group 17-20 from Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA (15:17 UTC) A batch of 24 satellites for the Starlink mega-constellation - SpaceX’s project for space-based Internet communication system.

January 26

• China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation Long March 7A:
  • Unknown Payload from Wenchang Space Launch Site, People’s Republic of China (21:00 UTC) Details TBD.

January 31

• 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.

• Rocket Lab Electron:

  • The Cosmos Will See You Now (Open Cosmos Constellation Launch 1) from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1, Mahia Peninsula, New Zealand (00:00 UTC) First 2 satellites of UK-based Open Cosmos’ secure LEO broadband constellation designed to provide independent and resilient connectivity infrastructure for Europe and the world.

• SpaceX Falcon 9 Block 5:

  • BlueBird Block 2 #2 from Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA (00:00 UTC) AST SpaceMobile’s Block 2 BlueBird satellites are designed to deliver up to 10 times the bandwidth capacity of the BlueBird Block 1 satellites.

• SpaceX Falcon 9 Block 5:

  • GPS III SV09 from Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA (00:00 UTC) Ninth of ten GPS III missions.

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