📰Top Stories

Space Force Secures $26 Billion in 2026 Defense Appropriations

The U.S. Space Force has been allocated $26 billion in the latest defense appropriations bill for 2026. The bill reaffirms the Pentagon’s commitment to the Space Force and emphasizes the importance of the Golden Dome initiative, while shifting funds to enhance GPS capabilities. Additionally, commercial services receive backing as the proposed MILNET constellation sees budget cuts.

Read the full story: SpaceNews

Qatari-Emirati Collaboration Sets New Ground in Defense

In a groundbreaking move for regional defense partnerships, Barzan Holdings and EDGE Group have announced their collaboration in establishing the first Qatari-Emirati joint defense venture. The partnership highlights the strategic importance of trusted alliances in expanding international defense capabilities.

Read the full story: Breaking Defense

FY26 Defense Bill Brings $8B Boost Without Embrace of Munitions Request

The FY26 defense bill introduces an $8 billion boost to the budget but notably sidelines a last-minute $28 billion request for munitions. Key projects going forward include the Navy’s F/A-XX fighter and the Air Force’s E-7 Wedgetail programs, showcasing priorities in current defense strategies.

Read the full story: Breaking Defense

Inside Air Force Acquisitions and Advancements in Navy Tech

The Weekly Break Out segment explores the intricacies of Air Force acquisition processes and unveils new surface technologies showcased at the annual Surface Navy Association expo. This deeper dive into military technology highlights the advancements driving modernization.

Read the full story: Breaking Defense

Army Software Center Restructures for Future Challenges

Faced with the phasing out of outdated software, the Army Software Engineering Center is reorganizing to stay relevant and effective. The center’s executive director is spearheading efforts to keep nearly 900 civil service employees adaptive, funded, and competitive in a rapidly changing landscape.

Read the full story: Breaking Defense

Elon Musk’s Starlink Adventure with Budget Airline

Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, took to social media to troll a budget airline after it refused to install Starlink on its planes. Musk humorously suggested appointing a Ryan in charge of Ryan Air, in line with the company’s name. This event underscores ongoing debates about in-flight connectivity solutions.

Read the full story: Teslarati

🛰️Satellite Spotlight

• Satellite Name: ONEWEB-0541
• NORAD ID: 55142
• Launch Date: January 10, 2023
• Mission: This satellite is part of the OneWeb constellation aimed at providing global broadband communication services.
• Orbit: LEO (Low Earth Orbit)
• Operator: OneWeb
• Fun Fact: ONEWEB-0541 is equipped with a Ku-Band payload, enabling high-speed internet connectivity.

Track this satellite in real-time on our web app: Track ONEWEB-0541

🌌Space Weather

Next 24 Hours

• Radio Blackouts Probability

  • Minor: 60
  • Major: 15
  • Risk: None

• Solar Radiation

  • Probability: 99
  • Risk: None

• Geomagnetic Storming

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

• Impact Summary

  • No risk of radio blackouts.
  • No risk of solar radiation storms.
  • High geomagnetic activity with strong geomagnetic storms expected.
  • Geomagnetic outlook indicates G1-G3 (Minor-Strong) geomagnetic storms anticipated due to continuing coronal hole high-speed stream influence and a recent halo CME.
  • Radiation outlook suggests possibility of S1 (Minor) or greater solar radiation storms persisting through the next few days.
  • Radio blackout outlook shows likelihood of R1-R2 (Minor-Moderate) events, with a slim chance for R3 (Strong) events on January 21-23.

Long Term Forecast

• Impact Summary
  • Solar activity is projected to remain low, with chances for minor to moderate radio blackouts (R1-R2) over the forecast period.
  • Expect S1-Minor proton events at geosynchronous orbit on January 19-20.
  • Greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit may reach high levels on multiple occasions due to recurrent coronal holes.
  • Geomagnetic activity is likely to reach G1-Minor storm levels on January 29, with unsettled to active conditions anticipated on several other days throughout January and February.
  • Overall, the outlook is expected to be mostly quiet outside of these active periods.

🚀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 the 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.

• Rocket Lab Electron:

  • The Cosmos Will See You Now from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1, Mahia Peninsula, New Zealand (10:15 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.

• 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

• SpaceX Falcon 9 Block 5:
  • Starlink Group 17-20 from Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA (15:17 UTC)
  • A batch of 25 satellites for the Starlink mega-constellation - SpaceX’s project for space-based Internet communication system.

January 26

• SpaceX Falcon 9 Block 5:

  • GPS III SV09 from Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA (04:38 UTC)
  • Ninth of ten GPS III missions.

• China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation Long March 7A:

  • Unknown Payload from Wenchang Space Launch Site, People’s Republic of China (21:00 UTC)

• Rocket Lab Electron:

  • Bridging The Swarm from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1, Mahia Peninsula, New Zealand (22:45 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, aimed at capturing near-real time natural disaster monitoring for the Korean peninsula.

January 29

• SpaceX Falcon 9 Block 5:

  • Starlink Group 6-101 from Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA (02:14 UTC)
  • A batch of 29 satellites for the Starlink mega-constellation - SpaceX’s project for space-based Internet communication system.

• SpaceX Falcon 9 Block 5:

  • Starlink Group 17-19 from Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA (15:17 UTC)
  • A batch of 25 satellites for the Starlink mega-constellation - SpaceX’s project for space-based Internet communication system.

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