📰Top Stories

York Space Goes Public Amid Pentagon Demand

York Space, a prominent Denver-based satellite manufacturer, has successfully raised $629 million by going public. The move comes as the company aims to expand its production capabilities in response to increasing defense budget allocations by the U.S. government. York Space’s growth ambitions are fueled by rising demand for satellite technology in military applications.

Read the full story: SpaceNews

Space Grove Ventures Launches at SpaceCom

Orlando hosted the public launch of Space Grove Ventures at the SpaceCom | Space Congress. This initiative marks a strategic move to innovate the commercial and defense space ecosystem. The event highlights emerging business models designed to harmonize commercial interests with defense needs, paving the way for new collaborations in the space sector.

Read the full story: SpaceNews

Cold War-Era ‘JUMPSEAT’ Spy Satellites Declassified

The National Reconnaissance Office has declassified its series of ‘JUMPSEAT’ spy satellites, which were operational between 1971 and 1987. These satellites played a key role during the Cold War by providing crucial intelligence to the U.S. military. The release of this information sheds light on past reconnaissance capabilities and the historical significance of satellite technology in national security.

Read the full story: Space.com

Lockheed and Pentagon to Boost THAAD Missile Production

A new agreement between Lockheed Martin and the Pentagon is set to increase the production of THAAD interceptors. Once finalized, the production rate is expected to jump from 96 to 400 interceptors annually, enhancing the U.S. military’s missile defense capabilities. This boost underscores the ongoing commitment to strengthen national security infrastructure.

Read the full story: Breaking Defense

SDA Criticized Over Satellite Tracking Layer Effort

The Government Accountability Office has issued recommendations to the Space Development Agency, advising them to adopt a more realistic approach towards the risks involved in the Tracking Layer satellite effort. Despite disagreements, the SDA aims to address these concerns as part of its ambitious project to enhance satellite tracking capabilities.

Read the full story: Breaking Defense

Army’s HADES Program Stability in Question

The U.S. Army is evaluating its plans to acquire more HADES jets but progress remains cautious. Currently, the strategy includes the production of six aircraft along with prototypes. The outcome of this program is pivotal in enhancing airborne intelligence capabilities, particularly for advanced reconnaissance missions.

Read the full story: Breaking Defense

🛰️Satellite Spotlight

• Satellite Name: ONEWEB-0087
• NORAD ID: 45451
• Launch Date: March 21, 2020
• Mission: Communication
• Orbit: LEO
• Operator: ONEWEB
• Fun Fact: ONEWEB-0087 is part of a larger constellation aimed at providing global internet coverage, contributing significantly to bridging the digital divide.

Track this satellite in real-time on our web app: Track ONEWEB-0087

🌌Space Weather

Next 24 Hours

• Radio Blackouts Probability

  • Minor: 15
  • Major: 5
  • Risk: None

• Solar Radiation

  • Probability: 5
  • Risk: None

• Geomagnetic Storming

  • Scale: 0
  • Impact: none
  • Activity: Low

• Impact Summary

  • Next 24 hours: No risk of radio blackouts or solar radiation storms.
  • Geomagnetic outlook: No G1 (Minor) or greater geomagnetic storms are expected.
  • No significant solar wind features forecast to cause disturbances.
  • Radiation outlook: No S1 (Minor) or greater solar radiation storms are anticipated.
  • No active region activity favorable for radiation storm production is expected.
  • Radio blackout outlook: No R1 (Minor) or greater blackouts are anticipated.

Long Term Forecast

• Solar activity is expected to remain predominantly low with a varying chance for M-class flares (R1-R2/Minor-Moderate) through February 21, 2026.
• No proton events are expected at geosynchronous orbit.
• High levels of >2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit are expected on January 26, January 28-31, February 1-3, February 6-12, and February 15-21.
• Normal to moderate flux levels will persist for the remainder of the forecast period.
• Geomagnetic field activity may reach G1 (Minor) storm levels on January 28 and February 13, with active periods likely on January 29 and February 4-5, and February 14-21 due to recurrent coronal hole high-speed streams (CH HSSs).
• Quiet to unsettled conditions are anticipated for the rest of this outlook period.

🚀Upcoming Space Launches

January 30

• SpaceX Falcon 9:
  • Starlink Group 6-101 from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station (04:00 UTC) A batch of 29 satellites for the Starlink mega-constellation - SpaceX’s project for space-based Internet communication system.

February 2

• Russian Space Forces Soyuz 2.1a/Fregat-M:
  • Kosmos (Unknown Payload) from Plesetsk Cosmodrome (15:00 UTC) Unknown classified payload(s) for the Russian military.
• SpaceX Falcon 9:
  • Starlink Group 17-32 from Vandenberg Space Force Base (15:17 UTC) A batch of 25 satellites for the Starlink mega-constellation - SpaceX’s project for space-based Internet communication system.

February 3

• SpaceX Falcon 9:
  • Starlink Group 6-103 from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station (22:12 UTC) A batch of 29 satellites for the Starlink mega-constellation - SpaceX’s project for space-based Internet communication system.

February 6

• SpaceX Falcon 9:
  • Starlink Group 17-33 from Vandenberg Space Force Base (17:05 UTC) A batch of 25 satellites for the Starlink mega-constellation - SpaceX’s project for space-based Internet communication system.

February 7

• NASA SLS Block 1:
  • Artemis II from Kennedy Space Center (02:41 UTC) Artemis II is the first crewed mission as part of the Artemis program. Artemis II will send a crew of 4 - 3 Americans and 1 Canadian around the moon and return them back to Earth. The mission will test the core systems of NASA’s Orion spacecraft, including the critical life support system, among other systems which could not be tested during Artemis I due to the lack of crew onboard.
• SpaceX Falcon 9:
  • Starlink Group 6-104 from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station (09:41 UTC) A batch of 29 satellites for the Starlink mega-constellation - SpaceX’s project for space-based Internet communication system.

February 10

• SpaceX Falcon 9:
  • Starlink Group 17-34 from Vandenberg Space Force Base (14:00 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.