https://spacewatch.global/space-geopolitics/geopolitics-news/ AN INDEPENDENT PERSPECTIVE ON SPACE Thu, 10 Sep 2026 08:54:19 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.1 https://spacewatch.global/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/SpaceWatchGlobal-Sign-90x90.png https://spacewatch.global/space-geopolitics/geopolitics-news/ 32 32 https://spacewatch.global/2026/09/eutelsat-and-ororatech-partner-to-build-scalable-european-thermal-intelligence-infrastructure/ Thu, 10 Sep 2026 06:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=77518 Eutelsat and OroraTech will deploy the latter's thermal-infrared payloads aboard future Eutelsat OneWeb Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites under a strategic partnership announced at the International Space Summit in Paris. The partnership reflects a broader European industrial cooperation model, demonstrating how European companies can combine complementary capabilities to build critical space-based services without each having to develop a fully vertically integrated satellite system.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/09/uk-unveils-7-8-billion-space-strategy-focused-on-security-and-industrial-growth/ Wed, 09 Sep 2026 06:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=77450 The UK has published a new UK Space Strategy, positioning space as a critical component of national security, defense and economic growth and backing the sector with £7.8 billion of investment to 2030. The new strategy suggests that the UK is seeking not only to fund a larger space sector, but to build a more commercially competitive and strategically resilient space industry around capabilities it considers critical to national power.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/09/esa-set-to-discuss-europes-space-future-at-the-international-space-summit-in-paris/ Tue, 08 Sep 2026 06:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=77371 The inaugural International Space Summit takes place in Paris on 9 and 10 September, bringing together heads of state, ministers, industry, and astronauts to discuss Europe's role in the next phase of exploration.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/09/breaking-isar-aerospace-launches-spectrum-flight-2-today-first-mission-with-payloads/ Sat, 05 Sep 2026 11:05:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=77301 Isar Aerospace flies the second mission of its Spectrum launch vehicle tonight from Andøya, Norway. "Onward and Upward" is both the vehicle's qualification flight and the first to carry payloads - five CubeSats and one experiment, selected through the German Space Agency at DLR's first Microlauncher Competition under ESA's Boost! programme. The window opens at 20:00 UTC / 22:00 CEST.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/09/new-chinese-liquid-fueled-launcher-galactic-energy-lofts-pallas-1/ Wed, 02 Sep 2026 06:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=77173 China's Galactic Energy launched PALLAS-1 on its maiden orbital flight on 1 September, adding higher-capacity commercial launch capability as the country's LEO constellation buildout accelerates.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/09/turkiye-joins-artemis-accords-as-71st-signatory/ Tue, 01 Sep 2026 06:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=77142 Türkiye has become the 71st signatory to the Artemis Accords, signed at NASA headquarters on 31 August, as the country advances its own lunar ambitions.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/09/maiaspace-completes-upper-stage-validation-of-its-maia-launcher-ahead-of-its-2027-orbital-debut/ Tue, 01 Sep 2026 06:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=77148 MaiaSpace has completed a further upper-stage validation campaign for its Maia launcher, marking another step toward the vehicle's planned orbital debut in the second half of 2027. The company's progress comes at a vital stage in Europe's effort to establish a more competitive and diversified launch ecosystem.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/08/trump-signs-executive-order-establishing-a-u-s-space-academy/ Mon, 31 Aug 2026 06:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=77102 President Trump has signed an executive order beginning the establishment of a United States Space Academy, intended to strengthen the country's space workforce and develop its next generation of leaders.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/08/china-demonstrates-earth-moon-laser-communication-link-as-lunar-ambitions-expand/ Mon, 31 Aug 2026 06:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=77114 China has completed an Earth–Moon laser communications demonstration, verifying two-way high-speed optical links across more than 400,000 km - a building block for its crewed lunar ambitions.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/08/esa-launches-next-phase-of-european-launcher-challenge-with-e543-6-million-in-contracts/ Fri, 28 Aug 2026 06:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=77067 The first contracts under the European Launcher Challenge between the European Space Agency (ESA) and European launch service providers have been signed, concluding the second stage of the tender process. The next stage of the European Launcher Challenge will shift the focus from contract awards to flight performance, with the participating launch providers required to demonstrate successful orbital launches no later than 2027.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/08/china-launches-seven-satellites-as-commercial-space-sector-expands-its-capabilities/ Wed, 26 Aug 2026 06:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=76994 China's Long March-6C has launched seven satellites from Taiyuan - the 665th flight of the Long March family - as the country's commercial space sector expands.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/08/leaf-space-completes-ground-station-install-at-spaceport-nova-scotia/ Tue, 25 Aug 2026 06:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=76944 Leaf Space has extended its global ground-station network to Canada, completing an installation at Spaceport Nova Scotia with Maritime Launch Services.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/08/what-the-u-s-national-space-transportation-policy-means-for-the-rest-of-the-world/ Mon, 24 Aug 2026 06:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=76865 The U.S. government has issued a new National Space Transportation Policy, which will replace previous versions published in 2004 and 2013.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/08/taiwans-first-domestic-rocket-test-ends-in-mid-flight-termination-as-the-island-pursues-launch-independence/ Fri, 21 Aug 2026 06:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=76805 Taiwan's first flight test of a domestically developed satellite launch vehicle, conducted by the National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology, ended in flight termination shortly after liftoff. The flight was terminated using a pre-planned self-destruct mechanism after the vehicle deviated from its intended trajectory.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/08/landspace-successfully-recovers-zhuque-3-booster-diversifying-chinas-reusable-rocket-ambitions/ Thu, 20 Aug 2026 06:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=76763 LandSpace has announced the successful launch, orbital payload deployment and first-stage recovery of its August 19 mission featuring the Zhuque-3 Y2 reusable carrier rocket. The achievement marks a significant milestone for the company and China’s commercial space sector, bringing the country another step closer to an operational reusable-launch model.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/08/space-forge-partners-with-texas-am-to-expand-advanced-semiconductor-materials-capacity-in-the-u-s/ Wed, 19 Aug 2026 06:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=76715 Space Forge has signed a master research agreement with the Texas A&M University System, a first step toward building its US semiconductor-materials manufacturing capability.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/08/united-launch-alliance-appoints-mark-peller-as-president-and-chief-executive-officer/ Tue, 18 Aug 2026 06:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=76687 United Launch Alliance has appointed veteran aerospace industry executive Mark Peller as its next president and chief executive officer, effective immediately, succeeding interim CEO John Elbon, who has held the role since December 2025. Peller's appointment comes at a pivotal moment for ULA as the company transitions Vulcan from a newly introduced launch vehicle into the backbone of its future launch operations. ]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/08/u-s-and-japan-strengthen-space-security-alliance-with-second-sda-payload-launch-aboard-qzs-7/ Mon, 17 Aug 2026 06:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=76653 A U.S. Space Domain Awareness payload hosted on Japan's Quasi-Zenith Satellite 7 successfully launched aboard Japan's H3 launch vehicle on August 10, 2026. The mission marked the H3 vehicle's second consecutive successful launch following its December 2025 mission failure. ]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/08/space42-and-leonardo-drs-sign-mou-to-advance-next-generation-national-security-mission-systems/ Thu, 13 Aug 2026 06:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=76528 Space42 has signed an MoU with Leonardo DRS to integrate its secure satellite connectivity with Leonardo DRS mission systems, advancing sovereign national security in the UAE.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/08/vinspace-announces-launch-contract-with-spacex-marking-a-new-milestone-for-vietnams-space-industry/ Wed, 12 Aug 2026 06:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=76453 Vietnam's VinSpace has signed a launch contract with SpaceX, a milestone in the country's push to build comprehensive aerospace capabilities.]]>