The estimated launch date for the next Great Observatory is 2045 and may be later.

Dr. Martin Elvis is past-Chair of the Hubble Space Telescope Users’ Committee and of the High Energy Division of the American Astronomical Society.

SpaceX plans to launch Starship into orbit after conducting a couple more test flights.

Superheavy-lift rockets can send about ten times more mass to orbit compared with rockets that have been in use for decades.

Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket reached orbit and sent spacecraft on their way to Mars one month after SpaceX’s Starship success.

Caltech scientists are studying a potential smaller version of Origins called Prima.

The James Webb Space Telescope cost about US$10 billion and detects a portion of the infrared spectrum.

Origins, the proposed X-ray telescope, and GO-LoW would each be easily 100 times more sensitive than their predecessors and at least comparable to Webb in their own bands of the spectrum.

The first Earth images from CSG-FM3 were released on 19 January, about two weeks after its launch.

CSG-FM3 supports agricultural applications through dual-polarization data that help assess vegetation type, growth, and soil moisture conditions.

CSG-FM3 features a new-generation radar antenna that enables simultaneous acquisition of multiple images of different territories.

Roberto Formaro is Director of Engineering and Technologies at the Agenzia Spaziale Italiana.

CSG-FM3 was launched on 2 January from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California.

Claudia Facchinetti is Program Manager for COSMO-SkyMed.

CSG-FM3 includes a laser reflector array developed by INFN to determine the satellite’s orbital solution with high resolution and improve image georeferencing.

The COSMO-SkyMed program involved Italian industry participants Leonardo, Thales Alenia Space, Telespazio, and e-GEOS.

CSG-FM3 provides advanced monitoring capabilities including emergency management, environmental risk prevention, coastal analysis, maritime traffic verification, and coastal erosion monitoring.

The Agenzia Spaziale Italiana and the Italian Ministry of Defense jointly developed the COSMO-SkyMed program.

CSG-FM3 is the third second-generation satellite of the COSMO-SkyMed Earth Observation program.

Before CSG-FM3’s arrival, the Italian COSMO-SkyMed constellation comprised four operational satellites: two first-generation (CSK) and two second-generation (CSG) satellites.

All COSMO-SkyMed satellites are equipped with synthetic aperture radar that acquires high-resolution X-band images in any weather and lighting conditions.

CSG-FM3 incorporates additive manufacturing solutions to lighten certain satellite appendages.

COSMO-SkyMed is a dual civilian-military Earth observation system that was developed entirely in Italy by the national industrial supply chain.

Following booster transfer to the pad, activities focus on final vehicle integration, functional tests, and pre-flight safety verifications prior to launch authorization.

P120C qualification was a central element of the Ariane 6 development path.

The placement of the P120C boosters on the launch pad indicates the mission has entered an advanced phase of the launch campaign.

The transfer and positioning of the four P120C boosters on the pad are operations within the standard procedures that precede final launcher assembly and conclusive pre-flight checks.

The four P120C boosters will provide the initial liftoff thrust for Ariane 64.

ArianeGroup transferred the four P120C boosters for the first Ariane 64 flight to the launch pad at Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana.

The P120C is a large solid-propellant motor designed for use on Ariane 6 and as the first stage of the Vega-C launcher.

The Ariane 64 configuration is intended for institutional and commercial missions with heavier payloads and complex orbital profiles.

The Ariane 6 program advanced toward the debut of the Ariane 64 configuration.

The Ariane 64 launch is scheduled for 12 February.

In the Ariane 64 configuration, the four P120C boosters supply thrust in the early phases of launch alongside a cryogenic central stage.

After 15 January 2026, Shijian-21 was in a 36,004.5 by 35,575.8 kilometer orbit.

After 15 January 2026, China conducted in-track maneuvers and as of 16 January 2026 the two objects were 130 kilometers apart.

Between 22 January and 23 January 2026 Shijian-21 maneuvered to a 35,984.5 by 35,589.2 kilometer orbit.

Shijian-25 and Shijian-21 were within approximately 2 kilometers of one another roughly seven to eight times between 1 January and 15 January 2026.

In their current orbits as of mid-January 2026, Shijian-25 was separating from Shijian-21 at about 50 kilometers per day.

Shijian-25 launched more than one year before January 2026.

Shijian-25 is loitering in geostationary space.

Shijian-21 has been maneuvering in geostationary space.

Despite recent burns, Shijian-25 and Shijian-21 have orbital periods that differ by only a few seconds.

After 15 January 2026, Shijian-25 was in a 35,994.8 by 35,575.5 kilometer orbit.

A significant burn involving the Shijian-25/Shijian-21 pair occurred in mid-January 2026.

Both Shijian-25 and Shijian-21 executed burns to separate, based on activity observed from the ground.

The report recommends launching joint space-tech and AI accelerator programs with Silicon Valley entities such as Plug and Play Tech Center.

In the Pawn scenario described in the report, Baikonur’s manifest is split with Chinese, Russian, and UAE projects taking precedence while American and allied ventures participate through limited or indirect joint arrangements.

The report recommends that Kazakhstan seek partnerships with NASA, SpaceX, Virgin Galactic, Blue Origin, and NASA Ames Research Center.

Kazakhstan maintains a long-term lease arrangement with the Russian Federation over the Baikonur Cosmodrome.