Rep. Mike Haridopolos (R-FL) has made ensuring robust cooperation between the public and private space sectors a top priority for the House space subcommittee in 2026.

Learning Exchange Inc (LEXX) offers online CMMC certification courses that are aligned with DOD cybersecurity standards.

NASI’s first cohort of students in the Space Systems Technician (SST) program is on schedule and on track.

Aaron Topple is the Chief Operating Officer of North American Space Institute (NASI).

Michael Graham is the CEO of North American Space Institute (NASI).

The Space Systems Technician (SST) program is the first space technician program certified by the Canadian Council for Aviation and Aerospace (CCAA).

NASI estimates a shortage of 58,000 qualified technicians across North America.

NASI is deploying a VR-enabled version of its Space Systems Technician (SST) certification into the U.S. market.

Alliance Cyber focuses on cybersecurity and is partnered with NASI for deployment of NASI’s VR-enabled Space Systems Technician (SST) certification into the U.S. market.

The DOD 8140 framework specifies training and accreditation requirements for the U.S. Department of Defense’s cyberspace workforce.

NASI runs several courses focused on training space-related skillsets, including the Space Systems Technician (SST) program.

North American Space Institute (NASI) is a space-focused educational startup founded last year by former Canadian Space Agency technologist Michael Graham.

NASI is aligning its curriculum with U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) 8140 workforce frameworks to create interoperable standards for space technicians across North America.

NASI seeks to become the national platform building Canada’s certified space workforce.

International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) restrictions largely bar Canadian workers from a wide variety of American space sector work, although Canadian companies can obtain some ITAR exceptions.

NASI has formed partnerships with Learning Exchange Inc (LEXX) and Alliance Cyber to expand into the United States and standardize offerings across the United States and Canada.

BlackSky, Planet Labs, and Comtech have secured recent contracts that shift industry focus from simple image delivery toward real-time answer generation.

Integrating AI analytics enables defense agencies to automatically monitor thousands of sites of interest and alert human operators only when significant changes occur.

The Swedish Armed Forces (FMV) has a strategic agreement that provides a dedicated satellite suite for Arctic and Baltic surveillance.

Hybrid Space Architectures blend government-owned assets and commercially-leased capacity to enhance resilience against anti-satellite threats and cyber warfare.

Defense budgets are prioritizing multi-modal constellations that combine optical imagery, synthetic aperture radar, and RF sensing to see through cloud cover and identify electronic signatures.

A market analysis released on Feb. 11 documents a surge in investment for the convergence of high-revisit satellite imagery, radio frequency sensing, and on-orbit artificial intelligence.

Fused geospatial intelligence integrates optical imagery with RF sensing to detect spoofing or hidden assets.

Brian O’Toole, CEO of BlackSky, emphasizes that tactical advantage in 2026 will depend more on the speed of processing loops than on camera quality.

Industry analysts expect the U.S. Space Force and European defense ministries to increase investment in Hybrid Space Architectures during the remainder of 2026.

Orbital Edge AI is replacing the traditional model of downloading large satellite imagery files for ground-based analysis by enabling onboard processing.

A tactical program shift is providing on-call satellite capacity for high-priority defense theaters with sub-hourly revisit rates.

Detect-to-track capabilities enable satellites to identify threats onboard and send only relevant alerts to the tactical edge.

Nations are investing in Sovereign Clouds to ensure that sensitive mission data processed by commercial providers remains under national control.

Global defense agencies have designated Total Situational Awareness as a primary budget priority for 2026.

Ground station components are being expanded to support C4ISR operations beyond Earth orbit and into cislunar space.

Via Satellite’s Thursday Morning Conversations feature casual conversations with top executives and all-stars in the satellite community.

Via Satellite’s Thursday Morning Conversations explore both business topics and personal interests such as favorite TV shows, first music concerts, and preferred late-night snacks.

Daniel Gizinski is President of Comtech’s Satellite & Space Segment.

Comtech has undergone a significant transformation to better serve its customer base.

Comtech is developing ground technology intended to power future satellite networks.

Ramses is currently expected to launch in spring 2028 to rendezvous with Apophis before the asteroid’s close approach in early 2029.

Italy’s Tyvak International received a €4.7 million contract in March 2025 to begin preparatory work on one of the Ramses CubeSats.

The Ramses probe is planned to study asteroid Apophis’s composition and how the asteroid reacts to Earth’s gravitational pull during its close encounter.

Spain’s Emxys received a €1.5 million contract in May 2025 to begin preparatory work on one of the Ramses CubeSats.

The European Space Agency concluded the Ramses mission Critical Design Review in record time, confirming the design meets technical, scientific, and programmatic requirements.

The European Space Agency awarded OHB Italia a €81.2 million contract on 10 February 2026 for the construction, assembly, and testing phase of the Ramses mission.

The European Space Agency awarded Tyvak International a €8.2 million follow-on contract on 10 February 2026 to complete construction and testing of its Ramses CubeSat.

The main Ramses spacecraft is being developed by OHB Italia and the mission is led by the European Space Agency.

The European Space Agency awarded OHB Italia a €63 million contract on 17 October for the Ramses mission’s consolidation and early implementation phases.

Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) will provide several components for the Ramses mission, including a solar array and a thermal infrared imager.

The European Space Agency secured the necessary funding for Ramses at its Ministerial Council meeting (CM25) in November 2025, allowing the mission to move into full development.

Apophis will pass within 32,000 kilometres of Earth’s surface in early 2029, a distance closer than geostationary satellites.

The Ramses mission may launch as a rideshare with JAXA’s Destiny+ mission aboard a Japanese H3 rocket.

The loan to Eutelsat is subject to several conditions, including a bond issuance at Eutelsat Communications.