November 11, 2025

ESA Satellites Track Progress on Paris Agreement Goals (Source: Space Daily)
As the United Nations COP30 climate change conference convenes in Belem, Brazil, the world's attention will turn to the heart of the Amazon rainforest - a region that symbolizes both hope and concern in the fight against climate change. Once considered one of Earth's most vital carbon sinks, the Amazon is now showing troubling signs - satellite observations reveal that parts of this vast ecosystem are no longer absorbing carbon dioxide as they once did. In some areas, the forest has even become a net source of carbon emissions. (11/8)

S&P Global Finalizes Deal for ORBCOMM Satellite Vessel Tracking Network (Source: Space Daily)
S&P Global has completed the acquisition of the Automatic Identification System business from ORBCOMM. The AIS division operates a global constellation of low Earth orbit satellites, enabling real-time tracking and monitoring of merchant and government vessels far beyond terrestrial coverage zones. ORBCOMM's platform collects and processes millions of AIS messages daily from more than 150,000 ships, supporting maritime safety, security, supply chain management, and regulatory compliance across 130 countries. (11/11)

New Satellite Operations Center Planned for Germany to Support EU Constellation (Source: Space Daily)
SpaceMobile Inc. and Vodafone Group have chosen Germany as the location for their principal Satellite Operations Center, designed to allocate, map, and monitor satellite connectivity across Europe. The center, which will be sited near Munich or Hannover, will coordinate the SatCo satellite system to supply mobile broadband services to public, private, and government users throughout underserved and remote areas. This expansion targets commercial deployment in 2026, with broad interest already shown from mobile network operators in 21 EU states and additional European markets. (11/8)

Lofgren Raises Alarm About Laboratory and Other Closings at NASA Goddard (Source: Space Policy Online)
The top Democrat on the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee is raising the alarm about actions being taken at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center during the government shutdown to close laboratories and other facilities critical to NASA missions. Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) wrote a letter to the acting head of NASA today demanding that the closures and relocations cease immediately, noting Goddard staff were informed only last week that some facilities must be emptied by this Wednesday, November 12. (11/10)

OHB Establishes the European Spaceport Company (Source: European Spaceflight)
German space technology company OHB announced it has established a new subsidiary to consolidate its existing launch infrastructure projects. OHB is currently involved in a joint project to establish a floating launch facility off the coast of Germany. The project, which has already received nearly €2.9 million in funding from the German government, is designed to accommodate multiple users for both suborbital and orbital missions. Additionally, through its now wholly owned subsidiary, MT Aerospace, the company is also involved in the construction of launch infrastructure at the Guiana Space Center, including the ELA-4 launch facility that supports Ariane 6 flights. (11/11)

China Assessing Potential Debris-Strike Damage at TSS (Source: Space News)
China is continuing to assess potential damage to the Shenzhou-20 spacecraft from orbital debris. The China Manned Space Engineering Office (CMSEO) said Tuesday that teams have activated contingency procedures and are conducting simulations, system testing and safety evaluations related to the spacecraft’s return module. The return of Shenzhou-20, originally scheduled Nov. 5, was delayed after CMSEO announced just hours before scheduled undocking that the spacecraft was suspected to have been struck by a small piece of orbital debris. The office has not disclosed the location or extent of any damage, a new timeline for reentry, or alternative steps such as sending up a new, uncrewed Shenzhou spacecraft. (11/11)

Deep Space Network Antenna Damaged (Source: Space News)
A key antenna in NASA’s Deep Space Network has been offline since September after being damaged. JPL, which oversees the Deep Space Network, said Monday that the 70-meter DSS-14 antenna in Goldstone, California, suffered damage when it “over-rotated” in mid-September, and has been offline since. A mishap review board is investigating the incident, and JPL did not estimate when it expected the antenna to resume operations. DSS-14 is one of three 70-meter antennas in the Deep Space Network that play key roles communicating with spacecraft, particularly in the outer solar system. The overall network has been under strain as demand from missions outstrips capacity. (11/11)

SDA Satellite Funding Diverted to Pay Troops During Shutdown (Source: Breaking Defense)
Funding for a new set of Space Development Agency satellites has been diverted to pay troops during the shutdown. The funds were intended for contracts to be awarded for Tranche 3 of the SDA’s Tracking Layer constellation of missile-warning satellites. Those funds were part of $8 billion of unobligated R&D funds that the Pentagon reassigned last month to pay troops during the shutdown. It’s unclear how the transfer might affect the timing of the Tranche 3 awards, which had been expected this month. That transfer could also affect the timing of milestones for Tranche 2 contracts previously awarded. (11/11)

Kelly to Advise on Space-Based Filmmaking (Source: Deadline)
Former astronaut Scott Kelly is signing on as an adviser to a movie that wants to shoot some scenes in space. Kelly will advise Italian producer Andrea Iervolino on development of I See You, described as a “romantic space drama” partially set in space. Iervolino says he is in discussions to shoot some scenes of the movie in space, but provided no details on when that would take place and with whom. The Russia movie Vyzov, or The Challenge, shot some scenes on the International Space Station in 2021. (11/11)

New Mexico's mPower to Produce Solar Modules in New York (Source: Space News)
New Mexico-based mPower Technology has started automated, high-volume production of its space-grade solar modules in New York. The company said Tuesday that it, working with contract manufacturer Universal Instruments, has ramped up automated production to an annual capacity of one megawatt. The company is set to double output with an additional production line by mid-2026. The company’s modules are manufactured using commercial off-the-shelf silicon-based processes and equipment, which mPower argues makes them more customizable and less expensive to produce than traditional solar hardware made with gallium arsenide semiconductor material. (11/11)

Space Rescue Services Needed? 2 'Stranded' Astronaut Incidents are a 'Massive Wake-up Call' (Source: Space.com)
China's decision to delay the return of its Shenzhou 20 astronauts from the country's space station due to a possible space debris impact has led to yet another "stranded in space" state of affairs. The situation is also sparking discussion of space rescue planning — or lack of it. "I wonder out loud why they would not be more forthcoming about specifics of the event," responds Darren McKnight, an orbital debris specialist and senior technical fellow of LeoLabs, a group dedicated to space domain awareness.

McKnight observes that the Chinese are not usually forthcoming about anything where they would 'lose face,' a very Eastern philosophy. "The lack of transparency of these events makes it difficult to model the future," McKnight said. According to Jan Osburg, "Creating an initial space rescue capability does not have to be expensive or involve setting up a new government agency or the like. It could be done with a few million dollars per year, which is 'in the noise' for human spaceflight costs." (11/11)

Rocket Lab Delays Debut of Neutron Rocket (at Virginia Spaceport) to 2026 (Source: Spaceflight Now)
The inaugural flight of Rocket Lab’s reusable, medium-lift Neutron rocket is now set for 2026, instead of this year. The company said more testing and qualification work was needed. Sir Peter Beck, the CEO of Rocket Lab, announced the shift in plans during the third quarter earnings call with investors on Nov. 10. He said that the company’s goal is to get the rocket out to Launch Complex 3 at the Virginia Spaceport Authority’s (VSA) Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport (MARS) within the first quarter of 2026 “with first launch thereafter.” (11/11)

'Shockingly Large' Amount of Sensitive Satellite Communications are Unencrypted and Vulnerable to Interception (Source: Space.com)
Cybersecurity researchers have intercepted vast quantities of private voice calls and text messages, including potentially sensitive communications of government and military officials, transmitted over completely unprotected satellite communication links.

When the researchers decided to put satellite communications under scrutiny, they thought they would find some flaws. What they discovered was much worse than their wildest dreams. Using a commercial off-the-shelf satellite dish mounted on the roof of a university campus in San Diego, they scanned internet traffic routed via 39 geostationary satellites visible from southern California.

They soon realized that sensitive messages including those involving critical infrastructure and internal corporate and government communications were broadcast via those satellites completely unprotected. (11/10)

Cape Canaveral Launch Record Surpassed (Source: Orlando Sentinel)
The Space Coast surpassed the record 93 launches seen in 2024 with the 94th launch of 2025 on Nov. 10. With SpaceX’s continued pace, more launches from United Launch Alliance and the debut of Blue Origin’s New Glenn, the Space Force had said it could support as many as 156 launches in 2025. It’s on track to at least surpass 100. (11/10)

Europe Readies Artemis IV’s Orion Module For U.S. Trip (Source: Aviation Week)
Airbus says it is shipping the fourth European Service Module (ESM-4) to the U.S. to support a future Artemis IV mission despite uncertainty over that endeavor. ESM-4 has completed integration at Airbus’s facility in Bremen, Germany, and is now being prepared to be shipped to Kennedy Space Center, Florida, to be integrated with an Orion Crew Module, Airbus and Thales Alenia Space, a key partner on the program, said Nov. 10. (11/10)

Chinese Long March 3B Upper Stage Makes Uncontrolled Reentry Over Florida (Source: Spaceflight Now)
On Saturday, Nov. 8, less than an hour before the planned launch of SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket from Launch Complex 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, chunks of metal and other debris were spotted streaking across the sky across Florida. (11/8)

Impulse Has A Plan To Deliver Infrastructure To The Moon And Beyond (Source: BGR)
Larger items like lunar rovers, power systems, and living modules still lack solid in-space infrastructure for consistent delivery. Impulse Space believes this is a problem it can solve. It already has technology in place that can accelerate the construction of the spacecraft needed to begin building out human infrastructure on the moon. Impulse Space plans to use a two-part system to get cargo to the moon. The first part is its existing Helios spacecraft which would be used for delivery from Earth to the moon. Impulse Space will also design and build a lunar lander which would detach from Helios to put items on the moon itself. It is an impressive vision, and the company seems ready to rise to the challenge. (11/8)

TESS Finds Three Earth-Sized Exoplanets Orbiting Binary Stars (Source: NSF)
Through international collaboration, a team of astronomers has confirmed two exoplanets and found hints of a third exoplanet at a binary star system known as TOI-2267. The planets were first found by NASA’s Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS), using the team’s own exoplanet detection software. This tantalizing find might provide new insights into planet formation in binary systems. (11/9)

Pacific Aerospace Group Plans for Washington-State Spaceport (Source: PALS)
Pacific Aerospace Launch & Spaceport (PALS) is leading efforts to establish Washington State’s first horizontal take-off and landing (HTOL) launch capability expanding access to orbit and advancing the Pacific Northwest’s growing space economy. PALS is a long-term, strategic initiative to strengthen Washington's strong position as a key hub for commercial, civil, and defense space operations.

While the initial phase focuses on HTOL operations, consideration is also being given to a future phase featuring vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) capability to broaden mission flexibility and support a wider range of orbital missions. By developing local launch infrastructure, PALS strengthens supply chains, reduces logistics costs, and creates high-value jobs — driving growth and ensuring Washington plays a defining role in the next era of space access and innovation. (11/11)

Blue Wings Into Space: the Air Launched Sortie Vehicle (Source: Space Review)
Air launch systems and spaceplanes have long attracted interest, even if their viability has been questionable. Dwayne Day discusses one such concept the Air Force explored in the 1980s involving a spaceplane launched from a souped-up 747. Click here. (11/11)
 
Stilsat-1: A Russian-Owned and Chinese-Built Satellite Watching Ukraine (Source: Space Review)
In the second part of his examination of Russian use of a Chinese-built imaging satellite, Bart Hendrickx reviews Russian efforts to build their own imaging satellites and the issues that led to their use of Chinese spacecraft. Click here. (11/11)
 
Isaacman’s Second Chance (Source: Space Review)
President Trump announced last week he was nominating Jared Isaacman to be NASA administrator, barely five months after Trump pulled his original nomination. Jeff Foust reports on the path that led to a renomination and the new questions Isaacman will face from Congress. Click here. (11/11)
 
From Missions to Activities: the Defining Space Policy Shift (Source: Space Review)
Space policy has evolved in recent years to focus more on developing specific activities and capabilities in space. Namrata Goswami explores this shift as illustrated by efforts in both China and India. Click here. (11/11)
 
The Case for a Kinetic Anti-Satellite Test Ban Between the US and China (Source: Space Review)
Both the United States and China have previously tested direct-ascent ASAT weapons, although the US has voluntarily agreed not to do destructive tests. Jimin Park makes the case for both countries to sign a binding agreement prohibiting such tests. Click here. (11/11)