Global Scans · Space · Weekly Summary

• [New] Space Force eases entry for commercial firms with layered launch standards The U.S. Space Force is changing how it evaluates risk for launch missions, using tiered mission assurance standards that could expand opportunities for newer commercial providers. Aerotech News & Review
• [New] By 2026, Australia is expected to benefit from multiple low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite providers offering mobile services-Starlink, Lynk, AST, and Amazon's Project Kuiper among them. Paul Budde Consultancy
• [New] Tens of thousands of additional satellites will likely be launched into low earth orbit by 2030, which would further increase the risk of collisions and threaten the sustainable use of Earth's orbits. Rand Corporation
• [New] With the launch of 'SpaceTech Policy 2025-2030', Gujarat has become the first state in India to have a dedicated policy for the space sector, an official release said. Daily Excelsior
• [New] China's rapid progress could challenge U.S. dominance in space, necessitating increased investment and innovation in the American space program. archyde
• [New] Ground-based radars in particular seem to be how the Space Force is trying to boost coverage in the near term, especially over the Indo-Pacific region, while it plans other long-term upgrades. The Verardo Group's Substack
• [New] The Space Development Agency plans to build a next-generation military space architecture, focusing on small satellites in low Earth orbit, which will further support the demand for SATCOM equipment in the US. Yahoo Finance
• [New] Under Agenda Item 1.5, the ITU is studying new measures to block satellite terminals in territories where a satellite operator has no license - something that could create collateral damage to satellite emergency services and IFC. SpaceNews
• [New] Unlike replaceable small sats, the WSF-M mission carries significant operational risk: it is the second and final satellite in a critical environmental monitoring program used to support military operations. SpaceNews
• [New] American Airlines plans to provide complimentary Wi-Fi on all aircraft featuring Viasat and Intelsat high-speed satellite connectivity, covering approximately 90% of its fleet. Yahoo Life
• [New] There are emerging threads that suggest that Russia's risk tolerance in space might even be increasing because planning for warfighting in space has become more explicit. Rand Corporation
• [New] Russian strategists have begun to focus more on explicit planning for warfighting in space, which indicates that Russia's risk tolerance in space might increase. Rand Corporation
• [New] Russia's invasion of Ukraine does not appear to have significantly affected Russia's risk tolerance or strategy in space. Rand Corporation
• [New] The United States should not assume that traditional methods of crisis management will be effective in a crisis with Russia in space. Rand Corporation
• [New] Some Russian analysts worry about U.S. threats to the space-based elements of Moscow's nuclear deterrent and speculate about U.S. plans to use space to conduct a disarming attack to deprive Russia of its retaliatory capability. Rand Corporation
• [New] Understanding Russia's perspectives on the space domain and identifying the key factors that threaten U.S.-Russia crisis stability in space have become increasingly important for devising and implementing crisis management strategies. Rand Corporation
• [New] Soyuz MS-27 will carry two cosmonauts and one astronaut to the International Space Station aboard the Soyuz spacecraft from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. Space Launch Now
• [New] Between ten to 15 satellites developed by Greek companies are expected to be launched into space within the next two years, expanding Greece's space science and technology ecosystem. GreekReporter.com
• [New] A key focus will be partnering with low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite systems to provide connectivity and Internet access to remote villages and regions across Kazakhstan. MEA Tech Watch
• [New] High-Risk Vulnerabilities Posing Significant Risks to Critical Infrastructure PNT services predominantly rely on signals from global navigation satellite systems (GNSS) such as GPS (United States), Galileo, and GLONASS (Russia). Aerospace Innovations
• [New] The current uncertainties might open up space for increasing trade with India and other regional countries. Teleco Alert
• A total of 12 agency and 26 industry partners contribute resources to the NAIRR, infrastructure the could prove the key to solidifying U.S. dominance in the AI space. Technology Solutions That Drive Government
• Firms such as Planetary Resources and Deep Space Industries are exploring technologies to extract resources, which could fuel future space missions and even Earth's economy by 2025. TechKnowable

Last updated: 21 April 2025