ISRO / NSIL to Launch AST BlueBird-6 for Direct-to-Device Broadband Revolution
Satish Dhawan Space Center, Sriharikota, India, is scheduled to host LVM-3 liftoff December 20, propelling AST SpaceMobile satellite into 550 km orbit. BlueBird-6, the heaviest USA commercial communication LEO satellite at ~12,600 kg, has 223-square-meter antenna, the largest ever commercially deployed. Triple the size of BlueBirds 1 through 5 with 10x the bandwidth / data capacity, it aims for 100% USA coverage and 2.8B people worldwide for voice / data / video, helping to bridge the digital divide. New Space India Limited (NSIL), commercial arm of Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), also handles launches of Eutelsat OneWeb and CMS-3 satellites. AST partners with Airbus and Thales Alenia Space in building BlueBird satellites. LVM-3 rocket (which sent Chandrayaan-3 to the Moon) uses 408,000 kg of solid fuel in its boosters, 230,000 kg in liquid core, and 56,000 kg of liquid oxygen/hydrogen in its cryogenic upper stage. Per-launch cost estimated at ~US$50M. ISRO looks forward to 2026 Gaganyaan-1 uncrewed test flight, and in 2028, Shukrayaan Venus orbiter, Chandrayaan-4 lunar sample return collaboration with JAXA, Mangalyaan-2 Mars mission, and 1st Bharatiya Antariksh space station module in partnership with Skyroot Aerospace et al. (Image Credits: ISRO, NSIL, AST SpaceMobile)
AGU25 Convenes 25,000+ in New Orleans December 15-19 for Earth-Space Science Nexus
American Geophysical Union hosts its 106th annual meeting at Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, drawing 25,000+ attendees from 100+ countries, with thousands of presenters across 1,500+ sessions. The event now features ~200 space-related sessions under Planetary Sciences section, focusing on Luna, Solar System planets / moons, asteroids, Kuiper Belt and expects 5,000-7,000 participants in these tracks based on past trends. Moon-specific sessions include “P11A: Lunar Volatiles and Exosphere” presented by Noah Petro of NASA; “P12B: Artemis Science Opportunities” led by Makoto Yoshikawa of JAXA; “P21C: Lunar Interior and Magnetism” by USGS Clive Neal of USGS and published author on lunar geology; “P31D: Moon’s Surface Processes” featuring ESA head Josef Aschbacher on international collaboration; “P41E: Kuiper Belt and Asteroid Impacts on Moons” with New Horizons PI Alan Stern of Southwest Research Institute. Other notables include Erika Wagner of Blue Origin on asteroid resources, NASA Planetary Science Division Director Lori Glaze keynoting Mars sessions, and Kuiper Prize winner Faith Vilas on planetary contributions. Themes span Venus atmosphere, Jupiter moon habitability, asteroid mining, Kuiper object composition and foster interdisciplinary insights for future missions. Hybrid format includes town halls on NASA opportunities, networking for educators / policymakers, plenaries, posters, exhibits. (Image Credits: AGU)
Humans in Space
International Space Station, ~415-km LEO: Expedition 74 with Commander Mike Fincke and 6 other Astronauts / Cosmonauts working on stem cell sample stowage, measuring air flow rates, using fluorescent research microscope, maintaining Elektron oxygen generator; with departure of Soyuz MS-28 there are 7 craft docked; in general, 4 different types of crew ships and 5 different resupply ships have visited ISS.
Tiangong Space Station, ~390-km LEO: Shenzhou-21 crew stowing spacesuits and gear after recent 8-hour EVA; Shenzhou-20 craft, still attached to TSS and damaged by debris, planned to undergo hardware installation to allow it to return to Earth – potentially with return cargo; two astronaut candidates from Pakistan are training for one to become the first international visitor to TSS late next year.
Near-Earth Objects Close Approaches – Mon Dec 15: Apollo Asteroid 2025 WA3 (0.022 AU); Wed Dec 17: Aten Asteroid 2025 WN6 (0.040 AU); Thu Dec 18: Aten Asteroid 2015 XX168 (0.012 AU); Sat Dec 20: Apollo Asteroid 2010 WR7 (0.049 AU)
Scheduled for 03:35 UTC-5, United Launch Alliance (ULA) rocket will take next batch of Amazon Leo (new name) satellites for internet system managed by Amazon subsidiary Kuiper Systems. ULA is a joint venture of Lockheed Martin Space and Boeing Defense, Space & Security.
Scheduled for 17:20 Kazakhstan Time. Meteorological satellites developed by NPO Lavochkin. Launch cost estimated at US$65M. Built at Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Center, Moscow, with 43,000+ employees.
Over the next few decades, the exoplanet community is poised to advance closer to answering a fundamental question about the universe and humanity's place in it: Are we alone? High-resolution spectroscopy of exoplanets with the Extremely Large Telescopes (> 25 m) offers a unique opportunity to answer this question. The high […]
Surpassing 3rd full year / entering 4th year in lunar orbit, Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI) first lunar spacecraft Danuri launched in Aug 2022 and reached Moon in Dec 2022.
Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center (TSLC), ~39°N, Shanxi, China
Scheduled for 11:15 China Time. 3-stage, non-reusable orbital carrier rocket, also designated Chang Zheng 4C. This will be 60th launch attempt with 57 successful previously.
Expert panel includes speakers from Amazon Kuiper, Slingshot Aerospace, Triton Space and moderator from Space Policy Group. Noon, Eastern Standard Time. Analysis of proposed EU space legislation, impact on markets, Space Traffic Management (STM) policy of USA, more.
Innospace of Korea to use 1st launch of HANBIT-Nano to send to SSO 5 satellites from Brazil space agency AEB / Brazil university / Grahaa Space of India, 3 payloads from AEB / Brazil company that will remain attached to rocket, and empty aluminum beverage can from Brewguru of Korea.
1st launch of Galileo on Ariane 6, 5th launch of Ariane 6, scheduled for 05:01 UTC (French Guiana Time 02:01). These 2 satellites will join 27 others active in orbit. Galileo is called the world's most precise satellite navigation system, has served 5Billion+ smartphone uses since 2016, is managed / […]
Launch window 10:00-12:14 China Time. 1st stage will attempt vertical landing using engines at location 300km from launch site, Minqin County, Gansu Province.
West Texas Suborbital Launch Site / Corn Ranch, Van Horn TX, USA
Launch Site One (LSO), Van Horn, TX, United States
08:30-16:30 CST; 16th crewed flight for the New Shepard program and 37th in New Shepard program; crew is: aerospace engineer Michaela (Michi) Benthaus, physicist/investor Joey Hyde, former SpaceX engineer Hans Koenigsmann, entrepreneur Neal Milch, investor Adonis Pouroulis, and adventurer Jason Stansell.
Conference theme is "WCASET Nexus: Where Science, Education and Technology Converge" and offers both in-person and virtual participation; includes sessions on space science and technology.
Moderated by Madhu Thangavelu. 10:00-17:00 PT. Panels include: Cis-Lunar / Lunar, Artemis, Starship / SLS, Space Architecture / Philosophy / Art / Agriculture, others. Online participation available; send email to register, either <contact@aiaa-lalv.org> or <events.aiaalalv@gmail.com>. Suggested $5 donation to this 501(c)3 nonprofit for either the organization itself or its scholarship […]
Occurs 05:01 HST, 15:01 UTC; It is the winter solstice in the Northern Hemisphere, resulting in the shortest day and longest night of the year; and conversely, it is the summer solstice in the Southern Hemisphere, bringing the longest day and shortest night.
With theme "Exploring New Industrial Models, Empowering the New Aerospace Economy". 2025 marks a crucial stage for the Hainan Free Trade Port, coinciding with the full-scale customs closure operation of the island and the accelerated development of Wenchang International Aerospace City. The Forum will further leverage its unique advantages of […]
A major European meeting on planetary science. Originally known as the European Planetary Science Congress, the first EPSC was held in Berlin in 2006....
At Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC); Chair is Saeed Al Mansoori of MBRSC; Co-Chair is Gerard Galet of CNES (Centre National d'Études Spatiales)...
To tackle one of the space sector’s most pressing challenges. 3rd Zero Debris Future Symposium (September 8-9) and the Zero Debris Technical Sessions (September...
Inaugural event to convene researchers, policymakers and practitioners to advance understanding of self-sufficient structures in extreme environments, including the Moon. Begins September 11 at...
Industry tour of Denver space companies Friday 08:30-12:00; Astronauts Eileen Collins and Scott Kelly present at the Saturday event, 17:00-20:30. At Inverness Denver Hilton...
Ariane Launch Area 1 (ELV), Guiana Space Centre, ~5°N, French Guiana
Launch to SSO for 3rd satellite in the Sentinel-3 constellation for optical, radar and altimetry data and for Fluorescence Explorer ("FLEX") of ESA Earth...
In conjunction with The Space Innovation Summit (September 16) and the Space Defense & Security Summit (September 15-16). The summit consists of the Summit...
Launch Complex 1, ~39°S, Mahia Peninsula, New Zealand
(Estimated Date) Planned demonstration of in-space cryogenic storage and transferal by Eta Space and funded by NASA Tipping Point. Expected to be in orbit...
At Cleveland State University; Topics to be discussed include Exploration Architecture, Artemis program, Space Traffic Management, Space Nuclear Power, Navigation and Communications and more!
27th year of this top scientific conference in the USA devoted to Space Domain Awareness (SDA) and Space Situational Awareness (SSA) expects 1,000+ in-person...
Ohio Space Week celebrates the state’s deep-rooted contributions to the aeronautics and space industries, highlighting the people, institutions, and businesses that continue to shape...
In preparation for its decommissioning, United Kingdom Infrared Telescope (UKIRT) atop Mauna Kea will stop science operations today, with removal to be completed by...
Global Experts Group on Sustainable Lunar Activities continues discussions on ongoing workstreams and priorities related to the sustainable exploration and use of the Moon,...
Oslo Spaceport Norway offers monthly a knowledgeable speaker and opportunity for networking, 17:00-20:00 local time; free entry but registration required. Ground Control is for...
In conjunction with Novaspace’s World Space Business Week and Space Defense & Security Summit at the Hôtel du Collectionneur. Building on the success of...
Satish Dhawan Space Center, Sriharikota, India, is scheduled to host LVM-3 liftoff December 20, propelling AST SpaceMobile satellite into 550 km orbit. BlueBird-6, the heaviest USA commercial communication LEO satellite at ~12,600 kg, has 223-square-meter antenna, the largest ever commercially deployed. Triple the size of BlueBirds 1 through 5 with 10x the bandwidth / data capacity, it aims for 100% USA coverage and 2.8B people worldwide for voice / data / video, helping to bridge the digital divide. New Space India Limited (NSIL), commercial arm of Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), also handles launches of Eutelsat OneWeb and CMS-3 satellites. AST partners with Airbus and Thales Alenia Space in building BlueBird satellites. LVM-3 rocket (which sent Chandrayaan-3 to the Moon) uses 408,000 kg of solid fuel in its boosters, 230,000 kg in liquid core, and 56,000 kg of liquid oxygen/hydrogen in its cryogenic upper stage. Per-launch cost estimated at ~US$50M. ISRO looks forward to 2026 Gaganyaan-1 uncrewed test flight, and in 2028, Shukrayaan Venus orbiter, Chandrayaan-4 lunar sample return collaboration with JAXA, Mangalyaan-2 Mars mission, and 1st Bharatiya Antariksh space station module in partnership with Skyroot Aerospace et al. (Image Credits: ISRO, NSIL, AST SpaceMobile)
International Space Station, ~415-km LEO: Expedition 74 with Commander Mike Fincke and 6 other Astronauts / Cosmonauts working on stem cell sample stowage, measuring air flow rates, using fluorescent research microscope, maintaining Elektron oxygen generator; with departure of Soyuz MS-28 there are 7 craft docked; in general, 4 different types of crew ships and 5 different resupply ships have visited ISS.
Lunar Enterprise News: ispace Collaborates for Moon Transportation Systems and Infrastructure │ NGLR-1 Elevates Lunar Laser Ranging for Artemis Precision Navigation
Near-Earth Objects Close Approaches – Mon Dec 15: Apollo Asteroid 2025 WA3 (0.022 AU); Wed Dec 17: Aten Asteroid 2025 WN6 (0.040 AU); Thu Dec 18: Aten Asteroid 2015 XX168 (0.012 AU); Sat Dec 20: Apollo Asteroid 2010 WR7 (0.049 AU)
