Plus: The International Space Summit kicks off in Paris
By Jeff Foust
In today's edition: the International Space Summit kicks off in Paris, the Pentagon sharply increases launch projections, the FCC proposes exempting satellite systems from environmental reviews and more.
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Top Stories
The Pentagon has more than doubled the number of national security launch services it expects to procure. A new Pentagon assessment of the National Security Space Launch, or NSSL, program revealed that the Space Force expects to procure 337 launches over the course of the contract, up from 151 in its 2022 baseline estimate. The numbers highlight a challenge for the Space Force as demand for launches is expanding faster than the pool of rocket companies currently able to compete for much of that business. While seven companies are in Lane 1 of the current NSSL Phase 3 contract, 38 of the 39 missions awarded to date have gone to SpaceX. [SpaceNews]
A two-day space summit kicks off today in Paris featuring global and European space issues. The International Space Summit, organized by the French government, is expected to attract 2,000 delegates from as many as 120 nations. The French government plans to release several declarations at the summit on topics such as space sustainability, frequency coordination and sharing of space data, but the contents of the declarations remain under wraps. While billed as an international event, the summit will have a strong European focus as countries discuss what Europe should do to enhance its space capabilities. ESA plans to use the summit to gain support from member states for proposals to be debated at a December meeting that could include starting work on a future reusable launch vehicle and a European human spaceflight program. [SpaceNews]
A proposed constellation of U.S. space-based missile interceptors could cost tens to hundreds of billions of dollars. A study released Tuesday by the Foreign Policy Research Institute raised doubts about the effectiveness of space-based interceptors for Golden Dome, arguing that even relatively limited missile threats could require thousands of interceptors in orbit. The system could also be vulnerable to relatively inexpensive countermeasures. Their conclusions add to a longstanding debate over whether weapons stationed in orbit can provide an affordable and strategically stable defense against long-range missiles. Pentagon officials say advances in commercial launch, satellite manufacturing, automation and other technologies have changed the economics that doomed earlier efforts. [SpaceNews]
U.S. Space Command says it has completed its first live exercise focused on how military satellites could move more dynamically in orbit. The exercise was part of a program called Apollo Maneuvers 2026 and was conducted during the first week of September, Space Command said Tuesday. The "live-fly" space exercise involved real spacecraft conducting operations in orbit, with spacecraft in low, medium and geosynchronous orbit coordinating maneuvers. Space Command said data from Apollo Maneuvers will be used to inform doctrine, operational plans and future logistics and servicing requirements. [SpaceNews]
The FCC wants to formally exempt satellite systems from environmental reviews. FCC Chairman Brendan Carr outlined plans Tuesday to vote on an order at the end of the month that would overhaul its approach to the National Environmental Policy Act, one that would confirm its categorical exclusion for satellite licensing as a matter of law and policy. Such systems have traditionally been exempted from reviews for decades, but the growth of broadband constellations and proposals for even larger orbital data center systems have led some to urge the FCC to reconsider that exemption. The FCC will also vote to unlock more than 1,000 megahertz of spectrum in the 12.7 gigahertz and 42 GHz bands for satellite services during its next open meeting. [SpaceNews]
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Other News
Manufacturing startup Eclipse Space unveiled three satellite bus designs for communications and orbital data center applications. The year-old startup announced Wednesday CitraSat, for direct-to-device applications; SliceSat, for broadband connectivity; and SurgeSat, for orbital data centers. CitraSat and SliceSat are similar in size to a Starlink v2 mini satellite, while SurgeSat is significantly larger. Eclipse Space also announced a partnership with French startup Gama to integrate deployable solar arrays for the lineup. Eclipse aims to launch next year a demonstrator under 100 kilograms that would incorporate much of the bus and subsystem hardware intended for CitraSat. [SpaceNews]
A former head of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency is the new president of Earth imaging company Satellogic. The company said Tuesday that it hired Frank "Trey" Whitworth, a former Navy vice admiral who was NGA director from 2022 to 2025. During his tenure, he helped expand the Pentagon's Project Maven artificial intelligence program across the military services and combatant commands. Satellogic is expanding its Earth observation constellation with Merlin, a satellite system designed to remap the entire planet daily at one-meter resolution, with the first launch planned for October. [SpaceNews]
ESA is seeking proposals for a facility that can produce radioisotope spacecraft heaters. The agency issued a tender in late August for Phase 1 of its Baseline RHU Pilot Plant project. That phase will begin the process of setting up the facility that can make radioisotope heating units (RHUs) made of the radioisotope americium-241. The decay of that isotope generates heat to keep spacecraft warm. ESA does not have the ability now to make its own RHUs, and is instead working with NASA to provide similar units for its Rosalind Franklin Mars rover. [SpaceNews]
A Progress cargo spacecraft undocked from the International Space Station amid rumored delays about the launch of its replacement. The Progress MS-33 spacecraft undocked from the station Monday at 11:18 a.m. Eastern and destructively reentered several hours later. A new cargo spacecraft, Progress MS-35, was scheduled for launch Wednesday, but there were reports the launch would be delayed because of an issue with the Soyuz rocket's third stage. A NASA website says only that the launch is "under review." [NASA]
India is a step closer to allowing services like Starlink to operate in the country. The country's Digital Communications Commission has approved recommendations on allocation of satellite spectrum, allowing regulators to proceed with spectrum assignments to companies. Starlink and other foreign services seeking permission to operate in India will still need security clearances from the government. [India Today]
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Practical Space Magic
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"Now, I should make one thing clear: despite the title of this evening, I'm not a magician. I have not been trained to saw people in half, pull rabbits out of hats or make difficult political decisions disappear. Although, with my teams and myself, we have occasionally performed something that some might consider magical: getting 23 member states to agree on a common space ambition and budget."
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– ESA Director General Josef Aschbacher, speaking at ESA's "Magic Night" reception Tuesday in Paris ahead of the International Space Summit.
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