EUROPE

United Kingdom

UK Government and Space Florida sign Memorandum of Understanding

On 21 July, it was announced that the UK Government and Space Florida have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to turn innovative ideas into commercial reality.

The MoU establishes a £300,000 joint fund between the UK Space Agency’s (UKSA) International Bilateral Fund (IBF) and Space Florida’s International Aerospace Innovation Fund (IAIF), designed to open doors to investment and access to the US market. A formal call for projects will open in Autumn 2026.

Commenting on the announcement, Rebecca Evernden, Director of the UKSA said: “The UK’s space sector has enormous ambition, and partnerships like this one show exactly why international collaboration is central to our plans. By joining forces with Space Florida we’re opening new doors for British companies, researchers and innovators to work on the cutting-edge projects that will define the next generation of space capabilities, services and commercial opportunities.”

Scottish Government selects Planet Labs to support Scotland’s Agricultural and Rural Economy Directorate

On 30 July, the Scottish Government announced it had signed a one-year contract with satellite operator Planet Labs to deliver data and analytics to support Scotland’s Agricultural and Rural Economy Directorate. Planet already has similar agreements in place with other government agencies within the UK, such as the Welsh Government and England’s Rural Payments Agency.

Commenting on the announcement, Jo Gray, Director of Scotland’s Agricultural Reform Program, said: “We are working with Planet through 2026 to explore how these capabilities may support the Scottish Government in meeting its environmental and climate targets through a more objective and continuous monitoring system… This approach could help track ecological progress, provide valuable evidence to inform decision-making, and support the development of future agricultural reform initiatives.”

Bulgaria

Bulgaria and EnduroSat sign MoU to build space and defence hub

It was announced on 6 August that the Government of the Republic of Bulgaria and space infrastructure company EnduroSat have signed a MoU to repurpose the former military airbase at Dobroslavtsi into a space and defence R&D and production centre, aimed at facilitating serial production and streamlined logistics for constellation operators.

Commenting on the announcement, Raycho Raychev, Founder and CEO of EnduroSat, said: “On a former military airfield, we’re setting up an unprecedented center bringing together manufacturing, R&D, education, testing, and logistics. It’s complex, risky, and hard – and we’re taking it on anyway.”

Poland

Poland reinforces contribution to EU’s IRIS² programme through two new agreements

Poland has signed a series of agreements reinforcing its contribution to the European Union’s (EU) flagship secure connectivity programme, IRIS².

The first agreement was signed by representatives of the European Commission and the Polish Government on 21 July, with Poland committing €656 million of its remaining National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP) funds to IRIS². Poland plans to build a Polish constellation as part of IRIS², bringing superfast secure internet from space to Poland and Europe more broadly. Commenting on the agreement, European Commissioner for Defence and Space, Andrius Kubilius, said: “This huge investment demonstrates great leadership on Poland’s part. I hope that other Member States will follow this example.”

A second agreement was signed between the Polish Government and satellite operator Eutelsat. Under the MoU, Eutelsat and Polish institutions will collaborate on the development of secure satellite communications in Europe, with a particular focus on the deployment and future evolution of the low Earth orbit (LEO) segment of the IRIS² constellation. Eutelsat will also give Polish space companies access to its facilities to test and validate IRIS² user terminals, helping accelerate innovation and support the integration of Polish industry into the European secure connectivity ecosystem.

Luxembourg

ESA and Luxembourg commission new optical ground station for quantum-secure satellite communications

On 26 July, a new optical ground station (OGS), developed under the European Space Agency (ESA) and built by HITEC in a consortium led by Starion Luxembourg, was commissioned in Windhof, Luxembourg.

The OGS will help test an ultra-secure, international communications network using Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) and Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC), addressing the vulnerability of radio-frequency satellite communications to interception and the growing threat posed by quantum computing to existing cryptographic techniques. The station forms part of ESA’s International Use cases for Operational QKD Applications and Services (INT-UQKD) partnership project, delivered through the Agency’s Advanced Research in Telecommunications Systems (ARTES) programme.

Spain

Spain announces national satellite programme and secures lead IRIS² ground segment role

On 29 July, Spain’s Ministry of Defence announced it will invest between €1.6-€2 billion in a national sovereign military satellite communications constellation, which will be integrated into the European Union’s IRIS² network.

Separately, on 7 August, Spanish defence company Indra announced that its majority-owned satellite operator Hispasat had been named prime contractor for antennas, control systems and ground links in the EU’s IRIS² secure satellite network, with a budget of over €1.6 billion. Hispasat will also lead a LEO layer for direct-to-device and Internet of Things connectivity, with up to €600 million committed.

 

AFRICA

Rwanda

Planet and Rwanda Space Agency launch national satellite data programme

In June, Planet and the Government of Rwanda, through the Rwanda Space Agency, launched a national programme providing Planet imagery and daily satellite data feeds to government agencies, public universities, start-ups and development partners across the country. The data will support agriculture and food security monitoring, forest health tracking, urban planning, and disaster response, while also equipping public universities to train students in satellite data analysis.

The programme is managed by the Rwanda Space Agency and marks Planet’s first national programme of its kind in Africa, following an earlier pilot in Zanzibar supported by the Tony Blair Institute and the World Bank.

Commenting on the launch, Planet’s Chief Impact Officer Andrew Zolli said: “Rwanda continues to demonstrate a commitment to improving life with leading technologies, and we couldn’t be happier to play a supporting role in the country’s journey.”

Libya

Arabsat and Libya Telecom and Technology sign strategic partnership agreement

On 6 August, the Arab Satellite Communications Organization (Arabsat) and Libya Telecom and Technology (LTT) announced the signing of a Strategic Partnership Agreement to strengthen satellite communications and support the development of Libya’s digital communications infrastructure. Under the agreement, Arabsat will provide High Throughput Satellite (HTS) capacity on Arabsat-6A at 30.5°E to support LTT’s existing and future connectivity requirements.

The partnership will also create a platform for the two organisations to explore further collaboration and deliver satellite communications solutions for government, enterprise, telecommunications operators and other critical sectors across Libya.

NORTH AMERICA

United States

White House publishes National Security Science and Technology Strategy

On 17 August, the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) published the National Security Science and Technology Strategy (NSSTS). The NSSTS describes how the US will leverage its science and technology (S&T) enterprise to support and enable the objectives of the 2025 National Security Strategy (NSS).

The NSSTS focuses on science and technology competition as it relates to military capabilities, homeland defence and resilience, and other direct intersections with national security. It sets out four pillars for federal S&T efforts:

• focusing techno-strategic competition;
• building technological resilience;
• accelerating innovation; and
• protecting national security S&T.

The NSSTS also identifies three legal, policy and structural factors that the US considers must be addressed to maximise the options space for US strategy:

• protecting sensitive science and technology without unduly slowing the pace of innovation;
• changing or eliminating excessive regulations and inefficient legacy policies; and
• encouraging the Federal Government to partner effectively with the private sector.

The full Strategy can be read here.

OSC seeks expressions of interest for Space Commerce Certification pilot programme

On 18 August, the US Office of Space Commerce (OSC), part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), published a notice inviting expressions of interest from US entities to participate in a pilot phase of its proposed Space Commerce Certification (SCC) framework. Space operators wishing to take part must submit an expression of interest by 5 October 2026.

The SCC framework is intended to deliver a streamlined, whole-of-government mission authorisation process for novel in-space activities not clearly covered by existing regulatory frameworks, pursuant to Section 5 of Executive Order 14335, ‘Enabling Competition in the Commercial Space Industry,’ and building on the OSC’s March 2026 SCC proposal. The OSC will run the pilot in coordination with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), the Department of War, the Department of State and NASA.

 

LATIN AMERICA

Peru

Gilat Peru signs $14 million fibre-optic broadband agreement with Regional Government of Ayacucho

On 17 August, Gilat Satellite Networks announced that its Peruvian subsidiary, Gilat Peru, has signed an agreement valued at $14 million with the Regional Government of Ayacucho to deliver a fibre-optic broadband project in southern Ayacucho. The project will be carried out under Peru’s Works for Taxes programme, with delivery expected within 18 months.

Commenting on the agreement, Arieh Rohrstock, Corporate Senior Vice President and President, Gilat Peru, said: “Building on our extensive experience delivering and operating broadband infrastructure across Peru, we are proud to support this new initiative to expand connectivity to thousands more people.”

 

ASIA

Japan

Japan launches QZS-7 satellite hosting US Space Domain Awareness payload

On 10 August, Japan’s H-3 launch vehicle carrying Quasi-Zenith Satellite 7 (QZS-7), which hosts a US Space Domain Awareness payload, launched from the Tanegashima Space Center in Japan. The launch completed the second of two missions under the Quasi-Zenith Satellite System-Hosted Payload (QZSS-HP) programme, the first bilateral US-Japan cooperative space effort focused on national security.

Commenting on the launch, US Space Force Colonel Bryon McClain said: “The successful launch of QZS-7 is a powerful testament to the enduring strength and rapid modernization of the US-Japan alliance. By continuing to merge our capabilities in space modernization and satellite communications, we are maintaining security in a contested space domain and fortifying our shared deterrence capabilities across the Indo-Pacific region.”

 

India

Pixxel-led consortium selected to build national Earth observation constellation for India

On 12 August, Bengaluru-based space technology company Pixxel announced that a consortium it leads alongside partners Dhruva Space, PierSight and SatSure has been selected by the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe) to design, build, own and operate a national Earth observation constellation under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) framework.

The selection marks the first time a private Indian consortium will deliver a national Earth Observation Satellite System (EOSS). The EOSS will be a 12-satellite network to be developed over the next four to five years.

OCEANIA

Australia

Southern Launch and DSTG launch Koonibba Rising Rocket in first joint mission

On 6 August, Southern Launch and the Defence Science and Technology Group (DSTG) successfully launched the Koonibba Rising Rocket (KRR) from the Koonibba Test Range in South Australia. The launch marks the third mission conducted at the Koonibba Test Range in 2026 and marked a further milestone in enhancing Australia’s sovereign rocket capabilities.

Commenting on the launch, South Australian Minister for Defence and Space Industries, Chris Picton, said: “This successful launch demonstrates the value of collaboration between industry and government, bringing together Southern Launch and DSTG to advance critical Australian rocket technologies.”

Australia and Singapore hold inaugural Space Dialogue

On 20 July, the inaugural Australia-Singapore Senior Officials’ Space Dialogue was held alongside the Australian Space Forum in Adelaide, Australia. The establishment of a Space Dialogue follows the signature of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership 2.0 signed between Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Prime Minister Lawrence Wong on 8 October 2025.

During the Dialogue, officials reaffirmed the strong bilateral relationships between Australia and Singapore and the strong science, technology and innovation partnership between the two nations. Officials discussed national priorities, policy development and approaches to a range of activities in the space sector, including Earth observation and geospatial analytics, space situational awareness, space surveillance and tracking, launch and return activities, space ecosystem development and pro-business regulatory practices. A joint statement published following the Space Dialogue affirmed that the Dialogue deepened both agencies understanding of their respective space ecosystems, capabilities and priorities.

The full joint statement can be read here.

Optus completes first phase of Project Aurora satellite life-extension mission

On 12 August, Optus and Northrop Grumman’s SpaceLogistics announced the successful undocking of the Mission Extension Vehicle (MEV) from the Optus D3 satellite, marking the completion of Phase 1 of Project Aurora. Project Aurora is a commercial satellite servicing operation extending the operational life of Optus D3. Having provided over a year of docked propulsion and attitude-control support, the MEV’s undocking concludes this stage of the mission.

Phase 2 will extend Optus D3’s life by a further six years. Northrop Grumman’s Mission Robotic Vehicle (MRV), launched earlier this year, will rendezvous with Optus D3 to install a dedicated Mission Extension Pod (MEP), targeted for late 2027.

Commenting on the success, Harvey Wright, Executive General Manager at Optus said: “Project Aurora reflects our commitment to advancing satellite innovation, strengthening the resilience of our satellite network and driving more sustainable approaches to satellite operations. We now look ahead to the next major milestone, with installation of the MEP on Optus D3 scheduled for late 2027.”

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