AIAA SciTech Forum 2026

https://scitech.aiaa.org/

Billed as the world’s largest event for aerospace R&D, AIAA SciTech Forum's 2025 theme is “Breaking Barriers Together: Boundless Discovery”. Speakers include Jonathan W. Arenberg of Northrop Grumman and Craig Martell of Lockheed Martin. Orlando, FL. January 12-16, 2026.

Space Debris Conference 2026

https://ssa.gov.sa/sdc26/

SDC2026 invites international stakeholders facing the escalating threat of space debris to in-depth keynotes, live demonstrations and collaborations on issues and long-term solutions for a safer orbital environment. Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. January 26-27, 2026.

2026 SmallSat Symposium

https://smallsatshow.com/

This year’s intensive three-day forum features deep technical briefs and insights into new missions, behind-the-scenes market analysis, and the latest breakthroughs in smallsat technology, services and applications. $200-$1,395. Silicon Valley, CA. February 10-11, 2026.

ASCENDxTexas 2026

https://www.ascend.events/ascendx/ascendxtexas-2026/

2026 ASCENDxTexas opens under the theme, “Interlocking Orbits—Civilian, Commercial, and Defense,” with a focus on the innovation and adaptation necessary to navigate the evolving space economy. Join discussions on policy, commercial challenges, and changing timelines. $199-$449. Houston, TX. February 25-26, 2026.

47th IEEE Aerospace Conference

https://www.aeroconf.org/

The International IEEE Conference promotes interdisciplinary understanding through presentations and plenary sessions around science and technology, and government and commercial applications. $125-$2300. Big Sky, MT. March 7-14, 2026.

SATShow Week (SATELLITE x GovMilSpace) 

https://www.satshow.com/

Commercial innovators, government and military decision-makers, and end-users from around the world gather for the SATELLITE and GovMilSpace events to collaborate and have mission-critical dialogue in a trusted forum at this satellite-focused event. $149-$2,899. Washington, D.C. March 23-26, 2026.

Munich Space Summit

https://www.munich-space-summit.org/

The Munich New Space Summit and Munich Satellite Navigation Summit merge this year into a 5-day forum for space sector innovation to build bridges between established expertise and emerging ideas, and enable future collaborations and applications. Munich, Germany. March 23-27, 2026.

Space Symposium 

https://www.spacesymposium.org/

Global space professionals alongside hundreds of exhibitors and speakers come together to explore critical space issues and drive innovation across the space industry. $0-$3,560. Colorado Springs, CO. April 13-16, 2026.

CubeSat Developers Workshop 2026

https://www.cubesatdw.org/

Attendees from different countries gather for this annual global small-satellite conference hosted by CubeSat. $125-$750. San Luis Obispo, CA. April 14-16, 2026.

NASA Crater Detection Challenge

https://www.nasa.gov/directorates/stmd/prizes-challenges-crowdsourcing-program/center-of-excellence-for-collaborative-innovation-coeci/nasa-crater-detection-challenge/

NASA is developing a system to capture and process orbital images of lunar terrain and invites you to develop methods to reliably fit ellipses to crater rims for next generation, terrain-based optical navigation, helping to advance future exploration. $55,000 in total prizes. Closes January 19, 2026.

NASA's LunaRecycle Challenge: Phase 2

https://lunarecycle.competitionsciences.org/

This phase of the $3 million competition is open only to U.S. teams and focuses on the development of required Prototype Solutions and optional Digital Twin Solutions of the prototype to transform trash items into useful feedstocks and/or end products on the surface of the Moon and Mars. Winners are expected to be announced in August 2026. Registration closes January 22, 2026.

NASA Orbit Challenge

https://nasaorbit.org/

This college student competition opens up NASA intellectual property and mission challenge opportunities for developing commercial applications of NASA patents to solve problems on Earth or for next-generation space exploration technologies. In addition to up to $380,000 in prizes, participants receive mentorship from NASA experts and finalists gain access to an exclusive career accelerator program. Closes February 9, 2026.

SpaceNews Job Exchange

https://jobs.spacenews.com/

Find jobs, post openings and connect at this launchpad for space industry careers.

The solar system's biggest space jobs site | Space Crew

https://spacecrew.com/

Accelerate your space career with email alerts for key space industry insights and over 4000 space company jobs.

Jobs in the Space Field & Tech Industry | Space Talent

https://www.spacetalent.org/

Space Talent is a resource for careers at the intersection of space and tech. They match employers with top talent while providing insights and resources to grow your career.

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CACI Makes Play to Bolster Space Capabilities With $2.6 Billion Bid for ARKA Group

https://www.satellitetoday.com/finance/2025/12/22/caci-makes-play-to-bolster-space-capabilities-with-2-6-billion-bid-for-arka-group/

CACI International agreed to acquire ARKA Group, a Blackstone portfolio company, in an all-cash $2.6 billion deal, expanding its presence in space-based sensing, imaging payloads, and intelligence processing for national security missions. The acquisition adds ARKA’s electro-optical, infrared, and hyperspectral sensor technologies used across orbits, enhances CACI’s end-to-end multi-domain intelligence capabilities, and gives it an entry into directed energy and laser warning systems. The transaction is expected to close in early 2026.

Hungarian Firm 4iG to Invest $100M in Axiom Space 

https://www.satellitetoday.com/finance/2025/12/22/hungarian-firm-4ig-to-invest-100m-in-axiom-space/

Hungarian 4iG Space and Defence agreed to invest $100 million in commercial space station developer Axiom Space, the first Hungarian ownership in a US space company. Funds will be used for expansion of Axiom's private space station development and commercial space infrastructure projects.

Starlab Announces Investment from Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank, Limited

https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251226706203/en/Starlab-Announces-Investment-from-Sumitomo-Mitsui-Trust-Bank-Limited

Commercial space station developer Starlab Space announced an investment from Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank. The undisclosed investment will go toward supporting development and commercialization of space station technologies and exploring opportunities for collaboration and broader industrial development.

Starfighters Space to Begin Trading Today on NYSE American Under Ticker Symbol “FJET”

https://starfightersspace.com/starfighters-space-to-begin-trading-today-on-nyse-american-under-ticker-symbol-fjet/

Supersonic aircraft fleet operator Starfighters Space began trading on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker “FJET”. Simultaneously, Starfighters raised $40 million to advance R&D and accelerate STARLAUNCH I and II programs for reusable sub-orbital small satellite and payload launches.

HawkEye 360 Closes Strategic Acquisition and Secures Series E Preferred and Debt

https://www.he360.com/hawkeye-360-closes-strategic-acquisition-and-secures-series-e-preferred-and-debt/

Signals intelligence data and analytics leader HawkEye 360 acquired Innovative Signal Analysis supported by a $150 million Series E preferred equity financing co-led by NightDragon and Center15 Capital, with participation from Silicon Valley Bank, Pinegrove Venture Partners, and Hercules Capital.

India’s Digantara raises $50M for space-based missile defense tech

https://techcrunch.com/2025/12/16/indias-digantara-raises-50m-for-space-based-missile-defence-tech/

Indian space surveillance startup Digantara raised $50 million in Series B funding from 360 ONE Asset and SBI Investment of Japan, with participation from Peak XV Partners, Kalaari Capital and others to meet growing government demand for space-based defense capabilities.

EraDrive Raises $5.3M Seed to Bring Self Driving Tech to Orbit

https://payloadspace.com/eradrive-raises-5-3m-seed-to-bring-self-driving-tech-to-orbit/

EraDrive announced a $5.3M seed round to scale production of self-driving modules that use observational data to allow satellites to maneuver autonomously. Haystack Ventures led the round, with participation from Point Nine, Harpoon Ventures, Brave Capital and others.

NASA Chief Isaacman on Space Agenda and White House Executive Order - Ensuring American Space Superiority

https://youtu.be/MfeIkUOfYps?si=4zGzPl2F4q4h44_y

https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/12/ensuring-american-space-superiority/

NASA Administrator Isaacman responds to President Trump’s signing of “Ensuring American Space Superiority” executive order, a commitment to establishing an American base on the moon and investing in technology for long duration missions to Mars and beyond, as well as agency acquisition reform and growth of a vibrant commercial space economy.

Will Starlink Finally Face Real Competition in 2026 or Are Its Rivals Still Catching Up?

https://www.pcmag.com/news/real-competition-for-starlink-in-2026-or-amazon-leo-still-catching-up

https://www.pcmag.com/news/ast-spacemobile-launches-its-most-powerful-direct-to-cell-satellite-yet

Starlink has grown into a global satellite internet powerhouse over the last five years, with over 9,000 Starlink satellites in orbit and a user base of over 8 million, as Amazon’s Leo is preparing to begin service in 2026 and AST SpaceMobile continues to work with AT&T and Verizon to offer cellular satellite connectivity. AST successfully launched its second generation BlueBird 6 satellite on December 23 via India's ISRO. BlueBird 6, at nearly 2,400 square feet, is over three times the size and 10x the capacity of their existing satellites.

Tory Bruno to lead new Blue Origin national security unit

https://breakingdefense.com/2025/12/tory-bruno-to-lead-new-blue-origin-national-security-unit/

Tory Bruno left United Launch Alliance after nearly a decade as president and CEO to join Blue Origin as president of a new National Security Group. The unit is intended to pursue national security space contracts and expand its role in defense-related space work. The Space Force gave Blue Origin an initial award allowing it to compete for National Security Space Launch Program (NSSL) Phase 3 Lane 2 launch contracts, which carry high-value payloads or have difficult to achieve orbits. Blue Origin's New Glenn heavy lift rocket has thus far only completed 2 of 4 planned qualification launches for NSSL.

China Joins Google, Amazon, and xAI in the Race to Build AI Supercomputers in Space

https://carboncredits.com/china-joins-google-amazon-and-xai-in-the-race-to-build-ai-supercomputers-in-space/

Chinese aerospace companies also have plans to deploy AI data centers in orbit to get around power, cooling and data limits they face on Earth. Zhongke Tiansuan (Comospace) has operated a computer on a Jilin‑1 satellite for over 1,000 days. Zhejiang Laboratory is developing its Three-Body Computing Constellation, with its first batch of 12 satellites launched in May 2025. China is also planning a 1 gigawatt central space data center in dawn–dusk orbit.

6 spaceflights ahead in 2026, from NASA moon missions to SpaceX Starship

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2025/12/22/spacex-nasa-blue-origin-rocket-launches/87841665007/

In 2026 we can look forward to missions including NASA's crewed Artemis II to circumnavigate the moon as well as more robotic lunar landers, SpaceX Starship V3 megarocket launches, possibly the debut of a bigger Blue Origin New Glenn rocket for national security missions, and Amazon Leo, having deployed 180 of 3,000 planned broadband satellites, pushing further deployment and beginning service.

Artistic concept of the four known planets of star TOI-561 showing size comparison with Earth. Image Credits: Martin Vargic - Halcyon Maps

The most exciting exoplanet discoveries of 2025

https://www.space.com/astronomy/exoplanets/the-most-exciting-exoplanet-discoveries-of-2025

Astronomers have now confirmed over 6,000 worlds beyond our solar system, and several thousand more await confirmation. 2025 brought several remarkable exoplanet findings, including atmospheric detections and nearby Earth-like worlds. Highlights included ongoing debate about potential biosignatures on K2-18b and dashed hopes for TRAPPIST-1e's habitability.