Space Technology 15 January 2026 - 3 February 2026

Germany’s $41 billion military space splurge: lasers, spy satellites and 100+ secure comms satellites

Germany’s $41 billion military space splurge: lasers, spy satellites and 100+ secure comms satellites

Germany is weighing investments ranging from spy satellites and space planes to lasers under a 35 billion euro military space spending plan aimed at countering what it sees as growing threats from Russia and China in orbit, the commander of its space command said. https://www.reuters.com/science/germany-eyes-lasers-spy-satellites-military-space-spending-splurge-2026-02-03/ The push matters because Berlin is treating space less like a support function and more like a place where wars can be won or lost. Major General Michael Traut said the environment above the Earth has become “sharply more contested” since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
February 3, 2026
SpaceX fires off secret NROL-105 launch, kicking off 2026 U.S. spy-satellite missions

SpaceX fires off secret NROL-105 launch, kicking off 2026 U.S. spy-satellite missions

VANDENBERG SPACE FORCE BASE, Calif., Jan. 18, 2026, 03:27 PST SpaceX kicked off a classified mission for the U.S. National Reconnaissance Office late Friday, lofting the NROL-105 payload into orbit from California’s Vandenberg Space Force Base. After deploying the national security satellite, the Falcon 9 booster touched down at Landing Zone 4. The agency described this launch as the 12th in support of its proliferated architecture.
January 18, 2026
Airbus’ SpaceRAN bet: a 5G “base station in space” is coming, with a 2027 in‑orbit demo

Airbus’ SpaceRAN bet: a 5G “base station in space” is coming, with a 2027 in‑orbit demo

Airbus is stepping up efforts to bring 5G performance to space-based networks. On January 14, 2026, Airbus UpNext unveiled “SpaceRAN,” a demonstrator designed to test standardized global 5G Non‑Terrestrial Network connectivity. This is crucial today as satellite connectivity expands rapidly, yet much of it remains trapped in closed ecosystems. Airbus is taking a different route: pushing for interoperability, standardization, and the vision that satellites should integrate seamlessly with wider space and ground networks—no need for custom glue code at every turn.
January 15, 2026