NASA Shutters ‘The Earth Observer’ Publication; EOS Flagships Face 2026 Retirement – SatNews
Original Publication Date: 2025-12-29 00:00
NASA to cease publication of The Earth Observer, the agency's long-running Earth Science newsletter. The closure of the 36-year-old publication marks a symbolic transition for the agency. NASA also confirmed plans to retire its three major Earth Observing System (EOS) flagship satellites.
Brian Cox Addresses Interstellar Comet Signal Claims Amid MAVEN Silence – SatNews
Original Publication Date: 2025-12-29 00:00
MAVEN has remained silent since December 6, 2025. NASA engineers are concurrently attempting to restore telemetry with MAVEN. NASA has not yet confirmed if the anomaly is related to a hardware failure or a synchronization error within the Deep Space Network. If the spacecraft does not respond to “blind” commanding by early January 2026, the agency may reclassify the mission’s operational status.
LIG Nex1 Weighs ‘Defense & Aerospace’ Rebrand Ahead of 50th Anniversary – SatNews
Original Publication Date: 2025-12-29 00:00
South Korean defense contractor LIG Nex1 is moving to rename itself “LIG Defense & Aerospace. The proposed change reflects a pivot from its traditional stronghold in guided missiles. The company has aggressively targeted the space sector over the past 24 months. The potential retirement of the “Nex1” brand marks a shift in corporate identity.
SpaceRISE Consortium Initiates IRIS² Procurement Phase – SatNews
Original Publication Date: 2025-12-29 00:00
The SpaceRISE consortium transitioned the European Union’s IRIS² program into its active industrial procurement phase on Sunday. The move follows the publication of high-level procurement documentation via the European Space Agency. The procurement push represents the first major shift from political mandate to physical acquisition since the signing of the 12-year concession agreement in December 2024.
SPHEREx produces first all-sky map, highlights entire universe in infrared light
Original Publication Date: 2025-12-28 21:36
NASA's SPHEREx observatory has completed its first map of the universe. The map is comprised of 102 infrared wavelengths. It will allow SPHEREx’s team and astrophysicists to research the source of the early universe’s inflation and the distribution of organic molecules throughout the universe.