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NASA meeting works to define exploration architecture
NASA officials met last week to review its overall exploration architecture, although it was unclear exactly what they agreed to and when they will make it public.

Europe seeks greater autonomy in space traffic management
European officials say they’re making progress to achieve “strategic autonomy” in space traffic management by building up both capabilities and policy.

Commerce Department outlines plans for basic space traffic management service
The Commerce Department has outlined the services it proposes to offer free of charge to satellite operators from the space traffic management system it is developing.

L3Harris ‘optimistic’ Aerojet Rocketdyne acquisition will close in 2023
Christopher Kubasik, CEO of L3Harris Technologies, said Jan. 27 regulators continue to review the company’s proposed $4.7 billion acquisition of Aerojet Rocketdyne and expects the merger to close in 2023.

NASA still working on long-term plans for ISS seat barters
As NASA prepares to launch another commercial crew mission with a Russian cosmonaut on board, the agency says it has yet to work out an agreement with Roscosmos on future crew swaps.

Janus considering alternative missions after losing original ride
A NASA asteroid smallsat mission that lost its original ride to space is considering alternative missions while also accommodating performance issues with its propulsion system.

NASA adds asteroid flyby to Lucy mission
NASA has added another asteroid flyby to its Lucy mission later this year that will provide a test of its capabilities for future encounters.

NEO Surveyor launch delayed despite funding boost
While Congress provided more funding than NASA requested for an asteroid mission, agency officials said it will not prevent a two-year slip in its launch.

ESA is no longer planning to send astronauts to China’s Tiangong space station
ESA’s director general says the agency does not have the budgetary capacity nor the political intention to send its astronauts to China’s space station.

NASA and DARPA to partner on nuclear thermal propulsion demonstration
NASA and DARPA will cooperate on the development and flight demonstration of a nuclear propulsion system with applications for both national security and space exploration.

Thales Alenia Space leading another ESA push to develop quantum comms
Thales Alenia Space has signed a contract to develop quantum technologies in another push by the European Space Agency to use the behavior of subatomic particles to make communications more secure.

UK Space Agency offers $62 million for innovative connectivity projects
The U.K. announced 50 million British pounds ($62 million) in funding Jan. 23 for projects that could boost the country’s satellite communications industry.


Satellite constellations could interfere with meteorological spectrum
Satellite megaconstellations could pose a threat to the spectrum that meteorologists are eager to protect from radio frequency interference.

Op-ed | How Canada is Shaping the World’s Future in Space
For decades, Canada has taken part in space research, exploration and defense, and while the nation’s contributions are not always the flashiest, they are almost always mission-critical.

NASA to cooperate on Israeli astrophysics mission
The United States and Israel are finalizing an agreement that would see NASA contribute to an upcoming Israeli astrophysics mission.