Japanese startup Interstellar Technologies announced a 7 billion yen ($44 million) investment Jan. 6 from Woven by Toyota, the automobile company's mobility technology arm.

Satellite operator AST SpaceMobile hopes to turbocharge its proposed direct-to-smartphone services with L-band spectrum from Ligado Networks, which filed for bankruptcy after GPS interference concerns derailed its terrestrial 5G plans.

The award marks one of the Pentagon's largest-ever investments in hypersonic testing infrastructure

Join us on Jan.

On 8 January 2025, the ESA/JAXA BepiColombo mission will fly just 295 km above Mercury's surface, with a closest approach scheduled for 06:59 CET (05:59 UTC). It will use this opportunity to photograph Mercury, make unique measurements of the planet’s environment, and fine-tune science instrument operations before the main mission begins. This sixth and final flyby will reduce the spacecraft’s speed and change its direction, readying it for entering orbit around the tiny planet in late 2026.

An upcoming European launch competition will be an early test of efforts by ESA to modify its approach to georeturn policies.