Satellite procurement
India signs ₹2,563 crore GSAT-7C satellite contract
The defence ministry has contracted NewSpace India for a dedicated Indian Air Force communications satellite. Its announcement gives no launch or commissioning date.
Editorial desk
Policy
The institutions, rules and long-range choices shaping how India operates in an increasingly crowded space domain.
Satellite weather services
IMD releases public cyclone and marine weather demonstrator
The map-based platform includes satellite-product controls, but its public landing page still labels the data as demonstrations and places operational information in the future.
Commercial space
NASA opens final call for commercial space station proposals
The agency sets a December 8 deadline after its July draft consultation, with contract awards expected in spring 2027.
Satellite fire monitoring
CAQM reviews Punjab farm-fire surveillance during drone rollout
The October 9–10 field review examined harvest-season monitoring. A Times of India report describes partial drone surveillance and 80–90 planned aircraft, rather than a completed deployment.
Satellite communications
OneWeb prepares India satellite services with approvals pending
An October 9 executive interview adds a security-demonstration account to OneWeb’s launch preparations. Regulatory assessment and commercial approval remain unresolved.
Space policy
UK and Germany plan launch cooperation through SaxaVord
Their October 8 joint statement targets a space memorandum in early 2027 and closer cooperation on European launch access. It announces no new launch contract or spaceport funding award.
Space applications
Uttar Pradesh proposes space mapping for plots and houses
Chief Secretary S.P. Goyal raised the land-boundary and municipal-tax uses at the 8 October Lucknow workshop. The reports do not provide an implementation timetable.
Satellite communications
India publishes security-assessment status for three satellite licensees
The communications ministry puts all three licensed providers under review. Each must complete that process before seeking spectrum assignment; the statement announces no service-start date.
Disaster planning
EU sets out €19 million South Asia satellite-data programme
The four-year initiative includes India and six neighbours, with Copernicus information and climate services intended to support national planning; delivered disaster-warning outcomes remain unreported.
Space regulation
FCC authorizes 15,000 satellites for SpaceX’s Starlink Mobile network
The conditional approval covers mobile-satellite operations outside the United States, while spectrum transfers and several requested bands remain unresolved.
Space policy
ITU releases joint handbook on weather spectrum protection
The 2026 reference covers satellite sensors, interference criteria and early-warning data. It does not change binding spectrum rules.
Space policy
EU Council expands space threat response to national systems
The September 28 decision reaches beyond EU programme assets. It sets a four-week Council review for urgent provisional action and creates a space-security response toolbox.