Podcast Summary: T-Minus Space Daily

Episode: Sovereignty is the new space race.
Date: January 21, 2026
Host: Maria Varmazes, N2K Networks

Main Theme & Purpose

This episode delves into the shifting landscape of the "new space race," focusing on how nations and private companies are driving toward sovereign capabilities in space technology, manufacturing, and launch infrastructure. The discussion covers major industry contracts and funding updates, space debris mitigation efforts, lunar science missions, and noteworthy news in space weather and astronaut careers—emphasizing the growing strategic importance of self-reliance and national interests in commercial and governmental space sectors.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. European Push for Sovereign Space Capabilities

[02:00 - 03:50]

• SWISSto12’s Major ESA Funding:
  SWISSto12, a Swiss aerospace company, has secured €73 million (approx. $84.8 million USD) in financial support from European Space Agency (ESA) member states via the Hummingsat Artes partnership project.

  • The funding will boost development of Hummingsat, a next-generation, compact and cost-effective communications satellite platform.
  • The initiative aims to address the “increasing global demand for cost effective, agile, and sovereign communications in both government and commercial sectors.”
  • Hummingsat’s first launch is scheduled for 2027.
  • The investment includes scaling manufacturing and phased-array antenna R&D for use in LEO, MEO, GEO payloads, and user terminals.
  • Implication:
    The move reflects a broader European trend toward technological self-sufficiency amidst shifting geopolitical tensions and a desire for independence from non-European launch providers.

  “We are seeing the trend of sovereign launch and manufacturing capabilities extend to Canada as well.”
  — Maria Varmazes [03:35]

2. Canada’s Entry into Independent Launch

[03:45 - 04:45]

• Canada Rocket Co (CRC) Emerges from Stealth:
  CRC, a Toronto-based space startup, announces $6.2 million CAD in seed funding—all from Canadian investors.

  • The company’s mission is to develop sovereign, medium-lift launch capability for Canada.
  • CRC aims to compete with SpaceX Falcon 9 for complex satellite deployments, starting with lighter launch vehicles and scaling up.
  • The startup is hiring engineers and technicians, hoping to reverse Canada’s “brain drain” and bring talent home.

  "CRC wants to position itself as an alternative to SpaceX's Falcon 9… with the ability to independently launch, place or maintain complex spacecraft like satellites at scale."
  — Maria Varmazes [04:25]

3. U.S. Leads in Space Sustainability

[04:46 - 06:04]

• Starfish Space Wins U.S. Space Force Contract:
  Starfish Space awarded a $52.5 million contract by the Space Development Agency to provide a “deorbit as a service” for satellites, becoming the first dedicated end-of-life disposal mission for a LEO constellation.

  • Their OTTER spacecraft will service multiple satellites, ensuring responsible space debris mitigation.
  • Target launch: 2027.

  “The mission begins with an initial deorbit, with options for multiple additional deorbits enabled by OTTER’s significant capacity and ability to service several satellites in a single mission.”
  — Maria Varmazes [05:32]

4. NASA’s New Frontier in Lunar Science

[06:04 - 07:40]

• Three New Lunar Science Investigations Announced:
  NASA selects three American science payloads under the Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) framework—delivery to the lunar surface no earlier than 2028.

  • AMELIA 3D: Will use thermal imaging and stereo cameras to produce 3D thermal models of the Moon’s surface.

  • LISTER: Drills beneath the lunar surface to measure subsurface heat flow and material conductivity.

  • SELENE: Studies the Moon’s radiation environment from cosmic rays and secondary particle interactions with lunar regolith.

  • Noteworthy:
    The missions are site-agnostic, flexible for various lunar delivery locations.

5. Space Debris Research Innovation

[07:40 - 08:25]

• Orion Space Solutions Contract for Space Debris Tracking:
  Orion Space Solutions, a subsidiary of Arkfield, wins a follow-on subcontract to support phase two of the Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Activity (IARPA) Space Debris Identification and Tracking Program (SINTRA).
  • Building on phase one breakthroughs in measuring ionospheric interactions from orbital debris.
  • Phase two will operationalize detection methods for untracked objects by analyzing plasma wave environments.
  • “Lots of acronyms in this one.”
    — Maria Varmazes [08:18]

6. Quick Hits: Industry News

[09:20 - 09:58]

• Selected Reading Highlights (Alice Carruth):
  • ASTRA’s positive business report
  • Updates on Vast Haven-1
  • Comtech’s latest contract
  • Reuters report on rising space investment
  • Full links available at space.n2k.com

7. Space Weather & Notable Retirements

[12:09 - 13:30]

• X-Class Solar Flare Sparks Auroras:
  Recent severe solar activity brought spectacular auroras, especially over the Northern Hemisphere.

  • ESA calls it a “notable space weather event.”
  • No satellite disruptions reported yet, but Maria notes, “that may take some time to come to public light.”
    — [12:30]

  “There is still so much that we don’t know and cannot predict about space weather just yet. But at least the aurora photos that we get out of it are very lovely. Please keep them coming.”
  — Maria Varmazes [12:59]

• Suni Williams Retires After 27 Years at NASA:
  Legendary astronaut Suni Williams ends her career after 608 days in space, nine spacewalks, and the distinction of running the Boston Marathon… in orbit.

  “She is an icon, she’s a legend, and she is the moment. Suni Williams, congratulations on a very well deserved retirement.”
  — Maria Varmazes [13:25]

Notable Quotes

• “Sovereign capability is the new space race.” — Episode theme underscored throughout [c. 02:00+]
• “CRC wants to position itself as an alternative to SpaceX's Falcon 9…” — Maria Varmazes [04:25]
• "The mission begins with an initial deorbit, with options for multiple additional deorbits..." — Maria Varmazes [05:32]
• “She is an icon, she’s a legend, and she is the moment. Suni Williams, congratulations on a very well deserved retirement.” — Maria Varmazes [13:25]

Timestamps for Key Segments

| Timestamp | Topic / Segment | |-----------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 01:24 | Episode opens: Host introduction, date, brief rundown | | 01:43 | Top news headlines - Sovereignty trend, contracts, investments | | 02:00 | SWISSto12’s ESA funding and Hummingsat update | | 03:35 | Canadian sovereignty: CRC funding and launch ambitions | | 04:46 | US Space Force Starfish Space contract | | 06:04 | NASA’s new lunar payload science initiatives | | 07:40 | Orion Space Solutions: Space debris tracking | | 09:20 | Other headlines (Alice Carruth) | | 12:09 | Solar flare, auroras, and Suni Williams’ retirement |

Summary

This densely packed episode spotlights a global trend—sovereignty is becoming the new defining metric in space. Europe and Canada are investing in homegrown launch and manufacturing, while the U.S. is pushing sustainability with deorbit services. NASA's lunar science ambitions march on, and space weather—always unpredictable—offers reminders of both risk and beauty. The retirement of astronaut Suni Williams is a poignant milestone, celebrating human achievement in space.

For listeners and industry followers, this episode affirms: the space race is back—not merely about reaching orbit, but about controlling how, with whose tools, and under whose flag it happens.