€140M ESA Launcher Funding at Risk of Lapse | KeepTrack Space Brief
Nearly €140 million in ESA launcher development funds faces forfeiture with no replacement mechanism. Europe's independent launch capacity under pressure as Arianespace struggles.
NORAD ID
46306
International Designator
2020-061AL
Decay Date
5/12/2023
Name
SPACEBEE-17
Alternative Name
SpaceBEE 17
Type
Status
Owner
SWARM
Country
United States
Constellation
N/A
Related Satellites
Major Events
N/A
Length
0.025
Diameter
0.1
Span
0.9
Dry Mass
0.284
Launch Mass
0.284
Shape
Box+2 ant
Radar Cross Section
Unknown
Visual Magnitude
Unknown
Color
Unknown
Material Composition
Unknown
Payload
SpaceBEE 17
Purpose
Communication M2M/IoT
Mission
Communication M2M/IoT
Manufacturer
SWARM
Life Expectancy
Unknown
Bus
Cubesat 0.25U
Configuration
CubeSat (0.25U)
Motor
None
Equipment
Unknown
Power System
Solar cells, batteries
ADCS
Unknown
Transmitter Frequency
Unknown
Learn more about satellites and other related topics.
Nearly €140 million in ESA launcher development funds faces forfeiture with no replacement mechanism. Europe's independent launch capacity under pressure as Arianespace struggles.
In 2024, China launched 68 orbital missions. In 2025, the number jumped to 97. In 2026, state media and Western analysts agree the target is 140 or more. Most of that growth is being driven by two state-backed mega-constellations, a half-dozen private launch companies hitting stride, and a deliberate national pivot toward commercial space. Beijing is no longer trying to catch SpaceX. It is trying to build an industrial base that outlasts one.
Thirty years ago, a Chinese rocket veered off course two seconds after liftoff, destroyed a village, and triggered a political scandal that reshaped how the United States controls space technology to this day
SpaceX targets July 16 for Starship Flight 13 from Starbase, aiming to fix Flight 12 issues and deploy working Starlink satellites.
The evolution from simply tracking objects in orbit to understanding the full strategic picture of who is doing what in space, and why
SpaceX set to launch 11,000th Starlink satellite on Starlink 17-19 from Vandenberg. NASA moves Crew-12 launch to Feb 11 after ISS medical evacuation. Starship V3 targets mid-March first flight.
Today's Space Brief covers China's latest satellite launch, Russian threats to UK satellites, European defense strategies, and upcoming satellite launches from SatLeo and Quantum Space.
ULA's Vulcan Centaur faces potential months-long stand-down. Space Force actively exploring payload reassignment and satellite operational life extensions to cover critical national security missions.