Europe’s Ariane 6 launch and Asia’s space momentum.

[MUSIC PLAYING] Today is December 17, 2025. I'm Maria Varmazis, and this is T-minus. [MUSIC PLAYING] T-minus. 22nd to LOS, T-dred. Open aboard. [INAUDIBLE] [MUSIC PLAYING] [INAUDIBLE] [MUSIC PLAYING] Five. The planned launch of Japan's Michibiki 5 navigation satellite was scrubbed at the last minute. Four. China's new stereo mapping satellite was launched from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center in Shanxi Province. Three. India's DeGantara Industries has raised $50 million in a funding round to develop sovereign space surveillance capabilities. Two. An ESA contract awarded to Arian Group in 2021 for the development of an Arian 6 kick stage will reportedly be adapted to cover its evolution into an orbital transfer vehicle. One. An Arian 6 rocket launched two Galileo satellites from Europe's spaceport in French Guiana. [MUSIC PLAYING] We are on, girls. [MUSIC PLAYING] We are on. [INAUDIBLE] Lift off. [MUSIC PLAYING] Happy Wednesday, everybody. Thank you for joining me today. We have a truly global intelligence briefing for you today spanning news from China, across Asia, and Europe. So let's dive in, shall we? First up, an Arian 6 rocket launched two Galileo satellites from Europe's spaceport in French Guiana in the early hours of this morning. The satellites, designated SAT 33 and SAT 34, separated from the launcher after a flight of just under four hours. The European Space Agency declared the flight successful after acquisition of signal and confirmation that both satellites are healthy with their solar arrays deployed. And today marked the first launch of a Galileo spacecraft on a European rocket and the fifth launch of the Arian 6 heavy lift launcher. Two additional launches are planned for the near future, each carrying two Galileo first generation satellites. The SAT 33 and SAT 34 satellites will now undergo early operations and in-orbit testing. In about three months, with the addition of the new satellites, the Galileo constellation will have 29 active satellites, ensuring even greater coverage and reliability. And staying with Arian 6, European Spaceflight is reporting that a contract awarded to Arian Group in 2021 for the development of an Arian 6 kick stage will be adapted to cover its evolution into an orbital transfer vehicle. ESA awarded Arian Group's German subsidiary the 90 million Euro contract in July 2021 to develop the Asterisk kick stage as part of the Arian 6 competitiveness improvement program. The optional kick stage was intended to enhance the Arian 6 launch systems flexibility by enabling deployment of payloads into multiple orbits or direct injection into geostationary orbit. At the time the initial contract was awarded, the first Arian 6 flight with an Asterisk kick stage was expected to take place in 2024. And obviously, that did not happen, and it was all pushed until 2027. However, following decisions made at the agency's ministerial council meeting in Bremen last month, the approach has changed to move directly to the development of an orbital transfer vehicle or OTV. Under the new timeline, a proto flight mode of the OTV is expected to be ready for ground qualification by the end of 2028 with an inaugural flight following in 2029. India's Digantera Industries has raised $50 million in a funding round to develop sovereign space surveillance capabilities. The Bengaluru-based startup did not disclose its valuation after the funding round. Digantera builds hardware, software, and artificial intelligence-driven analytics for governments and defense agencies across India, the United States, the UK, Singapore, Australia, and Japan. The company plans to expand into Europe by mid-2026. It also operates a commercial space surveillance satellite launched in January 2025 and is developing homegrown systems with all hardware designed and manufactured in Bengaluru. Digantera says that the investment will help it expand from tracking space debris and satellites to becoming a full-stack space surveillance and intelligence company. And let's head on over to China for our next story. A new stereo mapping satellite was launched on Tuesday from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center in North China's Shanxi province. The Zhiyuan 304 satellite lifted off on a Long March 4B rocket at 11.17 AM Beijing time. Chinese media is reporting that the rocket sent the satellite into preset orbit and that it will form a satellite constellation with the in-orbit G-1302 and G-03 satellites for observation. And the planned launch of Japan's Michibiki-5 navigation satellite was scrubbed at the last minute earlier today. An H3 rocket was scheduled to launch the Michibiki-5 spacecraft from Tanegashima Space Center in the morning hours of December 17 in Japan. It was carrying a new unmanned cargo transfer spacecraft called the HTV-X1. It's believed that the scrub was due to a ground systems issue, which triggered an abort in the final minute of the countdown. A new target date has not been announced as of the time of this recording. [MUSIC PLAYING] And that wraps up today's Intel Briefing. To learn more about the stories mentioned throughout this episode, make sure to head to the selected reading section of our show notes. You'll find links to the original sources of all of the stories that I've mentioned for you today. Hey, crew, a lot of people are listening to podcasts through YouTube nowadays. And if that's the way you would prefer to listen to this show, well, good news, everyone. T-Minus Space Daily is indeed on YouTube. We post our episodes there along with video clips from some of our interviews and events that we go to throughout the year. So if you are dual screening at work and keep the YouTube player going all day while you are heads down-- listen, I get it. I'm not judging. @N2Kcyber is our company's YouTube channel. And you will find the T-Minus Space Daily playlist on there along with all of the other shows that we make here at N2K. Again, find us on YouTube at N2Kcyber. And thanks. We'll be right back with a NASA research opportunity for college and university students. Welcome back. NASA is looking for innovations from university students with an eye on Earth and deep space. The agency is now accepting concepts for its opportunities in research, business, innovation, and technology, or orbit challenge, which asks university and college teams to develop the most forward-thinking ideas that are tied to NASA missions and real-world needs. Orbit comes with up to $380,000 in total prize funding. And teams can either build on existing NASA patents or propose their own original concepts. Get any ideas about age-imnasium science competition out of your mind when you think of this one, because orbit tasks students to go way beyond theory. It requires research, early models, and feasibility analyses all before competition finalists pitch their work in front of a panel of experts. Competitor teams can choose between two tracks. One of them, the orbit-Earth track, focuses on repurposing NASA-owned technologies for public benefit from disaster response tools to health care applications. The other track, the orbit-Space track, centers on future missions, including Artemis, of course, with concepts ranging from lunar habitats to deep space robotics and in-space resource use. Teams that feel like overachieving and bridging both tracks may even qualify for an additional integration bonus. Now, beyond the 380k prize money, orbit gives students access to NASA mentorship, facilities, and hands-on experience in systems engineering and commercialization. And it's not just altruism for NASA either, as the competition helps the agency meet and grow the next generation of space talent. A nice arrangement for both parties, if you ask me. And registration for the upcoming orbit competition is currently open until February 9th, 2026. And if you are interested or know someone who might be, the link is in the show notes for you with all of the official competition details. And that's T-Minus, brought to you by N2K Cyberwire. We'd love to know what you think of our podcast. Your feedback ensures that we deliver the insight that keeps you a step ahead in the rapidly changing space industry. If you like the show, please share a rating and review in your podcast app. Please also fill out the survey in the show notes or send an email to space@n2k.com. We are proud that N2K Cyberwire is part of the daily routine of the most influential leaders and operators in the public and private sector, from the Fortune 500 to many of the world's preeminent intelligence and law enforcement agencies. N2K helps space and cybersecurity professionals grow, learn, and stay informed. As the nexus for discovery and connection, we renew the people, the technology, and the ideas, shaping the future of secure innovation. Learn how at N2K.com. N2K's senior producer is Alice Carruth. Our producer is Liz Stokes. We are mixed by Elliott Peltzman and Tre Hester, with original music by Elliott Peltzman. Our executive producer is Jennifer Eiben. Peter Kilpe is our publisher, and I am your host, Maria Varmazis. Thank you for listening. We'll see you tomorrow. (upbeat music) - T-minus. (wind blowing) (wind blowing) [BLANK_AUDIO]