This Week in Space Tech #23
Jan 19 to 25, 2026: A rocket test failure, more satellites in LEO, and startups pushing servicing, manufacturing, and European launch options.

Welcome to This Week in Space Tech, covering Jan 19 to Jan 25, 2026. Here are the developments that mattered across launch, policy, and space startups.
Launches and flight activity
SpaceX flew its first West Coast Starlink mission of 2026 on Jan 21, sending 25 satellites into a polar low Earth orbit from Vandenberg and keeping its constellation buildout on a steady, factory-like pace.
Rocket Lab opened its 2026 launch campaign on Jan 22, deploying two satellites for Open Cosmos and reinforcing its niche as the reliable “small payload, precise orbit” workhorse.