NASA-USDA Sign Data Pact, UVEX Set for 2031, and China Spaceplane Image Released

From Oct. 26 to Nov. 1, Orbital Wire readers followed agency agreements, telescope timelines, and satellite developments across government and commercial space. The coverage spanned Earth observation partnerships, ultraviolet astronomy, hypersonic programs, and Chinese orbital vehicle reporting.

Agency & Program News

NASA and USDA sign agreement to share Earth observation data with farmers. NASA and USDA signed an Oct. 24 memorandum to share Earth observation data and jointly review crop and yield models. The agreement aims to make agricultural statistics more accurate by mixing satellite data with ground observations.

ESA’s INVICTUS programme Clears first System requirements review. European Spaceflight reported ESA’s INVICTUS hypersonic aircraft programme completed its first System Requirements Review in March 2026 and advanced to the next phase. Chief engineer Stephan Carroll confirmed the milestone on LinkedIn on Oct. 23.

Pentagon releases full-resolution image of Chinese spaceplane in orbit. The Pentagon released a full-resolution image Monday of China’s Shenlong spaceplane in orbit through an unclassified Defense Intelligence Agency threat assessment. A U.S. Space Force official revealed a commercial satellite’s 2024 observation during a South Korea conference before the release.

Satellite & Orbital Infrastructure

Space Force RG-XX bids received as contract award slips to next year. Bids were submitted for the Space Force’s RG-XX geosynchronous inspection satellite order, with award delayed until next year, Courtney Sayles of Scout Space said Oct. 31. Suppliers want six- or 10-satellite orders with government commitment before costs fall.

DIA report says China’s ISR fleet tripled since 2018. Breaking Defense reported the Defense Intelligence Agency’s third unclassified space-threats report says China’s ISR satellite fleet tripled since 2018 and exceeded 510 satellites as of July. The report includes what it calls the first public image of China’s reusable spaceplane.

Satellogic signs three-year non-Earth imaging deal with HEO. Satellogic and HEO signed a three-year non-Earth imaging agreement on Oct. 29, 2026, at the Space Economy Summit in Orlando. The deal lets HEO task Satellogic’s constellation for non-Earth images and runs through 2029 with a seven-figure annual minimum.

Tim Farrar: carriers find few will pay for direct-to-device. Tim Farrar of TMF Associates said at Silicon Valley Space Week that carriers concluded relatively few people will pay for direct-to-device service, calling it not a service differentiator. The same day, the FCC approved Amazon’s $11.57 billion purchase of Globalstar.

Astronomy & Astrophysics Discoveries

NASA plans 2031 launch for ultraviolet space telescope UVEX. Universe Today reported NASA plans a 2031 launch for the UltraViolet EXplorer (UVEX) telescope to conduct an all-sky ultraviolet survey 50 to 100 times deeper than previous surveys. The mission aims to close a gap dating to GALEX’s 2013 end.