Robert Wall for Aviation Week – The U.K. Department for Science, Innovation and Technology is funding a group of in-orbit servicing ventures, to help develop ground rules for planned British rendezvous and proximity operations.

By Jeff Foust for SpaceNews – Japanese lunar lander developer ispace confirmed its second mission to the moon will launch on the same SpaceX Falcon 9 as Firefly Aerospace’s first lunar lander. The two spacecraft, while launched together, will take different routes to the moon.

By Jeff Foust for SpaceNews – Hours after the Federal Aviation Administration granted a launch license for New Glenn, Blue Origin completed a static-fire test on Dec. 27, paving the way for an inaugural launch.

Argyris Kriezis, Payload – Companies like Star Catcher, Aetherflux, Reflect Orbital, and + Volta Space are working on commercializing energy generation from low Earth orbit (LEO) structures.

Devin Coldewey and Theresa Loconsolo, TechCrunch – President and CEO of the Aerospace Corporation, Steve Isakowitz, and Agency Chief Technologist at NASA, A.C. Charanya Charania, discussed how to build a thriving lunar ecosystem.

The Aerospace Corporation joined forces with TechCrunch to deliver engaging panel discussions with leaders across defense, civil, and commercial space, as well as a Space Challenge pitch-off for startups to showcase innovative concepts.

Mark Carreau, Aviation Week – Blue Origin launched its ninth New Shepard suborbital flight with passengers on Nov. 22, with a six-person crew over the course of 10 minutes.

Aria Alamalhodaei – At TechCrunch Disrupt, Aerospace’s CTO Debra Emmons said the government stood up the Defense Innovation Unit, the Office of Strategic Capital, and other funding mechanisms to bring private and public money together.

Jeff Foust, SpaceNews – Blue Origin carried out the first flight of a new model of its New Shepard suborbital vehicle. The flight was the first for a new model of both the New Shepard capsule, called RSS Kármán Line, and the booster.

Eric Berger, Ars Technica – Large solar arrays in geostationary orbit could collect solar energy and beam it back to Earth via microwaves as a continuous source of clean energy. It should work — in theory. Aetherflux, a small space solar startup, is putting this concept to the test.