December 2025

1. 31 Wed
   Space Forge generates plasma for LEO semiconductor material production

   SpaceNews covers Space Forge's ForgeStar-1 plasma milestone. Focuses on the materials ambition: GaN, SiC, AlN, diamond — wide-bandgap semiconductors constrained by Earth's gravity-induced defect formation. Space Forge plans to combine orbital crystal growth with terrestrial scaling at Swansea University's Centre for Integrative Semiconductor Materials. ForgeStar-2 (with Pridwen return heatshield) will be the first to bring materials back.

   Space Forge ForgeStar-1 Generates First Commercial Orbital Plasma — World-First Semiconductor Manufacturing Milestone
2. 24 Wed
   Innospace Plans Second Launch in 2026 After Hanbit-Nano Failure

   Innospace Hanbit-Nano failed ~30 seconds after liftoff from Alcântara on December 22. Eight payloads lost. CEO Kim Soo-jong confirmed second attempt in H1 2026 and noted critical flight data was gathered from the short flight.

   Innospace Hanbit-Nano "Spaceward" Fails at Alcântara — First Korean Private Orbital Attempt
3. 10 Wed
   TARAN Aerospace meets partners Etanox AG, Protostar Labs and impulso.space at Space Tech Expo Europe

   TARAN Aerospace highlighted new partnerships with Etanox AG, Protostar Labs, and impulso.space following Space Tech Expo Europe.

4. 5 Fri
   China's ZhuQue-3: Inside the First Chinese Orbital Booster Recovery Attempt

   Deep look at LandSpace's ZQ-3 recovery attempt and the broader Chinese reusable rocket landscape: Space Pioneer, iSpace, Galactic Energy, CAS Space, Deep Blue Aerospace, Orienspace, and Space Epoch all targeting reusable debut flights in 2026.

   LandSpace ZhuQue-3 Maiden Flight — Orbit Reached, Recovery Failed

Headlines link to spacenews.com. Summaries are ours, 1–2 lines; read the full story at the source.