March 3, 2026

As Moon Interest Heats Up, Two Companies Unveil Plans for a Lunar “Harvester” (Source: Ars Technica)
Two lunar startups, Astrolab and Interlune, announced Tuesday morning they are forming a partnership. Astrolab is one of three firms vying to build rovers for NASA’s scientific activities on the surface of the Moon, as well as to provide transportation for its astronauts. But the company has been working with commercial customers as well, and one of the most important long-term ones could be a Helium-3 mining company called Interlune.

“Ultimately, we want to build a fleet of electric harvesters that will go to the Moon and excavate, extract, and separate Helium-3 from the lunar regolith,” said Interlune chief executive Rob Meyerson. “The FLEX Rover is a great platform to go do that.” Last August, Interlune announced that it would fly a multispectral camera on a smaller prototype rover being built by Astrolab. This camera will be used to estimate helium-3 quantities and concentration in Moon dirt, or regolith. This FLIP rover, about the size of a go-kart, is due to launch later this year on a lunar lander built by Astrobotic. (3/3)

Self-Repairing Spacecraft Could Change Future Missions (Source: ESA)
A new self-monitoring and self-healing carbon-fiber composite material has been developed by CompPair in collaboration with Com&Sens and CSEM as part of the European Space Agency’s ‘First!’ initiative. Project Cassandra has shown Healtech material can be heated in place to repair cracks that might form during use. The technology could be ideal for reusable space transportation elements. (3/3)

Victor Glover Will Become First Black Astronaut To Fly To The Moon (Source: Black Enterprise)
NASA has plans to diversify space. The agency has selected the first Black astronaut to voyage to the moon. The inaugural astronaut, Victor Glover, will lift off in a new mission called Artemis II. The trip will continue on the journey established by its predecessor, Artemis I. Following the successful completion of Artemis I, this latest launch brings NASA one step closer to landing on Mars. (3/2)

L3Harris Appoints New CFO as Firm Prepares to Spin Off Missile Business (Source: Breaking Defense)
L3Harris has appointed former Peraton finance chief Kenneth Sharp as its new chief financial officer, as its current CFO takes over its missile business ahead of an initial public offering later this year. Sharp will take the reins from current CFO Ken Bedingfield on March 16, as Bedingfield — who currently wears a second hat as the president of the company’s Missile Solutions segment — narrows his focus to that business ahead of its much-anticipated spin off in late 2026. (3/2)

With Artemis 3 Changed, Will China Leapfrog the US to a Landing? (Source: Sky at Night)
NASA has expanded its Artemis moon program, adding a mission to, it says, ensure the success of future long-term stays on the Moon. The update integrates a heavy-lift cargo delivery designed to land large-scale equipment at the lunar South Pole before the arrival of human crews. But the US is facing lunar-landing competition from China's space agency, the China National Space Administration. While the reasons for pushing back deadlines – including adding an extra mission to the Artemis program – are understandable, it could mean China eventually proves its spacefaring prowess even further by becoming the first nation to land humans on the Moon after Apollo. (3/3)

Austria Military’s First Satellite Will Hunt for GPS, Galileo Interference (Source: Breaking Defense)
The Austrian Ministry of Defense’s first satellite, being developed by Vienna-based startup GATE Space, will launch from a SpaceX Falcon 9 a year from now, according to MoD and company leaders. GATE Space is serving as the prime for BEACONSAT, working with Danish satellite manufacturer Space Inventor and Austrian firm IGASPIN GmbH, which builds GNSS interference detection payloads, as well as a number of Austrian subcontractors. (3/2)

RG-XX To Highlight New Space Force Acquisition Approach (Source: Defense Daily)
Last year's review of 60 programs by the Space Force may have led to the cancellation of some lower tier programs, as well as highlighting the future Geosynchronous Reconnaissance & Surveillance Constellation (RG-XX) satellites as the service's new acquisition approach. The Space Force may soon award a contract for RG-XX as a commercial replacement for the service's eight Geosynchronous Space Situational Awareness Program (GSSAP) satellites. (3/3)

Hardware is No Longer the Problem Holding Back Space-Based Data Centers — the Supply Chain Is (Source: SpaceNews)
Orbital and lunar data centers are often framed as engineering challenges or launch economics problems. Those matter, but they are not the limiting factor. The real bottleneck is the absence of a procurement and logistics architecture capable of sourcing, qualifying, transporting, assembling and sustaining the technologies these systems require. If companies are going to realize their goals of building and operating space-based data centers, they must commit to building the procurement, logistics and qualification infrastructure that makes sustained deployments possible. (3/3)

Former NASA Chief Turned ULA Lobbyist Seeks Law to Limit SpaceX Funding (Source: Ars Technica)
A former NASA administrator says he is “encouraged” that the US Congress is considering legislation to prevent NASA from spending more than 50 percent of its launch funding on any single provider. “America succeeds in space when American companies compete, innovate, and grow,” former NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine wrote on LinkedIn. “I’m encouraged to see Congress taking meaningful steps to strengthen the industrial base that underpins both our civil and national security space missions.” (3/3)

JAXA To Test Vertical-Landing Reusable Vehicle Demonstrator (Source: Aviation Week)
First flight of a small experimental version of a reusable launch vehicle has been scheduled for March 6 by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA). The 24-ft.-tall vertical-takeoff-and-vertical-landing (VTVL) RV-X is planned to make a short hop at the agency’s Noshiro Rocket Testing Center on the Sea of Japan coast. (3/3)

Austria Military’s First Satellite Will Hunt for GPS, Galileo Interference (Source: Breaking Defense)
The Austrian Ministry of Defense’s first satellite, being developed by Vienna-based startup GATE Space, will launch from a SpaceX Falcon 9 a year from now, according to MoD and company leaders. “With BEACONSAT, jammers that intentionally or unintentionally disrupt signals are to be detected and data collected. Through jamming methods, troops face the risk of disorientation in the worst case when they rely on satellite-based navigation (GNSS) for movement on land, water, or in the air and this is disrupted,” Austrian Defense Minister Klaudia Tanner said. (3/3)

Accelerating Artemis (Source: Space Review)
On Friday, NASA shook up its Artemis lunar exploration plans with changes to planned missions and to the Space Launch System rocket. Jeff Foust reports on the changes and the many unanswered questions about those plans. Click here. (3/3)
 
The Ghost in the Orbit: How Hybrid Surveillance Reshapes Risks (Source: Space Review)
The US military recently announced plans to commercially procure satellites to monitor other spacecraft in geosynchronous orbit. Zohaib Altaf warns that this approach, with a hybrid of commercial and government roles, creates new risks to space security. Click here. (3/3)
 
All’s Well That’s Roswell (Source: Space Review)
President Trump said last month he was directing the government to release files related to UFOs and unidentified aerial phenomena. Dwayne Day examines similar efforts in the 1990s to declassify information about the so-called “Roswell Incident” and other Cold War aerospace programs. Click here. (3/3)
 
Gala Time! The Chinese New Year Narratives of the Space Program (Source: Space Review)
China marked the Lunar New Year last month with a televised gala. Krzysztof Karwowski discusses how space played a role in this year’s event as well as previous shows as an exercise in soft power. Click here. (3/3)

Fire Arrow Boosts Malaysia's Spaceport Mission (Source: Fire Arrow)
International spaceport advisory and development company, Fire Arrow, has announced an agreement in principle to undertake a structured feasibility and concept development program to prepare Malaysia's first spaceport for launch. The proposed horizontal launch spaceport in Kuantan is in Malaysia’s Pahang Aerospace City (PAC) where Fire Arrow’s work will help prepare for  site planning, operational concepts, regulatory pathways and phased delivery strategy. The work will assess the commercial, technical and compliance requirements necessary to establish launch. (3/3)

PwC Projects $127 Billion Moon Economy – But Energy Infrastructure May Be the Real Bottleneck (Source: Deepspace Energy)
The latest PwC Lunar Market Assessment highlights the growing economic importance of the Moon economy, projecting total revenues of $127.3 billion by 2050, and identifies solar energy systems as one of the priority technologies. However, according to Mihails Ščepanskis, CEO of Deep Space Energy, it is crucial to understand that solar power will not be an ultimate solution for lunar surface operations, and alternatives must be explored before any long-term mission begins to unlock that economic potential.

According to Ščepanskis, the importance of mobility on the Moon should not be overlooked when discussing future energy systems. While large fission reactors may eventually power stationary lunar bases, they are localized solutions and do not address the operational needs of mobile platforms. “There is no grid on the Moon,” he said. “A reactor can support infrastructure at a base, but lunar rovers, scouting vehicles, and prospecting missions operating far from fixed installations must carry their own reliable power source.” (3/3)

Space Assets Were "First Movers" in Iran Strike (Source: Space News)
The Pentagon said both space and cyber forces had "first mover" roles during strikes on Iran over the weekend. At a briefing Monday, Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, highlighted work by U.S. Space Command and U.S. Cyber Command. He characterized both as "the first movers" that provided "non-kinetic effects disrupting and degrading and blinding Iran's ability to see, communicate and respond." Space Command's duties include ensuring resilient U.S. satellite communications and positioning, navigation and timing, while potentially disrupting an adversary's access to space-enabled capabilities such as satellite communications or reconnaissance. (3/3)

Spectrum Battle Brewing Between Wideband Constellations and Weather Satellites (Source: Space News)
Constellations like Starlink are in a spectrum battle with other systems that use nearby spectrum for weather observations. At a recent meteorology conference, speakers warned that broadband communications constellations threaten to prevent microwave sounders on weather satellites from observing the natural emissions from atmospheric water vapor and precipitation. Scientists analyzing data from Earth science satellites say they are seeing increased radio-frequency interference, as they work to both educate regulators about the importance of preserving certain spectrum bands while also making future instruments more resilient to interference. (3/3)

Redwire to Produce New Solar Array Product for Satellites (Source: Space News)
Redwire announced a new solar array product designed for mass-produced satellites. The company announced Tuesday the Extensible Low-Profile Solar Array, or ELSA, which is based on technology the company developed for the Roll-Out Solar Array, or ROSA, used on the International Space Station and other spacecraft. ELSA is intended for mass-produced satellites with limited mass and volume. The announcement comes amid increasing demand for satellite power systems, driven by the growing number of satellites and interest in high-power applications such as edge computing and orbital data centers. Redwire announced its 2025 financial results last week, reporting a 10% increase in revenue but a steeper net loss. (3/3)

Roscosmos Completes Baikonur Launch Pad Repairs (Source: Reuters)
The Russian space agency Roscosmos says it has completed repairs to a launch pad damaged last November. Roscosmos said the pad at the Baikonur Cosmodrome has been repaired and is ready to support a launch later this month of a Progress cargo mission to the International Space Station. A key platform at the pad was severely damaged during a launch last November, raising concerns that the pad, the only one available for Soyuz and Progress missions to the station, would be out of service for an extended period. (3/3)

Japan's HTV-X1 Cargo Craft to Depart ISS (Source: NASA)
A Japanese cargo spacecraft will leave the ISS this week. The HTV-X1 spacecraft will be unberthed from the station Thursday and released by the station's robotic arm on Friday. The spacecraft, the first in the new HTV-X series of cargo spacecraft, launched to the station in October. Once it departs from the station, HTV-X1 will remain in orbit for three months to perform additional technology demonstrations before reentering. (3/3)

Alaska's (and Virginia's) Spaceport Gets Federal Funding for Upgrades (Source: KMXT)
An Alaska spaceport is planning upgrades after securing federal funding. A defense appropriations bill for fiscal year 2026 includes about $22 million for Pacific Spaceport Complex - Alaska on Kodiak Island. That facility hosts missile tests and launches of small rockets. The funds will go toward upgrading a payload processing facility at the spaceport. The bill also included $4 million in upgrades for Poker Flat Research Range, a sounding rocket launch site near Fairbanks, Alaska, that is seeking to attract new customers, which may include operators of small orbital launch vehicles. (3/3)

Another $6 million is provided for Joint Pacific Alaska Range Complex (JPARC) investments, including a modern threat simulator. JPARC is a 77,000 square mile restricted airspace in Alaska where the U.S. military conducts training and testing for land, air, sea, space and cyberspace. The Air Force is planning to expand the range complex into other areas of the state which could include the Gulf of Alaska and Kodiak Island.

Separately, Alaska Aerospace Corporation was awarded a $28 million contract with the Department of Defense and the U.S. Army last month on Jan. 9 to operate missile system facilities in Alaska. Alaska Aerospace Corporation will be conducting test range services for the federal government, primarily out at the Kodiak Island spaceport. (2/25)

Intuitive Machines Selected by L3Harris to Support SDA Tranche 3 Tracking Layer (Source: Intuitive Machines)
Intuitive Machines announced that Lanteris Space Systems, a wholly owned subsidiary, was selected by L3Harris to support the development and production of spacecraft platforms for the Space Development Agency Tranche 3 Tracking Layer of the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture. Under this selection, Intuitive Machines will design, build and deliver 18 advanced spacecraft platforms. (3/3)

Starlink Lessons Learned for DoD (Source: Gemo Yesil)
Recent Starlink controversies in the Russia-Ukraine war expose a hard truth for modern defense ecosystems: outsourcing critical capability does not outsource responsibility. When commercially owned systems underpin military operations, questions of command, escalation, and sovereignty inevitably surface -- often mid-crisis. The next generation of defense partnerships will be judged as much on who controls the switch as on how well the system works. In future competitions, some solutions won’t be rejected for lack of capability. They will be rejected for lack of controllability.

Beyond Starlink, DoD will likely seek company/partners who offer clear governance models, not just performance metrics; demonstrate alignment with government decision frameworks; build contractual and technical mechanisms for assured access; and reduce single-point-of-failure dependence in critical domains. (3/3)

House Select Committee Investigation Uncovers China’s Space Operations in Latin America (Source: China Select Committee)
The Select Committee on China released an investigation uncovering how China is using infrastructure in Latin America to advance its space capabilities and intelligence collection. The investigation, Pulling Latin America into China's Orbit, uncovered that China has developed an extensive network of dual-use space ground stations and telescopes across Latin America and uses this network to collect intelligence and boost the PLA's warfighting capacity. The investigation found at least eleven China-linked space facilities established across Argentina, Venezuela, Bolivia, Chile, and Brazil.

The investigation also made several critical policy recommendations, including: 1) NASA should review cooperation with host countries to ensure there are and have been no violations of the Wolf Amendment’s prohibition on bilateral cooperation with China and Chinese-owned companies; 2) Congress should consider updating the Wolf Amendment to close a growing loophole that allows prohibited bilateral cooperation with the PRC to continue under the guise of nominally multilateral arrangements; 3) U.S. agencies should re-evaluate space, defense, and advanced technology cooperation with countries that host PRC-linked space infrastructure; and 4) The U.S. Government should establish the explicit goal of halting the expansion of PRC space infrastructure in Latin America, and ultimately seek to roll back and eliminate PRC space capabilities in the Western Hemisphere that threaten U.S. interests. (2/26)

Dominican Republic to Build Commercial Spaceport in Pedernales (Source: Dominican Today)
The Dominican Republic has announced plans to build a commercial spaceport in the province of Pedernales after reaching an agreement with U.S.-based company Launch on Demand, marking a major step toward the country’s entry into the global space economy. President Luis Abinader revealed the project during his State of the Nation address before the National Assembly, stating that the spaceport will involve an investment exceeding US$600 million. He said the initiative aims to enable the launch of a satellite or rocket from Dominican territory before May 2028, following three years of negotiations with Launch on Demand and U.S. investment funds.

The investment group is led by Burton Catledge, a former operations director at NASA. Catledge and Florida-based Launch on Demand entered into a feasibility-study agreement with the Dominican Republic's National Intelligence Directorate in May 2024. The spaceport project forms part of a broader government strategy to diversify the economy through high-level technological partnerships. The spaceport is also expected to support the transformation of Pedernales into a tourism and logistics hub, serving as a symbol of innovation alongside infrastructure development.

Editor's Note: I'm curious how this squares with restrictions under the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR), which normally would limit US companies from providing space launch know-how to non-signatory nations. The Dominican Republic is not a signatory to the MTCR. Is a TSA, TCA, or some other safeguarding process established? Is MTCR enforcement being relaxed under the Trump administration? (3/2)

March 2, 2026

NASA Just Avoided the Most Predictable Failure in Modern Spaceflight (Source: Michael Ciannilli)
On February 27, 2026, at Kennedy Space Center, NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman did something rare in large government programs. He slowed down. In doing so, he may have prevented the most predictable failure pattern in modern spaceflight: compressing development timelines under geopolitical pressure before hardware and teams are ready. NASA’s Artemis overhaul is not a delay. It is a risk correction. And it reflects a lesson spaceflight has already paid for in the most expensive cost- human life. (3/2)

Starlink to Partner with Deutsche Telekom (Source: CNBC)
SpaceX’s Starlink will partner with German telco giant Deutsche Telekom to launch a satellite-based mobile service in 10 European countries, the companies announced. The service will go live in 2028 and bring mobile communications to areas where network expansion is particularly challenging, including in areas with nature conservation requirements or demanding topography, Deutsche Telekom said. (3/2)

Laser-Based 3D Printing Could Build Future Bases on the Moon (Source: Universe Today)
Any plan for a lunar base must come down to harvesting local resources to meet the needs of its crews as much as possible - a process known as In-Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU). In a recent study, researchers proposed using a specialized laser-based 3D printing method to turn lunar regolith into hardened building material. According to their findings, this method can produce durable structures that withstand radiation and other harsh conditions on the lunar surface. (3/2)

SES Cuts Capital Spending Target Ahead of 2026 Satellite Launches (Source: Reuters)
European satellite operator SES reported full-year results in line with market expectations and lowered its 2026 capital spending target, as it prepares to launch up to 13 satellites later this year. Analysts said SES's fourth-quarter earnings looked better than expected, though they noted the company did not provide an outlook beyond 2026 and that the satellite launch was now expected in the second half of the year, implying somewhat delayed revenue growth from the platform. (3/2)

MaiaSpace Pushes Inaugural Launch of Maia Rocket to 2027 (Source: European Spaceflight)
ArianeGroup subsidiary MaiaSpace announced that the inaugural flight of its two-stage Maia rocket will take place in 2027, slipping from a previously expected late-2026 launch. Founded in 2022, MaiaSpace is developing a two-stage partially reusable rocket that will be capable of delivering up to 1,500 kilograms into low Earth orbit when launched in a fully expendable configuration. The company is also developing a kick stage that is expected to add as much as 1,000 kilograms to the rocket’s performance. (3/2)

Space Force Opens Secretive Space Tracking to Commercial Firms (Source: Space News)
One of the U.S. Space Force’s most sensitive missions — tracking foreign satellites and predicting whether they could threaten American spacecraft — is increasingly drawing on commercial data and artificial intelligence. The work falls under what the military calls battle management, command and control, the systems that allow operators to see what is happening in orbit, assess potential threats and decide how to respond. That work has traditionally relied on classified intelligence, but the Space Force is increasingly turning to private companies that specialize in space situational awareness and machine learning. (3/2)

Space Force Picks BlueHalo for $1.4 Billion Mobile Ground Station Work (Source: Space News)
The Space Force is taking a more commercial approach to ground stations. The service is reopening a $1.4 billion program to build mobile ground stations used to track and command spacecraft, after initially awarding the work to a single contractor, BlueHalo. That company has yet to deliver any ground terminals under that 2022 contract. The Space Force says it is reevaluating its strategy, looking to leverage commercial phased-array technology and walk away from a customized design. (3/2)

SpaceX Launches Starlink Missions on Sunday From Florida and California (Source: Spaceflight Now)
SpaceX performed two Starlink launches Sunday. One Falcon 9 lifted off from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, placing 25 Starlink satellites into orbit. A second Falcon 9 lifted off from the Cape Canaveral Spaceport in Florida, deploying 29 Starlink satellites. SpaceX has conducted 27 launches this year. (2/3)

Rocket Lab Launches HASTE Hypersonic Mission at Virginia Spaceport (Source: Rocket Lab)
Rocket Lab launched a suborbital version of its Electron rocket Friday night. The HASTE rocket lifted off from Wallops Island, Virginia, carrying a hypersonic test vehicle developed by Australian company Hypersonix for the Defense Innovation Unit. This was the seventh launch to date of HASTE, a version of Electron for suborbital missions, and the third Electron launch this year. (2/3)

ESA Invests $118 Million for Telecom Tech (Source: Space News)
The European Space Agency will provide up to 100 million euros ($118 million) for projects promising to accelerate the convergence of satellite and terrestrial communications. The funding, announced Monday, will be distributed in partnership with GSMA Foundry, the mobile industry association's innovation platform. The funding will be available for projects using AI to manage spectrum, advancing standards-based direct-to-device (D2D) communications, developing hybrid 5G/6G networks and supporting early-stage 6G technologies. The expanded collaboration comes amid broader moves in Europe to strengthen its position in the emerging D2D market to better compete with American companies. (3/2)

Open Cosmos Releases ConnectedCosmos Details (Source: Space News)
Open Cosmos has released more details on its proposed sovereign broadband constellation for Europe. The British small satellite specialist announced at Mobile World Congress Monday that the ConnectedCosmos network would combine point-to-point broadband links and direct-to-device connectivity for Internet of Things services. ConnectedCosmos would use optical inter-satellite links to reduce reliance on terrestrial gateways and subsea cables, while directly connecting to Earth observation spacecraft operating under its OpenConstellation shared infrastructure initiative. Open Cosmos is using Ka-band spectrum filings previously assigned to Rivada Space Networks, which require it to have 288 satellites in orbit by September. Open Cosmos has not detailed how many satellites it plans to deploy as it works to secure financing ahead of the deadline. (3/2)

Starfighters Space Expands Midland Texas Operations (Source: Starfighters)
Starfighters Space has increased its operational presence at the Midland International Air & Space Port, including the start of aircraft and hardware relocations to support an anticipated increase in mission cadence. Aircraft, engines, and support equipment are being relocated to Midland to support flight operations and customer programs. With four F-104 aircraft and 14 GE J-79 engines currently at Midland, the Company expects the number of aircraft and engines to double in the next 18 months. From Midland, Starfighters can reach nine launch and test-range locations across Texas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Nevada, Utah, and California. (3/2)

CEO of Space Defense Startup Says US Needs to Catch Up to China and Russia in Orbit (Source: Business Insider)
Long gone are the days of the post-Cold War lull when space was largely treated as a peaceful utility domain. As US officials warn of China's and Russia's rapid progress in space, and tech CEOs dream of AI data centers in lower orbit, space is becoming an increasingly contested layer of global infrastructure with national security implications. Even Rogers, a former US Space Command officer and the CEO of True Anomaly, a space defense startup, says America needs to catch up. (3/2)

Going to Mars Would Be Very Bad for Your Health (Source: Slate)
There are a few main issues that we know about when it comes to space and human well-being. The first is obvious: confinement and isolation. A return journey to Mars would be anywhere from two and a half to three years long, and any intrepid adventurers would have to spend that entire time in cramped, unpleasant spaces with a handful of other people. We have some solutions to this issue—space psychologists, for example, can help astronauts function as a team without losing their minds.

The next issue is space radiation. NASA estimated in 2017 that a human-crewed Mars mission lasting three years would result in those people receiving 3,600 X-rays’ worth of radiation over the course of their travel. We could possibly correct for radiation. For example, there are potential plans to use underground cave systems on the moon as habitation, which would reduce the radiation danger substantially. But for the actual space travel—the time humans spend commuting across the vacuum—we currently have no real solution.

A much bigger problem is the impact of microgravity on the human body. There are immediate issues, such as blocked noses, which impact virtually all astronauts as they acclimate to space. (The “upward shift of fluid ultimately leads to symptoms of ‘puffiness’ and nasal congestion experienced by astronauts during their adaptation period,” write the authors of a recent paper on the issue.) But there are also much more pernicious problems. For example, the long-term damage to kidneys. Kidneys require gravity to function properly, and the longer people spend in space, the more their kidneys start to malfunction. (3/1)

March 1, 2026

CAS Space to Launch Kinetica-2 in Late March Carrying Prototype Cargo Spacecraft (Source: Space News)
Chinese launch firm CAS Space is preparing for the inaugural launch of its reusable Kinetica-2 liquid rocket in late March, carrying a prototype cargo spacecraft. The Qingzhou-1 cargo spacecraft was developed by the Innovation Academy for Microsatellites of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (IAMCAS) as a low-cost space station resupply spacecraft. (3/1)

SpaceX Launches Sunday Starlink Mission From California (Source: Spaceflight Now)
SpaceX launched a Falcon 9 rocket early Sunday from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, carrying another batch of satellites for the company’s Starlink internet service. (3/1)

Blue Origin’s Lander May Get Bigger Role (Source: Geekwire)
NASA is reworking its Artemis moon program to add a test mission for commercial lunar landers in low Earth orbit next year, with a crewed lunar landing to follow in 2028 at the earliest. The revised plan raises the profile of the Blue Moon lander that’s being built by Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin space venture. “We’re all in!” Blue Origin CEO Dave Limp said. Blue Origin is already accelerating its Blue Moon development program. (2/27)

Rocket Factory Augsburg Installs Umbilical Tower at SaxaVord Spaceport (Source: Shetland Times)
The first test launch from SaxaVord Spaceport is just a few weeks away - with the installation of an umbilical tower having been hailed as a “huge milestone” in the countdown to blast-off. Rocket Factory Augsburg (RFA) recently installed the tower at its launchpad Fredo at the Lamba Ness site in Unst. (2/28)

The Meticulous Rocket Science of Building Canada's Spaceports (Source: Chronicle Herald)
It’s not exactly a space race between Cold War rivals, but two private spaceports on the East Coast are vying to host the first orbital rocket launch from Canadian soil. Owners of Maritime Launch Service Inc.’s Spaceport Nova Scotia and NordSpace’s Atlantic Spaceport Complex in Newfoundland and Labrador insist it’s not a competition to blast off first. In fact, Stephen Matier, the founder and CEO of Maritime Launch Services (MLS), is not interested in being first. He’s simply thrilled to see the domestic space industry supported.

In the 2025 federal budget, Prime Minister Mark Carney pledged $182.6 million over three years to support sovereign space launch capability. “We’re delighted that the federal government is getting behind spaceports,” said Matier, a former NASA contractor originally from New Mexico who’s now based out of Halifax. (2/27)

White House Stalls Release of Approved US Science Budgets (Source: Nature)
Weeks after the US Congress rejected unprecedented cuts to science budgets that the administration of US President Donald Trump had sought for 2026, funding to several agencies that award research grants is still not freely flowing. One reason is that the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has been slow to authorize its release.

The US National Institutes of Health (NIH) has so far not received approval to spend any of the research funding allocated in a budget bill signed into law on 3 February. The US National Science Foundation (NSF) was authorized to spend its funding just last week. And NASA has had its full funding authorized for release, but with an unusual restriction that limits spending on ten specific programs — many of which the Trump team had tried to cancel last year.

At NASA, in a footnote to a 21 February budgetary notice about science funding, the OMB told the agency it could not spend new money on ten specific science programs until it provides more details on how the funds will be used. Normally, NASA has the discretion to begin working on missions once Congress has approved the budget. The projects in question include missions to Venus and to an Earth-threatening asteroid, as well as Earth-science satellites. (2/27)

Mars’ Missing Water Mystery Takes an Unexpected Turn (Source: SciTech Daily)
New research shows that an intense regional dust storm transported unusually high amounts of water vapor into Mars’ upper atmosphere, boosting hydrogen escape. The discovery reshapes understanding of how the planet gradually lost its water. (2/22)

NASA Lost a Lunar Spacecraft One Day After Launch. A New Report Details What Went Wrong (Source: NPR)
In 2025 a NASA probe called Lunar Trailblazer lifted off from Florida. Its mission was to map the water on the moon. But a day after launch, mission managers lost contact with the spacecraft, and it was never heard from again. A report by a review panel convened by NASA to explore what went wrong with the $72 million mission explains why. Software that was supposed to point the spacecraft solar panels toward the sun instead pointed them 180 degrees away from the sun. (2/26)

Artemis Rearranged – And Why That Might Be a Good Thing (Source: Andreeas Bergweiler)
If you look at the Apollo playbook emotionally, you see momentum. If you look at it technically, you see incremental validation. Apollo 9 was not a Moon landing. Apollo 10 was not a Moon landing. They were rehearsal missions. The problem is: in today’s political environment, rehearsal sounds like weakness. It isn’t. It’s discipline.

A crewed docking test in LEO between Orion and a human landing system is not glamorous. But it is exactly what you do if you want to avoid learning about failure modes 380,000 kilometers from home. And this matters because Artemis is not Apollo. Apollo was a sprint with geopolitical adrenaline. Artemis is supposed to be infrastructure.

Editor's Note: I think this Artemis shift is a step toward increased reliance on Starship/Super-Heavy and New Glenn as heavy-lift carriers for lunar base development. I would also expect Congressional pressure to maintain a 3-4 per-year launch cadence for the SLS Block 1X. (2/28)

Bill Seeks to Reauthorize SBIR/STTR Program for Small Businesses (Source: SBIR.org)
After months of uncertainty, a bipartisan Senate draft bill could restart SBIR and STTR programs, with new restrictions. The government-wide program's authorization was allowed to lapse under the current administration. The bill would reauthorize the programs through 2031, ending the current lapse in funding for what has been widely viewed as a successful program for facilitating small business growth in key technologies, and enabling university-small business partnerships.

The bill would cap how many Phase I and Phase II proposals any one firm can submit each year, a major strategic shift for high-volume applicants. The bill also would tighten rules for corporate ownership, cybersecurity, and foreign ties. Editor's Note: DoD and NASA have used these programs extensively, with DoD leveraging SBIRs to accelerate acquisitions of key commercial space capabilities. (2/28)

February 28, 2026

Firefly Plans Sunday Evening Launch at California Spaceport (Source: KSBY)
Firefly is now aiming to launch Alpha Flight 7 no earlier than Sunday, March 1, during a window opening at 4:50 p.m. at Vandenberg Space Force Base. Firefly said it is working with Vandenberg to monitor upper-level winds ahead of the launch. This will be the seventh Alpha rocket launch. For its upcoming eighth flight, Firefly will be reconfiguring the Alpha rocket by increasing its length by seven feet, consolidating batteries and avionics, and improving the thermal protection system. (2/28)

Orbital Warfare Unit Gets Live Satellite to Practice Maneuvers (Source: Air and Space Forces)
Guardians in the Space Force’s orbital warfare unit, Mission Delta 9, just got a significant upgrade to their training capabilities in the form of a live satellite, which they’ll use to practice precise, advanced offensive and defensive maneuvers for space warfighting. The satellite was launched Feb. 12 on the Space Force’s USSF-87 mission, which also featured a pair of spacecraft for another program the delta operates—the Geosynchronous Space Situational Awareness Program. Operators will be flying the satellite in ways specific to the orbital warfare mission that weren’t possible with previous on-orbit training assets. (2/26)

Blue Origin, Virgin Galactic Have Paused Flights. What's the Future for Suborbital Space Tourism? (Source: Houston Chronicle)
Blue Origin and Virgin Galactic flew 122 people, not including repeat fliers or Virgin Galactic’s pilots. Then both companies stopped flying. Virgin Galactic, which flies from New Mexico, is building a new spacecraft that will carry more people and launch more frequently. Blue Origin is focusing on orbital missions that are more lucrative and relevant to NASA. And both companies are grappling with the economic realities of suborbital tourism, where they will likely need to launch hundreds of people a year to turn a profit and make their tickets affordable.

“We're very far from that,” said Phil Smith, a space industry analyst at BryceTech. “And after a while, wealthy people may move on to something else.” Not everyone has been willing to wait. Elizabeth Schneider, a 71-year-old who lives in Cape Canaveral, paid a $150,000 deposit in 2021. But she was getting nervous about losing her deposit if something happened to the company while it stopped flying. Schneider also paid a $1,000 deposit to fly to the edge of space on a high-altitude balloon with Space Perspective, but the company was liquidated and she did not get her money back.

Schneider owned a company, Galactic Medallion, that took tourists to NASA’s Kennedy Space Center. She ultimately asked Virgin Galactic for her deposit back in late 2024 — $25,000 was not refundable. Meagan Crawford, managing partner of Houston-based venture capital firm SpaceFund, said Bezos would need “a compelling business reason” [to re-start tourism flights]. “New Shepard was a bit of a stunt to begin with,” Crawford said. “It was never going to be a money maker for Blue Origin. (2/27)

Virgin Galactic Wants to Make its Return This Year (Source: Space Explored)
The Delta vehicles are being engineered for faster turnaround times, greater durability, and scalable manufacturing. The company has constructed new manufacturing facilities in Arizona and continues subsystem testing with the goal of restarting commercial service in the fourth quarter of 2026.

This extended pause has been costly, but leadership appears committed to the long game. CEO Michael Colglazier remains in place, and company strategy has centered on transitioning from demonstration missions to repeatable operations.

Financially, Virgin Galactic remains in a precarious phase. Revenue fell sharply during the flight hiatus while research, development, and infrastructure spending continued. Analysts expect continued losses through 2026 as the company works toward reestablishing regular flights. (2/24)

Japan’s Space One Plans Sunday Launch for Kairos No. 3 Rocket (Source: Japan Times)
Space One said Friday that it would launch the No. 3 unit of its Kairos small rocket carrying artificial satellites on Sunday morning. The Tokyo-based space development startup canceled the initially scheduled launch on Wednesday, citing a forecast for unfavorable weather conditions. The Kairos No. 3 unit is set to lift off from the company’s Spaceport Kii launch site in the town of Kushimoto. The rocket will carry five satellites, including one developed by the Taiwan Space Agency. (2/27)

GPS Interference is a Growing Concern (Source: Ars Technica)
Recent high-profile examples of GPS interference include an incident in 2024 that resulted in a fatal airline crash, killing 38 people. The International Air Transport Association reported a 500 percent increase in GPS spoofing incidents in 2024. For these reasons, the Space Force is prioritizing the launch of new GPS satellites better equipped to repel all of this jamming and spoofing.

Currently, 26 of the 31 operational GPS satellites carry M-code capability, enough for global coverage with little margin. But just 19 of the 31 satellites broadcast the higher-power civilian L5 signal, which is more resistant to interference than the civilian signals onboard satellites launched before 2010. (2/26)

NASA Safety Panel Warns of “High Risk” for Artemis III (Source: Space Policy Online)
As NASA prepares to launch the Artemis II crew around the Moon in the very near future, the Aerospace Safety Advisory Panel (ASAP) is raising warning flags about the next flight in the queue, Artemis III. That’s the mission designed to land astronauts on the surface of the Moon for the first time since 1972, but ASAP warns the current plan is too risky.

In its annual report issued yesterday, ASAP left no doubt about the level of their concerns, many expressed in previous reports. Chief among them is the “ambitious timeline” for developing lunar spacesuits and the Human Landing System (HLS) to get astronauts down to and back from the Moon’s surface. Among other things, ASAP is concerned about the number of “firsts” needed for the mission to succeed. That includes the first operational use of the HLS version of SpaceX’s Starship, which requires in-space refueling, another first; first use of Axiom Space’s spacesuits. (2/26)

Vast and Axiom Awarded New Private Missions to ISS, Continue Work on Commercial Space Stations (Source: NSF)
With NASA awarding back-to-back Private Astronaut Missions to aerospace companies Vast Space and Axiom Space in early 2026, NASA continues to foster and accelerate growth in commercial low-Earth orbit. The new missions are expected to launch in 2027, with NASA and SpaceX partnering with the companies to train, launch, and return four-person crews to and from the International Space Station.

Axiom has already flown four missions to the Station. Axiom-4 launched in June 2025, with former NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson commanding the 18-day mission. Vast’s mission will be the company’s first and the first by a company other than Axiom. Alongside their Private Astronaut Missions (PAM), both companies are building their own commercial space stations, with Vast’s Haven-1 recently completing cleanroom integration ahead of a 2027 launch. The first module of Axiom’s station, which will be assembled at the International Space Station (ISS) and eventually undock to become its own free-flying space station, is anticipated to launch in 2027. (2/26)

Lockheed Martin Plans to Deploy 5 to 10 Kilowatt Nuclear Fission System for Lunar Base (Source: Interesting Engineering)
Lockheed Martin is focusing on developing Fission Surface Power (FSP) as the essential solution for enabling long-term human presence and industrial activity on the Moon. The company advocates for a flexible, scalable architecture. Starting with smaller 5–10 kW systems for initial operations reduces risk, while evolving to 25–50 kW or eventually 100 kW systems will support larger-scale commercial and industrial infrastructure. (2/26)

Ursa Major Unveils HAVOC Medium-Range Hypersonic Missile System Designed for Affordable, Scalable Production (Source: Defense Industry Europe)
Ursa Major has introduced the HAVOC Missile System, a medium-range hypersonic system whose core module can also be used for hypersonic targets and is engineered for rapid production and scalability.

The HAVOC missile system is powered by Ursa Major’s Draper engine, a safe, storable tactical liquid rocket engine designed to cost a fraction of airbreathing alternatives. The company said it achieves affordability through advanced additive manufacturing, innovative design and modern production processes. (2/25)

GAMMA-H Cuts Hypersonic Propulsion Component Build Time Tenfold (Source: Interesting Engineering)
The Growing Additive Manufacturing Maturity for Airbreathing Hypersonics (GAMMA-H) initiative seeks to develop a prototype manufacturing solution. According to L3Harris Technologies, the program has focused on identifying materials, equipment, and scalable processes that can produce propulsion systems at higher rates and lower costs. “Under GAMMA-H, we have been identifying materials, equipment, and processes capable of building these propulsion systems at scale,” said Scott Alexander, President, Missile Propulsion, Missile Solutions, L3Harris. (2/24)

China’s LandSpace Plans More Recovery Test Launches of Its Zhuque-3 Reusable Rocket in Q2 of 2026 (Source: Global Times)
Chinese private space company LandSpace confirmed with the Global Times on Wednesday that it plans to conduct another recovery test of its Zhuque-3 reusable rocket in the second quarter of this year. LandSpace has drawn growing public attention for its technological advances. According to the Xinhua News Agency, the company successfully launched the Zhuque-3 reusable rocket on December 3. The rocket's second stage managed to enter the designated orbit, but recovery of its first stage failed. (2/25)

Nuclear Startups Bullish on Hitting US Pilot Program Deadline (Source: Reuters)
Following an executive order in May 2025, the Department of Energy (DOE) launched an accelerated Reactor Pilot Program under which 10 nuclear developers were selected: Aalo Atomics, Antares Nuclear, Atomic Alchemy, Deep Fission, Last Energy, Oklo, Natura Resources, Radiant Energy, Terrestrial Energy and Valar Atomics. Construction of the pilot projects is following an accelerated timeline as the qualifying developers are exempted from securing permits from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC).

The permitting is a lengthy and costly process. DOE has the authority to eliminate or expedite "environmental reviews for authorizations, permits, approvals, leases, and any other activity requested" by participating companies. The executive order called for at least three test reactors to achieve criticality, the point of a self-sustaining chain reaction, by July 4, 2026.

Editor's Note: I wonder if this special exemption empowerment at DOE might be applied to the time-critical development of a nuclear microreactor processing facility at the Cape Canaveral Spaceport. (2/24)

How Russia is Intercepting Communications From European Satellites (Source: The Conversation)
Officials recently sounded the alarm over Russia intercepting communications from European satellites. But this isn’t a new problem. Ever since the initial invasion of Ukraine in 2014, two Russian satellites have been secretly stalking European spacecraft. They have been maneuvering close enough to raise concerns about more than mere observation.

In 2018, the French defense minister accused Russia of espionage after one of these vehicles was spotted in the vicinity of a Franco-Italian military communications satellite. Two Intelsat satellites were similarly targeted before that. An Australian company called HEO recently flew by a classified Chinese satellite to uncover its technical features. In theory, information like this could be used in the future to disrupt the functioning of satellites.

However, the Russian satellites have often shadowed the same spacecraft for months, occasionally approaching within five kilometers of their targets. This does not fit the mission profile of satellite inspection, which would involve merely passing by a target, taking pictures and quickly moving on to another trajectory. (2/25)

A Culture Reset at NASA is Underway. Will it Stick This Time? (Source: FNN)
Two decades ago, NASA Administrator Michael Griffin observed that the space agency has become too dependent on outside contractors. He said over the last few decades, NASA hollowed out some of the skills the agency needs in-house to oversee and evaluate programs. Griffin was not the first, nor the last, to express these concerns. Over the last 20-plus years, lawmakers, NASA leaders and others have tried and tried again to address workforce challenges, including when NASA kicked off its Vision 2040 project in 2018.

Now it’s NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman’s turn to pave over this well-known ground. But observers say for Isaacman’s plans to refocus and reinvigorate NASA’s workforce to be different, he has to overcome some stiff cultural barriers that hamstrung, and eventually choked off, previous efforts.

“What Isaacman is trying to do is a culture reset,” said Mary Davie, a former deputy associate administrator for mission support directorate who retired in 2023 after 35 years of government service. “When he talks about things like mission-driven intensity and bias toward action, he’s probably discovered there is a lot of governance and oversight, that decisions take a long time, and it feels like every executive in the agency is involved in every decision.” (2/24)

Space Lasers Reveal Oceans Rising Faster Than Ever (Source: Science Daily)
A new 30-year analysis reveals that melting land ice is now the main force behind rising global sea levels. Researchers discovered that oceans rose about 90 millimeters since 1993, with most of the increase coming from added water mass rather than just warming expansion. Ice loss from Greenland and mountain glaciers accounts for the vast majority of this gain. Even more concerning, the rate of sea-level rise is accelerating. (2/24)

SpaceX's Cellular Starlink Aims for Speeds That Reach 150Mbps Per User (Source: PC Mag)
SpaceX this week offered more details on its plan to deliver 5G connectivity with its next-generation cellular Starlink service for mobile phones. “We are aiming at peak speeds of 150Mbps per user,” SpaceX satellite policy lead Udrivolf Pica said at the International Telecommunication Union's Space Connect conference. “So something incredible if you think about the link budgets from space to the mobile phone.” (2/24)

NASA Study Finds Ancient Life Could Survive 50 Million Years in Martian Ice (Source: Science Daily)
Future missions to Mars may want to dig into ice rather than rock. Scientists say ancient microbes, or traces of them, could be locked inside Martian ice deposits, preserved for tens of millions of years.

Researchers from NASA Goddard Space Flight Center and Penn State recreated Mars like conditions in the laboratory to test that idea. They found that pieces of amino acids from E. coli bacteria, if trapped in Martian permafrost or ice caps, could survive more than 50 million years even under constant cosmic radiation. The findings, published in Astrobiology, suggest that missions searching for life on Mars should prioritize pure ice or ice rich permafrost instead of focusing mainly on rocks, clay, or soil. (2/25)

FAA Awarded for Space Safety Operations, Supported 1100 License/Permit Actions (Source: FAA)
The international Civil Air Navigation Services Organization presented its Global Safety Achievement Award to the FAA Air Traffic Organization Space Operations group for its collaboration with Air Navigation Service Providers (ANSPs) to reduce aviation risk during space launch and reentry activities.

In February, the FAA reached another milestone with its 1,100th FAA-licensed or permitted commercial space operation. It took from 1989 to August 2025 to reach 1,000-- more than 35 years. With 100 operations in just the past six months, the next 1,000 will come considerably quicker. No public injuries or fatalities have occurred during any FAA commercial space launch and reentry operation. (2/27)

Space Force Readying Launch Of AFRL Cislunar SSA Satellite (Source: Aviation Week)
A new U.S. military satellite built to track objects in cislunar space could fly by the end of 2026. But the U.S. Space Force is reviewing the launch schedule as the mission was slated to launch on a United Launch Alliance (ULA) Vulcan rocket. (2/27)

Space Command Offering Bonuses to Staffers Who Make the Move to Alabama (Source: Air and Space Forces)
U.S. Space Command will offer “significant relocation bonuses” to its civilians who choose to move to the command’s new home in Huntsville, Ala., after President Donald Trump ordered the headquarters to relocate last September. Space Command is currently located in Colorado Springs, Colo. President Donald Trump selected Huntsville as the permanent headquarters, reversing the decision by former President Joe Biden to keep the command in Colorado. (2/24)

ESA Phi-Lab Ireland Launches to Drive Space Tech Innovation (Source: ESA)
Irish ambitions to grow its space manufacturing ecosystems have taken a major step forward today with the launch of the European Space Agency Phi-Lab Ireland, a facility that transforms cutting-edge research into commercial technologies. ESA Phi-Lab Ireland, headquartered at Irish Manufacturing Research (IMR) in Mullingar and run in collaboration with the AMBER Centre at Trinity College Dublin, enables firms to mature technologies in response to market needs, bolstering the country’s position in the fast-growing European space economy. (2/13)

Switzerland Bill Would Strengthen Space Industry (Source: BAFU)
The draft of a federal act on space operations has been approved for submission to Parliament. The proposed legislation is intended to enable players in Switzerland to exploit technological and economic opportunities in space. It also sends a signal that Switzerland is a forward-looking and responsible space nation. It will regulate the requirements for the operation of Swiss satellites in space for the first time.

The Federal Council wants all space operations to be authorized, supervised and compliant with international standards. The proposed act will also address liability issues and establish a national register for space objects. The Confederation thereby contributes to the safe, responsible and sustainable use of outer space. A clear legal framework in Switzerland will facilitate private investment in this rapidly growing sector, thereby boosting the international competitiveness of Swiss players. (2/25)

Report Highlights Challenges in NASA's Commercial Shift (Source: Military and Aerospace Electronics)
NASA's transition from government-owned systems to commercial human spaceflight is under scrutiny as the agency prepares to shift from the International Space Station to privately operated low-Earth orbit destinations. The Aerospace Safety Advisory Panel's 2025 report highlights that while NASA has made progress, its current commercial transition strategy remains undefined and aspirational. (2/27)

New Hypersonic Missiles Unveiled for Fighter Planes, Ground Systems (Source: Defense News)
The U.S. will soon have the ability to deploy a new type of hypersonic missile that can be shot from fighter planes, bombers, ground-based launchers — and can even be fired from space. Ursa Major, a Colorado-based defense manufacturer, debuted the HAVOC missile system on Tuesday. (2/25)

Pratt & Whitney Plans $200M Expansion of Georgia Facility (Source: Flying)
Aircraft engine maker Pratt & Whitney will spend $200 million to grow its manufacturing sites in Columbus, Georgia, a move intended to increase production of critical parts. The company will add a seventh isothermal forging press at its Columbus Forge facility. The press, expected to become operational by 2028, will boost output of components such as rotating compressor and turbine disks by 30 percent to support GTF, F135, and other engine programs, officials said. (2/25)

Artemis 2 Mission Shouldn't Launch Until Late 2026, Analysis of Solar Superflares Suggests (Source: Space.com)
Powerful solar superflares, which can generate geomagnetic storms and disrupt radio communications and GPS, damage satellites and endanger astronauts and even airline passengers, just got a lot easier to predict, thanks to a new formula that's based on half a century of X-ray observations of the sun. The new findings could have immediate real-world implications. NASA's Artemis 2 astronaut mission around the moon has been pushed back to the beginning of April at the earliest to address issues with its rocket, but Victor M. Velasco Herrera of the National Autonomous University of Mexico thinks that it should be delayed even longer. "Given how active the sun is right now, our forecasts suggest that delaying the launch until the end of 2026 may be a much safer decision," Velasco Herrera said, (2/27)

Rocket Lab Acquires OSI for  Strengthening National Security Payload Capability (Source: Rocket Lab)
Rocket Lab has completed the acquisition of Optical Support, Inc. (OSI), a leader in the design, engineering, and manufacture of optical and optomechanical instruments. OSI’s advanced lenses and optomechanical systems are critical enablers for national security and commercial satellites, and are key subsystems used in Rocket Lab Optical Systems’ high-performance payloads for space protection, space domain awareness, missile warning, tracking and defense. OSI delivers end-to-end solutions from concept design and prototyping to full-scale production including CNC machining, optical alignment, cleanroom assembly, and testing. The transaction further cements Rocket Lab’s position as a disruptive vertically integrated prime contractor, (2/27)

ESA Eyes Full Hydrogen Peroxide Engine Demonstration (Source: Aviation Week)
ESA and ArianeGroup are looking to advance work on a hydrogen peroxide and ethanol rocket engine that would be more sustainable than those using current propellants. ArianeGroup said the next step for the so-called Greta program is a full engine demonstration, due in 2027. The project aims to develop a 5-kN-thrust-class engine that can be restarted. The next phase follows a series of tests last year of Greta, during which the engine ran for more than 40 sec. and demonstrated controlled shutdowns.

The kind of engine being developed under Greta could be used on lunar landers or serve as kick stage, such as the Astris, which is in development for Ariane 6. Astris is supposed to provide an Ariane 6 orbital transfer vehicle capable of month-long missions that can be used for in-orbit servicing. It is due to fly in about three years. (2/27)

Hutcherson to Lead NASA Commercial Crew Program (Source: NASA)
NASA has named a new manager of its commercial crew program. NASA said Thursday that Dana Hutcherson, deputy manager for the commercial crew program, will take over as manager effective immediately. She replaces Steve Stich, who had managed the program for the last several years. The announcement came a day after Ken Bowersox, associate administrator for space operations, which includes commercial crew, announced his retirement. Last week, NASA released a report about the Starliner crewed test flight that identified both technical and organizational failings. (2/27)

Rocket Lab Delays Neutron Debut to 2027 (Source: Space News)
Rocket Lab is pushing back the first launch of its Neutron rocket to late this year. The company said in an earnings call Thursday that the rupture of a propellant tank during testing last month will delay the first flight of the rocket to at least the fourth quarter of the year. Rocket Lab said a manufacturing defect in the composite tank caused it to rupture during a hydrostatic pressure test, noting that the company had expected the tank to pass the tests.

The company is producing a replacement tank using a new automated system rather than the hand-laid process used for the first tank, and is also making minor design changes to the tank. Before the test failure Rocket Lab expected to have the first vehicle on the pad this quarter but had not set a launch date. Rocket Lab added in the call that it continues to see strong demand for its Electron small launch vehicle, including a contract with BlackSky for four launches. (2/27)

Virgin Media Offers Starlink-Enabled Satellite-to-Smartphone Connectivity (Source: Space News)
British mobile operator Virgin Media O2 said it started offering satellite-to-smartphone connectivity in the United Kingdom using Starlink. The service, initially limited to subscribers who have Samsung Galaxy devices, provides messaging and voice services as well as access to some apps. Virgin Media O2, owned by Spanish telecoms giant Telefonica, said the space-enabled service expands its U.K. landmass coverage from 89% to 95%, adding an area roughly two-thirds the size of Wales. The operator secured regulatory approval for the direct-to-device service earlier this month after British regulator Ofcom published rules to enable such services. (2/27)

Space Force Open to Guardian Astronauts (Source: Space News)
The Space Force is keeping the door open to flying guardians in space. At the Air & Space Forces Association's Warfare Symposium, senior officials said they could not rule out deploying personnel in space at some future time. That could include flying Space Force personnel on future commercial space stations. The Space Force maintains a liaison program with NASA so guardians can gain experience in the planning and ground operations side of human spaceflight. (2/27)

TSS to Host Year-Long Chinese Astronaut Stay, Pakistani Visit (Source: Space News)
A Chinese astronaut will spend a year in space on the Tiangong space station to allow a flight by a Pakistani astronaut. Chinese officials said Friday that one astronaut from the upcoming Shenzhou-23 mission will spend a year in space to gain data on human health and performance over an extended spaceflight. That would appear to allow China to fly a Pakistani astronaut on the Shenzhou-24 mission late this year, with that astronaut returning days later on Shenzhou-23. Together, the one-year mission and international astronaut plans indicate a shift in China's operational practices and reinforce earlier statements on long-duration missions and international cooperation through Tiangong. (2/27)

SpaceX Launches Friday Starlink Mission at Cape Canaveral Spaceport (Source: Spaceflight Now)
Another day means another Starlink launch. A Falcon 9 lifted off from the Cape Canaveral Spaceport on Friday morning, carrying 29 Starlink satellites. It was the third launch of Starlink satellites from Florida and California in the last 72 hours. (2/27)

Dragon Capsule Splashes Down Off California Coast (Source: NASA)
A Dragon cargo spacecraft returned to Earth from the International Space Station Thursday. The CRS-33 Dragon undocked from the station at 12:05 p.m. Eastern, splashing down off the California coast at 2:44 a.m. Eastern Friday. The Dragon, which had been at the station for six months, returned with science experiments and hardware. (2/27)

Infinite Orbits Expands into Luxembourg, Acquiring LMO to its Expand European Footprint (Source: Spacewatch Global)
Infinite Orbits has acquired LMO’s Luxembourg-based operations, a specialist in autonomous space systems. The acquisition establishes Infinite Orbits’ operational presence in Luxembourg, reinforcing its European footprint after the expansion of its team in France and in Spain. Acquiring LMO will subsequently strengthen Infinite Orbits’ ‘Orbit Guard’ geostationary surveillance microsatellite’s capacity. (2/27)

February 27, 2026

Space Coast Firm Signs to Pursue Spaceport Development in Dominican Republic (Source: LOD)
Launch On Demand's LOD Holdings, a development arm specializing in the planning, financing, and execution of spaceport projects worldwide, has signed an agreement with the government of the Dominican Republic to develop a commercial spaceport near Oviedo in the province of Pedernales.

This initiative began a few years ago with a simple question from the nation's leadership: how can the Dominican Republic leverage the space domain to strengthen its future? Since then, our team has spent time here meeting local leaders, developers, and students. What stands out most is not just the scale of the project, but what it represents for the next generation of Dominicans. The project was announced by the nation's president in his state of the republic address and follows a detailed technical feasibility study. (2/27)

The Fastest Way to Fail an Orbital Program Is to Skip Suborbital (Source: EXOS Aerospace)
Orbital programs fail for many reasons. Not just launch vehicles - but avionics, guidance and navigation systems, payload deployment mechanisms, thermal protection, communications, and mission sequencing. And one of the most preventable failure modes is this: Teams attempt full orbital missions before their systems have experienced real flight. Click here. (2/27)

Isaacman to Shifts SLS and Artemis Architecture for Increased Cadence, Lower Costs (Source: NASA)
NASA has revised its plans for future Artemis missions. A new mission, designated Artemis 3, will dock with lunar landers from Blue Origin and/or SpaceX in low Earth orbit in 2027. The first crewed landing attempt on the moon is now planned for Artemis 4 in early 2028, with a possible second landing on Artemis 5 in late 2028. As part of those changes, NASA said it is abandoning plans to upgrade the Space Launch System after Artemis 3.

"The way forward is to start now by standardizing the SLS to a near-common Block 1 configuration and maintain this architecture across future missions," Jared Isaacman wrote in an agency-wide email Friday. "This approach will reduce cost, improve safety, and allow for an increased launch cadence, which is essential to returning NASA astronauts to the Moon." (2/27)

Blue Origin Snags Former SpaceX Site for Latest Space Coast Expansion (Sources: Orlando Business Journal, SPACErePORT)
Blue Origin expands its aerospace operations in Florida with a $11.5 million land purchase. Blue Origin Manufacturing LLC purchased 20 acres at 850 Cidco Rd. in Cocoa for $11.5 million on Feb. 17, according to a deed posted to Brevard County records. The site was formerly used by SpaceX to develop prototype designs for its Starship launch system, before the establishment of Starbase manufacturing and launch operations in Texas. (2/27)

SLS Block 1 Freeze Will Impact Boeing, Northrop Grumman, L3Harris, Others (Source: SPACErePORT)
NASA's plan to halt major SLS upgrades beyond the Block 1 configuration would impact a significant collection of prime contractors, their subcontractors, and suppliers. Boeing, of course, is the lead contractor for the Exploration Upper Stage, but it's unclear whether this element will continue. Northrop Grumman's advanced solid rocket boosters would be canceled. L3Harris' upgraded RS-25 engines would be canceled. Leidos' development of a new Universal Stage Adapter may be scrapped.

As for spaceport infrastructure, work by Bechtel and others on a new mobile launch platform (ML2) may soon be canceled ; LC-39B cryogenic upgrades by BRPH, Jacobs and others may be canceled; and in the VAB's High Bay 3, modifications led by Hensel Phelps, RS&H, and others may be canceled. (2/27)

Private Space Station Developers Advocate for Multiple Pathways to Secure NASA Approval (Source: Aerospace America)
As NASA mulls the acquisition strategy for the next phase of its commercial space station program, executives from several of the developers urged an approach that offers flexibility for demonstrating they can meet the agency’s requirements. Each of the four companies represented on the panel are employing a slightly different approach to orbiting their stations by 2030, the target date NASA has set for retiring the International Space Station. (2/26)

NIH Releases Update on ISS Tissue Chips Research (Source: Upward)
Six research projects were selected through a joint solicitation from the International Space Station (ISS) National Laboratory and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) as part of the Tissue Chips in Space 2.0 initiative. The ISS National Lab first began collaborating with NIH’s National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS) on tissue chips in space nearly a decade ago. (2/26)

UKAEA to Help Pulsar Fusion with Shielding for Nuclear Propulsion System (Source: European Spaceflight)
UK-based in-orbit propulsion systems provider Pulsar Fusion has announced that the UK Atomic Energy Authority will assist the company with the development of neutron shielding and activation modelling for its Sunbird Migratory Transfer Vehicle. (2/26)

AIA Plans Recommendations for Resilient Space Supply Chain (Source: Breaking Defense)
The Aerospace Industries Association is studying the space sector supply chain via discussions with AIA members amid a global rush for satellites and launch capacity for both commercial and defense functions. AIA's Jordan Tomaszewski has characterized the current cycle as "the year of the supply chain." Based on the current discussion AIA plans to issue recommendations for strengthening the space supply chain. (2/25)

L3Harris Overhauls Space Force Telescope in Australia (Source: Defense Post)
L3Harris Technologies, is leading a significant update of the primary mirror of the US Space Force's Space Surveillance Telescope in Australia. The project, which included enhancements to mirrors, extends the telescope's operational life and improves its performance in tracking objects in geostationary orbit. The telescope is crucial to the US-Australia space situational awareness partnership. (2/26)

Four Scottish Space Companies (Source: Space Scotland)
Space Scotland, the industry group that unites, supports, and promotes the rapidly growing Scottish space sector, has announced the winners of the Pivot into Space program. The Scotland-wide initiative is designed to help companies prepare for selling into the growing space supply chain by adapting and scaling their technologies. The program, part-funded by the UK Space Agency (UKSA), helps organizations from advanced manufacturing, robotics, photonics, life sciences and other adjacent sectors to develop space-ready technologies, unlock new commercial opportunities, and strengthen the UK and Scotland's space capabilities.

The four winners are: CEXAL based in Edinburgh, specializing in Biotechnology; LumiAIres based in Glasgow, specializing in Photonic AI Processors; PowerPhotonic, based in Dunfermline, specializing in Advanced Manufacturing; and Thistle Design, based in Loanhead, specializing in Electronics Manufacturing. Each company will deliver a sprint R&D project, supported by grants of up to £25,000, covering 50–70% of project costs. Projects commenced in January and will be completed by 23 March 2026, ensuring rapid progression from concept to commercial opportunity. (2/27)

BlackSky Reports Mixed Financial Results (Source: Via Satellite)
BlackSky’s 2025 financial performance was a mixed bag, with an increase in fourth quarter revenue and a 32% increase in backlog, despite an increase in the company’s net loss and a second consecutive year of contracting growth. BlackSky posted $106.6 million in full year revenue in 2025, a 4.4% year-over-year increase from 2024. It marks a second year of sliding YoY growth, after 8% growth in 2024 and 45% growth in 2023. (2/26)

Redwire Emphasizes Defense Pivot and Maturing Capabilities in 2025 Results (Source: Via Satellite)
Jacksonville FL-based Redwire grew revenue by 10.3% in 2025, which the company attributed to its business maturing and capabilities advancing from development into production. In its fourth quarter 2025 results released Wednesday, Redwire reported $335.4 million full year revenue. The fourth quarter in particular had 56% year-over-year growth to $108.8 million in revenue. (2/26)

Canada’s NordSpace Opens VC Arm for Sovereign Space Investments (Source: Payload)
While NordSpace is working on building a Canadian sovereign launch capability, it’s also establishing a small VC business to invest in strategic partners. The company has launched NordSpace Ventures, which will make investments in “Canadian space, defense, and dual-use technologies”. “This was the fastest way to have a direct interest in, and impact on, Canadian companies that are intertwined with NordSpace’s own future,” a spokesperson said. (2/26)

Phantom Space Reclaims Former Vector Launch Technology (Sources: Space News, SPACErePORT)
Remnants of Vector Launch have made it back to one of its original architects after Phantom Space bought launch assets that were sold off in 2020 during the small rocket developer’s bankruptcy. Both Vector and Phantom were founded by Jim Cantrell, an early SpaceX rocketeer. The assets had been purchased post-bankruptcy by TLS Bidco for just over $1 million, with plans to restart the company. The newly reacquired IP and assets will help Phantom speed up development of its Daytona rocket.

After raising tens of millions of dollars for its launch vehicle and GalacticSky satellite operations software, and failing to fulfill an Air Force launch contract, Vector filed for bankruptcy in 2019. Along the way, Vector sued Lockheed Martin for GalacticSky patent infringement, and after losing the legal battle ended up selling GalacticSky to Lockheed in 2020. Cantrell also alleged he was wrongfully terminated from Vector in 2019. Following Vector's bankruptcy, the bankruptcy trustee sued Cantrell, alleging he had "systematically looted" Vector for personal gain. (2/26)

Sierra Space Names Dan Jablonsky CEO (Source: Space News)
Sierra Space announced that longtime defense executive Dan Jablonsky has been appointed chief executive officer, effective March 2. He previously led rocket engine maker Ursa Major. Also effective March 2, according to a Feb. 20 announcement, Jablonsky will join the board of directors at BWX Technologies. (2/26)

BWXT Expands on Space Coast (Source: Investing.com)
BWX Technologies, Inc. announced the opening of a new Digital Center in Melbourne, Florida. This 11,600-square-foot facility will be pivotal for the company’s digital transformation, focusing on smart operations, AI, automation, and cybersecurity. Additionally, BWXT has inaugurated its Centrifuge Manufacturing Development Facility in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, aimed at enhancing U.S. uranium enrichment capabilities for national security. (2/20)

China's Asteroid Mission On Track (Source: Space News)
China's Tianwen-2 spacecraft is operating normally on its way to a near-Earth asteroid later this year. The spacecraft, launched last May, is scheduled to arrive later this year at the asteroid 469219 Kamo'oalewa. It will collect samples of the asteroid and return them to Earth by November 2027, a Chinese official said in a presentation to the United Nations' Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space earlier this month. After returning the samples to Earth, Tianwen-2 will use Earth's gravity to send it on a course for main-belt comet 311P/PANSTARRS, arriving in 2034. (2/26)

Space Force Pauses Use of ULA Vulcan Pending Anomaly Investigation (Source: Space News)
The Space Force is pausing use of United Launch Alliance's Vulcan rocket after an anomaly on a launch earlier this month. The service said Wednesday that it will not fly national security missions on Vulcan while an investigation continues into the USSF-87 launch Feb. 12, when ULA reported an "observation" with one of the rocket's strap-on boosters. The incident was similar to one on Vulcan's second flight in October 2024, when a nozzle on one of the solid boosters came off in flight. A halt in national security launches is a setback for ULA as it seeks to increase Vulcan's flight rate and establish a steady operational tempo. The company recently projected 18 to 22 launches this year. (2/26)

Bowersox Retiring From NASA (Source: Space News)
A top NASA official is retiring from the agency. Ken Bowersox, NASA associate administrator for space operations, said at the end of a speech at the ASCENDxTexas conference Wednesday that he would be retiring. He did not give a reason for the retirement or a timeframe, but suggested it would be imminent. Bowersox leads NASA's Space Operations Mission Directorate, responsible for the International Space Station, commercial crew and other programs. His announcement came less than a week after NASA released an independent report in the 2024 Starliner crewed test flight that identified problems with how NASA managed the issue. NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman said when the report was released that "there will be leadership accountability" but didn't elaborate. (2/26)

Seraphim Exceeds $100M Fundraise for Venture Fund (Source: Space News)
Seraphim Space announced Feb. 25 it has completed fundraising for its second private early-stage venture fund. The British firm declined to disclose the fund's final size but said it exceeded a goal of $100 million. New investors include Saudi satellite operator Arabsat and the U.K. government-backed British Business Bank and National Security Strategic Investment Fund. They join existing strategic partners that include Eutelsat, SKY Perfect JSAT and Japanese technology company NEC. The new fund, named Seraphim Space Ventures II, has already invested in startups such as small geostationary satellite maker AscendArc and Hubble Networks, which is developing a constellation to connect Bluetooth devices. (2/26)

Golden Dome Will Require Unprecedented Command Coordination (Source: Space News)
The Golden Dome missile defense initiative will require unprecedented coordination among existing combatant commands. Leaders of U.S. Northern Command, Space Command and Strategic Command said they are part of an executive council supporting Gen. Michael Guetlein, the Golden Dome program manager. Golden Dome will have a significant space component, while Northern Command is responsible for defending the U.S. and Canada from attack and Strategic Command has global missile defense responsibilities. The leaders of the three organizations said Guetlein has been a "fantastic partner" in developing requirements for Golden Dome that could help accelerate deployment of the system. (2/26)

Starlink Mission Launches From Vandenberg on Wednesday (Source: Spaceflight Now)
A California launch placed more Starlink satellites into orbit Wednesday. A Falcon 9 lifted off from Vandenberg Space Force Base, deploying 25 Starlink satellites. With this mission SpaceX has launched more than 500 Starlink satellites this year. (2/26)

SLS Rolled Back to VAB for Helium System Repair (Source: CBS)
Artemis 2 is back in the Vehicle Assembly Building for repairs. NASA rolled back the Space Launch System rocket and Orion spacecraft from Launch Complex 39B Wednesday, taking more than 10 hours to complete the trip. Once back in the VAB, engineers will examine a problem with the helium pressurization system in the rocket's upper stage. There are several potential causes for the problem, and NASA has not estimated how long the repairs might take. NASA will also replace batteries in the rocket. The next available launch window for the Artemis 2 mission is in early April. (2/26)

Houston Hopes to Host IAC 2029 (Source: AIAA)
Houston is bidding to host a major space conference in 2029. AIAA announced Wednesday its intent to bid on the 2029 International Astronautical Congress, one of the largest space conferences worldwide. AIAA said it is working with local organizations to host the conference, timed to the 60th anniversary of Apollo 11. Organizers hope to break the IAC attendance record of 12,000 set in 2024 in Milan, adding it has received more than 160 letters of support from agencies and organizations. The International Astronautical Federation will select the site of the 2029 conference at the 2026 IAC in Turkey in October. (2/26)

Airbus and Leonardo Report Increased Space Revenues for 2025 (Source: Space News)
Airbus Defense and Space and Leonardo reported increased 2025 revenues in their space divisions, following a challenging 2024. Airbus saw an 11% revenue rise to €13.4 billion ($14.5 billion), while Leonardo's Space division exceeded €1 billion in revenue, also up roughly 11%. Both are in talks to merge space assets with Thales. (2/26)

NASA Reveals Mars Orbiter Objectives (Source: Ars Technica)
NASA released a “pre-solicitation” for what is expected to be a hotly contested contract to develop a spacecraft to orbit Mars and relay communications from the red planet back to Earth. US Senator Ted Cruz, R-TX, supported $700 million for NASA to develop the orbiter and specified the funding had to be awarded “not later than fiscal year 2026,” which ends Sep. 30, 2026. This legislation was seemingly crafted by Cruz’s office to favor a single contractor, Rocket Lab. However, multiple sources say it was poorly written and therefore the competition is more open than intended. Click here. (2/26)

Sorry SpaceX: It’s Getting Too Crowded Up There (Source: New York Times)
SpaceX, recently asked the U.S. government for permission to launch one million satellites. The idea is to put solar-powered data centers into orbit, an ambition shared by other tech giants. But Earth orbit is already packed with spacecraft and space junk. And greenhouse gas emissions are affecting the upper atmosphere in ways that could significantly increase the clutter in space. By the end of the century, half as many satellites might safely fit in Earth orbit, researchers have found. (2/26)

CesiumAstro Announces Acquisition of Vidrovr (Source: Business Wire)
CesiumAstro announced the acquisition of Vidrovr, an artificial intelligence (AI) company specializing in real-time multimodal signal analysis. The acquisition accelerates CesiumAstro’s strategy to embed AI directly into space telecommunications and ISR (intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance) infrastructure. (2/26)

Old Apollo Rocks Shed New Light on the Moon’s Magnetic Field (Source: AP)
Lunar rocks collected by Apollo astronauts more than half a century ago are providing a fresh take on the moon’s mysterious magnetic field, scientists reported Wednesday. Samples to be retrieved by future moonwalkers in NASA’s new Artemis program should yield even more clues. The study suggests that while the moon’s magnetic field has been weak during most of its existence, it strengthened and even exceeded Earth’s magnetic activity during extremely brief periods 3 billion to 4 billion years ago. (2/25)

Congress to Weigh Extending Space Station Life, NASA Moon Base (Source: Reuters)
The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation next week will consider extending the planned life of the ISS by two years to give companies more time to develop a replacement, one of a few changes to a NASA bill focused on rivaling China's growing footprint in space. The bill would also require that NASA build a base on the moon's surface as part of its Artemis program. (2/25)

Space ISAC Launches New Quantum Initiative (Source: Via Satellite)
The issue of quantum computing is becoming more important in the space cybersecurity community, and Space Information Sharing and Analysis Center (Space ISAC) is now launching a new initiative in this area. It is announcing its first Quantum Community of Interest (COI) meeting this year with co-host MITRE. Space ISAC, through the Quantum COI and other initiatives aims to lead in the development of awareness of quantum sciences, sensing, security, and education of the COI membership. (2/25)

February 26, 2026

Pay to Play: Isaacman Donated Millions to Trump Super PAC (Sources: Douglas Messier, USA Today)
Jared Isaacman contributed $2 million to President Donald Trump’s MAGA Inc. political action committee (PAC) after the president withdrew his nomination to serve as NASA administrator in May and before the nomination was revived in November, according to Federal Election Commission (FEC) records. Isaacman had previously supported candidates from both political parties from 2010 through 2024. However, his donations to Democrats were 31 percent higher than his contributions to Republicans during that 14-year period. [For Trump's second nomination of Isaacman] the rationale hadn’t changed at all. But, the bank accounts of Republican PACs had gotten fatter.

The FEC has allowed the use of such PAC funds for certain legal defenses. MAGA Inc. has historically transferred millions of dollars to Save America, which then uses those funds to pay for Trump's personal legal expenses. (2/26)

SpaceX's Nascent Monopoly Faces Durability Test (Source: Reuters)
Investing in an Elon Musk company is less a bet on financial outperformance than a statement of faith in his vision for the future. SpaceX plans to launch one million satellites that will serve as distributed cloud servers in space. These orbital data centers will supposedly harness the power of the sun to process artificial-intelligence workloads. To make it happen, Musk thinks, he may need a satellite factory on the moon. He’ll undoubtedly need plenty of cash – which is where a potential SpaceX initial public offering comes in.

Starlink, its satellite broadband unit, accounted for 50% to 80% of total revenue. The implied group margin of roughly 50% is impressive for what is in large part a broadband supplier with 10 million subscribers. With a potential $1 trillion valuation, it might look like the company is preparing to capture a hefty share of the global telecom market in short order. But the reality is that satellite connectivity is a complement to conventional networks – not a replacement for them. Most consumers in developed markets will find that a fixed-line broadband connection meets their needs at home, while 4G and 5G are readily available on-the-go. Demand for satellite services comes from people and places that telecom companies otherwise struggle to reach.

This isn’t a tiny market, but it will get crowded. Amazon recently got the greenlight to add around 4,500 more satellites to its planned constellation – taking the total to just under 8,000. Some 200 satellites have been launched so far, with the full fleet due to be in service by 2029. China, meanwhile, is developing two low-earth-orbit networks of its own: one for government and security uses and another aimed at international customers, with tens of thousands of planned satellites in total. Though SpaceX will list with an effective monopoly in satellite communications, its deep-pocketed rivals are catching up. (2/26)

Golden Dome Funding Details Hit the Public Record (Source: Mach 33)
An unclassified Pentagon allocation plan identifies $151 billion in reconciliation funding, with $24.4B+ allocated to Golden Dome missile defense and $13.8B tied to Space Force elements, alongside explicit space-related components (sensors and space-based layers). This is what it looks like when “space-based defense” stops being conceptual and starts becoming a budget-shaped demand signal. The spend profile implies a multi-year pull for sensor architectures, space data plumbing, launch/test cadence, and operational integration.

Editor's Note: The "launch/test cadence" item is interesting as it might represent an opportunity for Golden Dome funding to support spaceport-based infrastructure investments needed to support test-or deployment-related launch operations. (2/24)

Eutelsat to Raise €1.5 Billion to Refinance its Debt (Source: European Spaceflight)
European satellite operator Eutelsat has announced that it will raise €1.5 billion to refinance existing debt and add cash to the company’s balance sheet. In June 2025, Eutelsat reported net debt of just over €2.6 billion, up €82.2 million year-on-year, with a net debt-to-EBITDA (Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation, and Amortization) ratio of 3.88×. At the same time, the company had committed more than €2 billion to procure 440 new satellites to replenish and expand its OneWeb broadband constellation. (2/25)

Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex Plans New 'Project Aero' Attraction (Source: Florida Today)
Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex officials plan to build a 55,000-square-foot attraction facility featuring show and ride spaces on 2.9 acres immediately south of the space shuttle Atlantis building, permitting records show.

The mystery attraction is code-named Project Aero. On Feb. 17, NASA officials applied for stormwater permitting from the St. Johns River Water Management District, seeking authorization for construction to proceed. To clear room for Project Aero, heavy equipment crews have demolished buildings at the aging administrative building complex just east of the tour bus loop. (2/24)

ExLabs Asteroid Apophis Flyby Sparks the Rise of Commercial Interplanetary Missions (Source: ExLabs)
The ApophisExL mission represents a pivotal moment in the commercialization of deep space, where private operators increasingly complement traditional government programs. Partnering with NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), ExLabs demonstrates a hybrid model that blends institutional scientific rigor with the speed, flexibility, and scalability of commercial innovation. The mission also opens the door to new entrants, such as Japan’s Chiba Institute of Technology, whose student-built payloads will operate directly on the asteroid’s surface.

Asteroid Apophis’ unprecedented 2029 Earth flyby offers a rare chance to study how Earth’s gravity reshapes an asteroid in real time. By pioneering a commercially led rideshare approach and integrating academic and institutional partners, ApophisExL exemplifies how private enterprise can expand access to interplanetary exploration. The mission showcases a future where deep space is not just the domain of governments but a collaborative frontier for commercial, academic, and emerging space organizations alike. (2/25)

NASA Reveals Crew-11 Astronaut Who Had Medical Event in Orbit Aboard ISS (Source: Florida Today)
NASA astronaut Mike Fincke has been identified as the Crew-11 member who experienced a medical event in early January aboard the ISS, triggering NASA's first medical evacuation in ISS history. NASA shared a statement from Fincke on social media Wednesday, Feb. 25, revealing the affected crew member's identity for the first time. " ... I experienced a medical event that required immediate attention from my incredible crewmates. Thanks to their quick response and the guidance of our NASA flight surgeons, my status quickly stabilized," Fincke said. Specifics about the medical event were not disclosed. (2/25)

Valve Malfunction Blamed for Failure of Indian Satellite To Raise Its Orbit (Source: Space News)
India’s space agency says a valve failure prevented a navigation spacecraft launched more than a year ago from raising its orbit. A team traced the anomaly to a failure in the spacecraft’s pyro system. According to the findings, the drive signal did not reach the pyro valve in the oxidizer line of the engine meant for orbit-raising maneuvers. As a result, the engine could not be fired to shift the satellite from its transfer orbit. (2/25)

How Long Could Earth Microbes Live on Mars? (Source: Universe Today)
A team of researchers has introduced the Mars Microbial Survival (MMS) model, which they note could be used to estimate the amount of forward contamination from Earth-based microbes on Mars. More specifically, how long in Mars sols would Earth-based microbes that weren’t caught before launch could survive on the Red Planet upon arrival?

The researchers analyzed how a spacecraft would encounter microbial sterilization during the cruise phase and surface phase. During the cruise phase, the spacecraft is bombarded with solar wind in the form of Ultraviolet-C radiation, in a vacuum with varying temperatures and solar radiation. For the surface phase, the spacecraft is exposed to Mars’ surface temperatures and pressures, while also being exposed to incoming solar radiation since Mars lacks a protective ozone layer or magnetic field like Earth.

The model determined that the spacecraft exteriors were sterilized from solar wind while the encased rovers may be sterilized by the vacuum environment and temperature changes. For the surface phase, the model determined that it would take approximately one Mars sol for upward-facing spacecraft surfaces to become sterilized, and it would take approximately one Mars year (687 Earth days) for the entire spacecraft to become sterilized. (2/25)

Mars Astronauts Need More Than Just Space Greenhouses (Source: Universe Today)
Storing food for five years, and trying to make sure it's still edible, while it is constantly being bombarded by radiation is a recipe for disaster. At this point in our exploration journey, we’re not even sure we can actually safely package food for that long in those conditions. Even if we were, radiation can mutate bacteria, making them potentially more dangerous and harder to kill.

There is evidence that managing crops and cooking provides a psychological boost. However, doing so takes away time from other mission-critical tasks, like exercise or navigation, so there’s a trade-off of how much psychological benefits those systems provide versus the opportunity cost of tending to other mission-critical tasks.

Menu fatigue is another real problem for astronauts. If you’re eating the same nutrient paste every day for five years, it’s very likely that, after some time, you’ll begin to eat less of it simply due to the fact that you’re sick of it. If a food lacks "organoleptic appeal” (i.e. taste, texture, and smell), then it’s highly likely that astronauts will simply dispose of it instead of actually eating it. (2/25)

Airmo Selects EnduroSat to Launch Methane-Monitoring Sensors Into Orbit (Source: Via Satellite)
Germany and Luxembourg-based sensing company Airmo will partner with satellite manufacturer EnduroSat to put its methane emissions monitoring technology into orbit, with the first satellite of a projected 12-satellite constellation slated to launch in 2027. Airmo said it aims to fill a gap in unreliable methane emissions reporting, as increasing sectoral oversight like the European Union’s 2024 methane regulation increases demand for data. (2/25)

UCF's "Go For Launch" Campaign Aims to Raise $3.5 Billion (Source: UCF)
Go For Launch is the most ambitious philanthropic and revenue-generating campaign in UCF history. We have set goals that include $1 billion in philanthropic support and $2.5 billion in expanded research activity, partnerships, and innovation-driven revenue. Together, these $3.5 billion in commitments will help strengthen UCF’s capacity and leadership in a rapidly changing world. (2/25)

Intuitive Machines Plans $175 Million Investment in SatCom and Space Data Processing (Source: Intuitive Machines)
Intuitive Machines announced a $175 million strategic equity investment. Following its acquisition of Lanteris in January, the company intends to expand its Near Space Network Services (NSNS) and establish a solar system internet independent of Earth. The Company believes it can expand capability around the Moon, extend capability to Mars, and support emerging high-power on-orbit data processing and edge computing. (2/25)

Methane Monitoring Science Act Would Task NASA (Source: Payload)
Two lawmakers introduced a bill that would task NASA to improve the nation’s ability to detect cow farts—and all other forms of methane leaks. Rep. Don Beyer (D-VA) and Rep. Pat Harrigan (R-NC) introduced the Methane Monitoring Science Act this month. The bill would direct the space agency to evaluate the state of methane monitoring tech, and ensure data can be shared across federal and private agencies to quickly find and stop leaks that hurt the atmosphere. (2/24)

DAF Shakes Up Space Acquisition Leadership, Purdy Takes ‘Senior Advisor’ Role (Source: Breaking Defense)
In a surprise move, Maj. Gen. Stephen Purdy, who until recently was running the space acquisition shop at the Department of the Air Force, has been shifted out of that office to serve as “senior advisor” to Secretary Troy Meink. Purdy on Jan. 22 announced he had stepped down from his year-long stint as Air Force acting head of the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Space Acquisition and Integration (SAF/SQ). He had been simultaneously serving as military deputy to that office. The Defense Department has yet to nominate an assistant secretary for space acquisition, who also holds the role of DoD’s Space Acquisition Executive (SAE). (2/24)

Gilat Receives $39 Million in Orders for Sidewinder ESA Terminals (Source: Gilat)
Gilat Satellite Networks has received $39 million in orders from a leading satellite operator for its electronically steered antenna (ESA) Sidewinder in-flight connectivity terminals, including both linefit and retrofit installations. Deliveries are expected over the next 12 months. These new orders of additional Sidewinder ESA terminals highlight the accelerating global shift toward ESA solutions as airlines and service providers work to meet rapidly growing demand for high quality in-flight broadband. (2/24)

Hegseth Visits Colorado Space Companies (Source: Space News)
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth used a pair of stops at Colorado space companies Monday to criticize defense bureaucracy. Speaking to workers at True Anomaly and Sierra Space as part of the Pentagon's "Arsenal of Freedom" tour, Hegseth framed the department's acquisition struggles as the product of a sclerotic Beltway establishment, saying companies like theirs are the antidote. His rhetoric aligns with a broader procurement reform narrative inside the Pentagon. Senior officials have voiced dissatisfaction with cost overruns and slow fielding timelines in major defense programs and signaled greater interest in commercially funded innovation, fixed-price contracts and faster development cycles. (2/25)

Luxembourg's OQ Technology Raises $30 Million for Constellation Expansion (Source: Space News)
Luxembourg-based OQ Technology has received 25 million euros ($30 million) from the European Investment Bank (EIB) to expand its direct-to-device constellation. The funding, announced Wednesday, is a loan that will support the deployment of more than 20 small satellites. OQ Technology uses S-band to connect proprietary and mass-market off-the-grid tracking and monitoring devices after deploying 10 Internet of Things (IoT) satellites in low Earth orbit, but is developing its first dedicated satellite to provide smartphone connectivity in C-band that is slated for launch in the middle of this year. C-band promises greater bandwidth than S-band, and additional spacecraft would improve coverage and latency for what OQ Technology intends to be a multi-band constellation serving IoT and smartphone devices. (2/25)

Communication Among Satellite Operators is a Challenge for Space Traffic Management (Source: Space News)
One challenge for space traffic coordination turns out to be figuring out how satellite operators can communicate with each other. At the Space Traffic Conference last week, a major issue discussed was the difficulty finding contact information for satellite operators in the event of a potential conjunction. Aarti Holla-Maini, director of the United Nations Office of Outer Space Affairs, said her office was asked twice in the last 14 months to help make contact with operators to coordinate maneuvers to avoid collisions after other efforts to make contact failed. The problem, experts say, shows the need for a comprehensive directory of satellite operators of some kind, or ultimately automating the process of coordinating collision avoidance maneuvers. (2/25)

SpaceX Launches Starlink Mission on Tuesday From Florida (Source: Spaceflight Now)
SpaceX launched more Starlink satellites from Florida Tuesday evening. A Falcon 9 lifted off from the Cape Canaveral Spaceport, deploying 29 Starlink satellites into low Earth orbit. This was SpaceX's 18th launch so far this year of Starlink satellites. (2/25)

Alabama Lawmakers Advance Bill Renaming, Expanding State Aerospace Agency (Source: Yellowhammer)
The Alabama Legislature is advancing SB228, a bill that would rename the Alabama Space Authority the Alabama Aerospace Authority and expand its membership and duties. Under the bill, the Alabama Space Authority — currently an office within the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs responsible for promoting research and development in space exploration and spaceport technology — would be formally renamed the Alabama Aerospace Authority later this year. Among the new duties added by the bill, the authority would be required to develop strategies to promote and encourage private investment in the aerospace sector. (2/24)

Puerto Rico Spaceport Decision Anticipated Soon (Source: SPACErePORT)
A decision regarding a proposed spaceport at Puerto Rico's Roosevelt Roads base is past due (proposals were submitted in April 2025). The site could potentially host launch pads for small, medium, or large rockets. It could also support offshore launch platforms hosted at the port (mainly for small launchers), and reentry and downmass recovery/processing for space-produced biomedical goods. (2/25)

China vs SpaceX in Race for Space AI Data Centers (Source: Fox News)
The China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation outlined a five-year plan to build what it calls "gigawatt-class space digital-intelligence infrastructure," according to reporting cited by CCTV. While that phrase may sound bureaucratic. It is not. Gigawatt-class means massive energy output. Think industrial scale. These proposed orbital hubs would integrate cloud, edge and device-level computing. In simple terms, data collected on Earth could be processed in space instead of inside giant warehouses in Arizona or Inner Mongolia.

The vision goes even further. A December policy document describes an industrial-scale "Space Cloud" by 2030. The goal is deep integration of computing power, storage and transmission bandwidth, all powered by solar energy in orbit. China also signaled that space-based solar power tied to AI computing will be a core pillar of its upcoming 15th Five-Year Plan. It's all part of its national strategy. (2/24)

Avio to Build $500 Million Facility in Hurt, Virginia, with State Incentives (Source: European Spaceflight)
Italian rocket builder Avio has announced that it will build its new US-based solid rocket motor manufacturing facility in Hurt, Virginia. Subject to approval by the Virginia General Assembly, the company will be eligible for a $100 million “special appropriation” to supplement the $500 million it plans to invest in the construction and operation of the new facility. In November 2025 the company announced plans to build its new production facility in Virginia, but did not specify a location. This week it confirmed that the facility would be built in Hurt, Pittsylvania County. (2/24)

Cargo, Investment Play Part in Japan's Space Industry in Global Race (Source: The Mainichi)
Japan, regarded as one of the most competitive players in the promising space business, needs to establish commercial cargo operations and narrow the scope of service areas eligible for government financial aid to better catch up with leading global rivals, analysts say. Japan is among the first five countries to land a probe on the Moon and ranks third in public investment in the space sector, while a growing number of companies are seeking to offer services ranging from communications and in-orbit servicing to space travel.

Japanese commercial cargo servicers are still in development or trial phases. Rocket launches from Japan will be vital for transporting cargoes at lower cost and with shorter lead times, analysts say. Aside from the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency's H3 rocket, space venture Interstellar Technologies Inc. and startup Space One Co. are among the frontrunners in developing private rockets, while Honda Motor Co. has also joined the fray from the auto industry. (2/25)

NM Governor Appoints CEO of Investment Firm to Spaceport America Board (Source: KOAT)
James Prendamano, the CEO of PreReal Investments, has been appointed by Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham to the Board of Directors of Spaceport America, which is owned by the state of New Mexico and located east of Truth or Consequences. Prendamano said he welcomes the opportunity to manage the Spaceport at this historically challenging time. (2/24)

Industry Input Wanted for Next Canadian Space Agency Priority Technologies (Source: SpaceQ)
The Canadian Space Agency (CSA) is looking for input as it prepares to release its next Space Technology Development Program opportunity, a program that is continually underfunded. The request for information (RFI) was released on Thursday, Feb. 19 and is titled Enabling Technologies for Future Missions. (2/24)