March 24, 2026

Scientists Narrow Down the Hunt for Aliens to 45 Planets (Source: 404 Media)
Scientists have discovered more than 6,000 exoplanets, which are planets that orbit other stars, but most of these worlds are hopelessly inhospitable to life. To home in on the best candidates for habitability, a team combed through the catalogue of exoplanets to identify the best potential alien homes.

The short-list includes 45 rocky worlds that are no bigger than twice the size of Earth and orbit within the habitable zone (HZ) of their stars, which is the region where liquid water might exist on the surface. The most exciting destinations include four planets that orbit the red dwarf star TRAPPIST-1, about 40 light years away, or Proxima Centauri b, which is the closest known exoplanet, located just four light years from Earth. (3/23)

Russia Launches Broadband Constellation Satellites on Soyuz From Plesetsk (Source: Bloomberg)
Russia launched the first satellites of a new broadband constellation Monday. A Soyuz-2.1b rocket lifted off from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome in northern Russia, placing 16 Rassvet satellites into orbit for Russian company Bureau 1440. That company is planning a constellation of broadband satellites to serve as a competitor to systems like Starlink and Amazon Leo, but with few details on the constellation's capabilities or schedule. (3/24)

Missile Warning/Tracking Capabilities Require Data Sharing (Source: Space News)
Missile warning and tracking could be improved if U.S. government agencies shared the raw data they gather. Experts said missile defense is fundamentally a big-data problem, with a wide range of data form ground- and space-based sensors that need to be effectively combined. However, panelists said that data structures and, in some cases, classification issues keep agencies from collaborating on data sharing and analysis. (3/24)

German Comsat Constellation Worries IRIS² Supporters (Source: Reuters)
The German military's plans for a satellite constellation are raising concerns in the EU. Germany plans to spend 10 billion euros ($11.6 billion) on a 100-satellite constellation for communications, which would run in parallel to the EU's IRIS² constellation. Some European officials worry the planned German system could create inefficiencies as it will provide many of the same services as IRIS². Italy is also studying its own constellation, but at a much earlier phase of development. (3/24)

Namibia Rejects Starlink (Source: Business Insider Africa)
In a rare move, a country has said no to Starlink. The telecommunications regulator in Namibia said Monday it denied a SpaceX application for a license to provide Starlink services in the African nation. The regulator did not give a reason for the denial. SpaceX was accused in 2024 of operating Starlink in the country without a license. (3/24)

SpaceShipOne Pilot Pelvill Passes at 85 (Collect Space)
The first person to fly to space on a privately funded vehicle has died. Mike Melvill was a test pilot at Scaled Composites when he flew that company's SpaceShipOne suborbital vehicle to just above the Kármán Line, or 100 kilometers altitude, on a suborbital flight in June 2024. He flew it again in September 2024 on the first of two spaceflights needed to win the $10 million Ansari X Prize. He was 85. (3/24)

Arianespace Picked to Launch Katalyst Servicing Spacecraft (Source: Space News)
Arianespace won a contract to launch a startup's satellite servicing spacecraft. Katalyst Space Technologies will launch its Nexus-1 spacecraft on an Ariane 64 in the second half of 2027, the companies announced Monday. Nexus-1 will be deployed into geostationary transfer orbit and install a space situational awareness sensor on a U.S. Space Force satellite in geostationary orbit, and later serve commercial customers. Katalyst is working on a separate mission to reboost NASA's Swift astrophysics spacecraft; that is scheduled to launch in June on a Pegasus XL. (3/24)

Amazon Set to Increase Leo Production and Launch Cadence (Source: Space News)
Amazon said Monday it would ramp up deployment of its broadband constellation. The company vowed to double the annual launch rate for its low Earth orbit broadband constellation to more than 20 missions, including three in the coming weeks. The next launch, an Atlas 5 on Sunday, will carry 29 satellites, two more than previous Atlas launches, thanks to engine upgrades. Another Atlas 5 is due to fly next month, along with a second Ariane 64 launch for the constellation. Amazon is facing pressure to accelerate deployment of its 3,232-satellite constellation as it asks the FCC to extend or eliminate a July deadline to have half the constellation in orbit. (3/24)

Space Force Sending Cyber Teams to Spaceports (Source: Space News)
The U.S. Space Force is deploying dedicated cybersecurity teams at its primary launch sites. Two units known as Defensive Cyber Operations Squadrons will monitor activity during launch operations at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station and Vandenberg Space Force Base, Space Systems Command announced on Monday. Those units will be tasked with detecting and countering attempts to interfere with launches via cyberattacks. The move reflects rising concern that adversaries could disrupt rocket launches through digital means rather than physical interference. (3/24)

York Scaling Up Satellite Production (Source: Space News)
York Space Systems is scaling up satellite production but faces uncertainty from its major customer. The Denver-based satellite manufacturer said last week annual revenue rose 52% to about $386 million in 2025, driven largely by work on the Space Development Agency's proliferated low Earth orbit constellation. The company has built a sizable backlog tied to that work, with roughly 140 satellites ordered to date. However, the future of its work with the SDA is uncertain, with the SDA Transport Layer constellation likely to be absorbed into a broader Space Force effort known as the Space Data Network, a concept still being defined. The transition raises questions about how future contracts will be structured and when they will be awarded. (3/24)

Space Force to Issue First Kronos C2 Contracts Next Month (Source: Breaking Defense)
The Space Force is set to issue the first contracts for the Kronos project next month, aiming to modernize operational command, control, and battle management systems for space domain awareness. Kronos was separated from the troubled Advanced Tracking and Launch Analysis System project, which has struggled to replace the outdated Space Defense Operations Center. The Space Force will use Other Transaction Authority contracts for Kronos, starting with prototyping efforts. (3/23)
 
Ground-Based Radar Digitization Program Expands (Source: Breaking Defense)
The US Space Force has expanded its Ground-Based Radar Digitization program to all eight legacy radar systems, aiming to enhance missile defense and space monitoring. The initiative will provide a unified software architecture and modernize both the front-end and back-end components of the radars. Initial operational capability is expected by early 2030, with full completion by mid-2031. (3/23)

The Science of Artemis 2 (Source: Space Review)
Artemis 2 is back on the pad for a launch as soon as next week. Jeff Foust reports that while the mission is primarily a test flight, there will be opportunities to do lunar and other science along the way. Click here. (3/24)
 
NavIC: India’s “Jinxed” Navigational Program, or a Cornerstone of India’s Misplaced Space Priorities? (Source: Space Review)
A recent in-orbit failure has deprived India of a functioning navigation satellite system. Ajey Lele says what appears to be bad luck may instead be a sign of management flaws. Click here. (3/24)
 
Zarya: the Super-Soyuz That Only Lived Twice (Source: Space Review)
In the 1980s, the Soviet Union proposed a spacecraft that could be a successor to the Soyuz, only to see it cancelled, revived, and cancelled again. Maks Skiendzielewski examines the history of the Zarya spacecraft. Click here. (3/24)
 
The Legal Aspects of Outer Space Settlers and Settlements (Source: Space Review)
Any future with humans living permanently in space raises some key legal issues. Dennis O’Brien explores those issues, from existing space treaties to the prospects of independent settlements. Click here. (3/24)

ISS-Affiliated Accelerator Expands Capital and Startup Resources (Source: CASIS)
The ISS National Laboratory® is about to launch the 2026 Orbital Edge Accelerator program in partnership with returning global investors Cook Inlet Region, Inc., E2MC, and Stellar Ventures, as well as leading industry participants. Now entering its second year, the one-of-a-kind program expands access to capital, business mentorship, and orbital flight opportunities for startups developing market-changing, space-enabled technologies. Click here. (3/24)

Artemis II Launch May Bring $160 Million Impact to Florida's Space Coast (Source: Florida Today)
NASA's milestone Artemis II launch to the moon from Kennedy Space Center may draw 400,000 visitors to Florida's Space Coast — generating $160 million in Brevard County economic impact, a national consulting firm projects. “Most folks are going to spend a few days in town. They’re going to spend money in restaurants, hotels, bars. All of that drives economic impact, and it all creates new tax revenue," said John Boyd, principal with The Boyd Company Inc. of Boca Raton. (3/23)

Giant Craters May Reveal if Psyche is a Lost Planetary Core (Source: Universe Today)
One asteroid approximately the size of the State of Massachusetts called 16 Psyche is made of metal, which planetary scientists hypothesize could be the remnants of a protoplanet’s core that didn’t build into a full-fledged planet. But how did such a unique asteroid form?

Now, an international team of scientists might be one step closer to answering that conundrum, as they attempted to ascertain how a large impact in the north polar region of 16 Psyche might have formed. In the end, the researchers developed several hypotheses regarding the interior of 16 Psyche, which they note they will confirm once the Psyche spacecraft arrives at the asteroid. (3/24)

Scrubbing Away Lunar Dust (Source: Aerospace America)
The engineers and scientists behind the Lunar SCRUB (Surface Cleaning Robotic Unit with electron-Beam) project propose to solve the dust problem with an electrostatic cleaning device. A smaller version of the toaster-sized metal box prototype could be mounted on the robotic arm of an autonomous lunar terrain vehicle or carried by an astronaut and passed over surfaces at an arm’s length distance to lift the dust away, said David Asner, chief science officer of Orbital Mining Corp. The Colorado company is developing the device with another startup as subcontractor, Space Dust Research & Technologies (SDRT), under a $150,000 NASA contract. (3/23)

NASA Reduces Support for Commercial Space Stations (Source: Douglas Messier)
NASA has announced that it will no longer support the development of two separate commercial space stations in low Earth orbit (LEO) that are currently in development to follow the decommissioning of the International Space Station (ISS) in 2030. Instead the space agency will procure a module that will be attached to ISS that will host commercial modules and serve as the core of a separate station. (3/24)

Eutelsat Expands LEO Connectivity for Global Rail Market (Source: Runway Girl)
Eutelsat today highlighted the growing adoption of its OneWeb LEO connectivity service in the global rail market, including the development and testing of new terminals by Kymeta and Hughes Network Systems. Eutelsat’s OneWeb LEO service is available to rail operators worldwide through a broad network of distribution partners, specialized rail integrators, and direct relationships with train operators. (3/24)

Future Artemis Missions Could Use Fiber-Optic Cables to Monitor Moonquakes (Source: Space.com)
The moon may soon get a high-tech seismic sensing system — and it could be as simple as rolling out cables across the lunar surface. Two recent studies suggest that fiber-optic cables laid directly on the lunar ground could double as sensitive detectors for moonquakes, offering a lightweight, low-cost alternative to traditional seismometers. The idea builds on a technique called distributed acoustic sensing in which laser pulses sent through optical fibers can pick up tiny vibrations along the entire length of the fibers. (3/24)

China’s Astronstone Raises $29 Million for Reusable Rocket with Chopstick-Style Recovery (Source: Space News)
Astronstone, a Chinese launch startup founded only in 2024, has secured new funding as it builds toward the first flight of its reusable AS-1 rocket. Last year it secured over $13 million in early-stage funding to develop its AS-1 rocket — a stainless steel, methane-fueled, fully reusable launch vehicle. Clearly, the company is mirroring SpaceX’s design philosophy, as shown by its plan to implement “chopstick”-style arms for catching the rocket’s first stage during landing.

The AS-1 will be powered by a customized version of the 80-ton-thrust Longyun engine, developed by Jiuzhou Yunjian (JZYJ). With a diameter of 4.2 meters, a length of 70 meters, and a liftoff mass of 570 metric tons, the rocket is designed to deliver 10,000 kg to low Earth orbit in reusable mode, or 15,700 kg when expended. (3/24)

Space Development Agency Slows Satellite Launches to Focus on On-Orbit Performance (Source: Space News)
The Space Development Agency is slowing the pace of launches for the Pentagon’s low Earth orbit satellite constellation, stepping back from an earlier plan for frequent deployments as it works through technical issues with spacecraft already in orbit. (3/24)

NASA Second X-59 Flight Cut Short from Warning Light (Source: AIN)
NASA’s X-59 supersonic demonstrator returned to the skies on Friday morning for a nine-minute flight that was cut short after a warning light illuminated. However, NASA officials said they were still able to gather data during the second flight from the aircraft built in collaboration with Lockheed Martin at its Skunk Works facility in California. The aircraft first flew on October 28, reaching 12,000 feet and 200 knots. Plans for the second mission called for an hour-long flight that would expand the envelope to 20,000 feet and 225 knots.

This would be followed by a series of successive flights to further expand the flight profile as it prepared to participate in the NASA Quesst program to examine the effect of quieter supersonic technologies on a variety of communities. This data would be used internationally to contemplate whether supersonic flight over land could once again become possible.

The second flight was initially delayed after a caution light for a vehicle system went off at around 10 a.m. Friday morning, according to Cathy Bahm, project manager for the low boom flight demonstrator at NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California. The system was reset, and “we were good to go,” Bahm said. At 10:54 a.m., the aircraft took off from Edwards Air Force Base in California, but landed at 11:03 a.m. after a separate, unrelated vehicle system warning illuminated. (3/23)

March 23, 2026

Space Force C2 Upgrade Faces Issues, Delays (Source: Air and Space Forces)
The US Space Force continues to face challenges in decommissioning its SPADOC command-and-control system, despite the introduction of the Advanced Tracking and Launch Analysis System last year. A report from the Pentagon's Director of Operational Test and Evaluation reveals that ATLAS does not yet meet the minimum requirements for SPADOC decommissioning, highlighting system immaturity and deficiencies. The Space Force is working with Space Systems Command to address these issues and aims to decommission SPADOC by year's end as part of the broader Space C2 modernization effort. (3/21)

Parsons Unveils New Satellite Antenna Aimed at Military Market (Source: Space News)
Parsons Corporation is rolling out a new satellite ground antenna, targeting a market opening left by the Space Force's recent cancellation of a planned antenna procurement. Developed in collaboration with Raven Defense, the SPARTAN antenna — short for S-Band Phased Array Receive and Transmit Antenna Node — combines a six-meter parabolic dish with an electronically steered phased-array feed. (3/23)

Sovereign Demand and Institutional Capital Reshape Space Economy (Source: Space News)
Large infrastructure funds are "carefully looking" into entering the space sector, Seraphim Space CEO Mark Boggett said March 23, giving early-stage investors more confidence to back ambitious startups that may later need billions of dollars to scale. (3/23)

Arianespace to Launch Katalyst Servicing Spacecraft (Source: Space News)
Arianespace announced March 23 that it won a contract to launch Katalyst's Nexus-1 servicing spacecraft on an Ariane 6 in the second half of 2027. The companies did not disclose terms of the contract, including whether the launch would be shared with other customers. (3/23)

NASA Cuts Short Second Flight of X-59 Experimental Plane (Source: Aerospace America)
NASA is investigating the root cause of a warning light that popped up minutes into the second flight of its X-59 research plane, prompting the pilot to make an early landing. After taking off from NASA’s Armstrong Research Center in California, the demonstrator was to fly subsonically for roughly an hour over the Mojave Desert to check out aircraft handling and systems, prior to its first supersonic flight later this year. Pilot Jim “Clue” Less was to take the needle-nosed jet up to about 415 kilometers per hour and 20,000 feet. (3/23)

NASA’s Artemis II Moon Mission Will Put These Technologies to the Test (Source: Aerospace America)
For its first crewed spaceflight beyond low-Earth orbit since 1972, NASA plans to evaluate a range of technologies and techniques critical to the Artemis IV landing and other future lunar expeditions. “This is an exciting time to fly humans around the moon for the first time in over 50 years, send them further than any humans since Apollo 13, and continue paving the road of human exploration to the moon and beyond,” NASA’s Norm Knight, director of the Flight Operations Directorate, said during a March 12 press conference following the flight readiness review for Artemis II. (3/23)

Russian Space Craft Antenna Problem Forces Manual Docking with ISS (Source: Yahoo News UK)
An unmanned Russian cargo spacecraft has a problem with an ‌antenna so it will have to ‌be manually docked when it reaches the ISS, Russia's Roscosmos state space corporation said in a statement. A Soyuz-2.1a rocket launched the Progress MS-33 cargo spacecraft on Sunday from Baikonur in Kazakhstan but ‌a problem with ⁠one of the KURS automated rendezvous antennas was identified, Roscosmos said. (3/23)

Methalox Explosive Testing Could Reshape Launch Pad Accessibility (Source: Ars Technica)
About 15 years ago, rocket companies started serious development of large methane-fueled engines. SpaceX and Blue Origin now build the most powerful of these new engines—the Raptor and BE-4—each capable of generating more than half a million pounds of thrust. Burning methane in combination with liquid oxygen, these “methalox” engines have several advantages. Methane is better suited for reusable engines because it leaves less behind sooty residue than kerosene and is easier to handle than liquid hydrogen. ULA, Rocket Lab, Stoke Space, and Relativity Space also use, or will use, methalox.

But rockets sometimes blow up. Regulators want to better understand how the hazards from an exploding methalox rocket might differ from those of other launchers. This is important as launches become more routine, with companies foreseeing multiple flights per day from launch pads that are, in some cases, just 1 or 2 miles apart. Companies have raised concerns that SpaceX Starship operations could disrupt activities on neighboring launch pads. Ongoing explosive yield tests are meant to help officials fine-tune their hazard analyses to determine the proper size of the danger areas for methalox rockets. The Space Force currently treats any methalox rocket with “100 percent TNT blast equivalency” and maintains a “maximized keep-out zone” for safety.

Liquid oxygen and methane are highly miscible, meaning they mix together easily, raising the risk of a “condensed phase detonation” with “significantly higher overpressures” than rockets with liquid hydrogen or kerosene fuels. Small-scale mixtures of liquid oxygen and liquified natural gas have “shown a broad detonable range with yields greater than that of TNT,” NASA wrote in 2023. The explosive-yield tests (including at Florida's Eglin AFB) began in January to examine multiple failure modes. Engineers will extrapolate the results to assess the explosive potential of a huge rocket like Starship, which contains more than 10.8 million pounds of propellant at liftoff. Editor's Note: The results could have profound impacts on the usability of multiple launch pads at the Cape Canaveral Spaceport. (3/20)

Rice University Wins $22.3 Million to Launch Two New Space Research Centers (Source: Houston Chronicle)
Rice University is boosting its space research after securing $22.3 million from two agreements. The Texas Space Commission approved a $14.2 million grant in February to create the Center for Space Technologies, which will lay the groundwork for systems that could eventually turn the moon’s dirt into hand tools or vehicle parts. The U.S. Space Force likewise approved $8.1 million in funding last month to create the Center for Advanced Space Sensing Technologies. This center, despite its similar name, will be focused on creating cameras that can observe and identify objects in space or on the ground and provide real-time data analysis. (3/16)

China’s Space Development is Outpacing Expectations and Gaining Momentum, Space Force Official Says (Source: Via Satellite)
China’s space asset developments are coming fast and furious as China drives toward the goal of becoming a major space power, outpacing Russia and causing more focused analysis by U.S. Space Command, according to U.S. Space Force Chief Master Sgt. Ron Lerch. China’s 14th five year plan for economic and social development emphasizes strengthening national strategic scientific and technological capabilities and achieving self-reliance in key technologies. Space technologies — satellites, launch systems, deep-space exploration — are treated as strategic high-tech domains within this push. (3/23)

Isar Aerospace in Talks to Raise €250 Million Ahead of Launch (Source: Bloomberg)
German rocket startup Isar Aerospace is in talks to raise €250 million ($289 million) in funding ahead of a key launch attempt planned for this week, according to a person familiar with the matter. The investment round would value the company at €2 billion, the person said, asking not to be identified because the information is private. (3/23)

Contrivian Launches New Product Bundling Amazon Leo & Starlink (Source: Payload)
Customers looking for satellite connectivity are often forced to choose between one provider or another. Those days are over. Managed connectivity provider Contrivian announced a new product today—Contrivian Constellation—which combines Amazon Leo and Starlink connectivity into one solution, offering customers both services under a single data plan, contract, and IP address. (3/23)

Katalyst Planning Ambitious Swift Rescue Mission (Source: Ars Technica)
One of NASA’s oldest astronomy missions, the Swift Observatory, has been out of action for more than a month as scientists await the arrival of a pioneering robotic rescue mission. The 21-year-old spacecraft is falling out of orbit, and NASA officials believe it’s worth saving. Swift was never designed to be captured or reboosted in orbit. This mission is the first time Katalyst will attempt to dock with another satellite in space. And third, NASA gave Katalyst a daunting timetable of just nine months to build, test, and launch the rescue mission before Swift’s altitude falls too low for a safe rendezvous.

“This is really technically ambitious,” said Ghonhee Lee, founder and CEO of Katalyst. Launch is scheduled for June 1, and there’s little margin for error. By late summer or early fall, Swift will slip below 200 miles (320 kilometers), too low for Katalyst to have confidence in controlling its spacecraft. (3/23)

Dawn’s ‘Aurora’ Spaceplane Completes Radar Tracking Experiment with New Zealand Defense and Navy (Source: Spacewatch Global)
The Royal New Zealand Navy, Defense Science and Technology, and Dawn Aerospace, have completed a live radar tracking experiment using a reusable rocket-powered aircraft during the Dawn Aerospace Radar Tracking Experiment. The trial, involving Dawn's Aurora spaceplane, evaluated the surveillance radar’s ability to detect and track a high-altitude, high-speed air vehicle under controlled conditions. (3/23)

EchoStar Moves Into Chinese, Korean Mobile Video Markets (Source: Space News)
U.S. satellite-television broadcaster EchoStar Communications Corp., in what appears to be a major expansion of its business, confirmed that it is providing an S-band mobile video satellite through a Chinese subsidiary to be launched in time for the Beijing Olympics in August 2008, and partnering with an already successful satellite mobile video business in South Korea.

In separate announcements Feb. 21 and Feb. 22, Englewood, Colorado-based EchoStar said it is investing $40 million in TU Media of South Korea, which in late 2006 passed the million-customer milestone for its satellite mobile video service. EchoStar also said that its Chinese subsidiary, China Mobile Broadcasting Satellite Ltd., or CMBSat, had won Chinese regulatory approval to launch a similar project in China. (3/1)

SpaceX, Blue Origin, and Others Race to Saturate Orbits Before Someone Says Stop (Source: SPACErePORT)
SpaceX, Blue Origin, and others are aggressively launching thousands of satellites, driven by a race to secure orbital slots and spectrum rights before international regulations tighten. This rapid deployment is motivated by a "use it or lose it" scenario, where companies must populate their authorized orbital shells to prevent regulators from reallocating the space to competitors.
 
The race is characterized by intense regulatory maneuvering on Earth, with companies asking the FCC to restrict competitors while simultaneously filing for massive, even million-satellite constellations themselves. There are valid questions about the feasibility of massive constellations that could turn Low Earth Orbit into a difficult-to-navigate zone. Despite objections, the current outdated regulatory environment allows this rapid buildup, with a focus on managing rather than halting the new "space rush".

There is no central governing body with the absolute authority to stop the sometimes reckless pace of satellite deployment. While the FCC handles U.S. spectrum licensing and debris mitigation, and the FAA handles launch safety, the sheer velocity of the private sector threatens to overwhelm the capabilities of global, often slow-moving agencies like the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). The ultimate fear is that before a definitive international treaty or central authority can be established to mandate limitations, companies will have already created untenable debris and navigation risks while severely impeding astronomical research. (3/23)

Musk Says Tesla, SpaceX, xAI Chip Factory Planned in Texas (Source: Bloomberg)
Elon Musk said his Terafab project — a grand plan to eventually manufacture his own chips for robotics, artificial intelligence and space data centers — will be built in Austin and jointly run by Tesla and SpaceX. Musk, the chief executive officer of both companies, said he will start off with an “advanced technology fab” in Austin that will have all of the equipment necessary to make chips of any kind, and test them. Musk, who has no background in semiconductor production and a history of over-promising on goals and timelines, had said before that the company will start with a smaller scale fab before moving to a bigger one. (3/23)

Ran Livne Appointed as the new Director of the Israeli Space Agency (Source: Spacewatch Global)
Mr. Ran Livne has become the newest Director of the Israel Space Agency after the appointment announcement by the Israeli Minister of Innovation, Science, and Technology, Gila Gamliel. The national government approved the appointment following the recommendation of a professional search committee. As the new Director of the Israeli Space Agency for the next four years, Livne brings over a decade of experience in the space industry in Israel and worldwide, as well as over 15 years of experience working with the public sector and government ministries. (3/23)

State of Vandenberg: Growth, Transparency, and a Shared Future (Source: Santa Maria Times)
Last week, Vandenberg Space Force Base opened its doors to community leaders, mission partners and stakeholders for the 2026 State of Vandenberg— an annual event in partnership with the Santa Maria Valley and Lompoc Valley chambers of commerce. “We’ve had an incredible year, and as we step into the next era of the space race, Vandenberg stands at the nexus of some of the most critically important strategic capabilities in the Department of War,” said Space Force Col. James T. Horne III. “This event offers a unique opportunity to explore the diverse missions that call Vandenberg and California’s Central Coast home.”

Vandenberg serves as a critical hub for space access and advanced air and space testing, supporting more than 54 mission partners and hosting all three U.S. Space Force field commands. From nuclear deterrence and homeland defense to global command and control of space assets, orbital tracking and the training of Space Guardians and nuclear Airmen, the installation sits at the nexus of capabilities that underpin national and global security.

“There is no question that activity is increasing at Vandenberg,” Horne said. “We understand that comes with more visibility — and at times, more impact— for our surrounding communities. That’s exactly why we are committed to keeping people informed as this growth continues.” That commitment to transparency has become a central line of effort for the installation. (3/21)

Van Horn's Space Tourism Boom Remains Elusive Despite Blue Origin's Presence (Source: El Paso Inc.)
It’s been more than 20 years since then. Jeff Bezos, the billionaire founder of Amazon and Blue Origin, has purchased about 400,000 acres of land, and his spaceflight company has had 38 successful missions, some carrying scientists and celebrities to the edge of space. But the economic impact the town was anticipating? “That hasn’t happened,” said Brenda Hinojos, director of the Van Horn Convention and Visitors Bureau. “At first we thought it would have an economic impact, and a lot of people do think that we do get that impact from them, but no, we don’t.

“There were a lot of these high-profile people coming, so we were hoping we would get tourists, space tourists, that would want to move to Van Horn to be closer to what was happening. But that hasn’t been the case,” said Cody Davis, a Van Horn native and member of the Van Horn Economic Development Corporation. “We still didn’t get the boom.” Blue Origin announced in January that it was pausing New Shepard flights to focus on developing its lunar capabilities as NASA works to return astronauts to the moon. The company did not respond to inquiries. Even if flights resume, it could take years for Van Horn to see meaningful benefits from space tourism, said one expert on spaceports. (3/22)

Russia Resumes Use of Launch Site Damaged in Accident (Source: AFP)
Russia has launched a rocket from Site 31 of the Baikonur Cosmodrome for the first time since it was damaged during a lift-off last November, video from Russia's Roscosmos space agency showed Sunday. Site 31 was Russia's only operational launch pad for crewed missions to the ISS. Part of the launch site collapsed during lift-off of Soyuz MS-28 in November last year, temporarily preventing Russia from being able to send cosmonauts into space. (3/22)

NASA Is Laying the Legal Groundwork To Build Its Lunar Base in 2027 (Source: The Hill)
NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman opened his mind about how the space agency intends to start building a lunar base. “We are going to start immediately…we can do this with uncrewed robotic vehicles and landers and we are going to start in 2027. And I think the public is going to be able to tune in and almost watch us build this space in real time as we start landing on the moon,” Isaacman said. While the initial building campaign will involve smaller, Commercial Lunar Payload Services-sized landers, eventually NASA will have to scale things up.

Having some of the infrastructure of a lunar base already in place would be of immense advantage for the first crew of astronauts to land on the moon perhaps a few months later. Equipment, supplies and perhaps even a habitat would greatly enhance what the crew of Artemis IV and subsequent missions can do on the moon’s surface. One reason for starting a lunar base soon may be rooted in space law, both established and evolving, stemming from the question of how to deal with the other great space power, the People’s Republic of China.

The Artemis Accords, a nonbinding agreement between (so far) 61 countries, is meant to revise and extend the provisions of the Outer Space Treaty. Paragraph seven of Section 11 is the relevant provision. It says the treaty’s signers must “provide notification of their activities and commit to coordinating with any relevant actor to avoid harmful interference,” in a dedicated “safety zone” where “nominal operations of a relevant activity or an anomalous event could reasonably cause harmful interference.” (3/22)

How Congress Became NASA’s Partner for the Artemis Return to the Moon (Source: The Hill)
The 2026 version of the NASA authorization bill that passed out of Senate Commerce is as different from the 2010 legislation as day to night. Whereas the 2010 bill imposed the will of Congress on NASA, the 2026 bill has essentially given NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman carte blanche to do what he feels is necessary to get Americans back on the moon before the Chinese and then to build a lunar base. So, what happened in the 16 years between the two pieces of legislation to make them so starkly different?

Jim Bridenstine failed to get the Artemis program out from under the Space Launch System. Sen. Richard Shelby (R-AL) a powerful defender of the giant rocket, informed the NASA administrator in no uncertain terms that any attempt to replace the SLS would mean the death of the Artemis program. Bill Nelson established the theme of a space race back to the moon with China. But Nelson, one of the architects of the SLS, did nothing to try to replace it with a cheaper, commercial launch vehicle.

The difference between the 2026 legislation and the 2010 version reflects Bridenstine’s efforts to sell the Artemis program and Nelson’s warnings about a Chinese victory in a new space race. Also, Shelby, now retired, is no longer the Senate’s arbiter of space policy. Cruz is the new adjudicator of space in the upper chamber, and he understands the importance of space as a source of national greatness and prosperity beyond just being a jobs program. (3/20)

March 22, 2026

Space Force Reassigns Fourth GPS III Launch From ULA To SpaceX (Source: Aviation Week)
The U.S. Space Force is shifting a GPS III launch from United Launch Alliance (ULA) Vulcan rockets to the SpaceX Falcon fleet for the fourth time. The service’s GPS III-8 mission was originally due to launch on a ULA Vulcan heavy-lift launch vehicle. But it will now launch on a SpaceX Falcon 9. (3/20)

SpaceX’s Starbase is Flexing Beach Closure Powers Ahead of Next Starship Launch (Source: San Antonio Express-News)
Ahead of the next launch of a SpaceX Starship, the city of Starbase has been flexing its authority to issue beach and highway closures — a first since state lawmakers passed a law that allowed the Texas Space Commission to delegate the powers. It will be the first flight of the third-generation Starship, which are slightly larger, hold more fuel and have updated Raptor engines. (3/21)

Ukraine Is Suddenly on the Offensive, With Help From Starlink (Source: Wall Street Journal)
When Elon Musk flipped the off switch on Russian forces’ Starlink internet connections in February, Ukraine’s military went on the offensive. Russian commanders had lost access to live video of the battlefield and communications with troops. Ukrainian soldiers moved in on Russian positions with little threat from drones—normally an omnipresent danger. (3/20)

Starlink Has Privatized Geopolitics (Source: Foreign Policy)
Starlink is far more than a commercial connectivity service. It is strategic infrastructure that increasingly shapes how wars are fought, how states manage internal unrest, and how criminal networks operate in ungoverned spaces. What makes Starlink so politically consequential is not just its globe-spanning reach but also the governance model behind it.

A private company is now a gatekeeper in orbit, helping decide who connects as well as where, under what conditions, and with what technical constraints. In a growing number of conflicts, these decisions carry military and political effects that states struggle to replicate or control. If many strategic supply chains now depend on private firms, Starlink is an unusually concentrated case of private discretion over public security functions. (3/20)

Canadian Space Agency Cancels Lunar Rover Mission (Source: CNC)
As part of its 2026-2027 departmental plan, the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) has cancelled its ambitious lunar rover mission. The lunar rover was announced in 2022. It would have been Canada’s first rover, built by Canadensys, and hitching a ride to the moon on a commercial launch vehicle built by Firefly Aerospace. “It was going to be one of the most exciting missions in Canadian space history,” he said. “We were going to send Canada's first-ever rover mission to the surface of another planetary body, which is something that we've been trying to do for decades.” (3/20)

Maritime Launch Introduces Interim Finance Leadership at Key Growth Inflection Point (Source: Maritime Launch Services)
Maritime Launch Services has appointed Gregory Rook as interim finance leadership to support the company's next phase of growth. As infrastructure development accelerates at Spaceport Nova Scotia and long-term customer demand continues to grow, the company has engaged an experienced senior finance team to modernize and streamline existing systems and processes to support disciplined growth and operational readiness. This momentum follows recent progress, including a 10-year agreement with the Government of Canada's Department of National Defense. (3/20)

Second Company Plans Shetland Rocket Launch This Year (Source: BBC)
A second company has signed an agreement to launch a rocket from SaxaVord Spaceport in Shetland this year. HyImpulse Technologies GmbH (HyImpulse) said it would be the second flight of its SR75 suborbital launch vehicle following a successful "lift off" in Australia. A number of companies hope to use SaxaVord in Unst, the northernmost point in the UK, as a launch site for commercial rockets. (3/21)

Space Coast Hotels Anticipating NASA's Moon Shot (Source: MyNews 13)
NASA’s moon rocket is back at the launch pad, ready for a potential April liftoff. Now that this milestone is complete, it sets the table for local businesses who are prepping for the crowds that will come to witness history, as America looks to slingshot around the moon for the first time since the 60s and 70s.

Hotels in Cape Canaveral and nearby areas report full occupancy. “If you look at our reservations, they are from all over the country,” Wayne Soard said. That has the Space Coast Office of Tourism all grinning. With thousands descending on the area to watch the launch, it means heads in beds at hotels like the Courtyard and cash registers ringing at local shops and restaurants. (3/20)

From Satellites to Space Data Centers: Why Low Earth Orbit Is Attracting Billions in Investment (Source: CNBC)
A new layer of critical infrastructure is emerging above our heads. Low Earth Orbit is rapidly evolving from a niche technical domain into one of the most strategically important environments of the 21st century. It underpins global navigation, telecommunications, defense and worldwide connectivity and is seeing a flood of investment. More than $45 billion worth of investment in the sector was recorded in 2025, up sharply from just under $25 billion in 2024.

LEO satellites, with their relative proximity to Earth, deliver quicker responses, reduced launch costs and faster communication speeds. Unlike satellites in more elevated orbits, they do not stay above a fixed spot on Earth and often work in constellations to maximize global coverage. Higher trajectories, such as Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) and Geostationary Orbit (GEO), host long‑established satellite infrastructure, but they are subject to more rigid operational constraints.

51,600 More Satellites? Blue Origin Adds Another Twist to the Data Center Space Race With Project Sunrise (Source: Geekwire)
Blue Origin space venture is asking the FCC for authority to send up to 51,600 data center satellites into low Earth orbit, signaling its entry into an increasingly crowded space race. The proposed constellation, dubbed Project Sunrise, would complement Blue Origin’s previously announced plans for a 5,408-satellite TeraWave constellation. TeraWave would provide ultra-high-speed connectivity for Project Sunrise’s satellites — and for terrestrial data centers, large-scale enterprises and government customers as well. (3/21)

As America Turns 250,  The Moon is Testing Our Ambition Again (Source: USA Today)
America got to the moon and planted a flag in 1969. So, as it plans a return and perhaps someday a trip to Mars, the question for many people is: Why? Is peace and "hope for mankind" still the goal? And if not, what is? “The general public doesn't understand how incredibly important space is to them on a daily basis,” Greg Autry said. “Our modern civilization would not continue to operate without our regular investment in space.”

NASA hasn't done a great job of explaining to the average person what its discoveries have meant for them. The space program has led to the invention of heart rate monitoring technology, scratch-resistance lenses, memory foam mattresses, rechargeable batteries, wireless headphones, the Jaws of Life rescue tool, GPS and even banking technology. Our ability to communicate with each other through cell phones and satellite transmissions depends on space-delivered technologies. (3/22)

Possible Meteorite Crashes Into Houston Area Home (Source: CBS News)
A possible meteorite crashed into a Houston area house on Saturday night, tearing through the roof and two stories of the home, officials said. Ponderosa Fire Chief Fred Windisch told CBS News that what "appears to be a meteorite" crashed through a woman's house, landing in the kitchen. Windisch said the meteorite was a little bigger than his hand. Ponderosa Forest is a suburb in north Houston.

NASA said in a social media post that the meteor became visible at 49 miles above Stagecoach, northwest of Houston, at 4:40 p.m. local time. The meteor moved southeast at 35,000 miles per hour, breaking apart 29 miles above Bammel, just west of Cypress Station, NASA said. (3/21)

Scientific Benefits of ESA’s Genesis Mission (Source: ESA)
Genesis is the European Space Agency’s (ESA) navigation mission to measure Earth down to the millimeter. This precise measurement of Earth will have wide-ranging benefits, from satellite navigation to orbit determination to Earth science. Genesis will improve the precision and stability of the International Terrestrial Reference Frame (ITRF), which is the foundation of satellite navigation and Earth science.

Earth is not a static system, instead, everything is moving over time, from ocean water to continents. The ITRF allows researchers to relate changes to Earth across space and time by providing a reference frame for their monitoring. As the backbone for measuring and monitoring Earth, an improved ITRF will benefit navigation applications including aviation and traffic management, but it will also enhance many scientific areas. (3/20)

Astronomers Protest Giant Orbiting Mirror Project and SpaceX’s Million AI Satellites (Source: Space.com)
Astronomers are up in arms, protesting against a proposed constellation of tens of thousands of orbiting mirrors intended to reflect light onto ground-based solar power plants and SpaceX's envisioned one million orbiting data centers. The projects, which have been put forward to the FCC for approval, would destroy the night sky as we know it and obscure the views of astronomical telescopes all over the world, hampering scientific progress, according to experts. "This is really intolerable," Robert Massey. (3/22)

Florida’s Slice of NASA’s Artemis Pie Nets Thousands of Jobs, Billions of Dollars Each Year (Source: Orlando Sentinel)
All told, Florida has reaped more than 13,000 jobs and $3 billion in annual spending from the controversial, oft-delayed but historic Artemis effort, according to the most recent NASA estimates. That makes it one of the most lucrative cash cows in state history — and one that keeps on giving. NASA’s overall Artemis-related annual spending has grown since 2020 to the $6-8 billion range each year, with Florida seeing increased jobs and economic impact as the program grows.

Taxpayers have spent more than $100 billion on the Artemis program across its various platforms, and its costs and continued delays have faced criticism that it’s not so much a space program as a jobs program. Of NASA’s 2,749 government jobs across the nation working on Artemis, 688, or 25%, were based in Florida according to a 2024 report, amounting to $123.2 million in annual income. Adding other direct jobs such as contractors and indirect jobs generated within the community, Florida’s overall total comes to 13,123, amounting to $1.1 billion in annual income for the state with the positions averaging about $84,000 a year.

That translates into $94.2 million in state and local government taxes, NASA says. As far as money flowing to Florida-based companies, NASA tallied $883.9 million in 2023 for contracted work on parts and support for Artemis. All in all, Artemis had a combined economic output total for Florida of $3 billion in fiscal year 2023, the most recent year for which that total has been released, making up more than a third of NASA’s overall economic impact in the state. (3/22)

SpaceX Launches Starlink Missions From California and Florida on Friday and Sunday (Sources: Spaceflight Now)
SpaceX launched its 30th batch of Starlink satellites this year with a Friday afternoon launch of a Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base. Then, on Sunday morning, SpaceX launched a Falcon 9 rocket from the Cape Canaveral Spaceport, its 37th launch of the year. The Starlink 10-62 mission featured 29 Starlink V2 Mini Optimized satellites. (3/22)

How Will Martian Gravity Affect Skeletal Muscle? (Source: Universe Today)
An international team of researchers is currently studying how Martian gravity will affect a key aspect of human health: skeletal muscle. This muscle, which is the most abundant tissue in the human body (accounting for more than 40% of total body mass), is essential to movement and metabolic health. What's more, this tissue is especially sensitive, and lower gravity could potentially result in the substantial loss of muscle strength, size, and performance. It is therefore important to determine how this muscle tissue will fare in the Martian environment. (3/21)

Artemis Accords Nations Grapple with How to Handle Emergencies and 'Harmful Interference' on the Moon (Source: Space.com)
Five years after the Artemis Accords were established, key rules for operating on the moon remain unresolved, including how to respond to emergencies and how to define "safety zones" around lunar activities.

"In a lunar scenario, if there is an emergency, regardless of whether it is a [Artemis Accords] signatory or not, how do you behave in that scenario?" said Ahmad Belhoul Al Falasi, the United Arab Emirates minister of sports and chancellor of the higher colleges of technology. The outcomes of the discussions were not shared, though details are expected to follow as signatories continue their work.

Cooperation between Artemis Accords signatories and non-participants during an emergency may be much more complicated politically, in terms of communications, and technology compatibility. Asked if there had been approaches to other lunar actors such as China and Russia regarding joining the Artemis Accords, NASA's Amit Kshatriya said that there had been none, citing constraints that NASA operates under regarding engaging with these parties. (3/21)

Officina Stellare Wins $2 Million Contract for lasercom Ground Station in Spain (Source: Space News)
Officina Stellare, an Italian manufacturer of advanced opto-mechanical systems, has signed a 1.84 million euro ($2.0 million) contract with the Barcelona-based Institute of Photonic Sciences (ICFO), the company announced March 17. The contract covers the design and construction of an optical ground station for future laser and quantum-encrypted space-to-Earth communications. (3/20)

Rocket Lab Launches Latest Satellite for Synspective (Source: Rocket Lab)
Rocket Lab on Saturday successfully launched a mission for Japan-based constellation operator Synspective, bringing Rocket Lab’s total Electron launch count to 84. It was Rocket Lab's 8th mission for Synspective. (3/21)

NASA Issues Draft Request for Moving Space Shuttle Discovery—or Orion Capsule (Source: Ars Technica)
NASA has taken a step forward to moving an undetermined spacecraft of a various size on an indefinite date to a yet-to-be-decided location. Or to put it another way: NASA is seeking to learn more about what it would take to remove the space shuttle Discovery from the Smithsonian in Virginia and relocate it to Houston, as compared to transporting a smaller space capsule from anywhere in the country.

The space agency on Thursday (March 19) released a draft request for proposal (DRFP) for the “NASA Flown Space Vehicle Multimodal Transportation Multiple Award Contract,” seeking to learn how contractors would approach transporting both “large aerospace vehicles and smaller spacecraft capsules.”

The pre-solicitation request is an effort to meet the letter of the law — specifically the One Big Beautiful Bill Act — that requires NASA relocate a vehicle that flew with humans through space to a non-profit display facility within the vicinity of an agency center with ties to the commercial crew program. Texas Senators John Cornyn and Ted Cruz had intended their legislation to result in Discovery being exhibited at Space Center Houston, but Senate rules required the wording to be more vague. (3/20)

Solar Storms Pose Risks to Under-Prepared UK, Watchdog Says (Source: Bloomberg)
The UK is not fully prepared for a severe space weather event that could disrupt power systems, air travel and mobile networks, causing billions of economic losses, a government watchdog found. Most solar flares and space weather events are minor, but the risk of disruptions are growing as nations increasingly rely on power grids, satellites, GPS and radio communications. A geomagnetic storm in 2024 shifted thousands of satellites from their orbits, and a burst of radio waves from the sun in 2015 interfered with air traffic control radars across Europe. (3/20)

Bezos Plans AI-Focused Fund for Manufacturing Modernization (Source: Stylecaster)
Jeff Bezos is in early talks to raise $100 billion for a new fund whose purpose would be to buy manufacturing companies and use AI technology to accelerate their path to automation. He recently traveled to the Middle East and Singapore to discuss funding for the project, and is said to be meeting with the world’s largest asset managers as part of his effort.

Described as a “manufacturing transformation vehicle,” the fund will buy companies in major industrial sectors such as chipmaking, defense, and aerospace, and is expected to rival SoftBank’s $100 billion, tech-focused Vision Fund. This all comes after Bezos was appointed co-CEO of Project Prometheus, a new startup that is building artificial-intelligence models that are able to understand and simulate the physical world. The plan is to use the tech to boost the profitability of businesses. (3/20)

A Galaxy Next Door Was Shattered by a Cosmic Crash Millions of Years Ago (Source: IDR)
Scientists have solved a decades-old cosmic mystery: why the stars of the Small Magellanic Cloud refuse to behave normally. The answer, it turns out, is a catastrophic collision with a neighboring galaxy, one that is still reshaping everything astronomers thought they knew about this celestial landmark. The Small Magellanic Cloud, or SMC, features stars that don't orbit the galactic center the way stars in virtually every other galaxy do?

New research suggests the SMC didn’t drift into disorder on its own. It was smashed. The culprit is the Large Magellanic Cloud, the SMC’s larger companion galaxy. According to the study, the SMC passed directly through the LMC’s disk a few hundred million years ago. (3/21)

Blue Origin Ramps Up New Glenn Manufacturing (Source: NSF)
Blue Origin is showcasing the production cadence of its New Glenn heavy-lift rocket at its Space Coast facilities, with CEO Dave Limp revealing a rocket factory in full swing. The company has multiple second stages in various phases of assembly, as it attempts to accelerate its launch cadence following two successful flights in 2025, and its opening launch of 2026 in the coming weeks. New Glenn requires a substantial ramp-up in launch cadence to achieve its future goals, including an orbital data center constellation. (3/21)

Satellite Data Confirms Rogue Waves (Source: BGR)
Satellite data were used to analyze ocean storms during 2023 and 2024. One such storm sent waves across the Pacific Ocean, pummeling coastlines all the way from Canada to Peru, and even impacting a big-wave surfing event in Hawaii. For this storm, satellites measured the highest waves they ever recorded.

These observations have revealed new insights into the behavior of the ocean's largest waves, including rogue waves, or megawaves. Using SWOT, the research showed how dominant waves can feed into much longer, more powerful waves far from the storm center that can spring up on ships unexpectedly. (3/21)

Space Coast City Unveils Launch Viewing Website (Source: City of Titusville)
Witnessing a rocket launch is a life-changing event. As the closest public viewing city to the launch pads, Titusville offers spectacular, up-close views across the water. The city has unveiled a new online portal for scheduled launch events, with live video links and recommendations for viewing locations. Click here. (3/20)

March 21, 2026

NASA’s Workhorse Crawler Has Been Hauling Rockets Since Apollo (Source: Orlando Sentinel)
When he’s not at work, Sam Dove drives a Chevy Silverado 1500. But on the job, he gets behind the wheel of a 16-million-pound behemoth that’s been transporting NASA’s rockets for more than 60 years. Dove gets to drive the crawler-transporter 2 (CT-2), which was one of two tracked vehicles originally designed to haul the Saturn V rockets of the Apollo program.

“It’s the enormity of what you’re carrying, right? … Basically, you’re carrying $4 billion of hardware, so you don’t want to really mess up or run into anything,” he said about the most rewarding aspect of the job. “It’s the responsibility to do that and get everything out, and get it there safely in one piece.” 

CT-2, which was revamped to handle the heavier loads of the Artemis program compared to the shuttles and Saturn V rockets, can handle up to 18 million pounds. Without fuel, the Space Launch System rocket, Orion spacecraft and Mobile Launcher 1 come in at around 15 million pounds. “It’s all mojo, man. This thing’s powerful. There’s no magic dust. It’s all powerful,” he said. (3/19)

L3Harris Technologies completes Space Surveillance Telescope Refurbishment (Source: Australian Defense)
L3Harris Technologies, working alongside its partner nation, Australia, has completed a major mirror refurbishment for the US Space Force’s Space Surveillance Telescope (SST). “Working with our partners in Western Australia, maintainers of the Space Surveillance Telescope have successfully completed their first primary mirror recoat, significantly improving our ability to detect small targets in GEO," Mission Delta 2 commander, Col. Barry Croker, stated. (3/20)

Skyward Africa to Convene African Space Leaders and U.S. Policy Experts in Washington (Source: Asha Strategies)
As space becomes an increasingly important domain for economic development, national security, and technological innovation, African nations are expanding investments in satellite infrastructure, space research, and international partnerships. For this reason Asha Strategies will convene the Skyward Africa Space Salon, examining how Africa's space ambitions intersect with geopolitical competition, commercial space markets, and the role of diaspora talent in shaping the continent's technological future.

"Africa is increasingly becoming part of the global space conversation, from satellite infrastructure to earth observation and international partnerships. The Skyward Africa Space Salon brings together policymakers, industry leaders, and diaspora innovators shaping Africa's role in the global space economy," said Nneka Achapu, CEO of Asha Strategies. (3/19)

Middle Powers On the Move Toward Reduced US Reliance: Canada and Norway Deepen Space Defense Ties (Source: SpaceQ)
Canada and Norway have taken a step toward integrating their space and defence architectures, signing a new Letter of Intent (LOI) to deepen bilateral cooperation in the space domain. The agreement arrives as the two Arctic nations simultaneously move to modernize an 18-year-old free trade pact, signaling a comprehensive alignment of their economic, industrial, and national security interests. (3/19)

NASA Convening Artemis International Partners Next Week (Source: Space Policy Online)
NASA is bringing together the international partners in the Artemis program next week to discuss the program’s new architecture. NASA differentiates Artemis from the Apollo program by emphasizing that this time international partners will be an integral part. But recent changes are raising questions about their role, especially the future of the international Gateway lunar space station. (3/19)

As SpaceX Prepares for Texas Starship Launch, Gigabay Rises in Florida (Source: Florida Today)
As SpaceX prepares for its next Starship launch from Texas — the first version of the rocket that will launch from Florida — the company’s massive Starship maintenance facility continues to rise on the Kennedy Space Center skyline. Its name is Gigabay. The building's looming metal structure with black siding is easily visible from across the Indian River in Titusville. Situated at SpaceX’s Robert’s Road facility within Kennedy Space Center, it stands as a new landmark not too far from NASA's massive Vehicle Assembly Building. (3/20)

Blue Origin Files FCC Application for Orbital Data Center Constellation (Source: Space News)
Blue Origin is the latest company to propose a giant orbital data center constellation. The company filed an application with the FCC Thursday for what it calls "Project Sunrise," a constellation of up to 51,600 satellites in low Earth orbit that would serve as an orbital data center for AI and other space computing applications. The company provided few technical details about the system other than it would operate in sun-synchronous orbits and use optical intersatellite communications links with its separate TeraWave broadband constellation. Both SpaceX and Starcloud have also filed applications with the FCC in recent weeks for orbital data center constellations of up to 1 million satellites. (3/20)

Kratos Wins $446 Million for Space Force Missile Warning Constellation (Source: Space News)
Kratos Defense & Security Solutions won a $446.8 million Space Force contract for the ground system for a new constellation of missile-warning satellites in medium Earth orbit. The contract covers ground management and integration for the service's Resilient Missile Warning and Tracking program, Space Systems Command announced Thursday. Kratos will provide the systems used to operate the satellites after launch, including sending commands, receiving sensor data and processing that information for delivery to military operators. The constellation features 12 satellites being built by Boeing subsidiary Millennium Space Systems and 10 under construction by BAE Systems. (3/20)

Fanning: Space Supply Chain Resiliency a "National Imperative" (Source: Breaking Defense)
The space manufacturing supply chain is facing significant challenges, including a lack of capacity for nine specialized components such as rocket motor nozzles and optical intersatellite links, according to a study by the Aerospace Industries Association and PricewaterhouseCoopers. "Without deliberate steps to strengthen suppliers and modernize regulations, we risk turning today's momentum into tomorrow's bottlenecks. A resilient space supply chain is not optional -- it's a national imperative," said AIA President and CEO Eric Fanning. (3/19)

ESA Plans to Buy a Dragon Mission to ISS for European Crew (Source: Space News)
ESA is planning to fly a dedicated Crew Dragon mission to the International Space Station. The ESA Council endorsed Thursday a proposal for a project called EPIC, the ESA Provided Institutional Crew. Under EPIC, ESA would charter a Crew Dragon mission to the ISS in early 2028, spending a month at the station. The four-person crew would include ESA astronauts and potentially those from international partners. ESA said it developed EPIC to create more flight opportunities for its astronaut corps, including five career astronauts selected in 2022. (3/20)

Kayhan Space Unveils Situational Awareness Terminal (Source: Space News)
Kayhan Space has unveiled a new software platform that turns data about orbital activities into business insights for investors and insurers. The Satcat Terminal is modeled on the Bloomberg terminal used by financial professionals and lets users query orbital activity in plain language, such as whether a constellation is expanding on schedule or if there have been unusual events around a specific satellite. The terminal is an expansion of Kayhan's work providing space situational awareness data for satellite operators. (3/20)

Portal Space Systems and Paladin Space Plan Debris Removal Service (Source: Space News)
Portal Space Systems is partnering with an Australian startup on a debris removal service. Portal announced Thursday an agreement with Paladin Space to include that company's Triton debris removal payload on a Starburst satellite launching in 2027. Triton is designed to detect and capture small debris and, mounted on the highly maneuverable Starburst bus, could capture between 20 to 50 pieces on a single mission. The companies did not disclose financial terms of the agreement or details about the commercial model they are proposing for debris removal, but did announce a letter of intent with commercial space station developer Starlab Space to be a customer of that service. (3/20)

Artemis 2 SLS Rolls Out to Florida Launch Pad (Source: CBS)
Artemis 2 is heading back to the pad for a launch in early April. The rollout of the Space Launch System rocket and Orion spacecraft started at 12:20 a.m. Eastern Friday, nearly four and a half hours late because of high winds. It will take about 12 hours for the vehicle to reach Launch Complex 39B, where workers will then begin final preparations for a launch scheduled as soon as April 1. [CBS]

Hubble Captures Comet Breakup (Source: New York Times)
Breaking up is not necessarily hard to do for a comet. Images from the Hubble Space Telescope captured the breakup of the nucleus of comet C/2025 K1 (ATLAS) in November, shortly after the comet made a close approach to the sun. While comet breakups are not unusual, Hubble was able to see the initial phases of the breakup as the icy nucleus split into several pieces. (3/20)

Platypi Prepare for Space (Source: Collect Space)
NASA's latest astronaut class now has its nickname: the Platypi. NASA said this week that the 10 members of the class, announced last September and formally known as Class 24, would be known as the Platypi. The nickname is part of a tradition of the NASA astronaut corps, with the name selected by the previous class, in this case the Flies. The Platypi nickname is intended to reflect diverse and sometimes hidden talents of the new astronaut class, like the platypus. (3/20)

103 Members of Congress Seek $9B for NASA Science (Source: Douglas Messier)
103 members of the U.S. House of Representatives signed a bipartisan letter calling for $9 billion for NASA’s Science Mission Directorate (SMD) in the fiscal year 2027 Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill. The letter, led by Congressional Planetary Science Caucus Co-Chairs Don Bacon (R-NE) and Judy Chu (D-CA), is another sign of the breadth of congressional support for NASA’s science activities ahead of the impending release of the administration’s fiscal year 2027 budget request. (3/20)

NASA Armstrong to Host Partnership Days (Source: NASA)
Companies, government agencies, and organizations are invited to explore collaboration opportunities in advanced research and technology development with NASA Armstrong Flight Research Center at Partnership Days on 15-16 April. (3/20)

Spire Targets 50% Growth in 2026 After Adjustments in 2025 (Source: Satellite Today)
After divesting its maritime business and paying down its debt in 2025, Spire Global has set a large revenue growth target for 2026 of 50%, CEO Theresa Condor told investors on Thursday. Condor called 2025 a “transformational year” for Spire, as it closed the acquisition of its maritime business and used the proceeds to pay down its debt. Excluding the impact of the maritime divestiture, Spire delivered 44% year-over-year revenue growth in the fourth quarter. (3/20)

ESA Awards OHB a €248 Million Contract to Build Weather Satellite Constellation (Source: European Spaceflight)
German space technology company OHB has been awarded a €248 million contract by the European Space Agency to develop and build 20 small satellites for EUMETSAT’s EPS-Sterna weather satellite constellation. The EPS-Sterna constellation is an expansion of the capabilities successfully demonstrated by the Arctic Weather Satellite, which was launched aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 in August 2024. (3/20)

JUICE is Planning To Do Science On Jupiter's "Minor" Moons Too (Source: Universe Today)
ESA's Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer (JUICE) probe is on its (very long) way to Jupiter, and will finally arrive at the King of Planets in 2031. Its primary mission is to focus on the “big three” icy moons - Ganymede, Europa, and Callisto. But while JUICE is busy mapping Ganymede’s magnetic field, it will also be keeping a sharp eye on the other 94 moons in the Jupiter system. (3/19)

The Moon's Going To Get Crowded - We Should Protect Our Heritage On It While We Still Can (Source: Universe Today)
On Earth, protecting historical buildings is a relatively straightforward process - at least in developed countries. There are zoning laws and heritage registries - things that maintain the history but frustrate new developers. In space, things are much more complicated. The 1967 Outer Space Treaty dictates that nations retain jurisdiction over the hardware they send into space. It also requires countries to avoid “harmful interference” with other states’ activities. However, as the paper points out, that doesn’t stop a country from visiting an old site to retrieve material, or disrupt a culturally significant lunar landscape.

More recently, the Artemis Accords introduced principles specifically intended to preserve historically significant landing sites and artifacts. But the Accords are a non-binding multilateral agreement with no enforcement mechanism. And crucially, major spacefaring nations like China and Russia haven’t signed them, meaning they have no legal obligation to abide by them. In other words, the Accords, which were originally drawn up by America, which arguably has the most heritage to lose on the Moon, suffer from a distinct lack of global consensus. (3/19)

HyImpulse Signs Launch Agreement with SaxaVord (Source: Payload)
Germany’s HyImpulse Technologies announced a launch service agreement to begin flying from SaxaVord Spaceport, in the Shetland Islands. The suborbital flight, which is expected to lift off in Q3, is the latest in a  broader, European-wide push for sovereign launch capabilities much closer to home than French Guiana, which requires many of Europe’s launchers today—including Arianespace and Avio—to cross an ocean before passing the Kármán line. (3/19)

Modified Vulcan Expected to Launch This Summer (Source: Payload)
ULA is expecting to fly its first modified Vulcan this summer, interim CEO John Elbon told Payload. The upgrades will improve the performance of the nozzle and solid rocket boosters. The company was already planning the modifications before ULA suffered an anomaly with its Vulcan booster during a February mission for the Space Force. (3/18)

OHB Sweden to Build Sterna Weather Constellation (Source: ESA)
Thanks to the success of the Arctic Weather Satellite prototype and Eumetsat’s recent greenlight to develop a full constellation of similar satellites called Sterna, the European Space Agency has awarded OHB Sweden with the contract to build 20 satellites. This marks a major step toward better monitoring rapidly evolving weather, improving forecasts of severe events in vulnerable regions such as the Mediterranean, and closing critical data gaps over the Arctic – the fastest-warming region on Earth and a key driver of Europe’s weather systems. (3/18)

Canada-Japan Agreement Signals Shift to Dual-Use Space Defense Tech (Source: SpaceQ)
Canada and Japan are moving to integrate their space and defence industrial bases through a new “Comprehensive Strategic Partnership” that prioritizes the co-development of frontier technologies and dual-use aerospace systems.

Building on the momentum of January’s Equipment and Technology Transfer Agreement (ETTA), Prime Minister Mark Carney and Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae signaled a shift toward joint defense procurement, specifically targeting space communications, artificial intelligence, and autonomous systems. For the Canadian space sector, the agreement marks a transition from traditional scientific collaboration to a security alliance aimed at ensuring resilient orbital infrastructure and “sovereign” technological advantages in a contested Indo-Pacific. (3/19)

Intuitive Machines Misses on Revenue After Government Shutdown (Source: Bloomberg)
Intuitive Machines Inc., a provider of space services and maker of spacecraft, reported worse-than-expected financial results as the government shutdown in late 2025 hurt revenue. Houston-based Intuitive Machines announced on Thursday that it posted revenue of about $45 million for the final three months of 2025, lower than the average of $53.6 million expected by analysts polled by Bloomberg. (3/19)

French launch company acquires component manufacturer. French launch startup Sirius Space Services has acquired the high-precision metal-component manufacturer AMM-42, part of the company’s vertical integration efforts to bring key manufacturing capabilities in-house, European Spaceflight reports. This is Sirius’ second such purchase in less than a year, following its acquisition of SERM in June 2025. That acquisition specialized in advanced metal manufacturing and is bolstering its parent company’s additive manufacturing capacity, particularly for combustion chambers and turbopumps.

Sirius Acquires AMM-42 (Source: Ars Technica)
French launch company acquires component manufacturer. French launch startup Sirius Space Services has acquired the high-precision metal-component manufacturer AMM-42, part of the company’s vertical integration efforts to bring key manufacturing capabilities in-house, European Spaceflight reports. This is Sirius’ second such purchase in less than a year, following its acquisition of SERM in June 2025. That acquisition specialized in advanced metal manufacturing and is bolstering its parent company’s additive manufacturing capacity, particularly for combustion chambers and turbopumps. (3/20)

NASA Won’t Give Up Hope on Silent MAVEN Mars Probe: ‘We’re Still Looking for It’ (Source: Space.com)
NASA has yet to reestablish contact with its MAVEN Mars spacecraft despite ongoing efforts, agency officials said Monday. NASA lost contact with MAVEN on Dec. 6, 2025, after the spacecraft was expected to emerge from Mars' far side. Communications received two days earlier showed the spacecraft was operating normally — with "no indications of problems whatsoever." However, analysis of a fragment of tracking data from the day contact was lost suggests MAVEN was rotating in an unexpected manner as it emerged from behind Mars and was no longer in its planned orbit, according to NASA.

NASA resumed attempts to contact MAVEN after the solar conjunction ended, but those efforts have so far been unsuccessful, Louise Prockter said. "We haven't officially said MAVEN is lost yet. We're still looking for it." NASA has deployed additional assets to locate the spacecraft, including the National Science Foundation's Green Bank Observatory. (3/20)

For Satellite Startups, War Pays Better Than Climate Change (Source: Wall Street Journal)
A flock of companies sent satellites into space in recent years promising to beam down crucial new insights into the Earth’s fast-changing climate. But many are increasingly focused on scanning warzones. “Most of the demand right now—I would say probably two thirds, maybe more—is defense-related,” said Max Gulde, chief executive of German satellite startup Constellr. (3/19)

Cyprus Becomes Associate Member of the European Space Agency (Source: AeroMorning)
The Republic of Cyprus became an Associate Member of the European Space Agency (ESA) on 17 March 2026, following the entry into force of the Association Agreement signed on 23 October 2025. The seven year agreement opens the way for Cyprus’s participation in ESA’s optional programs. (3/19)

March 20, 2026

“Are You an Engineer? Do You Work at SpaceX?” Beware Chinese and Russian Spies on the Space Coast! (Source: Vanity Fair)
“The Space Coast is like a small town where big-city things happen,” Rigby Assad said. “The guys, who literally wear their corporate affiliation on their sleeve, share an optimism bias. Why would anyone be interested in me or my company? But the reality is this is a target-rich environment.”

“Florida is home to 21 military installations and three combatant commands, the world’s busiest spaceport, hundreds of cleared defense contractors and theme amusement parks, as well as other critical infrastructure vital to national security.” Put simply, in DCSA’s view, “Florida poses a significant risk to collection from FIEs”—agency argot for foreign intelligence entities. “It’s easy to hide in plain sight here ... Chinese nationals, Russian nationals—people from everywhere. You don’t see that in South Dakota. You see it in Orlando, Titusville, the Space Coast.”

Individuals of Chinese descent were flying drones over restricted sites. They were peering through windows. They were slipping into trees to aim listening devices at defense contractors. They were trying to breach off-limits areas by posing as delivery drivers. The activity wasn’t confined to the Chinese. An immaculately groomed Russian family—straight out of The Americans—appeared at SpaceX’s Cape Canaveral complex, presenting themselves as tourists. CFIX later learned the same family had surfaced at a SpaceX facility in California under the guise of sightseeing. Click here. (3/19)

Russia Denies Aiding Iran with US Intel (Source: MSN)
Russia has denied U.S. allegations that it is providing Iran with intelligence [including satellite imagery] on American military assets amid the ongoing U.S.-Israeli military campaign in Iran. The denial follows reports from multiple outlets, citing U.S. officials, that Moscow has shared targeting data to help Tehran strike U.S. forces in the Middle East. The dispute has heightened political tensions in Washington, where lawmakers from both parties are criticizing President Trump’s handling of the claims. Trump has publicly downplayed the possibility of Russian assistance to Iran, saying if it occurred, it was not 'helping much.' (3/19)

'Vulnerable' Satellites Guide the World — and its Wars (Source: DW.com)
If you have ever used a smartphone map or watched a delivery vehicle move across a tracking app, you have used GPS. What many people do not realize is that GPS — the US's Global Positioning System — is only one part of a broader family known as Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS). Four global satellite systems circle Earth. They guide aircraft, ships, cars and trucks, or tourists looking for a place to eat. But they also play a central role in war.

GNSS technology is highly accurate and fast. It is deeply embedded in everyday life. But it also comes with a hidden fragility. "Signals from Global Navigation Satellite Systems are quite vulnerable," said Dana Goward, President of the Resilient Navigation and Timing Foundation. "They are exceptionally weak — meaning that any radio noise near their frequency, accidental or malicious, can interfere with reception." (3/18)

Ursa Major Proves Hypersonic Capability for First Time with Storable Liquid Fuel (Source: Breaking Defense)
Hypersonics are often defined by long timelines, high costs, and exquisite one-offs. The Air Force’s Affordable Rapid Missile Demonstrator (ARMD) is designed to disrupt such challenges and convention as it was structured to achieve first flight in under a year, which it successfully accomplished just a few weeks ago.

Ursa Major’s Draper storable liquid engine is central to that approach, enabling non-cryogenic storage and powered, throttleable flight profiles for both endo- and exo-atmospheric flight applications. Katrina Hornstein, a Stanford and New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) educated engineer and program manager for Ursa Major, breaks down the program and Ursa Major’s prime role. (3/18)

Hermeus Receives Experimental Certification for Quarterhorse Mk 2.1 (Source: Flight Global)
US hypersonic aircraft developer Hermeus has secured experimental type certification from the Federal Aviation Administration for its Quarterhorse Mk 2.1, enabling the company to proceed with supersonic flight testing at Spaceport America in New Mexico. (3/19)

Musk Says SpaceX AI, Tesla Will Keep Ordering Nvidia Chips at Scale (Source: Reuters)
Elon Musk said late on Wednesday that his companies ​SpaceX AI and Tesla expect to ‌continue ordering Nvidia chips at scale.Last month, SpaceX acquired xAI in ​an all-stock deal ahead of ​a ⁠potential blockbuster initial public offering for SpaceX later this year. This was Musk's ⁠first ​post referring to the combined entity ​as SpaceX AI. (3/18)

How Russian Electronic Warfare is Forcing Ships to Abandon GPS (Source: The Times)
Russian electronic warfare has routinely made parts of the Baltic Sea “barely navigable” over the past two years, an investigation has found. The interference has often hit ships’ navigation systems so severely that civilian vessels are frequently advised to use ancient navigation methods across parts of the sea and even some countries’ warships have occasionally struggled to plot a course.

At the end of 2023, states in northeastern Europe began detecting signs of widespread GPS “jamming” and “spoofing”, where radio waves are used to block or falsify the satellite-based navigation signals used by ships, aircraft, satnavs and mobile phones. Two Russian sources were swiftly located: a mobile jammer near St Petersburg and a high-powered GT-01 Murmansk-BN stationary electronic warfare system in Kaliningrad, an exclave on the southern Baltic coast between Poland and Lithuania. (3/19)

Dogfighting in Space Won’t Look Like the Movies, But This Company Wants In on It (Source: Ars Technica)
If a battle is fought in space, it will look nothing like those depicted in the Star Wars franchise, with sleek TIE fighters blasting enemy ships with laser cannons and mag-pulses. Instead, these battles will be cerebral and unhurried, somewhat like the 1973 film The Day of the Jackal, a slow-burning political thriller with a plot that somehow mixes tension with clinical precision.

True Anomaly, which emerged from stealth just three years ago, is planning for The Day of the Jackal in space. The startup’s primary hardware product, aptly named Jackal, is a war-ready satellite platform designed for mass production. In nature, jackals are known for their intelligence, adaptability, and hunting prowess. True Anomaly’s Jackal boasts similar traits in space.

The Jackal spacecraft is designed for agility and maneuverability. True Anomaly has launched two Jackal test missions to date, and a third one is planned for launch in the next few months. The spacecraft bus, or chassis, is about the size of a refrigerator. It’s essentially a flying fuel tank with room for thrusters and sensors to rapidly turn, approach, and surveil other objects in orbit. Some day, True Anomaly believes Jackal could be used for orbital combat. (3/19)

K2 to Launch its First High-Powered Satellite for Space Compute (Source: Tech Crunch)
An ambitious satellite builder will launch one of the highest-powered spacecraft ever built in the weeks ahead to demonstrate technology that will be required to build data centers in orbit. K2 Space, founded by brothers and former SpaceX engineers Karan and Neel Kunjur in 2022, has packed its satellite Gravitas into a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket expected to launch as soon as the end of this month.

Gravitas has a mass of two metric tons, with a 40 meter wingspan when its solar panels are unfolded. The point of the big satellite is big power: Gravitas is capable of producing 20 kW of electricity for use by payloads like powerful sensors, transceivers, and computers. (3/19)

Pentagon Eyes Second B-21 Production Line (Source: Air and Space Forces)
The U.S. military struck a $4.5 billion deal last month to increase the rate of production on its new B-21 bomber. Now officials are considering whether they will open up an entire second production line to go even faster in constructing the sixth-generation stealth Raider.

Editor's Note: Northrop Grumman’s Space Coast campus -- its Manned Aircraft Design Center of Excellence -- served as the primary hub for the design, engineering, and development of the B-21. Maybe the company's campus at Melbourne International Airport could accommodate a B-21 production line. (3/18)

Capacity Gap for 9 Specialized Components Gnarls Space Supply Chain (Source: Breaking Defense)
The space manufacturing supply chain faces a number of interlocking challenges, ranging from greatly increased demand to inconsistent US government budgets to outdated specification requirements, according to a new study by the Aerospace Industries Association (AIA) and accounting firm PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC).

“We went out to talk to some of the leading space manufacturers across the industry, and we asked them: What are you having difficulty getting your hands on? What might have long lead times? Where are prices really high, and, in some cases, [where is it] you just might not ever be able to get your hands on quality components that are ready to go for spacecraft?” Jordan Tomaszewski said. (3/19)

A Private Space Company Has a Radical New Pan to Bag an Asteroid (Source: Ars Technica)
It may sound fanciful, but a Los Angeles-based company says it has conceived of a plan to fly out to a smallish, near-Earth asteroid, throw a large bag around it, and bring the body back to a “safe” gathering point near our planet. The company, TransAstra, said Wednesday that an unnamed customer has agreed to fund a study of its proposed “New Moon” mission to capture and relocate an asteroid approximately the size of a house, with a mass of about 100 metric tons. (3/19)

U.S. Space Command Forecasts On-Orbit Maneuver In Geosynchronous Orbit As Important (Source: Defense Daily)
U.S. Space Command (SPACECOM) explored the importance of maneuvering satellites, especially those in geosynchronous orbit, in an Apollo Griffin wargame last year, according to U.S. Space Force Maj. Gen. Samuel Keener, the director of joint forces development and training (J-7) at SPACECOM. (3/19)

Satellogic Plans Next-Gen Merlin EO Constellation (Source: Via Satellite)
Satellogic detailed plans for its next-generation ‘Merlin’ satellites, designed to provide one-meter resolution. The company said that Merlin will be differentiated by its ability to provide daily mapping of the entire planet, with one-meter spatial resolution. Satellogic is moving quickly to deploy Merlin, with the first satellite scheduled to launch in October of this year, with full operational capability expected in the first half of 2027. (3/19)

NASA’s Hubble Telescope Spots Comet K1 Exploding Into Fragments (Source: New York Times)
Astronomers on Wednesday announced a stroke of cosmic luck: While using the Hubble Space Telescope, they captured imagery of a comet just as it exploded into fragments. From Nov. 8 to Nov. 10, the comet — known as C/2025 K1 (ATLAS), or more casually as K1 — was seen erupting and shattering into four, perhaps five distinct shards, each surrounded by an atmosphere of vaporized ices. (3/19)

'Miracle': Europe Reconnects With Lost Spacecraft (Source: Phys.org)
ESA has re-established communication with a spacecraft that is part of its Proba-3 mission, after losing contact with the satellite a month ago. Proba-3, which launched on a two-year mission in 2024, uses two spacecraft flying in precise formation to simulate a solar eclipse more than 60,000 kilometers above Earth. One satellite has a 1.4-meter (five-foot) shield that plays the role of the moon in blocking the sun's light, while the other observes the corona from the shadow.

However, something happened to the second spacecraft, which has the crucial coronagraph instrument, on February 14. A chain reaction led to the spacecraft losing its orientation, causing its solar panel to face away from the sun, draining the batteries. The spacecraft then entered survival mode—it has been silently floating through space since. However, overnight "some miracle happened because we reconnected with the spacecraft," ESA director Josef Aschbacher said on Thursday. (3/19)

JWST Spies LRDs, a Mysterious Phenomenon (Source: CNN)
Like tiny photobombers, cosmic anomalies resembling small, bright red points show up in almost every snapshot taken by the most powerful space telescope ever made. Astronomers now call them little red dots, or LRDs, but there is no agreement yet on what exactly they are. Since NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope started peering into the universe four years ago, hundreds of the puzzling objects have appeared in its images. Their unknown origins effectively launched a scientific case that hundreds of studies have attempted to crack. (3/17)

An AI Cyberattack Could Trigger a Satellite Apocalypse in the Next 2 Years (Source: Space.com)
AI systems could soon be able to hijack satellites in orbit and cause them to collide with other spacecraft, potentially triggering a dangerous cascade of smash-ups that could render the environment around Earth unsafe for years, according to experts. Cyber security researchers are already using AI to identify so-called zero-day vulnerabilities — yet undiscovered security holes in code — to alert operators and help them patch the problems before hackers could exploit them. But attackers, too, can take advantage of those advanced systems to find those holes more quickly. (3/19)

Even JWST Can’t See Through This Planet’s Massive Haze (Source: Penn State)
Kepler-51d is a giant, ultra-light “super-puff” planet wrapped in an unusually thick haze that’s blocking scientists from seeing what it’s made of. Observations from JWST revealed that this haze may be one of the largest ever detected, possibly stretching as wide as Earth itself. The planet’s low density and close orbit don’t match existing models of how gas giants form or survive. Now, researchers are left with more questions than answers about how such a strange world came to be. (3/18)

There Might be Less Water on the Moon Than We’d Hoped (Source: Scientific American)
Analyzing images of the moon’s darkest areas from ShadowCam, a NASA instrument on the Korea Pathfinder Lunar Orbiter, the study’s authors determined that, in most of the moon’s darkest craters, water makes up less than about 20 to 30 percent of the material by weight—and that many may have no surface ice at all.

“I think, based on what data we have now..., we are pretty sure there is ice on the surface,” says Shuai Li, lead author of the study. The multibillion-dollar question remains just how abundant that ice is—and thus how much future explorers might rely on it for producing potable water, and manufacturing rocket fuel.

Whatever water ice exists in lunar PSRs wasn’t necessarily deposited there directly by infalling asteroids and comets; rather a process called “cold trapping” could have allowed ice to accumulate on dark, frigid crater floors on the moon via whiffs of impactor- or solar-wind-derived water vapor that wafted in from elsewhere. (3/18)

The Discovery of a Buried Delta on Mars Could Boost the Search for Life (Source: Phys.org)
There's more evidence that water once flowed on Mars with the discovery of an ancient river delta deep below the surface. NASA's Perseverance rover found it more than 35 meters beneath Jezero Crater using ground-penetrating radar. Perseverance was launched in 2020 to search for signs of ancient life on the red planet. Since landing in February 2021, it has been exploring Jezero Crater and collecting rock samples.

The radar identified numerous clinoforms, sloping layers of sediment characteristic of deltas. These structures form when a river enters a standing body of water, such as a lake, and deposits sand and mud. According to the researchers, this buried delta formed between 3.7 billion and 4.2 billion years ago and predates the fan-shaped expanse of sediment visible on the crater floor, known as the Western Delta. (3/19)

SpaceX Launches 29 Starlink Satellites Thursday From Cape Canaveral Spaceport (Source: Spaceflight Now)
SpaceX completed its 29th Starlink mission of the year, which launched on a Falcon 9 rocket from the Cape Canaveral Spaceport on Thursday morning. The Starlink 10-33 mission added another 29 Starlink V2 Mini satellites to the low Earth orbit megaconstellation, which now consists of more than 10,000 spacecraft. (3/18)