February 4, 2026

Lompoc Grants One-Year Extension for Space Base California Project (Source: Construction Owners)
In late December, the Lompoc City Council approved a one-year extension to the development timeline for the proposed Space Base California project, a Central Coast space-themed destination designed to inspire families and encourage interest in science and space exploration. The extension was granted through a first amendment to the long-term ground lease and development agreement between the city and Pale Blue Dot Ventures Inc. The amendment was approved Nov. 18 as part of the consent calendar without discussion.

Pale Blue Dot Ventures is the investor group behind the educational and recreational center planned for approximately 82 acres of city-owned land near Ken Adam Park, located south of Hancock Drive and west of Highway 1. The Space Base California project has been in development since July 2019, when Pale Blue Dot entered into a memorandum of understanding with the City of Lompoc. The original lease and development agreement was executed in September 2024 and became official Dec. 5, 2024. This pushes substantive permitting and construction milestones back, with full entitlements due by late 2028 and construction to start by 2031. (12/27)

SmallSat Alliance Shifts Focus to Proliferated Constellations for Warfare (Source: Space News)
An industry group that spent the last decade promoting the development of smallsat constellations is shifting gears. The SmallSat Alliance, formed in 2016, originally advocated for the development of proliferated satellite constellations. With such systems now being deployed by the Space Development Agency and others, the SmallSat Alliance says it now wants to shift its focus to ways proliferated constellations can better support the warfighter. Chuck Beames, chairman of the group, likened the current moment to the early days of the personal computing revolution, when standalone machines became transformative only after they were connected through networks, later supercharged by advances in software and processing power. (2/4)

Space Force Sees Cislunar Space as Strategic Domain (Source: Space News)
The Space Force wants to think more about operations in cislunar space. At an event last month, Gen. Shawn Bratton, deputy chief of space operations, said operations in cislunar space could affect missile warning, space domain awareness and the protection of satellites operating far from Earth, where monitoring and defense are more difficult. He said thinking about commanding and controlling spacecraft in that region is part of the service's 15-year planning horizon, Space Force 2040. That planning also involves thinking about offensive space operations as well as doubling the number of personnel. (2/4)

Senate Committee Delays FCC Streamlining Bill (Source: Space News)
A Senate committee delayed consideration of a bill that would streamline FCC reviews of satellite license applications. The SAT Streamlining Act, introduced last month, would require the FCC to rule on space and ground station applications within one year, with no more than 180 days of extensions for "extraordinary circumstances." At a Senate Commerce Committee session Tuesday, though, Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-WA), the committee's ranking member, raised concerns about a provision that would automatically approve such applications if the FCC does not either approve or deny them by the deadline. That could, she noted, allow the automatic approval of SpaceX's proposal for one million orbital data center satellites. She proposed an amendment to remove that provision, but a lack of a  quorum prevented the committee from considering that amendment or advancing the bill. (2/4)

Amazon Exec Skeptical on Orbital Data Centers (Source: Reuters)
An Amazon executive is skeptical about the near-term prospects for orbital data centers. Matt Garman, CEO of Amazon Web Services, said at a conference Tuesday that it would be difficult and not economical to launch large numbers of satellites into orbit to serve as data centers. He said the industry is "pretty far" from being able to seriously consider such systems, despite interest from SpaceX and other companies. (2/4)

India's Space Agency May See Budget Increase (Source: The Hindu)
India's space agency ISRO would get a small budget increase for its next fiscal year. A budget proposal released by the Indian government would provide about 137 billion rupees ($1.52 billion) for ISRO in the 2026-27 fiscal year, a 2% increase from last year's budget but a 10% increase over revised spending levels for 2025-26, suggesting the government did not spend the full amount allocated to ISRO in the previous year. The focus of the budget is on hardware and mission development, particularly in space technology and science. (2/4)

NASA Mercury Mission Saw Geographic Activity (Source: Sky & Telescope)
A reanalysis of images from a NASA Mercury mission has provided evidence the planet is still geologically active. Researchers used AI tools to examine images from the MESSENGER mission to Mercury, detecting streaks on the walls of some craters. The streaks, scientists speculate, are caused when impacts create fractures that release volatiles below the surface. Those volatiles, ices heated up by the sun into gas, create streaks down the sides of the craters. The streaks may be residue from the volatiles or fresh rocky material exposed by the volatiles. (2/4)

Nye Stepping Down From Planetary Society (Source: Planetary Society)
The longtime CEO of The Planetary Society is stepping down. Bill Nye announced last week that he will leave the post of CEO effective Feb. 17, and be replaced by the organization's chief operating officer, Jennifer Vaughn. Nye, who became CEO of the organization 15 years ago after a career that included becoming famous for the "Bill Nye the Science Guy" television show, will remain on the society's board of directors. He will also be its first "chief ambassador," representing the space science advocacy group at public events and on Capitol Hill. (2/4)

Space-Comm Expo Europe Comes to London on March 4-5 (Source: SpaceComm)
In four weeks, London will serve as the host city for the largest and most influential space industry event ever held in the UK. Global policymakers and business leaders will gather at Space-Comm Expo Europe, taking place on March 4-5 at ExCeL London. Space-Comm Expo Europe will welcome over 5,400 delegates, 250 exhibitors and 200 speakers from over 50 countries, with inspirational speakers and cutting edge technology, exploring new opportunities to accelerate the future of the European space industry. (2/4)

Rafael Deepens Space Focus As IPO Decision Looms (Source: Aviation Week)
Rafael is boosting its focus on space while the company also awaits a decision by the Israeli government about taking the state-owned defense technology specialist public. Rafael is splitting the cyber and intelligence operations that house space activities from the aviation portfolio, giving them more prominence. “The space business has grown, and we are entering into a new era, so we want that level of management attention,” CEO Yoav Tourgeman said. (2/4)

New Pentagon Science-and-Innovation Board Arrives as Administration Cuts Research Funding (Source: Defense One)
The Pentagon's new Science, Technology, and Innovation Board—a merger of the decade-old Defense Innovation Board and the 70-year-old Defense Science Board—is meant to “streamline” the department's approach to the hardest technological and scientific national-security challenges. But it comes on the heels of Trump-administration cuts that could hinder those efforts. (2/4)

Furuno, Xona Sign MoU to Bring LEO PNT into Timing Portfolio (Source: Inside GNSS)
Furuno has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Xona Space Systems to develop products that integrate Xona’s Pulsar low Earth orbit positioning, navigation and timing (LEO PNT) service, with a particular focus on timing and synchronization applications, the companies announced February 3. (2/4)

Voyager Outlines Infrastructure-Led Roadmap for Long-Term US Lunar Presence (Source: Space Daily)
Voyager Technologies has launched a strategic lunar initiative designed to align with the White House Securing American Space Superiority executive order and to reinforce United States leadership beyond low Earth orbit. The initiative is framed as a long-term effort to support exploration, national security and commercial activity on and around the Moon by focusing on durable infrastructure rather than one-off missions. Voyager plans to concentrate its lunar efforts on what it describes as foundational infrastructure for both human and robotic operations. That includes systems to support crews, distribute power, build communications backbones, provide on-orbit and surface computing, and enable automated logistics needed for continuous operations rather than short-duration visits.

Beyond internal research and existing intellectual property, Voyager says it will pursue additional partnerships, investments and phased development activities to match evolving government and commercial timelines. The company states that its objective is to be a leading player in the emerging lunar ecosystem by the end of the decade, positioning itself across civil, defense and commercial markets that view the Moon as a strategic domain. (2/4)

ESA Adjusts Cluster Orbits for Rare Twin Reentry Campaign (Source: Space Daily)
When satellites fall back to Earth, most of their structure burns up in the atmosphere, but engineers still lack detailed data on how real spacecraft actually break apart during reentry and which components survive the plunge. To close this gap, the European Space Agency has retargeted the final orbits of its remaining two Cluster satellites so that both can be observed from an aircraft during their destructive descent over the South Pacific Ocean on 31 August and 1 September 2026. The Cluster mission, launched in 2000, consists of four identical satellites that have studied Earths magnetosphere for more than two decades. (2/4)

Muon Space Ramps Up Multi-Mission Satellite Constellations (Source: Space Daily)
Muon Space is entering a new phase of operational scale as it moves from discrete missions to sustained, multi-mission satellite constellation deployment for government and commercial customers. The Mountain View based company reports that its growing mission portfolio, expanding launch manifest and increasing demand for end-to-end, mission-optimized systems are driving this transition. In 2025 Muon Space secured major government contracts supporting missile warning and tracking and dual-use environmental monitoring while launching new commercial satellites and advancing multiple operational constellations. During the same period the company more than doubled its employee headcount and delivered over 100 percent year-over-year growth for the second year running. (2/4)

UK's Lunar Nuclear Reactor Dream On Hold as Rolls Royce Struggles to Find Launch Support (Source: Interesting Engineering)
The UK’s vision of powering a future Moon base with nuclear energy has quietly slipped into uncertainty. A lunar micro-reactor project led by Rolls-Royce, once backed by the UK Space Agency, has reportedly been placed on indefinite hold after government funding ran out and no launch partner stepped forward. The idea itself was ambitious but practical. Rolls-Royce’s proposed micro-reactor was designed to produce about 100 kilowatts of electricity—enough to keep habitats warm, equipment running, and astronauts alive.

It was pitched as the kind of dependable, off-grid power source needed for long-term lunar living, especially near permanently shadowed craters where valuable water ice may be mined. Launched three years ago, the project was presented as more than just space hardware. UK officials described it as a way to strengthen Britain’s role in advanced science, support high-skill jobs, and spin off technologies useful back on Earth. While the company is said to be ready to restart development, the lack of a confirmed launch route has left the reactor stuck on paper. (2/2)

Space Force Association Gets New CEO (Source: SFA)
SFA is thrilled to welcome Damon Feltman as our new CEO! Damon has hit the ground running. Since its creation in 2019, SFA has grown from a concept to an established voice for spacepower. We are entering 2026 with a refreshed Strategic Plan to champion spacepower, uplift Guardians, and unite the public and private sectors on U.S.-led space security. (2/4)

ICEYE Floats a 1,000-Satellite Vision for "Constellation Europe" (Source: Space News)
During a press briefing in Brussels, ICEYE co-founder, president and CEO Rafał Modrzewski outlined what he called "Constellation Europe" — a proposed thousand-satellite, multi-sensor constellation aimed at giving Europe fast, independent space-based intelligence capabilities.

The concept has not yet been discussed with European authorities and has no budget attached. ICEYE envisions it as a collaborative effort involving both private and institutional stakeholders. "We designed a system that we believe would provide Europe with space domain superiority and full autonomy in space," Modrzewski said. "It has a sensing layer, a transport layer, a space situational awareness layer and an endpoint defense layer." (2/4)

US Navy Wants Commercial Satellites for Nighttime Earth Observation (Source: Defense News)
The U.S. Navy wants commercial satellites that can perform nighttime observation of the Earth, according to a Naval Research Laboratory Request for Information. “The objective is to understand the availability of systems that can provide data and services related to the remote sensing of nighttime scenes from space to inform potential future collaborations and acquisitions for a technology demonstration,” according to the RFI. (2/3)

Tomorrow.io Raises $175M to Build Out DeepSky Weather Constellation (Source: Via Satellite)
Tomorrow.io has raised $175 million in new funding to fund its next-generation DeepSky weather monitoring constellation. Stonecourt Capital and HarbourVest led the funding round. Tomorrow.io operates a weather monitoring constellation and recently announced plans for the upgraded DeepSky constellation to provide faster revisit rates and more coverage. The company hasn’t shared a target for how many satellites will make up DeepSky, but said the satellites will be equipped with multimodal sensors that are able to scan the full electromagnetic spectrum at high frequency. (2/3)

CNES to Fill Commercial Launch Facility Vacancy Left by MaiaSpace (Source: European Spaceflight)
The French space agency CNES has opened a call for launch operators to fill a vacancy at its new multi-user commercial launch facility in French Guiana after MaiaSpace withdrew in late 2025. The facility, being built on the former Diamant launch site, was originally intended to host multiple commercial operators. MaiaSpace had signed a binding term sheet but formally vacated the site in the last quarter of 2025, having been selected instead to convert the old Soyuz launch facility for its own use following Russia's suspension of Soyuz operations in 2022.

CNES is investing €50 million in shared infrastructure at the ELM facility, including power, fluid, and communication systems, with construction expected to complete in the second half of 2026. Applicants must be headquartered in EU or ESA member states with significant production capacity in those countries. They'll be evaluated on compatibility with regulations, launch system maturity, social and economic impact, and environmental impact. Other companies that previously signed term sheets include Isar Aerospace, PLD Space, Rocket Factory Augsburg, and Latitude, though additional vacancies could open if any of these fail to proceed.

Spain's PLD Space is expected to conduct the facility's inaugural flight later this year with its MIURA 5 rocket, even though Germany's Isar Aerospace is more advanced in its commercial preparations but is conducting initial operations from Norway instead. Individual launch operators will be responsible for building their own launcher-specific facilities like launch tables and assembly buildings once the shared infrastructure is complete. (2/3)

HawkEye 360 Taps Hale for Space Weather Forecasts (Source: Payload)
Predicting the future is no simple task, but for space weather forecasting startup Hale SWx, it’s part of the business model. The startup predicts the Sun’s activity with greater accuracy than existing approaches—and customers are quickly signing on to leverage those insights (and what they can do for the lifespan of sat constellations.)

Today, signal intelligence constellation operator HawkEye 360 announced a five-year deal to use Hale’s forecasts and atmospheric density predictions to inform its satellite deployment plans. HawkEye may be Hale’s latest customer, but it’s not the first: Hale signed similar agreements with Planet, and is running both paid and unpaid pilot programs with other constellation operators. (2/3)

constellr and Sky Perfect JSAT are Partnering to Deliver Thermal Intelligence to the Japanese Market (Source: Spacewatch Global)
constellr and SKY Perfect JSAT Corporation have launched the commercial sales of high‑resolution thermal infrared satellite data for the Japanese market, marking the first time a private company in Japan will commercially deliver such data from constellr. The relationship introduces a new Earth observation capability for government and industrial users in Japan, complementing optical and synthetic aperture radar (SAR) systems with object-level activity information. (2/3)

NASA Backs Studies to Boost Hypersonic Flight Testing (Source: Space Daily)
NASA is preparing for a new phase in hypersonic aviation by funding industry studies aimed at expanding flight test capabilities for reusable airbreathing vehicles that can cruise at several times the speed of sound. The agency has awarded short term study contracts to SpaceWorks Enterprises of Atlanta, Georgia, and Stratolaunch of Mojave, California, to examine how existing platforms could be adapted to conduct frequent and affordable hypersonic flight experiments. The work is managed under NASA's Hypersonic Technology Project within the Advanced Air Vehicles Program. (2/2)

NTU Singapore Boosts Agile Space Access with Trio of New Projects (Source: Space Daily)
Nanyang Technological University, Singapore is launching three new space projects under Singapore's Space Technology Development Program, a national initiative to accelerate the commercialization of space technologies. The projects are among the first supported under the Space Access Program, which targets annual launches in 2026, 2027 and 2028 to give local researchers and companies faster, more cost effective access to space for in orbit testing and validation.

One of the new projects will see scientists from NTU's Satellite Research Centre integrate an edge computing artificial intelligence payload into a nanosatellite built by space technology firm Satoro Space. The 3U nanosatellite, measuring 30 centimeters by 10 centimeters by 10 centimeters, will process images directly on board using small AI models and an edge engine. This approach reduces the need to send large volumes of raw data back to Earth and enables quicker, more intelligent decision making in orbit.

The same satellite will also test next generation perovskite solar cells in space. These lightweight solar panels are being developed by researchers from NTU's School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, School of Materials Science and Engineering, and local technology start up Singfilm. In orbit demonstration of the devices will provide critical data on their performance and durability in the harsh space environment. (2/2)

MDA Space and Hanwha Target Korean K-LEO Defense Network (Source: Space Daily)
MDA Space has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Hanwha Systems to pursue collaboration on Korea's planned sovereign Low Earth Orbit K-LEO defense constellation, targeting enhanced military communications and data services for national security operations. The agreement sets a framework for the two companies to explore how MDA Space's AURORA software-defined digital satellite platform can contribute to the architecture and capabilities of the constellation.

The K-LEO constellation is described as a flagship national initiative intended to strengthen the Republic of Korea's defense posture with secure, resilient satellite-based connectivity. By deploying a network of low Earth orbit spacecraft, the program aims to support secure communications links and mission-critical data distribution across defense users and domains. (1/30)

Tethered Orbital Data Centers Aim to Power AI with Solar Energy (Source: Space Daily)
Penn Engineers have proposed a solar-powered orbital data center architecture that could scale to meet growing demand for artificial intelligence computing without drawing electricity from terrestrial grids. The concept uses flexible, tether-based structures in orbit to host thousands of computing nodes for AI inference, relying on established space tether technology rather than massive rigid platforms or vast constellations of independent satellites.

The design resembles a leafy plant, with multiple stems holding computing hardware and branching, leaf-like solar panels. Each stem is effectively a long tether populated with identical nodes that carry computer chips, solar power systems and cooling hardware, forming a modular chain that can be extended by adding more nodes. (1/30)

NASA Finally Acknowledges the Eephant in the Room with the SLS Rocket (Source: Ars Technica)
The Space Launch System rocket program is now a decade and a half old, and it continues to be dominated by two unfortunate traits: It is expensive, and it is slow. The massive rocket and its convoluted ground systems, so necessary to baby and cajole the booster’s prickly hydrogen propellant on board, have cost US taxpayers in excess of $30 billion to date. And even as it reaches maturity, the rocket is going nowhere fast.

SLS hardware is extraordinarily expensive. A single rocket costs in excess of $2 billion, so the program is hardware-poor. Moreover, tanking tests might have damaged the launch tower, which itself cost more than $1 billion. As far as I know, there was never any serious discussion of building a test tank. Hardware scarcity, due to cost, is but one of several problems with the SLS rocket architecture. Probably the biggest one is its extremely low flight rate, which makes every fueling and launch opportunity an experimental rather than operational procedure. This has been pointed out to NASA, and the rocket’s benefactors in Congress, for more than a decade.

A rocket that is so expensive it only flies rarely will have super-high operating costs and ever-present safety concerns precisely because it flies so infrequently. Until this week, NASA had largely ignored these concerns, at least in public. However, in a stunning admission, NASA’s new administrator, Jared Isaacman, acknowledged the flight-rate issue after Monday’s wet-dress rehearsal test failed to reach a successful conclusion. “The flight rate is the lowest of any NASA-designed vehicle, and that should be a topic of discussion,” he said. The Trump administration would like to fly the rocket just two more times, culminating in the Artemis III human landing on the Moon. Congress has passed legislation mandating a fourth and fifth launch of the SLS vehicle. (2/4)

New European Infrared Sounder Maps Atmosphere In Three Dimensions (Source: Space Daily)
The first images from Europe s pioneering meteorological infrared sounder were unveiled at the EU Space Conference in Brussels, marking a significant advance in observing the atmosphere in three dimensions ahead of severe weather.

The new data come from the Infrared Sounder instrument on Meteosat Third Generation Sounder 1, the first European geostationary satellite to carry a hyperspectral infrared sounding capability designed specifically for meteorology.

From its geostationary orbit, the Infrared Sounder scans the atmosphere over Europe and adjacent regions every 30 minutes across nearly 2,000 narrow infrared channels, retrieving vertical profiles of temperature, humidity and trace gases throughout the troposphere and lower stratosphere. (1/28)

Runaway Massive Stars Mapped Across the Milky Way (Source: Space Daily)
Astronomers have carried out the most extensive observational study so far of massive runaway stars in the Milky Way, combining detailed measurements of how fast these stars move, how rapidly they spin, and whether they live alone or in binary systems. Researchers from the Institute of Cosmos Sciences of the University of Barcelona (ICCUB) and the Institute of Space Studies of Catalonia (IEEC), working with the Institute of Astrophysics of the Canary Islands (IAC), focused on a large sample of O-type stars, the most massive and luminous stellar objects in our galaxy.

Runaway stars are stars that travel through space at unusually high speeds and gradually drift away from the regions where they formed. For decades, astronomers have debated how massive runaway stars gain these high velocities, generally favoring two main scenarios. In one case, a star receives a strong kick when its companion in a binary system explodes as a supernova. In the other, the star is flung out of a dense, young star cluster through strong gravitational encounters with other massive stars. (1/29)

Autophage Rocket Concept Wins EU Prize for Debris-Free Launch Technology (Source: Space Daily)
Alpha Impulsion, a space startup based in Toulouse and Naples, has received a 950000 euro award from the European Union for a major innovation in space propulsion aimed at more economical, efficient, and debris free access to orbit. The company has been recognized as the first enterprise to gain international acknowledgment for a propulsion solution that from the outset addresses sustainable use of Earth orbit, competitiveness, and European sovereignty in space activities.

The funding supports the development of autophage propulsion for next generation launchers and satellites, designed to enable access to space without leaving orbital debris once missions are complete. In an autophage rocket, the vehicle fuselage is consumed by the engine as fuel during ascent, so the vehicle effectively burns and shortens like a candle and does not leave a discarded upper stage or large structural elements in orbit after operations.

This architecture reduces deadweight throughout flight and is reported to deliver about a 40 percent reduction in liftoff mass compared with conventional launch systems, which translates directly into an estimated 40 percent reduction in launch costs. (1/29)

NASA Testing Advances Space Nuclear Propulsion Capabilities (Source: Space Daily)
Nuclear propulsion and power technologies could unlock new frontiers in missions to the Moon, Mars, and beyond. NASA has reached an important milestone advancing nuclear propulsion that could benefit future deep space missions by completing a cold-flow test campaign of the first flight reactor engineering development unit since the 1960s.

Teams at Marshall Space Flight Center conducted more than 100 tests on the engineering development unit over several months in 2025. The 44-inch by 72-inch unit, built by BWX Technologies of Richmond, Virginia, is a full-scale, non-nuclear, flight-like development test article the size of a 100-gallon drum that simulates propellant flow throughout the reactor across a range of operational conditions. (1/27)

February 3, 2026

L3Harris Space Surveillance Support Work Hits $1.5B (Source: The Gazette)
L3Harris Technologies has secured a $62.7 million contract modification to maintain the US space surveillance system as part of the Maintenance of Space Situational Awareness Integrated Capabilities program. This extension brings the total contract value to $1.5 billion, with work primarily conducted in Colorado Springs. (2/2)

Hydrogen Leaks Push Artemis 2 Launch to March (Source: Space News)
NASA is delaying the launch of the Artemis 2 mission to at least March after problems during a fueling test Monday. NASA said early Tuesday it would no longer pursue a launch in a window that closes Feb. 11 after a wet dress rehearsal. During that test, NASA reported hydrogen leaks during fueling, and again in the final minutes of the practice countdown. There were other issues as well, some caused by unusually cold weather in Florida. The next launch opportunity for the mission is from March 6 to 11. (2/3)

SpaceX Merges with xAI (Source: Space News)
Elon Musk is merging SpaceX with xAI, his artificial intelligence company. In a statement Monday, SpaceX said it acquired xAI, which develops artificial intelligence technologies and operates the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter. According to some reports, the combined company is valued at $1.25 trillion, although neither company disclosed terms of the deal. Musk said combining SpaceX and xAI is intended to advance his goal of developing space-based data centers that he argues could meet the growing computing demands of artificial intelligence more efficiently than terrestrial facilities. SpaceX filed plans with the FCC last week to deploy up to one million satellites for orbital data centers for AI applications. The merger may also bolster SpaceX plans to go public later this year. (2/3)

Hegseth Visits Blue Origin Campus on Space Coast (Source: Space News)
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth used a visit to Blue Origin's Florida rocket factory to escalate criticism of traditional defense procurement. In a speech at the Blue Origin factory, Hegseth framed commercial space companies as central players in an effort to overhaul how the Defense Department buys weapons and space systems. The stop was part of his "Arsenal of Freedom" tour, a series of high-profile appearances aimed at signaling a shift in Pentagon culture toward speed, scale and production capacity. That tour included stops last month at Rocket Lab's California headquarters and SpaceX's Starbase facility in Texas. (2/3)

UK Space Agency Chief Steps Down with Organizational Transition (Source: Space News)
The head of the U.K. Space Agency (UKSA) is stepping down as the agency is folded into a government department. Paul Bate will resign as CEO of the agency at the end of March after serving in that post for four and a half years, the British government said Monday. UKSA was created in 2010 to give the country a dedicated body to coordinate civil space policy, regulation and investment. The government announced last year that UKSA, currently a standalone agency, will be absorbed into the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology by April. (2/3)

NASA Authorization Bill Includes Calls for Lunar Lander and Spacesuit Reports (Source: Space News)
A NASA authorization bill introduced in the House would scrutinize NASA's work on lunar landers and spacesuits. The NASA Reauthorization Act of 2026, introduced Friday by the bipartisan leadership of the House Science Committee, includes sections calling on NASA to provide several reports on the status of work on lunar landers by Blue Origin and SpaceX for Artemis. This includes examining the level of support NASA is providing and challenges the companies have encountered. The bill also calls for reports on the status of spacesuit development, including language pressing NASA to retain spacesuit expertise within the agency rather than relying solely on commercial providers. The committee is scheduled to mark up the bill Wednesday. (2/3)

Falcon 9 Missions Paused After Upper Stage Anomaly (Source: Space News)
SpaceX is pausing Falcon 9 launches after an anomaly at the end of a launch Monday. A Falcon 9 lifted off from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California at 10:47 a.m. Eastern, successfully deploying 25 Starlink satellites about an hour later. SpaceX said late Monday that, after payload deployment, the upper stage "experienced an off-nominal condition" while preparing for a deorbit burn. The stage passivated itself, dumping propellants to prevent a breakup. SpaceX said that engineers are examining data from the stage "to determine root cause and corrective actions before returning to flight." SpaceX did not disclose how long that would take, but the company has pushed back the next Falcon 9 launch by at least two days. (2/3)

India to Resume PSLV Launches in June (Source: PTI)
India plans to resume launches of its PSLV rocket in June. Jitendra Singh, the government's science and technology minister, said Monday that the back-to-back failures of the PSLV last May and in January had different causes, although both involved the rocket's third stage. He did not disclose details about what caused the failures, although he said the government had no evidence of sabotage. The space agency ISRO is "very ambitiously targeting" a return to flight of the PSLV for June assuming the investigation and corrective actions go well. (2/3)

ESA Gets Resilience Director (Source: ESA)
An ESA official has a new job title. The space agency said last week that it appointed Laurent Jaffart, who had been director of connectivity and secure communications, to the new post of director of resilience, navigation and connectivity, effective Feb. 1. The new position is designed to better support the European Resilience from Space program, which will fund work on dual-use Earth imaging satellites, as well as ESA's role in the IRIS² constellation. (2/3)

Solar Flare Rated Highest in Years (Source: Scientific American)
The sun produced one of the strongest flares in years on Sunday. The flare, rated an X8.1 by NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center, erupted Sunday evening as part of a series of powerful flares in recent days from the sun. The X8.3 flare is the strongest since October 2024 and among the 20 biggest flares in the last 30 years. The flare caused some shortwave radio disruptions but is not linked to any projected auroral activity. (2/2)

High Jump: the JUMPSEAT Signals Intelligence Satellite (Source: Space Review)
Last week the National Reconnaissance Office announced it had declassified information about a signals intelligence satellite program called JUMPSEAT. Dwayne Day examines what that declassification reveals about the program. Click here. (2/3)
 
Normalization of Deviance (Source: Space Review)
Ahead of the launch of Artemis 2, some have raised concerns about the Orion spacecraft’s heat shield. Robert Oler says NASA’s decision to move ahead with the the current heat shield raises concerns about the agency’s decision-making processes and safety. Click here. (2/3)
 
Suborbital’s Descending Trajectory (Source: Space Review)
In a surprise move, Blue Origin announced Friday it was suspending New Shepard suborbital flights for at least two years as it focuses on lunar exploration. Jeff Foust reports on that development and its implications for suborbital spaceflight. Click here. (2/3)
 
Dragonship: China Builds a Nuclear-Powered Aircraft Carrier While Satellites Watch (Source: Space Review)
China is building up its navy, including what appears to be its first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier. Dwayne Day shows how satellite imagery, including from commercial spacecraft, is helping follow that vessel’s development. Click here. (2/3)
 
From Pacifism to Pragmatism: Japan’s Evolving Space Security Policy (Source: Space Review)
Japan, which once ruled out any military use of space, has gradually made use of space for reconnaissance and other national security activities. Safia Mansoor charts Japan’s changing policies in this area. Click here. (2/3)

Blue Origin’s $71.4 Million Alabama Expansion Adding 105 Jobs, Bringing Total Employment to 1,600 (Source: AL.com)
Work is beginning on projects at Blue Origin, Huntsville International Airport and Performance Drone Works facilities in Huntsville. They are among projects issued building permits in Madison, Limestone and Morgan counties since Jan. 14, according to reportconstruction.com. They are also among 10 area projects exceeding $1 million during that time.

The Blue Origin permit was issued for an alteration to its rocket engine facility on Jan. 22. The Huntsville City Council approved an agreement last week for the company’s $71.4 million expansion. The company is adding 105 jobs to its workforce to increase its local employment to more than 1,600 people. Under the agreement, the city will pay Blue Origin up to $200,000 based on the number of full-time employees making the required wage in the agreement. The city, through Huntsville Utilities, will cover up to $200,000 of the cost to extend electric, natural gas, water and sewer infrastructure to the expanded facilities. (2/2)

Building on the Moon: Testing the Ground Beneath Our Feet (Source: ESA)
Before constructing any building on Earth, engineers need to understand the soil beneath it. The same principle applies to future lunar infrastructure, but there's a significant challenge: we have very limited data about lunar soil properties, and the tools to measure them haven't been calibrated for the Moon's harsh environment.

A recent ESA Discovery project led by the Norwegian Geotechnical Institute (NGI) designed a calibration chamber that will enable accurate testing of cone penetration instruments under lunar conditions, providing crucial data for future construction on the Moon and beyond. Cone penetration testing (CPT) is a standard geotechnical method used on Earth to measure soil parameters before any excavation or construction begins. A cone-shaped instrument (penetrometer) is pushed into the soil, measuring resistance and providing data on soil strength, stiffness and other critical properties. (2/3)

ExLabs Selects CUS-GNC SpacePilot Autonomy Software for Mission to Asteroid Apophis (Source: ExLabs)
ExLabs, a commercial deep-space mission operator developing next-generation platforms for exploration beyond Earth orbit, today announced it has selected CUS-GNC’s SpacePilot onboard autonomy software to provide guidance, navigation, and control for its Mission to Asteroid Apophis. The collaboration strengthens ExLabs’ ability to operate reliably at extreme distances from Earth, where long communication delays and limited ground intervention demand highly autonomous spacecraft systems. (2/3)

PhilSA Completes Small Launch Vehicle Training Program with Perigee Aerospace (Source: PhilSA)
The Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA) has successfully completed the Know-How Transfer and Training Program on Small Launch Vehicle in partnership with Perigee Aerospace, a Korean space mobility company—marking a key step toward developing the Philippines’ indigenous launch capability. The multi-stage training program began with a two-day technical workshop in Quezon City in October 2025, followed by an intensive three-week hands-on sounding rocket training in South Korea from October to November 2025. The program equipped selected PhilSA engineers with foundational and applied knowledge in launch vehicle systems through classroom instruction on basic rocket theory and practical experience in rocket subsystem assembly. (2/3)

What’s the Point of a Space Station Around the Moon? (Source: The Conversation)
The Lunar Gateway is planned space station that will orbit the Moon. It is part of the NASA‑led Artemis program. Artemis aims to return humans to the Moon, establishing a sustainable presence there for scientific and commercial purposes, and eventually reach Mars. However, the modular space station now faces delays, cost concerns and potential US funding cuts. This raises a fundamental question: is an orbiting space station necessary to achieve lunar objectives, including scientific ones?

The president’s proposed 2026 budget for Nasa sought to cancel Gateway. Ultimately, push back from within the Senate led to continued funding for the lunar outpost. But debate continues among policymakers as to its value and necessity within the Artemis program. Cancelling Gateway would also raise deeper questions about the future of US commitment to international cooperation within Artemis. It would therefore risk eroding US influence over global partnerships that will define the future of deep space exploration. Gateway was designed to support these ambitions by acting as a staging point for crewed and robotic missions (such as lunar rovers), as a platform for scientific research and as a testbed for technologies crucial to landing humans on Mars. Click here. (1/3)

Texas' Concho Valley Spaceport Feasibility Study Launches with Public Input Meeting (Source: San Angelo Live)
The Concho Valley Council of Governments is hosting a public meeting to launch citizen input to the Concho Valley Spaceport Feasibility Study: Mission to Space. This comprehensive study, fully funded by a grant from the Texas Space Commission, will evaluate whether the Concho Valley may serve as a viable location for a future spaceport facility. The study is being performed by a team led by RS&H (aerospace infrastructure and planning) with SMEs Centurion Planning & Design (CV Infrastructure), Aerospace Corporation (space flight safety analysis), Blue Ridge Research and Consulting (sonic boom and noise), and SEARCH, Inc. (cultural resources). (2/3)

Inside the High-Stakes Battle Over Space Force Advocacy (Source: Washington Times)
The Air Force Association rebranded itself in April 2022, after 76 years, as the Air & Space Forces Association, a move it said would better reflect its mission to advocate for 21st-century American power in the air and in space. The reaction to that announcement inside the Colorado Springs offices of the Space Force Association — a separate nonprofit launched in 2019, the same year the U.S. Space Force was founded as a stand-alone military service — landed somewhere between surprise and incredulity.

“You’ve got to be … kidding me,” said one source, describing the reaction among Space Force Association officials who learned of the name change just days before it was announced. That’s just one example of the complicated and at times tense relationship between the competing organizations. Both lay claim to advocating for the Space Force and its Guardians and to serving as a key liaison between the Pentagon and powerful defense industry companies seeking to do business in the increasingly vital and financially lucrative space domain.

In statements to The Washington Times, both organizations and their leaders stressed that they can work together to advance American space power. Yet sources familiar with the matter described behind-the-scenes dynamics that at times have bordered on acrimony. (2/2)

'I Hope They Forget All About Artemis 2': Moon Astronauts are Taking the Long View (Source: Space.com)
The astronauts of NASA's Artemis 2 moon mission want to become a mere footnote in the annals of space history. Artemis 2 will send NASA's Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover and Christina Koch and Canada's Jeremy Hansen on a 10-day flight around the moon. As the first crewed trip to lunar realms since Apollo 17 in 1972, this mission will be momentous — but the Artemis 2 astronauts hope future generations have reason to gloss over their contributions.

"I hope they forget all about Artemis 2," Koch told Bill Whitaker of CBS' "60 Minutes," which aired a piece about the mission on Sunday night (Feb. 1). "I think that's a little bit extreme, but we talk about our legacy being enabling the future missions, all the way from Artemis 3 to Artemis 100 to missions to Mars." (2/2)

OHB Hellas and Parsimoni to Develop Sovereign Software Solution (Source: Via Satellite)
OHB Hellas and Parsimoni are teaming up to develop a secure, sovereign in-orbit software platform in a major new space software initiative. It will combine OHB Hellas’ Orbital HPC hardware solution with the Parsimoni Satellite App Store, powered by SpaceOS. The two companies made the announcement, Feb. 2. The company’s have a goal to enable more capable, secure, and adaptable space systems, supporting demand for software-defined satellites and in-orbit services. The first commercially offered solution will combine Parsimoni’s App Store project, developed with the support of the European Space Agency (ESA) and the OHB Versal Orbital HPC, and will be offered in conjunction with the OHB Fire and Cloud Detection apps. (2/2)

NASA Needs to Get Serious to Beat the Chinese (Source: Fox News)
A solid Artemis II success is vital for NASA; proving technical competence is vital to maintaining congressional and presidential funding for the lunar landing challenge to come. Isaacman and his mission managers must not only ensure the success and safety of Artemis II, but make a critical decision in the weeks ahead: how best to field a lander that can get future Artemis crews down to the moon’s rocky terrain.

SpaceX’s Starship rocket was chosen by NASA to serve as Artemis III’s lander, but Starship has progressed slowly in test launches, suffering several major setbacks. Each Starship lander launch from Earth will require 15 or more other Starship launches to fuel it for its lunar mission, and SpaceX is nowhere near attempting its promised robotic demo mission to the moon.

Isaacman has re-opened the lander design to other concepts, perhaps from Blue Origin or other industry partnerships; one workable approach was outlined before Congress last year by former administrator Mike Griffin. But time is running out for NASA to decide on a lander that will do the job within two or three years — China is forging ahead with its own plans to send its taikonauts to the moon by 2030. (2/2)

Two PSLV Failures Were Not Related, No Sabotage (Sources: The Print, WION)
The Indian Space Research Organization will be reattempting the launch of the PSLV-C62 mission, which failed in January, around June this year, the Union Minister of Science and Technology and Space said on Monday. Jitendra Singh stressed that none of the foreign passengers booked on PSLV-C62 had withdrawn or shown any lack of confidence in India as a launch partner. Also: "We have not come across any report of sabotage as of now," India's Space Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh said. (2/2)

Europe’s Digital Earth Gets Ready to Grow User Community (Source: ESA)
Destination Earth (DestinE), a flagship initiative funded by the European Commission, to develop a highly accurate digital replica of Earth’s systems, is preparing to extend its rollout, so more people across Europe are able to access its data. DestinE uses enhanced modelling to improve our understanding of climate and the impact of human activities on our environment. Its data can be used to support research and make informed decisions on climate policy, such as climate change adaptation strategies and effective mitigation measures. The project, led by the European Commission, will begin phase 3 of its implementation in July 2026. (2/2)

February 2, 2026

First Launch of Ariane 6 with Four Boosters (Source: ESA)
Set for 12 February, Europe’s most powerful rocket is preparing for liftoff – now with even more power. Flight VA267 will see Ariane 6 take 32 satellites for Amazon’s Leo constellation to low-Earth orbit. This will be the sixth flight for Ariane 6, and the first with four boosters to propel the rocket off the launch pad at Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana. (2/2)

Starlink to Launch Free Space Situational Awareness Platform (Source: Via Satellite)
SpaceX is moving into yet another application in the satellite industry, announcing a new space traffic management platform called Stargaze, where it plans to offer conjunction data to other satellite operators free of charge. Stargaze uses data collected from star trackers onboard Starlink satellites. In a Jan. 29 announcement, the company shared it has been running a closed beta with more than a dozen satellite operators sharing ephemeris data and screening for conjunctions. SpaceX said the platform is designed to provide conjunction screening results within minutes. (1/30)

Gladys West, GPS Pioneer and One of NASA's Famed 'Hidden Figures,' Dies at 95 (Source: Space.com)
A "hidden figure" of GPS development has passed away. Gladys West, 95, died Saturday of natural causes. West, a Black woman, went from a childhood in the Jim Crow era of segregation to an adulthood formulating pioneering models for the shape of the Earth—which helps inform the technology of global positioning systems (GPS) for navigation. (2/1)

Space Force Surveys Industry for Space-to-Air Optical Communications Between Aircraft and Satellites (Source: Military and Aerospace Electronics)
U.S. Space Force communications experts are surveying industry for mature free-space optical communications terminals for aircraft to enable secure, high-bandwidth space-to-air optical communications to link aircraft with the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture (PWSA). Officials of the Space Force's Space Development Agency issued a request for information last week for the Future Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture Space-To-Air Optical Communications Terminal project. (2/2)

Transcelestial Providing Laser Terminals to Gilmour Space (Source: Space News)
Optical communications startup Transcelestial will provide laser terminals to Gilmour Space. The companies announced an agreement Monday where Gilmour will incorporate a Transcelestial terminal in a satellite it is launching later this year to test the effectiveness of space-to-ground laser communications.  Such communications offer much higher data rates than traditional radio-frequency communications and are also not susceptible to jamming, but can be hindered by weather. Transcelestial says it has developed technology to compensate for some weather conditions and plans a large network of optical ground stations to ensure at least some stations are available to a spacecraft at any time. (2/2)

Feasibility and Cost Questions on AI Data Centers (Source: Space News)
The new interest in orbital data centers by SpaceX and others has led many to scrutinize the business case for such satellites. Orbital data centers promise to avoid the power and environmental permitting challenges of terrestrial data centers that are in high demand because of AI. However, some analyses show that orbital data centers would still be several times more expensive than terrestrial systems. There is also a concern that the overall AI industry may be in a bubble that could soon burst, diminishing demand for data centers on Earth or in space. (2/2)

CesiumAstro Raises $470 Million for Phased Array Antennas (Source: Space News)
CesiumAstro has raised $470 million to advance production of phased-array antennas. The company announced Monday it raised $270 million in a Series C investment round led by Trousdale Ventures with participation from several other funds. The company also recently secured $200 million in debt financing from the U.S. Export-Import Bank's Make More in America initiative and JPMorgan. With the capital, CesiumAstro is establishing a 25,000-square-meter headquarters and manufacturing facility in the suburbs of Austin, Texas, where the company will mass-manufacture phased-array antennas for space and terrestrial applications. (2/2)

Amazon Buys 10 Falcon 9 Launches for Leo Constellation (Source: Space News)
Amazon has purchased 10 more Falcon 9 launches for its broadband constellation. Amazon revealed the purchase in an FCC filing Friday seeking a two-year extension or waiver of a July deadline to deploy half of its 3,232-satellite Amazon Leo constellation. Amazon has so far launched 180 satellites, including 72 launched on three Falcon 9 flights last year under a contract announced in late 2023. Amazon plans to rely primarily on Ariane 6, New Glenn, and Vulcan Centaur for most of the constellation, but delays with those vehicles, among other factors, have slowed deployment of Amazon Leo. Amazon says it expects to have 700 satellites in orbit by July and still expects to meet the original July 2029 deadline for deploying the entire constellation. (2/2)

L3Harris to Spin-Off Missile Business with IPO (Source: Space News)
L3Harris says it is committed to its space business as its work on missiles grows. The Defense Department announced last month it will invest $1 billion into L3Harris as part of efforts to increase missile production. That includes spinning off the company's Missile Solutions business into a standalone entity that will go public in the second half of the year. In an earnings call last week, L3Harris CEO Christopher Kubasik pushed back on the notion that the missile push signals a retreat from space, saying the company is committed to work such as production of satellites for the Space Development Agency. (2/2)

Apolink Partners with RBC for In-Orbit Data Relay (Source: Space News)
Apolink has partnered with ground segment provider RBC Signals to resell the startup's proposed in-orbit relay services. Apolink is planning a constellation of satellites that will serve as data relays for other spacecraft. Besides having RBC Signals serve as a reseller, Apolink also plans to use RBC Signals' network of nearly 100 antennas across more than 60 sites as part of the end-mile teleport for its relay architecture. The companies did not disclose terms of the agreement. (2/2)

FAA Warns Airlines About Safety Risks From Rocket Launches, Urges “Extreme Caution” (Source: Pro Publica)
SpaceX and other companies have ramped up launches in recent years. Starship, a version of which is supposed to one day land on the moon, has followed a flight path that soars over well-trafficked commercial airways in the Caribbean. The FAA previously told ProPublica that it “limits the number of aircraft exposed to the hazards, making the likelihood of a catastrophic event extremely improbable.” It also said it takes steps to keep pilots informed and planes safe during launches, such as creating the emergency no-fly zones, known as debris response areas.

The January alert also pointed to those procedures. “Past events have shown that when a mishap does occur, debris has fallen within or near the DRA, and pilots should exercise extreme caution near these areas,” the notice said. But it warned that debris can fall in places where the FAA doesn’t enact no-fly zones, such as international airspace over oceans without radar coverage, saying pilots need to have “additional situational awareness” to avoid debris fields there. Neither SpaceX nor the FAA has released data showing where debris fell after the Starship explosions last year. (2/2)

Singapore to Launch Space Agency in Response to Global Investment Surge (Source: Reuters)
Singapore will launch its own space agency on April 1 as it bids to "fully harness the value and opportunities of the growing global space economy", the country's trade ministry announced on Monday. The National Space Agency of Singapore will develop and operate the nation's space capabilities and develop legislation and regulations which support innovation and businesses, among other functions, the ministry said. Singapore currently hosts 70 space companies, employing around 2,000 professionals in diverse roles and activities across the value chain, the ministry said. (2/2)

February 1, 2026

AI Discovers Hundreds of Anomalies in Archive of Hubble Images (Source: Futurism)
The universe is unfathomably vast, and for the astronomers trying to understand it, that means having to gather a commensurately mind-boggling amount of data. Wouldn’t it be nice if there was something that could help speed through looking for patterns in all the trillions of galaxies out there, and their quadrillions of stars?

The term “AI” has become a catch-all these days for all kinds of dubious tech of varying degrees of automation and reliability, but certain types have found a very practical and welcome use among astronomers. Using a custom-built AI tool, for instance, a team of scientists at the European Space Agency have identified over a thousand “anomalies” in an archive of Hubble space telescope images that have gone unnoticed for decades. (1/31)

Luxembourg's OQ Technology Plans for D2D Satellite (Source: Space News)
Luxembourg-based OQ Technology is planning to test direct-to-device (D2D) services to smartphones. The operator intends to deploy what would be its first dedicated D2D satellite around the middle of this year that will operate in C-band, offering higher-throughput voice and data services beyond the reach of cell towers than the company's existing S-band smallsats. Subject to regulatory approvals, OQ plans to demonstrate a C-band D2D service in Luxembourg and then the United States, after lodging filings for the frequencies with international regulators. (1/29)

China Pursues Orbital Data Centers (Source: Reuters)
China is also joining the rush to develop orbital data centers. China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation said it is studying "gigawatt-class space digital-intelligence infrastructure" that would involve data centers for applications like artificial intelligence. The announcement provided few details about those plans other than a goal of creating a "Space Cloud" by 2030. Several Western companies, including SpaceX, have shown a recent interest in orbital data centers, attracted by the promise of continuous solar power, and may be a key reason why SpaceX is pursuing an IPO this year. (1/29)

Australia's HEO Acquires NewSat-34 Satellite for Imaging Spacecraft (Source: Space News)
HEO, an Australian company that uses commercial Earth observation satellites to image other spacecraft, has acquired its own satellite. HEO announced this week it purchased NewSat-34, a Satellogic Earth imaging satellite launched three years ago. HEO said it will use the satellite, renamed Continuum-1, for testing new imaging techniques while also building up its catalog of observations of spacecraft. About 20% of the satellite's imaging capacity will be used for its original Earth observation mission. (1/29)

Pitt Launches $25M Trivedi Institute to Translate Space Science into Breakthroughs for Human Health (Source: Pitt.edu)
The University of Pittsburgh Health Sciences announced the launch of the Trivedi Institute for Space and Global Biomedicine, one of the first dedicated institutes focused on applying insights from spaceflight to improve human health on Earth. The $25 million institute will be led by Kate Rubins, who joined Pitt in October as professor of computational and systems biology, after a 16-year career as a NASA astronaut that included two long-duration missions and a total of 300 days in space. She was the first person to sequence DNA in space and led multiple investigations in genomics and human health under extreme conditions. (1/29)

NASA’s Mission Support Future Architecture Program (Source: NASA)
To enhance the operational efficiency of mission support services, such as information technology, financial resources, human resources, legal services, and infrastructure management, NASA initiated the Mission Support Future Architecture Program (MAP) in 2017 to move from a center-focused approach to an interdependent agency-wide model. While MAP consolidated Agency mission support services and enabled a more strategic view of Agency operations, implementation remains incomplete despite NASA declaring the initiative complete in 2021. (1/26)

Northrop Grumman’s SMART Demo Tests Second Advanced Solid Rocket Motor and Achieves Successful Firing (Source: Northrop Grumman)
Northrop Grumman successfully tested the second of two new solid rocket motors — BAMM!29 2.0 — designed and manufactured in a less than a year, under the SMART Demo program. This follows the successful static test of the SMASH!22 motor, achieved in December 2025. This rapid development demonstrates a commitment to advanced propulsion systems at an unprecedented pace. The 29-inch diameter Bombardment Attack Missile Motor, also known as the BAMM!29 2.0, integrates innovative materials and technologies, including a next-generation carbon fiber case, with advanced additively manufactured tooling and components. (1/29)

Virginia Air & Space Science Center Names NASA Langley Engineer as Interim President & CEO (Source: VASSC)
The Virginia Air & Space Science Center named Melvin J. Ferebee Jr., a long me NASA Langley Research Center engineer, as its Interim President and CEO on Tuesday. The announcement comes a li le more than a week a er the center’s previous director, Jeffery Smith Ed.D, was picked by Governor-elect Abigail Spanberger to be Virginia’s Secretary of Education. Ferebee will start in his new role on February 9 and will serve un l the center’s board selects a permanent director. (1/27)

Astrolight Advances Space-to-Ground Laser Data Transmission (Source: Astrolight)
Satellite congestion means radio frequency (RF) bands are also being congested, causing signal interference that disrupts Earth imaging and astronomical research. An alternative to RF is laser communication. It uses narrowly focused light beams that are immune to radio interference and can transmit up to 100 times more data. Astrolight, a European space-tech company, is at the forefront of this technology. Their laser communication system has been successfully integrated into the satellite of the ESA-funded ERMIS project, which aims to enhance space capabilities for civil applications, such as precision agriculture.

Astrolight has also recently announced the deployment of the first Arctic optical ground station in Greenland, a critical location for satellite links, which will make disaster management and search and rescue operations in the Arctic faster and more reliable. Editor's Note: Space Coast-based X-lumin is also offering ground-to-space and ground-to-air laser comms with terabytes-per-second throughput. (1/30)

Lawmaker Advocates for Streamlining US Space Regulation (Source: SatNews)
Rep. Brian Babin, R-TX, chairman of the House Committee on Science, Space and Technology, has criticized regulatory hurdles from agencies such as the Federal Aviation Administration and the Environmental Protection Agency for slowing down the US space industry. Speaking at the Space Mobility Conference, Babin highlighted issues with the FAA's Part 450 regulations and infrastructure challenges at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station and Vandenberg Space Force Base. Babin discussed the Commercial Space Act of 2026, which aims to streamline regulations and support private-sector growth. (1/29)

Varda’s W-5 Mission Lands in Australia (Source: Space News)
Varda Space Industries completed its latest reentry mission Jan. 29, completing an end-to-end demonstration of a new in-house spacecraft design. The W-5 mission concluded with a reentry Jan. 29 (U.S. time) at the Koonibba Test Range in South Australia, operated by Southern Launch. The landing ended a mission that began with the spacecraft’s launch on SpaceX’s Transporter-15 rideshare mission Nov. 28.

The capsule carried a payload for the U.S. Navy under the Air Force Research Laboratory’s Prometheus program, which funds commercial reentry missions to collect hypersonic flight data. The program previously supported Varda’s W-2 and W-3 missions. (1/31)

China's Multi-Prong Space Push (Source: Space News)
China's main space contractor says it will push into new commercial space domains in the coming years. The China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC), the country's state-owned main space contractor, has outlined plans for space tourism, digital infrastructure, resource development and space traffic management, according to Chinese media reports Thursday. Those efforts include feasibility studies for a proposed "Tiangong Kaiwu" major initiative, referring to an earlier proposal of a multi-decade roadmap for solar system-wide resource utilization. CASC is also outlining development of suborbital and orbital space tourism vehicles, including uncrewed and crewed verification flights and establishing an operational framework for space tourism. CASC did not disclose any schedules. (1/30)

NASA at Crossroads for Gateway (Source: Space News)
NASA is at a "crossroads" in its plans to transport cargo to and from the lunar Gateway. NASA awarded a contract to SpaceX in 2020 to provide resupply services using a version of the Dragon spacecraft called Dragon XL. At the SpaceCom Expo conference Thursday, a NASA official said the agency is evaluating an alternative from SpaceX, which could involve the use of Starship in place of Dragon XL. Work on the contract was put on hold last year because of uncertainty about the future of the Gateway, and NASA expects to move forward with one option after the Artemis 2 mission. NASA is also evaluating studies performed last year by several other companies on orbital transfer vehicles for operations in cislunar space. (1/30)

Isar Delays Andoya Launch to March (Source: Isar Aerospace)
Isar Aerospace has delayed its next Spectrum launch to March. The company said Friday the next launch window for its second Spectrum mission will open March 19 from Andøya, Norway. The company had scheduled the launch last week but postponed it because of a valve problem that has since been fixed. (1/30)

Interlune Raises More Money for Lunar Helium-3 Mining (Source: Geekwire)
Interlune, a startup planning to mine helium-3 from the moon, is raising more money. The company has filed to raise $5 million through a mechanism called a Simple Agreement for Future Equity. Interlune said it is raising the money from new and existing investors to advance technical work ahead of a future funding round. Interlune raised $18 million in 2024 and is working on technologies to harvest helium-3 from the lunar regolith for use in quantum computing and medical imaging applications. (1/30)

The Perception War: How Artemis II Could Win the Race Without Landing (Source: Space Daily)
As NASA counts down toward humanity's first crewed lunar mission in more than half a century, a question beyond engineering is taking shape: Can a flight that never touches the surface still define who "wins" the Second Moon Race? The answer lies not in propulsion equations or landing dynamics, but in the realm where space programs have always competed most fiercely-perception, prestige, and the stories nations tell about themselves.

Artemis II is becoming something more consequential than a test flight. It is emerging as a geopolitical hinge moment-one that could reshape the narrative of lunar competition before anyone sets foot on the Moon again. Officially, there is no race. NASA frames Artemis as part of a sustainable, measured return to the Moon. China's space leadership describes its 2030 crewed landing goal as methodical national development, unrushed by external timelines. Both narratives are technically accurate. Both are also incomplete.

Space accomplishments have never been judged purely on technical merit. They are judged by visibility, timing, and the stories they generate. The first nation to visibly demonstrate human presence beyond low Earth orbit in the 21st century will claim a symbolic victory that technical nuance will struggle to dislodge. This is where Artemis II matters-because it arrives first, carries humans, and operates in full view of the world. (1/31)

China's Lunar Mission Architecture (Source: Space Daily)
China's lunar program is designed to avoid the risks NASA is taking with Artemis. Its architecture does not require in-space cryogenic propellant transfer, orbital refueling depots, or parallel development of multiple novel systems. Instead, China uses a two-launch approach: the first Long March 10 rocket sends the unmanned Lanyue lander to lunar orbit, where it waits; days later, a second Long March 10 launches the Mengzhou spacecraft with three astronauts to rendezvous and dock with the lander already in orbit.

Unlike Apollo's single Saturn V launch that carried both crew and lander together, China splits the mission to avoid developing a comparable super-heavy rocket. However, this requires both launches to succeed and the vehicles to meet 380,000 kilometers from Earth. This is sound engineering. But it also means China's timeline is less flexible. The mission requires a fully-qualified heavy-lift rocket, a demonstrated crew vehicle, and a validated lunar lander. None have flown yet. The program's 2030 target reflects confidence, but it offers little room to accelerate if geopolitical pressure mounts.

If Artemis II succeeds-and especially if Artemis III manages a crewed landing by 2028 or 2029-China will find itself in the uncomfortable position of arriving second to a destination it has invested decades preparing to reach. That outcome would carry symbolic weight in Beijing, regardless of official rhetoric about "no race." (1/31)

NASA Heat Shield Technology Enables Space Industry Growth (Source: Space Daily)
Using cutting-edge material licensed from NASA, a protective heat shield manufactured in-house by Varda Space Industries for the first time enabled one of its capsules to blaze through Earth's atmosphere on Thursday, marking a significant milestone for the agency and America's space industry. The material, known as C-PICA (Conformal Phenolic Impregnated Carbon Ablator), provides a stronger, less expensive, and more efficient thermal protection coating to capsules, allowing them - and their valuable contents - to return to Earth safely.

Varda's W-5 capsule launched to low Earth orbit on Nov. 28, 2025, making it the latest spacecraft from the company to carry science and technology experiments from industry and government agencies into orbit. "By licensing heat shield material to a commercial aerospace company, NASA is fostering their ability to manufacture it independently, helping make entry system materials more readily available across the space sector," said Greg Stover

Developed at NASA's Ames Research Center in California's Silicon Valley, C-PICA sets the standard for heat shields, reflecting the decades of expertise that NASA brings to designing, developing, and testing innovative thermal protection materials. The transfer of NASA's C-PICA to Varda's has far-reaching benefits, as the company uses its W-series capsules as a platform to process pharmaceuticals and conduct other microgravity research. (1/30)

China Sea Launch Boosts Private Rocket Activity in 2026 (Source: Space Daily)
Galactic Energy has opened Chinas 2026 commercial launch campaign with a pre dawn sea based mission of its Ceres 1 carrier rocket on January 17, extending the company's record of frequent small satellite launches from both land and ocean platforms. The latest flight lifted off from a mobile barge in the Yellow Sea off the coast of Shandong province, sending four commercial satellites into low Earth orbit.

The solid fuel rocket is about 20 meters tall with a diameter of 1.4 meters and a liftoff mass of 33 metric tons, targeting the growing market for small payload launches. Ceres 1 can carry a single 300 kilogram spacecraft or a cluster of satellites totaling 300 kilograms to a 500 kilometer sun synchronous orbit, or a 350 kilogram payload to a 200 kilometer low Earth orbit. With this mission, the rocket has flown 23 times, placing 89 commercial satellites into orbit, with 21 of those launches reported as successful.

Galactic Energy is also preparing the debut launch of its larger Ceres 2 solid propellant vehicle from Jiuquan, aiming to offer higher capacity services to domestic and international customers. Other Chinese commercial launch firms plan to introduce new vehicles in the near term, including Orienspaces Gravity 2, Deep Blue Aerospaces Nebula 1 and Space Pioneers TL 3. In a separate mission, China conducted a Long March 2C launch on Thursday afternoon, orbiting the AlSat 3A remote sensing satellite for Algeria from the Jiuquan spaceport. (1/30)

NASA Advances Space Based Tracking of Marine Debris (Source: Space Daily)
Detergent bottles and other litter can travel thousands of miles across the ocean before washing up on remote islands like Kaho'olawe in Hawaii, highlighting how persistent plastic pollution has become in the marine environment. A remote sensing technology developed at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory that recently detected plastic pollution on land is now inspiring efforts to one day track ocean debris from space.

In late 2025, scientists reported that NASA's Earth Surface Mineral Dust Source Investigation, or EMIT, instrument aboard the International Space Station could identify concentrations of plastic waste on land. EMIT was launched in 2022 to map mineral dust sources in arid regions and determine how those particles warm or cool the atmosphere, but its capabilities extend far beyond its original mission. (1/28)

Making the Unprecedented EU Space Act Effective for All (Source: Space News)
Last year, the European Commission unveiled the EU Space Act, an attempt to organize and regulate European space activities in a streamlined manner for the sake of boosting European safety, resilience and sustainability. Mario Neri applauds the move toward consistency in European regulation, but argues that some parts of the act are unrealistic: the timeline for new satellite design requirements is too short for how involved the process will take; global standards should be embraced rather than new ones for the sake of broader harmonization; and the Space Act's efforts to curb space debris should focus on coordinating efforts among operators rather than imposing new technical requirements on spacecraft. (1/30)

The First AI-Planned Drive on Another Planet (Source: Anthropic)
Exploring new planets means that you’re always operating in the past. It takes about twenty minutes for a signal to reach a Mars rover from Earth; by the time a new instruction arrives, the rover will already have acted on the previous one. But on December 8 and 10, 2025, the commands that were sent to NASA’s Perseverance Rover looked like something from the future. That’s because, for the first time ever, they’d been written by an AI.

Specifically, they were written by Anthropic’s AI model, Claude. Engineers at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) used Claude to plot out the route for Perseverance to navigate an approximately four-hundred-meter path through a field of rocks on the Martian surface. (1/30)

NASA is Funded. Now What? (Source: Planetary Society)
The Planetary Society and its partners' Save NASA Science campaign mobilized advocates on a historic scale. The advocacy effort yielded results. Both the House and Senate Appropriations Committees rejected the administration's proposed cuts over the summer. By year's end, no active science missions had been terminated. This work culminated in votes in the House and Senate on Jan. 8 and 15, respectively, to advance H.R. 6938.

This minibus of three appropriations bills included the Commerce-Justice-Science budget bill, which allocated full funding for NASA and the National Science Foundation, as well as almost every budget line item that advocates spent all last year fighting for. Meanwhile, the FY-2027 budget request looms; lawmakers are weighing a long-overdue NASA authorization bill and additional space sector legislation, and newly confirmed NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman is assessing the state of the agency and working to reinvigorate an agency battered by uncertainty and workforce reductions. Here's what we're watching. (1/30)

Russia to Launch Kondor-FKA Radar Remote Sensing Satellites in 2029 and 2030 (Source: TASS)
Russia will launch Kondor-FKA No. 3 and Kondor-FKA No. 4 Earth’s radar remote sensing satellites in 2029 and 2030, CEO and Chief Designer of the Research and Production Association of Machine-Building Alexander Leonov said at the Korolev Academic Readings on Cosmonautics. The satellites are set to be launched from the Vostochny spaceport in Russia’s Far East, he specified. (1/30)

UCF Sponsors Space Ideation Challenge (Source: UCF)
The UCF Space Ideation Challenge calls on bold thinkers to develop practical, high-impact ideas that strengthen U.S. leadership in space. Hosted by UCF, a university that was founded to help land humans on the moon, this national competition challenges participants to design innovative, market-shaping policy solutions—ideas that can accelerate space innovation, advance national security and science, and grow the space economy. The best proposals won’t just win prizes they’ll be shared with top decision-makers shaping America’s space future. Click here. (1/30)

January 31, 2026

Tim Hortons to Celebrate First Canadian to Fly to Moon with 'Moonbits' (Source: Collect Space)
Tim Hortons is offering a sweet send-off for the first Canadian astronaut to fly to the moon. The iconic Canada-based coffeehouse and restaurant chain has announced a limited-edition commemorative "Moonbits" box that will be available exclusively in London, Ontario, the hometown of Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen. The temporarily-rebranded and specially-packaged Timbits — bite-sized, deep-fried donut balls — will be available after NASA confirms Hansen's launch date on the Artemis II mission around the moon (possibly as soon as Feb. 8). (1/29)

Russian Glavkosmos Eyes Sabah Spaceport Partnership (Source: Daily Express)
Russian launch service provider Glavkosmos has met Qhazanah Sabah Berhad to explore potential collaboration with the Sabah State Government on developing a spaceport in the state. Glavkosmos said technical studies identify Sabah as the most suitable location in Southeast Asia for orbital launches, including low-earth and sun-synchronous orbits, due to its strategic geography and safe rocket stage drop zones. The proposed spaceport could create more than 2,000 high-income jobs and boost local supporting industries. (1/31)

Hundreds Come Out Seeking Answers to Blue Origin’s Wastewater Plans for Indian River Lagoon (Source: Orlando Sentinel)
When the Florida Department of Environmental Protection announced a draft proposal to allow Blue Origin to renew its industrial wastewater output that could flow into the Indian River Lagoon, residents and government officials in Brevard County corralled enough support to get the DEP to hold a public hearing. That support came in force during the three-hour information session at the UF/IFAS Extension Building Cocoa on Friday night.

About 200 people crammed into the small building for the opening of the event, although by 6 p.m., the crowds had dissipated. About 20 personnel from Florida DEP as well as representatives from Blue Origin were on hand with informational placards to talk one-on-one with concerned citizens. At issue was the desire of officials at Jeff Bezos’ company to generate nearly 500,000 gallons of wastewater daily at Blue Origin’s Merritt Island facilities that would affect the Indian River Lagoon.

The original draft permit that was published last November sought to allow Blue Origin to operate an industrial wastewater treatment facility that could dispense up to 490,000 gallons. Of that total, up to 15,000 gallons per day could be “non process” wastewater. Last fall, Blue Origin simply took the stance it was asking to continue a process already in place. (1/30)

FAA Dismisses Airline, Sonic Boom Concerns in Signing Off on SpaceX Starship Plans from KSC (Source: Orlando Sentinel)
The FAA’s “Record of Decision” on a final Environmental Impact Statement for the KSC site at Launch Complex 39-A outlined mitigation plans across several concerns, but recommended SpaceX could pursue up to 44 launches a year. This is on top of a previously Air Force-led EIS released for two SpaceX Starship launch pads at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, which calls for up to 76 launches.

FAA’s Katie Cranor, the executive director of its Office of Operational Safety, it said not approving the Starship plans would “impede the FAA’s ability to assist the commercial space transportation industry in meeting projected demand for services and expansion in new markets.” She wrote she “has determined that all practicable means to avoid or minimize environmental harm from the selected alternative have been adopted. SpaceX is amid a $1.8 billion infrastructure project to build out a Starship and Super Heavy manufacturing site called Gigabay on KSC property that will feed the rockets to both sites.

Combined, the KSC and Canaveral plans could mean up to 120 launches a year. That also means up to 240 landings a year. The Super Heavy booster, similar to Blue Origin’s New Glenn, uses liquid oxygen and methane-based propellants, which for now is being considered as powerful as TNT. That has led to a much larger no-fly zones for launch, which will require significant temporary disruptions to airline routes. The most dire predictions in two federal reports on the proposal could mean nearly 12,000 delayed commercial flights each year, while the fishing industry also decried maritime areas that will be off limits. (1/30)

Rocket Lab Launches South Korean Satellite From New Zealand (Source: Space News)
Rocket Lab successfully launched the NEONSAT-1A imaging satellite for the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) on Jan. 29, 2026, from New Zealand, marking their second mission of the year. The "Bridging the Swarm" mission deployed the satellite into a 540-km orbit to support Earth-observation capabilities. (1/30)

Axiom Tops Newcomer Vast In NASA Private ISS Charter (Source: Aviation Week)
Houston-based Axiom Space has been selected by NASA for a fifth private astronaut mission to the ISS, the company announced Jan. 30. Axiom, which has flown four private charters to the ISS, expects to fly its fifth mission no earlier than January 2027. (1/31)

NASA Pushes Artemis 2 Launch Date to NET February 8 (Source: SpaceQ)
Cold temperatures and wind have forced NASA to push the wet dress rehearsal to Feb. 2 which in turn has pushed the Artemis 2 launch date to no earlier than (NET) Feb. 8. In update from NASA this morning the agency said that “Managers have assessed hardware capabilities against the projected forecast given the rare arctic outbreak affecting the state and decided to change the timeline.” NASA add that the wet dress rehearsal will begin at 9 p.m. EST on Feb. 2. (1/30)

Amazon Asks FCC for 2-Year Extension in Leo Satellite Deployment Deadline, Citing a Rocket Shortage (Source: Geekwire)
Amazon says it’s been harder than expected to secure rides for its Amazon Leo broadband internet satellites, and now it’s asking the Federal Communications Commission for more time. The request for an extension, filed today, asks the FCC to give Amazon until July 30, 2028, to deploy half of its 3,232 satellites in low Earth orbit. The current deadline is July 30, 2026.

Amazon said it’s spent more than $10 billion on its Leo constellation and has reserved more than 100 launches to get the satellites in their proper orbits. But it acknowledged that it’ll miss the original deadline, which was set in 2020 when the FCC gave the initial go-ahead for what was then known as Project Kuiper. (1/30)

Chinese Space Tourism Startup Eyes 2028 for 1st Crewed Mission, Signs Celebrity for Future Flight (Source: Space.com)
A Chinese space firm is booking passengers for its suborbital tourism flights and has now signed up a celebrity for an early flight. Commercial company InterstellOr unveiled a full-scale experimental version of its CYZ1 (ChuanYueZhe 1) crew capsule on Jan. 22 and also performed a landing buffer test. CYZ1 is designed to allow occupants to experience a few minutes of microgravity, taking passengers above the Kármán Line.

The company is targeting its first crewed flights in 2028 and is already taking bookings, though timelines are dependent on development, testing and certification progresses. InterstellOr has, however, announced that the Chinese actor Johnny Huang Jingyu has signed up as its first celebrity space tourist and will fly as passenger 009. Initial tickets are reported to be around 3 million Chinese yuan, or $430,000. (1/31)

SpaceX Files Plans for Million-Satellite Orbital Data Center Constellation (Source: PC Mag)
SpaceX is requesting to launch up to one million satellites to create a network of orbiting data centers around Earth. Late on Friday, the company filed the request with the Federal Communications Commission, describing the project as a “constellation of satellites with unprecedented computing capacity to power advanced artificial intelligence models and the applications that rely on them.” The plan is shocking in its scope, dwarfing the existing Starlink constellation, which currently spans over 9,600 satellites in Earth’s orbit. (1/31)

What Actually Happens to a Spacecraft During its Fiery Last Moments? ESA Wants to Find Out (Source: Space.com)
What actually happens to a spacecraft during its fiery last moments? That's the key question for the European Space Agency's (ESA) Destructive Reentry Assessment Container Object (Draco) mission. ESA has greenlit the program that will create a highly complex reentry of a spacecraft specifically built to dive into Earth's atmosphere while loaded with a variety of sensors. As the Draco spacecraft falls into thicker and thicker air while it enters the atmosphere, it will collect data on how materials react and introduce pollutants into the upper stratosphere. In other words, it's an atmospheric stab for science. (1/31)

Starlink Updates Privacy Policy to Allow Consumer Data to Train AI (Source: Reuters)
SpaceX revised its Starlink privacy policy to allow the use of customer data for AI training, a shift that could bolster Elon Musk's AI ambitions. Ahead of a blockbuster IPO planned for later this year, SpaceX is in talks to merge with Musk’s AI company, xAI, a deal first reported by Reuters on Thursday. SpaceX, already the world’s most valuable private company, could reach a value of more than $1 trillion after the IPO. (1/30)

Artemis 2 Launch Intersects With Planning for Crew-12 ISS Launch (Source: Space.com)
NASA has two big astronaut launches converging toward the same week, as a rare Arctic cold front pushes mission schedules into a logistical whirlwind. The Artemis 2 astronaut flight around the moon is brushing up against the launch of SpaceX's Crew-12 mission to the ISS. That liftoff has been accelerated up the calendar to replace the Crew-11 astronauts, who were forced back to Earth early due to an undisclosed medical issue with one of the astronauts.

It's a great problem for NASA to have — schedule conflicts from the number of astronaut missions launching to space — and indicative of the progress the agency has made to return human spaceflight to American soil. But the overlap with unusually frigid temperatures afflicting Florida's Space Coast and the rest of the country have turned Crew-12's launch opportunities into an intricate dance around Artemis 2. (1/30)

China Launches Satellite for Algeria (Source: China Daily)
China launched an Algerian remote sensing satellite from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China on Saturday. A Long March-2C carrier rocket lifted off from the launch center, successfully sending the satellite into its planned orbit. The Algerian satellite will be primarily used for land planning and disaster prevention and mitigation. Saturday's launch marked the 629th mission of China's Long March rocket series. (1/31)

Epstein Files Show Elon Musk Apparently Discussed Plans to Visit Sex Offender’s Island, Host Him at SpaceX (Source: CNBC)
A cache of newly released documents from the Epstein files on Friday showed Elon Musk apparently corresponded with the convicted sex offender in 2012 and 2013, as they discussed meeting at Jeffrey Epstein’s private island and at Musk’s SpaceX facility in Southern California. The emails indicate Musk asked about attending the “wildest party,” hosted by Epstein at his island. “Epstein tried to get me to go to his island and I REFUSED,” Musk said in a post on his social network X in September. (1/30)

Cracks on Europa Sport Traces of Ammonia (Source: Universe Today)
The search for life-supporting worlds in the Solar System includes the Jovian moon Europa. Yes, it's an iceberg of a world, but underneath its frozen exterior lies a deep, salty ocean and a nickel-iron core. It's heated by tidal flexing, and that puts pressure on the interior ocean, sending water and salts to the surface. As things turn out, there's also evidence of ammonia-bearing compounds on the surface. All these things combine to provide a fascinating look at Europa's geology and potential as a haven for life.

Data from the Galileo spacecraft, which orbited in the Jupiter system from 1995 to 2003, contained clues to the presence of those ammonia compounds, but it took until now for them to be found. NASA/JPL scientist Al Emran took a closer look at measurements made by the Near-Infrared Mapping Spectrometer. He found faint ammonia absorption bands at 2.2 microns near cracks in the Europan surface. Those cracks are the main conduits for liquid water to rise from deep below, in a form of eruptive activity called cryovolcanism. (1/31)

Earth-Size Planet Spotted with Yearlong Orbit (Source: Science)
Astronomers are planning ambitious telescopes to search for signs of life on distant planets. A newly discovered world, announced here last week at the Rocky Worlds conference and published yesterday in The Astrophysical Journal Letters, might just be the perfect target. The planet, called HD 137010 b, is almost exactly Earth-size. At 355 days, its orbit is almost exactly Earth-like, too. And its star is bright and just 146 light-years away–close enough to be observed in detail with future telescopes. (1/28)

Launch Pads Struggle to Keep Pace With Expanding Industry (Source: National Defense)
U.S. capability to launch national security payloads into orbit is blossoming as companies such as Blue Origin and Rocket Lab enter the military space launch business alongside incumbents SpaceX and United Launch Alliance. Their arrival bolsters the competitive diversity the Pentagon has long sought for assured access to space. But according to analysts, the capacity these companies add will strain the nation’s space launch infrastructure. Click here. (1/29)

Sounding the Alarm on Artemis Orion Heat Shield Problems (Source: ABC News)
Former longtime NASA engineers Charlie Camarda and Daniel Raske have warned that safety issues with the Orion spacecraft's heat shield could risk astronauts' lives on the upcoming Artemis II moon mission. Concerns center on the heat shield material unexpectedly cracking during the 2022 uncrewed Artemis I flight. The heat shield, designed to protect against extreme reentry temperatures, showed unexpected degradation, with chunks breaking off in 2022.

Camarda, a former astronaut and engineer, and Raske, who specialized in thermal systems, argue the heat shield is unsafe for humans. While some experts believe NASA has analyzed the failure and can manage the risk, others argue the damage mechanism is not fully understood, urging that the mission proceed with caution. NASA has maintained that it has a "handle on the problem" and the heat shield is adequate for the crew's return. Camarda and Raske suggested SpaceX's Dragon capsule heat shield is a better solution for Orion.

Editor's Note: NASA's position has been that the Artemis Orion capsules, traveling toward Earth from cislunar space, will be traveling much faster than Dragon capsules reentering from low Earth orbit. That increased speed will result in higher levels of heat that require a different heat-shield solution, more effective than what Dragon uses. (1/30)

Elon Musk’s SpaceX, Tesla, and xAI in Talks to Merge (Source: Tech Crunch)
Three of Elon Musk’s companies — SpaceX, xAI, and Tesla — are in play for a potential merger. While the talks appear to be in the early stage, according to reports from Bloomberg and Reuters, it could eventually lead to at least one company folding into SpaceX. Two scenarios are being hashed out. In one, SpaceX and Tesla would merge, per Bloomberg, citing unnamed insiders. In another, SpaceX and aXI (which already owns Musk’s social media platform X) would combine.

According to reporting by Reuters, a merger between SpaceX and xAI could take place ahead of a planned SpaceX IPO this year. This would bring products like the Grok chatbot, X platform, Starlink satellites, and SpaceX rockets together under one corporation. (1/29)

Could Florida Have an Official 'Space Day'? (Source: Tallahassee.com)
Floridians could soon have a designated day to celebrate "the final frontier." A state senator has filed a resolution that would name Feb. 3, 2026, "Space Day." Senate Resolution 1780 would recognize Florida as the "birthplace of American space exploration." "Florida has long been the world’s gateway to space and continues to be the epicenter of innovation, opportunity, and economic expansion in the aerospace industry with its three spaceports solidifying the state’s advantage," the resolution says.

The measure is sponsored by Sen. Tom Wright, R-New Smyrna Beach, who represents Senate District 8, where Cape Canaveral and the Kennedy Space Center are located. The designation would only be for 2026 and there was no significance given as to why Tuesday, Feb. 3 was selected. Editor's Note: This article misses the point. Feb. 3 is the annual Florida Space Day, when industry leaders from around the state visit the capitol during the legislative session. Similar resolutions have been passed nearly every year to commemorate the event. (1/29)

Tracing Challenger 'Remove Before Flight' Tags (Source: Collect Space)
Forty years ago, a stack of bright red tags shared a physical connection to what would develop into NASA's first space shuttle disaster. The banners, however, were collected before the ill-fated launch of Challenger, as was instructed in bold lettering on the front of each. What happened to the tags after that is largely unknown.

This is an attempt to learn more about where those "Remove Before Flight" tags went after they were detached from the space shuttle to the point when they arrived on my doorstep. If their history can be better documented, then they can be provided to museums, educational centers and astronautical archives for their perseveration and display. (1/28)

Iowa Spaceflight Laboratory to Allow for Cutting-Edge Space Exploration (Source: CLAS)
On July 23, 2025, the University of Iowa made history when the TRACERS spacecraft, containing two identical satellites designed by a UI-led team of scientists and engineers, launched into orbit. TRACERS (Tandem Reconnection and Cusp Electrodynamics Reconnaissance Satellites) is a satellite mission that studies the mysterious, powerful interactions between the magnetic fields of the sun and Earth. 

The $170 million mission, completed for NASA, is the largest external project ever brought to the University of Iowa. Following the success of the launch, the seventh floor of Van Allen Hall is undergoing a $7.2 million renovation, and will soon be home to the Iowa Spaceflight Laboratory. (1/27)

SpaceX Wants Texas Tax Break Meant to Create Jobs in Low-Income Areas. Critics Question the Benefits (Source: Texas Tribune)
As SpaceX moves forward, the company is seeking to benefit from doing business in one of the poorest regions in the state, the Rio Grande Valley. The new city of Starbase— created and run by employees of SpaceX — is helping the company apply for a multimillion-dollar state tax refund. SpaceX wants the refund from the state for hiring staff and spending on its operations along the U.S.-Mexico border.

But the significance of the projects in advancing the company’s goals raises questions on whether SpaceX is seeking to benefit from investments it already planned and whether communities are truly benefiting from economic incentive programs. Late last year, the Starbase City Commission, the three-member governing body that consists of two SpaceX employees, nominated two SpaceX projects for the Texas Enterprise Zone Program, which provides tax relief for companies that create jobs in economically distressed areas.

SpaceX has already received preliminary approval for one tax break. The governor’s office, in September, accepted SpaceX’s GigBay program application. The company began work in April 2025 on the 700,000-square-foot facility meant to produce 1,000 rockets per year. The work began within a 90-day window before the application deadline. (1/29)

Ukraine Turns to SpaceX as Reports Emerge of Russian Drones Using Starlink (Source: United 24)
Ukraine’s Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov said the ministry had contacted SpaceX and proposed ways to address reports of Russian drones using Starlink connectivity over Ukrainian cities, according to Ukrinform on January 29. Fedorov said his team reached out to SpaceX within hours of the first such sightings and thanked SpaceX President Gwynne Shotwell and Elon Musk for what he called a fast response and the start of work to resolve the situation. (1/29)

SpaceX Generated About $8 Billion in Profit Last Year Ahead of IPO (Source: Reuters)
SpaceX generated about $8 billion in profit on $15 billion to $16 billion of revenue ​last year, two people familiar with the company's results said, providing fresh insight ‌into the financial health of Elon Musk’s space company that is expected to go public later this year. SpaceX's most recent financials, which have not been previously reported, led some banks to estimate that the company could raise more than $50 billion at a valuation exceeding $1.5 trillion, said the ‌people, who asked not to be named to discuss private conversations. (1/30)

Vandenberg Falcon Rocket Launch Carries Starlink Satellites, Tests Starship Tiles (Source Noozhawk)
For the second mission in a row, a Falcon 9 rocket launch from Vandenberg Space Force Base to deliver Starlink satellites also appears to have acted as a testbed of Starship heat shield tiles. The SpaceX rocket blasted off Thursday from Space Launch Complex-4. Close-up camera angles revealed heat shield tiles believed to be used for the firm’s behemoth Starship rocket. A similar sighting occurred on the previous Falcon rocket that launched from Vandenberg on Sunday. (1/29)

Dentistry at a Distance: a 650 km Checkup Via Satellite (Source: ESA)
Citizens living in remote areas could one day receive specialist medical care without leaving their communities, thanks to advances in telemedicine through satellite communications. The European Space Agency (ESA) and the University of Glasgow have successfully run a remote dental examination using a secure satellite link combined with a rapidly usable 5G network.

During the test, a doctor based at ESA’s European Centre for Space Applications and Telecommunications (ECSAT) in Harwell, UK, conducted a full dental inspection of a simulated patient located more than 650 km away – at the University of Glasgow’s SCENE facility at Loch Lomond. The doctor operated a robotic arm in real time through a hybrid satellite‑and‑5G connection.

Once the examination was complete, the team dispatched a drone to deliver medication to the patient. The drone was monitored using a 5G‑enabled tracking system, demonstrating how multiple technologies can work together to support timely care. (1/29)

NASA Readies Unique Science Experiments and Tech Demonstrations for Artemis II Crew (Source: NSF)
During their 10-day mission around the Moon, the crew will perform several demonstrations and science experiments inside Orion. These include communications tests, investigations into the human body’s reactions to deep space, and studies of lunar geology on the far side of the Moon. What’s more, the crew will have the opportunity to manually pilot Orion. Click here. (1/28)

USSPACECOM Announces General Officer, Alabama Native to Serve as Headquarters Transition Team Director (Source: USSF)
Gen. Stephen Whiting, USSPACECOM commander, announced today that Maj. Gen. Terry L. Grisham, a long-time Alabama native with nearly 40 years of military and civilian service, will serve as the command’s transition team director. In his role, Grisham will lead the Program Management Office in Huntsville and oversee the relocation support. (1/29)

Given Trump Volatility, India Must Build Its Own Space Object Catalogue (Source: ORF)
For over two decades, the United States (US) has distributed free Space Situational Awareness data—including a catalogue of tracked space objects and conjunction alert messages for space traffic management (STM)—to global satellite operators and researchers, among others. However, recent US policy changes threaten this access. On 18 December 2025, US President Trump issued an Executive Order titled “Ensuring American Space Superiority”, which revises a previous space policy directive by replacing “free of direct user fees” with “for commercial and other relevant use” in key subsections.

This paves the way for Department of Defense catalogues, and SSA data and STM services to become paid features. Considering the volatility of the Trump administration, the US could possibly overturn bilateral agreements for SSA data sharing at its own discretion and cut off vital data services for national security and debris mitigation. India’s policymakers, armed forces personnel and non-governmental entities have long expressed their concerns regarding the continued dependence on free SSA data. This order, thus, serves as a wake-up call for India and demands an indigenous response: the Bharat Space Objects Catalogue. (1/30)