March 5, 2026

The UK Will Invest £20 Million to Accelerate Spaceport Development in Scotland (Source: European Spaceflight)
The United Kingdom has announced a new £500 million spending package to support its space sector, including £20 million to support the development of spaceport infrastructure in Scotland. The largest commitments included in the package were £105 million to develop civil capabilities for in-orbit servicing and manufacturing, £85 million to develop the National Space Operations Centre, and £80 million to deliver the Connectivity in Low Earth Orbit program. (3/5)

Sierra Space Raises $550 Million for NatSec Space (Source: Space News)
Sierra Space raised $550 million to support its new focus on national security space. The Series C round valued the company at $8 billion. The company says the new funding will allow it to "further focus on its national security space efforts." Sierra Space was spun out of Sierra Nevada Corporation in 2021 and was initially devoted to development of the Dream Chaser spaceplane. In recent years, the company has expanded into the defense market, including winning contracts to build missile-tracking satellites for the Space Development Agency. Sierra Space recently hired longtime industry executive Dan Jablonsky as its CEO. (3/5)

Vast Raises $500 Million for Space Station (Source: Space News)
Commercial space station developer Vast raised $500 million. The company announced Thursday it raised $300 million in a Series A equity round and $200 million in debt. Vast will use the funding to accelerate work on its Haven line of commercial space stations, starting with the single-module Haven-1 launching in 2027 and the Haven-2 multi-module station proposed for NASA's Commercial LEO Destinations program. Vast had been funded until now by its founder, cryptocurrency billionaire Jed McCaleb, who also participated in the round. (3/5)

Canada's Telus Takes Stake in AST (Source: Space News)
Canadian telco Telus has agreed to take a stake in AST SpaceMobile to support its direct-to-smartphone network. As part of the deal, Telus will invest in ground infrastructure needed to connect subscribers to AST Space Mobile's constellation. The partnership follows a similar agreement with Bell, another of Canada's three dominant wireless carriers, which first partnered with AST SpaceMobile in 2021 and backs the company through its corporate venture arm. AST announced several other partnerships this week with mobile network operators in Europe, Hong Kong and Taiwan. AST SpaceMobile plans to deploy at least 45 BlueBird Block 2 satellites by the end of 2026, with intermittent services expected in some markets following the deployment of its first 25 spacecraft. (3/5)

SPACs Return to Space (Source: Space News)
Special purpose acquisition companies, or SPACs, are making a comeback in the space industry. Several space companies used SPACs to go public five years ago, but many of those companies set financial targets that they could not meet, causing investor interest in SPACs to sour. However, SPACs have shown signs of life recently with some deals as well as plans to fund new SPACs focused on the space industry. The difference, investors argue, is that the space industry is more mature and there is a greater appreciation among the broader investment community about the importance of space. (3/5)

NASA May Use Vulcan Upper Stage for SLS (Source: Bloomberg)
NASA intends to select United Launch Alliance to provide a critical component for future missions of the agency’s moon rocket, according to people familiar with the matter, replacing planned Boeing-built hardware as costs ballooned to $2.8 billion. Boeing — which manufactures the core of NASA’s massive Space Launch System, or SLS, rocket — also holds a multibillion-dollar contract from the agency to create an upgraded version of the vehicle. (3/4)

Senate Bill Would Standardize SLS With Different Upper Stage, Extend ISS (Source: Space News)
The Senate Commerce Committee advanced a NASA authorization bill that would implement some of NASA's proposed changes to Artemis. The committee approved by a voice vote Wednesday a bill allowing NASA to replace the Exploration Upper Stage planned for future versions of the Space Launch System with an alternative. NASA announced last week it planned to do this to "standardize" on an SLS design similar to the current Block 1. The bill would also authorize NASA to develop a lunar base, but with few details on cost and schedule. Other provisions of the bill include a two-year extension of the International Space Station's life to 2032 and a restructuring of the Mars Sample Return program. The bill did not include a rumored provision that would have limited any single launch company to no more than 50% of NASA launch contracts in any year.  (3/5)

Space Force Needs More Personnel and Training (Source: Space News)
The Space Force is seeking more personnel and training resources. Gen. Shawn Bratton, vice chief of space operations, told the Senate Armed Services Committee Wednesday that the service needs to double its size and increase training facilities in the coming years to deal with growing threats to space assets. The Space Force currently has about 10,000 uniformed guardians and roughly 5,000 civilian employees. Bratton noted that training exercises and war games are increasingly focused on integrating space capabilities with broader military operations. (3/5)

Space One's Third Kairos Launch Fails After Liftoff (Source: Space News)
The third launch of Japan's Kairos small launch vehicle failed Wednesday night. The rocket lifted off from Spaceport Kii in southern Honshu. About 70 seconds after liftoff, though, there appeared to be an explosion, with the rocket breaking up into several fragments. Space One, the company that operates Kairos, said that the flight termination system of the rocket was activated. Officials did not disclose additional details. This was the third launch, and third failure, of Kairos, a solid-fuel rocket designed to place up to 150 kilograms into sun-synchronous orbit. (3/5)

UK's Mutable Tactics Gets $2.1M From Seraphim for UAS (Source: Space News)
British startup Mutable Tactics has raised $2.1 million in pre-seed funding to enable drones to operate autonomously even without access to satellite communications and navigation. The funding round was led by Seraphim Space, which sees the technology as strengthening the resilience of space-enabled capabilities that its investments often rely on. Mutable Tactics plans to use the funds to expand its engineering team and accelerate software development for a range of unmanned systems, including aerial, maritime and ground drones. (3/5)

Foushee Wins NC Dem Primary, Virts Loses TX Dem Primary (Sources: New York Times, Texas Tribune)
The ranking member of the House Science Committee's space subcommittee survived a primary challenge. Rep. Valerie Foushee (D-NC) narrowly defeated Nida Allam in a Democratic primary this week, with Allam conceding on Wednesday. Foushee, first elected in 2022, currently serves as the top Democrat on the space subcommittee. In Texas, former astronaut Terry Virts lost his bid to win the Democratic nomination for a House district in the Houston area. Virts finished third in the primary. (3/5)

UAP Info Release Not a Space Command Thing (Source: Ars Technica)
If the truth is out there, the head of Space Command doesn't know about it. President Trump ordered the release last month of government information about unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAPs) and alien life. Those disclosures have not started yet, and asked about them at a conference recently, Gen. Stephen Whiting, head of U.S. Space Command, said he had never seen any data from military tracking networks of anything other than natural phenomena and human-made objects in space. He added, though, that he was "fascinated" by the topic, "and if something's revealed, I'll be interested as an American citizen." (3/5)

The Promise of Lower Launch Prices is Still Far Off (Source: Payload)
We were promised a world of lower launch prices. Instead, we keep drifting in the opposite direction. SpaceX recently increased launch prices from $70M to $74M for a dedicated Falcon 9 ride and  $6,500/kg to $7,000/kg for a rideshare slot. The company has long signaled a steady pace of price bumps, so the move does not come as a surprise.

Nonetheless, the increase (along with the lack of real alternatives) highlights a tough truth in the industry: Access to orbit has gotten significantly more expensive in recent years despite all the hoopla and hopium of falling launch prices. Rather than the more price-insensitive dedicated missions, rideshare pricing is the far more important number to track here.

Without a price-competitive alternative, the broader space startup community has relied almost exclusively on Falcon 9 Transporter and Bandwagon missions to get to space over the last five years. It's the 40% increase in rideshare prices that is felt far more acutely throughout the industry. Editor's Note: Now that SpaceX has suppressed most of the small launch market with low-cost rideshares, the pricing rises before their financials become public after their IPO. (3/4)

Virgin Galactic Seeks Space Tourism Revival After Bezos Retreat (Source: Bloomberg)
Richard Branson said Virgin Galactic Holdings wants to capitalize on opportunities created by Jeff Bezos-backed rival Blue Origin’s decision to halt trips to space for tourists. Blue Origin’s January announcement that it’s suspending space tourism flights leaves Virgin Galactic, founded by Branson, as the only major company still focused on customers willing to pay big sums to experience weightlessness during short flights to space. (3/5)

MDA Space Hits Record $1.6 Billion Revenue as Defense Business Expands (Source: SpaceQ)
MDA highlighted its backlog of $4 billion at quarter-end, its record quarterly revenues of $499 million and record adjusted EBITDA of $96 million as indications of a strong year. Overall in fiscal 2025, the company posted record revenues of $1.6 billion (up 51% year-over-year), record adjusted EBITDA of $324 million (up 49% year-over-year) and adjusted net income of $190 million (up 71% year-over-year). In fiscal 2026, MDA expects revenues between $1.7 billion and $1.9 billion. (3/4)

Canada and India Move to Update Decades-Old Space Ties (Source: SpaceQ)
Amid a broad push to normalize diplomatic ties and double bilateral trade, Prime Minister Mark Carney and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi signaled that space remains a quiet but consistent part of the Canada-India relationship. While the centerpiece of the “Next Level Partnership” focused on high-level security and economic cooperation, the two leaders marked the 30th anniversary of space collaboration by committing to new joint ventures in space exploration and quantum technologies—reaffirming a technical alliance that has persisted even during periods of diplomatic strain. (3/4)

Space is Canada’s Sovereignty Infrastructure (Source: SpaceQ)
For many, the word evokes astronauts, moon landings, and science fiction. It feels distant. Fascinating, even inspiring, but ultimately removed from daily life on the ground. That mental model is now badly out of date. Space has quietly become critical national infrastructure. Canada’s economic resilience, national security, and sovereign decision-making increasingly depend on systems operating hundreds or thousands of kilometers above our heads.

Canadian military leadership has been clear about the stakes. Brigadier-General Christopher Horner, commander of 3 Canadian Space Division, put it plainly: “Access and assured access to space are a requirement of a sovereign, independent nation.” That is not rhetoric. It is strategic reality. (3/5)

UK Space Firms to Scale-Up and Thrive in Britain with Government Backing for Bolder Strategy (Source: Gov.UK)
UK Minister Liz Lloyd set out a clear vision to make Britain a competitive, agile space power. A major package of investment and reform will ensure public funding is focused more sharply on four areas that drive economic growth and national security outcomes: Satellite Communications; In Orbit Servicing, In-Space Assembly and Manufacturing; Space Domain Awareness; and Launch for assured access to space.

A range of practical tools and support schemes for high-potential companies will complement the record levels of public funding available, to improve access to finance, develop the skills and talent pipeline, and ensure space regulation and standards keep pace with innovation. Ministers are also open to using the government’s buying power to help British space firms scale faster – driving growth, boosting revenues and bolstering national security and defense. (3/4)

Boca Chica Beach Could Be Renamed ‘Cyber Beach’ (Source: San Antonio Express-News)
Federal officials are considering a Mississippi man’s bid to rename Boca Chica Beach as Cyber Beach. The 3½-mile-long beach runs north from the mouth of the Rio Grande River adjacent to SpaceX’s city of Starbase. It has been listed as Boca Chica Beach in official records since 1936, but Josh Hazel of Mississippi wants it changed to “Cyber Beach”.

He’s part of a group of SpaceX and Elon Musk fans who meet up at the beach with their Austin-made Tesla pickups in the days leading up to Starship launches. They camp at the beach and have hosted light shows with the stainless-steel trucks. “We are proposing (that Boca Chica Beach) be renamed ‘Cyber Beach’ to commemorate the location where inter-planetary travel was started,” he wrote to the U.S. Geological Survey’s office responsible for naming places. (3/4)

Texas Supreme Court Hearing on SpaceX Beach Closures This Week (Source: San Antonio Express-News)
Elon Musk’s space city in South Texas won’t be closing a nearby public beach any time soon for tests or launches of SpaceX’s Starship mega-rocket. The Texas Supreme Court delayed a February hearing about whether the city of Starbase — which is led by SpaceX employees — can periodically close Boca Chica Beach and Texas 4 for its operations. The high court moved oral arguments on the long-running case to March 5.

The authority to temporarily close the 8-mile-long beach east of Brownsville previously sat with Cameron County leaders but state lawmakers  passed House Bill 2623 last year, clearing the way for state’s Space Commission to delegate closure powers to the 9-month-old city. The case landed in Texas Supreme Court in June after a state appeals court sided with the plaintiffs, a coalition of environmental and native groups, early last year. The coalition is arguing that SpaceX’s recurring closures of Boca Chica Beach for Starship testing violates the Open Beaches Amendment to the Texas Constitution. (1/12)

Vandenberg SFB Conducts ICBM Test Launch (Source: Noozhawk)
The military conducted a test launch of an unarmed Minuteman III missile equipped with two mock warheads late Tuesday night for Vandenberg Space Force Base’s 14th launch of 2026. The three-stage intercontinental ballistic missile popped out of an underground silo on North Base at the opening of a six-hour launch window for the mission dubbed Glory Trip 255, or GT 255. After leaving Vandenberg, the weapon and its two mock warheads or re-entry vehicles traveled to predetermined targets in the Kwajalein Atoll, about 4,200 miles southwest of the Central Coast. (3/4)

NASA to Borrow Private Sector Workers (Source: NASA)
NASA unveiled a new initiative Wednesday to bring in private-sector employees for short-term assignments. NASA Force, part of the Office of Personnel Management's Tech Force program, will allow the agency to hire "high-impact technical talent" for as long as two years to work on key NASA projects. NASA announced last month its intent to participate in the Tech Force program as part of other workforce initiatives that include reducing reliance on contractors. It comes after 20% of NASA's civil servant workforce left the agency last year. (3/5)

NASA Fired its Economists. It Desperately Needs to Bring Them Back (Source: The Hill)
The Trump administration has talked a big game about ushering in a “new space age” as China threatens to beat us back to the moon and national security risks grow in space. To achieve these goals, the White House said it would “unleash” the innovation and know-how of the commercial space industry. It is a good bipartisan idea — one that took off in earnest under President Barack Obama — to enlist commercial players to modernize our space program.

Unfortunately, it’s clear that the administration has already shot itself in the foot by allowing DOGE to eliminate one obscure but important team. That would be NASA’s Office of the Chief Economist, which the agency relied on for an independent understanding of the commercial space market. If NASA wanted to land cargo on the moon, for instance, its economists were the ones who would figure out whether it made sense to lean on the commercial space sector, which would require a market for those services beyond the government, or if it would be prudent to rely on a traditional contractor. (3/4)

NASA Starts Recruiting Drive After Musk’s DOGE Thinned Agency (Source: Bloomberg)
NASA and the Office of Personnel Management have announced a push to recruit engineers and technologists less than a year after the space agency lost thousands of employees as part of President Donald Trump’s efforts to shrink the federal workforce. The initiative, called NASA Force, will “identify and place high-impact technical talent into mission-critical roles,” according to a NASA statement Wednesday. (3/4)

ENPULSION Secures €22.5 Million Investment to Expand US Market Presence (Source: Spacewatch Global)
ENPULSION has secured €22.5 million in growth funding led by Nordwind Growth, marking a pivotal milestone in the company's strategy to strengthen its global leadership in space mobility and expand its footprint in the US space industry. The new funding will fuel the company's global growth strategy, including scaling production capacity, advancing next-generation space mobility systems, and deepening market penetration in the United States. (3/5)

Mynaric Wins ESA Contract to Develop Optical Communications Technology for HydRON Project (Source: Spacewatch Global)
The European Space Agency has awarded Mynaric with a contract to build a laser communications Demonstration System for its High Throughput Optical Network (HydRON) project. The HydRON project aims to bolster the resilience of European communications infrastructure by deploying a high capacity, secure and interoperable optical data relay network across low and medium Earth orbits. (3/5)

China to Test Capsule Further, Attempt Booster Recoveries on Land and Sea (Source: NSF)
China is set to perform additional testing of its Mengzhou crew capsule following a successful splashdown test last month. Meanwhile, both commercial and state-owned launch providers are moving closer to attempting propulsive landings of first-stage boosters on land and at sea, as the country seeks to secure its first successful recovery of an orbital-class booster. Following the successful in-flight abort test of the Mengzhou capsule on Feb. 11th, the spacecraft will remain in Hainan province to conduct further tests at sea, according to the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC). (3/4)

HawkEye 360 Adds $23M to Series E Funding (Source: Via Satellite)
HawkEye 360 has raised a further $23 million. This comes after HawkEye 360 raised a mix of debt and equity financing valued at $150 million to support the acquisition of Innovative Signals Analysis (ISA) in December of 2025. The company said it will use this new capital to strengthen its balance sheet and continue the integration of Innovative Signal Analysis (ISA). (3/4)

Danish Mani Mission to Map Moon in 3D (Source: Space Daily)
The University of Copenhagen will lead Denmark's first lunar mission, an ESAS project that will map the Moon's surface in three dimensions to support future landings and base construction. The Mani satellite will orbit the Moon's north and south polar regions, acquiring high-resolution images that can be combined into detailed elevation models. By imaging the same areas from several viewing angles and tracking the resulting shadows, the mission team will calculate elevation differences, slopes, and small-scale terrain features that are not resolved in current datasets. (3/5)

Lunar Spacecraft Exhaust Could Obscure Clues to Origins of Life (Source: Space Daily)
Over half of the exhaust methane from lunar spacecraft could end up contaminating areas of the moon that might otherwise yield clues about the origins of earthly life, according to a recent study. The pollution could unfold rapidly regardless of a spacecraft's touchdown site; even for a landing at the South Pole, methane molecules may "hop" across the lunar surface to the North Pole in under two lunar days.

As interest in lunar exploration resurges among governments, private companies and NGOs, the study authors wrote, it becomes crucial to understand how exploration may impact research opportunities. This knowledge can help inform the creation of planetary protection strategies for the lunar environment, as well as lunar missions designed to minimize impact on that environment - and the clues about our past it may contain. (3/5)

Korean Origami Style Lunar Rover Wheel Expands to Climb Steep Caves (Source: Space Daily)
A joint team from the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology KAIST and the Unmanned Exploration Laboratory UEL has developed a transformable airless wheel designed to help small rovers access steep lunar pits and lava tubes. The wheel targets subsurface sites considered promising for future human habitats because they shield against cosmic radiation and extreme temperature swings.

The study introduces an origami inspired deployable wheel that can change its diameter to overcome obstacles that would halt conventional fixed geometry rover wheels, and the research appears in the December issue of Science Robotics. The concept supports mission architectures that use multiple small rovers instead of a single large vehicle, providing redundancy so exploration can continue even if some units fail. (3/5)

Redwire, Rocket Lab, and Starpath Push New Solar Array Products as Space Power Demand Broadens (Source: Mach 33)
A cluster of announcements highlights a supply chain that is starting to optimize for bigger power-hungry missions. Redwire unveiled a new solar array product positioned around higher performance per stowed volume and lower mass, while Rocket Lab introduced silicon solar arrays explicitly marketed for gigawatt-class “space-based data centers.” Separately, Starpath rolled out its ultra-thin Starlight Air panel line, emphasizing lightweight construction and manufacturability.

For orbital compute, power is the first-order constraint, and solar is the front door. What is changing is not “a new panel,” it is that multiple vendors are now designing for scale economics (cost per watt, mass per watt, stowage, production throughput) instead of bespoke heritage hardware. This is an early sign that the industry is reorganizing around a credible demand thesis for higher-power spacecraft. (3/4)

SpaceX Keeps Widening the Starlink Lead with Bicoastal Launch Cadence (Source: Mach 33)
SpaceX executed two Starlink launches in one day, one from Vandenberg and another from Cape Canaveral, pushing another 54 satellites into orbit. Both boosters landed successfully, with reuse milestones that underline just how operationally mature Falcon 9 has become. This is the moat in plain sight: manufacturing throughput + launch availability + flight-proven reuse. Even if competitors build comparable satellites, they still have to replicate the cadence engine that keeps Starlink’s deployment tempo relentless and its constellation refresh cycle tight. (3/1)

Europe Proposes Starship Alternative With Wings and Mid-Air Recovery (Source: Extreme Tech)
Starship might be running late, but it's still likely to be the most capable heavy-lift launch vehicle when it's ready. Europeans looking to develop an alternative that isn't governed by America or the whims of SpaceX's CEO have suggested a similar design could be made to deliver a new European-centric heavy-lift vehicle with similar reusable properties. The RLV C5 design was proposed by researchers at the German Aerospace Center.

The RLV C5 lift vehicle would use a fully-reusable first-stage booster from the German Aerospace Center's SpaceLiner sub-orbital concept, with an expendable upper stage. This would require less fuel to carry it into orbit, allowing it to maximize payload—potentially carrying as much as 77 US tons into orbit. Recovery would be very different from Starship, though. RLV C5 would instead descend into the atmosphere using wings to slow itself to sub-orbital speeds. At the appropriate speed and altitude, it would then be captured by a large, subsonic craft. (3/4)

Nigeria Releases Funds for Space Asset Maintenance (Source: Business Day)
President Bola Tinubu, on Tuesday, directed relevant authorities to immediately release funds for the maintenance of Nigeria’s space assets, in line with relevant national space policies. This is just as the President reiterated his Administration’s commitment to the realization of Nigeria’s space policy and program as enshrined in the revised 25-year roadmap for space development. (3/3)

NASA Targets April 1 for Artemis II Launch (Source: Ars Technica)
NASA is not expected to return the SLS rocket and Orion spacecraft to the launch pad until later this month. Inside the VAB, technicians will complete several other tasks to “refresh” the rocket for the next series of launch opportunities. This work will include activating a new set of flight termination system batteries for the rocket’s range safety destruct system. Workers will also replace flight batteries on the SLS core stage, upper stage, and solid rocket boosters, and recharge the batteries on the Orion spacecraft’s launch abort system, NASA said.

At the bottom of the rocket, crews will replace a seal on the core stage liquid oxygen feed line. NASA has not said whether the launch team will conduct another countdown rehearsal after it returns to Launch Complex 39B. The first of five launch opportunities in early April is on April 1, with a two-hour launch window opening at 6:24 pm EDT. (3/3)

Infinite Orbits Goes on Spending Spree After Securing €40 Million (Source: European Spaceflight)
In less than a week, Infinite Orbits announced two acquisitions, agreeing to purchase LMO’s Luxembourg-based operations in late February and UK-based Lúnasa Space in early March. The back-to-back deals come less than four months after the company closed an oversubscribed €40 million financing round in November 2025.

Toulouse-based Infinite Orbits is developing Endurance, a satellite life-extension spacecraft, and Orbit Guard, a small spacecraft used for close-range monitoring of geostationary satellites. In 2025, the company signed agreements with European satellite operator SES to use Endurance to extend the life of one of its satellites from 2027, and with the French Directorate General for Armament to provide Orbit Guard spacecraft to monitor threats to French military assets. According to the company, its current order book totals €150 million. (3/3)

From License to Launch: What a Launch License Really Means for Reusable Infrastructure (Source: Exos)
Reusable launch cadence is not sustained by propulsion alone. It is sustained by regulatory continuity. In the United States, commercial reusable launch vehicle operations require authorization from the Federal Aviation Administration Office of Commercial Space Transportation under Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations.

For reusable vehicles, that authority has historically operated under 14 CFR Part 431. Today, it is transitioning to 14 CFR Part 450, the FAA’s consolidated, performance-based licensing framework. Understanding what that shift means is essential for anyone depending on repeatable access to flight. Click here. (3/4)

March 4, 2026

Space Force Eyes More Funding in 2027 for New Missions (Source: Air & Space ForceS)
Space Force leaders anticipate a substantial budget increase in 2027, following a $14 billion boost in 2026. The funds are expected to enhance space domain awareness, missile defense and personnel to manage the growing demand for space capabilities. "We have incredible enlisted Guardians that are taking on more responsibilities," says Lt. Gen. Douglas A. Schiess, deputy chief of space operations for operations. "But it's still a people problem." (3/3)

SNC, Specter Detail Low-Cost Plasma Ramjet Missile Plan (Source: Aviation Week)
Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC) and startup Specter Aerospace plan to develop and flight test a supersonic ramjet-powered cruise missile under a collaborative agreement signed between the companies in February. Flight tests of the low-cost, air-to-air missile (LCAAM) are scheduled for the third quarter of 2026, says SNC. (3/4)

Spire GNSS-Reflectometry Data Enables Arctic-Wide Sea Ice Mapping (Source: Inside GNSS)
New research supported by the European Space Agency’s (ESA) Third Party Missions program has generated Arctic-wide sea ice freeboard maps using GNSS-Reflectometry (GNSS-R) data captured by Spire Global’s GNSS-Reflectometry (GNSS-R) multipurpose listening constellation. (3/4)

Return of the (Space) SPAC (Source: Space News)
Former investment banker Raphael Roettgen had to abandon a space-focused special purpose acquisition company in 2022 as hype around mergers with blank-check shell companies turned radioactive. Four years later, he's back after helping raise more than $200 million to take a private space company public. (3/4)

ESA to Open Call for European-Led Space Station Studies (Source: European Spaceflight)
ESA announced a call for tenders to conduct studies exploring the feasibility of a European-led, modular, multi-partner space station in low Earth orbit. In response to the planned retirement of the ISS, ESA presented member states and key partners with three possible scenarios for its post-ISS strategy in the lead-up to its November 2025 Ministerial Council Meeting (CM25).

The first scenario would see no European investment in LEO infrastructure, with the agency fully relying on US CLDs. The second scenario, labelled the agency’s baseline, would involve limited investment and a hybrid use of CLDs alongside European elements.

Scenario three was the most ambitious of the three by some margin, with the agency proposing a European-led initiative to develop and deploy a space station in low Earth orbit. While the initiative would be European-led, it would include contributions from institutional or commercial partners. On 27 February, ESA published an intended call for tenders for two Pre-Phase A studies under Scenario 3. (3/4)

Netherlands Space Office Becomes Netherlands Space Agency as Dutch Government Prioritizes Space (Source: Spacewatch Global)
The Netherlands Space Office has officially transformed into the Netherlands Space Agency during the ongoing Amsterdam Space Symposium. Due to the growing importance of space both internationally and nationally, efforts in recent years have focused on broadening its scope and strengthening the Netherlands Space Office. The new name is a logical next step. (3/4)

ICEYE Launches New Deforestation Monitoring Tool (Source: Payload)
ICEYE just one-upped the Lorax. Instead of speaking for the trees, the SAR satellite manufacturer is letting the trees speak for themselves. ICEYE announced the launch yesterday of a new deforestation monitoring tool, which uses SAR imaging to provide near-real-time insights into illegal deforestation of the world’s largest rainforests.

Going under cover: Traditional optical satellites have spotted the results of illegal deforestation from space for years, in places like the Amazon. Traditional optical EO capabilities, however, struggle to uncover deforestation while it’s in progress. Essentially, rainforests like the Amazon are so dense that they generate their own cloud cover. It’s estimated that the Amazon experiences cloud cover for about 66% of the year on average. (3/4)

Top Trump Aally Threatens Retaliation Over EU Space Tech Law (Source: Politico)
Washington will retaliate if Europe imposes measures that favor its own satellite companies over American ones, the head of the United States' communications regulator Brendan Carr said. He was responding to the EU's push to promote homegrown firms over foreign competitors in a series of laws covering defense procurement, space technology, digital supply chains and green tech.

Carr joins a growing chorus of U.S. officials railing against the plans in recent weeks, including the U.S.'s EU and NATO ambassadors Andrew Puzder and Matthew Whitaker. The U.S. will not hesitate to push European satellite firms out of the American market if it finds that Europe is doing the same, the Federal Communications Commission chairman warned EU officials. (3/3)

India's Skyroot Plans April Launch of Vikram-1 Rocket (Source: Via Satellite)
Skyroot Aerospace is set for a critical year as it counts down toward the debut launch of its Vikram-1 rocket, targeted for April of this year. The launch startup, founded in India in 2018, hopes to build on India’s space heritage and become a reliable provider of launch services to commercial and government customers worldwide. The company is working on two launch vehicles, Vikram-1 and Vikram-2, as it looks to target different customer subsets. (3/3)

NASA Tests Prototype 3D Printed Titanium Antenna in Space (Source: Universe Today)
Additive manufacturing has a proven track record for reducing waste and efficiently producing made-to-order tools and components. NASA has been testing the technology aboard the ISS to investigate how it may increase astronauts' self-sufficiency. With their latest experiment, the JPL Additive Compliant Canister (JACC), NASA demonstrated another application: 3D printing space antennas.

The spring-like antenna was deployed on Feb. 3 aboard Proteus Space's Mercury One spacecraft, a small commercial satellite and the first developed using AI. An onboard camera captured video footage of the spring popping out of its container. JACC is one of two technology demonstrators designed by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory to take up less volume while precisely deploying antennas on future satellites. (3/3)
 
Details of EchoStar Transformation After SpaceX-Spectrum Sale Are Still Unclear (Source: Via Satellite)
EchoStar is still not ready to give more insight into how it plans to deploy capital after it closes the sale of spectrum rights to SpaceX. Leadership CEO Hamid Akhavan and Chairman Charlie Ergen didn’t give a business update in its first quarter financial call on Monday, and instead mostly took questions from investors about what its SpaceX holdings will look like after the spectrum sale.

Overall, EchoStar reported $15 billion in revenue in 2025, down 5% compared to 2024. The company’s Broadband and Satellite Services segment, including Hughes Network Systems, posted $1.5 billion in revenue, down 8% year-over-year. EchoStar lost 144,000 satellite broadband subscribers during the year, ending 2025 with 739,000 broadband subscribers. (3/3)

PLD Space Raises $209 Million to Shift Into Serial Rocket Production (Source: Space News)
Spanish launch startup PLD Space has raised more than $200 million. The company announced Wednesday a Series C round of 180 million euros ($209 million) led by Japanese satellite maker Mitsubishi Electric. The company plans to use the funds to scale up production of its Miura 5 small launch vehicle, slated to make its first launch before the end of the year. PLD Space expects to launch up to 30 Miura 5 rockets annually by the end of the decade. As part of its funding, Mitsubishi Electric partnered to secure priority access to the rocket as part of plans to support missions in the Asian market. The funding brings PLD Space's total financing raised to date to more than 350 million euros since it was established in 2011; it also secured 169 million euros in ESA's European Launcher Challenge last fall. (3/4)

Space Force Acquisition Push Hampered by Personnel Losses (Source: Space News)
The Space Force's push to accelerate procurement of new systems is being delayed by a lack of acquisition personnel. At a conference last week, senior leaders and industry executives described a procurement system under strain as the Pentagon pushes the Space Force to move faster, using alternative contracting approaches and commercial-style buying models. However, that approach is being slowed by a lack of contracting officers and managers. Maj. Gen. Stephen Purdy, senior adviser to the secretary of the Air Force for space acquisitions, said the service needs procurement professionals not just to manage its current portfolio but also implement more intricate contracting approaches.

Editor's Note: The Space Force lost a significant portion of its civilian acquisition personnel due to Trump administration initiatives to reduce the federal workforce, and similar actions under the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). In 2025 the Space Force lost 14% of its civilian workforce—nearly 1,000 people—including key specialists in procurement and contracting. (3/4)

SLS Helium Problem Fixed, April Launch Targeted (Source: Space News)
NASA says it has fixed a problem with the Space Launch System upper stage that required rolling back the vehicle to the Vehicle Assembly Building. NASA said Tuesday that workers traced a blockage of helium flow into the SLS upper stage to a dislodged seal in a quick-disconnect fitting. The seal was repositioned and tests showed that helium was flowing into the stage again. The problem forced NASA to roll back the SLS last week since it could not be fixed at the pad. NASA expects to roll the vehicle back to the pad later this month for the next Artemis 2 launch window in early April. (3/4)

FCC Asked to Scale Back Satellite Regulatory Streamlining (Source: Space News)
The leaders of the House Science Committee have asked the FCC to scale back parts of a satellite licensing streamlining effort. In a letter to FCC Chairman Brendan Carr last week, Reps. Brian Babin (R-TX) and Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) said the FCC was exceeding its statutory authority by including space safety requirements in its proposed rulemaking to improve satellite licensing. They noted that the FCC, under law, has no authority to oversee space safety issues such as mitigating orbital debris.

The committee raised similar concerns in the past as the FCC took moves such as reducing the time to deorbit a satellite at the end of its life from 25 years to five. Babin, chair of the committee, said last week he wants the committee to take up a new commercial space bill this year that might address space safety, among other topics. (3/4)

Mixed Opinions on Blue Origin's TeraWave Constellation Plan (Source: Space News)
The space industry has mixed opinions on a proposed Blue Origin satellite constellation. The company took many by surprise earlier this year when it announced TeraWave, with more than 5,000 satellites in low and medium Earth orbits to provide broadband services for enterprise customers. Some industry observers see an opportunity for TeraWave, as it will not compete head-to-head with systems like Amazon Leo and Starlink that are more focused on consumers. Others, though, are skeptical that Blue Origin can deploy TeraWave as quickly as it has proposed, with first launches in at little as 18 months. (3/4)

SpaceX Launches Wednesday Starlink Mission From Florida (Source: Florida Today)
SpaceX launched more Starlink satellites early this morning. A Falcon 9 lifted off from the Cape Canaveral Spaceport, placing 29 satellites into orbit. The predawn liftoff created a brilliant "jellyfish" effect as the plume of the ascending rocket was backlit by the sun. The launch was the 16th  this year from Florida, all but one of them by Falcon 9. (3/4)

Japan's Space One Scrubs Kairos Launch Attempt (Source: Jiji Press)
Japanese company Space One scrubbed a launch of its Kairos small rocket Tuesday. The rocket was scheduled to lift off at 9 p.m. Eastern from Spaceport Kii in southern Honshu, but the launch was called off after a "safety system" was activated 30 seconds before liftoff. The company did not disclose additional details about the problem or announce a new launch date. This is the third launch for the small solid-fuel Kairos rocket, which failed to reach orbit in its first two launches in 2024. (3/4)

Honeywell to Spin Out Aerospace Unit (Source: Honeywell)
Honeywell plans to spin out its aerospace business into a standalone company. Honeywell said Tuesday that Honeywell Aerospace will become a separate company, traded on the Nasdaq exchange. That spinout is expected to take place in the third quarter. Honeywell Aerospace had $17.4 billion in revenue and $1.5 billion in net income in 2025 supporting aviation, defense and space customers, including components and instruments for spacecraft. (3/4)

Varda Plans Spacecraft Production in El Segundo (Source: LA Times)
A California factory that had been used to design Barbies and Hot Wheels will soon be producing spacecraft. Varda Space Industries has signed an agreement to take over a 205,000-square-foot facility in El Segundo, California, that was previously used by toy maker Mattel as a research and development center. Varda will use the facility to expand production of its spacecraft and reentry vehicles, joining two other buildings the company already has in El Segundo. (3/4)

March 3, 2026

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

March 2, 2026

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

March 1, 2026

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

February 28, 2026

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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