February 1, 2026

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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