February 16, 2026

RFA Begins Final Preparations for Inaugural RFA ONE Launch at SaxaVord Spaceport (Source: European Spaceflight)
German rocket builder Rocket Factory Augsburg (RFA) is making significant progress toward once again attempting an inaugural flight of its RFA ONE rocket. The company is currently moving forward with commissioning its launch pad at SaxaVord Spaceport as it works toward a hot fire test of the rocket’s first stage. The RFA ONE rocket is a 30-metre tall two-stage rocket designed to be capable of delivering payloads of up to 1,300 kilograms to low Earth orbit. The company is also developing an optional kick stage called Redshift that can be configured for a wide range of applications. (2/16)

SLS Hydrogen Tests Didn't Go as Planned (Source: Space News)
A test of repairs to the Space Launch System liquid hydrogen fueling system did not go exactly as planned. NASA said late Friday it conducted a "confidence test" of replaced seals in a fueling interface for the rocket, partially loading the core stage with liquid hydrogen. However, NASA said a problem with ground support equipment reduced the flow of liquid hydrogen into the rocket, raising questions about the effectiveness of the test. Liquid hydrogen leaks ended a wet dress rehearsal (WDR) prematurely earlier this month, and NASA said it would conduct a second WDR before setting a launch date for the Artemis 2 mission. NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman said Friday there was still plenty of time to resolve the leak problem and support a launch in early March. (2/16)

Acquisition Reviews Ongoing for SDA LEO Constellation (Source: Space News)
Procurements of certain elements of the U.S. military's low Earth orbit satellite constellation are on hold for acquisition reviews. GP Sandhoo, acting director of the Space Development Agency, said last week a planned procurement of satellites for the next increment of the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture's data transport layer remains paused, along with the acquisition of a separate "custody layer" designed to maintain continuous tracking of mobile targets on Earth's surface. The pause marks a shift from SDA's previous cadence, under which contracts for new tranches of satellites were awarded roughly every other year across different layers of the architecture. The custody layer, he said, might move from SDA to another Space Force office. (2/16)

Isaacman Plans Russia Visit (Source: Space News)
NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman said he's interested in meeting with the head of Roscosmos. Asked about relations with Roscosmos at a press conference Friday, he said the agency was "making preparations for a discussion with my counterpart at the earliest opportunity." He added he was planning to attend a crewed Soyuz launch from the Baikonur Cosmodrome this summer. Roscosmos Director General Dmitry Bakanov met with NASA's acting administrator, Sean Duffy, last July in the first face-to-face meeting between the leaders of the space agencies since 2018. While Bakanov said last year he was interested in additional opportunities for cooperation with NASA, Isaacman suggested his focus was on continued operations of the ISS. (2/16)

China's Zenk Space Tests Zhihang-1 Rocket on Offshore Platform (Source: Space News)
A Chinese launch startup that has maintained a low profile has completed a key test of its rocket. Zenk Space conducted the static fire test of the Zhihang-1 first stage last week using the HOS-1 mobile sea platform facilities off the coast of Shandong province. Zenk Space said that Zhihang-1 "has fully completed all major ground tests" ahead of a first launch, potentially in the coming weeks. Zhihang-1 is designed to place up to 4,000 kilograms into a sun-synchronous orbit, and Zenk Space plans to recover the engines from the first stage for reuse. (2/16)

FCC Streamlining Bill Advances in Congress (Source: Space News)
A bill intended to streamline FCC satellite licensing passed out of committee last week after revisions. A modified version of the Satellite and Telecommunications Streamlining Act was approved by the Senate Commerce Committee last week on a voice vote. The modifications address concerns raised by the committee's ranking member, Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-WA), about provisions that would allow for automatic approval of applications if the FCC does not act on the applications in 18 months. Under the revisions, the FCC would have to develop rules for what satellite applications would be eligible for "deemed granted" approvals based on the size of the satellite systems and the spectrum they would use. (2/16)

Wardstone Raises $5 Million for Hypersonic Missile Defense (Source: Space News)
A startup is taking a new approach to hypersonic missile defense that is analogous to a shotgun. Wardstone has raised $5 million in seed funding and is preparing to test its first prototype interceptor vehicle this spring on a suborbital flight. Its technical approach departs from traditional "hit-to-kill" interceptors, which rely on precise tracking to collide directly with an incoming warhead. Instead, its interceptors would deploy large particle clouds shortly before impact, increasing the chances of intercept and reducing the requirements for precision that drive up the cost of conventional interceptors. (2/16)

Florida and California Host Weekend SpaceX Starlink Launches (Source: Spaceflight Now)
SpaceX launched a pair of Starlink missions over the weekend. One Falcon 9 lifted off from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California at Saturday, placing 24 Starlink satellites into orbit. The timing of the launch, just after sunset, created a brilliant backlit plume visible as far away as Phoenix. Another Falcon 9 lifted off at 2:59 a.m. Eastern Monday from Cape Canaveral, Florida, putting 29 Starlink satellites into orbit. SpaceX delayed the launch to near the end of the window because of stormy conditions at the launch site. (2/16)

Germany's Constellr Raises $44 Million for Thermal Intellegence Constellation (Source: constellr)
Thermal imaging company constellr has raised 37 million euros ($44 million). The Munich-based company is developing a satellite constellation that will provide infrared imaging for "thermal intelligence," with a focus on military applications. (2/16)

Dual-Class Stock Considered for SpaceX IPO (Source: Bloomberg)
SpaceX is considering a dual-class stock structure in its planned IPO. The structure would give certain shareholders, like CEO Elon Musk, extra voting power to ensure control even if he only owned a minority stake in the company. A similar approach is used at companies like Alphabet, the parent company of Google, as well as Meta. SpaceX is also adding members to its board of directors in preparation for an IPO that could raise up to $50 billion for the company. (2/16)

Hydrosat is Partnering with Rhama Analysis to Bring Water Management Solution to Brazil (Source: Spacewatch Global)
Hydrosat has entered a strategic partnership with Rhama Analysis, a leading hydrology and water intelligence company based in Brazil, to establish an intelligent water management solution in the Brazilian market. The water management solution will integrate high-resolution thermal satellite data, advanced spatial analytics, and predictive modeling, towards supporting more precise, sustainable, and science-based decision-making across agriculture, industry, energy, sanitation, and public administration. (2/16)

Rocket Lab Readies Next HASTE Mission From Virginia (Source: Shore Daily News)
‘That’s Not A Knife’ is Rocket Lab’s latest hypersonic test mission for the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) on its HASTE launch vehicle and it is scheduled to launch no earlier than late February from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 2 within the Virginia Spaceport Authority’s Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport on Wallops Island, Virginia. ‘That’s Not A Knife” will deploy DART AE, a scramjet-powered aircraft developed by Australian aerospace engineering firm Hypersonix.

This latest HASTE launch reflects Rocket Lab’s investment in restoring the nation’s hypersonic test capabilities through its commercial speed, innovation, and execution – a critical priority for the Department of War. By lowering cost barriers and increasing the test launch tempo for the United States and its allies, HASTE gives testers unprecedented control over flight profiles and environments up to Mach 20 – a commercial capability that remains unmatched globally and expands and secures U.S. space superiority. (2/16)

DoD Airlifts Nuclear Microreactor for First Time (Source: Wall Street Journal)
The U.S. military airlifted a miniature nuclear reactor for the first time, part of President Trump’s push to deploy nuclear power across the United States. Three C-17 transport planes flew components of the Valar Atomics Ward 250 unfueled nuclear reactor from March Air Reserve Base, Calif., to Hill Air Force Base, Utah, on Sunday. Valar Atomics officials handed out black caps emblazoned with the words “Make Nuclear Great Again.” Pentagon and Energy Department officials, reporters and industry representatives sat alongside the reactor module, encased in plexiglass, during the hourlong flight.

Editor's Note: This is an important first step toward sending one or more microreactors to the Cape Canaveral Spaceport, where they will be prepared for launch to the Moon. But there is a shortage of facilities at the spaceport for processing nuclear payloads...representing a roadblock for meeting NASA's target for deploying such a reactor to the lunar surface by 2030. (2/16)

When Second Best is Good Enough: The Initial Defense Satellite Communications System (Source: Space Review)
In the early years of the Space Age, the US military had ambitious plans for communications satellites but found them difficult to implement. Dwayne Day describes how a backup plan emerged using smaller, less complex satellites. Click here. (2/16)
 
Musk’s Moon Mania (Source: Space Review)
Elon Musk and SpaceX have long been associated with establishing a human presence on Mars, but that appears to be changing. Jeff Foust reports on how Musk is turning his attention towards the Moon, one tied to AI and orbital data centers. Click here. (2/16)
 
Seattle’s Lessons for Rocket Reusability (Source: Space Review)
While reuse of the first stage of launch vehicle has long been proven by SpaceX, reusing a rocket’s upper stage is more difficult. Robert Oler examine options for reusing some or all of an upper stage. Click here. (2/16)
 
Tame the Wolf, Release the Panda: The Case for US-China Space Cooperation (Source: Space Review)
For 15 years, the Wolf Amendment has severely restricted US-China civil space cooperation. Jimin Park makes the case that it’s time for those restrictions to end. Click here. (2/16)

First Public Meeting on Spaceport Feasibility Study (Source: Concho Valley Homepage)
The Concho Valley Council of Governments held its first public meeting this week in San Angelo to discuss a feasibility study that will determine whether the region is suitable for an inland spaceport launch facility. The study began after the Texas Space Commission approached the council with the idea of applying for a grant to explore whether the Concho Valley could support a spaceport. The council later received a $500,000 grant to fund the resources needed for the research.

Now one month into the process, CVCOG has begun collecting data on land availability, population impact and potential uses for a future spaceport. Lisa Rine, services coordinator and grant administrator for the Concho Valley Council of Governments, said the region was selected in part because of its predictable weather. Weaknesses and threats discussed included a lack of space-related education and specialists, potential impacts on livestock and wildlife, concerns about water usage and availability, noise and air pollution, and the effects of growth overpowering local resources.

A community member also questioned who would own and manage the future spaceport. Andrew Nelson, vice president and national discipline leader for aerospace at RS&H, said “Let’s talk generally about the spaceport industry. I don’t think there is one space port similarly established than another. They’re all generally different except for something like a private view site, that’s funded by their founders and stockholders— how Concho Valley is going to be set up, we have no idea,” Nelson said. “It’s actually not really part of our scope to discuss formation, ownership and structure.” (2/13)

Artemis II End-of-Mission Heat Shield Risk Mitigated with Modified Flight Path (Source: Slashgear)
As the Artemis II mission gets closer to its now pushed-back launch window, some have raised concerns over the safety of the Orion spacecraft that will carry four astronauts during the lunar fly-by. Their concern specifically calls into question the integrity of Orion's heat shielding; for many, this will bring back memories of the tragic Space Shuttle Columbia disaster in 2003.

NASA teams studied the damage to the Orion capsule after the Artemis I mission and are convinced that there is no significant safety threat to the crew of Artemis II. And for the upcoming mission, NASA will use a modified reentry flight path, which it says will further reduce the likelihood of damage to the heat shield. The space agency has also stated that flight data from Artemis I shows that the Orion crew would have been safe even with the damage that the heat shield sustained during reentry. (2/15)

America is Dangerously Unprepared for a GPS Attack (Source: The Hill)
We just finished the year that marked the 30th anniversary of America’s Global Positioning System reaching full operational capacity. What began as a military tool to enable U.S. military forces to navigate more precisely and to support the use of precision strike weapons anywhere in the world has become the invisible infrastructure that powers nearly every aspect of civilian life. So much of our everyday lives, from smartphones and ATMs to aviation, shipping and Wall Street, run on precise timing and location information.

However, that infrastructure is now under duress. Our adversaries are waging a sophisticated war on GPS signals, and the fallout is both significant and frightening. Reports of navigational issues across the Baltic and the Middle East have become a daily occurrence due to conflicts in the region. The impacts have extended into civilian life, impacting air, land and sea. (2/16)