February 26, 2026

Pay to Play: Isaacman Donated Millions to Trump Super PAC (Sources: Douglas Messier, USA Today)
Jared Isaacman contributed $2 million to President Donald Trump’s MAGA Inc. political action committee (PAC) after the president withdrew his nomination to serve as NASA administrator in May and before the nomination was revived in November, according to Federal Election Commission (FEC) records. Isaacman had previously supported candidates from both political parties from 2010 through 2024. However, his donations to Democrats were 31 percent higher than his contributions to Republicans during that 14-year period. [For Trump's second nomination of Isaacman] the rationale hadn’t changed at all. But, the bank accounts of Republican PACs had gotten fatter.

The FEC has allowed the use of such PAC funds for certain legal defenses. MAGA Inc. has historically transferred millions of dollars to Save America, which then uses those funds to pay for Trump's personal legal expenses. (2/26)

SpaceX's Nascent Monopoly Faces Durability Test (Source: Reuters)
Investing in an Elon Musk company is less a bet on financial outperformance than a statement of faith in his vision for the future. SpaceX plans to launch one million satellites that will serve as distributed cloud servers in space. These orbital data centers will supposedly harness the power of the sun to process artificial-intelligence workloads. To make it happen, Musk thinks, he may need a satellite factory on the moon. He’ll undoubtedly need plenty of cash – which is where a potential SpaceX initial public offering comes in.

Starlink, its satellite broadband unit, accounted for 50% to 80% of total revenue. The implied group margin of roughly 50% is impressive for what is in large part a broadband supplier with 10 million subscribers. With a potential $1 trillion valuation, it might look like the company is preparing to capture a hefty share of the global telecom market in short order. But the reality is that satellite connectivity is a complement to conventional networks – not a replacement for them. Most consumers in developed markets will find that a fixed-line broadband connection meets their needs at home, while 4G and 5G are readily available on-the-go. Demand for satellite services comes from people and places that telecom companies otherwise struggle to reach.

This isn’t a tiny market, but it will get crowded. Amazon recently got the greenlight to add around 4,500 more satellites to its planned constellation – taking the total to just under 8,000. Some 200 satellites have been launched so far, with the full fleet due to be in service by 2029. China, meanwhile, is developing two low-earth-orbit networks of its own: one for government and security uses and another aimed at international customers, with tens of thousands of planned satellites in total. Though SpaceX will list with an effective monopoly in satellite communications, its deep-pocketed rivals are catching up. (2/26)

Golden Dome Funding Details Hit the Public Record (Source: Mach 33)
An unclassified Pentagon allocation plan identifies $151 billion in reconciliation funding, with $24.4B+ allocated to Golden Dome missile defense and $13.8B tied to Space Force elements, alongside explicit space-related components (sensors and space-based layers). This is what it looks like when “space-based defense” stops being conceptual and starts becoming a budget-shaped demand signal. The spend profile implies a multi-year pull for sensor architectures, space data plumbing, launch/test cadence, and operational integration.

Editor's Note: The "launch/test cadence" item is interesting as it might represent an opportunity for Golden Dome funding to support spaceport-based infrastructure investments needed to support test-or deployment-related launch operations. (2/24)

Eutelsat to Raise €1.5 Billion to Refinance its Debt (Source: European Spaceflight)
European satellite operator Eutelsat has announced that it will raise €1.5 billion to refinance existing debt and add cash to the company’s balance sheet. In June 2025, Eutelsat reported net debt of just over €2.6 billion, up €82.2 million year-on-year, with a net debt-to-EBITDA (Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation, and Amortization) ratio of 3.88×. At the same time, the company had committed more than €2 billion to procure 440 new satellites to replenish and expand its OneWeb broadband constellation. (2/25)

Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex Plans New 'Project Aero' Attraction (Source: Florida Today)
Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex officials plan to build a 55,000-square-foot attraction facility featuring show and ride spaces on 2.9 acres immediately south of the space shuttle Atlantis building, permitting records show.

The mystery attraction is code-named Project Aero. On Feb. 17, NASA officials applied for stormwater permitting from the St. Johns River Water Management District, seeking authorization for construction to proceed. To clear room for Project Aero, heavy equipment crews have demolished buildings at the aging administrative building complex just east of the tour bus loop. (2/24)

ExLabs Asteroid Apophis Flyby Sparks the Rise of Commercial Interplanetary Missions (Source: ExLabs)
The ApophisExL mission represents a pivotal moment in the commercialization of deep space, where private operators increasingly complement traditional government programs. Partnering with NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), ExLabs demonstrates a hybrid model that blends institutional scientific rigor with the speed, flexibility, and scalability of commercial innovation. The mission also opens the door to new entrants, such as Japan’s Chiba Institute of Technology, whose student-built payloads will operate directly on the asteroid’s surface.

Asteroid Apophis’ unprecedented 2029 Earth flyby offers a rare chance to study how Earth’s gravity reshapes an asteroid in real time. By pioneering a commercially led rideshare approach and integrating academic and institutional partners, ApophisExL exemplifies how private enterprise can expand access to interplanetary exploration. The mission showcases a future where deep space is not just the domain of governments but a collaborative frontier for commercial, academic, and emerging space organizations alike. (2/25)

NASA Reveals Crew-11 Astronaut Who Had Medical Event in Orbit Aboard ISS (Source: Florida Today)
NASA astronaut Mike Fincke has been identified as the Crew-11 member who experienced a medical event in early January aboard the ISS, triggering NASA's first medical evacuation in ISS history. NASA shared a statement from Fincke on social media Wednesday, Feb. 25, revealing the affected crew member's identity for the first time. " ... I experienced a medical event that required immediate attention from my incredible crewmates. Thanks to their quick response and the guidance of our NASA flight surgeons, my status quickly stabilized," Fincke said. Specifics about the medical event were not disclosed. (2/25)

Valve Malfunction Blamed for Failure of Indian Satellite To Raise Its Orbit (Source: Space News)
India’s space agency says a valve failure prevented a navigation spacecraft launched more than a year ago from raising its orbit. A team traced the anomaly to a failure in the spacecraft’s pyro system. According to the findings, the drive signal did not reach the pyro valve in the oxidizer line of the engine meant for orbit-raising maneuvers. As a result, the engine could not be fired to shift the satellite from its transfer orbit. (2/25)

How Long Could Earth Microbes Live on Mars? (Source: Universe Today)
A team of researchers has introduced the Mars Microbial Survival (MMS) model, which they note could be used to estimate the amount of forward contamination from Earth-based microbes on Mars. More specifically, how long in Mars sols would Earth-based microbes that weren’t caught before launch could survive on the Red Planet upon arrival?

The researchers analyzed how a spacecraft would encounter microbial sterilization during the cruise phase and surface phase. During the cruise phase, the spacecraft is bombarded with solar wind in the form of Ultraviolet-C radiation, in a vacuum with varying temperatures and solar radiation. For the surface phase, the spacecraft is exposed to Mars’ surface temperatures and pressures, while also being exposed to incoming solar radiation since Mars lacks a protective ozone layer or magnetic field like Earth.

The model determined that the spacecraft exteriors were sterilized from solar wind while the encased rovers may be sterilized by the vacuum environment and temperature changes. For the surface phase, the model determined that it would take approximately one Mars sol for upward-facing spacecraft surfaces to become sterilized, and it would take approximately one Mars year (687 Earth days) for the entire spacecraft to become sterilized. (2/25)

Mars Astronauts Need More Than Just Space Greenhouses (Source: Universe Today)
Storing food for five years, and trying to make sure it's still edible, while it is constantly being bombarded by radiation is a recipe for disaster. At this point in our exploration journey, we’re not even sure we can actually safely package food for that long in those conditions. Even if we were, radiation can mutate bacteria, making them potentially more dangerous and harder to kill.

There is evidence that managing crops and cooking provides a psychological boost. However, doing so takes away time from other mission-critical tasks, like exercise or navigation, so there’s a trade-off of how much psychological benefits those systems provide versus the opportunity cost of tending to other mission-critical tasks.

Menu fatigue is another real problem for astronauts. If you’re eating the same nutrient paste every day for five years, it’s very likely that, after some time, you’ll begin to eat less of it simply due to the fact that you’re sick of it. If a food lacks "organoleptic appeal” (i.e. taste, texture, and smell), then it’s highly likely that astronauts will simply dispose of it instead of actually eating it. (2/25)

Airmo Selects EnduroSat to Launch Methane-Monitoring Sensors Into Orbit (Source: Via Satellite)
Germany and Luxembourg-based sensing company Airmo will partner with satellite manufacturer EnduroSat to put its methane emissions monitoring technology into orbit, with the first satellite of a projected 12-satellite constellation slated to launch in 2027. Airmo said it aims to fill a gap in unreliable methane emissions reporting, as increasing sectoral oversight like the European Union’s 2024 methane regulation increases demand for data. (2/25)

UCF's "Go For Launch" Campaign Aims to Raise $3.5 Billion (Source: UCF)
Go For Launch is the most ambitious philanthropic and revenue-generating campaign in UCF history. We have set goals that include $1 billion in philanthropic support and $2.5 billion in expanded research activity, partnerships, and innovation-driven revenue. Together, these $3.5 billion in commitments will help strengthen UCF’s capacity and leadership in a rapidly changing world. (2/25)

Intuitive Machines Plans $175 Million Investment in SatCom and Space Data Processing (Source: Intuitive Machines)
Intuitive Machines announced a $175 million strategic equity investment. Following its acquisition of Lanteris in January, the company intends to expand its Near Space Network Services (NSNS) and establish a solar system internet independent of Earth. The Company believes it can expand capability around the Moon, extend capability to Mars, and support emerging high-power on-orbit data processing and edge computing. (2/25)

Methane Monitoring Science Act Would Task NASA (Source: Payload)
Two lawmakers introduced a bill that would task NASA to improve the nation’s ability to detect cow farts—and all other forms of methane leaks. Rep. Don Beyer (D-VA) and Rep. Pat Harrigan (R-NC) introduced the Methane Monitoring Science Act this month. The bill would direct the space agency to evaluate the state of methane monitoring tech, and ensure data can be shared across federal and private agencies to quickly find and stop leaks that hurt the atmosphere. (2/24)

DAF Shakes Up Space Acquisition Leadership, Purdy Takes ‘Senior Advisor’ Role (Source: Breaking Defense)
In a surprise move, Maj. Gen. Stephen Purdy, who until recently was running the space acquisition shop at the Department of the Air Force, has been shifted out of that office to serve as “senior advisor” to Secretary Troy Meink. Purdy on Jan. 22 announced he had stepped down from his year-long stint as Air Force acting head of the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Space Acquisition and Integration (SAF/SQ). He had been simultaneously serving as military deputy to that office. The Defense Department has yet to nominate an assistant secretary for space acquisition, who also holds the role of DoD’s Space Acquisition Executive (SAE). (2/24)

Gilat Receives $39 Million in Orders for Sidewinder ESA Terminals (Source: Gilat)
Gilat Satellite Networks has received $39 million in orders from a leading satellite operator for its electronically steered antenna (ESA) Sidewinder in-flight connectivity terminals, including both linefit and retrofit installations. Deliveries are expected over the next 12 months. These new orders of additional Sidewinder ESA terminals highlight the accelerating global shift toward ESA solutions as airlines and service providers work to meet rapidly growing demand for high quality in-flight broadband. (2/24)

Hegseth Visits Colorado Space Companies (Source: Space News)
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth used a pair of stops at Colorado space companies Monday to criticize defense bureaucracy. Speaking to workers at True Anomaly and Sierra Space as part of the Pentagon's "Arsenal of Freedom" tour, Hegseth framed the department's acquisition struggles as the product of a sclerotic Beltway establishment, saying companies like theirs are the antidote. His rhetoric aligns with a broader procurement reform narrative inside the Pentagon. Senior officials have voiced dissatisfaction with cost overruns and slow fielding timelines in major defense programs and signaled greater interest in commercially funded innovation, fixed-price contracts and faster development cycles. (2/25)

Luxembourg's OQ Technology Raises $30 Million for Constellation Expansion (Source: Space News)
Luxembourg-based OQ Technology has received 25 million euros ($30 million) from the European Investment Bank (EIB) to expand its direct-to-device constellation. The funding, announced Wednesday, is a loan that will support the deployment of more than 20 small satellites. OQ Technology uses S-band to connect proprietary and mass-market off-the-grid tracking and monitoring devices after deploying 10 Internet of Things (IoT) satellites in low Earth orbit, but is developing its first dedicated satellite to provide smartphone connectivity in C-band that is slated for launch in the middle of this year. C-band promises greater bandwidth than S-band, and additional spacecraft would improve coverage and latency for what OQ Technology intends to be a multi-band constellation serving IoT and smartphone devices. (2/25)

Communication Among Satellite Operators is a Challenge for Space Traffic Management (Source: Space News)
One challenge for space traffic coordination turns out to be figuring out how satellite operators can communicate with each other. At the Space Traffic Conference last week, a major issue discussed was the difficulty finding contact information for satellite operators in the event of a potential conjunction. Aarti Holla-Maini, director of the United Nations Office of Outer Space Affairs, said her office was asked twice in the last 14 months to help make contact with operators to coordinate maneuvers to avoid collisions after other efforts to make contact failed. The problem, experts say, shows the need for a comprehensive directory of satellite operators of some kind, or ultimately automating the process of coordinating collision avoidance maneuvers. (2/25)

SpaceX Launches Starlink Mission on Tuesday From Florida (Source: Spaceflight Now)
SpaceX launched more Starlink satellites from Florida Tuesday evening. A Falcon 9 lifted off from the Cape Canaveral Spaceport, deploying 29 Starlink satellites into low Earth orbit. This was SpaceX's 18th launch so far this year of Starlink satellites. (2/25)

Alabama Lawmakers Advance Bill Renaming, Expanding State Aerospace Agency (Source: Yellowhammer)
The Alabama Legislature is advancing SB228, a bill that would rename the Alabama Space Authority the Alabama Aerospace Authority and expand its membership and duties. Under the bill, the Alabama Space Authority — currently an office within the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs responsible for promoting research and development in space exploration and spaceport technology — would be formally renamed the Alabama Aerospace Authority later this year. Among the new duties added by the bill, the authority would be required to develop strategies to promote and encourage private investment in the aerospace sector. (2/24)

Puerto Rico Spaceport Decision Anticipated Soon (Source: SPACErePORT)
A decision regarding a proposed spaceport at Puerto Rico's Roosevelt Roads base is past due (proposals were submitted in April 2025). The site could potentially host launch pads for small, medium, or large rockets. It could also support offshore launch platforms hosted at the port (mainly for small launchers), and reentry and downmass recovery/processing for space-produced biomedical goods. (2/25)

China vs SpaceX in Race for Space AI Data Centers (Source: Fox News)
The China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation outlined a five-year plan to build what it calls "gigawatt-class space digital-intelligence infrastructure," according to reporting cited by CCTV. While that phrase may sound bureaucratic. It is not. Gigawatt-class means massive energy output. Think industrial scale. These proposed orbital hubs would integrate cloud, edge and device-level computing. In simple terms, data collected on Earth could be processed in space instead of inside giant warehouses in Arizona or Inner Mongolia.

The vision goes even further. A December policy document describes an industrial-scale "Space Cloud" by 2030. The goal is deep integration of computing power, storage and transmission bandwidth, all powered by solar energy in orbit. China also signaled that space-based solar power tied to AI computing will be a core pillar of its upcoming 15th Five-Year Plan. It's all part of its national strategy. (2/24)

Avio to Build $500 Million Facility in Hurt, Virginia, with State Incentives (Source: European Spaceflight)
Italian rocket builder Avio has announced that it will build its new US-based solid rocket motor manufacturing facility in Hurt, Virginia. Subject to approval by the Virginia General Assembly, the company will be eligible for a $100 million “special appropriation” to supplement the $500 million it plans to invest in the construction and operation of the new facility. In November 2025 the company announced plans to build its new production facility in Virginia, but did not specify a location. This week it confirmed that the facility would be built in Hurt, Pittsylvania County. (2/24)

Cargo, Investment Play Part in Japan's Space Industry in Global Race (Source: The Mainichi)
Japan, regarded as one of the most competitive players in the promising space business, needs to establish commercial cargo operations and narrow the scope of service areas eligible for government financial aid to better catch up with leading global rivals, analysts say. Japan is among the first five countries to land a probe on the Moon and ranks third in public investment in the space sector, while a growing number of companies are seeking to offer services ranging from communications and in-orbit servicing to space travel.

Japanese commercial cargo servicers are still in development or trial phases. Rocket launches from Japan will be vital for transporting cargoes at lower cost and with shorter lead times, analysts say. Aside from the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency's H3 rocket, space venture Interstellar Technologies Inc. and startup Space One Co. are among the frontrunners in developing private rockets, while Honda Motor Co. has also joined the fray from the auto industry. (2/25)

NM Governor Appoints CEO of Investment Firm to Spaceport America Board (Source: KOAT)
James Prendamano, the CEO of PreReal Investments, has been appointed by Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham to the Board of Directors of Spaceport America, which is owned by the state of New Mexico and located east of Truth or Consequences. Prendamano said he welcomes the opportunity to manage the Spaceport at this historically challenging time. (2/24)

Industry Input Wanted for Next Canadian Space Agency Priority Technologies (Source: SpaceQ)
The Canadian Space Agency (CSA) is looking for input as it prepares to release its next Space Technology Development Program opportunity, a program that is continually underfunded. The request for information (RFI) was released on Thursday, Feb. 19 and is titled Enabling Technologies for Future Missions. (2/24)