February 28, 2026

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)