
Researchers aboard the International Space Station grew the fungus Penicillium simplicissimum with powdered meteorite and recovered measurable palladium, marking the first successful orbital biomining of a precious metal. The fungal cultures outperformed a bacterial counterpart, extracting 18 of 44 measured elements from the rock. Microgravity altered fluid dynamics and fungal metabolism, boosting organic‑acid production that facilitated metal leaching. The findings demonstrate that living systems can actively process extraterrestrial resources, a key step toward in‑situ resource utilization for deep‑space missions.

The European Space Agency has signed a data‑procurement contract with Munich‑based Vyoma to receive space‑based observations of small, fast‑moving debris. Vyoma’s Flamingo‑1 satellite, orbiting at 510 km, will deliver bulk traffic data that ESA will use to validate and enhance its...

Rebecca Evernden has been appointed Director of the newly restructured UK Space Agency, which will merge into the Department of Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) in April. A decade‑long space policy specialist, she previously led legislation for vertical launches, helped...

SpaceX on 21 February 2026 set a new reuse milestone as a Falcon 9 first‑stage booster completed its 33rd successful flight, surpassing its own previous record. The dual launch from California and Florida deployed 53 new Starlink satellites, expanding the broadband constellation. Reusing...
![[VIDEO] ESA Unveils OMLET System That Fires High-Power Lasers To Stop Orbital Collisions](/cdn-cgi/image/width=1200,quality=75,format=auto,fit=cover/https://orbitaltoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Geostationary_orbit_pillars.jpg)
The European Space Agency unveiled OMLET – Orbit Maintenance via Laser Momentum Transfer – a ground‑based laser system designed to nudge low‑Earth‑orbit debris instead of burning satellite fuel. The project has moved from feasibility to Phase A/B1 design, where engineers are...

Researchers unveiled HoneySat at NDSS 2026, the first high‑interaction satellite honeypot that mimics an entire CubeSat mission, including ground‑segment software and orbital dynamics. In three public deployments, attackers issued 22 authentic flight‑software commands, attempting to access ground systems, extract telemetry,...

The United Arab Emirates successfully launched its first domestically built hybrid sounding rocket on 13 February 2026, achieving a 3 km altitude and safe recovery. Developed by the Technology Innovation Institute, the vehicle uses a nitrous‑oxide and solid polyethylene propulsion system...

AI‑ready Aitech SP1 single‑board computer now incorporates Teledyne e2v’s QLS1046 space‑qualified SoC. The chip features four 64‑bit Arm Cortex‑A72 cores, DDR4 memory with error correction, and radiation tolerance up to 100 krad, enabling reliable operation in LEO, GEO, lunar and deep‑space...

Ukraine has begun the international regulatory process for its own low‑Earth‑orbit communications network, UASAT‑NANO, filing with the ITU in December 2025. The first satellite is scheduled for an October 2026 launch on a SpaceX vehicle, with full deployment starting in...

Chinese private aerospace firm Ispace announced a $730 million financing round, the largest ever raised by a Chinese aerospace startup. The capital will fund the development of its reusable methalox Hyperbola‑3 launch vehicle and expand launch, sea‑recovery, and testing capabilities. Ispace...

Ispace, a Chinese private aerospace firm, announced a record $730 million fundraising round, the largest in China’s private aerospace sector. The round was led by Cowin Capital and Jingming Capital, with participation from Spring Partners, Chengdu Industry Group and Qianlima Capital,...

Britain’s Space Solar is preparing to beam electricity from orbit to the British Antarctic Survey’s Rothera Research Station, replacing diesel generators with space‑based solar power. The project will use satellites that convert sunlight into microwave beams received by a rectenna...

The European Commission announced a European Space Shield slated for launch in mid‑2026, aiming to protect EU satellites and space services from emerging threats. The plan couples civilian and military space assets into a coordinated network and tackles the surge...

A CSET report analyzing over 9,000 PLA procurement notices from 2023‑24 shows China actively seeking artificial‑intelligence tools for space domain awareness, under‑sea surveillance, data‑fusion decision support, and synthetic media operations. The RFPs call for algorithms that determine satellite orbits, recognize...

German‑French space startup The Exploration Company (TEC) is in advanced negotiations to acquire British rocket manufacturer Orbex, a move that would consolidate Europe’s small‑launch market. The potential acquisition has drawn scrutiny due to TEC’s leadership ties to Russian space entities,...

The Indian space regulator IN‑SPACe signed a PPP agreement with a consortium led by PixxelSpace India, providing a ₹350 crore loan to fund the development of a 12‑satellite Earth Observation constellation. The deal, announced on Wednesday, marks a major public‑private partnership...

Mitsubishi Corporation announced it will pre-purchase capacity on Starlab Space’s upcoming commercial space station and increase its equity investment in the company, joining Starlab’s board of directors. The partnership gives Mitsubishi rights to payload space and laboratory access, supporting Japanese...