PeakDo LinkPower 2 Extends Starlink Mini Runtime to 5 Hours
PeakDo unveiled the LinkPower 2, a compact battery pack engineered for the Starlink Mini, delivering up to five hours of continuous operation—one hour longer than its predecessor. The device combines a full‑metal heat sink for superior thermal management with dual charging options via magnetic DC input and USB‑C. Integrated Bluetooth connectivity lets users monitor charge levels and runtime in real time through a web interface. Built to be weatherproof, lightweight, and tripod‑compatible, the LinkPower 2 targets remote‑work, camping, and other mobile connectivity scenarios.
Chang'e-6 Farside Samples Reshape Lunar Impact History
Scientists using Chang’e-6 far-side samples have shown that lunar impact fluxes are statistically identical on the near and far hemispheres, validating a global cratering chronology. Radiometric ages of 2.8 Ga basalt and 4.247 Ga norite, combined with local crater densities, fit within...
UAE Extends Mars Probe Mission Until 2028
The United Arab Emirates announced a three‑year extension of its Hope Mars probe, keeping the mission active until 2028. The orbiter has already transmitted ten terabits of atmospheric data, far surpassing its original one‑terabit target, and has also studied Deimos...
UK Space Firm Skyrora Explores Buying Assets of Struggling Rival Orbex
Skyrora, a Glasgow‑based small‑satellite launch provider, announced a preliminary interest in acquiring select Orbex assets, including the Sutherland Spaceport, for up to £10 million. Orbex, the Inverness‑based micro‑launcher developer, entered administration after unsuccessful fundraising and merger attempts. The potential deal could...
Rebecca Evernden Takes Helm Of New UK Space Agency Ahead Of April Launch
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...
CAS Space to Launch Kinetica-2 in Late March Carrying Prototype Cargo Spacecraft
Chinese commercial launch provider CAS Space is set to fly its reusable Kinetica‑2 rocket in late March from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, carrying a prototype of the Qingzhou‑1 cargo spacecraft. The 53‑metre, three‑stage vehicle uses three YF‑102 kerosene‑LOX engines per...
The Recipe for Innovation? An Alliance Between Art and Science.
Julio M. Ottino argues that true innovation emerges when art and science intersect, citing origami‑inspired NASA hardware as a modern example. He frames creativity as "cloud" thinking and execution as "clock" thinking, urging leaders to bridge these modes. Ottino offers...
Elon Musk’s Moon Catapult: A Vision with a Physical Catch
Elon Musk unveiled a lunar base concept that doubles as a massive satellite factory, powered by solar energy and using an electromagnetic catapult to launch payloads. The plan targets 1,000 terawatts of computing power in space, leveraging the Moon’s low...
Live Coverage: SpaceX to Launch 25 Starlink Satellites From the West Coast
SpaceX will lift off a Falcon 9 from Vandenberg Space Force Base at 2:10 a.m. PST on March 1, 2026, delivering 25 Starlink V2 Mini satellites for its global broadband network. The mission, designated Starlink 17‑23, uses booster B1082, which is on its 20th flight after...
Third Attempt at Kairos Tonight— Hoping for Better Results
Third try for Kairos tonight. Let's see if it goes any better than the last two times...
Defense Sector Analysts Highlight Three Satellite Stocks Positioned for FY2027 Budget Growth
Citi Research has identified L3Harris Technologies, Iridium Communications, and Lockheed Martin as the top satellite stocks poised to benefit from a proposed U.S. defense budget increase to $1.5 trillion for FY2027, emphasizing the Pentagon’s “Golden Dome” space‑based defense architecture. L3Harris recently...
Germany Commits €35 Billion to LEO Resilience and Non-Kinetic Deterrence
Germany announced a €35 billion investment through 2030 to build sovereign military space capabilities, marking a shift from purely defensive postures toward contested orbital operations. The plan includes the SATCOM Stage 4 architecture, a proliferated low‑Earth‑orbit constellation of more than 100 satellites...
Inside Starcloud and SpaceX’s Orbital Data Centers FCC Filings
Starcloud and SpaceX have each submitted FCC applications to launch orbital data centers, outlining satellite constellations, orbital parameters, communication architectures, and disposal strategies. The filings reveal Starcloud’s plan for a 120‑satellite low‑Earth‑orbit (LEO) network and SpaceX’s proposal for a 300‑satellite...
What Is an Exoplanet? An Astrophysicist Explains Why They Are Vital for Finding Alien Life
Scientists have identified HD 137010 b, an exoplanet roughly Earth‑sized with an orbital period close to one year, orbiting a Sun‑like star. Unlike most known worlds, the planet lies near the edge of its star’s habitable zone but is extremely cold, with...
Starlink's Growth Hinges on Terrestrial Competition, Not Physics
The future growth of Starlink revenues is absolutely *not* just a matter of "math and physics". SpaceX can provide ample capacity, they don't even need Starship to do that. It's now a matter of competing with terrestrial providers, which has...
Cargo Dragon Successfully Returns to Earth
NASA’s Cargo Dragon capsule splashed down in the Pacific on Feb. 26, 2026 after a six‑month stint on the International Space Station. During its stay the vehicle fired its thrusters six times, raising the station’s orbit and proving a commercial...
Rocket Lab Completes Another HASTE Suborbital Mission
Rocket Lab completed its seventh HASTE suborbital mission, repurposing the first stage of an Electron rocket to launch an Australian Hypersonix test vehicle from Wallops Island. The flight marks the company’s second Department of Defense hypersonic test in three months...
NASA on ‘Aggressive’ Schedule to Complete SLS Repairs for April Launch
NASA is racing to finish repairs on the Space Launch System’s upper stage within roughly three weeks to meet the Artemis 2 early‑April launch window. The work follows a rollback to the Vehicle Assembly Building after a helium‑flow interruption in the...
Starlink's $1B Ukraine Deal Sparks Renewed Debate
Seems like we had this debate before re Starlink and Ukraine...so how does it play into the DoW's ~$1B per year contract with Starlink? https://t.co/vRYy6SwnTe
SES Ready for Demo Flight of MEO-Sphere Satellite
SES announced a strategic partnership with K2 Space to launch three demo MEO‑Sphere satellites, beginning with a Spring 2026 flight on SpaceX Transporter 16. The Mega‑class buses cost about $15 million each and can be built in three months, promising faster, cheaper...
SpaceX Sets A New Reuse Record With The Falcon 9 Rocket
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...
Is It Legal to Own, Buy, or Sell Apollo Mission Moon Rocks and Lunar Samples?
Apollo moon rocks remain U.S. government property, making their purchase or sale illegal under federal law. A 2002 theft of 8 kg of lunar material resulted in an eight‑year prison term, underscoring the seriousness of the offense. NASA’s Lunar Sample Laboratory...
Feb. 28, 1997: GRB 970228 Bursts on the Scene
On February 28 1997 the BeppoSAX satellite recorded gamma‑ray burst GRB 970228, an 80‑second flash that was quickly localized. The precise coordinates enabled observatories worldwide to launch coordinated, multi‑wavelength follow‑up campaigns. A month later the Hubble Space Telescope imaged the fading afterglow and...
Starlink High-Speed Wi-Fi Is Coming to British Airways Planes in March, But Rollout Schedule Remains Unclear
British Airways will launch its first aircraft equipped with high‑speed Starlink Wi‑Fi in March, though the broader rollout timetable remains vague. CEO Sean Doyle highlighted "excellent progress" despite the system not yet being installed on any plane. The IAG‑wide contract...
Would Earth Still Be Habitable Without Us?
Researchers have built the most detailed computer model of a lifeless Earth, reproducing 19 pre‑industrial benchmarks over 4.5 billion years. The model shows that geological processes alone can maintain temperate surface conditions and liquid water without any biology. It also generates...
ISS Demonstration: A Tow Truck for Space.
In this episode of T‑Minus, host Maria Varmazas interviews Troy Morris, CEO and co‑founder of KMI, about the company’s successful in‑space demonstration of its articulated “tow‑truck” arms aboard the ISS. The demo involved over 200 days of testing, capturing unprepared...
Commercial Space Logistics Market Analysis 2026
The 2026 commercial space logistics market now comprises three segments—ISS cargo resupply, lunar payload delivery, and orbital transfer services—each with distinct business models and risk profiles. As the International Space Station approaches deorbit around 2030, providers are scrambling for post‑ISS...
Disappointed by Lack of Unique Views in Mission
Bummer. No unique views that we would have loved to see in this mission around stage sep. I thought they would cut away but had hoped we would see a little more.
Rocket Lab HASTE Suborbital Launch with Australian Scramjet
Suborbital LAUNCH of Rocket Lab HASTE with the Australian DART-AE Scramjet at about 0000:00 UTC Feb 28 from the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport at Wallops Island, Virginia
Securing Commercial Satellite Networks: A National Security Imperative
Bipartisan senators have reintroduced the Satellite Cybersecurity Act to address growing cyber and electronic‑warfare threats against commercial satellite constellations. Low‑cost systems such as Starlink now underpin military command, intelligence, logistics and civilian services, making them attractive targets. The article highlights...
Startup Space at 10: A Launchpad for the New Space Economy
The Startup Space pitch competition celebrated its 10th anniversary at SATShow Week, cementing its role as a premier on‑ramp for emerging space companies. Founded in 2015 to fill a gap for early‑stage firms, the event now draws about 400 attendees...
The History of Medium-Lift Launch Vehicle Development Schedules
Medium‑lift launch vehicles consistently miss original timelines, slipping two to seven years before first flight, with operational maturity typically requiring an additional 18 to 36 months. The article traces this pattern across four decades, highlighting Atlas V, Delta IV Medium, Delta II, Falcon 9,...
What Is the Vera C. Rubin Observatory, and Why Is It Important?
The Vera C. Rubin Observatory, home to the 3.2‑gigapixel LSST Camera, has begun its operational phase, issuing 800,000 real‑time scientific alerts in a single night. Its ten‑year Legacy Survey of Space and Time will image the entire southern sky every...
China Has Far Fewer Operational Satellites than Claimed
I see stories out today saying that China has 1,900 satellites. That's not true. Even if you include all Chinese satellites (commercial, military, civil), it only adds up to 1,187 operational satellites. In comparison, the US has 11,323 operational satellites....
Harnessing the Sun to Extract Oxygen on the Moon
NASA’s Carbothermal Reduction Demonstration (CaRD) successfully used a solar concentrator, mirrors and software to heat simulated lunar regolith and generate carbon monoxide, a precursor to oxygen. The test confirmed that sunlight‑driven chemistry can extract usable gases from moon‑soil without Earth‑supplied...
A New Space Race Could Turn Our Atmosphere Into a ‘Crematorium for Satellites’
The article warns that the rapid expansion of satellite megaconstellations, highlighted by SpaceX's request to launch up to one million new satellites, could turn Earth's upper atmosphere into a massive incinerator for spacecraft debris. As satellites are deliberately de‑orbited, their...
Japanese Rocket Startup Space One to Attempt Third Orbital Launch This Weekend
Tokyo‑based Space One has set a third attempt to launch its Kairos small‑rocket for Sunday, March 1, 2026, from the private Spaceport Kii in Wakayama. The mission will loft five satellites, including one built by the Taiwan Space Agency, after two earlier...
New Alliances: The Space Defence Implications of the Canada-Japan ETTA
Canada and Japan have signed an Equipment and Technology Transfer Agreement (ETTA) to co‑develop defence projects and share technology, including space‑related capabilities. The deal aligns with Canada’s push to diversify away from US‑centric procurement and Japan’s move to expand its...
Europe’s Jupiter Probe Juice Releases Its First Image of Interstellar Comet 3I/Atlas
ESA’s Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer (Juice) has released its first image of interstellar comet 3I/Atlas, captured on 6 November 2025, seven days after the comet’s perihelion. The picture shows a bright coma, an extended tail and fine structures such as jets, rays and...
Image: First Glimpse of Comet 3I/ATLAS From Juice Science Camera
ESA’s Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer (JUICE) captured its first image of interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS on 6 November 2025, when the spacecraft was about 66 million km away. The JANUS science camera recorded more than 120 images across a broad wavelength range, revealing a bright coma,...
NASA Plans Annual Artemis Flights, Simplified Moon Missions
A significant announcement coming from nasa right now about Moon landings. Simplifying the rocket/spaceship, increasing the number of Artemis flights, and launching them at least once per year. Meanwhile the SLS rocket is back in the barn getting its helium...
Rohde & Schwarz and Viasat to Collaborate on NB-NTN IoT Test Plan for Connectivity Via Satellite
Viasat and Rohde & Schwarz have teamed up to create a comprehensive NB‑NTN IoT test plan using the CMX500 one‑box signaling tester. The plan targets protocol, performance and RF validation to ensure chipsets, modules and devices meet 3GPP Release 17 requirements and interoperate...
Dragon CRS-33 Completes Deorbit, Trunk Jettison, Splashdown
The Dragon CRS-33 cargo ship made its deorbit burn around 0652 UTC Feb 27, and jettisoned the Boost Trunk at about 0710 UTC. The Trunk reentered over the Pacific near 127W 25N at ca. 0725-0730 UTC and the CRS-33 capsule...
Cruz Bill Sneaks Anti‑SpaceX Clause Into NASA Funding
I guess we know who successfully placed the anti-SpaceX provision in the Cruz reauthorization legislation for NASA. https://t.co/O05CGCT5vM
3D-Printed Spring Deploys on Small Commercial Spacecraft
NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory demonstrated the JPL Additive Compliant Canister (JACC), a 3D‑printed titanium spring, on Proteus Space’s Mercury One small commercial spacecraft on Feb. 3, 2026. The spring unfolded from a 1‑inch stowed height to 6 inches, showcasing a single‑part mechanism that replaces...
Starlink Now Nearly Dominates US Satellite Fleet
For comparison, here is the number of US operational satellites over time. (As of today, 9,814 of these are Starlink satellites.) US Operational Satellites https://t.co/9TBifWiomp
NASA's Lunar Plan: Three Super‑Heavy Rockets, Two Landers, One Transport
Key elements of NASA's lunar exploration architecture and milestones: (three dissimilar super-heavy launchers, two piloted lunar landers, one crew transport):
Boost SLS Cadence, Cancel EUS, Keep Boeing Satisfied
I wonder if the way to speed up production of SLS, cancel EUS AND keep contractors (Boeing) happy to avoid a lawsuit is to simply order up more SLS rockets at a premium for cadence to offset the contract loss.
Artemis Announcement Signals Needed Shift After Years of Neglect
Today's Artemis announcement by Jared Isaacman is bold and necessary. Astute observers have recognized serious flaws in Artemis for years, but NASA officials have largely whistled beyond the graveyard. Now, possibly, that could change.
Which Rocket Will Carry Orion to LEO for Artemis III?
So the big question, what rocket is going to launch Orion into LEO for Artemis III?! 👀 certainly they won’t waste an SLS rocket for a LEO mission.