Gilat Demonstrates 5G NTN End-to-End Connectivity over GEO Satellite
Gilat Satellite Networks demonstrated a 3GPP‑compliant 5G non‑terrestrial network (NTN) connection using its existing geostationary Earth orbit (GEO) satellite infrastructure. The end‑to‑end test validated key capabilities such as 5G NTN VSAT, hub technologies, latency compensation and protocol optimizations. Gilat’s success shows that GEO satellites can deliver standardized 5G services alongside terrestrial networks. The company says the milestone paves the way for broader GEO, MEO and LEO 5G NTN deployments.
Orbital Data Centers: AI Power Solution or $50B Gamble
Can orbital data centers solve AI’s massive power crisis? Tech titans like Musk, Bezos, and Pichai are betting on $51B satellite networks to move AI processing off-planet. The goal: Unlimited, 24/7 solar power. Is it a brilliant move or a...
Training Turns Sensor Failure Into Safe Space Docking
Flying a spaceship up to dock with a space station is an extreme event. During this docking with Mir our range sensors failed, so we had to use eyeball visuals & a stopwatch to figure the angles & speeds. Hit...
Press Release: ZIPAIR Launches Starlink Inflight Wi-Fi on 787
ZIPAIR Tokyo launched SpaceX’s Starlink satellite internet on a Boeing 787, marking Asia’s first commercial passenger flight equipped with the service. Flight ZG045 from Tokyo to Incheon offered free, high‑speed, low‑latency Wi‑Fi to every seat, matching ground‑based broadband performance. Installation...
NASA Mars Spacecraft Contract Competition Heats Up
The contest for the contract to build NASA’s next Mars spacecraft is getting spicy. 🌶️ https://t.co/RhlVdkCXDG
CesiumAstro Acquires Vidrovr to Embed AI in Communications Systems
CesiumAstro announced the acquisition of AI‑focused startup Vidrovr to embed artificial intelligence into its space‑based communications payloads. The deal, closed in late 2025, adds multimodal signal‑analysis and edge‑computing capabilities to CesiumAstro’s software‑defined phased‑array systems, including the Element satellite. By integrating...
Sierra Space Names Dan Jablonsky CEO
Sierra Space announced that longtime defense executive Dan Jablonsky will assume the role of chief executive officer on March 2, succeeding interim CEO and founder Fatih Ozmen, who will remain board chair. Jablonsky previously led Ursa Major Technologies and Maxar Technologies, bringing deep aerospace...
Phantom Space Reclaims Former Vector Launch Technology
Phantom Space has acquired launch assets from the defunct Vector Launch, including flight‑proven design elements and engineering data. The assets will be integrated into Phantom’s Daytona two‑stage rocket to cut development risk and accelerate its schedule. Phantom, which has raised...
Overture's Built‑In WiFi Eliminates Bumps and Fuel Burn
Fun fact: we are designing WiFi into Overture, so there will be no bump at all and no fuel burn impact.
Broadband Shorts February 2026
Amazon One has asked the FCC for a two‑year extension to meet its 1,600‑satellite launch deadline, currently operating only 212 satellites, while the FCC approved an additional 4,500 satellites for its constellation. The NTIA quickly rebuffed Starlink’s push to loosen...
Superconducting Thruster Cuts Power and Mass for Space Propulsion
Chinese researchers unveiled a compact high‑temperature superconducting magnetoplasmadynamic (MPD) thruster, replacing bulky copper coils with YBCO superconductors. The new design slashes power consumption from 285 kW to under 1 kW and trims mass from 220 kg to 60 kg, making it viable for small...
China’s Tianwen-2 Probe Operating Normally on Approach to Asteroid
China’s Tianwen‑2 probe is operating normally on its heliocentric transfer toward the near‑Earth asteroid 469219 Kamoʻoalewa, with a sample‑return window set for the end of November 2027. The spacecraft, launched in May 2023, will conduct multi‑altitude investigations before employing three redundant sampling techniques...
Bowersox to Retire From NASA
Ken Bowersox, a former astronaut and four‑time shuttle veteran, announced his retirement from NASA effective March 6, ending a brief stint as associate administrator for space operations. He will be succeeded on an acting basis by deputy Joel Montalbano. The announcement...
World-First Gigabit-per-Second Laser Link Between Aircraft and Geostationary Satellite
European Space Agency, Airbus Defence and Space, TNO and TESAT have demonstrated the world’s first gigabit‑per‑second laser link between a moving aircraft and a geostationary satellite. During test flights over Nîmes, the UltraAir optical terminal maintained an error‑free 2.6 Gbps connection...
UKAEA to Help Pulsar Fusion with Shielding for Nuclear Propulsion System
Pulsar Fusion announced that the UK Atomic Energy Authority will assist its Sunbird Migratory Transfer Vehicle with neutron shielding and activation modelling. Sunbird’s Dual Direct Fusion Drive generates thrust and onboard electricity, promising to halve Mars transit times and reach...
ESA Selects Venturi Space for a Study on Future Lunar Rover Technologies
The European Space Agency (ESA) has commissioned Venturi Space to lead a study on next‑generation lunar rover technologies, focusing on mobility, power supply, and thermal regulation. Using its MONA LUNA test platform, Venturi will evaluate hyper‑deformable wheels, high‑performance batteries, advanced...
Space Tech Investor Exceeds $100m for Close of Its Latest Fund
Seraphim Space, a UK‑based venture capital firm dedicated to space technology, closed its latest early‑stage fund at over $100 million, backing 17 companies that blend advanced space tech with artificial intelligence. The portfolio targets sectors such as defence, climate mitigation, life‑science...
SEEING FIRST, WINNING LATER THE RISE OF SPACE IN U.S. WARFARE
Benjamin Moseman's analysis traces the evolution of U.S. space assets from the limited satellite reconnaissance of Operation Linebacker II to the fully integrated, real‑time intelligence that powered the 2025 Operation Midnight Hammer. The article shows how early shortcomings in space‑based situational...
Space Force in Final Test Phase for Second GBOSS Radar Upgrade
Space Force is moving the upgraded Ground‑Based Optical Sensor (GBOSS) into operational testing at its second site in Maui, Hawaii, after the first configuration at White Sands Missile Range was approved. The modernized telescope doubles field of view, scans faster,...
Bipartisan House Leaders Urge FCC to Drop Overreaching Space Rule
Bipartisan House SS&T leadership has sent a ltr to FCC Chairman Brendan Carr asking him to rescind the "Space Modernization" Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) bc it goes beyond the FCC's regulatory authority over radiofrequency licenses. https://t.co/NHrYyotwoH
Aerospace Safety Advisory Panel 2025 Annual Report Released
NASA's Aerospace Safety Advisory Panel released its 2025 annual report, spotlighting a new recommendation that NASA craft a comprehensive 20‑year strategic vision for space exploration and operations. The guidance stresses risk‑based decision‑making, clear communication, and defined criteria for make‑manage‑buy choices....
Farming on the Moon or Mars? How Recycled Sewage Could Turn Regolith Into Crop Soil
Researchers at NASA and ACS Earth and Space Chemistry have shown that recycled sewage, processed through a bioregenerative life‑support system (BLiSS), can chemically weather simulated lunar and Martian regolith, releasing key plant nutrients. After a 24‑hour shake, the effluent‑treated simulants...
Post-Lanteris Acquisition, Intuitive Machines Invests $175M to Advance Satellite Capabilities
Intuitive Machines announced a $175 million equity investment following its January acquisition of Lanteris Space Systems, the former Maxar spacecraft manufacturing unit. The funding will expand the 1300 satellite platform, enhance near‑space network services, and pursue a solar‑system internet independent of...
Why Mars Astronauts Need More than Just Space Greenhouses
A new Acta Astronautica paper by Blomqvist and Fritsche argues that Martian food systems must go beyond simple greenhouses, integrating production, post‑harvest, waste, preparation, and sociocultural elements. The authors warn that radiation, micro‑gravity cooking, and menu fatigue could jeopardize crew...
Ascent Solar’s PV Blankets to Power NOVI AI Pathfinder Spacecraft
Ascent Solar Technologies has supplied its lightweight, flexible CIGS photovoltaic blankets to NOVI Space’s N‑1 ATLAS spacecraft. The N‑1 ATLAS, a toaster‑sized hyperspectral imaging satellite, will launch aboard SpaceX’s Falcon 9 Transporter‑16 in March and generate 150 W of power. The integration...
CSA to Invest in Future Lunar Mining and Power Infrastructure
The Canadian Space Agency (CSA) has launched the Lunar Surface Exploration Initiative (LSEI) Architecture Studies to shape Canada’s contributions to NASA’s Artemis program. The agency will fund up to two contracts per focus area—mining and in‑situ resource utilization (ISRU) and...
Making an Entrance
NASA astronaut Jack Hathaway entered the International Space Station on Feb. 14, 2026 as the pilot of SpaceX Crew‑12, joining Expedition 74. The four‑person crew—Hathaway, Jessica Meir (NASA), Sophie Adenot (ESA) and Andrey Fedyaev (Roscosmos)—began a long‑duration microgravity research stint. Early investigations include...
Space ISAC Launches New Quantum Initiative
Space ISAC has announced a new quantum initiative, launching its first Quantum Community of Interest (COI) meeting on Feb. 25, co‑hosted with MITRE. The COI will explore how quantum technologies can strengthen security and resilience across space systems, which underpin critical...
Halifax’s Galaxia Mission Systems to Expand Facility, Engineering Team Following Federal Investment
Galaxia Mission Systems, the sole space‑sector firm among nine Nova Scotia recipients, secured a $218,750 repayable contribution from the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency. The funding, part of a $4 million regional allocation under the federal Defence Industrial Strategy, will expand Galaxia’s...
Valve Malfunction Blamed for Failure of Indian Satellite to Raise Its Orbit
India’s ISRO confirmed that a pyrotechnic valve malfunction prevented the NVS‑02 navigation satellite from igniting its orbit‑raising engine, leaving it stranded in a geostationary transfer orbit. The valve failed to open because the command signal did not reach it, likely...
Ingenuity Mars Helicopter: “Unexpected Application”
NASA’s Ingenuity helicopter dramatically outperformed its original proof‑of‑concept flight test, proving autonomous aerial flight on Mars. Beyond its record‑setting flights, engineers have repurposed one of Ingenuity’s navigation processors to feed real‑time location data to the Perseverance rover at Jezero Crater....
Mike Fincke Reveals He Was the Astronaut Who Had Medical Issue on the ISS
NASA astronaut Mike Fincke disclosed that he suffered a medical event aboard the International Space Station on Jan. 7, prompting an early return for Crew‑11. He praised his crewmates and NASA flight surgeons for stabilizing his condition and arranging a coordinated...
Beyond the Stovepipe: Why SDR Technology Marks the End of Single-Mission Ground Infrastructure
The satellite ground segment is transitioning from rigid, hardware‑centric "stovepipe" architectures to software‑defined radio (SDR) platforms. By virtualizing modem functions on general‑purpose compute, operators shift spending from capital‑intensive hardware to cloud‑style operational expenditure, gaining near‑instant reconfiguration for beam‑hopping and frequency...
NASA Moves Its Artemis II Moon Rocket Off the Launch Pad for More Repairs
NASA rolled back the 322‑foot Space Launch System (SLS) rocket for Artemis II from Kennedy Space Center’s launch pad to the Vehicle Assembly Building to address a malfunctioning helium pressurization system. The rollback follows a month‑long delay caused by hydrogen fuel...
How Long Could Earth Microbes Live on Mars?
Researchers at York University introduced the Mars Microbial Survival (MMS) model to estimate how long Earth‑origin microbes could persist on Mars after spacecraft arrival. The model, applied to 14 historic landing sites, predicts that external surfaces are sterilized within roughly...
Airbus Defence and Space and Greenerwave Strengthen Their Strategic Partnership in Satcom Through Two New Contracts
Airbus Defence and Space and Greenerwave have signed two additional contracts worth several million euros, expanding the partnership first announced at the June 2025 Paris Air Show. The deals integrate Greenerwave’s flat‑panel, multi‑orbit, low‑power antennas into Airbus’s end‑to‑end satellite communications...
SpaceX Poised to Deliver Broadband Cheaper than Any Alternative
Dan Sundheim on SpaceX: "The telecom market globally is now the TAM... They've come so far down the cost curve that I think in a relatively short time - months or a few years - they'll be dramatically cheaper than...
NASA Safety Panel Report Delayed by Government Shutdown
NASA's Aerospace Safety Advisory Panel's annual report is out today. Usually comes out in January but they said in December it would be late because of the Oct-Nov government shutdown. https://t.co/rUxrgbxucG
Aitech and Teledyne Power Next-Gen Space Missions with AI-Ready SP1 Computer
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...
Senate Commerce to Mark Up NASA, NOAA Bills March 4
Senate Commerce will mark up the NASA authorization bill and the NOAA Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act on March 4, 10:00 am ET. (The latter was introduced today by Cruz & Cantwell: https://t.co/SOlKIgluOl)
Space Data Navigator Adds Guided Tours and Shareable Charts
I added some new features to the Space Data Navigator tool, including a guided tour to show what it allows you to do and the ability to share links (like this) to custom charts you make. NRO Starshield Satellites https://t.co/LdKE7c3qtr
NASA Study to Analyze Fermented Food Samples From Space
NASA’s BioNutrients-3 experiment aboard the International Space Station uses engineered probiotic cultures to ferment nutrient‑dense foods on demand, addressing the shelf‑life limits of essential vitamins for long‑duration missions. Astronaut Kimiya Yui demonstrated production bags containing yogurt cultures, and the samples...
Launch Still On Track, New Payload Added to Blue Ring
Tory told me yesterday this is still on track for launch later this year. He has the team working on adding a new payload to Blue Ring for the first test flight, but wasn't ready to offer specifics.
Blue Ring 1 Spotted Undergoing Factory Testing
Ok, by popular demand, here is shot of Blue Ring 1 in the factory under going testing. https://t.co/hyk05AdF4X
AIRMO and EnduroSat Partner to Launch High-Precision Methane Monitoring Mission
AIRMO and EnduroSat announced a partnership to launch a dedicated methane‑monitoring satellite in early 2027, aiming to fill a critical data gap for oil, gas, mining and agricultural emissions. The mission will use EnduroSat’s FRAME‑15 modular bus and a dual‑sensing...
NASA Veteran Ken Bowersox Retires After Starliner Report
Ken Bowersox just announced he is retiring from NASA. This comes a week after the release of the Starliner report.
NASA Rolls Back SLS Booster, Removing Rocket From Artemis
SLS booster now rolling back from launch pad in Florida as Isaacman-led NASA puts "best part is no part" into practice by removing rocket from Artemis. https://t.co/32nwXLbUKG
North Korea, Iran Co‑Develop LPRE, Potential ICBM Threat
North Korea's "3.18 Revolution" liquid propellant rocket engine (LPRE) was co-developed with Iran. Iran released pictures of an itty bitty model of one at the space day last year. Might be for an SLV, but also makes a great ICBM...
Amazon Leo Satellite Broadband to Reach 15M South American Businesses
DIRECTV Latin America and SKY Brasil to provide Amazon Leo-powered satellite broadband service to potentially 15 million businesses throughout Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, and Uruguay: https://t.co/85zF3oHt56
Artemis II Heads Back to VAB for Helium Fix
Artemis II is officially on the move, heading back to the VAB to address a helium issue on the upper stage. The journey will take about 12 hours. Hoping they can get the fix done in time for the April...