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The European Space Agency has awarded two contracts to study lunar habitat concepts that could protect robotic equipment and later support short‑duration human missions. Copenhagen‑based SAGA Space Architects, together with The Exploration Company and Space Applications Services, will lead the first of the parallel studies. Each study is funded up to €200,000, with an optional €50,000 for early de‑risking, and will explore subsystems, landing options, and integration with ESA’s Moonlight communications network. The studies are slated for completion by the end of 2026, pending further Member State support.
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 Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) market has evolved into a layered ecosystem where downstream components—chipsets, modules, augmentation services, and software—account for the bulk of revenue. Multi‑constellation, multi‑frequency receivers have become the standard design, improving accuracy and resilience across diverse...
President Trump will deliver his State of the Union address on Feb. 24, where space defense initiatives such as the Golden Dome missile shield could re‑emerge alongside a renewed focus on lunar missions. NASA plans to roll the Artemis II SLS/Orion...
HEO and UNSW Canberra Space have teamed up to launch Australia’s first rendezvous and proximity operations (RPO) mission that employs an active propulsion system. The project uses the recently acquired Continuum-1 satellite as an in‑orbit testbed to validate fuel‑efficient maneuver...
60 YEARS AGO TODAY: The USSR launches a Voskhod spacecraft with the dogs Ugolyok and Veterok on a secret mission to prepare a response to NASA's Gemini project. FULL STORY: https://t.co/AWISaZC2RC
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...
Weather permitting, NASA will roll the SLS/Orion stack back to the VAB on Tuesday. The Artemis II crew was released from quarantine last night and remain in Houston. https://t.co/Fc41XfWvG7
China’s Shenzhou‑20 crew discovered a triangular crack on their return capsule’s viewport caused by orbital debris, forcing a delay of the planned 5 November landing. An emergency, uncrewed Shenzhou‑22 cargo mission was launched on 25 November to deliver repair tools and supplies...
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...
A new Icarus paper proposes that the Martian shield volcano Hecates Tholus hides debris‑covered glaciers, drawing a parallel with Antarctica’s Deception Island where ash‑laden eruptions insulated ice. The authors cite surface features—crevasses, bergschrunds and push moraines—as “smoking‑gun” evidence of past ice...
Rheinmetall, Germany's largest defence contractor, is weighing a bid for Munich‑based laser‑communications maker Mynaric, potentially derailing Rocket Lab's announced $150 million acquisition. The move reflects Europe’s push to keep critical aerospace and optical‑link technology under domestic control amid heightened scrutiny of...
In January 2026 the UK’s National Space Operations Centre kept its warning and protection systems active around the clock to shield licensed satellites from a surge in solar activity and persistent orbital congestion. Geomagnetic storms and solar flares intensified, while...
Peru’s Punta Lobos launch base, located near the magnetic equator, has become a hub for sub‑orbital atmospheric research. The domestically developed Paulet sounding‑rocket series, now in its I‑C iteration with indigenous telemetry, demonstrates Peru’s growing technical sovereignty. A 2028 NASA‑Peru “Cielo”...
Legacy aerospace primes are reshaping their business models as the U.S. Space Force pivots to faster, fixed‑price procurement. Northrop Grumman, after an 8% dip in 2025 space revenue, projects $11 billion in 2026 sales and is now the primary builder for...
SpaceX launched its most‑flown Falcon 9 booster, B1067, on its 33rd mission, adding 28 Starlink broadband satellites to a constellation exceeding 9,700 units. The launch from Cape Canaveral’s SLC‑40 occurred at 10:47 p.m. EST under favorable weather conditions and concluded with...
Geostationary satellite operators are confronting a paradigm shift as the traditional 6‑tonne GEO platform loses its economic appeal. SES, now the world’s largest GEO fleet after acquiring Intelsat, announced it will replace most of its 100‑satellite roster with sub‑1000 kg “HummingSat”...
Asia‑Pacific space agencies, from giants like CNSA and ISRO to emerging programs in Indonesia and Peru, are rapidly expanding capabilities across human spaceflight, lunar exploration, and Earth observation. Government bodies are bolstered by growing private‑sector participation, delivering cost‑effective launch services...
Australia’s Powerhouse Museum is offering a final chance for citizens to record a voice message for deep‑space broadcast in honor of Voyager’s 50th anniversary. The HUMANS (Humanity United with MIT Art and Nanotechnology in Space) project, which already has more...
The Asia‑Pacific Space Cooperation Organization (APSCO) is an intergovernmental body headquartered in Beijing that unites eight member states and several observers to pool satellite resources, data, and expertise. Since its launch in 2008, APSCO has facilitated shared satellite constellations, a...
An FAA report predicts someone will die roughly every 2 years due to incoming space debris. This research could save lives by forecasting danger zones.
The $1.5 billion NISAR satellite, a joint NASA‑ISRO venture, showcases the deepening U.S.–India space partnership. India’s Make‑in‑India agenda is accelerating indigenous defense‑related space capabilities, from ISR payloads to resilient communications. Meanwhile, China’s anti‑satellite tests and Pakistan’s growing space ties heighten regional...
Updated with Isaacman's clarification that March definitiely is off the table and they will roll back to the VAB. Artemis II Delayed Due to Upper Stage Problem https://t.co/r8yzfcIJ9Q
We might be looking at April for Artemis II. Rollback to the VAB for the SLS rocket is on the table.
NASA had slated a no‑earlier‑than‑March 6 launch for Artemis II, but an unexpected interruption in helium flow through the Space Launch System’s interim cryogenic propulsion stage forced the agency to consider rolling the rocket and Orion spacecraft back to the Vehicle Assembly...
SpaceX launched 25 additional Starlink satellites from Vandenberg aboard a Falcon 9, marking the booster B1063’s 31st flight and successful drone‑ship landing. The launch pushes SpaceX’s 2026 tally to 21 missions, outpacing all other providers combined. Reuse statistics place the B1063...
LAUNCH at 0904 UTC Feb 21 of Starlink Group 17-25 from Vandenberg Space Force Base
NASA just said there's a problem with the SLS upper stage and they may have to roll back to the VAB. https://t.co/jS1avhZOkR
The Lunar Gateway, a planned orbiting space station, is a cornerstone of NASA’s Artemis program, intended to support crewed lunar missions, scientific research, and technology testing for future Mars trips. Although most international hardware has already been built and is...
Bad news for Artemis 2: "NASA is taking steps to potentially roll back the Artemis II rocket and Orion spacecraft to the Vehicle Assembly Building… This will almost assuredly impact the March launch window." https://t.co/rS2SqwVMwD
According to Serhii Flash, Russia has installed mesh modems on Molniya similar to the ones used on Geran and Gerbera. https://t.co/0MrbFEDbvA https://t.co/NYuN8bvpH6
Researchers at Newcastle University have unveiled FlightScope, a low‑cost, rugged microscope capable of real‑time cell imaging in zero‑gravity environments. Built on an open‑source Stanford design, the instrument costs under $5,000 and includes vibration damping and microfluidic handling for parabolic flights....
SpaceX’s V2‑Mini Starlink launches create a temporary “satellite train” of 20‑23 bright objects that streak across the sky for 24‑48 hours before dispersing. Launch cadence in winter 2025‑2026 reaches one mission every 3‑4 days, giving observers frequent but brief viewing...
Tory Bruno, former ULA chief, left the company to become president of Blue Origin’s new national‑security group, citing an urgent need for dynamic space operations and missile‑defense capabilities. He believes ULA’s Vulcan rocket is now mature, allowing him to focus...
Servair is sending a curated menu created by Michelin‑starred chef Anne‑Sophie Pic to the International Space Station for astronaut Sophie Adenot’s first long‑term mission. Over a year of R&D, the team adapted gourmet recipes to meet the constraints of microgravity,...
NASA announced that the 2024 Boeing Starliner crewed flight test has been classified as a Type A mishap, the same designation used for the Challenger and Columbia disasters. The mishap stemmed from thruster failures, Boeing propulsion design flaws, and NASA’s overly...
NEW: @vaneck_us files for a space ETF. Will have an awesome ticker -- $WARP. This will compete on some level with a handful of products like $UFO, $ARKX & $UFOD https://t.co/POFTNx77Nb
The Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) has issued a solicitation for commercial space‑to‑space imaging solutions to monitor satellites in geosynchronous orbit (GEO). The contract calls for a minimum viable product delivering high‑resolution electro‑optical images within two years, enabling object identification and...
The post shares three space‑related items: Starlab’s full‑scale mock‑up displayed at Johnson Space Center, a reminder that Atlantis delivered the Destiny module to the ISS 25 years ago after three spacewalks, and the launch of Robert Zimmerman’s book *Genesis: the...
Researchers led by David Bamidele Olawade reviewed sustainable water systems for space habitats. They note that the ISS’s Environmental Control and Life Support System already recovers 93% of water from urine, sweat and humidity but still faces power, durability and...
Japanese Ministry of Defense awarded imagery contracts to Axelspace and Synspective as part of its privately‑run satellite constellation. Axelspace will supply optical data under a 48 billion‑yen ($310 million) deal, while Synspective will provide SAR imagery for 105.6 billion yen ($681 million). The contracts,...
In this episode, Laura Winter discusses with legal experts Bailey Reichelt and Nick Baker how the Supreme Court’s decision deeming President Trump’s use of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act to impose tariffs unconstitutional impacts businesses, including those in the...
India’s space agency ISRO is in talks with NASA to conduct an uncrewed docking of the Gaganyaan orbital module to the International Space Station. The agreement would include extensive astronaut and ground‑crew training, as well as joint work on docking,...
We might be just two weeks from sending humans back into deep space. For 75 percent of the world's population, it will be the first time this has happened in their lifetimes. Can't wait to see it.
Smallsat builder @GomSpaceGroup: Revenue, profit up sharply in 2025; CEO confident that invoice nonpayment by major customer will be resolved soon, says deliveries on the 18-sat contract continue. @UnseenLabs @KpsZSU. https://t.co/vmIO8qFe9l https://t.co/owCDCmRzCj
Researchers at NASA Goddard have identified a 1.52 µm infrared sweet spot for the upcoming Habitable Worlds Observatory, allowing a 20 % bandwidth up to 1.68 µm without requiring a complex cryogenic cooling system. Their BARBIE IV analysis shows that high methane levels obscure...
NASA says they are targeting March 6 as the earliest launch opportunity for Artemis 2 after yesterday's wet dress rehearsal. Still work ahead, as well as a flight readiness review next week.
40 YEARS AGO TODAY: The USSR launches the 1st element of the Mir orbital complex. To mark the occasion, I am working on the complete virtual reconstruction of the spacecraft, which will be used to illustrate 15 years of Mir's operation:...
Iridium sees an opportunity to ‘disrupt the status quo’ in aviation now that its next-generation Certus satcom service is undergoing flight trials to support aircraft safety services and its joint venture partner Aireon is pursuing space-based VHF. https://t.co/0ZuGYpAleV
Artemis II Crew Trains on T-38 https://t.co/v2u5ToYOw5 NASA/Brendan Finnegan NASA astronaut Christina Koch and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen take off on a T-38 training flight from Ellington Field on Feb. 11, 2026, as a waning crescent… https://t.co/Czq00UOLNV
