SpaceX Executes Largest Starship Site Expansion Yet
🚨LAUNCH SITE EXPANSION: SpaceX is performing the largest expansion in its Starship launch site history. At the same time, Pad 2 is made ready for Flight 12, and Pad 1 is being updated. Parallel execution enables SpaceX to be faster than anyone else. 🔥 📸@Jordanguidry6 🚁@redlineheli
NASA Justifies Sole-Source ULA Contract for Artemis Upper Stages
It's happening. "This justification provides the rationale for contracting by other than full and open competition to award a sole-source contract to United Launch Alliance (ULA) to procure replacement upper stages for use in the Space Launch System (SLS) for the...
Space Solar Power: Companies Turning Sci‑Fi Into Reality
A new generation of companies are building satellites designed to collect sunlight in orbit and beam energy wherever it’s needed…whether that’s on Earth, in orbit, or even on the Moon. 🛰️⚡️ From power grids in space to sunlight on demand, space-based...
Software-Defined Satellite Factory Opens, First Lightspeed Launches This Year
.@MDA_space: Factory for software-defined sats is now open; 1st @Telesat Lightspeed sats expected by year-end; @EchoStar liability for termination of D2D constellation has been paid in full; pursuiing multiple commercial/government constellations.https://t.co/GlbOBv9RT1 https://t.co/kfSe5lSe1k
Lunar Landers Freed: Ditch NRHO, Embrace E
Without a requirement to dock in Gateway’s orbit things get more interesting for lunar landers. Say goodbye to NRHO and hello to EPO/CoLA? https://t.co/C8SSQ6A8bA
This Week's
In this week's Rocket Report: • Artemis shakeup • SpaceX price hike • Russia repairs Soyuz launch pad • Japan's Space One now 0-for-3 • PLD raises $209 million https://t.co/WKoo20b4gS
AI Compute Moves to Space for Unlimited Sun Power
We just launched GPUs into orbit. Not satellites. GPUs. For the first time, NVIDIA H100 chips are being sent into space to train AI models under constant sunlight. Not as an experiment. As infrastructure. On Earth, AI is already pushing against hard physical limits: →...
Planet Labs Imposes 96‑hour Delay on Middle East Imagery
Just got this from Planet Labs, they are delaying posting imagery from specific areas in the Middle East 96 hours due to operational security concerns: Reads in part: As part of Planet’s commitment to responsible data practices and the safety of personnel...
Rocket Lab Launches BlackSky Gen3 Imaging Satellite
LAUNCH of Rocket Lab Electron from Mahia at 2353 UTC Mar 5 carrying a BlackSky Global Gen3 imaging satellite
Senate Commerce Committee to Vote on NASA Deputy Nominee Thursday
Following today's nomination hearing for Matt Anderson to be NASA Deputy Admin, the Senate Commerce Cmte will vote on his nomination (and several others) next Thursday, Mar 12, at approx 11:30 am ET. It's in the Capitol (S-216) so likely...
Globalstar Posts Record 2025 Revenue, Targets Two SpaceX Launches
.@Globalstar: Record 2025 rev, hoping for 2 @SpaceX launches this yr, only certain of one. @Apple @MDA_space @RocketLab @ITU.https://t.co/SDDwWZZM9C https://t.co/Cr479jj1du
Congress Urges NASA to Pick Private Station Developers by 2032
The ISS is now likely to fly through 2032, and Congress wants NASA to get moving on selecting two developers for private space stations. https://t.co/tsD0ZCfxnB
NASA’s ISS Live Stream Lacks Rewind Feature, Users Frustrated
@NASA is there a reason you don't have rewind mode enabled on the ISS live video stream https://t.co/bqWRdeeWwb ? This used to work, and it's very inconvenient not to be able to replay something you missed...
Matt Anderson Poised for Smooth NASA Deputy Confirmation
NASA may soon get a deputy administrator. Matt Anderson is before a Senate committee today. Barring surprises his confirmation in the coming weeks should be non-controversial.
FCC Seeks Industry Input on Global Space Policy Discrimination
Not just @defis_eu Space Act: @FCC wants industry input on discriminatory policies at @esa, Brazil, Canada, South Korea, Gulf Cooperation Council. @spacegovuk @BrendanCarrFCC #MWC26. https://t.co/WNE0RDXEPN https://t.co/l6A5Fqkgw1
FCC to Allocate Spectrum for Emerging Space Activities
The FCC is outlining plans to provide spectrum for novel space activities, or what it calls "weird space stuff." https://t.co/blttdrzzp3
SpaceX's $1.75T IPO Dream Defies $20B Revenue Reality
SpaceX provably has revenues of less than $20bn and loses money after the merger with xAI, but is targeting a $1.75 TRILLION IPO. So FTAV explored how Musk might try to pull off what could be the biggest bagholder operation...
RF Experts Question Starlink Mobile's Physics‑Defying Claims
MWC 2026: Can Elon Musk’s Starlink Mobile defy physics? RF experts weigh in #MWC26 🖇️https://t.co/hmQXnCNSio 🖇️ https://t.co/3Dp4fYFcYe
Kairos Suffers Third Consecutive First‑stage Failure at Minute One
Apparent FAILURE of Kairos during first stage flight, for the third time in a row Failure appeared to be about 1 min into flight.
Kairos Rocket Flight 3 Launches From Japan
LAUNCH at 0210 UTC Mar 5 of Kairos rocket flight 3 from Kii spaceport, Japan
Simple Plan to Save Artemis Revealed
A year and a half ago I published a story with my simple plan for saving Artemis. https://t.co/q8yk0zTW3O Here it was in a nutshell: https://t.co/jSbtdKb3zE
Senate Commerce NASA Bill Revised with New Amendments
There were quite a few changes to the Senate Commerce NASA Auth bill compared to the draft that was circulating last week, plus the amendments adopted today. https://t.co/Ad2s6yclcs
Senate Bill Calls for Human Mars Mission Study
The NASA authorization act approved by the Senate Commerce Committee today includes a study of a human Mars mission—sort of. https://t.co/EAOJaNPxtN
Senate NASA Bill Boosts Funding for Chandra X‑ray Telescope
Encouraged to see the provisions in the Senate's NASA authorization bill (reported out of ctee today) supporting @chandraxray : #SaveChandra https://t.co/vEpAy3Mn9H
Senate Bill Gives Strong Backing to NASA's Artemis Revamp
The US Senate's new 'reauthorization' bill offers a major endorsement for NASA's revamped Artemis plans. Seriously, this is a really great legislation overall. No idea how Isaacman got this done so quickly, but he delivered. https://t.co/g7MeTnqlSm
NASA Launch Procurement Cap Removed From Reauthorization Bill
The proposed language to cap NASA's launch procurement at 50 percent from any one company has been dropped from the final NASA reauthorization bill. I wrote about this issue on Monday: https://t.co/x4jDOwadVr
PLD Space Secures $209M, Targets 2024 Guiana Launch
Launcher startup @PLD_Space, fresh from its $209M equity round led by @ME_JP_official and including Spanish govt, on the road to planned inaugural flight this yr from @esa @CNES Guiana Space Center. Transport vessel already booked. @defis_eu.https://t.co/rpPd1GDsBX https://t.co/n23Zg1E14q
Space Internet Duopoly Sparks Global Connectivity Abundance
We're about to see a duopoly in space internet: Starlink vs Amazon's LEO constellation. We also have competitors in China and elsewhere. This drives Abundance.
Starlink Takes Center Stage at DC Summit
"Today, the star [in DC] is Starlink," says Alpine Group's Rhod Shaw at the ACA Connects Summit. #Summit2026
Senate Commerce Committee Passes NASA Authorization with Unreviewed Amendments
Senate Commerce Committee favorably reported the NASA authorization act on a voice vote. Lots of amendments included in it, which were not discussed during the brief markup.
Space Data Centers: Foundation for Mars, Colonies, Dyson Swarms
Data centers in space are the stepping stone to everything. Mars, O'Neill colonies, Dyson swarms. It all starts with compute in orbit.
12 Launches Aim for 45 Satellites by Year‑end
Will the schedule stick this time? @AST_SpaceMobile forecasts 12 launches between March and Dec, all but the first carrying multiple BlueBird Block 2 sats. Goal: at least 45 in orbit by year's end. Commercial service would start in in H2....
Starlink’s Net Adds Steady; Production Bottleneck, Not Slowdown
Of course Starlink is definitely not experiencing a slowdown in net adds ahead of the IPO and is instead constrained by temporary terminal production shortfalls...
Kairos Launch Scrubbed Amid Ongoing Space One‑Firefly Delays
Kairos launch scrubbed, as Space One and Firefly Aerospace continue their battle of the launch delays.
Add Backup Launch Tower to Boost Launch Frequency
Can't it be used as a second launch tower for when the other is being repaired? Seems reasonable to have a few of them if they really want that launch frequency to rise.
Launch Tower Upgrades Needed for Rapid Artemis Missions
Problem with more rapid SLS launces in my mind is the ability to turn around the launch tower work quick enough. There was big damage after Artemis 1 to the tower and it took a lot of time (and $$$)...
NASA Officially Drops EUS and ML‑2 From Roadmap
This NASA press release is the first time I've seen them say explicity that EUS and ML-2 are no longer part of the plan. It was implied before, but not stated. https://t.co/dszeLdwLOG https://t.co/M5G9X3Kejl
SLS Fixed, New Rollout Begins April 1
SLS repaired ✅ New rollout in the coming weeks ✅ Launch window: starts April 1st ✅
Artemis II Fixes Helium Blockage, Validates Repairs, Replaces Batteries
Artemis II update: engineers determined that a quick disconnect seal obstructed the flow of helium in the ICPS upper stage. Repairs have been made and are now being validated. They're also replacing batteries, and a seal on the core stage...
Next‑Gen Space Station Gets Major Life‑Support Upgrade
For our subscribers, a long read with exclusive details on the latest upgrades of the life-support system and food/water supply proposed for the next-generation space station. Full story is on the site... https://t.co/URv1wBb2k4
Winter Breakthrough with Limited Resources Boosts NASA and ISS
This is legitimately impressive, in the dead of winter, with limited resources. It's also good for NASA and the ISS in general.
Thales Space Targets 7% EBIT Margin Amid Merger
.@thalesgroup: @Thales_Alenia_S rev rose 7.6% in 2025, on pace for 7%+ EBIT margin in 2027; merger w/ @AirbusSpace & @LDO_Space on track; @industriAll_EU unions pose conditions for accepting the deal. @esa @defis_eu.https://t.co/GarzC7tTBf https://t.co/8oHhgoms52
US Controls GPS, Prompting Rivals to Launch Independent Satellites
Umm… we own the GPS satellites. We can also just turn them off for non-military use. We did it in 2003 at the start of the Iraq war (although officially it was a “malfunction”) That’s the reason the EU, China and Russia built...
Abandoned Soyuz Pad Finds New Tenant After Four Years
It looks like four years of disuse have taken its toll on the Soyuz launch pad in French Guiana. Now, it has new tenant.
Five Moon Landings Target South Pole Water‑Rich Region
These 5 spaceships should land on the Moon this year; several near the South Pole, with rovers/hoppers to explore that little-known, always sunny, water-rich region. In order: @blueorigin's MK1 @intuitivemachines' IM-3 astrobotictechnology's Griffin-1 China's Chang'e 7 @fireflyaerospace's Blue Ghost Laying the groundwork for surveying, tech...
NASA Stalls on Promised Artemis 2 Seal Images
At a Feb. 20 briefing, NASA officials promised to release images of the seals that had caused problems in the first Artemis 2 WDR. A week and a half later... 🤷♂️
SES Faces 2025 EBITDA Shortfall, Growth Slated for 2027
.@SES_Satellites: Rev & EBITDA 2025 shortfall mainly from short-term events, growth to resume in 2027. 2 yrs after filing $472M claim for glitches on 4 mPower sats, only 40% has been paid. Co plans MEO-orbit network serving US & European...
Starlink’s MWC Push Aims EU 2 GHz Spectrum, yet AST
Wondering if the big @SpaceX #Starlink presence at #MWC26 is basically an attempt to persuade European policymakers to allow it access to 2GHz MSS spectrum - despite all the #sovereignty concerns in Brussels Seems that AST/VF is likely a more...
NASA's Blue Ring Passes Load Test, Shows Strength
You guys liked the last Blue Ring picture so much, I felt that you deserve another one. This is the dedicated Structural Test Asset (STA) undergoing load testing at NASA's awesome Marshall Space Flight Center. So far...
FCC Calls for Reciprocity as EU Barriers Threaten U.S. Satellites
For decades, the U.S. has welcomed foreign satellite operators into our market. But restrictions on U.S. operators in other countries have persisted. And now, new barriers are emerging that constrain U.S. businesses operating abroad, including in the draft E.U. Space...
