Musk says SpaceX focus is on the moon rather than Mars
Original Publication Date: 2026-02-09 22:55
Elon Musk says SpaceX will focus on lunar settlement before sending humans to Mars. Musk has long been associated with establishing a large-scale human presence on Mars. Neither Musk nor SpaceX has discussed detailed plans for such a settlement on the moon. SpaceX has yet to demonstrate in-space propellant transfer, a capability critical for lunar missions.
There’s a way forward for sovereign European space intel, but is there the will?
Original Publication Date: 2026-02-09 14:00
Germany’s intelligence chiefs are pushing for a European spy network to cut the continent’s reliance
Weather delays NASA’s SpaceX Crew-12 flight to the International Space Station
Original Publication Date: 2026-02-09 22:09
The launch of the next crew rotation mission to the International Space Station will have to wait at least another day after NASA and SpaceX leadership determined weather along the flight path would be unacceptable. Leaders moved the launch of Crew-12 from pad 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station to no earlier than Thursday, Feb. 12. The launch preparations come as United Launch Alliance (ULA) is preparing for its first flight of 2026.
Momentus to Demonstrate Multispectral Sensor for Space Force, With NASA Support
Original Publication Date: 2026-02-09 21:00
Momentus Inc. Has entered into a Space Act Agreement with NASA to execute a groundbreaking in-orbit servicing and rendezvous demonstration mission. Scheduled for launch no earlier than March 2026 aboard a SpaceX Transporter mission, the flight will feature the Vigoride 7 Orbital Service Vehicle. The centerpiece of the March mission is the flight demonstration of Momentus’ Low-Cost Multispectral RPO Sensor (LCMRS) suite.
Teledyne Advances U.S. National Defense with SDA’s Tranche 3 Tracking Layer Program
Original Publication Date: 2026-02-09 20:54
Teledyne Technologies Incorporated (NYSE: TDY) announced it has received multiple contract awards to produce advanced infrared Focal Plane Modules (FPMs) for the Space Development Agency’s (SDA) Tranche 3 Tracking Layer program. These awards solidify Teledyne’s position as a critical hardware provider for the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture.
Kepler Communications’ next-generation optical data relay constellation launched
Original Publication Date: 2026-02-09 19:55
Kepler Communications has successfully launched the first operational tranche of its next-generation optical data relay constellation. The mission, carried out aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base, successfully deployed ten 300-kilogram-class satellites into a Sun-Synchronous Orbit. This launch marks a significant milestone in the establishment of the world’s first commercial optical network in Low Earth Orbit.
CMA CGM Group, Marlink, and Eutelsat Partnership
Original Publication Date: 2026-02-09 16:25
On February 9, 2026, a landmark industrial partnership was solidified between the CMA CGM Group, Marlink, and Eutelsat to revolutionize maritime connectivity. This multi-year agreement centers on the deployment of OneWeb Low Earth Orbit (LEO) services across more than 300 CMA CGM vessels. By integrating high-speed, low-latency satellite technology into its global fleet, CMA CGM is setting a new benchmark for digital performance in the shipping industry.
Voyager Lands $24.5M NASA JSC Mission Management Contract
Original Publication Date: 2026-02-09 15:10
Voyager Technologies (NYSE: VOYG) announced a significant $24.5 million Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract from NASA’s Johnson Space Center. This four-year agreement establishes Voyager as a cornerstone of the International Space Station (ISS) ecosystem. The contract provides a steady, multi-year revenue stream for Voyager.
Sequoia capital: 2028 will be the year of direct to cell for SpaceX
Original Publication Date: 2026-02-09 14:57
Sequoia Capital partner Shaun Maguire identified 2028 as the pivotal year for SpaceX’s Direct-to-Cell (D2C) technology. By this time, SpaceX is expected to have a sufficient number of Starlink V3 satellites in orbit, featuring the massive 2,400-square-foot arrays necessary to act as orbiting cell towers.
Space: Disproving the Known
Original Publication Date: 2026-02-09 14:48
By early 2026, the data streaming back from our expanded orbital neighborhood is challenging long-held scientific certainties. From the earliest moments of the universe to the chemical makeup of interstellar visitors, the “known’ is being rewritten in real-time. The James Webb Space Telescope continues to be the primary architect of this scientific disruption.
Winter Grips Japan
Original Publication Date: 2026-02-10 05:01
Hokkaido, especially the island of Hokkaido, is home to some of the snowiest cities in the world. Sapporo typically sees more than 140 days of snowfall, with nearly 6 meters (20 feet) accumulating on average each year. In February, a storm blanketed western Japan in snow, leading to more travel disruptions.
What You Need to Know About NASA’s SpaceX Crew-12 Mission
Original Publication Date: 2026-02-09 22:14
Four crew members are set to launch to the International Space Station as part of NASA’s SpaceX Crew-12 mission. The crew will lift off from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida aboard a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft named Freedom. During their eight-month mission, Crew-12 will conduct a variety of science experiments to advance research and technology for future Moon and Mars missions.
Space Station Research Contributes to Artemis II
Original Publication Date: 2026-02-09 16:00
Since 2000, NASA and its partners have used the orbiting laboratory to conduct groundbreaking research. Research aboard the space station helped lay the foundation for the Orion spacecraft’s life support and safety systems. The space station remains a critical testbed for optimizing communications, robotics, and other technologies for missions to the Moon and Mars.
Icy Hudson River
Original Publication Date: 2026-02-09 15:55
During a stretch of frigid weather in late January 2026, ice choked the Hudson River along Manhattan’s western shore. The OLI (Operational Land Imager) on Landsat 8 captured this image of the wintry landscape around midday on Jan. 28.
Launch Preview: Vulcan to launch USSF-87, SpaceX to launch Crew-12 to ISS
Original Publication Date: 2026-02-09 22:34
The launch manifest is full this week, with eight launches scheduled from different launch sites worldwide. The week will kick off with a SpaceX Starlink mission on Wednesday, followed by a busy Thursday, during which five different rockets — including a Vulcan, a Proton, and the first Ariane 64 — will launch. SpaceX and NASA are also scheduled to launch the crewed Crew-12 mission to the International Space Station on Thursday.
SpaceX Delays Mars Plans in Favor of the Moon
Original Publication Date: 2026-02-09 13:50
SpaceX is now targeting an uncrewed landing on the Moon as early as 2027. The update is an about-face from previous comments made by SpaceX CEO Elon Musk. The shift is driven by the speed at which SpaceX can build on the off world real estate and the orbital mechanics of deep space launch.
NASA to Grow Civil Servant Workforce Under Isaacman
Original Publication Date: 2026-02-09 13:33
NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman announced a shift to bring more civil servants back into the agency
1 week until an annular solar eclipse turns the sun into a 'ring of fire' over Antarctica
Original Publication Date: 2026-02-10 11:00
A dramatic annular solar eclipse will light up Antarctica on Feb. 17, 2026, turning the sun into a “ring of fire” as the moon passes between Earth and the star—visible only from a few research stations and, humorously,
A city on the moon: Why SpaceX shifted its focus away from Mars
Original Publication Date: 2026-02-09 22:00
Elon Musk has always been locked in on Mars. Just 13 months ago, for example, he stressed that SpaceX will go "straight to Mars" "We can potentially achieve that in less than 10 years, whereas Mars would take 20+ years," He wrote. "It is only possible to travel to Mars when the planets align every 26 months (six month trip time)," He added.
How long will the ISS operate with a skeleton crew? SpaceX’s Crew-12 astronaut mission delayed to Feb. 12
Original Publication Date: 2026-02-09 21:00
SpaceX’s Crew‑12 launch is now scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 12 from Cape Canaveral, pending a weather clearance
'Star Trek' legend George Takei talks Nimoy's directing, the future of exploration, and his sad plastic umbrella (interview)
Original Publication Date: 2026-02-09 20:00
Entertainment Space Movies & Shows 'Star Trek' legend George Takei talks Nimoy's directing, the future of exploration, and his sad plastic umbrella (interview) News By Jeff Spry published 9 February 2026 "Science fiction is all about the imagination. And it can be exploring space or exploring that mysterious organism called our bodies."
Netflix's 'War Machine' looks like 'Predator' meets 'Metal Gear', and we're 100% here for it
Original Publication Date: 2026-02-09 17:00
Entertainment Space Movies & Shows Netflix's 'War Machine' looks like 'Predator' meets 'Metal Gear', and we're 100% here for it. 'Whatever that thing is, it's hunting us, and it won’t stop,' Ritchson declares in the trailer. "War Machine" Charges onto Netflix's streaming service starting on March 6, 2026.
Interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS survived its flyby of the sun — and gave up some secrets in the process
Original Publication Date: 2026-02-09 16:00
Astronomy Solar System Comets Interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS survived its flyby of the sun — and gave up some secrets in the process News By Paul Sutter published 9 February 2026 We're getting an exciting look at the building blocks of alien worlds. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.
Can current space law handle the new space age?
Original Publication Date: 2026-02-09 15:00
Can current space law handle the new space age? News By Andrew Jones published 9 February 2026 The question is no longer if space governance must evolve, but how quickly it can keep pace with the realities of the new space age. The main framework for space governance, the Outer Space Treaty , was formulated in 1967 during a Cold War era.