Space Business News
February 23, 2026
ROCKET SCIENCE
New Wenchang lunar pad completes first Long March 10 test



Tokyo, Japan (SPX) Feb 18, 2026
At the future departure gate for Chinas crewed lunar journeys at the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site in the southern island province of Hainan, personnel in blue uniforms have been carrying out post launch operations around a newly built tower dedicated to human missions to the Moon. The tower and its associated systems are being checked after the facility handled its first launch. The new launch pad was constructed specifically for Chinas crewed lunar missions and supported its debut mission on F ... read more

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ROBO SPACE
OpenAI hires creator of 'OpenClaw' AI agent tool
Washington, United States (AFP) Feb 16, 2026
OpenAI has hired the Austrian creator of OpenClaw, an artificial intelligence tool able to execute real-world tasks, the US startup's head Sam Altman said on Sunday. ... more
SPACE TRAVEL
Texas AM partners with Aegis to orbit TAMU SPIRIT research hub on ISS
Los Angeles CA (SPX) Feb 17, 2026
Texas A and M University has developed TAMU SPIRIT, a dedicated orbital research platform that will be deployed on the International Space Station in partnership with Aegis Aerospace. The platform w ... more
MILITARY COMMUNICATIONS
EU brings secure GOVSATCOM hub online under GMV leadership
Madrid, Spain (SPX) Feb 18, 2026
The European Union has begun operational use of its 'Governmental Satellite Communications Programme', known as 'GOVSATCOM', opening secure encrypted satellite communications services to EU member s ... more
MICROSAT BLITZ
UNSW Canberra team advances iodine propulsion for satellites
Sydney, Australia (SPX) Feb 18, 2026
Thousands of satellites are launched every year to support navigation, telecommunications, weather forecasting and emergency warning services, and most rely on onboard propulsion systems to manoeuvr ... more
ROCKET SCIENCE
Latvian startup advances nuclear-fueled power for satellites and future Moon missions
Los Angeles CA (SPX) Feb 16, 2026
Latvian startup Deep Space Energy has closed a pre-seed funding round to accelerate development of a new radioisotope-based power generator for space and defence applications. The round brought in 3 ... more
SPACE TRAVEL
International crew arrives at space station
Washington, United States (AFP) Feb 14, 2026
Four astronauts docked at the International Space Station on Saturday for a months-long research mission, replacing a crew forced to return to Earth early over a medical issue. ... more
ROCKET SCIENCE
Vietnam licenses Musk's satellite internet firm Starlink
Hanoi, Vietnam (AFP) Feb 15, 2026
Vietnam has granted a licence to Elon Musk's Starlink to operate its satellite internet services in the communist country, a government agency said. ... more
ROBO SPACE
Assistive home robot learns coordinated dual arm tasks by watching people
Berlin, Germany (SPX) Feb 13, 2026
Researchers at Universidad Carlos III de Madrid (UC3M) have developed a new way for an assistive robot to learn how to move its arms autonomously by combining observational learning with communicati ... more

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ROCKET SCIENCE
Hypersonica completes milestone hypersonic missile flight test in Norway
Los Angeles CA (SPX) Feb 17, 2026
Hypersonica has completed its first hypersonic test flight at Andoya Space in Norway, marking what the company describes as a major step toward a European sovereign hypersonic strike capability by 2 ... more
ROCKET SCIENCE
NASA teams set for second Artemis II wet dress rehearsal
Sydney, Australia (SPX) Feb 17, 2026
NASA is preparing for the second wet dress rehearsal of the Space Launch System rocket and Orion spacecraft ahead of the Artemis II test flight, targeting Thursday, Feb. 19, as the day to load prope ... more
ROCKET SCIENCE
Russian era ends at abandoned launchpad in South American jungle
Kourou (AFP) Feb 18, 2026
'Stop. Danger of death. Work in progress.' ... more
UAV NEWS
AALTO plans Zephyr stratospheric hub in northern Australia and seeks local payload partners
Sydney, Australia (SPX) Feb 18, 2026
AALTO HAPS Ltd, an Airbus subsidiary that develops and operates the Zephyr solar-powered Stratocraft, plans to establish its second launch and landing site in northern Australia as it expands strato ... more
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NUKE.WIRE
MILTECH
Gilat wins 9 million dollar MOD deal for secure defense satcom
London, UK (SPX) Feb 18, 2026
Gilat Satellite Networks has secured a 9 million dollar contract from Israel's Ministry of Defense to supply and integrate satellite communication systems and services for defense operations. The aw ... more
EARTH OBSERVATION
ASII launches national geospatial digital twin for Australian agriculture
Los Angeles CA (SPX) Feb 17, 2026
The Australasian Space Innovation Institute has launched a 15 million dollar National Digital Twin for Australian Agriculture to create a coordinated decision making and innovation capability across ... more
ROCKET SCIENCE
Smart Dragon 3 rocket sends seven satellites to orbit from sea platform
Tokyo, Japan (SPX) Feb 16, 2026
China has launched a Smart Dragon 3 carrier rocket from a sea based platform off the coast of Yangjiang in Guangdong province, placing seven satellites into orbit on Thursday afternoon. Liftof ... more
MICROSAT BLITZ
Mexican Gxiba-1 CubeSat Starts Mission After Kibo Deployment
Tokyo, Japan (SPX) Feb 16, 2026
On February 3, 2026, the Mexican CubeSat Gxiba-1 was deployed from the Japanese Experiment Module Kibo on the International Space Station, beginning its on orbit mission. The small satellite was rel ... more
ROCKET SCIENCE
NASA Stennis proves water systems ready for Artemis IV upper stage trials
Los Angeles CA (SPX) Feb 13, 2026
A major water system activation at the Thad Cochran Test Stand (B-2) has moved NASA Stennis Space Center a step closer to Green Run testing of the exploration upper stage for the Artemis IV mission. ... more
SPACE TRAVEL
Sophie Adenot, the second French woman to fly to space
Paris, France (AFP) Feb 13, 2026
When she was growing up, Sophie Adenot plastered her childhood bedroom with posters of rockets launching from Cape Canaveral. ... more
MILITARY COMMUNICATIONS
MTN to deliver secure SpaceX government satcom for defense customers
Los Angeles CA (SPX) Feb 23, 2026
MTN has signed a landmark agreement with SpaceX to become an authorized provider of government satellite connectivity services for defense and government customers. The deal positions MTN to deliver ... more
MILTECH
Aitech and Teledyne expand partnership on space grade SP1 computing platform
Los Angeles CA (SPX) Feb 23, 2026
Aitech and Teledyne e2v Semiconductors are underscoring their ongoing collaboration to advance space grade computing by integrating Teledyne e2v high reliability semiconductors into Aitech's SP1, a ... more
ROCKET SCIENCE
Sateliot books Spanish Miura 5 launch for two next gen Trito satellites in 2027
Madrid, Spain (SPX) Feb 18, 2026
Sateliot and PLD Space have signed a commercial contract for the dedicated launch of Sateliot's first two Trito next generation 5G direct to device satellites on a Miura 5 rocket in 2027. The agreem ... more
ROCKET SCIENCE
Exolaunch to deploy five satellites on Spectrum mission from Norway
Berlin, Germany (SPX) Feb 18, 2026
Exolaunch has completed integration of five customer satellites for launch on Isar Aerospace's Spectrum rocket, scheduled no earlier than March 19, 2026 from Andoya spaceport in Norway. The mission, ... more
MILTECH
3 Surprising Ways Space Hardware Reaches Launchpads
Los Angeles CA (SPX) Feb 23, 2026
Space hardware processes explained. Steps from production to launchpad outlined. Logistics & transportation details. Explore the process from start to finish. ... more
ROCKET SCIENCE
China retrieves Long March 10 booster from South China Sea after test flight
Tokyo, Japan (SPX) Feb 16, 2026
China has carried out its first maritime recovery of a rocket first-stage booster, retrieving the main stage of a Long March 10 heavy-lift carrier rocket from the South China Sea following a key tes ... more
ROCKET SCIENCE
Australian hypersonic test flight window announced
Los Angeles CA (SPX) Feb 18, 2026
Australian hypersonic flight developer Hypersonix Launch Systems has set the launch window for a landmark test of its DART AE scramjet-powered vehicle, moving the company a step closer to sustained ... more
UAV NEWS
Australian defence firm helps Ukraine zap Russian drones
Sydney (AFP) Feb 19, 2026
One of Australia's most highly valued defence firms is helping Ukrainian soldiers knock Russian drones off the battlefield, riding a surge in military spending by Western governments with tech combating the weapon of the future. ... more
AEROSPACE
Airbus says will back two new European fighter jets 'if clients request'
Toulouse, France (AFP) Feb 19, 2026
Airbus, which represents Germany and Spain in the FCAS warplane programme, will support the two?fighter?jet solution if the customers demand it, CEO Guillaume Faury said Thursday. ... more
TRADE WARS
France and India hail growing ties as Modi hosts Macron
Mumbai, India (AFP) Feb 17, 2026
France and India celebrated their ties as a force for global stability, as President Emmanuel Macron kicked off a three-day visit focused on technology and defence cooperation on Tuesday. ... more
ROCKET SCIENCE
India's tougher AI social media rules spark censorship fears
New Delhi (AFP) Feb 17, 2026
India has tightened rules governing the use of artificial intelligence on social media to combat a flood of disinformation, but also prompting warnings of censorship and an erosion of digital freedoms. ... more
UAV NEWS
Drone attack on Sudan market kills 28: rights group
Khartoum (AFP) Feb 16, 2026
A drone attack on a crowded market in central Sudan killed 28 people, a rights group reported Monday, as the army and its paramilitary rivals traded aerial strikes in their battle for territory. ... more
ROCKET SCIENCE
Europe's most powerful rocket carries 32 satellites for Amazon Leo network into space
Kourou (AFP) Feb 12, 2026
The most powerful version of Europe's Ariane 6 rocket Thursday carried 32 satellites into space for the Amazon Leo network, which aims to rival Elon Musk's Starlink. ... more
ROCKET SCIENCE
UK space firm Skyrora explores buying assets of struggling rival Orbex
London (AFP) Feb 12, 2026
British company Skyrora, which designs and builds rockets to carry small satellites into space, announced Thursday it could acquire 'select' assets from its stricken rival Orbex, including its spaceport in Scotland. ... more
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