📰Top Stories

SpaceX’s Falcon 9 Shatters Reuse Record

SpaceX achieves another milestone with its Falcon 9 rocket as it completes a record 33rd flight. Two separate launches carried Starlink satellites into orbit from different coasts of the United States. This remarkable feat highlights SpaceX’s dominance in sustainable space travel through booster reuse, enhancing the efficiency of satellite deployment into low Earth orbit.

Read the full story: SpaceFlight Now

NASA’s Artemis 2 Experiences Technical Delays

The highly anticipated Artemis 2 mission faces setbacks as NASA announces a delay due to issues with the Space Launch System’s upper stage. Originally planned for an early March launch, the mission must now undergo additional preparations, marking a significant hurdle for NASA’s lunar exploration goals.

Read the full story: SpaceNews

Tory Bruno Joins Blue Origin for National Security Focus

In a significant career shift, Tory Bruno, former CEO of United Launch Alliance, has joined Blue Origin. His focus will be on “urgent” national security projects that leverage Blue Origin’s innovative Blue Ring spacecraft. This move reflects increasing private sector involvement in defense-oriented space technology.

Read the full story: SpaceNews

Falcon 9 Launches Starlink Satellites After Weather Challenges

After several weather-related delays, a Falcon 9 rocket successfully launched 25 Starlink satellites from Vandenberg Space Force Base. These launches are critical for expanding SpaceX’s satellite internet coverage across the globe, offering improved connectivity options.

Read the full story: SpaceFlight Now

Aalto Eyes Australia for High-Altitude Pseudo Satellite Base

Aalto is set to establish a new base in Australia aimed at enhancing its stratospheric pseudo-satellite services. This strategic location will support the first commercial service targeting the Japanese market, although timelines have extended to 2027 due to integration challenges.

Read the full story: SpaceNews

🛰️Satellite Spotlight

• Satellite Name: ANDESITE
• NORAD ID: 45726
• Launch Date: June 13, 2020
• Mission: Designed for science, specifically studies related to the magnetosphere and technology advancements.
• Orbit: Low Earth Orbit (LEO)
• Operator: Boston University (BU)
• Fun Fact: ANDESITE is a 6U CubeSat that not only aids in magnetosphere research but also tests new technologies in space.

Track this satellite in real-time on our web app: Track ANDESITE

🌌Space Weather

Next 24 Hours

• Radio Blackouts Probability

  • Minor: 5
  • Major: 1
  • Risk: None

• Solar Radiation

  • Probability: 1
  • Risk: None

• Geomagnetic Storming

  • Scale: 1
  • Impact: minor
  • Activity: Moderate

• Impact Summary

  • Next 24 hours: No risk of radio blackouts, no risk of solar radiation storms, moderate geomagnetic activity, and minor geomagnetic storms. Geomagnetic outlook indicates G1 (Minor) geomagnetic storms are likely on 23 Feb due to effects from an anticipated coronal hole HSS. The radiation outlook shows no S1 (Minor) or greater solar radiation storms are expected; no significant active region activity is favorable for radiation storm production. There exists a slight chance for R1-R2 (Minor-Moderate) radio blackouts over 23-24 Feb.

Long Term Forecast

• Impact Summary
  • From 16 February to 14 March 2026, solar activity is expected to remain at low levels, with a slight chance for M-class (R1-R2, Minor-Moderate) flares from 16-21 Feb. Activity is anticipated to increase to moderate levels, with M-class flares expected, along with a chance for X-class (R3-Strong or greater) from 22 Feb through 07 Mar as Region 4366 returns to the visible disk. Following this period, activity should decrease again, but with ongoing chances for M-class flares on 08-09 Mar and late activity from Region 4366 as it rotates to the far side. Proton flux levels are likely to remain below the S1 (Minor) level on 16-21 Feb and again on 08-14 Mar, with chances for S1-S2 levels from 22 Feb-07 Mar. Electron flux at geosynchronous orbit will be high from 16 Feb through 03 Mar, with moderate levels on non-CH HSS influenced days. Geomagnetic field activity is forecasted to be unsettled to active at certain periods, particularly around the return of negative polarity CH HSS effects, but mostly quiet to unsettled levels are expected in the intervening times.

Upcoming Space Launches

February 24

• SpaceX Falcon 9:
  • Starlink Group 17-26 from Vandenberg Space Force Base, California, USA (14:00 UTC) A batch of 25 satellites for the Starlink mega-constellation, SpaceX’s project for a space-based internet communication system.
• Rocket Lab HASTE:
  • That’s Not A Knife (DART AE) from Wallops Flight Facility, Virginia, USA (20:00 UTC) Payload is a scramjet-powered hypersonic vehicle developed by Australian company Hypersonix.
• SpaceX Falcon 9:
  • Starlink Group 6-110 from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida, USA (20:56 UTC) A batch of 29 satellites for the Starlink mega-constellation, SpaceX’s project for a space-based internet communication system.

February 27

• SpaceX Falcon 9:
  • Starlink Group 6-108 from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida, USA (09:52 UTC) A batch of 29 satellites for the Starlink mega-constellation, SpaceX’s project for a space-based internet communication system.

February 28

• China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation Long March 7A:
  • Unknown Payload from Wenchang Space Launch Site, People’s Republic of China (00:00 UTC)
• Skyroot Aerospace Vikram-I:
  • Demo Flight from Satish Dhawan Space Centre, India (00:00 UTC) First launch of Skyroot Aerospace’s Vikram-I launch vehicle, with several cubesats on board.
• Firefly Aerospace Firefly Alpha:
  • Stairway to Seven from Vandenberg Space Force Base, California, USA (00:50 UTC) Firefly Alpha’s Flight 7 will be a test flight and return-to-flight for the launch vehicle following a previous launch failure. This mission will test and validate key systems ahead of an upgrade on Flight 8.
• SpaceX Falcon 9:
  • Starlink Group 17-23 from Vandenberg Space Force Base, California, USA (08:00 UTC) A batch of 25 satellites for the Starlink mega-constellation, SpaceX’s project for a space-based internet communication system.

March 2

• SpaceX Falcon 9:
  • Starlink Group 10-41 from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida, USA (00:07 UTC) A batch of 29 satellites for the Starlink mega-constellation, SpaceX’s project for a space-based internet communication system.

Note: Launch dates and times are subject to change due to technical or weather considerations.