Space news

NASA astronauts Jessica Meir and Jack Hathaway, ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Sophie Adenot, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev arrived at the International Space Station as the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft docked with the orbiting complex at 3:15 p.m. EST.

NASA’s live arrival coverage of the agency’s SpaceX Crew-12 mission is underway on NASA+, Amazon Prime, and the agency’s YouTube channel as NASA astronauts Jessica Meir and Jack Hathaway, ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Sophie Adenot, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev make their way to the International Space Station.

A NASA test to confirm repairs to seals in the Space Launch System’s liquid hydrogen fueling system was only partially successful because of problems with ground equipment. The post NASA continues SLS hydrogen leak tests appeared first on SpaceNews.

In a statement to European Spaceflight, a spokesperson for The Exploration Company suggested that the failure of its acquisition of launch services startup Orbex was linked to the UK government’s decision not to approve the transaction. On 21 January, The Exploration Company announced that it had signed a letter of intent to purchase Orbex, a […] The post Did the UK Block The Exploration Company’s Purchase of Orbex? appeared first on European Spaceflight.

This was the first time that the space agency happened to launch a crewed mission to the International Space Station on a Friday the 13th. The Crew-12 mission took flight onboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket at 5:15 a.m. EST (1015 UTC).

Watch the docking operations of Crew-12 to the International Space Station (ISS), which took place on 14 February 2026 at 21:15 CET. The docking is followed by the hatch opening and the welcome remarks by the astronauts already present in the ISS.

In this episode of Space Minds, Mike Gruss sits down with David Ariosto to discuss his new book, “Open Space.” David talks about how some of the themes of the […] The post A new book captures the forces shaping space: China, the moon and industry appeared first on SpaceNews.

The Senate Commerce Committee approved a bill intended to streamline satellite licensing after revising provisions related to automatic approval of applications. The post Senate committee advances FCC satellite licensing bill after changes appeared first on SpaceNews.

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying the company’s Dragon spacecraft is launched on NASA’s SpaceX Crew-12 mission to the International Space Station with NASA astronauts Jessica Meir, Jack Hathaway, ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Sophie Adenot, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev onboard, Friday, Feb. 13, 2026, from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. NASA’s […]

"It’s time to go back to the Moon—this time to stay."

‘Our interceptors will actively track hypersonic threats and shortly before impact will deploy large particle clouds’ The post Startup bets on new approach to space-based missile defense appeared first on SpaceNews.

Week in images: 09-13 February 2026

Watch the launch of ESA astronaut Sophie Adenot to the International Space Station (ISS), aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Space Launch Complex 40 at NASA’s Kennedy Space Centre. Sophie flies as mission specialist. The other Crew-12 members are NASA astronauts Jessica Meir and Jack Hathaway, respectively commander and pilot of the mission, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Andrei Fedyaev, mission specialist.

Watch the launch of ESA astronaut Sophie Adenot to the International Space Station (ISS), aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Space Launch Complex 40 at NASA’s Kennedy Space Centre. Sophie flies as mission specialist. The other Crew-12 members are NASA astronauts Jessica Meir and Jack Hathaway, respectively commander and pilot of the mission, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Andrei Fedyaev, mission specialist.

A Falcon 9 launched a new crew to the International Space Station Feb. 13 to start a busy schedule of arriving and departing vehicles at the station. The post Crew-12 launches to ISS appeared first on SpaceNews.

San Francisco, United States (AFP) Feb 11, 2026 Half of the original founding team at Elon Musk's artificial intelligence startup xAI has now departed after two co-founders resigned in rapid succession this week, raising fresh questions about talent retention ahead of an expected initial public offering. The exodus comes at a delicate moment for xAI, which was valued at more than $200 billion when it was integrated with Musk's SpaceX rock

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. The move by Skyrora, based in the Scottish city Glasgow, comes the day after Orbex revealed it was in the process of appointing administrators after "fundraising, merger and acq

New York (AFP) Feb 12, 2026 A watched pot never boils and love happens when you least expect it - turns out, the same logic applies to capturing a star as it collapses into a black hole. At least that proved true for one group of researchers whose work took a turn when they accidentally witnessed what appears to be an example of the astronomical unicorn, a "surprise" discovery they detailed in findings published Thurs

Paris, France (AFP) Feb 12, 2026 Surprised astronomers said Thursday they have discovered a star with planets in a bizarre order that defies scientific expectations - and suggests these faraway worlds formed in a manner never seen before. In our Solar System, the four planets closest to the Sun are small and rocky, while the four farther out are gas giants. Scientists had thought this planetary order - rocky first, th

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. The launch from Europe's spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana, on the northeastern coast of South America, is a first for Amazon Leo. The largest number of satellites ever carried by an Ariane rocket successfully separated and

Cape Canaveral (AFP) Feb 13, 2026 NASA launched four astronauts to the International Space Station on Friday, the latest team to head out on a research expedition to the orbiting laboratory. The US space agency's international Crew-12 lifted off at approximately 5:15 am local time (1015 GMT) aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from the Cape Canaveral launch site in Florida, according to a NASA video feed. The astronauts

NASA has selected commercial space station company Vast to fly a private astronaut mission to the International Space Station in 2027. The post Vast wins ISS private astronaut mission appeared first on SpaceNews.

Four crew members of NASA’s SpaceX Crew-12 mission launched at 5:15 a.m. EST Friday from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida for a science expedition aboard the International Space Station. A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket propelled a Dragon spacecraft into orbit carrying NASA astronauts Jessica Meir and Jack Hathaway, […]

Crew-12 headed to the International Space Station this morning aboard their SpaceX Crew Dragon Freedom. When they arrive tomorrow, the ISS will be restored to its normal crew complement of […]

"You absolutely have to have a plan to compete with SpaceX on price."

Watch the highlights of the launch of ESA astronaut Sophie Adenot to the International Space Station (ISS) on Crew-12. A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket lifted off from Space Launch Complex 40 at NASA’s Kennedy Space Centre in Florida, USA, on Friday 13 February 2026 at 10:15 GMT/11:15 CET (5:15 local time).

Chinese launch firm iSpace has secured a record D++ funding round to accelerate its reusable rocket development efforts and expand its industrial footprint. The post China’s iSpace launch firm raises record $729 million for reusable rockets appeared first on SpaceNews.

NASA astronauts Jessica Meir and Jack Hathaway, ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Sophie Adenot, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev, and their SpaceX Dragon spacecraft have reached orbit, and the nosecone has opened.  The crew will spend roughly the next 34 hours to rendezvous and dock with the International Space Station.   A postlaunch news conference will […]

Three years after the 2022 class was first selected, French Air Force pilot Sophie Adenot has become the first member of the new European Space Agency (ESA) cohort of career astronauts to blast off for the International Space Station (ISS). Adenot holds a Master of Science from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and is a […] The post ESA Astronaut Sophie Adenot Launches Aboard SpaceX Crew-12 Mission appeared first on European Spaceflight.

At 5:24 a.m. EST, The Dragon spacecraft separated from the Falcon 9’s second stage and began flying on its own. The spacecraft is traveling at approximately 17,500 miles per hour (28,200 kilometers per hour). In less than a minute, the Dragon crew spacecraft nosecone open sequence will begin. The spacecraft now is in orbit and […]

At 5:24 a.m. EST, The Dragon spacecraft separated from the Falcon 9’s second stage and began flying on its own. The spacecraft is traveling at approximately 17,500 miles per hour (28,200 kilometers per hour). In less than a minute, the Dragon crew spacecraft nosecone open sequence will begin. The spacecraft now is in orbit and […]

Watch the liftoff of ESA astronaut Sophie Adenot to the International Space Station (ISS), aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Space Launch Complex 40 at NASA’s Kennedy Space Centre. Sophie flies as mission specialist. The other Crew-12 members are NASA astronauts Jessica Meir and Jack Hathaway, respectively commander and pilot of the mission, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Andrei Fedyaev, mission specialist.

The first stage of the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket has completed its descent and landed inside the Space Launch Complex 40 perimeter at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. As previously mentioned, this marks the first time SpaceX has launched and landed a booster from the same launch complex in Florida. On Jan. 30, […]

The first stage of the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket has completed its descent and landed inside the Space Launch Complex 40 perimeter at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. As previously mentioned, this marks the first time SpaceX has launched and landed a booster from the same launch complex in Florida. On Jan. 30, […]

SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket reached Max-Q, the moment of peak mechanical stress on the rocket. Following this, first stage main engine cutoff occurred, and the rocket’s first and second stages have separated. The rocket’s first-stage booster is scheduled to return to Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida — marking […]

NASA’s SpaceX Crew-12 mission lifted off at 5:15 a.m. EST from Space Launch Complex 40 at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. NASA astronauts Jessica Meir and Jack Hathaway, ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Sophie Adenot, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev, are experiencing 2 g as SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft and Falcon 9 rocket go through a […]

NASA’s SpaceX Crew-12 mission lifted off at 5:15 a.m. EST from Space Launch Complex 40 at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. NASA astronauts Jessica Meir and Jack Hathaway, ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Sophie Adenot, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev, are experiencing 2 g as SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft and Falcon 9 rocket go through a rapid […]

Fueling of the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket has begun. Loading of rocket grade kerosene liquid oxygen into the rocket’s first stage is underway, and second-stage fueling will begin in a few minutes. Once fueling is complete, the Dragon spacecraft will switch to internal power, the command flight computer will begin final prelaunch checks, propellant tanks […]

The crew access arm has retracted, and the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft launch escape system is armed. This system allows NASA’s SpaceX Crew-12 crew members to escape safely in the unlikely event of an anomaly from liftoff until they reach orbit — a timespan of roughly 12 minutes.

The launch team has verified that controllers can soon begin loading propellants — liquid oxygen and refined, rocket-grade kerosene called RP-1 — into the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket’s first and second stages.  The SpaceX rocket and Dragon spacecraft will carry NASA astronauts Jessica Meir, commander, and Jack Hathaway, pilot, along with mission specialists ESA (European […]

From the ESA Blogs.

NASA’s Carbothermal Reduction Demonstration (CaRD) project completed an important step toward using local resources to support human exploration on the Moon. The CaRD team performed integrated prototype testing that used concentrated solar energy to extract oxygen from simulated lunar soil, while confirming the production of carbon monoxide through a solar-driven chemical reaction.  If deployed on the Moon, this technology could enable the production of propellant using […]

NASA’s SpaceX Crew-12 team is secure in their seats as the SpaceX crew closed the hatch to the Dragon spacecraft, with less than two hours remaining before liftoff from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. The spacecraft previously flew NASA’s SpaceX Crew-4 and NASA’s SpaceX Crew-9 mission, as well […]

NASA’s SpaceX Crew-12 team is secure in their seats as the SpaceX crew closed the hatch to the Dragon spacecraft, with less than two hours remaining before liftoff from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. The spacecraft previously flew NASA’s SpaceX Crew-9 mission, as well as Axiom Missions 2 […]

NASA just expanded its coverage of this morning’s launch, and the live broadcast of the agency’s SpaceX Crew-12 mission is airing live on NASA+, Amazon Prime, and the agency’s YouTube channel. Learn how to watch NASA content through a variety of online platforms, including social media. Today’s liftoff is targeted for 5:15 a.m. EST from Space Launch Complex 40 […]

During Crew-12’s eight-month long mission aboard the International Space Station, the crew will conduct a variety of science experiments aimed at advancing research and technology for missions to the Moon and Mars, and to benefit humanity on Earth. The crew will study how pneumonia-causing bacteria can lead to long-term heart damage, research on how physical […]

NASA astronauts Jessica Meir, commander, and Jack Hathaway, pilot, along with mission specialists ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Sophie Adenot and Roscosmos cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev, boarded their SpaceX Dragon spacecraft. Over the next 45 minutes, the crew will conduct communication checks with mission control, inspect their spacesuits for any leaks, and rotate their seats into […]

NASA astronauts Jessica Meir, commander, and Jack Hathaway, pilot, along with mission specialists ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Sophie Adenot and Roscosmos cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev, boarded their SpaceX Dragon spacecraft. Over the next 45 minutes, the crew will conduct communication checks with mission control, inspect their spacesuits for any leaks, and rotate their seats into […]

NASA’s SpaceX Crew-12 arrived at Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida to board their SpaceX Dragon spacecraft. Today’s mission is the second crewed launch from pad 40. NASA’s SpaceX Crew-9 was the first in September 2024. The first rocket launch from the pad was a Titan IIIC in June […]

NASA astronaut Jessica Meir will serve as the spacecraft commander for NASA’s SpaceX Crew-12 mission. This will be the second flight to the International Space Station for Meir, who was selected as a NASA astronaut in 2013. The Caribou, Maine, native earned a bachelor’s degree in biology from Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island, a […]